Need Help on Location for wedding In Cabo!!!

[mhoudek]

Hi all!
I am desperate! I found the location of my dreams-the Sheraton and got the prices back and they are so expensive(well for me and the fiance-we are 25/26 paying for our whole wedding). I wanted to seriously just sit and cry . Does anyone know of a nice location that isn't outrageous in price? We have about 100 people coming-will probably be smaller but that is what I've been going off of and we want to spend about $25,000. Is this even enough? I would much rather spend my money on a great photographer because I'm really into photos and spending $75 on a domestic 3 hour open bar to me seems like an absolute waste. We are willing to spend about $100 for alcohol and dinner pp although I would actually like to keep it a little less so I can do other things for the guests. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would love any help!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!

[TammyB]

Hmm, have you checked into having your wedding on a weekday at the Sheraton? I know their prices drop for a weekday (I was married on a Tuesday there)

Other then that I know Dreams is a great location it's AI so it helps cut down on costs.

[mhoudek]

Really? Does it drop it a lot? They also said the prices go up 8% a year and by the time we can do this it will be 2009. Do you think I could do 100 guests there for $25k? You can be honest-I'm not going to get upset. haha! :)

[RaydensMama]

Did you check out Cabo Surf Hotel? You can probablly book out the place and that may save you some money.

[mhoudek]

Originally Posted by RaydensMama

Did you check out Cabo Surf Hotel? You can probablly book out the place and that may save you some money.

No-I haven't yet! I will-thank you! Also do you think I should get a wedding planner first and see if she can help me do all the negotiating? Thank you all for your help! :)

[TammyB]

Well I'm not sure what you were quoted for your wedding. I was married on a Tuesday on the beach in front of De Cortez. I paid $300.00 for a site fee (I hear it was close to $3000.00 for a weekend) And because I had a small wedding I paid for dinner by comsumption, meaning they ordered of the menu and all we paid for all the drinks during cocktail hour and during dinner.

I think if you hire a WC it might help in telling them your budget and having them help you find a location for your wedding that fits within that range. Also they have alot of contacts so they might be able to get a cheaper rate on some vendors.

[coreyphil]

Hi! Do your guests also have budget restrictions? My FI and I are paying for our wedding, too - and we're working with about the same budget. We're planning on 35 - 40 guests ... BUT we're also paying for a welcome dinner on Thursday, a dinner and sunset cruise on Friday, and the reception on Saturday. We're also covering the rooms of some of friends (who are wonderful people working for peanuts --- we love the social workers, firemen, and ministers of the world!). I think that you can stay within your budget.

I've also heard that AI's cut down on costs - but they were generally more expensive than what we wanted to ask our guests to pay. We're having our wedding at El Encanto and our reception at La Panga. We really like smaller hotels and we loved the character of El Encanto.

I can't seem to attach anything ... but if you want to PM me w/ your email - I can send you our menu pricing for La Panga. - We're paying about $3800 for a cocktail reception and full dinner. Since we're doing the cocktail hour - we're doing bar on consumption afterwards ... we just don't have a lot of friends that drink that much! (The $3800 includes $1000 for alcohol - and that's probably a high estimate!).

I've also been told that it's common in Cabo for places to waive ceremony fees if you book 10 or more rooms for 2 nights or more. El Encanto didn't offer this because we're getting married during the spring break period and they're really busy. Instead, we're getting the honeymoon suite. It seems like a lot of resorts don't charge a fee if you stay a week at the resort - some of the other brides probably know a lot more about this!

I agree with you - money for a photographer was much more important to me than a lot of other things! I'm sure you'll get lots of help here!

[gkashmira]

Originally Posted by mhoudek

Do you think I could do 100 guests there for $25k? You can be honest-I'm not going to get upset. haha! :)

Maybe but probably not. You can if you drastically cut the cost of everything except the food, drinks and your photographer. You'll also need to cut your guestlist. Don't forget that everything that the hotel gives you gets taxed and "service feed" on top of the quoted prices.

The Hilton is slightly cheaper but not really any better and they can also be difficult to work with.

If you want to keep prices down you should probably go AI. Maybe Cabo Surf could work - it is very different than the Sheraton though.

[Jtds2713]

Hi! You can also look into Sunset da Mona LIsa. You can do a buy-out of the whole restaurant. This year I believe it is $12,000 for a buy-out meaning you have the whole restaurant to yourselves. I don't think it would be $100 per person though. But if your budget is $25,000 it might be enough. I suggest you look into it. The manager is Emma and she is great! Go to Sunset da Mona Lisa :: Home Page :: Italian Seafood Restaurant with Arch view in Cabo San Lucas, BCS, Mexico, Weddings, Events, Private Diners (former Da Giorgio). It is beautiful there!

[annkaley]

Definitely check Cabo Surf Hotel...there is no site fee if you book enough rooms!