BandE2008

PLEASE HELP! We need to put in room requests this week for the wedding. What blocks do you think are best for regular jac. rooms? What floor is best? Main, mid, upper? What block is best for oceanview? (the block thats NOT by the bar!) hahaha. and lastly, for us, what block is best for Casita? (I think 30) THANKS!!!!!!!!

OMG ELIZABETH! Thanks! Now Im super excited. I wish I could have afforded your photographer!!!! Your incredible. Thanks for showing us all

Quote: Originally Posted by Dreamgirl08 Everything sounds perfect! By the way, what are you doing for decorations for your tables @ El Cocotal? Are you renting chairs for your 2 hr. cocktail party afterwards? Would you mind sharing your food choices so far with El Cocotal? (I'm having a hard time deciding) Decorations at El Cocotal - I got two table runners ( I think they were $10 or $20 each) in my color - pink! We will also take the flowers that I have paid for from the ceremoney and place them on the two tables. Thats it, thats all. It doesnt look like I need more then that from the photos. They have linnens on the tables and the chairs look decent - and the waterfall wall in the background provides its own fee! I am not renting chairs for the 2 hour cocktail party. I think people can stand around the tables that are provided, otherwise they are encouraged to dance!!!! From the photos it seems there are places to perche there (the railings etc if people need to sit or rest, and from other brides weddings (especially at Health Bar) past brides have reproted there are chairs there, just pushed to the side, so if people REALLY need to sit they can take one of those! tee hee. Ummmm I dont have my El Cocotal choices in front of me - wait - maybe I do .... Ummm, nope What I have (I think) is: Salad - spinach with honey mustard sauce (wanted other then cesare) Soup - onion soup with spume and cruouton (sounds like french onion) Main - option one - Slow roasted pork prime rib - option two - Salmon with briased vegetables Dessert - french style apple pie Hope that helps! I cant believe its like a MONTH away! I cant wait to see the October weddings reviewed on here! Hope those girls are having fun!

Hey No I have not been just seen photos read reviews on here, other sits and Trip advisor and feel El Coctal works best for me. At El Cocotal, and I am sure its the same if you choose Fluentes, they set up tables for you. I have paid extra to get them decorated with a pink table runner etc. At El Cocotal they set up the tables all together, pending the size of the party, by the waterfall wall, it is really pretty. So you are a bit separated from the guests. Absolutely your photographer can take photos during time time, it is your reception after all!!!!!!!!!!! Mine will be taking photos of it, and then joining us to eat for part of it. If you go private, including meal options in invite is fine. If you use the free one, you dont have to have people decide ahead, you just tell the resort your options your choosing and then AT the reception people chose which they want. So thats what we are doing. Hmmmm what else did you ask!? Oh yea, for the break in between the ceremony and dinner, I thought of doing a cocktail hour, but changed my mind. Too pricey and honestly, it is an ALL INCLUSIVE resort. People can go have drinks somewhere together or alone for free ... do whatever they want! Its a resort - they will find things to do! Im not worried and when I have asked my guests, they arent worried either! They were like DO NOT spend money on a cocktail hour when its free to drink! As for the private reception we are having after. I think it is about $15 a person ... dont quote me. We will have a table with our cake there, for cake cutting as well as music and speakers we are renting at a fee. But then we can dance, and its private, and way cheaper then the other would have cost. We get to do this for 2 hours. open bar and bartenders are included as well as some tables and the fondue set up and food. So good price, and then we still get something private. I CANT BELIEVE HOW FAST MY DAY IS COMMING!

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

I doubt I can book this far in advance as 1) I dont know if there are packages till I am there and 2) I dont know who would all be coming!

Let me clarify some of my posts regarding Claudia being a staff photographer an in turn "free" (the $500 fee is waved). Thats not entirely true. I booked Claudia at a certain price - PRIVATE. Since I didnt book her though EDR, they wanted to charge me the fee. However, I told them that she is a staff photographer and so I should not have to, and then they agreed. NOW ... months later they have came back (right around the time to collect money, but too close to the date to change anything) and are saying if I book with her private as I did, I pay the $500 fee still and for 2 day passes (another $200) ............ OR, I book her through the EDR and I pay more that way; basically those fees are just included into the price. BRUTAL. They were NOT upfront about this with me AT ALL. I WAS ONLY INFORMED she was a a staff photographer and as such would nto be charged outside vendor fees. So, I in turn booked her. NOT KNOWING if I book her privately it would be an issue. SO BRUTAL It makes me so mad. Im just telling this story so other girls can learn from my mistakes .... (not that I feel I made a mistake, I feel more so that I got tricked and in turn screwed)!!!

