Since I had a destination wedding, I felt that it was only right to invite not only the wedding party but all of my guests. People spent a lot of money to come to Aruba for our big day, why not give them a pre-wedding party?

When I started planning the wedding, the last thing on my mind was the rehearsal dinner. I honestly didn’t even think that I needed to put much thought into it. It’s just a dinner, right? Ummm…WRONG!!! It’s literally a mini wedding reception and needed to be planned out just like any other event. Soon after I found myself trying to figure out where I was going to have the rehearsal dinner. I always knew I wanted it to be at the Ritz Carlton Aruba where my wedding was and where we were all staying because it’s just way more convenient that way! There were a few different options, but of course, I chose to have it at my favorite restaurant in Aruba located at the Ritz called BLT!! If you know me you know that I’m kind of obsessed with that restaurant!

Since I knew all my guests were going to be eating there at some point of their stay during our wedding, I wanted to make sure that we made a custom menu for my rehearsal dinner.  Months prior the head chef at BLT made the most wonderful menu for us that consisted of a slider station (lobster sliders, short rib sliders and truffle fries) with about 10 -12 different Hors d’oeuvres being served by waiters. There was also a donut station for dessert and of course an open bar. On one of my wedding planning visits to Aruba we did a tasting for all those items and I had to have them all because they all literally tasted amazing.

I decided I wanted to have live music being played so I went with a steel drum player because it gives that whole island vibe! I also wanted the music because I didn’t want to be responsible for entertaining everyone for 2 hours. My big day was the next day, my nerves were all over the place, it was not the time to be worried about entertaining LOL!

For the rehearsal I decided to do a completely different look than for what I was doing for my wedding ceremony and rehearsal. I wore a Alexandre Vauthier Ribbed Jersey Mini Wrap Dress with Aquazzura So Vera Ankle Wrap Sandals. I NEVER wear my hair back cause I think I have a big forehead but I decided to do a half up, half down look with curls with a smokey eye, nude lips and a hell of a highlight and contour.

Fast forward to Sunday morning for the post wedding brunch at Solanio at the Ritz Carlton. For the brunch, I kept it very casual and let guests know that again everyone was invited and there was no set timing. They were welcome to come anytime between 8am-11 am. I did that because I think it’s alot to ask of people to wake up and be somewhere at a certain time right after parying all night. Our wedding ended at 1am, but a bunch of us continued the celebration till 3am at the casino. It was a struggle for me and my husband (still sounds so weird to me) to wake up the next morning to come to this brunch because we were so tired which is why I have NO PICTURES! We got there around 9:30am ate, mingled for about an hour then went and chilled by the cabanas. I didn’t really get dressed up, I wore this Chanel swimsuit with ripped shorts and no makeup.

Alexander Vaultier BLT Steak Ritz Carlton Aruba wedding brunch Wedding rehearsal dinner