Luau's - Did you pay for your guests?

DestinationBride101

Hello ladies, I've been a lurker on these boards for quite some time and I'm finally posting a question for you all. I'm getting married on Maui in April and we're thinking of doing a welcome dinner the night before the wedding at a Luau. Just wondering if you paid for all of your guests to attend the Luau or if you just invited them and had them pay for themselves. We're expecting 15-25 people. 

We are not having a bridal party, so we don't need a "rehearsal", but we'd like everyone to meet and spend time together before the wedding - but it's kinda expensive to pay for everyone's ticket to the Luau. 

Any suggestions welcome! Thanks! 

Ringer101

I guess if you hope your guests pay for their own tickets, you should name it as a "group activity". I personally never attended any rehearsal dinner or welcome dinner that I needed to pay by myself because I was invited as a "guest". Hope this makes sense for you...

FSForever

We are paying for the BP (my kids) and our photographer. The other guests are paying for themselves. 

We are hosting a Welcome BBQ, a Catered Rehersal dinner, and a brunch Reception. No one said anything negative when we put non hosted next to the Luau information on the schedule of events. In fact once I booked ours, I called the other few relatives and they asked me to book theirs too and they would pay us. 

Tanq&Tonic

We paid for every wedding related activity including the luau.  We had the luau for guests that arrived early, two night before the rehearsal dinner. 

allisonpickup80

we are paying for our guest, but we only have 700, if you paid for yours, thats a huge chunk of money! I guess it depends how close you are to your guests... like would they totally be offended if you did not pay or would they understand?

lindsayscottc

We decided to go with a low-key barbeque and drinks the night before the wedding, a brunch afterward, and a luau as a non-hosted activity at another time. 

jenmags

I am having 2 group activities and we called them "optional"  our guests are paying themselves.  Honestly, if this is a destination wedding for you, only your closest friends and family will be going and not judge you on how little money you have etc..