Help me plan a "mini" itinerary - ROR

[Jenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Msklee Hey I like you ideal. I would like to plan an outing for my guest . So please clarify your schedule for me. I'm a little confused on what day to schedule it. When do I make the suggestion to my guest? Do I include the info on my itineary? Do I chose where we go? Or do we take a vote?

You can either choose an excursion, or add a poll to your wedding website to see what your guests are interested in.

Here's our tentative itinerary...

Thurs Jan 17th:
3-5p - Guests arrive
6:30p - Dinner
8p - Welcome Party with bonfire and steel band on the beach

Friday Jan 18th:
Optional early morning fishing trip - guests to RSVP and pay own way
1-6p Optional Trip into Negril to Margaritaville hosted by bride and groom

Saturday Jan 19th:
Guests have the morning to themselves
4:30p - Wedding
5-6p - Cocktail Party / Pictures
6p - ? Dinner and Reception with Reggae Band

Sunday Jan 20th:
Guests have the day to themselves
TTD

Monday Jan 21st:
Farewell Lunch
Most guests leave Jamaica

We are still working on costs/logistics of our fishing trip. We may also do seperate bride/groom trips with FI going fishing. I may take the girls (or whoever) to the straw market in Negril and then we'll all meet up at Margaritaville. I can't wait!!

[PrecisePlans]

Hopels, I like the idea of having a "farewell lunch". I think that I will add that to my itinerary. You mentioned:

8p - Welcome Party with bonfire and steel band on the beach

 

Are you hiring the steelband and setting up a bonfire or is that something that the resort already has scheduled. I been to ROR once before and I never saw any bonfire's but I like the thought of having one during our welcome cocktail party.

[PrecisePlans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikkiStreak When we send out the invite package, we'll include a list of scheduled non-hosted activities and any associated expenses with them. They'll see the price of the activity, and an approximate cost on transportation (based on how many people RSVP yes to each activity). I figure that since the guests going to Mexico will be the family and friends that we are closest to, and they will be more likely to want to spend time with us. And, since a lot of the activities we're looking into are things people commonly want to do on vacation in that area, we're basically offering them a hassle free, less expensive way to do it through group rates and putting together transportation information/cost for them.

Mikki, I've already sent my invites out so maybe I can include this information on our wedding website. I wish that I would have thought ahead and included this in our invite so everything can be together.....oh well

[Jenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by md_ocr Hopels, I like the idea of having a "farewell lunch". I think that I will add that to my itinerary. You mentioned: 8p - Welcome Party with bonfire and steel band on the beach Are you hiring the steelband and setting up a bonfire or is that something that the resort already has scheduled. I been to ROR once before and I never saw any bonfire's but I like the thought of having one during our welcome cocktail party.

I didn't read the post title! I'm not at ROR - sorry! Our hotel is doing the bonfire for us, and we are hiring the steel band. We're staying at a resort near Negril. You could ask your WC if they could do something like that though...

[rodent]

I'd take out the lunch on thursday or make sure it says "optional" in bold. Right in the middle of the day it would make it hard to do anything else. It doesn't leave them a full day to go on an excursion.

[PrecisePlans]

good point Morgan. I think you're right.

[Spazz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureMrsButler08 Lizz, you an I have a very similar set up. Only thing with me is that I am getting married early Saturday and most guests are coming on Thursday and leaving Sunday. So it doesn't leave a whole lot of time and if i plan things it will seem as though they don't have time to do their own thing. Here's what I got so far...

It sounds like you're all set! You've got a lot of great ideas!

