Some questions..please help!

[atlcatlover]

Yes, I think you are fine. I'm not doing bags at all and instead we are having an afternoon bowling party with the newlyweds as our way of thanking everyone.

[Alyssa]

Originally Posted by Lillie09

2. We come from NY where everything is expensive. We are having a DW to save money and only have our very close family and friends. That being said, we are paying for everything and having a RD with just immediate family.

We cannot afford a welcome dinner. We honestly cannot afford anything but the reception.
Does anyone have any ideas on how we can incorporate all guests in the celebration. We were thinking about meeting for drinks after the RD but don't think we can afford paying for everyones drinks and then having the open bar for our reception the next night.

You don't need a welcome dinner - Are ALL of your guests invited to the reception?

I'm so stressed/upset. I want everyone to enjoy themselves and not look at me as if I did nothing to "treat" them because they came to an Island to see us get married.
I don't know what to do! Please any suggestions will help! Thank you all so much.

The OOT bags are a 'treat'. your FMIL means well but she is seriously stressing you out and needs to chill out!

[Virg]

If you are staying at an AI, just have the resort reserve an area at the buffet restaurant and let that be your welcome dinner. Decorate the table if you can, if not, just wink and say its open bar ;-)

[beachbride08]

Originally Posted by Lillie09

Thanks everyone!
The hotel is not in an all-inclusive but everyone is getting a pretty good deal by going through a travel agent.
I'm just going to do what I'm doing and not worry about what anyone thinks. Everyone invited to this wedding I am very very close to so I can't imagine anyone even thinking that I should have given them a $50 gift on top of everything else! I thought it was a very nervy suggestion..but I do love her. She tries.

I just want everyone to have a good time. We are really trying to plan a elegant, classy nice wedding so everyone enjoys themselves. We are on a tight budget.

Don't listen to your FMIL. You do not need to give guests a restaurant gift certificate for coming to your wedding. They are choosing to come to your wedding to see you get married, not so they can get a gift.

If you want to do some kind of welcome event, why not just invite people to your room? You can always get some wine and snacks. Are you doing OOT bags or favors? That could also be an inexpensive option if you wanted to give your guests something. The OOT bags are also something the guests would not expect to receive.