RIU free wedding -- cost for extra people

[kdnicholer21]

I have a question because I was originally going with the Royal package with 40 people and i might end up having 60 people instead. If I go with the free package will they still do the decorating for 60. Like I plan to get the white chairs ($50), will they ask for money to set all of that up. And as far the dinner (semi-private) will it be a problem to have all 60 people there. The 60 people package is like $2200, will I spend that much in BASIC upgrades. Ill send chandelyn a email and one i receive her answer ill let you all know what she said. If you have advice please give it!

[SSNM]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdnicholer21 I have a question because I was originally going with the Royal package with 40 people and i might end up having 60 people instead. If I go with the free package will they still do the decorating for 60. Like I plan to get the white chairs ($50), will they ask for money to set all of that up. And as far the dinner (semi-private) will it be a problem to have all 60 people there. The 60 people package is like $2200, will I spend that much in BASIC upgrades. Ill send chandelyn a email and one i receive her answer ill let you all know what she said. If you have advice please give it!

Don't they charge extra for white chairs anyway, or is that just for the chair covers? I believe the brown chairs come with the packages at ROR. If the white chairs are free then they will accomodate for your group for free. If not, then it is whatever the per person charge multiplied by 60 people.

As for the semi-private dinner, if it is like the Dominican Republic, they should accomodate the semi-private dinner for everyone in your group so long as it doesn't surpass the maximums for the restaurant (I think TA Maureen said the max was 50 people at one of the restaurants there). You would have to clarify with the WC.

[sherryl_joy]

I just received an email today to confirm my date for ROR but they told me since I was only having the reception there and not the ceremony, I would still have to pay for a Royal or Caprice wedding package. I would not qualify for a free wedding package because I have about 50-60 guests.

 

Plus they would charge $500 for two hours or $1000 USD for four hours to have the reception at Plantation and $10/person for open bar. Not only that but DJ is $150/hour but dinner seating is only 6:30 or 8:30pm and would have to end by 11pm? It just doesn't seem right!!

[SSNM]

Is that a semi-private reception you are having? If it is not, then that doesn't sound right at all. If it is private, I can see the extra charges that they are putting on. If it is semi private, I would not pay a penny more than the caprice package price and even then, I would only pay the cheaper symbolic ceremony price.

[kdnicholer21]

This is very confusing. You guys are saying people tell you there is no max for the free package but I just emailed Chadelyn and she told me the opposite. Does anyone have the email you can forward to me. I told here there were lots of women asking this question on this forum and we should all be getting one answer and not two differnt answers. This is What she sent to me:

 

As per the website the Free package for 2010 accommodates a maximum of 20 guests.

Regards

Chandlyn

 

Kd Robbins wrote:

you have confused me. I was told by the riu weddings that the free package has no maximum number of guests but we will have to upgrade, is that correct

[kdnicholer21]

I actually do understand that and never thought about it that way because she is straight forward. What I did was contact the RIu weddings and they sort of explained it to me. From my understanding if you book the free wedding and lets say have 45-50 you have to book the private reception is that correct?

[josee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdnicholer21 I actually do understand that and never thought about it that way because she is straight forward. What I did was contact the RIu weddings and they sort of explained it to me. From my understanding if you book the free wedding and lets say have 45-50 you have to book the private reception is that correct?

That's not what I was told. I was told that even if you have 45-50 guests, you can pay book the free wedding package and pay for the extra. I was told that you do not have to pay for a private reception if you don't want one. They offer the semi-private reception with the free wedding package.

[kdnicholer21]

This is exactly what I am talking about, the information is confusing. I was told that see the semi private reception comes with the free package but if you have more than 20 people you have to book the private one for $500. I guess the only thing left to do is see once we get there!

[josee]

And bring lots of money!!!!

[kdnicholer21]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TA Maureen If they are keeping the same policies in 2010 that they did for 2009 wedding receptions then this is the way it works: You can book the Free Wedding Package as long as you have the minimum # of rooms booked to qualify (this has been increased to 10 rooms for 2010). The Free Package only accomodates cake and sparkling wine for 20 guests. You can pay for a larger cake and more bottles of sparkling wine for additonal guests. The free semi-private dinner in Mammee Bay Steakhouse can accomodate 50 guests. Anything over that requires that a private reception be booked and paid for. The bottom line is you need to get in writing from your WC what you are booking. It doesn't really matter what anybody posts here. You need to decide what you want and ask in a direct way if there is any additional charge for it and then print and save that email! If you are working with a DW TA they can do this for you!!!!

Thank you so much for your advice. I have received the email from the people who book their riu weddings for you (located in mexico) and they told me that I can have the semi private wedding. If I get to the riu and there is any problems I will show them the email. If they still dont budge I will have to do the private reception I guess. My only problem is should I really wait until I get there to see if they will honor what I have been told or just schedule the private reception just in case.