Some of the best moments of your wedding weekend happen before the wedding day itself — when everyone’s finally arrived, the energy settles, and you get to exhale under the oak trees with the people you love most.
That’s exactly the heart behind our “Under the Oaks” rehearsal dinner setup at Half Moon Empire.
🌙 A Setting That Feels Like Texas Magic
Tucked between the cottages and the pond, this area is surrounded by towering oaks and draped in bistro lights that glow like fireflies after sunset. The sound of laughter carries across the pond, the firepit flickers nearby, and the whole space feels calm, cozy, and deeply personal.
It’s one of those spaces that doesn’t need much to be beautiful — the trees and the lights do most of the work for you.
🌙 What the Setup Includes
“Under the Oaks” is an add-on option for couples who want to host their rehearsal dinner, welcome party, or morning-after brunch right here on the property.
We bring in wooden tables and antique folding chairs, handpicked to blend naturally with the space. Once set up, the tables stay for the duration of your stay — not just for a few hours. Whether you’re booked for a one-night event or an entire wedding weekend, the setup remains yours to enjoy until Sunday pickup.
💡 Pro Tip: This flexibility allows couples to use the same tables for multiple gatherings — rehearsal dinner, brunch, or even an impromptu late-night hangout under the lights.
🌙 Real Wedding Highlight: Kaylee & Ethan
Kaylee and Ethan’s rehearsal dinner was our first rehearsal event under the oaks, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.
After their ceremony rehearsal by the brick arches at the venue’s outdoor ceremony space, the wedding party walked down to the cottage area, where Kaylee’s sister, Kristen, had styled the tables with simple, beautiful décor. They kept the menu casual and fun; pizza and wings from a local Shiner favorite, paired with Coca-Cola in glass bottles and ice-cold beer.
Guests mingled, laughed, and stayed well into the evening — no driving, no timelines, just connection.
It was also the perfect time for heartfelt speeches and toasts. The rehearsal dinner gives your wedding party and family members a chance to share their stories in a quiet, intimate setting — without the background noise of the full reception.
Kristen even surprised the couple with a short video montage of their relationship through the years. They hung a small screen from one of the oak trees, plugged in the projector, and watched together under the bistro lights.
It was simple, meaningful, and personal, the kind of moment you don’t forget.
As the night wound down, everyone simply walked back to their cottages, relaxed, and got a full night’s sleep before the wedding day.
The next morning, our team collected the trash from the outdoor bins, leaving the space fresh and clean for coffee on the patios, groomsmen relaxing under the trees, and hair and makeup beginning in the bridal loft.
It’s simple, it’s meaningful, and it’s everything a wedding weekend should be.
🌙 Why Couples Love It
Effortless — no need to coordinate a separate location or transport guests
Scenic — oak canopy, pond views, bistro lights, and open air
Private — reserved exclusively for your wedding group
Flexible — use the setup for dinner, brunch, or gathering throughout your stay
Hosting your rehearsal dinner Under the Oaks is a reminder that the most memorable moments are often the simplest — surrounded by good food, soft light, and the people who mean the most.
🌙 Want to see it in person? Schedule a tour and picture your own rehearsal dinner under the oak lights at Half Moon Empire.
🌙 Vendor Credit
All photos in this blog are by Jenny King Photography
Dinner delivered from Bea’s Place, Shiner TX
Decor by family
comments +