[michelle08]

Quote:

Originally Posted by md_ocr I was thinking that I wanted to include a short intinerary shedule for my guests. I don't want to take up too much of their time because it is their vacation, but at the same time, I don't want them to feel bad and think that I've invited them all this way and I don't even have anything planned for them. I was thinking the evening my guests arrive to have a "welcome cocktail party". I will just use one of the poolside bars or sportsbar (really I'll use any space I can find that will accomodate us.....lol) There, I will pass out their OOT boxes (with a chocolate satin wide ribbon instead of the red) Weddings Gowns Gifts - The Knot OOT Boxes will include sunblock insect repellant personalized water bottles granola bars gum candy w/ personalized wrappers tylenol this itinerary mini phone sheet with important phone & room numbers (bride, groom, parents, front desk, etc.) postcards and maybe Jamaican key chains Wednesday, May 7th 12pm – 5pm Arrive in Jamaica 6:00pm - Welcome Party Thursday, May 8th 12:30pm – Meet ‘n’ Greet lunch 3:00pmGet out and enjoy sunny Jamaica Friday, May 9th 10:00 am Rehearsal at Gazebo (FI, myself, & parents) 6:00pm Rehearsal Dinner 9:00 pm - Beach party Saturday, May 10th 4:00 pm Wedding - 4:45pm Pictures 6:30 pm Wedding Reception Dinner – Plantation 9:00 pm Dance the night away Sunday, May 11th Guests enjoy last day in sunny JA 5:00pm Trash the dress photo shoot Monday, May 12th Guests depart and me and hubby begin our honeymoon What do you guys think? Do you think that I'm asking too much time from my guests. I don't want them to feel obligated to attend any events if they don't want too, but i would like to have a little bit of structure to our event.

sounds great! I agree about the welcome party and meet and greet...might to too much...BUT you can always word it so that they know you and fi will be a certain place having lunch that day and they are more than welcome to come eat with you so they don't feel obligated but if they haven't planned anything for themselves then they can meet up with you! ??

[michelle08]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoBride I think everything sounds great. You are really organized! The only suggestion I have is to maybe take out the meet and greet lunch since you are having a welcome party and let your guests have Thursday to themselves, but it's just a suggestion. My guests are coming and going on all diffierent days, but here is my mini-itinerary: Thursday Nov. 8th- Rehearsal at beach gazebo at 5pm (just us, our parents, and the bridal party) 6:30pm-Rehearsal Dinner at Mammee Bay (again just us, our parents, our bridal party and their spouses which is 20 people. Mammee Bay could not accomodate all 64 of our guests for the rehearsal dinner so we just decided to do it this way). 8-11pm- Welcome Cocktail Party for all guests at the beach bar SeaGrape where we will give out our OOT bags. Friday Nov. 9th-Wedding Ceremony at Beach Gazebo at 11am followed by pictures on the beach (and maybe have some rum punch served) while the steel band is playing. 12:30pm-Meet outside of lobby to board the 2 tour buses to take us to our reception. 1-4 (or whenever we're done)-Evita's Italain Restaurant-Enjoy lunch (although it's really like dinner with all the food we're having apps, salads, entree, dessert), open bar, and a live reggae band as well as the beautiful hilltop view of the sea and Ocho Rios below. Take the bus back to the resort, change relax a little then head to the beach party. Sat. Nov. 10th-We are climbing Dunn's River Falls. If you would like to join us meet in the lobby at 10am. We can split cabs, the falls are nearby. Entrance fee is $15.00 per person (we worded it like that on the itinerary because a lot of people are interested in this excursion but we cannot afford to pay for everyone so we didn't want there to be any confusion).

I really like your idea of having just you guys and your familly and bridal party for dinner that night and then have just cocktails for everyone (welcome party) afterward!!! I am have been trying to figure this out because our budget is small we can't really afford to host a whole dinner and drink welcome party. I thought about just getting everyone together and they just have to pay for their own, but I knew I would feel weird about that...

This way, dinner is just for the family and then for drinks after since we are at dreams...it's included anyway and we can all be together introduce, etc...before the wedding day! Brilliant!!!! Thanks!

[PrecisePlans]

Okay, here is what I posted on our updated website so far:

 

My Site's Title

 

Click under the "Events Page"