After Austin proposed to Catherine (complete with a cheeky joke of a sign that read, “So are you my fiancée or what?”), his mother, Julie, eagerly offered to plan the rehearsal dinner. “Since his family hosted,” says WED planner Margaret Roberts, “we wanted to capture a masculine feel while keeping it really pretty.” The Cedar Room’s industrial look was the perfect start. Next, the ladies picked a paisley linen and incorporated towering florals. Catherine requested blooms on the “Bride” and “Groom” chairs and a long farm table for the wedding party, and from there, Julie filled in the rest. The result? An evening draped in navy, garnet, copper, and red that complemented the wedding, too. “My mother-in-law is incredibly detailed,” says Catherine, “and she has impeccable taste.” Sounds like yet another heaven-made match.
Catherine & Austin’s Tips
• Marry your rehearsal dinner to your wedding. Catherine established the menu and colors for the wedding, and then shared those details with Austin’s mother so she could coordinate the rehearsal dinner.
• Play up the city’s history. An antique sketch of the Cigar Factory (where The Cedar Room is located) illustrated rehearsal dinner invites and cocktail napkins.
• Use a cornucopia. Fruits, nuts, and berries in the floral arrangements added depth, texture, and seasonality.
• Dress for photos. Catherine selected a dress with a decorative neckline since most sit-down rehearsal dinner photos are from the tabletop up.
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