We held our rehearsal dinner at Acre Baja in Cabo, Mexico. It felt like stepping into a dream the moment we arrived around 6pm after a 40-minute drive from The Cape, where most guests were staying and where our wedding would take place the following night.
We invited all of our guests because we wanted the weekend to feel inclusive and to spend as much time as possible with friends and family. We didn’t rehearse the ceremony that night—our walk-through was the next morning—but the dinner was the perfect addition to the weekend and something I would do again in a heartbeat.
We arrived and walked through Acre’s on-site restaurant—one of my favorites—continuing past to the pool area where cocktail hour was set up. It was a full vibe.
Acre’s cocktails are incredible—beautifully presented and delicious. Our signature was the Perla de la Baja: tequila, mezcal, passionfruit and pineapple. I don’t drink often, but this tequila cocktail was so fresh and flavorful that I loved it.
Just before golden hour, the light around the pool was magic—sunlight through palm trees and cacti. Guests mingled with drinks, explored the grounds to see the animals (there were baby goats!), and passed our single long table set beneath the mango trees. Walking through Acre felt cinematic. Bridge and I fell in love with the place years earlier on our honeymoon, so I was thrilled they had availability for our rehearsal dinner.
Acre is a 25-acre sanctuary with a farm, treehouses you can stay in, permanent residences, goats, donkeys, horses, bunnies and a dog rescue. It feels remote and jungle-like, which only adds to its charm.
Seeing all our friends and family together was my favorite part of the weekend. After a year at home and postponing celebrations, finally being able to socialize with everyone felt so special. We stuck to our original plan: cocktail hour Friday, rehearsal dinner at Acre Saturday, and the ceremony Sunday with my dress and vows. It was everything we hoped for.
The attention to detail was incredible—our planner and her team realized my vision of simple, romantic decor with live music and great energy. I even noticed staff measuring the distance between each chair. That level of precision made everything feel flawless.
Gilberto from @cabobandlucas played guitar and was amazing. He also performed at our ceremony and comes highly recommended for anyone seeking a talented guitarist who knows all the best songs.
Having a separate rehearsal dinner at another venue can feel like paying for two events, so we looked for ways to save. We skipped a full florist and used greenery and small bouquets arranged by our planner, kept decorations minimal, used the venue’s table settings and took advantage of existing string lights. Those choices helped control costs without compromising the look.
Acre offers countless photo opportunities; last time we visited for our honeymoon we even took one of my favorite photos near a bathroom—odd, but memorable. The property feels Bali-esque and includes large mirrors perfect for selfies.
Our photographer, Marci (@marcellalaine), was a gem. She captured every moment from the rehearsal dinner through the wedding. We’d worked with her before—engagement photos and other shoots—so having her with us felt natural.
Vendors for the rehearsal dinner included:
photography @marcellalaine
planning @eventsbybliss
venue @acrebaja
rentals @bajaboutiquerentalcompany @delcaboeventdesign
signage @uscreating
guitarist @cabobandlucas
dress Bec & Bridge
earrings Grace Loves Lace (no longer sold)
shoes Steve Madden
green purse bought at The Cape Hotel
Bridger’s shirt Bonobos
Dinner was intimate and memorable. The long single table created a communal atmosphere—perfect for conversation and even an impromptu wave. I’m grateful we were surrounded by such a wonderful group of friends.
The food was outstanding and they accommodated dietary needs easily. For the first course we had cheddar biscuits, gluten-free bread, avocado romaine salad and aguachile ceviche served family-style. Mains included butternut squash tortellini, a fresh catch with romesco, and whole roasted organic chicken. Desserts were seasonal fruit platters, individual pineapple upside-down cakes and alfajores.
Sharing our entire Rehearsal Dinner YouTube video below—make sure to watch!
xx Rachael