Dinner / Reception Locations and Ceremony time

[MirLovesJeff]

Hello all, congratulations of your weddings and upcoming weddings as Majestic Elegance (ME). I am getting married at ME on December 14th 2012 at 2 pm. I am planning on doing pictures after the ceremony and then dinner and a reception. I have a few questions that I am hoping someone can help me with.

I am worried my ceremony time may be too early as dinner is not until 6:30.

1. how long does it take for pictures? 

 I am guessing .5 to .75 hrs for ceremony, .5 to .75 for a champaign toast after ceremony,  and maybe 2 hrs max for pictures?

That would bring us to 5:30 at the latest with an hour + to kill before the dinner. Is my timing right? Wondering if I should move the wedding time later in the day?

Also I am considering either

1. Having a private dinner and reception at the parrot bar,

2. Having a private dinner and reception at the See & Sea, or

3. Having a semi private dinner at either the steak house or Sea and See and reception to follow (parrot bar or sea and see)

My wedding party will be around 30 people and my questions are. If I decided to have my reception at the See and Sea would it feel empty as my group is not that big?

If I went with the parrot bar for dinner and reception, is the parrot bar and actual building with a bar and a bathroom? Or is it just a gazebo with a satellite bar? Has anyone had the private dinner at the parrot bar; if so, what was it like?

I have been noticing that most people chose the stone gazebo as their ceremony spot. Did anyone get married on the beach? I am debating which location. Can anyone help me with pro’s and con’s of each location?

Does anyone have pictures of reception at parrot bar, See & Sea or Steak house?

Thank you all in advance for your help!!!