Next issue with which I need assistance, if you please. I have never been one who can feed a crowd on short notice. I know that wedding weekend, we will have a lot of people in and out of the house and some (most) will want to be fed. I can handle brunchy food on the Sunday after. But what about the days leading up to it (e.g. the Thursday before)? The rehearsal dinner is Italian and the reception is barbeque, so those food categories are out. Do I just have a spiral sliced ham and other cold cuts and good bread around for sandwiches? I need ideas for food that can be pulled out “whenever” people are around and want to eat. Thanks!
I like the idea of the ham and cold cuts. I would also pick up a veggie platter, cheese and crackers and a big container of cookies from Costco or SAMs.
@Southmom My husband and I were married on Sullivan’s Island and had our reception in Mt Pleasant in Oct 1991. It was beautiful. One thing my husband’s family did was rent a 10 bedroom beach house on Isle of Palms instead of staying in hotels. They had a huge beach party for our rehearsal dinner which people still comment on. Hopefully, your daughter will have the same , wonderful experience that we did. Best of luck.
@abasket… H reserved a hotel block for D’s 2017 wedding. Talked with Marriott wedding manager directly; got discounted rate (not much!); can add more rooms if needed and available; D will get Marriott points for all rooms reserved in block…and guests will also get their Marriott points. The one item he is still waiting to hear about is whether the rate will apply if guests want more than 2 nights he blocked.
After he booked…I did see this article on line…he’s reviewing to see if there is something he’s missed…
http://grouptravel.org/wedding/questions-to-ask-when-blocking-hotel-rooms-for-your-wedding-guests/
Thanks for that article @gosmom. Left two messages but had no calls back today.
@missypie, I’ve been trying to think what else to have around besides sandwich fixings - mostly because I’m not a sandwich person so I’m trying to think what else would be “pull out and eat” ready on a dime. Of course you could get some pre-formed burgers/buns to throw on the grill. Costco sells a 2 pack of quiche that is quite good and could just be cut and warmed piece by piece. Ready to go fruit and veggie trays are a great idea. And keep the number of a really good pizza carry out place ready on your phone. 
I just heard today about a new development – the “Will you be my bridesmaid event”. This is not something my D or future DIL did, but I heard about it via a NYC area friend with an engaged daughter. These can be elaborate – Google will get you to photo shoots of some of these pink parties. What do people here think?
Future DIL said she sent her prospective MofH a letter talking about their friendship and explaining why she was inviting her to take on the role.
Son said, “I invited my (two) groomsmen by text.”
“Will you be my bridesmaid event”.What do people here think?
I just don’t buy into the “everything is an event” attitude. So I think that’s a big no. But then again, many of these kids are from the “promposal” generation.
D wrote notes to her bridesmaids on cute cards that a local shop had printed for that specific purpose.
I’m so glad that mine missed everything from Promposal to Gender ID parties.
My reaction to them all is “get over yourself, the world doesn’t revolve around you”. I blame Pinterest
@carolinamom2boys - your post is timely. We just rented a big beachfront house on Sullivan’s Island for immediate family, close friends, and several of the bridesmaids. We rented it from Wednesday to Wednesday of my daughter’s wedding weekend (figured my husband and I can collapse with exhaustion for a few days on the beach after my daughter and her fiancee leave for their honeymoon on the Sunday following their wedding).
We found houses on VRBO great for graduations and other events. Be aware that they have been taken over by Expedia and added fees are reported.
A house can easily be cheaper and more fun than hotel rooms. At my Daughters graduation, we had three generations sharing a house, and then hosting a yard full of BBQ for family and friends.
If your child attends a small school, reserve at T-364 days.
Future DIL gave each of my Ds a glass mug engraved with “will you be my bridesmaid” and filled with cut flowers. S called each groomsman months later. FDIL has a large group of girlfriends and this is how they do it.
Geez. Knowing my DD, I assume that “will you be my bridesmaid” was accomplished via a group text.
My daughter’s in 3 weddings this year. All requests have come by text or other social media. Getting information about the wedding from #1, June 23, is like pulling teeth and I just got a Facebook notice if I’d like to be invited (not just me, this request went to hundreds of people). I’ve spoken to MOB to try to get info about dresses but the closest we got was ‘well the colors are navy and gold’. Wedding #2, Oct 1, has been in the works for 2 years. No info on the dress yet. Wedding 3, New Years Eve, the dress is in the closet and we’re ready to go.
Missypie, some quiches might be good! Burgers and dogs you can throw on the grill…salad with separate fixings so folks can make what they like…
My D1 is maid of honor in a bestie’s wedding this summer. The bride asked her by first asking D to go with her bridal dress shopping. The bride went in to try on a dress with a consultant and came out wearing a bridal dress but also a cute apron that said “will you be my MOH?” - Completely surprised my daughter! D now has the apron as a memento - which is cute because she and the bride love to cook together!
I think my S asked his guys mostly in person or by phone. One friend - they played tennis together in high school and through college - he lives in Nashville so son send him a can of tennis balls in the mail that had some snarky note that had him open the can right away and there was a note asking him inside.
The cut flowers sound lovely, but that glass mug probably won’t ever be used (reminds me of the wedding favors that people never wanted).
I like the quiche idea. That would give H something to do because he is really proud (justifiably so) of his from-scratch pie crusts.
Because Son has Asperger’s, he doesn’t exactly have a posse of guys he hangs with. The issue of groomsmen/best man was always this issue hanging over everything. I think I am the one who came up with the idea of having his two sisters stand up for him. His fiancé was content with having only two bridesmaids. so we’re set.
My d who’s currently engaged is struggling over how many to ask to be in the wedding party. She’s already asked her two sisters and the groom’s sister, but she has a childhood friend, several college roommates, and a grad school roommate to whom she’s close. She’d love to have all of them as bridesmaids but knows a lot of folks would think she’s overdoing it. So she has to decide if that bothers her.
As to how she asked her sisters and future SIL: she bought some cute cards, blank on the inside, with “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?” on the cover, and wrote a personal note. The sisters already knew they’d be asked since they had worked out a round robin for being each other’s honor attendant years ago.
I’m enjoying following these wedding discussions. My D’s are not engaged yet, but my older one looks to be heading down that road in the next year or so. I’m saving lots of these great suggestions.
D1 has already said that she will be married outside by the ocean. We have several lovely places she could do this. She also said she only wants her sister to stand up with her. D1 is a very smart, practical person and would rather have $$'s for buying a house rather than a big wedding. This is just all talk for her at this point so we will see what she actually wants when she does get engaged!