Rehearsal Dinner - Need Suggestions (and Hi!) (kinda long)

flutterby31 · August 2010

Hello! I'm a long time lurker (coming up on a year now) and I've gotten a lot of help from my fellow Knotties, but it's time for me to come out of my shell.

I'm getting married on December 27th and I've got some complications with my Rehearsal Dinner.
My FFIL has volunteered to host and pay for the RD (which we are extremely grateful for) but now he's acting like it's a burden that we've placed on him. Our main obstacle is that my MOH is under 21 and I am standing my ground on the "Minors Allowed" issue. It's almost like he's giving up on trying because all of his favorite ideas are 21 and over.

We would like to have a few ideas ready for him (if he still wants to do this, for us if he doesn't) for the next time the RD comes up.

FFIL is pretty stuck on the idea of having the RD the day before the wedding (which I'm ok with), but that's the day after Christmas and FI and I would like it to be a slightly less formal affair to break up the chaos of Christmas from the formality of the wedding. The whole point of the RD (for us) is to have our families meet before the wedding and get to know each other a little bit.

That being said: Does anyone know of any venues in the Greater Puget Sound area (seriously, anywhere from Tacoma to Everett) that might work? Here is what we're looking for:
- Must allow under 21 (can exclude under 18)
- Good for 20-30 people
- Prefer to have cocktails/wine available, but can live without them
- We really don't want to just have a sit down dinner. Dinner is ok but we'd like to encourage lots of mingling.

Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Tygirljojo · August 2010

OSF (Old Spaghetti Factory) has always been a pretty popular RD location in the past. I know it hasn't been mentioned much as of late, but maybe check into it? I know at least the one in Tukwila has a banquet room and I doubt they'd be very busy the day after Christmas. Welcome, BTW! And Dec 27th is my parents anniversary.

flutterby31 · August 2010

Hmm, that might work. I'll see how my FH likes it.

ginabrat911 · August 2010

Buca di Bepo but that's sit down (but fun!) or if your FFIL is a bar lover we found one in Ballard that's fun and family friendly - The People's Pub - they serve excellent German food and there's a section near the front that would probably work well for your party.

kristend72 · August 2010

You're far from needing to worry. There are tons of great places. So first, where is your ceremony location? You don't want people to have to drive a long ways between places.

jennlin · August 2010

i love-love-loved our RD at the melting pot. we had about 25 people, and with that many we were able to pick i think about 4 different cheeses, the max amount of cooking oils/soups, and about 7 chocolates. we walked around most the time dipping/cooking food in multiple flavors. for 25, it was about 1600 including tax and tip and everything. we ordered the expensive lobster/seafood plates, but there are less expensive options. and there's a full bar.

we went to the seattle location, but there is also one in bellevue, and one in tacoma.

H and i have been trying to find a way to go back there, but we can't get a group that size again without treating our friends again!

welcome to un-lurking!

amandasw · August 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_washington-seattle_rehearsal-dinner-need-suggestions-hi-kinda-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:104Discussion:1718512c-d00f-43eb-8f7f-c7606554d407Post:4113a422-49c9-405d-8365-516b4c2f2120">Re: Rehearsal Dinner - Need Suggestions (and Hi!) (kinda long)</a>:
[QUOTE]You're far from needing to worry. There are tons of great places. So first, where is your ceremony location? You don't want people to have to drive a long ways between places.
Posted by kristend72[/QUOTE]

Yeah, this would be helpful (even if you're open to anywhere from Tacoma to Everett, it would make the most sense to have it close to the rehearsal).

flutterby31 · August 2010

Our Wedding is In Seattle at Blue RIbbon Cooking, right on the edge of Lake Union - close to I-5 and just north of 520.

Most of our guests will be staying either in Queen Anne, near Sand Point, or down in Spanaway/Tacoma. Everyone will be staying with family and driving anywhere in that 60 mile radius from Seattle isn't a problem.

Our Actual Rehearsal won't even be on the day of the RD so we're also not worried about having the wedding party have to travel too much.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I really appreciate all the help.

amandasw · August 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_washington-seattle_rehearsal-dinner-need-suggestions-hi-kinda-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:104Discussion:1718512c-d00f-43eb-8f7f-c7606554d407Post:1f72a4be-765b-4f10-8fbb-fb29d752b6fa">Re: Rehearsal Dinner - Need Suggestions (and Hi!) (kinda long)</a>:
[QUOTE]i love-love-loved our RD at the melting pot. we had about 25 people, and with that many we were able to pick i think about 4 different cheeses, the max amount of cooking oils/soups, and about 7 chocolates. we walked around most the time dipping/cooking food in multiple flavors.
Posted by jennlin[/QUOTE]

that sounds amazing! I didn't know you had your RD there. I'm trying to find an excuse to go there again, so good.

Tygirljojo · August 2010

One more option that I've heard of is Tutta Bella pizza in Seattle. Not sure if they have a banquet room, but if you want to encourage mingling, I would aim for someplace where you have your own room so people would feel more comfortable getting up and walking around.

kristend72 · August 2010

Well if Tacoma is a real option, that place I know.

Masa - http://www.masatacoma.com/ It's kind of swankyish Mexican food. They do have a private room upstairs that you can rent out - especially since I think you're doing a Sunday. We had a company Christmas here that went well.

The Swiss - http://www.theswisspub.com/index.html I'm not 100% certain they are all ages but it's worth calling because they have a whole bunch of pool tables that would be a fun mingling activity.

The Lobster Shop - http://www.lobstershop.com/private-dining.htm They do have a private room.

Famous Dave's - BBQ has a laid back feel and the messiness I think chills people out and makes them more chatty. I think the one in Tacoma has a private room.

Duke's - http://www.dukeschowderhouse.com/ They have some pretty good appetizers and the one in Tacoma has a private room I think would fit your group.

You could also go ethnic foods - Indian, Thai, pho, mongolian grill, etc. Just be sure there are some back up foods. I think those are also good for people getting to know each other. It takes people out of their comfort zones and thus they're more likely to bond with others. People are all jazzed and asking each other "What is this!? How do you eat it?!" After a bit you can bring out some PB&J for those who are still hungry. You can also look at doing something like a bowling alley or something like that.

I think you're okay even if you go with a sit-down dinner. Your group really isn't that big. Just work on facilitating by assigning seating that splits up the usual groups and in your introductions, trying to include something that they might have in common like, "Mark, this is my cousin Scott. He's a huge hockey fan, too."

flutterby31 · September 2010

UPDATE: It looks like FFIL is leaning toward Buca de Beppo. We've sent him the guest list for the RD so now I just wait.

Thanks for all the suggestions ladies!

Rehearsal Dinner - Need Suggestions (and Hi!) (kinda long)

Re: Rehearsal Dinner - Need Suggestions (and Hi!) (kinda long)

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