ROR Welcome dinner other than St. Ann's?

It seems most brides at ROR have their welcome dinner at St. Ann's and reception at Mammee Bay or Plantation. I've been reading a lot on TripAdivsor about how at the RIU you now have to stand in line for up to an hour to make a dinner reservation for the following night. Many people are annoyed by this, and I don't think many of my guests will do this. However, then they'll end up eating at St. Ann's most nights since no reservations are required.

 

My question is, has anyone ever reserved Mandalay or any other reservation required place other than Mammee Bay for their Welcome Dinner? It seems that if I was able to reserve this for my 25 guests, that would be one less time they'd have to stand in line themselves and then they could eat at St. Ann's on another night.

Chandlyn emailed me and said if I wanted my welcome dinner or rehearsal dinner anywhere other than St. Ann's I would have to pay for it. I don't remember the restaurant that she mentioned but she said that I could reserve the restaurant for $1000 for 4 hours or use the beach option for $50 a person. Needless to say, I chose St. Ann's. LOL we can't afford to spend that since we are having between 40-60 guests.

Maureen, did you have to pay to have your rehearsal dinner at Mammee Bay. I didn't know that was an option. Chandlyn only mentioned St. Anns to me.

 

Side note: I'm having my reception at Evitas so I'll probably be having a LOT of questions for you soon. LOL

Nope, they are brand new reviews. Some posted today! Some do mention that you USED to just call a number, but they have recently changed it so that you have to stand in line. Many people are complaining about it.

that really sucks........ Maureen was there a band playing at St'Anns anytime you guys attended? I read somewhere else that the reggae band was at the restaurant when a bride had her welcome dinner there... trying to confirm from BDW 's finest

Yeah, they had a band one night, outside of St.Ann's, I think it was Saturday night but don't quote me on that. It was the same day that they had the vendors come to the resort.

thanks for the input...

Thank you for the info

Was your welcome dinner optional in case people wanted to dine elsewhere since they would be having dinner with you the night of the wedding?

I advised my guests of the welcome dinner by stating that Hubby & I wanted to welcome them to Jamaica & also told them it would be a good way for them to get acquainted with each other. I never told them it was mandatory & I had it early enough so that it didn't interfere with anything they wanted to do with the rest of their night. Everyone showed up, I passed out their oot bags & then after dinner some of us hung out together & watched the nightly entertainment, while the rest of the guests went & did their own thing.

There are lots of options that won't have you imposing on your guests time.
You don't necessarily have to have a welcome dinner. You can have a welcome breakfast, lunch, or you can have welcome drinks/cocktail hour at one of the bars.