The Ceremony, Then...?

So, I've decided on a Playa del Carmen location. I like the Royal Playa del Carmen so far and I'm trying to narrow it down to three resorts for a site visit in April.

So, I have lots of dumb questions: Do you think a cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres after the ceremony followed by a 3-hour reception is excessive? They offer a 1.5 hour reception or I could skip the cocktail hour. When does the champagne toast usually take place, during the reception or immediately after the ceremony? Honestly, I've not been to many weddings and I've NEVER been to a destination wedding so I'm not sure what is expected or what would be the best sequence of events. I'm only planning to have 30 guests max. I really just want everyone to have a good time. Yikes, I should've crashed more weddings!

at dreams they have a "toast" right after the ceremony and before the cocktail hour (kind of so everyone can congratulate you and take pics and stuff). we are having 50 guest and doing a cocktail hour so that we (FI and I) can take pics together. Then we're having a 3 hr reception and probably going to the lobby bar after (we like to party!!). as for the "formal toast" (when the bestman and maid of honor talk) we are doing that during the reception before dinner. it sounds like a lot when i read it just now, lol...hope this helps!

We are not having a formal cocktail hour following the ceremony - we only have about an hour between the ceremony and the dinner/reception, and FI and felt that since we would like pictures with our guests there would not be enough time or a necessity for one. Guests will also most likely want to freshen up between the hot outdoor ceremony and the reception, so there will be time for that as well. We are also at an AI resort, so we will be directing people to the lobby bar between.

However, I do not think that a cocktail hour and reception would be over kill at all! You know your guests the best, so I would say base it on what you think everyone would enjoy Good luck!

We are doing a cocktail party about a 1/2 hour after the ceremony. That way we can get pictures in with everyone before that starts. We'll be doing our 1st dance/toasts during that time as well. Then there is a break between that party and dinner(1/2 hour). After dinner it'll be a free for all. Whoever wants to party can party. We have under 20 guests coming so for us a private reception not only didn't fit into the budget but it would have been too big of a party for our small group. Good luck!

I think the cocktail hour is great because it takes up time and it breaks things up as if there is lots of things planned. I think its a nice event for people to conversate!

We're not having a cocktail hour. We're staying at an AI resort so while we're taking pics we're going to tell the guests to go to one of the lounges in between the ceremony and reception. A cocktail hour would cost us at least $600 so I figured that's money we can save.

This is a great post. These are things that I am going to have to think about as well. But, we will be having a cocktail hour so that we can get our pictures taken and the guests will have something to do while we are doing that. we didnt want everyone standing around with nothing to do while we took the formal pics