A wedding rehearsal dinner can be as large and elaborate or as small and cozy as you'd like. Fortunately, beautiful Maine is famous for its fabulous eateries. Take your pick of the best places to treat your wedding party to this traditional get-together.
Good Eats
With its famous coastline, Maine is known for seafood, particularly lobsters and clams. Maine is also a treasure trove of naturally grown foods, with blueberries being Maine's most prolific crop. Fishing, farming and harvesting are very seasonal in this area of temperature extremes; check to see what will be available at the time of your wedding rehearsal dinner and take advantage of the freshest food Maine has to offer.You don't have to rely on a standard dinner for your wedding rehearsal meal. Try an old-fashioned clambake outdoors; have an afternoon picnic and give each guest a basket to pick blueberries fresh off the bush. Have a "pancake dinner" with exquisite, fruit-flavored maple syrup selections. Or visit a tourist farm and sit down to specially-prepared local selections.
The Best Locations
Ask a Maine local and you'll get an earful of the best eateries. A few stand out from the crowd and are worth looking into. For instance, Fosters Downeast Clambake (in York Harbor) and Newagen Seaside Inn (Newagen) pride themselves on hosting honeymoon and pre-wedding dinners, each in a seaside setting. The Lawnmere Inn (Southport Island) and The Woodlands Club (Falmouth) are other top choices and include an element of elegance that will appeal to brides- and grooms-to-be. Look along the coast for restaurants, inns and country clubs that host wedding-related celebrations on a regular basis. The more frequently traveled an area, the more versed the restaurant will be in making a wedding rehearsal dinner special.Extra Help
If you're stuck for ideas, look online for popular wedding rehearsal dinner locations. If you have a friend or family member who tied the knot in Maine, ask him or her for referrals on great restaurants. If not, consult your wedding coordinator if you have one; a wedding professional has experience with helping others choose locations and has heard reviews from clients on the best places to dine. And don't be afraid to ask the restaurant itself for referrals. If possible, take a day trip to your location of choice and sample the menu before making your final decision.Bon appetite!