Need restaurant ideas for post-ceremony dining

LadyBirdSikx · March 2014

Hi! My big day is October 8th, 2014. We are eloping and the only guests will be immediate family and very close friends. As such, the attending list is pretty small; it's looking like 12 people right now, including bride and groom, with the absolute max number being 15. I am desperately trying to find a restaurant to dine at after the sunset ceremony. We are not having a formal reception- all guests are paying individually for their meals, and we don't want a private room! Does anyone know of any great restaurants that allow larger group reservations, without having to pay for a private room? Also, I'd love to have a cake delivered to our table, but understand there might be outside catering restrictions. Any suggestions are appreciated.

cirena166 · March 2014

Rhythm Kitchen, just off the Strip at Decatur and Russell, does reservations for groups under 30 as a regular reservation. New Orleans-style food, nice building. You might also look at Panevino on Sunset and LV Blvd, just across from the airport, for both Strip and airplane views. Places like Lavo & Tao can seat a 15-person group on the main floor, no private room, but then have a group menu and standard per-head fees instead of ordering off the regular menu.

nicolajane81 · March 2014

LadyBird, we are date twins!!

tcnoble · March 2014

Where are you staying on the strip/where will most of your guests be located? Are you trying to stick to a certain per person budget?

LadyBirdSikx · March 2014

Nicola, yay!! Your the first date twin I've come across!! Where are you having your ceremony and reception at?

LadyBirdSikx · March 2014

Tcnoble, I will be staying at the mgm grand but all the guests will be picking their own hotels so we don't have a central location. As far as budget, since guests are paying for their own meals, I wanted to keep it under 50 per person.

zitiqueen · March 2014

LadyBirdSikx said:

Hi! My big day is October 8th, 2014. We are eloping and the only guests will be immediate family and very close friends. As such, the attending list is pretty small; it's looking like 12 people right now, including bride and groom, with the absolute max number being 15. I am desperately trying to find a restaurant to dine at after the sunset ceremony. We are not having a formal reception- all guests are paying individually for their meals, and we don't want a private room! Does anyone know of any great restaurants that allow larger group reservations, without having to pay for a private room? Also, I'd love to have a cake delivered to our table, but understand there might be outside catering restrictions. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Are the people you're inviting going to have to fly to Las Vegas to attend your wedding?

tcnoble · March 2014

@ladybirdsikx MGM is a great property, but with a budget in mind you might be better off using another property. MGM has a food court area, but the restaurants are higher end (think CraftSteak, Emeril's, etc.). CityCenter/Cosmo/Aria are nicely centrally located - Wicked Spoon has gotten great reviews on here, I'm a big fan of Holstein's at Cosmo... Miracle Mile shops has Cabo Wabo, PBR Rock Bar and Grill.. you will really just have to call around and find out about accommodations for a bigger party without a private room.

LadyBirdSikx · March 2014

Yes, everyone is flying in there.

kazzy · March 2014

Actually, many Strip hotels will not force you to do group dining if you are under 15 guests. I think Cosmopolitan's cut off is 13, but most it's 15, and you can still order a la carte which is perfect.

The one drawback is that you may be limited by how far out you can make a reservation if it's just a "normal" sized group - check with the restaurant first. It's actually a great size because so many business groups are in that range, and there are often little semi private areas which afford some sense of togetherness but don't make you feel cut off from the rest of the restaurant.

There are a few places to check, Open Table has a list of group dining options http://www.opentable.com/info/banquets.aspx?m=10 and I also have a list of restaurants on my site, with sections for dining options of groups under 30 and restaurants with patios, if you want to go that route http://www.littlevegaswedding.com/the-directory/wedding-venue-list/

nicolajane81 · March 2014

Our ceremony is at Wynn primrose courtyard and reception at maggianos!
We are also staying at MGM with the majority of our guests, as we wanted to stay somewhere relatively affordable for most people.
Very exciting - you're my first day twin too, guess Wednesdays aren't that popular for weddings! X

LadyBirdSikx · March 2014

Thanks for all your help everyone! I appreciate it. I had posted this question on a different board before discovering the local pages, and got some really rude responses from people assuming they knew the details of my wedding.

climbingsingle · March 2014

The responses you received were not rude.

