RIU RM Palace Brides??

[slstriednig]

Wow Girl!  You really did it right!

 

Thanks for the cost breakdown...super helpful.  Erika responded today about the DJ and said that she made a mistake in her email and it really is $1250 for the DJ and Lighting.  Whew...but you make a great point, we will need to think about how much the lighting is really worth to us.  I love the idea of bringing our own chair ribbons...do you know if they can move the chair ribbons from the ceremony to the reception during the cocktail hour?

 

My mom and I were talking last about the reception at Chili's.  Erika sent me the menu and there are a few choices for meats,etc.  How does that work?  Do we have our guests make their selections prior to the reception or do we all order at the reception as if we are in a regular restaurant?  Did you bring any table centerpieces?  So let me get this straight....you had a semi-private dinner and then a private reception with a DJ...for FREE?

 

Another question for you about the cocktail hour.  Is it solely based on your guest count or can we decide to have minimal apps at the cocktail hour.  Example, we currently have approx 60 guests who are planning to come...the price sheet Erika sent me states the apps are $15 per person and amount to ~8 pieces per person. Do you know if it is possible to order the apps for only 30 guests but split it among all guests so there are 4 pieces per person instead?

 

Would love to see your pics! 

 

~Shannon & Dennis

[jessd123]

Did any of you look into the free package. Of coarse, it is not really free, but if you do not use any of the spa services it actually ended up being cheaper for me to do that and pay additional for the extra people. Just a thought!

[elissae]

Originally Posted by jessd123 

 

Did any of you look into the free package. Of coarse, it is not really free, but if you do not use any of the spa services it actually ended up being cheaper for me to do that and pay additional for the extra people. Just a thought!

Per the Riu Palace Riviera Maya website - it says - 

 

• Free Package: Provides you the opportunity to create a simple yet elegant wedding in paradise. It is required a minimum of five rooms booked with a minimum of three night stay. Available only at RIU Palace Mexico.

[slstriednig]

Hi There,

 

We went ahead and downgraded to the Royal Package since we will not be using the hairstyle and mani/pedi.  It looks like that alone will save us at least $400 even with a private reception.  I noticed the free package was not offered at the Riu Palace Riviera Maya as Elissa points out above.  I also looked at the Classic package but it seems that one does not accommodate any guests so I think Royal will be our best bet here.

 

Elissa, I know you made luggage tags as a "thank you for booking" gift.  We are sooo stealing that idea but are having a hard time finding inexpensive clear plastic tag pouches.  Does anyone know where we should look?  We will need ~100.  I have found 100 tag straps for $5 but no luck finding great deals on the actual pouches.  Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks for the help!

~Shannon & Dennis

[kirab22]

Originally Posted by slstriednig 

 

Wow Girl!  You really did it right!

 

Thanks for the cost breakdown...super helpful.  Erika responded today about the DJ and said that she made a mistake in her email and it really is $1250 for the DJ and Lighting.  Whew...but you make a great point, we will need to think about how much the lighting is really worth to us.  I love the idea of bringing our own chair ribbons...do you know if they can move the chair ribbons from the ceremony to the reception during the cocktail hour?

 

My mom and I were talking last about the reception at Chili's.  Erika sent me the menu and there are a few choices for meats,etc.  How does that work?  Do we have our guests make their selections prior to the reception or do we all order at the reception as if we are in a regular restaurant?  Did you bring any table centerpieces?  So let me get this straight....you had a semi-private dinner and then a private reception with a DJ...for FREE?

 

Another question for you about the cocktail hour.  Is it solely based on your guest count or can we decide to have minimal apps at the cocktail hour.  Example, we currently have approx 60 guests who are planning to come...the price sheet Erika sent me states the apps are $15 per person and amount to ~8 pieces per person. Do you know if it is possible to order the apps for only 30 guests but split it among all guests so there are 4 pieces per person instead?

 

Would love to see your pics! 

 

~Shannon & Dennis

It would be hard to limit a guest to 4 appetizers per person unless you put out a sign. After being in the sun or doing an activity before your wedding by the time cocktail hour comes around they might be pretty hungry! Just my opinion though.

[slstriednig]

Thanks for your insight, Kirab22...  You are totally right! 

 

I was just trying to think of a way to add that nice touch without the expensive cost ($15 pp adds up).  In all reality, if someone is hungry during the cocktail hour, they can always go to the buffet or the bar and order a snack (for free).  We don't really need to have a server walking around with tiny apps.  Any other advice or personal experiences on this topic are welcomed!

 

On a side note, we got our personalized coconut flavored chapsticks and personalized sunscreen favors in the mail yesterday.  They are sooo cute!  And one of the chapstick seals was broken so we got to test it out since ofcourse we will not give an open product to a guest.  Mmmm, tasty!  I'm a chapstick addict!

