ROR Past Brides with a Large Wedding -Question

[yumyum90]

Hello All,

 

It looks like so far we have had about 80 people book. I was hoping to be able to do a Welcome Dinner at the Steakhouse or Plantation but I asked Chandlyn and she replied that we could only reserve a restaurant for up to 50 people.

 

We will be going with the BBQ Reception at $55/person so I don't want to go offsite for a Welcome Dinner and incur those costs too. I'm curious as to what other brides with large wedding parties did in regards to a Welcome dinner or reception. I don't want our guests to feel as if we didn't greet them or spend time with them until the wedding day.

[Cocosoul1120]

I'm getting married at Riu Negril in September. So far we have 60 people who booked and I think about 19 more will be booking in the next week or so. I also would like to have a welcome dinner/cocktail hour. I got a response back from the coordinator at the hotel but I don't think I got the answer I was looking for. Since we are already having a completely private reception at the restaurant, I don't want to have the welcome dinner there, with the same food. I have no idea what to do. We are in the same boat!

[yumyum90]

Oh wow, you too! Well I just came up with the idea to see if it was possible to have an informal cocktail hour at one of the bars. I see there are 3 bars at the hotel "Blue Mountain, Sports Bar, and Dunns River Plaza Bar". I searched through the forum and found that the "Dunns River Plaza Bar" overlooks the beach and has plenty of room, it opens around 5pm and is also near the main stage where the show is. Supposedly they also have a live band playing around there before the show starts too. Based upon what another bride did, I am going to host an informal welcome cocktail reception there 2 nights from 8-9. That way I can greet people who are arriving at different times and see the show as well!

[Cocosoul1120]

Yes! Honestly, I would prefer to just have a cocktail hour moreso than anything so that everyone can meet and greet prior to the wedding. That way, everyone won't be seeing each other for the first time at the actually wedding. A cocktail hour would be cool cause it won't take up too much of their time but I didn't know if that could be an option.

There is nothing that says that we could do it 'informally' but I think it would be a good touch if the hotel anticipates that I'll be setting it up. Let me know what you find out. I'm going to send another email to the wedding coordinator in Negril to see is this could be a possibility. Let me know how it works on your end...

[Cocosoul1120]

Okay, so I got an email back from the MICE at Riu Negril. She said we can host a private cocktail reception at one of the bars. The drinks would be $12 per person and finger food would be between $8 - $15 per person. Based on the number of people we have attending that would be approximately $1400 - $1850 for the event based on what is selected.

I think this is the option I am going to go with and have that planned for the day before the wedding.

[HeavenlyBride]

Hey I am getting married July 2nd' 2011 at ROR. I am working with Elite Travel agency/ planners. They have been doing weddings at the RUI since they opened. She was able to organize the rehersal dinner with Chandlyn for all of my guest at St. Ann's insted of Mammee Bay for all my guest. I have about 90 people coming. Since I have been working with them I have gotten my answer from Chandlyn quickly. I am having a poolside reception and all the planning has been going so well. Guess what they charge nothing I said NOTHING for their services. My advise would be to ask Chandlyn about using St. Ann's or use Elite

[yumyum90]

HeavenlyBride, i am also working with Elite specifically with Katie. I didn't think about asking her to arrange it though. I had been emailing Chandlyn myself, because Katie is hard to reach sometimes. When I asked Chandlyn she said I could only reserve it for up to 50 people for a rehearsal dinner. However, maybe I should email Katie about it. Thanks for the info.

[Spazz]

We had 80+ guests at our ROR wedding. We had our "Welcome Party" 2 nights before our wedding on the beach at the bar there. I believe it cost $10pp for drinks and everything else - tables, chairs, tiki torches, set-up, etc. - was free. Chandlyn set everything up herself, hung up a banner we brought with us, hooked up our ipod music stuff. It turned out great.

 

For our rehearsal dinner Chandlyn reserved tables at the Plantation for us for free.

[ajlbuaxo]

We have 60 people going and she said that she has it reserved at St. Anns for the night before the wedding, I dont know if since you have 80 if it will still work. Sorry!

[aelliott]

Hi Everyone,

I have a question about large receptions. I'm pretty sure we will have more than 50 guests at our wedding reception, So, are there any restaurants that could accommodate approx 60-70 guests as part of the "included" semi-private reception? or would I have to pay $55/person and host a private reception?

Or, does anyone know if you can host a private lunch reception? Our wedding is at 11:00am so if we had to pay for a private dinner reception, we'd rather just pay for a private lunch reception if possible.

PLEASE HELP ME!!