Classic, Intimate Charlottesville Rehearsal Dinner & Welcome Party in Virginia
When your wedding day will take place among the rolling hills of Charlottesville, Virginia, the Old Metropolitan Hall in the Downtown Mall is the perfect place to host the rehearsal dinner and welcome party. Leah and Blake welcomed guests the evening before their wedding day in classic downtown Charlottesville, VA. The stunning floral designs, signage and stationery ensured this pre-wedding event was a memorable evening for their guests.
A fun detail you’ll see from this classic wedding rehearsal dinner is that bride Leah wore her mother’s wedding dress. This was such a beautiful way for her to honor her Mom for her wedding, without wearing the dress on her wedding day.
(LGR editor’s note: If you’re thinking about wearing your mom’s wedding dress to your rehearsal dinner, check out this blog post that we wrote, just for you.)
We’re excited to share this night before the wedding day with photos from Xiaoqi Li Photography.
Photo credit Xiaoqi Li Photography
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Guests joined the couple in the Downtown Mall area of Charlottesville, Virginia. Old Metropolitan Hall, a well-known Charlottesville rehearsal dinner venue, offered a timeless backdrop for the evening’s celebration. The beautiful brick building features two large glass windows filled with elegant rehearsal dinner signage for the couple’s pre-wedding event. Outside on the brick walkway of the Downtown Mall, high-top tables in the couple’s signature blue were topped with glowing candles, creating a welcoming happy hour setting for guests.
The nearby Paramount Theater featured a customized marquee sign for the couple, ‘The Morains Premiering August 9, 2025’. This unique detail made for the perfect spot for the couple’s bride and groom photographs outside of their rehearsal dinner venue.
Inside, long banquet tables dressed in chic blue table linens were styled with lush floral arrangements, candlelight, and elegant stemware. Chiavari chairs lined the long table and each place setting featured a personalized printed menu for the evening’s meal. Modern glass chandeliers hung over the classic rehearsal dinner tables and a projector screen showcased a slideshow of images of the couple.
Leah, Blake and their guests enjoyed a divine meal, rehearsal dinner toasts from family members and sweet moments with the bride’s Grandmother. After finishing their meal upstairs at the Old Met, guests made their way downstairs to the bottom floor of the venue where they enjoyed a welcome party with drinks and mingling.
Let’s take a peak at Leah and Blake’s classic and intimate night before celebration! Thank you Xiaoqi Li Photography for sharing…
The following event professionals contributed to this real wedding rehearsal event:
Photography | Xiaoqi Li Photography
Planner | Mary Elizabeth Events
Venue | Old Metropolitan Hall | Rehearsal Dinner Venue
Florals | Tupelo Floral Company
Catering | The Catering Outfit
Rentals | MS Events: Party & Event Rentals
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Leah and Blake’s rehearsal dinner and welcome party in Charlottesville was the perfect blend of classic elegance and hometown charm. Hosted at Old Metropolitan Hall on the Downtown Mall, the celebration highlighted the character of Charlottesville itself while offering guests a warm, welcoming atmosphere. We loved that the bride wore her Mother’s wedding dress for this pre-wedding event.
Want to see more beautiful rehearsal dinners like this one? Head to our real wedding rehearsals and welcome parties to explore even more ideas, real events, and helpful planning tips!
Thank you to the couple and Xiaoqi Li Photography for sharing this fun winery rehearsal dinner with us!
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