Ocean Turquesa & Coral Brides?

[BeeJewell]

Welcome and congrats!!  I think it took me about 6 months or so to book the resort.  I exhausted my travel agent, getting rates from almost every resort (and finding something wrong with almost all of them).  Once I found this resort I knew this was the one.  And I am getting married on the rooftop terrace which I think is a gorgeous setting for a wedding ceremony.  I'm very happy with my decision, and I wish you all the best with the big decisions you will be making!  Don't worry, once you've picked a resort and have the deposits paid for your block of rooms it all gets SO much easier!

Do you have pictures of the rooftop terrace?  There is so much mention of "terraces" at this resort. Ive got a handle on the lobby terrace, is the rooftop terrace the only other one? Also wondering who your wedding coordinator is?  ALthough i havent booked yet vanesa has been emailing me.

[MrsSheppardToBe]

Do you have pictures of the rooftop terrace?  There is so much mention of "terraces" at this resort. Ive got a handle on the lobby terrace, is the rooftop terrace the only other one? Also wondering who your wedding coordinator is?  ALthough i havent booked yet vanesa has been emailing me.

 

There are 2 terraces - there is the rooftop terrace (which is where ceremonies are done) and the lobby terrace (where they hold receptions).  I do have quite a few pictures of both terraces, which I can definitely email you!  Just send me a message with your email address and I'll send the pics over

 

And I'm not sure who my wedding coordinator is - My emails have been replied to by Cynthia, Pamela, Ana, and Vanessa!  Lol

[omontes]

Hi girls!

 

We hope you had a great weekend, we're so happy to write for you on this topic, please take a look at our next picture:

http://www.OctavioMontes.com

 

 

 

[April2015]

Hi Everyone,

I've been reading this forum as much as I could. We just planned our wedding for Jan 2ed - 15th 2015! 
We're very excited. If anyone has picture they could send of the terrace, I'd greatly appreciate it. 

[email protected]

 

Thanks

 

April 

My friend who was married here used them and was disappointed. They do not MC (announce anything, keep order to the reception, etc.) they basically just play the music, and your music, at that. I have booked DJ Bob for our wedding in May. He was actually cheaper than the resort Dj and he caters to crowd interaction, MC'ing, etc. I spoke to him on the phone for about an hour one night while going over the details of the wedding, and I was impressed- he's very funny! I know that we made the right choice going with him. If you want his info, his website is: www.weddingdjrivieramaya.com

Hi there,

 

I was just wondering if you had to pay a fee to have him come into the resort for the day and an extra fee for not using the resorts DJ? Thanks!

 

April 

Edited March 24, 2014 by April2015

[April2015]

Hello, all! I have been meaning to post in this forum for quite awhile; as I've spent countless hours reading through the thread, taking notes, and reading everyone's experiences. I booked our wedding at OCT back in July, and our wedding date is set for May 16th, 2014. I am pretty relaxed about planning, as I'm impeccably organized and knew we had so much time to plan everything out. Now, we are 6 months out, and I think the majority of the planning is done. From the other posts, it seems Ana is hard to get a response from, but it has never gone more than two days without a response. I have only asked her very straight forward questions that she can reply to simply, so perhaps that is it. I'm not quite sure what this post should entail,but I know I had A LOT of questions in the beginning. I wouldn't even say I'm a "planny" person, but I was over analyzing every detail, I've since let go of that stress. My MOH's sister was married here in MAY, so having someone who went through it was very helpful. Her advice to me was to not go overboard with the tiniest of details, because the setting for the wedding is absolutely gorgeous, and that I need to relax, and realize that it all does come together, and honestly, probably could be done in a week's time, honestly. BUT, I've started really focusing on the planning about a month ago. I mean, I JUST bought my dress a few days ago (I was scolded for waiting so long... lol)  I never saw myself as an actually girly girl who would get so into this, but I have, and have loved it. So, here is what we have figured out so far:

 

Ceremony will be on the beach. Now, I am just going to buy sashes for the chairs (mint green with a starfish on the back) since it is cheaper than renting them for $3ish/ea. I was told to move my ceremony from 5 to 6, by the sister of my MOH. She was married right around the same exact time and said the sun was just a liiiiitle too bright at 5, but would have been perfect at 6. So we are doing that. We toyed with the idea of a cocktail hour, but after reading everyone's reviews, we've realized that everyone can hang in the lobby bar, as our reception will start an hour later on in the lobby terrace, so they will be just outside the door. Saves SO much money and they will have something to do while we take our photos. We are not doing one of those "first look" things, so we'll need to get all of our pictures done withint that time. Reception will start around 7:30, and we extended it by an hour, for a total of 4 hours.

