Tip Tuesday: Jazz Up Your Rehearsal Dinner

What’s better than a wedding day? A wedding weekend! To kick off the weekend’s celebration the couple welcomed and thanked their guests for traveling to Utah at an authentic Rocky Mountain BBQ at Sundance’s Elk Meadows the day before the wedding.  Straw bails draped with horse blankets, blue checked tables clothes and wild flowers in mason jars completed the look. Mason jars were also used as lanterns and hung from Shepherd hooks with a candle in dried peas. Salmon, chicken and pulled pork was served directly off of the grill on blue splatter tin ware.  The blue grass band delighted guests as clouds and thunder threatened the festivities. The staff at Sundance was ready with plastic ponchos as dessert was served. It started to rain just as homemade pie was being topped with the couple’s favorite Cold Stone Creamery ice cream. Some guests ran for the cover and others just laughed as summer storms can be, unpredictable and sudden in the mountains.

Luckily, the weather for the wedding was beautiful as well as the weather for the bride and groom’s farewell brunch. More photos are available on Nick Sokoloff Photography’s blog.

You too can plan a wonderful welcome celebration for your guests that can double as your rehearsal dinner. Welcome celebrations come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from a sit down dinner to a casual buffet. You might even decide to welcome your guests following the rehearsal dinner with a cocktail party serving just drinks and hors d’œuvres.  A BBQ theme is always a hit with guests, especially in Utah. Consider hiring a musician that plays folk music and using playful checked linens for a picnic feeling.  Floral can be simple by using galvanized tin buckets and wild flowers. Check and see if your photographer will include shooting this event in their package or for an additional fee.  Many different types of venues would work well for welcoming your out of town guests. Your backyard, a state park, art gallery or a mountain lodge are all fabulous choices depending on your budget and style.

Design & Decor: Soiree Productions
Floral: Artisan Bloom
Photography: Nick Sokoloff Photography
Venue: Sundance’s Elk Meadows