kitkat863

I had mine on a Thursday. When you are on vacation I don't think it really matters what day of the week it is! Honestly, every day that we were there they had 2 weddings a day. You most likely will have someone else getting married the same day as you but you probably won't even notice it. I never once saw the other couple on our wedding day and I didn't feel like they were rushing my wedding or doing anything that made me feel like my wedding wasn't the only one going on that day. I can only speak for myself and my experience but I don't think knowing there was another wedding that day took away from mine.

We had our ceremony on the beach and it was exactly what I wanted. We were set up right by the beach bar (not in front of any of the pools) and we had some people watching but I don't think it would matter where you would have it people are going to watch. In the moment I didn't really notice or pay any attention to them. I was supposed to have our reception on the terrace but due to possible rain we had to change that.

You could get a wood sign and have it leaning against something...or have a chalkboard and write it. The resort might have an easal that you can use but I would check with Pilar about that.

If the buffett is open that night you might have people watching but I think that you would have that no matter what time you get married. It probably will be a little dark for pictures but I'm sure a good photographer won't have a problem with that. Regarding the day pass fee for the photographer and assistants. It's good to ask Pilar but I will say that once I got there she didn't charge me for my photographer. Stupid me even said something to her about the extra fee and she told me not to worry about it. I wasn't charged for a lot of things that I was supposed to be charged for (things that she said I would be charged for in emails.) Not sure if that happens a lot but I was surprised how easy everything was regarding the fees once I was there.

I did this and I honestly can't remember how they figured out who got what. I gave everyone 3 options to choose from (filet and shrimp, pork tournadoes, and mahi mahi.) I sent Pilar our guest list and what put what everyone was ordering. I had a long table and we didn't have a seating chart...I'm not sure if they just asked who got what when the dinner came out or not. Haha sorry I'm not more helpful.

My in-laws actually upgraded our room to oceanfront before we arrived. When we got there we were upgraded to the "preferred" but since we had already upgraded to the oceanfront room we didn't stay on the preferred side. We had access to the preferred lounge and everything else the preferred guests get, our room just wasn't on the preferred side. I would assume if you booked a governors suite you would have the same thing happen. It seems that most couples getting married at the resort get the upgrade but if you want to the oceanfront or governors suite you have to book that yourself. If you book the governors suite on the regular side (not preferred) you will get the upgrade for preferred but your room will not be in the preferred building...does that make sense?

I was originally supposed to have my reception on the terrace but due to possible rain it got switched to Castaways restaurant. I would have preferred the terrace but castaways wasn't bad. I think anything outside will be warm but you are by the beach so there will almost always be a breeze. I think you might be able to have something set up by the pool so I would ask Pilar. I know that when we were there I saw something set up by the pool and it looked pretty cool. If you can't do the pool then I would suggest the terrace!

I meant that I WAS pretty nervous too!!

Do you want to have your reception indoors or out? I didn't see any spots that I think were bad so it just depends on if you want an indoor or outdoor reception. I only had 15 people with us and we had the DJ for 2 hours...I was afraid it would be weird but it actually wasn't. I didn't want to worry about taking care of the ipod but if you can get a DJ without having to pay for it ( I got our 2 hours for free because I didn't use the photographer in the package) I would say go for the DJ. I had never been to the resort prior to our wedding so I wasn't pretty nervous too! You won't be disappointed with your decision!

Thats what I thought too! Let me know if you have any other questions!

Kerri - you didn't get your video yet? I got mine probably 2 weeks after we got home...I would contact Pilar or someone to see what happened to it! And trust me...you don't want to see my video with me and my awkwardness haha! I hate watching myself...I laugh when I am nervous and apparently I was nervous because there was a lot of weird laughing going on!

Wow they stayed for part of your reception? Did you pay extra? They did the ceremony and maybe stayed for about 10 minutes of the cocktail hour...the girl was mad at my photographer though because he wanted her to move her camera during the ceremony and she wouldnt so maybe that is why!

We didn't have a rehearsal but I didn't have a wedding party so I didn't think we needed it.

You looked so beautiful!! Isn't it fun to watch the ceremony and relive it again since it goes by so fast?!?!

We had our cocktail hour at the mix beach bar and I thought it was the best place for the cocktail party. It is kind of seperated from everything so you have more privacy with your group, which I thought was nice. Plus it is right next to the Pergola so no one has to go far from your ceremony and they can watch you get pics on the beach if they want to. Th lobby bar is a good option if you want to be indoors. Not private but it is a nice open area.

I do not have a copy of what exactly was said but I gave them wording that I wanted for the ring warming ceremony, our vows, and exchange of the rings. We had a symbolic ceremony (everyone there thought it was the real deal and I made sure that Pilar knew that) and we did sign a paper so evreyone thought that we were signing the marriage certificate. No one questioned it or asked to see it; thank god!! To answer your question, we did use the resort videographer only because it was included in the package. I wouldn't have booked one so I didn't really expect much with it. I got it in the mail a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't too bad. It was basically a little from before the ceremony, the whole ceremony (which is nice for people who weren't there) and a little of us while taking pics on the beach and cocktail hour. If it is something that is really important to you, you might want to book an outside vendor, if not I would think that the resort videographer should be okay.

You had some great song choices!!

I will agree that Castaways is warm but it wasn't anything that anyone complained about. I didn't even really notice it to be honest (and I always sweat! haha) There was a nice breeze since you are close to the ocean so that helped.

No, you do not have to have one of youe guests do this. They have someone there that will take care of it. I made a cd of the songs I wanted and gave it to Pilar. She gave it to whoever handled the music during the ceremony for us. I think you will be safe if you have your ipod or make a cd.

I didn't have a wedding party so I don't know if yours would be different but I had 3 songs for the ceremony. One song played while everyone sat and my nephews walked dow the aisle, one for when I walked down the aisle, and one for when we walked back up the aisle. Hope that helps!

Yes you just order your drinks from the waiters. They are REALLY good at keeping the drinks coming...I don't remember ever having to ask for another one...it was just there for me! You will not be disappointed...the resort does a fantastic job with the weddings!

I honestly wouldn't spend the extra money. We were supposed to have our reception on the terrace but due to possible rain we were switched to Castaways Restaurant. I never noticed any issue with getting drinks. Honestly they are really good at keeping the drinks and shots coming. I would either save or spend the $250 on something else. Just my opinion though! There is no limit on drinks during the cocktail hour or reception! Darius is the bartender at the beach bar and he is absolutely fantastic!!

Congrats on your wedding!! You looked beautiful! Hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed ours!

We had a resort officiant and he was pretty easy to understand. I was worried about this too but it turned out fine! I had put together wording for our ring warming ceremony, our vows, and the exchange of rings so he basically just read all of that plus a few little things that he added. The ceremont was about 15-20 minutes long.

We only had 15 others with us so honestly I am not sure!