May Projects: Invitations, Rehearsal Dinner

Posted Wednesday, May 06, 2009 5:12 PM

The favors are done, done, done. 150 4x6x6 kraft (natural brown) boxes, each stuffed with a mini-margarita glass (padded with neon green shred) then tied with a wide ribbon of yellow tulle and a thin strip of natural green raffia. I'm very pleased with the way they turned out!

I've spent my extra hours at work this week developing the personalized RSVP cards for each family/guest - that's a slow and rather arduous process, but it's coming along nicely and I think everyone will appreciate the personal touch.

A major sticking point along the way has been the rehearsal dinner. As I mentioned earlier, the economy recently forced Erik's father to sell the family business, and as a result we were told that the budget had been cut considerably. Erik and I were asked to make a choice between "a nice dinner with a few people" or "everybody at McDonalds." (A not-so-cute exaggeration made by his father.) We chose everybody at McDonalds, because I'll be damned if our bridal party members are traveling 100+ miles to a wedding and can't bring their significant others simply because they're not yet engaged.

Erik and I offered to do some research. After hours online, a multitude of phone calls, and a Saturday driving to various parks and potential caterers, we provided the best option to his dad and step-mom: a nice late-afternoon/evening catered event at Seneca Creek State Park. The lot we chose fit up to 50 people, had plenty of parking and its own playground, and offered a lovely lake view. Catering would be through Corner Bakery, who I'd cajoled into delivering. The total cost for 50 people would be around $500, and we'd even have the leeway to extend invitations to some extended family members who arrived in town early! Erik called his dad to give him the good news. The conversation ended with his dad saying. "Great! I'll reserve the site, then we'll just send you a check so you can set it all up."

Not exactly the kind of enthusiasm I was hoping for. But I prepped myself for the worst, began on rehearsal dinner wording that we could simply add to the existing invites, finalized the picnic menu with the caterer, and waited to hear back.

After a week, we still hadn't heard confirmation of the site being reserved, so Erik called back to confirm. His dad gave the phone directly to Erik's stepmom, who quickly expressed that she thought the entire picnic idea stunk. She thought it was much too low-class, so she'd taken matters into her own hands. I know nothing of the current plan beyond: it will take place in a banquet room at the guest hotel on Friday evening. No menu options, no talk about who's invited, no input on the invitations.

The kicker: I just checked with the hotel. They don't have any banquet rooms that will fit the number of people on my rehearsal dinner checklist. She didn't mention cutting anyone from the list, so now instead of planning a fun picnic, I'm planning how to nicely tell my best friend that she can't bring her girlfriend to the dinner because she's not engaged. (The kicker: She's gay. They can't be engaged.) Woohoo.