The Night Before: Lauren + Erik’s Rehearsal Dinner at Hotel Carmichael
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If you’re trying to figure out how to kick off a wedding weekend without the usual night-before stress, Lauren and Erik’s rehearsal dinner at Hotel Carmichael is a pretty good roadmap. By hosting their first event and their stay in the same spot, they got more time for drinks on the balcony and less time worrying about travel logistics before the big day.
An easier way to kick things off
There’s something so much more relaxed about having your rehearsal dinner in the same place where you’re staying. After dinner under the chandeliers at the Hotel Carmichael, everyone could just walk straight to the elevators to head up to their suites. It kept the focus on the energy of the night but the stress low, especially with the actual wedding at Mustard Seed Gardens coming up the next day.
Since the hotel handled the catering and the bar, the whole evening felt seamless. Whether guests were out on the terrace or inside for dinner, the space worked perfectly for the classic-meets-modern look Lauren and Erik wanted.
The Look: That Jenny Yoo Bow
Lauren’s rehearsal dress was the perfect teaser for her wedding day style. She went with a little white dress by Jenny Yoo from Bella Bridesmaids Indianapolis, and the detail everyone was talking about was the bow. Dina from Bella Bridesmaids mentioned that Lauren loved the dramatic draping of it—it felt elevated for the hotel’s elegant ballroom, but still fun enough for a party.
Seeing the wedding party out on the balcony—already giving a nod to the weekend’s blue color palette—really set the mood. It wasn’t just a quick run-through of the ceremony; it was a night that let everyone actually sit back and celebrate before heading to Mustard Seed Gardens the next day.
