DinaQtobe

We paid our final bill the day before the wedding. The invoice came to our room the day after we had our meeting. I went to the Wedding Office with my dad and paid for it using my credit card. The charge was in USD, not pesos.

I believe the cost for hair was $55USD for my bridesmaids ($65 at the most). Their hair turned out very pretty. I was the only one to have make-up done.

Since your wedding is closer to the end of your trip, take the day after for just the two of you. Make this very known to your guests prior to even leaving. Tell people that you need the time together, they should understand. Honestly, the stress of our guests was more our own fault - we wanted to make sure that everyone was happy and be able to visit everyone. They weren't actively seeking us out, we were seeking them out! We live far from both of our families and the DW was a way for us all to see eachother for a week - which never happens! We definitely put the stress on ourselves. If you go down with the mentality that you are there on vacation for yourselves I don't think you will have a problem.

We had an odd number of attendants, I just made it work. My one bridesmaid sat on the opposite side of the table to the bride and groom. She was single and sat beside my aunt. My husband had a groomsmen that was single also. Just seat someone beside the MOH that she will be able to chat with - unless you are having one table just with the bride, groom and attendants then that wont work. But I think it is absolutely fine if it doesn't balance! No one will think it's weird.

This was a significant worry for us. We only had 17 people and it was exhausting trying to make sure that we met up with everyone and that everyone was happy during their trip. Our wedding package included a private dinner on the beach and a couples massage. We did both the night before the wedding and I am so happy that we took advantage of both. It allowed us the time to reconnect and relax right before our big day. And everyone knew where we were and gave us our privacy. If you have this option definitely take advantage of it! After our wedding we stayed for a second week and switched resorts. When it was finally the two of us we realized just how tired we were from our first week with our families. If you have the means to stay longer - after everyone has gone back home (or switch resorts!) do it!!! You will not regret it. It gives you and your new husband that time together to relax and enjoy your new roles as husband and wife. Also, the GBP is a massive resort. I am sure you will be able to find a place where no one can find you to have that alone time!

This is what we did for our wedding - one long table. We had a wedding party of 5, and I had the Maid of Honor and Best Man set next to my husband and I and then their partners beside them. I had each member of the wedding party sit beside their significant other. I also had our parents sit directly across form us, with our dads seated beside each other. It worked out perfectly, no one felt left out or separated.

We booked our November vacation in February I think. Yes, it was early, but the price was reasonable I thought. My in-laws booked in June and their price was the same. A family member attempted to book a room about a month before and was not able to book preferred. You don't want to wait too long, but book when you feel comfortable. We didn't do welcome bags, but instead purchased tumblers for every guest that we then personalized with names. I handed those out in gift bags to everyone as I saw them. I originally wanted to have a welcome cocktail, but it didn't end up working out - it was too hard to organize everyone (and we only had 17 guests!).

This is likely a bean soup with a whipped foam on top. Some of the cream soups they call "cappuccino" due to the foam that they add on top. It is served in a cappuccino cup. It probably has a bit of bacon flavored oil on top.

Our timeline: 3:30 - ceremony 4:00 - photos with family 4:30 - cocktail hour, bride groom do photos 5:30 - reception starts. Our wedding was in November and the sun set very early then, which is why everything was so early!

I agree with Megan. I sent in some photos of what I wanted, and the colors. I also picked one of the bouquets out of the Wedding Book that most closely resembled what I had in my head. When I met with the WC a few days before the wedding we went over this again. My flowers were beautiful - were exactly what I wanted, and the bridesmaids bouquets and centerpiece were beautiful too!

There are two wedding coordinators: Anel and Ramon. We had Ramon and he was fabulous. I'm sure Anel is wonderful too. I did not work with a TA. My guests booked on their own, and this worked well for us. We had a very small wedding and there would have been no perks of using a travel agent.

Yes, a credit card was how we paid for the entire cost. Also, they charge in USD, not Pesos, which was great as the exchange rate worked better for us that way. Payment was due the day before the wedding.

We did not get a room upgrade. I did not ask for one either at check-in. We booked a preferred club Ocean View room. Our room was perfect, I wouldn't have wanted anything different. It was in building 1, close to our family and friends and right beside the pool. Close to everything.

I used the guitarist for my cocktail hour from 4:30-5:30. He played a variety of songs and was wonderful. He played some new songs and some old, most were love-type songs, but they were all great. I didn't confirm the guitarist until our planning meeting 2 days before the wedding...

I would be the same way if I was going back to EDR. There are some dishes there that are just SO good! Mmmm Lobster Lasagna! I am dreaming about it now, haha!

You should try out the EDR Maroma next time! We went for our honeymoon and it was heaven! The Royale has better food, but the Maroma has an amazing beach and a wonderful chill atmosphere!

The shuttle is private, it was a van for us.

So exciting that you have such few days left! We didn't ask about a rehearsal, but I am sure we could have done one if necessary. Ramon went over what the bridal party should do with them right before. He also helped us in cutting our cake as we had NO idea what we were doing at the time. He checked in on us a few times during the reception too, making sure we were happy and that things were going smoothly. It was the most wonderful day, you are in good hands! Enjoy every minute of it, as it really does go by very quickly!

We had him only play at the cocktail hour - we used the speakers that were included in our package and our cell phone for the music for the ceremony. This was good for us because then we knew that we would have the songs we wanted at the ceremony - didn't need to worry if the instrumentalist knew them or not.

I was married at the sister resort to the Now Jade, the Now Sapphire, which have identical wedding packages. We had the guitarist and he was fantastic! He played a good mix of contemporary and older songs, came with his own speakers and all of the guests loved him. My dad raved about the nice touch it added to our wedding. He played during cocktail hour and while we were having our pictures taken away from the cocktail hour site I honestly thought it was a CD that was playing he was so good! We had 19 people and I did not want a sweet-heart table as I wanted to enjoy spending the dinner with our guests. We had one long table set up for us (at the Now Sapphire) and it was perfect!

The nightclub "starts" at 10pm I believe. They are open before that, but as a sports bar, typically with a game on the TV's. At 10 they start playing the dance club music. Our meeting was arranged with the planner after arrival. We had 5 days from arrival until the wedding. The meeting was scheduled 2 days prior. We took the shuttle to the resort. You need to confirm your shuttle with the WC's before leaving. They will give you the name of the shuttle operator. I believe it was AMSTAR transfers. You need to find the AMSTAR representative and then they will call the van for you. It took probably about 20 minutes from the time we found the rep until the van came, and then a 20 minute drive to the resort! (longer if the road still is not fixed :S) We checked in really quickly through the Preferred section, it was awesome! Can you put on your own false lashes? I personally did not use false ones, so I am not sure with the spa staff's familiarity with them, but if you could put them on yourself after, I think that would be safest!

I know a bride at the Now Jade had her brother perform their symbolic ceremony so I am sure it would be the same at the Now Sapphire. We had a symbolic ceremony and the resort brought in a minister for the wedding.

Sheena, I loved your review. I walked the beach up and down from our resorts and thought the Excellence looked so grand. Sounds like it was an amazing vacation! Glad your wedding was so perfect!

Sheena your photos are beautiful! I love the one of your dad walking you down the aisle. He looks so proud. We were married the same day at resorts right beside each other!

Hi! I am still on here all the time, trying to help other brides of the same resort. Tammy posted a great how-to for posting pictures. It seems like a lot more work but I feel like it organizes them better once you've uploaded them. I've added the link for your convenience. You basically upload them like an album to your profile and then you are able to add them to specific threads after the fact. http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/75782-how-to-insert-images-into-posts/ Hope that helps! I would love to see photos!