Is a Welcome Dinner expected?

[Starfish0512]

We have a small group as well, 18 total and our families have never met.  We will be staying in 3 bedroom luxury condos and will be hosting/cooking a welcome dinner in our beachfront villa the first night. I have received a little kick back about the cooking part, my parents want us to have it catered but I think cooking together creates a warm casual family environment, perfect for the first evening, besides I love to cook!! 

[xoamdxo75]

We are having about 35 people coming to our wedding. Instead of a welcome dinner, our resort offers a bonfire so we are doing that!

[luvmoo]

That is a nice idea! i love the bonfire on the beach idea.. so nice! I haven't fully decided what we will be doing, it is likely that we will just have a cocktail hour type thing. i will still have to figure that tid bit out

[adevnturelovers]

we plan on using our AI lobby bar for "welcome drinks". It is extra in the AI to host a welcome dinner and going out to town seems like a hassle and waste of money when everyone is paying for the AI food. So as much as I wouldve liked it, it's just out of the budget and doesnt make sense if you stay at an AI.

[traceysteve]

that's a nice option, to have one group reservation. maybe I should find out if the Riu does that. Love the way you think!
 

Originally Posted by weddingaway 

Initially, I was planning to do a rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding which falls on the 2nd day of most guests' trip, but after some thinking, I realized that the day my guests are arriving they will probably not be able to score any reservations for dinner and will be "stuck" at the buffett.  So I am thinking we will do a rehearsal/welcome dinner the first night which introduces everyone (most of our families have never met) and that allows everyone to make their own plans for the next night.  Plus we only have 30 guests and as part of our group rate we are allowed one group dinner reservation (not counting reception) at one of the regular restaurants.

 

[bride6262]

i am planning a welcome dinner for the 2nd night we are there....i am just going to do it in the buffet and bring the welcome bags with me. sort of informal and that way it wont cost me any $$

[elisamarie]

I think we will just do the welcome cocktails idea in the lobby bar the night we arrive and hand out the OOT bags there. There are 3 birthdays during our week , so I don't want to interfere with anyone's dinner plans or take up a night that someone wants to do an a la carte.

 

[meBonidie2be]

I love that we are doing AI. I plan on doing personalized messages in a bottle for each OOT bag. within the letter I would like to invite all our guests to a welcome cocktail event. I like that it's no extra cost for us. BONUS!

 

[anna524]

 

 

Originally Posted by allyson779 

 

Instead of a welcome dinner we are hosting a bonfire on the beach with cocktails and smores.

 

this is such a cute idea!!!

[canadiangirl]

i dont think the welcome dinner is a must however, were doing one only because there are ppl who have never met...this way they all get to met eachother, i get to give out the OOT bags, and its a time were we can all relax and enjoy the first night all together before the wedding and what not.

 

I do think its an added bonus for everyone....what I did was in my itinerary inset in my invites, i added that there would be a welcome dinner for all fam and friends, this way they know before hand.