A Whimsical Rehearsal Dinner on the Nevada Shores of Lake Tahoe

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bride and groom to-be on rock lined lakeside — Ryan Ray

Madeline Milligan and James McGinnis grew up on opposite coasts—so when it came time to plan their wedding weekend, the couple, who now resides in Texas (right in the middle!), knew they wanted to foster as much connection between their bicoastal families as possible. They ultimately chose Nevada's edge of Lake Tahoe, where the bride's family owns a cabin, as the venue for their at-home, waterside rehearsal dinner—then leaned into creating an "inviting, approachable" pre-wedding barbeque with some help from Elise Events.

While much of the event's design spoke to the natural surroundings, its ethos revolved around fostering conversation. Small picnic-inspired tables facilitated intimate conversations and encouraged guests to get up and mingle; a family-style meal encouraged sharing. "We loved having this event to reconnect with our families before adding everyone else into the mix," explains the couple. "It was so special for us to be able to bring our two families together, since they have hardly been able to spend time in all the years we have been together."

Playful patterns and lighthearted, earthy colors—expressed predominantly through sage green gingham tablecloths—matched the upbeat, celebratory tone of the event, but locked in an elegant aesthetic that felt apropos for iconic Lake Tahoe. The party's unique design, they say, informed their biggest takeaway: "Plan a rehearsal dinner that is distinct from the style and theme of your wedding," they explain, noting that there was something particularly poignant about the casual, but festive environment they honed. "We got to have a little fun with the theme and not worry so much about fitting into the box of what a wedding should look like," they share. "We loved the final design—a mix of backyard barbeque and mountain décor."

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Family Affair

bride and groom to-be walking toward rehearsal dinner space — Ryan Ray

"In James' experience, rehearsal dinners have always been casual family events, usually involving a cookout and lawn games," shares Madeline, noting that, when it came to plan their own pre-wedding party, they aimed to provide an intimate opportunity for their two families—who live on separate coasts—to spend some quality time. "We wanted to create an event that was focused on bringing our two families together," notes the duo. The bride-to-be's parents offered their Lake Tahoe home for the occasion, which was hosted by the groom's parents: "We love their house at Tahoe, and have spent so much time there hanging out by the lake or skiing at the nearby Heavenly Ski Resort."

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Lakeside Barbeque

rehearsal dinner green and white linen topped round tables outside — Ryan Ray

As for the pair's theme? With the help of Elise Events and James' parents, they put together a "lakeside festive barbeque" which revolved around a palette of cream, wheat, rust, and sage, with hints of French blue and deeper green.

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Dynamic Tabletop

green and white themed rehearsal dinner linens with brown and brass tablesettings — Ryan Ray

They used playful patterns, metal textures, and rich rust, blue, and green tones on the tabletop—all of which complemented the lakeside setting. Atop the sage-and-cream tablecloths from La Tavola Linens, Elise Events placed rust ceramic dinner plates, which were offset by copper cutlery and hammered metal cups. Striped-and-dotted napkins were looped through green perforated holders; they added yet another element of texture to the stations.

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Made-for-Your Menu

rehearsal dinner personalized guest menus — Ryan Ray

Cara Franson of Underwood Letterpress created Madeline and James' personalized menus, which doubled as place cards; they were fixed to the napkins (a must, since the dinner was held on the edge of the breezy lake) with a piece of leather.

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Wildflower Centerpieces

rehearsal dinner summer floral centerpiece — Ryan Ray

A mix of foraged blooms, arranged by Golden Fields Floristry, brought a pop of bright color to the center of guests' tables.

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Metal Moment

rehearsal dinner metal chairs outside — Ryan Ray

Metal cross-backed chairs reinforced the tablecloths' gingham patterns.

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Framed Numbers

table number frames with sage numbers — Ryan Ray

A framed seating chart directed guests to their tables, which were demarcated by a matching piece; a sage green numeric spoke to the party's overarching palette.

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Couple of Honor

rehearsal dinner bride and groom to-be smiling outside — Ryan Ray

Madeline chose an Amsale jumpsuit with a cami-neckline for the occasion; she accented her look with a David Yurman bracelet ("Each woman in my family has their own David Yurman bracelet (or a few!) and we all love to match," she says) and green Monica Vinader earrings, which coordinated with James' mid-green suit from SuitSupply. His Fossil watch was a gift from his grandparents.

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Personalized Snacks

rehearsal dinner appetizers on white tray — Ryan Ray

Ahead of the family-style meal catered by Blend Catering, a myriad of passed appetizers made the rounds; cocktail napkins, emblazoned with the pair's monogram, added a personal touch.

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Grilled Peaches

rehearsal dinner buffet style salad — Ryan Ray

A grilled peach salad kicked off dinner.

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Barbeque Time

guests sitting at tables outside for rehearsal dinner — Ryan Ray

As for the main courses? Beer-can roasted chicken and herb oil swordfish belly were plated and passed around the tables; pineapple salsa, smoked potatoes, brown better green beans, and crispy shallots were offered as sides.

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Coordinating Colors

rehearsal dinner guests gathering outside — Ryan Ray

Most guests donned ensembles in colors that spoke to the surroundings; the bride and groom's families, in particular, chose blue—the color of the sparkling lake just beyond the festivities.

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Warm Words

bride and groom to-be listen to guests speeches during rehearsal dinner — Ryan Ray

Madeline and James listened to a series of speeches from their nearest and dearest—a highlight of the evening, they say. "We loved listening to the toasts from our siblings and friends in this small and intimate setting," they say. "We felt so loved the entire weekend—and this was a beautiful way to kick it off."

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