You seem to want the best of both worlds here. Either elope and have no one attend or properly host some kind of reception. Having all these people fly out to Vegas for your wedding without hosting something for them is rude.

ssteele04 · March 2014

We can not afford to do a per person at a restaurant, but instead we are doing a In-Suite Reception at our hotel, there are many catering companies you can choose from, we just decided to go to Albertson's, yes tacky to some but works for us. We will have the cake in our room, one of our friends make the drinks, decorations, that way we could still say thank you to the guests who chose to come, we also chose to do it this way instead of a restaurant some of our guests are flying out the night of our wedding. Good luck in whatever you decide!

sofakingmad · March 2014

You aren't eloping, you are actually having a destination wedding. And since you have guests, you should be paying for their meals.

If you can't afford a fancy meal, then there are plenty of lower priced options in Vegas.

OP, please host your guests appropriately.

HisGirlFriday13 · March 2014

LadyBirdSikx said:

Hi! My big day is October 8th, 2014. We are eloping and the only guests will be immediate family and very close friends. As such, the attending list is pretty small; it's looking like 12 people right now, including bride and groom, with the absolute max number being 15. I am desperately trying to find a restaurant to dine at after the sunset ceremony. We are not having a formal reception- all guests are paying individually for their meals, and we don't want a private room! Does anyone know of any great restaurants that allow larger group reservations, without having to pay for a private room? Also, I'd love to have a cake delivered to our table, but understand there might be outside catering restrictions. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Also, if you're inviting people to attend your DW (you're not eloping if people know about the date in advance and are allowed to come), then you are required by etiquette to host them properly after the ceremony, at a reception, which means at the bare minimum, cake and punch.

If you can afford to fly to Vegas for a wedding, you can afford cake and punch.

MobKaz · March 2014

ssteele04 said:

We can not afford to do a per person at a restaurant, but instead we are doing a In-Suite Reception at our hotel, there are many catering companies you can choose from, we just decided to go to Albertson's, yes tacky to some but works for us. We will have the cake in our room, one of our friends make the drinks, decorations, that way we could still say thank you to the guests who chose to come, we also chose to do it this way instead of a restaurant some of our guests are flying out the night of our wedding. Good luck in whatever you decide!
******STUCK IN PARAGRAPH......... I don't see this as tacky at all. You are offering hospitality to your guests in the best way you can afford. There is never anything tacky about thanking your guests properly, even in the most simple or humble way. There is all kinds of tacky expecting guests to pay their own way.

MobKaz · March 2014

LadyBirdSikx said:

Hi! My big day is October 8th, 2014. We are eloping and the only guests will be immediate family and very close friends. As such, the attending list is pretty small; it's looking like 12 people right now, including bride and groom, with the absolute max number being 15. I am desperately trying to find a restaurant to dine at after the sunset ceremony. We are not having a formal reception- all guests are paying individually for their meals, and we don't want a private room! Does anyone know of any great restaurants that allow larger group reservations, without having to pay for a private room? Also, I'd love to have a cake delivered to our table, but understand there might be outside catering restrictions. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Actually, if you are making your " guests" pay for their own meals, they are neither your guests, nor are you having a reception, formal or otherwise.

a13049 · March 2014

LadyBirdSikx said:
Thanks for all your help everyone! I appreciate it. I had posted this question on a different board before discovering the local pages, and got some really rude responses from people assuming they knew the details of my wedding.

