Restaurant Reception versus Private Reception at an All-Inclusive Resort?

[c&j]

Hi everyone,

 

For those of you already married, can you provide your insight:

 

Did you choose to have your dinner reception in one of the restaurants or did you have a private event?  Why did you make the choice you did?  Would you have done it differently in hindsight?  If you did choose the restaurant, was your reception semi-private or was your party intermingled with resort guests?  Any information you think would be helpful for those of us trying to make the decision between the two?

 

Thanks for your help!

[c&j]

Also, how many people were in your group?

[mochamakes3]

We had 30 people at our private reception. I chose a private reception so that we could have our own decor and not have to worry about onlookers. We also had enough room nights booked, that we didn't have to pay extra for the private event.

 

Our package included a restaurant reception, which we used for our welcome dinner two nights before our wedding. It was nice having everyone at the same table, and there wasn't many others at the restaurant. I think if we had chosen a busier restaurant it would have been awkward. It was actually kind of funny because when we walked in, the wait staff all lined up and applauded us.

 

I am certainly glad we had the private reception, but if we had to pay the $2K I might have reconsidered. Having it private also meant we had to buy decor and favors, and also pay to have a speaker system. I think I was just so happy about our wedding.

[JayKay]

We are going to have about 18 people in our group so we have decided to just do the restraunt reception.  I know if won't be as private but it just doesn't make sense for our small group to pay the money to rent something and have a private reception.

[kymish]

i am having a small wedding as well... please lemme know how the restaurant reception works out for you.. thats my plan to !!

congrats to you !!

Originally Posted by JayKay 

We are going to have about 18 people in our group so we have decided to just do the restraunt reception.  I know if won't be as private but it just doesn't make sense for our small group to pay the money to rent something and have a private reception.

 

[torilynnsmith]

We are most likely doing a "semi private" restaurant dinner followed by a private reception.  Though I would love to have a private dinner it is $70 a plate PLUS alcohol per person per hour.  I just find it hard to dish out that amount of money at an ALL INCLUSIVE resort.  I know almost all or all of our guests are assuming everything is included and to spend over $5000 to have an entirely private event just doesn't seem worth it.  I would rather give every guests $100!

Since we have had more people book than expected, even our "included" dinner is now costing us but it is only $10 a person as opposed to the $60 + booze......