El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

Thanks Shannon, It's funny how things work out. That is what I originally wanted and they wouldn't do it at the time. Things happen for a reason. I'm really excited about it and think our guests are going to love it. Your dinner there also will be wonderful. Are you doing decorations for the private dinner? I ordered some tikki lights and going to do beach candles not sure how many I need yet. Your day is coming real soon. How exciting!!! It's too bad we just miss each other there. I cant wait also to see your pictures. Everyone's are going to be so beautiful. So are you all set now? Best Wishes to you..

Yup-- we are doing tiki torches and beach candles for the dinner on the 17th- the beach candles are only $2/each -so we are doing 30 beach candles and 10 tiki torches..- we are also using the flower "medallions" from the gazebo from the wedding ceremony as centerpieces for the dinner on Saturday...
Crazy how fast everything came- only 9 more nights in Raleigh before we leave! I so wish we could have a drink with you there!

I just can't wait to see all the EDR bride's pictures-- I know everyone will have amazing weddings! It'll be so much fun to see everyone's different style...Tracy-so glad everything worked out! You must have good karma... :)

Your dinner will be beautiful too. I also can't wait to see everyone's pictures. Everyone's will be all so different. I thought she told me the beach candles were $3 unless they went up since you ordered them. I will have to check on that. I didn't order them yet wasn't sure how many I would need.

It did come so quick. It's getting very exciting. Unfortunately we will miss each other there to have a drink together. I do wish you the best and will be wishing you all the best on your wedding day.

I have heard nothing but positive about el dorado royale. Kiosi and I are honeymooning there next year.

Shannon, only 1 MORE WEEK until your wedding!!! I can't wait to sneak my peek and see how beautiful you are!

I know!! I can't believe it-- and you are just a week and a half out!!!-- I wish we could be around to see your wedding --we leave the morning of your wedding.. I will keep my eye out for you!- Hopefully we can share a drink-- just keep your fingers crossed for good weather!

Just currious what all your budgets are looking like for your wedding at EDR. Or, if you were recently married there, how much did you spend and how many guests did you have? Mine is getting close to $15,000! Our original budget was for $10K......ha! ha!......that didn't last long! I came home from work yesterday and updated our budget and was absolutely shocked how much we are spending already. We were also planning on having around 30 guests........now it looks like we will only be having 13 (including David and I). Which also means if we don't have the minimum of 16 guests we won't be able to have our private events either. AHHHHHH! We have included everything wedding related to our budget, such as flight, hotel, wedding bands, photography, flowers, dress, groom's attire, decorations, etc. Please let me know if this is the average cost of a wedding at EDR (even with our small guest list). I'm seriously looking at changing resorts, which I DO NOT even want to think about at this point! Please help!

We are having 21 guests- including me and my FI... We spent about $6,300 on wedding stuff at EDR--that included a private white glove cocktail party, a private reception, (our "free" wedding dinner), and a private dinner the night after the wedding. It includes all the decorations, flowers, etc (we also got the "free morning after wedding breakfast in bed and a beach, candle-lit honeymoon dinner). It also included my hair and makeup, my sister's hair and a $200 spa treatment for myself. I also bought all the girls coming (10) $40 gift certificates to the spa. (that is included in the $6300). Also our fee of $500 for an outside photographer is included in that number, also. Our flights and room (staying in a Casita for 7 nights) was around $5,000? (We pd in back in Nov-but I think that is close).
I splurged on the invitations and the dresses (have one for wedding and one for the dinner the next evening). I think the total for both dresses, alterations and invitations were around $4,600. I spent around $1000 on OOT bags. We are around $17K. (FI's parents bought his suit) But we could have (and probably should have!) done it cheaper-- if I didn't spend so much on the dresses, invitations and OOT bags--- also we could have spent less than the $6300 at EDR-- I just kept adding stuff.
Hmm- I forgot what we are paying for photographer, too- yea, I have tried not to look at what we've paid and what we've spent-- it's been pretty well spaced out over the past 15 months- so I've tried not to pay attention!

Hopefully, this helps some (and hopefully the FI won't read this post! ))-- I'm not sure what the going rate is for other resorts....

Here's our EDR budget break-down for 24 guests:

 

Welcome Reception (Donkey, 8 Canapes and Mariachi Band): $1518.00

Ceremony in Chapel (Included)

Decorations for Chapel (Chair Covers, Flowers, and Rose Petals): $499.00

Dinner at El Cocotal (Included)

Reception at Gaviotas (Sound System, Per Person Charge, Cake): $693.00

Spa Services: $385.00

Bouquet, Boutounniers, Corsages: $265.00

EDR Day Passes (for Photographers): $265.50

Photographer Fee: $500.00

Plane Tickets for DH and Me: $989.40

Casita for 7 Nights: $4206.00

OOT Bag Stuff (Included Cash for Guests' Excursions): $1815.52

Total: $11,136.42

 

Yes, this was more than we had budgeted for (we wanted to keep our total wedding expenditures budget under $15k) since it doesn't include my dress, photgraphy, shoes, accessories, FI's tux, save the dates, website, photography, etc. This is just the amount for the EDR stuff and our plane tickets and OOT bag stuff. However, it was worth the money in the end! :-)

I don't have anything to budget yet, but we're also working with a 15,000 dollar budget limit, and plan on having 25-30 guests. I keep telling myself not to buy anything for the wedding unless "IT" will be "IT" if you know what I mean. FI has warned me about this..lol And about the # of guests, well I don't think it ever turns out to be exactly as what you expected. We're kind of concerned about that too.