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Rehearsal Dinner Drama! Help!

eadlereadler
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in Louisiana-New Orleans
So, I am an OOT bride, planning my wedding in New Orleans. My fiance's parents have offered to pay for/host our rehearsal dinner, as they can't afford to help us with the wedding. The problem is, there wil at least be twenty people at that dinner, and I cannot find a place that is less than 45/person...so they'll be spending at least 1,ooo.oo. I don't think they realize this and it's kind of a delicate situation. Is it tacky to have everyone pay for their own dinner? Or drinks? Also, since everyone coming is from out of town, about 40 people, is it rude to not have everyone at the rehearsal dinner? Please help!
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Re: Rehearsal Dinner Drama! Help!

  • cm10/10cm10/10 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We had our rehearsal at Rock and Bowl.  It was $18pp for food, beer and wine, bowling and shoes.  The OOT guests LOVED it.  It was nice to have something relaxed and "nola" for them to do since our wedding was more formal.  I don't think you need to invite everyone- it's New Orleans, they will have no problem finding something to do.  BUT- do not ask people to pay for their own dinner.  Just find a casual place to have it so it won't be so expensive for your FILs.  Skip an open bar too- but def pay for food.
    We had trouble too finding affordable places downtown, so check out Mid-City and Metairie for cheaper options.  I know 5 Happiness on Carollton Ave has really good prices.
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  • eadlereadler
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you!! Actually 5 Happiness might be a good option, I used to work at a Chinese Rest through college so it is kind of perfect! Thanks again!
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  • NOLAbrideinDCNOLAbrideinDC
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    another good place in the quarter is Oceana. Its buffet style and is pretty reasonable. Good Luck!
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  • meganb1977meganb1977 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Agreed...I think you can do much better than $45/person, especially if you skip the open bar.  Maybe if you feel like keeping the party going, you can have an impromptu after-party at a nearby bar after the rehearsal dinner (in which case it's fine for anyone who wants to join you, to pay for their own drinks).
    Whoever said it was supposed to be happily ever after is a big fat liar.
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  • dandywarholdandywarhol member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I agree with the pp that you can't ask your guest to pay.  Scale it back or be more casual but if you invite them it is your/the host's responsibility to pay.    

    We're having an intimate destination wedding in NOLA at the end of December.  There will be 32 guests at the wedding.  There will be about 18 people for the rehearsal dinner.  The rehearsal dinner will just be for my immediate family and FI's immediate family.  Rather than having a private dinner somewhere, we're just having dinner at Redfish Grill where people can just order off the menu.  


    I do like the idea of Rock and Bowl!

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  • kbsmom1kbsmom1 member
    Ninth Anniversary 100 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    the New Orleans Cooking School does RDs....starting price is 44 per.......its demos and the meal......never been but heard its fun and for oot guest would give a good flavor of NO food
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  • AustenNutAustenNut
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We're doing Rock 'n Bowl and looking forward to it.  Almost everyone who will be at the reception will be at the rehearsal dinner, since nearly everyone is from out of town.
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  • sammyjamessammyjames
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Rock n Bowl would be awesome!
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