Paradisus Riviera Brides - POST HERE!

[ktchi]

Missy- Thank you so much. I had started to hear conflicting things- like we couldn't add anything to the civil ceremony and that we couldn't say our own vows- I was starting to get nervous.

 

I only had one more question- Do your witnesses also have to be there 3 days in advance?

[MissyR]

No problem! In terms of witnesses - here is what I pulled from Loomis travel!

 

Required Documents for Witnesses – Civil Ceremony

 

Legal ceremonies require the bride and groom to have 4 witnesses. It is not required for symbolic/religious ceremonies. If the couple provides their own witnesses the following information is needed.

 

A completed Civil Ceremony Form (available through your wedding coordinator) indicating witnesses name, age, nationality, home address and occupation.

Valid passport or driver’s license.

Tourist Card.

Witnesses must arrive to the hotel 3 business days prior to the legal wedding ceremony date in order to complete the document process. Witnesses must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the ceremony.

Witnesses can be provided by the resort if the bride and groom choose at a charge of $20 per witness payable to the hotel directly in cash.

[yolyd75]

Hi all.. Had my wedding on 10.10.09 at the paradisus. We went with the chill out chick package and everything was all i imagined and then some. If anyone has any questions about the resort, set up or anything else.. Feel free to ask.

[navarrabrooke]

Hi yolyd75 - congratulations! So happy to hear everything went so well. Mine is coming up - November 13th and there is so much left to do. We are also doing the chill out chic setup with buffet. I've had a tough time trying to get Perla to give me cake and flower options. Can you tell me what you went with? Or what you would suggest?

 

And for anyone who can help, I also have a few random/general questions.

 

1. How did you go about scheduling spa treatments on your wedding day for you and your guests? My bridesmaids, mom and girlfriends all want massages/facials/etc and I'm not sure how to go about scheduling these for everyone.

 

2. Did anyone go the iPod route? We ordered our equipment through Luis at Swank (who has been terrific!) and are currently putting together our playlists, but I'm just a bit nervous that something will go wrong with the music. Any reassurance would be great!

 

3. For those who did the buffet, how did the speeches go? I am having a hard time visualizing the timing and setup of the speeches when there is not a formal sit down dinner.

 

Any advice and insight is greatly appreciated!!!

 

Thanks!

Brooke

[becks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by navarrabrooke Hi yolyd75 - congratulations! So happy to hear everything went so well. Mine is coming up - November 13th and there is so much left to do. We are also doing the chill out chic setup with buffet. I've had a tough time trying to get Perla to give me cake and flower options. Can you tell me what you went with? Or what you would suggest? And for anyone who can help, I also have a few random/general questions. 1. How did you go about scheduling spa treatments on your wedding day for you and your guests? My bridesmaids, mom and girlfriends all want massages/facials/etc and I'm not sure how to go about scheduling these for everyone. 2. Did anyone go the iPod route? We ordered our equipment through Luis at Swank (who has been terrific!) and are currently putting together our playlists, but I'm just a bit nervous that something will go wrong with the music. Any reassurance would be great! 3. For those who did the buffet, how did the speeches go? I am having a hard time visualizing the timing and setup of the speeches when there is not a formal sit down dinner. Any advice and insight is greatly appreciated!!! Thanks! Brooke

Hi Brooke!

You can either have Perla book the appointments for you, or if you want to call, you can have the main switchboard transfer you to the spa. Personally, I would be sure to book your appointments first - for when you want them. When I was there (more than a year ago now), they had 2 people who would do mani/pedi, but only one person for hair. I think they have quite a few more that do massages and facials, but get the times you want for yourself first. You're the bride!!

I didn't do an ipod, so I'm no help there.

As far as when to do speeches, I had a couple of thoughts. We did our speeches right after the ceremony, literally at the toast. But otherwise, you might think about doing them right before the cake is served - there won't be people wandering around getting food and so forth.

Good luck! It's soooo close!

[Steve&Julia]

We picked our photog and we are flying him in. He does great photos because I saw his website and I know he's capable of doing the wedding (he's never done a wedding before) but I'm willing to chance (cross fingers) I love the photos he's done and feel he will pull this off

 

Because he's never done a wedding the price is so low I am in shock. More money saved thank god, my invitations are just about done and I couldn't be happier with Becca's invites thanks again Becca I am so happy I went with you.

