Is Anyone Just Having The Simple Cocktail Reception?

[loquaciouspunky]

Is anyone just having the simple (complimentary) wedding package reception.  I realize that we are all staying at different resorts, but to those who are staying at an all inclusive that has the free wedding package, are you doing anything else for your guests?

 

We have upgraded our free half an hour reception to an hour reception with wine and appetizers, but have been debating on hosting a bonfire or some other activity for our guests, but many of them are making this an excuse to have an anniversary/bday trip and I dont want to interfere with any of the time they want to spend not doing wedding activities.

 

thoughts?

[flo628]

We're not staying at an AI resort and are having a full dinner reception, but we are still hosting an after party bonfire on the beach, with pizzas and any leftover alcohol from our open bar...maybe you can do something like that for afterwards. I'm sure your guests carved the evening out for you and your wedding.

 

My in laws are also hosting a welcome dinner for everyone the night before, after our wedding rehearsal. What if you organized some sort of activity for the 1st day for ppl to get to know each other, or get reacquainted, etc. Maybe some water sport- wave running is fun and cheap, boat rides, kayaking?

[Bigleap35]

A reception is not included at my all inclusive hotel (Royalton) only a semi-private dinner. Our ceremony is at 5pm and we have a party of 15-25. I am trying to decide if it makes since to pay extra to have a short reception with music. Too few guest to have a lively party IMO. And disco doesn't open until 11pm. I do agree that something needs to happen to close the evening. It will be great to hear other opinions.

[GingerJ228]

My resort is an AI and and we are hosting a casual beach BBQ welcome dinner the evening before our wedding and after our ceremony we are having cocktail hour and a full reception with dinner, drinks and dancing. You don't have to do a full reception but have you looked into a beach BBQ type party - you could keep it casual and fun.  I understand not wanting to monopolize their vacation but your guests most likely will want to celebrate you the day of your ceremony. 

[loquaciouspunky]

yes we actually looked into a beach bbq party and it was going to cost approximately $3k for a 4 hour reception with a dj.  Which is unfortunately out of our budget.  

 

We are going to set up a welcome meet up at the hotel lobby bar on the first night, we are hosting a sunset catamaran cruise the next night (1.5 hour cruise with alcohol) and we can have a semi-private dinner at the buffet restaurant on the resort after our reception.  We also just found out that our resort typically hosts a beach bonfire on Monday nights (we're marrying on a monday) so we can go to this after the dinner.

 

Do you think this is enough? 

[GingerJ228]

yes we actually looked into a beach bbq party and it was going to cost approximately $3k for a 4 hour reception with a dj.  Which is unfortunately out of our budget.  

 

We are going to set up a welcome meet up at the hotel lobby bar on the first night, we are hosting a sunset catamaran cruise the next night (1.5 hour cruise with alcohol) and we can have a semi-private dinner at the buffet restaurant on the resort after our reception.  We also just found out that our resort typically hosts a beach bonfire on Monday nights (we're marrying on a monday) so we can go to this after the dinner.

 

Do you think this is enough? 

3K is a lot for a Beach BBQ with DJ.  Did you price it without a DJ and just iPod instead?  You have a lot of lovely events planned for your guest and its sound like your wedding is going to be lots of fu and very memorable.  

[vanessav53]

@@GingerJ228 glad you decided on the beach BBQ! That will be the night of my wedding! Are you doing entertainment at the Beach BBQ or just food and drinks then move to one of the other bars at the resort?  I feel like it's crunch time now. Id id alot of stuff during the holidays but now it's time to kick it into high gear!

[GingerJ228]

@@vanessav53  EEEKKK!!! I didn't think about entertainment!!!  I thin the beach BBQ is only 2 hours long so maybe we'll just do and iPod with playlist.  I would like the Mariachi band but they are super expensive - like 1200 for 45 minutes, I don't think its worth it for that price.  Are you doing any entertainment for your welcome dinner? 

[vanessav53]

@@GingerJ228 we were going to do our ipod but then my parents mentioned it might be nice to have a steel drummer or something to just set the mood HA! I am a huge live music fan but we opted for DJ for wedding night so I emailed anel to see what options were available. The mariachi is WAY to expensive. We'll see. At this point i'm hemmoraging money! I did just order my flowers yesterday and saved a little bit there so felt good about that! for once, I saved money vs. spending more than my budget!

 

Either way this wedding is still WAY cheaper than anything I would have in NYC and I'm doing so many things to make this my dream wedding so I figured a few hundred dollars extra here and there won't be too bad?

[DinaQtobe]

@@vanessav53  EEEKKK!!! I didn't think about entertainment!!!  I thin the beach BBQ is only 2 hours long so maybe we'll just do and iPod with playlist.  I would like the Mariachi band but they are super expensive - like 1200 for 45 minutes, I don't think its worth it for that price.  Are you doing any entertainment for your welcome dinner? 

I see you are getting married at the Now Sapphire.  If you have the Divine Package, have you considered using your live musician (1 hr) for the beach bbq?  Would solve the entertainment issue if you already have a DJ for the day of the wedding...