Be sure and check out what happens locally at the time of wedding that might affect availability. Ex: if college town - graduation, parents weekend, big football games, also HS graduation dates, events like road races, festivals, etc. if tourist area is it high season
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Wedding isnât for 11 months but I am pretty excited 
but staying in my lane, which currently is Etsy ideas for âfun thingsâ, activity bags for littles, and the rehearsal lunch/dinner/picnic/ whatever. The town is pretty small, so choices are limited. My B and SIL have offered to host a rehearsal picnic (they are maybe 20 minutes from the venue) but B is very much a human steamroller and I know weâll lose all ability to be involved â which I think of as a negative, ymmv.
D2âs wedding is this weekend. I am feeling a bit of jitter because D2 tends to get upset whenever things do not go as planned. The wedding ceremony and cocktail hour are outdoor, so we have been monitoring the weather. Fingers crossed that the weather will be as predicted, hot and low chance of rain. I put on the dress I bought/altered 6 months ago and it still fits. 
D1 would normally be more helpful, but she is 7 months pregnant. I am hoping the wedding planner will do her job well. We have a final call with her tomorrow.
We booked the night before welcome party 9 months ago because we are inviting all guests and itâs not easy find a venue in NYC.
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Congratulations and I hope it all goes very well!!! Please report back afterwards.
Granddaughter is going to be the flower girl. She is 3.5 and has a mind of her own. Her Dad is on standby to walk her down if she should get stage fright.
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Everything will be lovely!
My D also had an outdoor ceremony (in the mountains, where it can go from snow to 75 degrees in the same day) and my comment to her upon making that decision, was that she had to make peace with whatever weather God/nature chose for that day and not let it affect her mood. The actual day came with a mixed bag of sun/wind/rain/70âs/50âs. By the time the ceremony started, it was sunny but in the 50âs with a breeze. She made peace with it, and it was a wonderful day. Fingers crossed that it will be the same way for your daughter.
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Awww⊠
Iâm sure she will be a great flower girl! And if something goes off script, it will make the event more memorable.
Our flower girl decided to join the father-daughter dance as soon as the dance started. We still laugh at that!
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Friendâs daughter got married at the top of a ski lift/mountain. Ceremony at 5 pm. At 4:55 the heavens opened up and all people seated got soaked (no where to go). The pictures for the wedding party under clear umbrellas were lovely. The photog uses them in promotional material!
My nephew got married outside a few weeks ago. A little windy at ceremony time but otherwise beautiful. I noticed there were handheld fans and umbrellas at the ready, but we didnât need either. Not too hot, not raining. Very short ceremony.
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Congratulations, Iâm sure all will be lovely and your GD will be adorable. Looking forward to hearing about it.
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June 7 for you as well?
DD plans to have rehearsal dinner at our place (acreage in the country). It will be more work for me but DH is so tickled he bought 2 picnic tables already. It will be fun and casual with yard games, and kept to just those that need to be there (20-30). If any rain, we can be in the garage. The wedding and reception are in small towns without a lot of options and I think this will be a lot better than sitting around in the one restaurant that has a party room.
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I convinced my daughter to have the rehearsal dinner at the venue place the night before and invite everyone as everyone will be an out of town guest. No extra cost because her MIL-to-be owns the venue. Very casual, probably BBQ and beer. Western themed. Dogs welcome.
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Good luck! Canât wait to hear about it all!
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@oldfort - I canât wait to hear all about your Dâs wedding. Enjoy the day with your family. Iâm sure your granddaughter will be adorable as the flower girl even if Dad needs to walk with her.
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At D2âs April wedding the plan all along was for the flower girlâs mom (a bridesmaid) to walk down the aisle with flower girl (she was 5 yrs old and shy). She was just as adorable walking with her mom as she would have been alone! She carried her little basket of pedals and did it with a âconfident cause Iâm with mommyâ smile!
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My niece has a severely handicapped child. D asked her cousin if he would be the ring bearer when he was around 2. D bought him a cute, comfortable outfit to wear, and my niece decorated a wagon. They propped him up on pillows in the wagon, and his mom walked him down the aisle. It was really special!
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@oldfort enjoy the day. Iâm sure no matter how your granddaughter gets down the aisle she will be adorable. Itâs crazy how so much time has past and all these children are getting married and having children.
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Hoping all goes well, the weather is fine, and itâs a joyous occasion for all involved. Hopefully you will share details next week.
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After spending a few days w S/FdIL Iâve learned their âidealâ rehearsal scenario is everyone from their families stays together in one place. and I said, wow, 8 bedrooms is a heavy lift. And they share that well, her family usually stays in a camp or a hostel, so weâd just need 2 or 3 because weâd be bunking together.
also learned their idea of helping seems to be not doing anything at all unless and until asked specificallyâŠbut S says MOB is ânot really into wedding plansâ so FDIL is hoping I am. But not to do anything unless asked.
I am on the porch having a drink 
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Well, start here???
So are you saying they want everyone to spend the night together the night before the wedding?
Since that involves you personally I think itâs ok to say you are not comfortable with that scenario. That things will be busy and you want to be well rested and have your personal space. At least your own bedroom!
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hahaâŠyes, I had already assumed that if they wanted anything, theyâd say so â but apparently even âoooh look at this neat ideaâ is bad or too much. And of course I can not do that, I said. Oh, but he doesnât want me to feel not included. He was fraught and venting.
yes, her whole family (so 8 or so) plus Bride/Groom and the 4 of us. 6 couples, one single, one couple who sleep separately. I did say oh wow, you know thatâs a lot to ask and he got that, but wanted me to know while itâs okay to not want to do it, itâs okay for them to feel disappointed. I had said it isnât just us, itâs the issue of where is this mythical lodging and Bride found one âonlyâ 45 minutes from the venue. I did not say anything after that point, my brain was busy rejecting most comments that came to mind.
Reception after party? I had not known that is a thing either.
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