Looking for Riu Palace Info!!

[andreaz]

Hi Everyone
I am getting married May 9, 2008 at the Riu Palace in los Cabos. I have choosen the gazebo for the ceremony. I am debating having either the steak house or the mexican restaurant for the reception. After reading some posting I am definately leaning towards the mexican restaurant. I would really appreciate any information or pictures regarding weddings at the Riu. I have 60 guests attending.....so that limited the areas for the reception site. I basically have little to know information about the reception....what kind of decorations are included in the caprice package? How does it work for speeches, first dances etc? How long do you get to occupy the reception? Again any info would really be appreciated....it seems like communication with Adriana (the WC) is difficult.

Hope to here from you soon!

[BEACHBRIDEMA]

Hi Andrea
I would strongly reccommend getting married on the beach. I originally had choosen then gazebo and changed my mind when we got there. I was so happy with the beach. Your photos will turn out 100 times better, it is beautiful. That is just my opinion though.
As for decorations... for the ceremony chairs with white covers are provided, rose petals and tiki torches are also provided. I also purchased flowers to go on the side of the arch used in the beach, for an additional $120. I then used these flowers as centerpieces for my reception.
For the reception, I would strongly recommend the mexican restuarant. The steak house if good, but it is large and it wont be as intiamate and private as the mexican resuarant. It is $500 for a private reception which means they close off the terrace to just your wedding party. Dont pay for an open bar, they try to tell you its an extra 10/per person per hour but you dont need this. Your guests will be able to drink as much as they want, just tip the waiters!
As for decorations, I brought a lot of my own table decorations, like shells, tea lights, lanterns. I made my own menues and shell napkin ring holders. It is a beautiful place and you really dont need much in terms of decorations.
For speeches and music they set us a microphone and sound system and the wait staff know how to work it. I brought my IPOD which they can connect and had dinner music and dance music. We did speeches after dinner. There is a dance floor on the terrace aswell and we did our first dance after speeches, our BM just announced it.
The reception can go until 11pm and then they ask you to turn off the music. There is a disco which you can go to afterwards.
Adriana is an extremely busy women, she is hard to get a hold of, but trust me closer to your wedding she will pull through. When you are in Mexico she will be very attentive and organized, we were extrememly happy with her
Hope that helps!
Sarah

[jd6848]

Thanks Sara...you are the best with ideas and advice. I'm getting married there in October. As far as decorations for the table what did you do? I was thinking shells but was worried about having to bring them on the plane along with everything else. Do you have pics of your table? Also did you do the bonfire...I was thinking about it but it is $800 and don't know if it is worth the money?

[andreaz]

Thanks for all your info Sarah. By the way your pictures are gorgeous! How did you get all your table decorations down there? We are going for two weeks so I am a little concerned about luggage space. Also did you have to decide before you got down there for the reception to be private? Since we have 60 people going I am wondering if everyone will fit on the terrace....it looks kind of long a narrow in pictures? You mentioned guest having to pay for drinks....since the hotel is all-inclusive and all my guest are staying at the resort...I assumed that they would be included? Sorry for all the questions...but it is just nice to talk to someone who has been there! I really appreciate all your info....thanks!!!!

[may]

Sarah -Could you please tell me if you had any problems with the Mexican marriage certificate being valid and recognized in Canada for legal purposes.
If so, what steps did you take to legalize it. Thanks for any info.