My wedding is Next Year- Late Spring 2009', and I have planned to have my engagement party this March 08 becuase it IS destination wedding in Jamaica, and I will be presenting the details of payment plans, passport info, etc...and we felt that 14 months notice at an engagement party should be enough notice.

The only issue I am having is who to expense this to? My parents (bride) are both deceased, the grooms father is deceased and grooms mother JUST recently had another son get married end of 2007'...so I kind of wanted to give her a break. My party is expected to be around 40-50 people in CA.
So, A. should I have guest pay for their own plate?
B. Should we not have one to save $$$$ for our wedding?
C. The matrid of honor claims that she will split the bill with me if I throw one.
D. Should the groom and I wing it all our own?

PLEASE HELP!!!