Often, yes: the rehearsal dinner is held separately from the wedding venue, but plenty of couples hold it at the same place or somewhere nearby, and there is no single rule. The venue's own calendar, the size of your guest list and your budget decide it. Below we explain how to choose, what it usually costs to host one at a private venue like ours, and how to plan the evening so everyone, from grandparents to the wedding party, has a good time.
Does the rehearsal dinner have to be at the wedding venue?
No. A rehearsal dinner is a separate event that happens the evening before the wedding, usually after the walk-through of the ceremony. Traditionally the groom's family hosts it, though today many couples or both families share the cost. It can be held anywhere that suits the guest list, from a restaurant to a family home to the venue itself.
Many couples do hold it at the venue, because the rehearsal has to happen there anyway. If you have booked a place with a ceremony space on site, the wedding party can walk through the ceremony and then sit down to dinner without anyone driving anywhere. Whether this is possible depends on the venue's calendar, the day-before rules and any fees, so ask when you tour.
When to hold it at the venue, and when not to
Holding the rehearsal dinner at your venue works best when:
- The rehearsal is on site. The wedding party practises, then eats together, and no one has to travel.
- You want a relaxed atmosphere. A private garden dinner feels more personal than a crowded restaurant.
- You are bringing in your own caterer. You may already have a relationship with a caterer and can ask for a smaller menu.
- Out-of-town guests are staying nearby. A single base keeps things simple.
It may be better to choose another place when you want a very different mood from the wedding itself, when the venue is booked the night before, or when your rehearsal guest list is much larger than you expected. A dinner at a restaurant or a home near the wedding party's hotel is a perfectly good choice too, and our guide to restaurants versus a private venue explains how to weigh that trade-off for any gathering.
What a rehearsal dinner usually involves
Most rehearsal dinners are smaller and more informal than the wedding. A good plan has five parts:
- The walk-through. The officiant, couple and wedding party practise where to stand and when to walk. It rarely takes more than 30 to 45 minutes.
- Arrival drinks. A short cocktail hour gives people time to meet each other.
- Dinner. A buffet or a family-style meal keeps the mood relaxed, and it is easier to cater than plated service.
- Toasts. This is often the place for the heartfelt speeches, which leaves more time for dancing at the wedding.
- An early night. Most couples end the evening at a reasonable hour, since the next day is long.
Who attends? The wedding party, immediate family, the officiant and often any guests travelling from out of town. Some couples invite everyone; others keep it to 20 or 30 people. Decide on a number early, because it drives your budget more than any other choice.
What it costs to host a gathering at the manor
At The Enchanted Manor, a private event for up to 50 guests is $4,200, for 50 to 75 guests it is $5,400 and for 75 to 100 guests it is $6,600. A ceremony-only booking starts from $1,500. Bookings include five hours plus two hours of setup, and extra hours are $300 each. All events must finish by 10pm.
We do not require venue food and beverage packages. You bring your own caterer and your own liquor and beverages, and a bartender can work under the caterer's license. Georgia recommends caterers she trusts, but the choice is yours. That flexibility is what makes the manor a good fit for an event like a rehearsal dinner: you can scale the menu to the size of the evening.
Other charges to plan for include:
- Cleaning: $300
- Refundable security deposit: $250
- Tables: $8 each, and tablecloths $10 each
- Heaters: $75 each, for cooler evenings
- Battery lanterns and candles: $2 each
- Microphone rental: $25
- Cooler: $20
One-day event insurance is required, naming Georgia Durante and The Enchanted Manor, and it typically costs between $66 and $124. Tables and chairs come from an outside rental vendor, and Georgia shares her contacts. Chairs are available from Marina on (818) 454-6831.
Why a garden setting suits a rehearsal dinner
A rehearsal dinner is about people, not production. The manor's 18,000-plus square feet of grounds offer plenty of places to gather in small groups: a patio table by the thatched gazebo bar, the private patio with its outdoor fireplace and plush couches, and a lava-rock fire pit ringed with wicker chairs. In the evening, fairy lights in the trees give the whole garden a soft glow.
One guest, Shannon, told us, "Our guests were blown away and kept asking... how did you find this place?!" Mirela R. described it as "not a back yard but an oasis." Because the house sound system and wireless microphone are available, toasts are easy to hear without hiring extra equipment. We do not allow DJs, which keeps the evening conversational.
Parking matters for a dinner, too. We have space for 12 to 15 cars on the cul-de-sac plus open street parking, and we recommend Uber or Lyft for events instead of valet, which does not work well on our street.
Planning the weekend around the manor
If you are holding both the rehearsal and the celebration within the same weekend, there are a few ways the manor can help. A couple can stay in the honeymoon suite at a discount, and out-of-town guests receive a special rate at The Mariposa hotel, one block away. If your family prefers a private house to a hotel, the Inn sleeps up to six with both extra rooms open. You can read about it on our vacation rental page.
The manor hosts birthdays, showers, engagement parties, anniversaries, reunions, baptisms, memorials, corporate events and weddings of all kinds. If your rehearsal dinner is part of a larger wedding weekend, our guide to an intimate wedding venue in Los Angeles covers the planning in more depth, and our engagement party locations guide works well for smaller pre-wedding gatherings.
Questions to ask any venue about a rehearsal dinner
- Can we hold the rehearsal and dinner here the night before the wedding?
- Is that included in the wedding price, or booked and priced separately?
- What time must the evening finish?
- Can we bring our own caterer and drinks?
- What insurance, deposits and cleaning fees apply?
- What is the guest limit, parking situation and sound policy?
Written answers save arguments later. Note that the answers above describe our own policies, so ask us for the current terms before you plan.
Enquire about your event
If you are planning a rehearsal dinner, a wedding weekend, or any celebration for up to 100 guests, we would love to show you around. Call or text Georgia on (213) 999-3050, or look at our weddings and events page to see what is included. Come and see the grounds for yourself, because photographs only tell part of the story.
Frequently asked questions
Does the rehearsal dinner have to be at the wedding venue?
No. It is a separate event the night before, and couples hold it at restaurants, family homes or the venue itself. Holding it at the venue is convenient when the rehearsal is on site.
Can I bring my own caterer to The Enchanted Manor?
Yes. You hire your own caterer and bring your own liquor and beverages, with no venue food and beverage package. A bartender can work under the caterer's license.
What time must an event at the manor end?
Events include five hours plus two hours of setup and must end by 10pm. Extra hours are $300 each.
Do I need event insurance?
Yes. One-day event insurance naming Georgia Durante and The Enchanted Manor is required, and it averages $66 to $124.
Where can out-of-town guests stay?
Out-of-town guests get a special rate at The Mariposa hotel, one block away, and the Inn on the property sleeps up to six.
