Everyone knows the wedding is the big day, but rehearsal dinners set the mood for what’s to come. Choosing Cape Cod as your wedding destination opens up plenty of options for the pre-wedding bash.
The panoramic ocean views will be the first thing you notice about STARS at the Chatham Bars Inn, but the food is most certainly what you will remember. Their unique New England-style farm-to-fork menu features vegetables grown at their own Chatham Bars Inn Farm in Brewster and an extensive wine list. Or opt for one of Chatham Bars Inn's private clambakes, where guests will feast on a customized menu including everything from lobster, corn, and potatoes to steamers and chowder (all seafood is locally caught around Chatham).
Overlooking Falmouth Harbor, The Flying Bridge can’t be beat. Their second-floor function space features floor-to-ceiling windows with picturesque views of the bustling marina. Heated wraparound decks framed by nautical blue-and-white awnings add to the festive feel.
Nothing says romance like a beautiful sunset viewed from the upstairs dining room and outdoor terrace at The Sea View in Dennis. The Mahogany Lounge features a gas fireplace and a magnificent 29-foot mahogany bar. Photo-ops abound in the two-story grand foyer and on the balcony.
Live well, eat well and be social is the mantra at Siena in Mashpee Commons. Warm earth tones and comfy seating provide a welcoming atmosphere for guests to enjoy a full menu of innovative and authentic Italian fare.
The Wagner at Duck Creek in Wellfleet is a charmingly decorated boutique hotel with a tavern and restaurant. The 5-acre property provides several event options, both indoors and out, and features spectacular views of Duck Creek, the nearby bayside marsh and lovely hotel grounds.
The Captain Linnell House in Orleans exudes romance with dramatically lit columns in a French-designed villa-style mansion. Built in 1840 by Captain Ebeneezer Linnell for his bride, there are two acres of gardens full of wisteria and lavender outside, and fresh roses on every table inside.
For casual elegance with a northern Italian flair, Alberto’s Ristorante in Hyannis offers an intimate setting for your rehearsal dinner. Crisp, white tablecloths and low candlelight set the scene. The menu includes freshly prepared seafood and steak entrees, in addition to Alberto’s signature homemade pasta.
If you’re seeking a more unconventional venue for your rehearsal dinner, the Cape offers more than a few. Cape Cod Central Railroad has dinner trains that can be reserved for functions; enjoy an elegant candlelit dinner and soft music as you ride past sand dunes and marshes from West Barnstable to the Cape Cod Canal.
Anyone who loves lush gardens or antique automobiles should consider a rehearsal dinner at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich. The 100-acre property has plenty of spaces to host a private event, including a Flume Fountain, the Sundial Lawn and the Antique Automobile Museum. Dinner is provided by The Casual Gourmet, a Cape Cod mainstay with 30 years of experience catering local weddings and rehearsal dinners.
Those looking for a beachside rehearsal dinner can rent tents, tables, chairs, linens, dishes, lighting and anything else they may need from Bayside Tent and Table. Caterers offer a wide variety of fun dinner menus, from The Casual Gourmet’s “Cheeseburgers in Paradise” to a beachside clambake from Clambakes, Etc. Eat Your Heart Out Caterers has BBQ, clambakes and pig roasts among their catering options, along with special Farm to Table and Harvest Feast menus. And Pizza Barbone in Hyannis will bring a mobile wood-fired pizza oven to your event to craft custom pizzas with fresh ingredients, many of which are grown right in their rooftop garden.
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