Thanks for that info. I wonder if EDR will offer something like that once we get there. I appreciate the info.

Hey! I know there was a post similar but I CANNOT find it even using the search ... I feel like the search NEVER works for me ... Anyway Few questions 1) how can I arrange transport between my hotel (EDR) and CoCo Bongo for my guests? - best companies to use etc? 2) on a Friday, do I have to to pre pay for tickets? Like how does it work? Pay at the door or Thanks!

Any word on your photos?

I think if those people are your guests and staying at the resort it is no problem - But I would contact one of the wedding coordinators there to ask. I dont think they allow for bonfires on the beach ... I cant imagine many AI's do to be honest.

27 Dresses While you will have to pay for an "outside" phtoographer such as Elizabeth M. at ANY Karishma resort, the Karishma resorts have "upped their options". First the regular photogrpaher has updated their website, and they work looks really good. ltos of people have used their prefered photographer and been happy lately, so thats good. They have also added an amazing photogrpaher, Claudia Rodregiez to their "staff list of photogs", so you can use her without paying the $500 fee. I love her work and have chose that route.

For a while they upped it to 3 night s stay AND $500 .... now they are honoring the origional $500 OR 3 night stay. PLUS they are now offering more photographers to choose from INCLUDED with the package where you don't have to pay extra. One of those people are even Claudia Rodregiez who is incredible.

Can we take this boycott down yet since EDR changed their policies etc?

We are putting together our guest bags for the DW So far I have: Surfboard bookmarks, sticky notes, playing cards (deck of cards) What else should I put in them? What did you include and WHERE did you get the stuff? I was thinking immodium, is that weird? Where do I get small travel sized ones? Please help with ideas!

So I hear the hair at EDR is great! THANKFULLY! But anyone have their make up done? Do they do a good job?

Please give thoughts on my time line for the day: 12:00 spa for bride (hair and make up) Ceremony at 3:30 -- Gazebo 55 Dinner at 6:30 - El Cocotal Reception at 9:00 - Tuscanes How long does dinner actually take? Like could I shorten that time. I want to go right from dinner to the Tuscanes reception, so what are your thoughts on that timing? Maybe we should do: Dinner 6:00 Tuscanes at 8:00 ? Thanks! Oh - we are having an early ceremony (3:30) because apparently the sun sets in November around 5:00, so the photographer (Claudia R) said this was the best time to have it in November.

Ours is one week it is $2055 per person So about $4000 per couple.

Anyone know where the cake options are located They asked me to choose a cake, but I don't know where to chose from.

I would check you hotel and ask your coordinator there about Claudia before booking her and going just on what I said. But below is a conversation between myself and my wedding coordinator at EDR: I WROTE: I have been made aware that Claudia Rodregiez is one of your EDR choices for photographers. So, I am curious, in talking to other brides who have been given this option, why am I still being changed a $500 outside vendor fee. I was under the impression that if you used one of the choices EDR offers, there is no monetary penalty. Please let me know if I will also have this fee waved, or if I have to pay it and if so, why. SHE REPLIED: That is correct, Claudia Rodriguez is part of our staff of photographers and if you requiere her services the 500 USD fee does not apply.

Id love the favor bags Please PM me if they are available and I can give you all my details - thanks so much!!!!

Ive been thinking about you and how it all went! So glad to hear things went so well! It looks amazing! I cant wait for more photos. And you my dear, you looked stunning! I'm so glad to hear it was the wedding of your dreams!!! Congrats again!

Shannon - The tables you had set up at Tucanes, did you have to pay extra for those

Is Azul part of the Karishma chain (like along with EDR etc)? If so, Claudia is one of their preferred staff photographers now and as such, there will not be a $500 fee for her. Look into that if it is a Karishma resort. If not - sorry I cant help! I'm using Claudia and I cant wait! She has been great thus far. Sometimes slow with emails but always so kind and answers all my questions.

Just an update I finally heard from her today! SHe emailed me back and did apologize - I apologize I did not get back to you in a timely manner, I had a few problems with my e-mail account since it was switched to another computer.