Reception--What to do in Negril?

[pearlygirl]

Our wedding will take place at 4pm at the Riu Negril. I'm guessing pictures will take and hour or so, then I'm not sure if we'll to the 6:30pm seating or 9pm seating. There will only be 12-15 of us, ranging in age from 9 years-55 years and we'll just do the semi-private dinner reception in one of the restaurants.

 

My question is......What do we do after dinner?!?! Are there any fun little bars to go to in Negril (keeping in mind that we'll have a child with us)?

 

If we do the 6:30 seating, I don't know how long the lobby bar will keep everyone entertained after dinner. I don't want everyone to get bored and go back to their rooms early!!!

 

If we do the 9pm seating, it might be fun to leave the resort after pictures for a while then come back for dinner, then go to the lobby bar.

 

Does anyone konw of any fun little bars/restaurants near the hotel?

 

Any advise is appreciated!

 

Thanks,

pearlygirl

[Soon2beWed09]

ur so lucky I couldnt find a later time..my wedding starts at 12 Not sure what to do in betweeen then either? It sucks that they cant confirm ur recption time b4 u get there...

[bpayne]

Well looks like I got the middle time. Mine is at 1pm. I really wanted 4pm. I didnt know that you could not confirm your time for dinner until you get there? We were talking about taking a bus over to Margaritaville. I would think that would still be appropriate for kids. Maybe you could even go to Ric's Cafe. I think they might even have shuttles that will take you. Ideally I wanted to do a sunset cruise for my entire group but still waiting on a cost for that. I dont know about you guys but I really wanted to stay in my dress for the entire night so I'm looking to do sometime some what casual.

[pearlygirl]

This is kinda funny....as I've written before, we moved the date up one year. So I just started looking for the trip/wedding in the past couple weeks. Our travel dates were pretty open, but we knew for sure sometime mid-late January or beg-mid February. I emailed the Riu w/ the original week we wanted to go, and they informed me the only available times were 11am or noon. So I asked her when a 4pm was available, she told me February 3, 2009 and that day is what I booked our entire trip around. That is how I got lucky with the 4pm. Although it is the day after by b-day, which I'd prefer it wasn't. Oh well, the bright side is that FI will have an easy time remembering special days since they are so close! (Hopefully)

 

Anyway...the bus renting or sunset cruise idea both sound like great suggestions. bpayne....let me know what price they come up with.

 

Also, I want to wear my dress the entire evening. I didn't pay all that money for a beautiful dress I'll never wear again just to take it off right away

[bpayne]

As soon as I get prices I will post them. My MOH is also my TA so it's pretty easy for me to get information.

[2bebridejamaica]

I just got back from Negril and for places to go in between it all... I would prob suggest Ricks more so than Margaritaville. Even with the small amount of people you have which was the same number as us... Margaritaville is small... They only have about 10 tables inside and then out on the beach they prob have another 15... all the hotels have certain days for shuttles to both places... most are around 5pm which is it's busiest time of the day due to the sunset. The shuttles from the resorts are usually packed with about 40 people on the bus and 2 different resorts a night... finding seating is hard. As for Rick's... it's bigger and more open... when we went it was busy busy too .. but in no way felt as crowded as Margaritaville. I bet if you contacted Rick's.. they might be able to make a table for you off to the side just for your wedding party/guests. Hope this helps!

[steph_held03]

Hi! We just got married at the RIU Negril and we also had the 4pm wedding time. By the time the wedding got over with and the pictures were done it was about 5:45 at night. We all went to the lobby bar for drinks until are 6:30dinner reservations. I really don't think you'll have enough time to go anywhere if you do eat early but you should have time if you don't eat till 9. You should be able to confirm ahead with Dionne at what restaurant and time you want your dinner to be. We did about 5 months prior. If you do choose the later seating I would definitly sugget Ricks over Margaritaville.

I found Margarittaville dumpy and not up to class with all of the other ones I have been to but I loved loved loved Ricks. We actually went there twice during our stay. If you have a larger group going they may give you a discount but it cost us $20 per person round trip to get there. Be prepared as well for drink costs unless you order their specials. Hubby had a beer for 8 dollars and I had a glass of wine for $20. But I then had a margarita that wasw on special and that was only $7.50. They also except american money but will only give you Jamaican back. Hope this helps!

[pearlygirl]

Whoa!! $20 for a glass of wine! Thats crazy!

 

I'm thinking maybe we'll do the 9pm seating that way we can go to Margaritaville, Ricks or maybe do the sunset cruise in between the ceremony and dinner. If we did the 6:30 seating, I don't know if we should really be out at Margaritaville or Ricks with children later in the evening.

 

Does anyone know how late the bars in the hotel stay open?

 

steph, which restaurant do you suggest for the dinner? I'm not a big seafood lover, FI thinks the steakhouse, but I think other people have said the steakhouse isn't that great. What is your opinion?