Iim going to have to agree with pp here. It seems awfully rude to ask you guests to fly and stay In a hotel for your destination wedding and not even host a simple reception. We cut back on our wedding and have spent lots more one making sure we appropriately hosting our guests

SmileDamnit · March 2014

LadyBirdSikx said: Thanks for all your help everyone! I appreciate it. I had posted this question on a different board before discovering the local pages, and got some really rude responses from people assuming they knew the details of my wedding.

I would argue that rude is expecting loved ones and very close friends to PAY for the privilege of watching you wed. They obvious care enough about you to travel to your elopement destination wedding, and the least you could do is thank them properly, which - at the very bare minimum - means feeding them. Scrap the cake, save 40 bucks/month until the wedding, sell a kidney, what ever...just do the right thing by your guests.

*edited to fight with quote box*

jules3964 · March 2014

I agree with PPs. I understand maybe originally you wanted to elope... perhaps you felt some pressure from family members that wanted to attend the wedding anyway, so now you are having a small destination wedding -- not an elopement. If I was in that situation I can understand feeling like the whole point was to not pay for a wedding/reception in the first place.

BUT you are having a wedding and inviting people. I'm sorry but I highly doubt you cannot at least afford to provide cake and a cheap beverage to your guests for a casual reception. This is the least you can do.

It sounds more like you want to have a nice dinner and not just a cake/punch reception, probably because that seems classier for an after-wedding party -- but it is rude to expect your "guests" to pick up the tab. I wouldn't feel like a guest in that situation.

a13049 · March 2014

mobkaz said:

ssteele04 said:

We can not afford to do a per person at a restaurant, but instead we are doing a In-Suite Reception at our hotel, there are many catering companies you can choose from, we just decided to go to Albertson's, yes tacky to some but works for us. We will have the cake in our room, one of our friends make the drinks, decorations, that way we could still say thank you to the guests who chose to come, we also chose to do it this way instead of a restaurant some of our guests are flying out the night of our wedding. Good luck in whatever you decide!

******STUCK IN PARAGRAPH.........

I don't see this as tacky at all. You are offering hospitality to your guests in the best way you can afford. There is never anything tacky about thanking your guests properly, even in the most simple or humble way.

There is all kinds of tacky expecting guests to pay their own way.

I agree with all of this @steele you are still properly hosting your guests

LadyBirdSikx · March 2014

Thanks to those that have helped. Just like in the other post, to those that have jumped to conclusions and decided they know all about my personal situation and my wedding from the three posts I've done, I wish you the best of luck with your wedding endeavors!

samcintyre · March 2014

I'm also getting married on October 8, 2014! Glad to see a few others as well... Do what makes you happy... the day is all about you & your significant other after all

ZiggyZos · March 2014

I'm also getting married on October 8, 2014! Glad to see a few others as well... Do what makes you happy... the day is all about you & your significant other after all

Then don't invite any guests and truly elope - just you and FI. The minute you invite people (or allow them to invite themselves), it stops being "all about" the bride and groom and the guests' comfort and convenience needs to be taken into account.

If you have guests - especially for a destination anything - you need to properly host them. That could mean just cake and punch (though if I'm shelling out the money for a flight and hotel room to attend, I would certainly be peeved to not at least get a real meal)... or you can order pizzas and soda. It doesn't have to be fancy, but you DO have to host SOMETHING.

a13049 · March 2014

ZiggyZos said:

I'm also getting married on October 8, 2014! Glad to see a few others as well... Do what makes you happy... the day is all about you & your significant other after all
Then don't invite any guests and truly elope - just you and FI. The minute you invite people (or allow them to invite themselves), it stops being "all about" the bride and groom and the guests' comfort and convenience needs to be taken into account.

If you have guests - especially for a destination anything - you need to properly host them. That could mean just cake and punch (though if I'm shelling out the money for a flight and hotel room to attend, I would certainly be peeved to not at least get a real meal)... or you can order pizzas and soda. It doesn't have to be fancy, but you DO have to host SOMETHING.

