:: view topic - suggestions for a wonderful Italian Rehearsal dinner

katy Vuncannon · joined: 19 Oct 2005 posts: 8 location: North Carolina

Hello,

my son is getting married in NC in June and the wedding will be quite formal. I would very much like to host an Italian Rehearsal dinner--possibly outdoors, with an Italian band and great food. There will be approximately 150 guests.

all ideas welcomed

ciliegia · joined: 04 Jul 2005 posts: 18 location: New Jersey

katy Vuncannon · joined: 19 Oct 2005 posts: 8 location: North Carolina

Oh , I am so sorry . I was not clear about my question. The dinner will be in NC but i am looking for ideas for the clelbration itself. A theme, ideas for table decor etc.....

katy Vuncannon · joined: 19 Oct 2005 posts: 8 location: North Carolina

Oh , I am so sorry . I was not clear about my question. The dinner will be in NC but i am looking for ideas for the clelbration itself. A theme, ideas for table decor etc.....

guest · posted: 10:11 am, Oct 19 2005 **subject: Re: Italian Rehearsal dinner**

Sicilian · posted: 10:19 am, Oct 19 2005 **subject: Re: Italian Rehearsal dinner**

Sicilian · posted: 10:19 am, Oct 19 2005 **subject: Re: Italian Rehearsal dinner**

katy Vuncannon · joined: 19 Oct 2005 posts: 8 location: North Carolina

oh dear , I am making a mess of this! I was just hopeful that by asking for ideas from NY, I would get some hints that would be different from what I would hear in NC.

The wedding is in Charlotte and I would like to hear about an Italian gala I could copy for the rehearsal dinner. I don't need suggestions for a place, just a theme or decor or invitation idea...etc

katy Vuncannon · joined: 19 Oct 2005 posts: 8 location: North Carolina

oh dear , I am making a mess of this! I was just hopeful that by asking for ideas from NY, I would get some hints that would be different from what I would hear in NC.

The wedding is in Charlotte and I would like to hear about an Italian gala I could copy for the rehearsal dinner. I don't need suggestions for a place, just a theme or decor or invitation idea...etc

katy Vuncannon · joined: 19 Oct 2005 posts: 8 location: North Carolina

oh dear , I am making a mess of this! I was just hopeful that by asking for ideas from NY, I would get some hints that would be different from what I would hear in NC.

The wedding is in Charlotte and I would like to hear about an Italian gala I could copy for the rehearsal dinner. I don't need suggestions for a place, just a theme or decor or invitation idea...etc

NJ-Guy · posted: 10:51 am, Oct 19 2005 **subject: Rehearsal Dinner**

One idea would be the "Venetian Carnival". Take a look at the following
site.

http://venicexplorer.net/carnevale-di-venezia/index.php

By the way is there someone in Charlotte able to cater that many people
with "good" Italian food ?

Good Luck !!

ciliegia · joined: 04 Jul 2005 posts: 18 location: New Jersey

ciliegia · joined: 04 Jul 2005 posts: 18 location: New Jersey

katy Vuncannon · joined: 19 Oct 2005 posts: 8 location: North Carolina

thanks for the link! My daughter in law might find that a little too festive-----we don't want to overshadow the wedding! As for good Italian food, I plan to provide the caterer with recipes.....

Leah · joined: 08 May 2005 posts: 300 location: Houston

Katy-

I can't help with the 'gala' part but I am giving an Italian dinner this Saturday for 30 people.

The most important things at an Italian dinner is lots of good friends, good food, and good wine. :)

My dinners are not fancy. On the invite I call my dinner "Italian Family Table Dinner". I provide the pasta, salad, and bread (ciabatta) and ask the guests to bring either a bottle of wine or antipasti.

Here are some ideas for those who wish to have an at home dinner:

I use red and white checked tablecloths (although I never have seen these being used in Italy). I put three glass 'prayer candles' green-white-red (without the religious paintings on them) in the center of each table along with over-flowing bread baskets and saucers of extra virgin olive oil with grated Italian herbs for dipping.

Chianti bottles look cute but we prefer to drink Merlot. I also always make a huge pickle jar of homemade limoncello. The limoncello is always a big hit with the native Italians :)

I made a big 6 x 8 foot flag to hang on the outside patio brick wall.. that's the extent of my decorating other than the tables. We eat outdoors... I spray a mosquito bug bomb 30 minutes before the guests arrive. I also hang a smaller flag from the mailbox so that the newbies can find the house.

Mosts of the plates are mismatched and we use small plain glasses for the vino! By the time the people, plates, baskets, wine and water bottles are on the table there isn't much room for anything else. Sometimes I put a fruit basket and a basket of nuts on the table after we clear off some of the plates if I have not made my ricotta cheesecake for desert.

The evening air is filled with a mixture of Italian-American, traditional and modern Italian music.

Buon appetito!
Ciao,
Leah