You can make this as complicated or as easy as you want to.
Do you have the exact date? Approximate number of guests they want to invite? If so…you can look at venues for availability on the date(s) you will consider. In your situation, perhaps one stop shopping would work. I so wish we lived near a relative who owns an awesome catering business. When you plan a wedding with him…it’s one stop…he has food, beverages, flowers, bakery, and even a short list of photographers. He then gives you a list of DJs and bands he has on a preferred vendor list.
He also has rooms that can accommodate varying sizes of groups.
My niece just did one in 6 months and it was big and fancy (working around pregnant sister). First was to find date that worked with church and country club. The good about club was that catering is in-house and they hosted another D wedding there (and had been to lots of weddings there) so knew what getting into. Dress only took 3 months to get in and she did that pretty quickly. Ended up having to use several hotels since no one had enough rooms but was ok since they provided shuttles for guests from all hotels. They also booked band quickly cause it was a big deal to them. Person who did flowers also did day-of coordination.
I think key was venue that also catered - one less thing to coordinate. Good luck @TatinG
@oregon101 Video of bustling/putting on dress is brilliant idea!
We looked at seven venues. DD is not closeby…so we did this over a two day time. My criteria was that the venue had to include the catering, bar service, tables, etc. There were some really lovely venues we looked at or heard about… it they required renting everything (chairs, tables, linens), getting our own caterer and bar service, etc. TBH, I just couldn’t wrap my head around the logistics of all of that.
We looked only at places where the venue included the catering and bar service…and we didn’t need to rent anything.
We did not do Save the Dates and are not doing welcome bags for out of town guests in their hotel rooms or favors at the reception, so that cut down on my work load. I ordered the invitations, reception cards, RSVP cards, etc. from an online print shop after finding something that suited the couple. We’ve had a three changes to the guest list since a week after the table chart was ordered. I requested one extra table be set for such surprise guests. It’s on them if they’re embarrassed by not seeing their names on that chart. FSiL asked if I could order a new one with rush delivery. Nope. At some point the craziness has to be reined in.
I would have loved to do one stop shopping with an inclusive caterer/wedding planner. D had her heart set on a particular church and reception venue, and nothing else would do. Dh’s response to me was “Make it so.”
@VeryHappy, does that particular awkward venue have reviews for it as a wedding reception site? Was there something in particular that you know of that drew them to it? It just sounds awful, frankly.
The venue is a historic house and garden. There are three approved bartending services to choose from. Finding a caterer and all the rest will be up to me.
D got it after an acquaintance lost $$$$$ after venue/caterer went out of business days after she gave 50% contractual down payment 5 months before wedding. Also, a family friend’s D had her wedding scheduled for Oct. 8, 2016 in Charleston. SC governor made all evacuate because of Hurricane Matthew…
@TatinG, when I had my chocolate business, one of my clients was a high end full service event planner/caterer. They took care of everything: rentals, food, bar service, decor, and all very individual and of very high quality. They used a few local vendors for specialty items, such as wedding cakes. I was their truffle (and sea salt caramel) supplier for events ranging from exquisite catered dinners to big weddings, including the Bush family in Kennebunk and one over-the-top affair where the MOB flew in 30,000 roses!
Anyway, if you can find a really good company like theirs, it would ensure a lovely, low-stress event. I might add that they were great people to work with.
Maybe if you give us some rough idea of the location, someone will have some recs for you.
Son just sent an email to all 24 members of the wedding party (including their significant others) and the immediate family. These are the “important” people who will be at the rehearsal dinner. I’ve got steam coming out of my ears, but I’m going to take the high road. Three things:
First, he says
Well, one might have wanted to hear about this earlier. I’m wearing my wonderful hot pink and aqua blue paisley dress with the hot pink suede heels, thank you very much. I guess I’ll stand out, but in a good way.
Next, he mis-identifies the start time of the rehearsal dinner. He put 6:30, and it’s at 6:00, which he knows. Of course there’s important timing, since another 18 people are showing up at 8:00 PM for cocktails. So that I emailed him about. He needs to correct it by sending everyone another email.
And then, he invites all these people over to our house for a cookout on Thursday night.
No RSVP requested. So how the heck do I plan for that??!
High road. High road. All will be fine. They will be married.
Cookout can be hotdogs and coleslaw or tossed greens–Costco has them in mega portions; they also have the Costco rotisserie chicken. I’d have him also get the RSVPs when he sends out the correction on start time for rehearsal dinner or have him personally contact everyone on whether or not they’re coming for the cookout.
How about the other people going to the rehearsal dinner? Do they know it is Flannel Friday? My guess is you won’t be the only one dressed up but there will be some surprised guests. We’ve been having an unseasonable heat wave here lately - 88 to 90 degrees and humid in Northern New England. It might not even be flannel weather on that day.
Even if son cooks and is responsible for the cookout, I can understand your frustration, @VeryHappy. If it is held at my house, I feel a responsibility as the hostess for a certain standard.
@doschicos, I’m in southern New England and it’s hot here too, but next weekend should be more reasonable.
He already sent out the correction for the rehearsal dinner time. We won’t get RSVPs for the cookout but I can guesstimate. I know some of his friends probably won’t be in our town until Friday anyway.
But I don’t know how many. 8-}
ETA: I think I’ll ask him tomorrow if he and Bride are planning to shop and cook for that event, since I hadn’t planned on it.
My guess is you won’t be the only one dressed up but there will be some surprised guests. We’ve been having an unseasonable heat wave here lately - 88 to 90 degrees and humid in Northern New England. It might not even be flannel weather on that day.