Any Eldorado Seaside Brides??

[desouc]

Hi Tracy & the rest of you El Dorado brides

 

I just recently booked my wedding at EDSS and it's coming up fast!!! Feb 3

So, I have to get organized and begin planning the details fast. Still have to find a photographer (my budget is about $1000/1200) and considering the Trash the Dress shoot... Still need to determine welcome packages, thank you gifts, style of reception. At least I'm pretty sure I want the ceremony at the pier.

 

I've read through most of this thread and there are great ideas and information covered.

 

I'd love to hear more about the experiences of some brides that have already had their wedding - what did you enjoy most? what would you change?

Tracy - your wedding was fairly recent- any tips?

Linda - Your wedding is coming up soon, and trials/tribulations you'd like to share?

 

One thing I was surprised about was the blood tests - I didn't even know the bride & groom need to go through that until reading this forum. No chest xray though, right?

 

Also, any comments on the food at the restaurant offered for the free package - at Los Arrefices? I think SoontobeE said it wasn't bad, but others have said it's mediocre? I wonder if it's worth it to do the private beach reception for $18 per person (formerly $11 per person).

 

Also, what's involved in the sand ceremony?

 

Any of you not have a proper bridal party? I don't have one but I am thinking of asking my 14 or so guests to coordinate what they are wearing for pictures... What do you guys think?

 

Any feedback would be appreciated : )

[Tracy_S]

Quote:

Originally Posted by desouc Hi Tracy & the rest of you El Dorado brides I just recently booked my wedding at EDSS and it's coming up fast!!! Feb 3 So, I have to get organized and begin planning the details fast. Still have to find a photographer (my budget is about $1000/1200) and considering the Trash the Dress shoot... Still need to determine welcome packages, thank you gifts, style of reception. At least I'm pretty sure I want the ceremony at the pier. I've read through most of this thread and there are great ideas and information covered. I'd love to hear more about the experiences of some brides that have already had their wedding - what did you enjoy most? what would you change? Tracy - your wedding was fairly recent- any tips? Make sure you have back up locations selected... not sure how the weather will be in Feb.. but I got rained out of my beach wedding... but honestly they did an amazing job moving the wedding to a semi indoor outdoor location! Linda - Your wedding is coming up soon, and trials/tribulations you'd like to share? One thing I was surprised about was the blood tests - I didn't even know the bride & groom need to go through that until reading this forum. No chest xray though, right? There is definitely no chest xray.. and if you can handle a quick needle you should have no problems. I hate needles but had all my peeps around me to distract me for the 2 mins the whole thing went on.. not a huge deal actually. Nothing to worry about, all clean and very fast. Also, any comments on the food at the restaurant offered for the free package - at Los Arrefices? I think SoontobeE said it wasn't bad, but others have said it's mediocre? I wonder if it's worth it to do the private beach reception for $18 per person (formerly $11 per person). I did the private dinner reception... the stuffed chicken one.... AND boy was that GREAT! I would highly recommend it!!! So good! One of the best meals we had at the resort! Not to say the rest of the food we had at the resort was bad.. cause it wasn't! Just that my reception meal was the best!!! Highly recommend! lol Also, what's involved in the sand ceremony? The sand ceremony.. I bascially brought my vases and the colored sand.. or you can have them get it ready for you... but basically its as if you were lighting the unity candle. They give you a couple of options for wording and you choose the one you like the most, they read it off in Spanish and then they translate it right on site as you and your fiance are pouring the colored sand together... its over quite quickly but something to keep and cherish afterwards. Any of you not have a proper bridal party? I don't have one but I am thinking of asking my 14 or so guests to coordinate what they are wearing for pictures... What do you guys think? Any feedback would be appreciated : )

Hope that helped!! Let me know if you need any further information I am here to help you out!! Congrats too by the way!!

[missbliss85]

Descouc, if you're still looking for a photographer, you can check out Lomas Travel's wedding section (weddings.lomas-travel.com), as it lists all of the EDSS approved photographers...You can also opt to hire an outside photographer, but if you go this route, you'll need to pay $500 to the resort and get approval ahead of time.

