How much to ask?

c456961

Ladies,

My future in-laws are contemplating our rehearsal dinner.  They just threw the wedding of their own daughter a few months ago and now have they want to host our rehearsal dinner.  Unfortunately, there are very few afforadable caterers or venues that can host our party size (around 75) near our wedding.

We've shopped around and the minimum we can find is still at least $2,000.  I know this is beyond their budget.  They say they are willing, but I just cannot ask this from them.  My brother and my mother's boyfriend have offered to pitch in.  Is it rude of me to pitch this to them? Or are there other things I can suggest to them.  They feel strongly about hosting it, but I worry whether  they can afford it.

Side note.  The reason that our rehearsal party is so large is because we have a large bridal party (with their spouses/children) and 95% of our family is from out of town.

Thanks for the input

NcsuPsych

Would you be open to having like a backyard cookout? That could possibly greatly reduce the cost and IMO, would be more fun than sitting in a restaurant.

Aside from that, I'm not really sure on places. If I think of anything I'll get back to you

pirategal03

What region are you looking in? 

jennieweaver1

I am in sort of the same situation as you. We don't have a large wedding party, but 95% of our guest are from out of town. We are doing a backyard get together. My in-laws are renting a big tent and tables and chairs and we are going to cookout some yummy foods. MUCH cheaper than getting it catered. Not sure if it's your style, but worth looking into. 

maureenk26

I'm with you on the majority of family coming in from out of town.  We'll probably only end up inviting to the rehearsal dinner those involved in the wedding ceremony and their spouses, otherwise it's like a throwing a wedding two days in a row! Good luck.

Beth0882

We did the rehearsal dinner at our house (hosted by in-laws, but they live out of town so we used our house).  MIL rented tables and chairs for a few hundred, and ordered food from Carter Bros. bbq--it was only a few hundred dollars.  We only had about 40 people as we limited to bridal party/families and grandparents.  90% of our guests were from out of town so we did not open the rehearsal dinner up to all out of town guests -- that would basically have been having 2 wedding receptions! 

Long story short -- check out local bbq places as suggested above. 

mthornton40539

We are using some caterers locally here to Dunn, NC and they aren't overpriced.  My sister did something that cut her cost way down.  they bought a pig and had basically a pig picking for hers but also had chicken on the grill.  if you kjnow anyone who knows how to work a grill (pig cooker) then you're set.  it cost her about 170 for the pig 200 for all the chicken and then about 300 for the veggies.  but that was for around 150-200 people.  you would get out way cheaper...

mthornton40539

and i don't know where you are located but gregory vineyards in angier (our rehersal repception and ceremony site) is only 250 chairs and tables included.

kristachats

If you tell us what area the rehearsal is going to be you'll probably get more specific locations and vendor names.  In general though you can find affordable catering at Italian restaurants, big platters of salads, ziti and lasagna and garlic bread would be pretty economical.  Or is there a cute pizza joint nearby?  Maybe they have a room reserved for parties you could use. 

 BBQ is a good idea too, the Carolinas are known for thier bbq so if you have a lot of out of towners they might think having a local bbq joint cater is neat.  I went to a back yard wedding once where the caterers had a huge pull behind bbq trailer, it was really cute!  They served a buffet right off the bbq trailer.  

Even Boston Market caters!  I think it's something like 15$ a person.  I went to an event catered by Boston Market not too long ago, I wouldn't have even known the food was from Boston Market if I hadn't been told.