Anyone Charge For Their Welcome Party/Rehearsal Dinner?

[Lisatiggg]

We are having about 100 people at our wedding from USA and Canada. As of right now our per person price for the wedding day is $ 270.00 (trying to get this reduced by cutting a few things but that is worse case scenario)

We are getting married on a Friday and have had multiple people ask if we are doing anything on Thursday night that they could join us for.

We were thinking of having an optional welcome party at the Grand Floridian Marina. (it will be from 8:30 to 11:30 so we get to watch the fireworks) It is going to cost $ 70 a person. We just cant cover another $70.00 in that per person price.

We could have just our wedding party and close family but really want to offer it to everyone.

We were thinking charging $ 40.00 per person and having a cash bar if people want to come they come if not they don’t have to.

Anybody done anything like that or any opinions?

 

[Pooh's Corner]

We are just organizing a dinner.... But not planning on paying for anyone... Might seem rude but my future in-laws are not offering any money for a welcome/rehersal dinner so it is our answer to the money problem.

 

[*Pixiedust1438*]

I don't think it's rude because people have the choice to come, however, If I were going to do something like that I would probably make it at a restaurant where people could order off the menu, and make it casual, this way it doesn't seem like you are charging people to come, they are just paying for their dinner. You could always have just the bridal party and yourselves do the GF marina for a DP after dinner, and pay for that.

 

[girli565]

$70/person seems like a lot for a welcome dinner. Could you possibly change it to a dessert party and choose a cheaper dessert menu? We're having one at Sago Cay for $30/person but I've seen other brides have an even lower per person cost. And the plus is that that dessert party menus include coffee, syrups, teas and tap water. So no need for an open bar.

I wouldn't charge people. I'm asking them to travel to WDW, pay their own hotel and travel expenses so I would either pay for the welcome event or not have one at all.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

I agree with Pixiedust. I see no problem having a welcome party at a restaurant, and telling people there will be separate bills. However, I personally don't think it is right to charge someone to come to a private event.

Like you said, you could just offer it to your wedding party, or, as girli565 stated, there are many ways to lower the price.

 

[Brit_Jude]

I too would not be comfortable charging my 'guests' for a welcome dinner. If it was not in my budget to provide dinner I would arrange a simpler meet and greet and keep the dinner as a rehersal dinner just for the wedding party.

One example would be an invitation to socialize in a lounge, marina or other location for a no host bar and provide some Hors d'oeuvres (again if they were in my budget). Maybe a pool party is an option. I also like the dessert party and that could follow your rehersal dinner. You could arrange something without food to all watch a parade from a specific location or the fireworks from a beach at one of the resorts.

Getting RSVP's and finding a resturant to accomodate a potential of 100 guests is quite daunting so I don't think I would attemp.

 

[Lisatiggg]

Thanks girls!

We have had the marina planned for about 25-30 of us for awhile and never really thought of everyone coming to the "rehersal dinner".. now everyone who is coming wants to know what we are doing the night before.... they want to have drinks and party! ha ha these people are drinkers and love to party it up!

We have gone all out for them for the actual wedding part.. (including a 5 hour hosted bar) and never included a welcome party in our budget.. i dont want to delete things from the wedding to afford this.. but at the same time i dont want people to think that they are not welcome to enjoy our last single night with us! so thats why i was thinking that i could just offer this to them.. but i see your guys points and that is what i was fighting with.. i do feel bad cause they are forking out the cash to come down for the wedding.. but at the same time they are coming to one heck of a wedding

I like the restaurnt idea.. but it is time limited.. i would have to find a bar to hit afterwards and with people staying at different resorts it just makes it hard to get everyone from one place to another... any restaurant suggestions that we can party at a bar afterwards?

The $70.00 includes the tax and service charge.. the actaul meal is only 46.50 a person! that tax and serice charge is a budget killer !!!

can you have a dessert party at the marina?

