We are getting married on Maui and we have two options for our wedding reception dinner. We are really trying to do our entire wedding on a budget so I"m curious if any other brides out there have been to a luau for their reception? My dream scenario would be to have a nice sunset dinner at Merriman's (fine dining) for 18 people and having the luau (Old Lahaina Luau) be our rehearsal dinner/welcome dinner. However, since we are paying for it all ourselves, we can't afford to do both. I think a luau is a must for people traveling to Hawaii but I'm not sure it's what I envision for our reception dinner. My concerns about a luau are that it may feel a bit "casual" for me to wear my wedding dress..and I will want to wear it for more than the hour we are getting married, so changing won't be an option. Also, I envision having a wedding cake on our table , toasts being made etc. and I'm not sure that in a buffet style, dinner show sort of setting in the middle of a hundred other people that it will feel as intimate as I'd like (FI doesn't care either way...but agrees the luau would save us $).... I would do the luau for budget reasons and think it would be casual and fun...but I do love the idea of Merriman's more, being that it's our wedding. The price difference is about $1200. So your opinions please.... would you do the luau and relax about it...?ORsplurge the extra to have the elegant dinner?? Thanks for your input!