Stylin' The Garden Center: Our Rehearsal Dinner Decor

In my last post I shared with you our rehearsal dinner location, the San Mateo Garden Center. I'm so excited about it, it's going to be so much better than just a picnic in the park! Now, I'll show you how we plan to enhance the look of the location for the dinner.

And to do that I, of course, had to break out the PhotoShop! Here are some before and after pictures, with my decoration ideas added on top of the pictures I took.

We'll have drinks and mingling on the deck near the gazebo and koi fish pond:


And have paper bag luminaries for lighting accents:


With drinks and appetizers set up to the side:


And tables set up on the patio, with the buffet table along the wall of the building:


With more paper bag luminaries out to the front gate:


And here are the details on the decorations, most of which I already purchased:

Chocolate Linen Like disposable table cloths - $83.95 for 12 (but I'll be using leftovers for our Sunday luncheon)
Blue square paper plates - $31.95
Blue square paper napkins - $24.95
White plastic silverware - $10 (guessing on the price, since I haven't gotten these yet)
Clear plastic wine glasses - $25.95 (will be using leftovers for mimosas at luncheon)
14" blue LED lanterns - $45 for 10
LED cordless lights for lanterns - $47.50 for 10
Silk gardenia flowers for around base of lanterns - $30 (guessing on the price, since I haven't gotten these yet)
Paper bag luminaries and candles - $29.99 for 72
Gardenia scented candles for tables - $6.96 for 24
White frosted candle holders for tables - $23.76 for 24
3 wood frames for buffet table signs - $12 (guess, haven't found yet)
Paper for table signs - free, since I'll use leftovers from other projects

That's a total of $372.01 for decorations, not too bad (especially compared to the wedding cost!)

For food we're still planning to do Armadillo Willy's BBQ, which is being carried over from our BBQ in the park plan. Their food is super yummy, I'm sure everyone will love it, and for only $40 they come and set up the food for you.

How do you plan to decorate for your rehearsal dinner? Will you be using the same color scheme as your wedding, or going with something different?