Shes2013- Congrats and Welcome! Prices and open reservations will not be available for the resort probably 10 months outs. I remember planning my wedding and wanted to set a date right away but I had to wait until the resort opened the reservations for the next year. For the best costs, I would not recommend going throught the direct RIU site, I noticed their prices are a little inflated. For a party of 20 guests, try finding a travel agent that can book your flights, coordinate your car services to and from the airport, and have them find you the best deals. I had about 14 ppl total and went through this site and found a travel agent. Wendy Hicks was awesome! Travel agents usually can price match if prices go down throughout the year and should not charge you any extra fees. As for the cocktail hour, my guests had a cocktails by the lobby while they waited for us to finish taking pictures. We didn't serve food at cocktail, they just had drinks by the bar and it seemed fine with everyone, since the resort feeds you so well. After cocktail, we had a private dinner. We didn't have a full on reception and didn't really mind. With less than 20 people, it was very intimate and was perfect. We did bring our our music system and had our first dance as well as dances with mom and dad. Believe me, with or without a reception, your friends and family will not care (hopefully). I felt the same way about not having the traditional reception with the bouquet toss, music and dancing.. but in the end it was perfect not having all of that. No matter what, they will be talking for years about how great your destination wedding was! Being married just a year ago, our guests want us to all go back and do it all over again.