 

~Shannon & Dennis

[sedwards00]

Originally Posted by slstriednig 

 

Wow Girl!  You really did it right!

 

Thanks for the cost breakdown...super helpful.  Erika responded today about the DJ and said that she made a mistake in her email and it really is $1250 for the DJ and Lighting.  Whew...but you make a great point, we will need to think about how much the lighting is really worth to us.  I love the idea of bringing our own chair ribbons...do you know if they can move the chair ribbons from the ceremony to the reception during the cocktail hour?

 

My mom and I were talking last about the reception at Chili's.  Erika sent me the menu and there are a few choices for meats,etc.  How does that work?  Do we have our guests make their selections prior to the reception or do we all order at the reception as if we are in a regular restaurant?  Did you bring any table centerpieces?  So let me get this straight....you had a semi-private dinner and then a private reception with a DJ...for FREE?

 

Another question for you about the cocktail hour.  Is it solely based on your guest count or can we decide to have minimal apps at the cocktail hour.  Example, we currently have approx 60 guests who are planning to come...the price sheet Erika sent me states the apps are $15 per person and amount to ~8 pieces per person. Do you know if it is possible to order the apps for only 30 guests but split it among all guests so there are 4 pieces per person instead?

 

Would love to see your pics! 

 

~Shannon & Dennis

I'm sure they can move the sashes from the wedding to the reception.  But I really don't think you will need too.  The whole resort is so beautiful along with the décor they have there I'm glad I didn't decide to bring my own centerpieces and such, especially when we brought 2 suitcases full of gifts for our guests (customs was a treat! LOL).  As for the reception dinner and choices...when you meet with the planner they will go over the menu options with you and you can pick what type of menu you want offered, then the day of the dinner everyone will have a menu with three choices to pick from for the main dish and also choices for an appetizer. I actually forgot about picking the food type when we met with Erica!

 

We got the private dinner free and I made a mistake on my list above the reception was $600 and above I listed it as the cocktail hour, instead of the reception (they call it cocktail after dinner). 

 

Our cocktail hour was free because we did a semi-private.  We did however have to pay for the mariachi band.  But even though the cocktail hour was semi-private and other people from the resort could come by and have drinks..there was no one else over by the licrio bar so it was "private" even though it was semi-private.  We did not do apps, but it sounds like from reading the emails I got back from Erica it's $16/person and it averages out to be 4 pieces per guest..I guess they can figure how much one person can eat.  The only reason why we didn't do apps was because it was literally an hour from the end of the wedding to the dinner and we figured that people could just socialize have a drink and listen to the mariachi band.  Some people didn't even go to the cocktail hour, but went back to their rooms to change and get ready for dinner.  My husband didn't even want the band, only because we wouldn't be able to enjoy all of it due to the photo-shoot after the wedding, but I put the law down on that!  The people that did show up for the cocktail hour did enjoy themselves and the band. 

 

Hope this is helpful!

~Courts

[jessd123]

Hmmm, I'll look into it if you want me to. I do still have all of the paper work from RIU about the free package. It is offered at the RPRM, it is $700 and includes 10 guests.

[futuremrsmadsen]

I think we want to downgrade our package from the Caprice to the Royal. Has anyone else done this? Do I just email the coordinator?

[elissae]

Originally Posted by slstriednig 

 

Hi There,

 

We went ahead and downgraded to the Royal Package since we will not be using the hairstyle and mani/pedi.  It looks like that alone will save us at least $400 even with a private reception.  I noticed the free package was not offered at the Riu Palace Riviera Maya as Elissa points out above.  I also looked at the Classic package but it seems that one does not accommodate any guests so I think Royal will be our best bet here.

 

 I think the Royal is the best package for the money - just my opinion.

 

Elissa, I know you made luggage tags as a "thank you for booking" gift.  We are sooo stealing that idea but are having a hard time finding inexpensive clear plastic tag pouches.  Does anyone know where we should look?  We will need ~100.  I have found 100 tag straps for $5 but no luck finding great deals on the actual pouches.  Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks for the help!

~Shannon & Dennis

Hi Shannon, I bought the luggage tags & their plastic strips from www.idcardgroup.com

 

They come in different colors.  Here is the links for the actual tags & strips below:

 

https://www.idcardgroup.com/tags/1840-620      $47.99 for 100 tags  (computes to $0.48 per tag)

https://www.idcardgroup.com/tags/2410-20        $5.40 for 100 strips (computes to $0.05 per strip)

 

I have I think over 30 leftover.  I need to go through my things and possibly sell them.

 

I also bought my navy blue lanyards and clear cases for the key/card holders there.

 

https://www.idcardgroup.com/holders/hangingbadgeholders/1815-1110

https://www.idcardgroup.com/lanyards/braid-lanyard/round%20woven%20nylon

 

 

I think I have at least 30 of these left over  too!!!