 

[Walcott]

I agree with what others have said - if it's not in your budget to do a Welcome Party, then I'd do something cheaper and not ask your guests to chip in. It can be something really relaxed and casual, like meeting up at a bar somewhere, or watching the Epcot fireworks at a specific spot like an earlier poster suggested. Your guests just want to hang out with everyone - you don't need to feel obligated to put on another fancy event if it's stressing your budget.

 

[slamber3]

My parents are staying in the grand villa suite at the Boardwalk resort so I think we are planning on doing a casual "come if you desire" welcome party. I am going to try and find a local place where I can spend a few $100 on finger foods and beverages. Its not in our budget to plan an extra event. Without the in laws helping out, we definitely cant find a way to afford this on our own!
If you are looking for a great place to meet and hang out, the Boardwalk has the Dueling Pianos bar and the Atlantic Dance Hall as well! Both are fun relaxing environments with bars!
Good luck!

 

[Brit_Jude]

A few suggestions to check out for partying with your guests:
Atantic Dance Hall - Boardwalk
Jellyrolls - Boardwalk
Riks Lounge - Coronado Springs Resort

 

[Lisatiggg]

My parents are staying in the grand villa suite at the Boardwalk resort so I think we are planning on doing a casual "come if you desire" welcome party. I am going to try and find a local place where I can spend a few $100 on finger foods and beverages. Its not in our budget to plan an extra event. Without the in laws helping out, we definitely cant find a way to afford this on our own!
If you are looking for a great place to meet and hang out, the Boardwalk has the Dueling Pianos bar and the Atlantic Dance Hall as well! Both are fun relaxing environments with bars!
Good luck!

Thanks! what time are you having yours at the hotel? i saw someone else that did this and thought it was a great idea!

Thanks for the bar info too! i have not been to them yet so maybe when we go down in september i will check them out!

 

[Lisatiggg]

A few suggestions to check out for partying with your guests:
Atantic Dance Hall - Boardwalk
Jellyrolls - Boardwalk
Riks Lounge - Coronado Springs Resort

Thank you very much!

 

[puente0629]

We are having a Meet n' Greet Welcome Dinner (it's a "come if you want dinner") and everyone pays their own way. It's going to be at Paradiso 37, they told me my guests can select from the menu and then depending how many people come they'll split the checks into 5 or less.

I definitely do not think it's rude, we are already paying for our guests meal transportation, gifts boxes and favors for our wedding. i know it's something that's expected but the prices are amplified because it's Disney. Plus, you are not obligating your guests to go and they were going to have dinner anyways now it's just with friends and family.

 

[WDWBride04/19/2010]

Nope. We didn't have a welcome party. I went to T-Rex Cafe the night I arrived w/one of my girls and one of D.H.'s groomsmen, but we all paid our own way. The next night was our bachelor/bachelorette, and the next was our rehearsal dinner and my F-i-L paid.

 

[slamber3]

Thanks! what time are you having yours at the hotel? i saw someone else that did this and thought it was a great idea!

Thanks for the bar info too! i have not been to them yet so maybe when we go down in september i will check them out!

We havent officially decided on a time yet. I am thinking something mid afternoon. I imagine that most of my guests will arrive Saturday morning so they can have a day or two at the park before the wedding. I figure if I do a after lunch - before dinner party the finger foods would work best! Maybe around four or so? Besides, if you start early enough people have enough time to head to a park for the evening or hit it up after they have done their morning park run!

Definitely let us know what you decide! I love hearing other peoples suggestions! This is definitely a big issue for us!!

By The Way, what days will you be there in September? Thats when we are getting married!

 

[Lisatiggg]

We are having a Meet n' Greet Welcome Dinner (it's a "come if you want dinner") and everyone pays their own way. It's going to be at Paradiso 37, they told me my guests can select from the menu and then depending how many people come they'll split the checks into 5 or less.