 

There were two things that we decided we would splurge on:

 

*An excellent photographer. I've seen the photos taken by the resident photog, and I was not impressed at all. In fact, I'm pretty sure my cell phone could take better pictures (no offense to anyone that has used them) I'm just saying, you will have these pictures for a lifetime, it's worth it. We hired Samuel Luna, who has been an absolute pleasure to work with so far, and his work is outstanding. We scheduled a Trash the Dress session with him for the next day (it was included in the package we paid for.)

 

*A DJ. Now, I know that a hot topic in here is just using iPod to play your own playlist, and I thought about that as well, and am sure it would turn out just fine. The DJ at the hotel, as far as I can tell, doesn't MC, he simply plays YOUR playlist for you, and does not interact. This is supposed to be something that everyone will remember for a lifetime, and it was important for us to have someone to handle the ebb and flow of the evening. We don't want to worry about someone introducing us, or our first dance, etc...and we really believe it will help keep the order of things. We are giving him a list of 30ish songs, I could have easily made my own list of 100's, and 100's, but someone that can read the crowd, keep things energetic, get involved, to us, it's worth it. We are bringing glow sticks and Thundersticks with to give to him, to incorporate into the party. Also, his rate was VERY affordable. I spoke with him on the phone for nearly 45 minutest last night, and laughed nearly the entire time. GREAT guy-- DJ Bob (http://weddingdjrivieramaya.com/)

 

Now...the part I hate! The fees! For a 2014 wedding, the hotel is now charging $500 for outside vendors. And they told me I need to pay an additional $200 fee the DJ, as this serves as an "energy" fee. I think it's completely ridiculous. Add to that, an outsider fee, to allow them onto the grounds for the day, which is, I believe, $80/ PP, Per day. I have two photographers coming in, and my DJ, so you can see my dilemma. I'm going to get them rooms for the night, which will be cheaper than paying all of the fees. However, Ana emailed me today saying that need to stay a minimum of three nights, which, I'm sorry, is BS. You can book rooms by the night online, and since they are having dinner with us, I have fully considered them my guests, so... I'm getting around this and not dealing with this noise!

 

That is really the only complaint I have so far about working with the hotel, or with my planner, Ana. If anyone has questions about planning, I know I have not gone through this yet...but I think I have it all pretty much covered so if you're wedding is around the same time as mine, and you're freaking out about anything, you're not alone. More than likely I have freaked out about it as well. I feel very confident now, though, that everything will run smoothly.

 

We are bringing items with us (menus, programs, welcome bags, place cards, table #'s, paper lanterns, string lights, party items for the reception dance, personalized Patron bottles to do a shot together, and some digital photo frames, guest book, I THINK that is it. We aren't bringing any huge items for center pieces, or lanterns, etc.  But these are all small details that I'm sure nobody cares to hear about : )

 

I work online all day, so I've literally been to this board 100's of times, and thought I would put my two cents in, in case anyone is interested in chatting!

 

Hope everyone's wedding planning is coming along nicely and hope to exchange tips in the coming months as we prepare!! Eeeek! I'm so excited!

 

 

Sarah

 

 

Hi Sarah,

 

I was just wondering what the update was with your photographers and DJ.

Are you just going to pay the fees or make them guests and pay for a room?

 

Curious…. and thanks!

[Leslied]

Question for past brides and future brides...

 

I was wondering what are people's thoughts on tipping the wedding coordinator...I've read a few comments on here about this but, nothing that was very specific.  Do you intend to tip and if so, what would be a reasonnable amount.  

 

My wedding is coming up in 4 weeks!! Yikes!! Im so excited!! ))

 

Leslie

[SarahWember]

Hi Sarah,

 

I was just wondering what the update was with your photographers and DJ.

Are you just going to pay the fees or make them guests and pay for a room?

 

Curious…. and thanks!

I booked them all rooms. All in all, I think it ended up costing just shy of $800. For 2 videographers, dj, and 2 photographers...it would have been over $1,000 just for the outside vendor fee, then the daily fee per person. This saved me a lot of money and I'm very glad that I decided to go this route. The DJ has been really cool to work with, and is working with us on a wedding entrance to the Chicago Bulls lineup (we are from Chicago)...it's just, much more personalized and stress-free not having to worry about MC'ing and DJ'ing our own event. Good luck with your planning!! Let me know if you have any questions, mine is coming up in less than 1.5 months, eee!!!!

