Paradisus Riviera Brides - POST HERE!

[avong1228]

Need some advice on ceremony time. We are getting married in mid October and everything I find online says sun goes down around 6:20 so my initial thought was a 4:30 ceremony, cocktail hour from 5-6 and reception 6-9 but Perla told me I should do 3:30 or 4 ... seems early to me and I don't want to have dinner at 5 either. Any thoughts?

 

Also, anyone changing hotels after for their honeymoon? I know its super early for me to think about but when we book our travel we want to book it all together. Thinking about Excellence, Royal Hideaway or Le Blanc. Anyone ever been?

 

One last question for anyone that's been to the Paradisus ... When we were in Punta Cana, the Palma Real did not have elevators, only steps to get from each floor. Does anyone know if this one is the same way? We have family on his side that are a little over weight that would have to be on the first floor if this is the case.

 

Thanks!

[navarrabrooke]

Quote:

Originally Posted by avong1228 Need some advice on ceremony time. We are getting married in mid October and everything I find online says sun goes down around 6:20 so my initial thought was a 4:30 ceremony, cocktail hour from 5-6 and reception 6-9 but Perla told me I should do 3:30 or 4 ... seems early to me and I don't want to have dinner at 5 either. Any thoughts? Also, anyone changing hotels after for their honeymoon? I know its super early for me to think about but when we book our travel we want to book it all together. Thinking about Excellence, Royal Hideaway or Le Blanc. Anyone ever been? One last question for anyone that's been to the Paradisus ... When we were in Punta Cana, the Palma Real did not have elevators, only steps to get from each floor. Does anyone know if this one is the same way? We have family on his side that are a little over weight that would have to be on the first floor if this is the case. Thanks!

We had our ceremony at 4:30pm with the sunset at 5:15pm, but I do wish it was at 4pm instead. We had lost a lot of light for pictures after the ceremony. If you're sure the sun sets at 6:20pm in mid-October, you should be fine with a 4:30pm ceremony.

There are no elevators at this one too. We just requested first floor suites for our guests who required them.

[avong1228]

We finally got confirmation on our date from Perla!! Very exciting!!!

[avong1228]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLC77 We used our Bose docking station with our ipod and it worked out perfectly. It might depend on the amount of guests you have. We had about 30 and it was perfect for us. Everyone was dancing!

Kelly, what did you do for a mic? Are there docking stations that you can plug a mic into? Just thinking about introductions, speeches, etc.

Thanks!

[KLC77]

We didn't use one. I was worried about that before I got down there as well, but it worked out ok for us. It wasn't that windy so we could all hear fine. We only had the best man and moh speak so it was short and sweet.

[Steve&Julia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelie11 Hi guys! I am so thrilled to have found this website. I am getting married at the Paradisus this July. I am deciding what to do with a photographer. What are you guys doing?!?

I am taking my own, but I hear Sam Luna is great.

[Steve&Julia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelie11 Is Sam with who the hotel recommends? The hotel recommends mexicanweddingphotos.com. I am also considering flying my own down. When is your wedding Jewels? Kelly

Sam i heard is really good. they have a thread of just him. I am waiting to see pictures, he is not with the hotel. I saw the website to the person Perla recommened I have to tell you I was not impressed at all. I figure you put your best work on your site and if thats his best. I am afraid. I spoke to my travel agent about it and she said do your research if you get someone out there and make sure you can read references from other brides.
She mentioned this to me because she said she had a bride a few months ago who's photographer was from the location (she wouldn't tell me if it was mexico or somewhere else) but the point is that the photographers camera was being held together with duck tape. It was in horrible conditions and the bride felt that the photographers camera was not up to part. but it was to late for her to do anything or pay anyone else or pay twice.

My wedding is July 10. Keep in mind that if you bring someone from mexico other then the person Perla recommened you might have to pay a fee for that photographer to work at your wedding. I think I read something like $300 so thats something you might want to add to your budget. (ask perla to confirm)

I got lucky and I am gambling all at once. I realize after doing a lot of reseach I wanted a photo journalist more then a wedding photographer. I found someone here from a mutual friend who is a good photographer and you can see he has an eye by looking at his work BUT he has never done a wedding. For this reason I was able to get him for so much cheaper then some of the photographers I have seen with the package deals.
I have faith he can do the job, because he is a good photographer and at the same token I feel like every "wedding photographer" needed that one couple to give them a chance.

Hope all that helped

[avong1228]

We've decided to bring our own photographer as well. Found it to be cheaper and you get them for longer if you can find one that will cut you a deal.

 

Kelly, what package are you going with? I'm still debating that.

[Steve&Julia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelie11 Hey guys thanks for the info. I am almost 100% flying in my own photographer. I wasn't all that impressed with the website either Jewels. I think its ridiculous though I would have to pay the hotel to allow me to have my own photographer. Especially when I will be paying for him to stay at the resort. I will have to talk with Perla. I did not do a package. I am customizing a lot of stuff. I am getting married the week after you Jewels! Will you be honeymooning there? We are going over to secrets maroma for our honeymoon after the wedding. How many people do you guys expect at your wedding(s)? Any one have any experience with the DJ the hotel uses. I believe it is Swank Audiovisuals.

if you take your own photographer you won't pay a hotel fee, if you use someone in Mexico other then the person she suggested then yes you will pay a fee.

I had a conf call with Swanky, they seem nice we booked him. We were not going to pay a fee for another outside DJ we thought it wasn't worth it. But, I did learn from talking to swanky that they (dj) out there don't do mic talking. So basically they don't have a hype man sort of speak. Nor will they do the introducing the couple first dance. You will need to have someone do that from your group. Swanky said they will give us the mic and we can have someone in our group do the talking if we need it and also for toast.

I am guessing we are having give or take 30-40, right now I haven't picked a package cause i want to have a better idea of how many ppl are going.

I am staying in the hotel until Tuesday after my wedding and then going to the grand royal hotel.

I have been focusing more on my welcome bags, I sent my Save the dates in August or so and the invites went out about a month ago. I am doing everything really early because we have a good amount of ppl with out passports and I wanted to give them time to request one.

I did order my reminder cards last week (they were free so I took advantage of that)

Where are you with the planning? Its not hard but time consumming

[Steve&Julia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelie11 Wow you are ahead of the game! That is great. Right now I am in the process of looking for invitations. I plan to send them out in early March. I sent my save the dates in September and have a website explaining everything. Where did you get free reminder cards from? That is a great idea. I amplanning to do welcome bags as well. Any good ideas or websites to check? Yes planning is time consuming and very difficult to do so far away. I am from NJ..you? I am acutally going to the resort in April to finalize and go over everything. I'm glad you mentioned there is no fee at the hotel if I fly my photographer in.

I am in NY, (manhattan) freezing my butt off today LOL.
Yes I did a lot early due to the fact that I knew I wouldn't have that much time later in the year. Also passport ppl, my bff just got his passport but was asked so many questions after the application. he was told by the passport ppl that if there is any identity issues or if someone else has a passport with your name it can take up to a year to clear. With that said i wanted to make sure all my ppl had enough time to get this taken care of.

My invites were so amazing, I mean great!!!
so many ppl told me they are the best they have ever seen. If you want I can send you the info just email me [email protected]

I'll give you all the info on the reminder cards and stuff as well. I also bought my dress and paid for my flights to MX already they were so cheap I had to take advantage of that. We are not going to MX until wedding time. I wish I could but I doubt I'll have the time.