Please Register / Login to take part in discussions about the Virgin Islands.
My fiancee and i are getting married in April and have gone through a website to plan the details. Now we're trying to plan some sort of celebration dinner for afterwards. Two questions plague me and I need help please! We are having a large reception when we get home (which is getting super expensive) and wondering the ettiquette on who should pay for the dinner after the wedding, here on the island. I'm not expecting anyone else to pick up the tab but wondering if my fiancee and I should pay for everyone that evening? Despite the fact we're also having this huge reception back home.
My second question, is where we should have the reception. I was looking into doing something at the hotel (Wyndham) or possibly Robert's Grille. I was thinking nothing to far from the east end since transportation for 30 is a little more than anticipated. My fiancee and I are paying for the transportation. So should we also include the dinner tab?
Help please?
For a destination wedding, the Bride and Groom ( or whomever is paying) should pay for the reception and the transportation, regardless if you are having a reception at home.
When you have a destination wedding, you are asking people to spend a considerable amount of money and vacation time to witness your marriage. The couple ( or person paying) should pay for the transportation to and from the cermony and reception. Other than that you guests are on their own. You can arrange group activities, but you do not have any reponsibility to pay for those, as anything else they do is really optional.
I will have to default to some of the STT locals and regulars, as I am not familiar with restaurants or resorts, but I would steer towards a more casual celebration if you are looking to keep costs down. It is the islands and casual is the way to go.
Congratulations and Best of Luck!
Since you're planning the big reception when you're back home, I'd arrange a SMALL reception here, not a dinner. I'm assuming that you're all staying at the Wyndham and, if so, the transportation expenses would be minimized if you arranged something there. I'm sure they'll have suggestions but I'd go with a small basic bar set-up and hors d'oeuvres, even a simple beach BBQ. Nothing fancy. Since the Wyndham has now gone completely A-I then your guests' dinners are included in the room charge, no? Plan your reception earlyish and then you and your guests can all eat later on (independently). Hope that helps and that you enjoy a wonderful stay and honeymoon here!
Good answer, STT! You are spot on!
My daughter got married on Stt in Fall of '09 and we had her reception at the The Blue Moon Cafe, it was perfect. We had 30 people who all had a fabulous time. The food, service and atmosphere could not have been better, it was 5:00 just before sunset so everyone got to enjoy appetizers, drinks and the beautiful sunset while awaiting the bride and groom from the hotel where the wedding took place. The manager there (I forget her name, sorry) was truly great to work with, super accommodating and very flexible. She offers many different venues to suit your desired time of day, number of guests and type of meal to be served from appetizers and drinks to full 5 course meals. She will provide dessert or, you can have a cake delivered by one of the local bakeries. You get great value for your money in my opinion and would use them again. I've read a few bad reviews lately which surprised me, does anyone know if they've changed management or, gone through some rough patches with the economy perhaps?
Congratulations!
Linda
Julie is not renewing her lease at Blue Moon and apparently the people who own Havana Blue, Pesce (formerly East End Cafe) and whatever Lotus is now called will be opening in that space. Blue Moon is still open and now I can't remember if it's end of April or end of May that the changeover happens.
Thanks so much for your responses. And especailly for the review on Blue Moon. We booked our reception there and we also have 30 attending. Very similar to Stthomas' daughter's wedding. I also asked about the changes happening and it won't be until June. Until then, business as usual. Our wedding and reception is just next month.
