A great question on my Wedding Mapper Q&A board

Ooo, this is a good one from my Wedding Mapper Q&A board! The groom wants a Hawaiian pig roast for the reception, and the bride's family is objecting. The bride, too, wants a different style of wedding. Check out my suggestions to solve the issue!

Question:
My Fiance and I are getting married in June 2011. He wants to do a causual dress pig roast, hawaiian themed reception becasue we are going to hawaii for out honeymoon. My family if fighting me on it saying that some people are not going to like that option. Im also having a difficlut time to find a reasonable priced caterer for that type event. As for me I would rather have a not to formal reception filled with flowers that give it the hawaiian atmosphere. My question is how do I tell my fiance that we can't have the pig roast with out hurting his feelings? He is already crushed that we had to move the location.

Answer:

Great question, and you're going to help a LOT of people with this one :]

In one of my books, I wrote about a groom who wanted a New England clambake for the wedding reception, but all of that seafood was going to be too expensive for their big wedding guest list. I suggested that they do the clambake thing as the REHEARSAL DINNER theme, and that made their day. The budget was fine, the guests loved it as something really unique and fun for the rehearsal dinner, and the hosts got raves. So why don't you propose to your groom that you do the Hawaiian pig roast for the rehearsal dinner, and then you can have the reception with the Hawaiian flowers? That really would suit everyone's wishes.

As far as the caterer for the pig roast, there are caterers out there who specialize in barbecues, and this would fit right into that category. So if you can't easily locate a caterer who does that sort of thing, I highly recommend that you get a wedding coordinator *just* for the task of finding a great caterer or personal chef they know who does parties like that. Today's wedding coordinators are available for these single-task jobs, and it's not that expensive...plus many of them will get you a discount from their partners in the wedding industry.

See if your groom likes this idea -- I hope he does -- because it sounds like it would be a real treat to your guests and would make him super-happy. And don't forget that you can also do this theme for a combined co-ed shower if the rehearsal dinner hosts already have their theme and menu planned. If the groom's parents are the hosts of the rehearsal dinner, it could make them very happy to give their son the exact kind of party he wants!!

Wedding Wines That Give Back

Check out the fantastic, sports-centric vintages at www.charitywines.com as the perfect theme item for your wedding, rehearsal dinner, or co-ed bridal shower bar:

"Charity Wines partners with superstar athletes & celebrities to create fine wines and help raise funds for charities across the country. In the Spring of 2007 Charity Wines launched the Longball Vineyards brand, featuring wines from Boston baseball players, Manny Ramirez, Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield. In less than three months, following the largest single wine presale in Massachusetts' history, donations from a portion of those proceeds raised over $350,000 for the players' charities.

Following the 2007 Longball series, Charity Wines teamed with hockey legends Ray Bourque and Cam Neely and football hall-of-famer Dan Marino to produce a line of California wines. In Spring of 2008 the "Boys of Summer" returned with a line-up of 18 new baseball players from Boston, New York, Atlanta and Cincinnati as well as four baseball hall of fame legends. To date, Charity Wines has donated over $1.5 million to charities featuring these collectible Baseball Wines, Football Wines and Hockey Wines"

Joe and I did this for our own rehearsal dinner, stocking up on the Marino Estate Cabs, Merlots and Chardonnays, and our guests loved them.

It's a great way to give a little back in fine style...

The PERFECT NJ Rehearsal Dinner site!

Did you know that one of the best Jazz Clubs in the world is right here in New Jersey? If you live nearby, you have to stop in at Shanghai Jazz in Madison for a drink, hear some live jazz, enjoy some sushi and Prosperity Fish, and scout out the place as the perfect location for your rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, even a reception site.

Joe and I had our 6-month wedding anniversary dinner here -- which was perfect, since this was also the site of our very first date! How amazing to be here again, married, looking at that spot where I first saw Joe walk in the door, and at the barstools where we sat and had our first in-person conversation. I still get butterflies thinking about it. But now, here we are with a wedding behind us, our first home, and lots of anniversaries to look forward to! All at Shanghai Jazz. Here's more information on this great place, my top pick for wedding celebration sites in the Garden State:



Welcome to Shanghai Jazz®
Named One of the "Top 100 Great Jazz Clubs in the World!"
LIVE JAZZ SIX NIGHTS A WEEK
No Cover Except Special Events
It’s 1928. The Jazz Age is beginning. Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Josephine Baker in Paris. Louis Armstrong, his Hot Fives and Hot Sevens Revolutionizing Jazz.
Now Imagine Shanghai. The Most Cosmopolitan City in the Orient. Filled with Glamour. Mystery. Intrigue. And the “Sound of the Century” is Jazz. At Shanghai Jazz, we invite you into our world.
We pride ourselves on offering Gourmet Asian-Inspired Cuisine in an elegant setting, a unique atmosphere for business dinners, corporate events and special occasions. We have received Rave Reviews for our Food and Service and Ambience in the New York Times, the Star Ledger, NJ Monthly and ZagatSurvey®. We have been named “NJ’s Top Jazz Club” and One of the “TOP 100 JAZZ CLUBS IN THE WORLD” by Downbeat Magazine.
We offer Tasting Menus, Private Party Rooms and a Long Oak Bar, perfect for enjoying our own “Shanghai Jazz Ale” or a selection from our wine list. World-Class Jazz and Warm Hospitality make Shanghai Jazz the Perfect Place to host your friends and colleagues for groups from two to 120.
At Shanghai Jazz, we are proud to have recorded a series of LIVE CDS, including the MARIAN McPARTLAND TRIO LIVE at Shanghai Jazz, JUNIOR MANCE Live at Shanghai Jazz, GROVER KEMBLE and SPECIAL GUEST JOHN PIZZARELLI Live at Shanghai Jazz and JERRY VIVINO Live at Shanghai Jazz.
At Shanghai Jazz, our philosophy is Great American Jazz and Gourmet Asian Cuisine – what more could you want out of life!
But please note we also offer Grilled Fiilet Mignon, Roast Chicken, Portobello Mushroom over Spinach, Grilled Salmon, fresh Maine Lobster and fresh Maryland Soft Shell Crabs in Season for those who prefer more American fare. And California rolls and vegetarian rolls for those who prefer sushi.
Shanghai Jazz is conveniently located in Northern New Jersey, just 23 miles west of Manhattan and 3 miles from the Short Hills Mall. We are easily accessible from Route 78 and Route 287 by car, and from Penn Station in NYC by train. Our address is 24 Main Street, Madison, NJ 07940. Tel. 973.822.2899. There is free parking in the back of the restaurant.
For more information, please email us at mailto:info@shanghaijazz.com
or call 973.822.2899
At Shanghai Jazz, it's a "true night out on the town." -- Zagat Survey