I tend to agree. The "its my day" attitude is usually used right before people make rude or selfish choices for the wedding, or act like a bridezilla. A wedding isn't an excuse to be rude an selfish, but instead an opportunity to share a special day with friends and family.

OP- Thats kind of how annon forum work. We can only go by the little bit of information you share. In you situation, though, it seems like you want a SS excuse to not pay for your guest and still have you special celebration. You have lots of options, I personally, would not choose one that includes being rude to my guests.

OBX2011 · March 2014

LadyBirdSikx said: Thanks to those that have helped. Just like in the other post, to those that have jumped to conclusions and decided they know all about my personal situation and my wedding from the three posts I've done, I wish you the best of luck with your wedding endeavors!

***Not a single person on here needs to know you or the details of your personal situation to know that NOT hosting a proper dinner is rude! Period. You clearly stated above: "We are not having a formal reception- all guests are paying individually for their meals, and we don't want a private room!"So based off of your statement, that is why people are stating that you are being a rude host...which you are. When you elope, no one but the bride and groom are present. YOU are going to Vegas and having 12-15 people witness your vows. Therefore, YOU are having a destination wedding and YOU are not being a proper host.

ETA b/c quote box is being difficult and highlighting shit that I didn't ask it too

PrettyGirlLost · March 2014

LadyBirdSikx said:
Thanks for all your help everyone! I appreciate it. I had posted this question on a different board before discovering the local pages, and got some really rude responses from people assuming they knew the details of my wedding.

If you are having guests fly out to Vegas to witness your wedding ceremony then you are not eloping. . . You are having a small, private, DW.

And since you have guests traveling from out of town for your wedding you need to properly host them afterwards by at least providing for their meal. It is the very least you can do after they are giving up vacation time to attend your wedding, paying for airfare and hotel accommodations, possibly giving you a gift, etc.

Don't bother with the "we can't afford it" excuses, because you can. You could choose to stay at a cheaper hotel rather than the MGM Grand, you could have your ceremony at a non meal time and serve cake and cocktails afterwards. . . There are options.

Otherwise if you really cannot afford to host your guests, then truly elope and do not invite any one.

This advice is in no way rude, but it isn't validating your idea either.

OBX2011 · March 2014

I'm also getting married on October 8, 2014! Glad to see a few others as well... Do what makes you happy... the day is all about you & your significant other after all

And while I'm at it, you are incorrect as well. Are you eloping or having a wedding where others will be present? If so, the moment you invite guests is when it stops being just about you and FI. Your reception is a proper thank you to your guests who have witnessed your ceremony, so you must host them properly.

Valeriecruz82 · March 2014

seems as if lately this has become more of an etiquette board then anything else. OP and anyone else I suggest if you don't want people criticizing you I would stay clear of posting certain topics, otherwise be prepared for the etiquette police to come out and get you.

singinchick13 · March 2014

I agree etiquette does have something to do with it, but I would think at this point it would just be common sense. If you are old enough to have a wedding you are old enough to know that you must host any guests who witnessed your ceremony. Anyone who has attended a wedding (backyard wedding, church wedding, outdoor wedding, beach wedding, destination wedding) should know that. At this point OP's budget or lack thereof is irrelevant. Her personal circumstances are irrelevant. If they wanted to elope because one of them only had a week left to live after the wedding, there may be a grain of sympathy, but not hosting a $30 meal for 12 people is the epitome of CHEAP.

Whether or not OP realizes that this is against etiquette, she can comfort herself in knowing that ALL of the people attending her wedding, whether they are spending hundreds to fly and stay at a hotel, or walking five minutes because they live down the street, can assure themselves that not only is this extremely rude and in poor taste, but unbelievably CHEAP regardless of how much her dress cost or which hotel they are staying at.

Sincerely,

The first person who gave you very positive and sincere feedback regarding your attire inquiry.

You're welcome.

Need restaurant ideas for post-ceremony dining

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