In the hustle and bustle of booking a church, sampling cakes and hiring a band for the reception, don't forget about the rehearsal dinner. Here are eight spots for rehearsal dinners in Cobb County.
Acworth
Dogwood Terrace Restaurant
4975 N. Main St., Acworth 30101, 770-627-4069, dogwoodterrace.com
Dogwood Terrace Restaurant, with its New American cuisine, presents an elegant, historic setting for a rehearsal dinner. The full-service restaurant and catering venue specializes in events and offers three options for reservations. The Great Room has a full bar and can seat up to 50 guests. For a more intimate affair, the Club Room showcases a stacked-stone fireplace and can seat up to 25 guests. An outdoor eating area seats up to 16 guests during the warmer months. Each option offers a full-service bar, along with a buffet dinner. If the guest count falls below a certain threshold, a plated dinner will be served in lieu of the buffet. Dogwood Terrace also can provide a microphone and DVD projector for events. The cost to rent the entire facility is $750. For smaller parties, you can reserve the main dining room for $500 or the Club Room for $350.
Kennesaw
The Melting Pot
2500 Cobb Place Lane NW, Suite 800, Kennesaw 30144, 770-425-1411, www.meltingpot.com/kennesaw
The Melting Pot offers a rehearsal dinner experience that is truly unique. The Kennesaw location can accommodate up to 40 guests for a four-course, prix-fixe dining experience in a private area. Choose from six cheese fondues and a salad to start, and then follow with a choice of entree and eight chocolates for dessert. The staff can provide beer and wine pairings for each selection. The average rehearsal dinner comes to $40 per person.
Marietta
The Whitlock Inn
57 Whitlock Ave. SW, Marietta 30064, 770-428-1495, www.whitlockinn.com
The historic Whitlock Inn, in a restored Victorian mansion near the Marietta Square, is a beautiful setting not only for a wedding, but for a rehearsal dinner as well. Renting out The Whitlock Inn allows use of the main floor, two dining rooms, two parlors, the ballroom, the gardens, and front and rear porches. The Whitlock allots four hours for rehearsal dinners or luncheons and requires all functions to be over by 11 p.m. due to its residential location. You may pick from your choice of Carriage House Catering's prix-fixe menus and everything will be provided, from servers to tablecloths and utensils. The Whitlock does not have an alcohol license, however, they will provide a bartender for the duration of your event for a $125 fee if you choose to bring your own. A non-refundable $2,000 reservation deposit is due at the time of contract signing and will be applied to the cost of the event. Free parking is available, and an off-duty police officer will be stationed by the inn to assist arriving and departing guests.
Seed Kitchen and Bar
1311 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 504, Marietta 30068, 678-214-6888, www.eatatseed.com
Seed Kitchen and Bar is a chef-driven, modern American neighborhood restaurant located at Merchant's Walk in East Cobb County. Seed offers multiple private and semi-private dining options. Whether you choose the fully private dining room option or the covered outdoor patio, Seed Kitchen and Bar can accommodate up to 25 guests. Choose from two pre-fixed menus that can be mixed and matched to suit your tastes — one for $44.95 per person and the other for $49.95 per person. While you can choose to order off the larger restaurant menus, pre-fixed menus are recommended for groups of 17 or larger. There is no fee to reserve the restaurant. The only costs are the food and drink provided to the guests, plus tax and gratuity. A screen is available for use, but Seed Kitchen and Bar provides no other audio-visual equipment.
Powder Springs
The Event Station on Marietta Street
4425 Marietta St., Powder Springs 30127, 470-514-9684, www.eventstation.org
This former gas station, built in 1925, has been transformed into a stylish rehearsal dinner location featuring two indoor rooms, a covered outdoor area and adjoining, fenced open air area with roll-up doors. With seating for as many as 70, The Event Station in downtown Powder Springs offers event planning services, catering and decorating service, a 72-inch LCD screen and state-of-the art sound system. Rental prices run between $100 and $200 per hour, with a four-hour minimum, depending on your desired day. You can choose from the "Do It Yourself Package," or for an extra cost, the "Inclusive Package," which provides additional services including an event and party planner.
Smyrna
Muss & Turner's
1675 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 309, Smyrna 30080, 770-434-1114, www.mussandturners.com
This neighborhood deli by day, bistro by night, boasts no culinary boundaries and is a relaxed place to celebrate your last supper of singledom. The Grog Shop, which seats up to 14 people, is a fully equipped audiovisual room where guests will be able to order off the a la carte menu. There is a full bar, craft cocktails, wine list and draft beer options for guests to pair with their meal. The cost of holding the rehearsal dinner at Muss & Turner's depends on the size of the party, the menu and the date selected.
Local Three Kitchen and Bar
3290 Northside Parkway NW, Atlanta 30327, 404-968-2700, www.localthree.com
When you choose to host your rehearsal dinner at Local Three Kitchen and Bar, you can choose from three private rooms: The Knights of Revelry Private Dining Room, which seats up to 12; The Bushwood, which seats up to 40; and the Garden Terrace Patio, which seats up to 100. Guests can order off the seasonally changing prix-fixe menus and pair their meal with a full bar, craft beer and cocktails or a glass of wine. Both the Knights of Revelry and Bushwood private dining areas have audiovisual equipment.
Vinings
Canoe Restaurant
4199 Paces Ferry Road SE, Vinings 30339, 770- 432-2663, www.canoeatl.com
The uniquely Atlanta eatery on the Chattahoochee River has long been a spot for engagements, rehearsal dinners and weddings. The private dining rooms can accommodate from 10 to 150 guests. There is the option to choose from a pre-fixed buffet or seated meal menu. While no alcohol package is provided, guests can order from the bar. Canoe does not have WiFi capabilities, so all audio-visual needs need to be provided by the guest. Including fees, food, alcohol, tax and gratuity, it would cost about $150 per person to host a rehearsal dinner at Canoe.
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