Rehearsal Dinner or Reception

[Stacy015]

I've seen threads about recommendations for the Rehearsal Dinner or Reception Dinner..

 

But I have around 40 guests, and several of these places either don't have room for that many (without a buy-out), or have very expensive menus when your party is that large.

 

Has anyone planned a dinner with this many guests? Any recommendations?

 

Thanks!

[Brenna]

We had the same issue as we will have around 33 people. We decided to do a luau for the reception. Generally all food, drinks and the show are included in the per person price. I know a lot of my friends would be able to rack up quite a bill for drinks alone so this was the best choice for us.

We are using the Old Lahaina Luau and have heard fabulous things abou it. They also include a lei for each guest. I hope this helps! If you want to find out more, here is their website: Maui Luaus, Old Lahaina Maui Luau | Official Website

[lindsnyff]

I also have the same problem.....Thank you for answering a question, I've been trying to solve!!

[Stacy015]

Well... we still haven't decided or found exactly what we want in our price range, but I did find -->

 

Some people had mentioned Hula Grill for their rehearsal dinner. We are considering them because they can hold 40, and their menu isn't ridiculous. It also seems very casual and fun. We don't really want anything fancy. We just want to have a good time and not spend a fortune.

 

Same goes for Duke's restaurant, and we are looking into Kimo's as well.

 

We are also considering a dinner cruise. Does anyone know anything about any of them?!?!?! It looks like Maui Princess is the most popular one, but the price is a little high for us. We are considering the QuickSilver.. we talked to the owner/manager, and he was very nice and helpful. He even said he would let the kids go for free But our wedding planner doesn't know anything about it..

 

The last thing we are looking into is a reception at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel. Does anyone know much about this? They set you up outside (where you can still see all of their entertainment) - it sounds very nice. They have 3 hours of entertainment, including an hour hula dancing show. The menu looks amazing (not cheap, but you get a lot for what you pay). We are a little skeptical because the price is adding up quickly. You must pay per hour to have a private bar, there is a set up fee, and the meals aren't cheap.

 

And I think we're just going to have our rehearsal dinner at our timeshare - they are very flexible and have a room they can reserve for us. Sounds very casual and convenient for everyone since they are all staying in the same place.

 

Any opinions would be appreciated!

Thanks

[cutefeet]

We are staying at a condo in Kihei where the rooftop is set up with BBQs tables, and a small covered kitchen. We are going to have a rehearsal dinner/mixer on the roof and watch the sunset. We aren't sure yet if we are going to have some of our master BBQ friends help us cook up something great on the BBQs or if we will just cater something easy from Da Kitchen or some other restaurant where we can do an easy food pick up.

[litl_april]

We held our reception at Mulligan's on the Blue. The prices were insanely better than anywhere else we found. Even better, the food was still fantastic!! On TripAdvisor.com they are rated quite highly and we quickly discovered why. Although you can see that the facility is pretty worn from age, they do a great job of still keeping it looking nice. Tables were covered with linen tablecloths, napkins were linen as well. They have a very nice lanai that can hold a good number of people and wraps around if more room is needed.

They are very accommodating and friendly here. We felt very taken care of and our guests were thanking us all night for inviting them!! If you want to hold a dance they have a stage for a live band or DJ to set up and have a decent sized dance floor. Stacy, you mentioned that you want casual and fun, I think you would see that you'll find that at Mulligan's!

The place was definitely perfect, at least for us!

I see you're from Des Moines!! Very cool! Congrats on your Hawaiian wedding! You'll love it!

[Stacy015]

Thank you for the recommendations.

 

Unfortunately, I need a location closer to Kaanapali Beach.

My wedding will be at Kapalua Bay, and several of my guests are not renting cars while staying in Maui...

 

Any other recommendations will definitely be appreciated! Thanks

[jam8x2]

we are having our rehearsal/ welcome dinner on the rooftop of the condo where my fiance's parents are staying also!! We are really excited and plan on having our dads BBQ chicken and pineapple and have teriyaki sauce to add. I would love to hear how the space is after your wedding since mine is in June and you'll be there in May! It sounds great and from all of the pictures it looks perfect.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutefeet We are staying at a condo in Kihei where the rooftop is set up with BBQs tables, and a small covered kitchen. We are going to have a rehearsal dinner/mixer on the roof and watch the sunset. We aren't sure yet if we are going to have some of our master BBQ friends help us cook up something great on the BBQs or if we will just cater something easy from Da Kitchen or some other restaurant where we can do an easy food pick up.