Rehearsal-dinner venue: a wedding guide

Your wishlist

Answer these before you meet anyone.

• What kind of place are you picturing?

  What you are hoping for — compare it against each space's own type, below.

• Roughly how many people at the dinner?

• How do you want the meal to work?

What to ask each one

• Who handles the food?

  Restaurants cover this by default; rented spaces and backyards need the food answered separately.

• How is the meal served?

• What kind of space is it?

• Room capacity

• When do you have the space?

  This event's own vendors read this window — a photographer covering the dinner, or a drop-off dessert.

• Is there a hard end time?

  Restaurants turn rooms for second seatings; some spaces carry a real closing time.

How it’s usually priced

Usually priced as one flat amount.

Possible extras: Food & beverage minimum, Private-room / site fee.

What you settle once booked

• Who's invited to the rehearsal dinner?

• Toasts and speeches

• Where does it move if the weather turns?

• Who makes the weather call?

  One name. A call two people share is a call nobody makes.

• By what time is the call made?

  Setup crews need the answer before they start, so this usually lands the morning of.

What to look over

Correct these details as needed.

• How many people at the dinner?

The day-of sheet

Confirm arrival, finish, who to call, access, a meal, and what is due.

Across the whole day

Choose which moments to include.

• Rehearsal dinner