Portland rehearsal dinner: Megan & Trevor

Rehearsal dinner BBQ at home in the Pacific Northwest

When two families become one, a night of bonding over local food is the best pre-game to the big day

Is there anything better than having all of your people gathered together in one place? That's one of the greatest things about a traditional wedding, it's the once in a lifetime chance of everyone you love in one place. In this modern world, we always suggest that our clients take full advantage of their time together, and that's exactly with this couple of Kelsey Timberlake Events did!

Hosted at the bride's family home, we planned a casual, yet upscale, BBQ for their rehearsal dinner with their wedding party. Immediately following dinner, the guest list opened up into everyone also invited to the wedding. The welcome party format gives everyone a chance to meet and catch up. And of course, raise a glass or two.

For the design, the clients wanted everything to feel approachable but still upscale. My favorite way of achieving approachability in a design is by makes design choices that feel like they belong in the space. Pulling cues from the blue hydrangea in gardens and the green meadow surrounding the home, our simple theme and color scheme was a nobrainer.

Another trick of creating a space of ease is by varying the layout throughout the spaces. By bringing in a mixture of cocktail tables, lounge furniture and traditional tables and chairs, there was a place for everyone to feel comfortable.

And yes! Once the sun dipped down behind the hills, the guests utilized the throw blankets and got cozy around the fire pit.

The top request of the mother of the bride was a "sunset viewing amphitheater" in the meadow. We can report that each seat was filled!

Keeping the floral pallet simple in tones of whites and pale yellows made the wild "just gathered" arrangements feel effortless.

The couples monogram for the wedding was also debuted here at the rehearsal dinner party on details such as the bar cart branding and custom cups and napkins. A chic touch indeed!

But really our favorite part of the entire set up, was the clients party barn as they call it. Built by the father of the bride, it was an absolute natural place to host the rehearsal dinner. We just love when speeches, toasts and prayers among friends and family become the focus of the dinner entertainment! Though in truth, that locally sourced, fresh off the grill salmon was also the talk of the room.