So here’s where we’re at: we have agreed to our overall wedding vision, put together the stationery and invitations, looked at colors, and made arrangements for guests—amongst many things!  Now it’s time to look at how we are prepping for the actual wedding ceremony and spending time with those persons who are a part of our wedding ceremony.

We thought that the rehearsal and associated dinner would be a great opportunity for our two families and special friends to spend time together and get to know one another.  Especially given that our wedding is formal with black tie and evening gowns, we wanted a time that our families could enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed and informal environment.  This overriding theme aligned well with our focus and desire—from our vision—on making our wedding about our guests, as they are the people who got us this far.

We thought long and hard about where we would ultimately have our wedding ceremony, and we necessarily wanted a place nearby that would utilize the unique advantages of beautiful August weather in Northern California.  The selection of venue for our rehearsal dinner turned out to be quite simple!

Relaxed, informal, and outside in the context of good food and wine—that is what defines Caffe Riace in Palo Alto, CA.  This restaurant has a beautiful outside patio with a fountain, and the food is exceptional.  The care they provide in every detail—warm plates, personal service, knowing your name—parallels the care in every detail we put in our wedding.  How do we know this?  Well, Haney used to eat here all the time when he was at Stanford, but beyond that, he has gotten to know the family who owns the restaurant.  In fact, the youngest girl in the family is our flower girl!  Haney and the owner of this restaurant opened another restaurant together in 2003!

This Sicilian family puts their heart and soul into the food they serve.  Homemade gelato, sausages, and even the grappa are homegrown creations; the menu is filled with recipes by the matriarch of the family.  You would never know this restaurant existed were it not for the reputation.  They are not on a main road or near any points of interest—they sit in the middle of apartment complexes.  They are not advertised.  How have they been successful for over ten years with reasonable prices?  Word of mouth!

We are so pleased that the families and friends who are so important to us and a part of our ceremony get to enjoy a family restaurant with owners who are like our extended family!  And it’s great, too, that we can use the opportunity of our celebration to help our friends with some business in today’s economic environment!

Caffe Riace
www.cafferiace.com
200 Sheridan Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 328-0407

Find Caffe Riace on: Facebook and Yelp