 

My wedding at El Dorado Seaside is April 2010, and we've decided to hire Samuel Luna as our photographer. Sascha Gluck is also an amazing photographer, and it was between him and Sam. I believe that Sascha has fairly good rates, so he might fit within your budget range.

 

Just thought I'd pass on those tips.

 

Oh, and similar to you we're not having a proper bridal party (there's only 9 other guests joining us - everyone else is going to our AHR)

[Tracy_S]

Descouc, I have to say that the approved photographer Mexican Wedding Photos is a great company to use as well!!! We had a guy named Miguel or Mike.. who ROCKED!! I will totally recommend him to all brides using Karisma hotels!!! He was awesome.. and his 3 hour package is 1250... but so worth it!!! I also did a trash the dress with him and he rocked at that too.. that costs extra but he was such a nice and professional guy!!! Highly recommended on my end!!!

[desouc]

Thank you ladies!

I have been in touch with Mexican Wedding Photos and read about how good Eduardo is so I've booked him. But, they haven't asked for any deposit yet so I don't think it's official yet and I might just check out the other companies suggested by missbliss to compare.

 

Tracy - did you have to put a deposit for Mexican Wedding Photos through Valeria?

Would you share a link to your photos, or have you already?

[Tracy_S]

Quote:

Originally Posted by desouc Thank you ladies! I have been in touch with Mexican Wedding Photos and read about how good Eduardo is so I've booked him. But, they haven't asked for any deposit yet so I don't think it's official yet and I might just check out the other companies suggested by missbliss to compare. Tracy - did you have to put a deposit for Mexican Wedding Photos through Valeria? Would you share a link to your photos, or have you already?

Yes I did have to put a deposit down with Valeria, it was only like 100 dollars I believe, but I totally loved my photographer! As for our photos he gave me the album with all the printed ones included in the package we got, and then we have the cd's with all the extras plus the printed ones and I haven't uploaded them to any site or probably will not.. but I'm sure in a short while here my wedding will be on their website under the eldorado seaside ones.. if there ends up being a 6th entry there.. most likely that will be my wedding shots!!

[3kitties]

So I've just read all 37 pages and gotten tonnes of information! So disappointing that all of the ladies have moved on, but I'd love to get some new EDSS brides posting here again!

 

My name is kris and I'm hoping to be married at EDSS in August 2011. We haven't booked anything yet, but we consider EDSS "our" resort and there's no where else that we would consider getting married! Anyone else out there who's considering this resort for their wedding?

[GCSC212]

I'm getting married at EDSS sister resort, El Dorado Maroma. The wedding coordinators and all the extras are very similar between the resorts. I am getting married October 2010 and have been extremely happy with the planning so far. Very easy to work with and they have some great options!

[3kitties]

The Maroma looks beautiful! We've been to EDR twice and EDSS twice, but haven't yet visited the Maroma...it's in the 2012 plans!

 

We've hit a bit of a snag with the wedding planning. We just want it to be the two of us, plus our two friends from England. Unfortunately Karisma won't let us use their room nights for the 15 nights needed for the free wedding package becuase the promotion isn't valid for Europe - even though we're from Canada and we're the ones getting married! And I'm reluctant to pay the price for the silver package just to have a very simple wedding on the beach! Now I don't know what to do!!! Argghhhh. I thought a DW was less stressful!!??

[missbliss85]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3kitties The Maroma looks beautiful! We've been to EDR twice and EDSS twice, but haven't yet visited the Maroma...it's in the 2012 plans! We've hit a bit of a snag with the wedding planning. We just want it to be the two of us, plus our two friends from England. Unfortunately Karisma won't let us use their room nights for the 15 nights needed for the free wedding package becuase the promotion isn't valid for Europe - even though we're from Canada and we're the ones getting married! And I'm reluctant to pay the price for the silver package just to have a very simple wedding on the beach! Now I don't know what to do!!! Argghhhh. I thought a DW was less stressful!!??

That's so annoying to hear that they won't let you use your friends as part of the 15 room nights. When we got married there, we had a friend who was booking from Austria, and I don't remember being told that his room nights didn't count towards our total for the free package.

Are you booking through a TA? Maybe they can try and swing something for you - mine was able to get us a few extra perks included at the resort, like an upgraded room for free.