Does Olive Garden Have A Private Room

Post # 1

Member

84 posts

Worker bee

9 years ago

Wedding: November 2012 - Country Club

Hello Bees,

We were thinking of having our rehearsal dinner at Olive Garden. We decided it is easier to just go to a restaurant and have everyone order the dinner and drinks they would like(My mom likes this idea a lot). There will only be about 15 people there, 20 tops. My mom said we should pick somewhere quiter and nicer. The problem is, I want to go somewhere that has fun drinks, not just wine and beer. The tricky part is, his parents original offered to pay for the rehearsal dinner, told us to plan it and let them know. Although, they have not brought it up since they said that over the summer. My parents told me they will foot the bill if his parents end up backing out. I want to make everyone happy, but it's still my rehearsal dinner. Any ideas? Opinions on Olive Garden? Thanks In Advance

Post # 3

Member

3949 posts

Honey bee

HisIrishPrincess
9 years ago

Wedding: March 2012

Maybe you could tell OG what it's for and they could stick you in a corner or something, so you have some privacy. That way you could give out your Bridal Party gifts and move around and chat with each other easier.

Post # 4

Member

9168 posts

Buzzing Beekeeper

MrsWBS
9 years ago

Wedding: November 1999

lots of places have more to drink than just beer or wine. I think the idea of going to a "normal" restaurant and ordering off the menu is fine, but I'd personally choose a place that will have a private room available to stick your party in. That's just me though.

Post # 5

Member

2656 posts

Sugar bee

X0JLYNN03
9 years ago

Wedding: April 2013

@pinkcrush: The one downside I see is that that's a big group of people, Olive Garden is ALWAYS busy (at least where I live), any time of the day, any day of the week. And they do not take call ahead seating or reservations.. so it might be tough getting a group that large in and not having to wait forever.. but if you call & speak with a manager maybe they can arrange something since it is a large group and you'll be spending a pretty penny there. And OG does have fun drinks, I've sampled a few 😉

Post # 6

Member

6610 posts

Bee Keeper

Gemstone
9 years ago

The Olive Garden restaurants near me have rooms near the back that have doors, that could closed off for more privacy for the occasion. Would that help?

I let my Mother-In-Law totally plan our rehearsal dinner, as my in-laws were hosting, and we had it at a country club that offered a full bar.

Post # 7

Member

3631 posts

Sugar bee

chasesgirl
9 years ago

Wedding: December 2011

Our Olive Garden has a private room, i dont know if that is normal or not. My sister had her rehersal dinner at a resturant in a semi private room and it was great. Everyone got what they wanted to eat and it was fun!

Post # 8

Member

84 posts

Worker bee

pinkcrush
9 years ago

Wedding: November 2012 - Country Club

Sadly, there is no private room at mine, they have a little room that is semi private that has a table that could fit 8-10, but not all of us. I understand that it will be a little bit louder then some other places, but I think OG is decently nice and has great food. Our wedding is on a Saturday, but I want to have the Rehearsal Dinner on the Thursday before. So maybe the OG won't be as crowded as it would on a Friday.

Post # 9

Member

6386 posts

Bee Keeper

housebee
9 years ago

Wedding: April 2013

@pinkcrush: Maybe have dinner there and drink somewhere else? I'm not sure what Olive Garden is like (FI's family is Italian so we never eat there), but I imagine that they would be able to section off an area for your rehearsal dinner.

Post # 10

Member

2478 posts

Buzzing bee

Sapphire-Dreamer
9 years ago

Wedding: September 2014 - Manhattan Church Rec Center

i Love OG (olive garden) and normally host dinner catch-ups with my undergrad friends there. Fiance and I often have random dinner dates at OG. I actually dig this idea. You will save money, everyone will find something they like to eat and, again, you will save money!

The only downside is lack of privacy (depending on location).

Don't let anyone judge your rehearsal dinner just because it is OG. They aren't paying the bill so they can keep their opinions to themselves.

Post # 11

Member

4554 posts

Honey bee

EffieTrinket
9 years ago

Wedding: March 2014

No one should turn their noses up at free food, even if it's Dominos Hot N Ready.

I would think Olive Garden would be fine, but if you have a Johnny Carinos or Macaroni Grill with a private room, I'd go there instead.

Post # 12

Member

191 posts

Blushing bee

missmess
9 years ago

Wedding: March 2014

Are people going to be making toasts or anything at your rehearsal dinner? That's the major drawback I see to not having a private space for your rehearsal dinner – I wouldn't want just everyone to hear what my parents or my fiance's parents wanted to say.

Otherwise I would happily happily endorse everyone diving into a pile of breadsticks and salad (but don't tell my inlaws I ever said that. Marrying into a big Italian family means no more Olive Garden).