I definitely do not think it's rude, we are already paying for our guests meal transportation, gifts boxes and favors for our wedding. i know it's something that's expected but the prices are amplified because it's Disney. Plus, your obligating your guests to go and they were going to have dinner anyways now it's just with friends and family.

Thanks for your input! what you are saying is the other side of the fight in my head lol..

We are not telling people they have to come... we just were tossing around that it would be nice to offer it to them as an option..that this is what we are having as our rehersal dinner.. so if you would like to join us you can but you have to pay for your meal..if you dont wanna come.. no worries.. i just feel bad asking for money.. but at the same time.. we are really giving them a nice wedding day ($ 270.00 a person as of right now).. and in addition we spent like $10 each on favors and like $25.00 for each rooms welcome bag.. so we really did it up for the guests coming... so with all that we cant afford the whole $ 70.00.. we figured we could cover $ 30.00 of it..and ask for $ 40 from them if they wanna come..

The restaurant idea and them paying their own bill there is a great idea.. but i talked to my fiance and he is really pumped about our barbque dinner at the marina with the fireworks so looks like the marina is a go either way we decide

Thanks!

 

[Lisatiggg]

Nope. We didn't have a welcome party. I went to T-Rex Cafe the night I arrived w/one of my girls and one of D.H.'s groomsmen, but we all paid our own way. The next night was our bachelor/bachelorette, and the next was our rehearsal dinner and my F-i-L paid.

thanks! where did you have your bachelor bachelorette partys?

 

[Lisatiggg]

We havent officially decided on a time yet. I am thinking something mid afternoon. I imagine that most of my guests will arrive Saturday morning so they can have a day or two at the park before the wedding. I figure if I do a after lunch - before dinner party the finger foods would work best! Maybe around four or so? Besides, if you start early enough people have enough time to head to a park for the evening or hit it up after they have done their morning park run!

Definitely let us know what you decide! I love hearing other peoples suggestions! This is definitely a big issue for us!!

By The Way, what days will you be there in September? Thats when we are getting married!

I will let ya know for sure! as of now we for sure are going with the marina the big question is whether to invite others or not. i hate asking people for money but dont want anyone to feel they are not welcome to join us...

We are going down september 9-14 - my fiance is from canada and i am us so we want to get our marriage license early in case there are any problems!
What day in sept are you getting married?

 

[DVC Bride 2011]

We are thinking about doing this as well for a welcome dinner and farewell brunch.

My parents are going to pay for a rehersal dinner (most likely at Ohana's for just the wedding party), but we are going to open the invitation to any guests to come for a welcome dinner a couple days before the wedding and a farewell brunch the morning after the wedding. For both of those events, our wedding guests would pay their own way but it would be completely optional as to whether or not they decided to come. We are going to put the information in one of our newsletters and have people let us know if they are coming so we can make the reservation. I don't think it's rude as long as you make it very clear from the beginning that you are not paying their way and that it is optional.

 

[tw1nsmom]

I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but you really need to pay for your guests or not invite them at all. Even though others may have done it, that doesn't make it appropriate. It would be different if you were inviting all early 20 somethings, but I can guarantee you that anyone over the age of 25 would be offended at having to pay to go to an invited event. If they aren't offended they will at the very least think you're being tacky. That's not the way you want to start off your fabulous weekend.

Consider meeting some people at a different time for a casual meet and greet. If someone is rude enough to push the issue and want to be invited, just hold firm and say that you're sorry, but either the venue won't let you invite more people or that you would rather not have two big parties back to back.

How about you relax a little that afternoon the day before your wedding and tell everyone that you'll be hanging out by your pool for an hour or two. Make it a set time, have some snacks handy (if people do show up you could even buy them a beverage at the pool bar...having them put individual drinks on your room's tab would be cheaper than any kind of open bar...heck arrange with the bar to send over pitchers of beer and lemonade) and if they show up to say hi then that's great. If they don't, well...you've had some down time to relax and regroup.