El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

My fiance and I are trying to decide whether to book our room in the individual casita or the swim up casita. Although, we would LOVE to go with the casita with the infinity pool, we figure we probably won't spend too much time there since we'll be entertaining etc.

 

Any thoughts on either?

As part of our package we booked a regular casita and was upgrade to a swim up. We are going to find out if the infinity ones are available becuase they seem really nice. It really depends on your budget. My FI really wanted the swim up and I could care less. I think the individual ones are more private because they stand alone. Sorry to not answer your question.

Hello Future & Past EDR Brides!!!

 

It looks like after planning for a private reception for 30 people now for so long, our plans are slowly changing. We're now only expecting a maximum of 15 people if that . The ECONOMY is def. the cause for blame here cause many of our guests have lost their jobs and are just not doing too well

 

Well...so now I don't know what I should do as far as a reception goes. My original plan was to have our free dinner @ Las Fuentes on the day before, and have the Deluxe Buffet reception @ Tucanes. Please Help...I'm really at loss now & I don't know how to plan something that's at least semi-private where we can have some time for music & dancing. I guess we could do the free dinner...but then what??

 

I wonder...is there any music playing in the background @ Las Fuentes

& El Cocotal?

Thanks for your input, pryzless. We ended up booking the individual casita because it's more private, but, I'm kind of hoping we get upgraded to the infinity pool casita because that one is AWESOME!

Were you using the free dinner for your rehearsal? If so, you could still continue with your plan of a private reception, but, just have less people.
I'm not sure if there's background music at the restaurants.

Thanks for your feedback Rhonda,

 

well yes, my rehearsel dinner was going to be held on the day before the wedding, but it turns out that many of our guests will be arriving on this day, so I don't even see the point in doing it anymore. I don't want it to go to waste, and it's def. a great way to save ouselves some mony. So I'm thinking maybe we should take advantage of it, and just try to work with it during, and after the dinner. I'm just upset cause there won't be a nice backdrop for pics during the dinner and after...I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!?

 

I really need to know who's going & who isn't I think. This will help me to narrow down my options for sure. Does anyone happen to know what is traditional as far as TIMING for RSVP'S back from the INVITES goes so confused..

Ok, I see...well, if the nice backdrop is important to you, then maybe you should just keep your private reception as planned. have you thought about using the free private event for brunch instead? like the morning after?

but, i understand that it would be nice to use it for the reception. were you going to have music for your reception?

 

as for invites, i've been struggling with when to send/and rsvp date as well.

At first I was planning on sending them the first week in Jan. with RSVP Feb 1, but, now I'm thinking March 1 OR sending them early November. I'm confused as well. There was talk about this on another thread...May 2009 Brides....

Things may change with some people the last minute. With the struggle with the economy that is a big factor. I would say most will know 2 months prior. I would give them some time and you can plan it all but don't need a menu or count til 30 days prior. I did all mine then. I only had the places picked out and that was it. If alot are not coming in til that day you could still do it later as a rehearsal dinner. We did ours with a few guest coming in but did dinner at 7:00 pm. If not another suggestion to do is use it as a thank you dinner at the end of everyones stay. I've seen brides do that too. Usually with AHR it's usually 4-6 wks prior so would say about the same. Most are going to know within 60 days. I had a few at the last minute bail out but most knew right away. We did all our plans with 8 months notice. It all worked out great and wouldn't change anything we did. The EDR did a fantastic job. We are going back for our anniversary in May. I can't wait to go back. I would be glad to help anyone if they have any questions or concerns.

Thanks guys...

 

Well I think what I'll have to do than is if I have 15-20 guests, I guess I'll have to have a sit down dinner at Tucanes. I wonder if this would turn out to be cheaper or more..hmmm? Ummm..I believe a sit-down dinner requires a 3 meal course correct? If so, I was wondering if I would need to do dessert or will they allow me to do lets say a salad, appetizer, and meal. Cause I'm thinking THE CAKE can serve as dessert..right?

 

Also, now I'm wondering how will I know what meal options to get for my guests...I'm completely at loss with this. Or do you just pick 2 or 3 options in advance and than they get to choose from ONLY those in the final menu??

A few things:

 

1) El Coctal has a free dinner, as you know, and it has a lovely backdrop with the waterfall wall. Also, they have a harpist who goes around playing music.

I chose this place over Fuentes becuase Feuentes has people coming on the speaker to "tell you" about the food lots, and I would find that disruptive. Also, I like the indoor feel with the tables and scenery better but thats personal preference.

So, there are good options for the free package.

 

2) For the Private Reception pick 3, you can use whatever you want! You can have the cake as your desser. We looked into it but it was still about $50 a person with a salad, appie, and main course. It was a bit over our budget, but a very nice option if you can swing it.

 

3) For the private reception, something to keep in mind is your not just paying for the food, your also paying for the table set ups and decor you chose to have.

 

4) For the Private Reception, this has recently changed I think, but you need to pick two options and when your counts are due, you need to tell them how many of each you need. This is what I was told by Monica anyway. I know past brides were just able to pick two selections and their guests could chose from the two when there, but when I was booking my private reception Monica told me that I need counts for how many of each of the main dishes we need (so they can figure out what to charge you I think, since each main dish costs different, and maybe so they know how many to prepare?) Who knows.

 

In the end,

I dropped the private reception idea.

 

What I am doing is:

3:30 ceremoney

6:30 dinner at El Coctal

8:30 private reception / chocolate fondue at Tuscanes

(this is only like $15 a person ... dont quote me, I cant remember off hand, and that way we get the free dinner which is cheaper, plus, some private time for speechs, cake cutting, and dancing).

 

I cant wait! Only 6 weeks to go whoo hoooo