Question for past brides and future brides...

 

I was wondering what are people's thoughts on tipping the wedding coordinator...I've read a few comments on here about this but, nothing that was very specific.  Do you intend to tip and if so, what would be a reasonnable amount.  

 

My wedding is coming up in 4 weeks!! Yikes!! Im so excited!! ))

 

Leslie

My take on this is that you should tip them, I of course will. You think, they're your contact there before you get there, and do a lot to pull things together, so I think it's probably good practice to tip them. I k now that a bride I know gave the money to her mom to go tip the coordinator and her mom gave it to the wrong girl on accident and it was sort-of a bit of a mess. HHAHa. I was told that they do expect to get receive a tip.

[omontes]

 

Hi girls!

 

We hope you had a great weekend, we're so happy to write for you on this topic, please take a look at our next picture:

http://www.OctavioMontes.com

 

_A5A8980.JPG

 

Hi Everyone,

I've been reading this forum as much as I could. We just planned our wedding for Jan 2ed - 15th 2015! 

We're very excited. If anyone has picture they could send of the terrace, I'd greatly appreciate it. 

[email protected]

 

Thanks

 

April 

Hi there,

 

I was just wondering if you had to pay a fee to have him come into the resort for the day and an extra fee for not using the resorts DJ? Thanks!

 

April 

[April2015]

I booked them all rooms. All in all, I think it ended up costing just shy of $800. For 2 videographers, dj, and 2 photographers...it would have been over $1,000 just for the outside vendor fee, then the daily fee per person. This saved me a lot of money and I'm very glad that I decided to go this route. The DJ has been really cool to work with, and is working with us on a wedding entrance to the Chicago Bulls lineup (we are from Chicago)...it's just, much more personalized and stress-free not having to worry about MC'ing and DJ'ing our own event. Good luck with your planning!! Let me know if you have any questions, mine is coming up in less than 1.5 months, eee!!!!

My take on this is that you should tip them, I of course will. You think, they're your contact there before you get there, and do a lot to pull things together, so I think it's probably good practice to tip them. I k now that a bride I know gave the money to her mom to go tip the coordinator and her mom gave it to the wrong girl on accident and it was sort-of a bit of a mess. HHAHa. I was told that they do expect to get receive a tip.

 

Sarah,

 

Thanks for getting back to me. 

Your wedding is so close! That's so exciting! Please post photos when you return.

We are wanting to hire an outside photographer for sure and a  videographers. Who did you get? 

I sent an e-mail off to Ana the WC to book our exact date of the wedding while were there and I still haven't heard back. But once we find out the exact date I'm going to start booking people. Where are you having your wedding in the resort? Are you doing a reception?

 

April 

 

There are 2 terraces - there is the rooftop terrace (which is where ceremonies are done) and the lobby terrace (where they hold receptions).  I do have quite a few pictures of both terraces, which I can definitely email you!  Just send me a message with your email address and I'll send the pics over

 

And I'm not sure who my wedding coordinator is - My emails have been replied to by Cynthia, Pamela, Ana, and Vanessa!  Lol

 

Hi Jenna,

 

Would you be able to send me pictures of the terraces? [email protected]

Are you having your wedding on the terrace? 

[SarahWember]

Sarah,

 

Thanks for getting back to me. 

Your wedding is so close! That's so exciting! Please post photos when you return.

We are wanting to hire an outside photographer for sure and a  videographers. Who did you get? 

I sent an e-mail off to Ana the WC to book our exact date of the wedding while were there and I still haven't heard back. But once we find out the exact date I'm going to start booking people. Where are you having your wedding in the resort? Are you doing a reception?

 

April 

 

 

Hi Jenna,

 

Would you be able to send me pictures of the terraces? [email protected]

Are you having your wedding on the terrace? 

April,

 

Thanks! We're getting excited. For my photographer, I am using Samuel Luna... ( http://www.samuellunablog.com/ ) And he is doing a trash the dress session with us the next day as well. For videographer, we are using Gallardo Films (http://gallardofilms.com/blog/ )

 

Our ceremony is on the beach, and the extended reception on the lobby terrace. I have A LOT of pictures that I've colleceted from other girl's weddings that I've met through here, I will email you later today. I have a lot, a lot of info so if you have any questions, you can always email me at: sarah8196@@gmail.com

 

Talk to you soon!