 

I have to do the DJ thing now and go with Swanky cause perla told me thats the only dj they work with. I wrote him 3 weeks ago and I am still waiting for him to write me back.

has anyone used him and can you suggest anything?

 

As for the cake do i send pictures of thngs for Perla to try to replicate or do i say heres the flavor and my wedding color and she makes up what they can?

[becks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve&Julia ...my invitations are just about done and I couldn't be happier with Becca's invites thanks again Becca I am so happy I went with you. As for the cake do i send pictures of thngs for Perla to try to replicate or do i say heres the flavor and my wedding color and she makes up what they can?

Thanks J! I'm really hoping that I get your invites done by Thursday so I can give them to you on Friday. It may be Monday, but I'm hopeful!

As far as the cake, we showed Perla a picture (2 days before the wedding) and the pastry chef copied it perfectly. Their pastry chef is (or was) really talented, both stylistically and taste-wise. (OMG the desserts were so yummy!) We had a tres leches cake and it was TO DIE FOR!

[yolyd75]

Hi yolyd75 - congratulations! So happy to hear everything went so well. Mine is coming up - November 13th and there is so much left to do. We are also doing the chill out chic setup with buffet. I've had a tough time trying to get Perla to give me cake and flower options. Can you tell me what you went with? Or what you would suggest?

 

And for anyone who can help, I also have a few random/general questions.

 

1. How did you go about scheduling spa treatments on your wedding day for you and your guests? My bridesmaids, mom and girlfriends all want massages/facials/etc and I'm not sure how to go about scheduling these for everyone.

 

2. Did anyone go the iPod route? We ordered our equipment through Luis at Swank (who has been terrific!) and are currently putting together our playlists, but I'm just a bit nervous that something will go wrong with the music. Any reassurance would be great!

 

3. For those who did the buffet, how did the speeches go? I am having a hard time visualizing the timing and setup of the speeches when there is not a formal sit down dinner.

 

Any advice and insight is greatly appreciated!!!

 

Thanks!

Brooke

 

 

COngrats Brooke.. I know the anticipation must be killing you. Are you going with the buffet on the terrace or on the beach. We did ours on the beach. I can show you pics if you'd like. As for the cake, we went with a simple two teir white round cake.. it was actually ice cream cake.. half chocolate, and half vanilla.. it was yummy.. As for flowers, I told Perla what I wanted.. and she got them for me. White lilies for myself, and pink stargazers (i believe thats what they are called) for my bms. She was also able to get me flowers for the girls to pin onto their hair. (fake).. but it worked and looked awesome. Don't worry, Perla is good at what she does! She will take care of everything once you get there and have a sit down with her. She was actually waiting for us the afternoon we arrived at the hotel. We met with her the next day, and in about half hour.. went thru every detail of the wedding.. and she did everything I asked for. Everything was perfect.

As for spa treatments, the day I met with Perla she asked if I needed to make any spa appointments. I told her I did, and she went ahead and booked them for me. Only complaint I have about the spa would be that it is a bit overpriced. I paid 70 usd for a simple manicure and pedicure for my maid of honor!...

Brooke, altho dinner will be buffet style.. it is a sit down dinner. Each table is called up to the buffet line, they get thier food, and once everyone is done getting their food and sitting down you can go ahead with the speeches.

If you have any more questions, please feel free...

 

 

Yolanda..

[navarrabrooke]

Thanks so much Yolanda! Yeah, if you could send a few pictures that would be great. My email is [email protected]. I'm just having a hard time visualizing everything and still feel like I'm going to be the one directing everything.

 

I know I should have more faith in Perla and that's what everyone says, but each time we communicate she leaves something out so again I sit and wait days for her response. This time I'm waiting for her to confirm the amount of our payment and we are supposed to pay at the end of the week.

 

Couple questions for those who can answer - What's the best way to pay? Wire transfer, card credit form, etc? Also, did anyone have a contract that includes Perla or a rep from the resort's signature on it? There's a place for us to sign on our quote, but no where for them to sign. Since it is quite a big transaction, I'd be more comfortable if it were a 2-way contract. Any thoughts?

 

I apologize for the rant, but we're getting down to the wire and I don't have everything confirmed. I just keep telling myself it will all get done and be OK. Let's hope!

 

Thanks!

Brooke

[yolyd75]

We paid by cc, the day we met with Perla.. which was about two days prior to the wedding.