Las Caletas Couples ~ POST HERE!!! (**All LC Brides...PLEASE READ 1st post, red text)

[peachykeen159]

@@DisTech Congratulations on your wedding!! Did you end up doing the additional hours for the reception? Do you have pictures of your decor? In general what advice do you have for planning a wedding there? Thanks! 

[DisTech]

@@peachykeen159

I went back and forth on additional hours a million times in my head! We ended up not doing it, and the decision was perfect (all our friends are big drinkers). It turned out to be the perfect amount of time - I will say we all stayed at the same resort, so we continued the party at our resort all-inclusive club after we got back. But the change of venues was actually REALLY fun.  

 

At Las Caletas we had mariachi, fire dancers and lanterns, and I was worried those "activities" would take up too much time. But they didn't and I worked on a very detailed timeline that they nailed perfectly. The night lanterns are a MUST, people can't stop talking about them. I thought they would be an after thought, but the majority of guests thought it was the best part! 

 

I don't have all my pics back yet. But we did white chair covers, white table cloth, neutral runners with 2 flower centerpieces and candles on each table and it was gorgeous! Comments included, "This is like a celebrity wedding!" "The surprises just kept coming" "Well, this is the wedding that will ruin all future weddings. (because it was so amazing)" "Can you plan my wedding?" "I feel like we are on an episode of 'The Bachelor'" The last quote may be true, because ALL the single people found 'love' connections with each other that night. 

We also had hanging lanterns and sheer curtains in the dinner area - and I would recommend this 100%. The "early girls" day was AMAZING too. My friends can't stop talking about it. 

One other big hit were the favors, and I think it's because they were practical and re-usable. We did mini LED flashlights for extra visibility (it can be dark on the way to the bathroom and walk back). And we gave each lady a pashmina scarf for the boat ride home, that everyone raved about. I found a wholesale place that I got 20 very quality pashminas off of for under $3.50 per scarf. They went over really well, and people assumed I spent around $20 - $30 per scarf. 

Edited March 25, 2015 by DisTech

[peachykeen159]

@@DisTech Good to know about the additional hour! I was really struggling to figure out if it would be too short leaving at 10:30. I have to remember there is still that 1 hour boat ride party and we can go to the resort bar which is open until 1. I think we just need to look at the timeline they gave us again and figure out what things we can make shorter. I want to make sure we get about 2 hours on the dance floor. I hadn't thought about the lantern idea, that would be so special for everyone to do that! 

 

Decor has been so hard to sort out too when you can see everything before hand. I hate the idea of spending a ridiculous amount on something people will only see for like an hour but obviously want it to still look good. Did you bring any decor with you or did you let Las Caletas take care of it all? I'm trying to minimize what myself and the girls take over in the morning so we don't have to worry about bringing stuff back at night. I'm hoping to just have to bring the guest book for the wedding portion. Did you have a spot for wedding cards?

 

Love the idea of the wedding favours!! I've been going back and forth on what to do with that because I want to get something people will use because I hate the idea of spending all this money favours and over half get left behind at the reception. I especially love the idea of the scarf given at the end of the night!! Perfect timing and they get put to use right away.

 

How many bridesmaids did you have? I'm going to have 6 plus myself in the bridal suite so I'm worried it'll get cramped in there while everyone is trying to change and get ready? It's hard to tell from pictures how big the suite is. 

[DisTech]

The only extra decor we brought were placecard holders. We met with our planner 3 days before the wedding at our resort and she offered to take favors and the holders with her that day - but we opted to bring them with us the day of. 

 

I only had two bridesmaids, but I had 2 other girls join us, so there were a total of 5 of us in the bridal suite. We had massages and hair and make up, so that took up a lot of our day. The suite is gorgeous, and not too small, I think you will be okay. There is a Jacuzzi, hammock and table outside. Start filling the Jacuzzi the second you get there because it takes a long time to fill. You can also go down to the beach and relax and paddle board and kayak if you want, but we loved the suite so much we just stayed in there.

[peachykeen159]

@@DisTech Good to know! So excited now after hearing about your experience! Just realized you guys stayed at Secrets/Now Amber. We'll be staying at Secrets as well, does the disco actually close down at 1? I'm hoping if people are still in there they let things keep going. 

[DisTech]

Yes, Desires closes at 1am, even if the place is packed. They stop serving all alcohol at 1am. My group was a bunch of night owls... so around 12:45 everyone ordered two drinks and we took them to the lobby to continue talking. 

 

Some people went to the downtown area where the clubs are open much later. 

Edited March 29, 2015 by DisTech

[peachykeen159]

@@DisTech Thanks so much, you have been a big help!!!

[peachykeen159]

Did anyone not use the bus offered by Adventure Weddings to pick up and drop off guests at the Marina? It's looking like we're going to have around 80 people at our wedding which means at $13.50 USD a person, we're paying over $1000 just for a bus which seems crazy to me? Maybe that's normal for that area? Did anyone else find another economic way to transport their guests? Thanks!

[maggiegonzalez]

Hello LC brides! I am getting married December 12 at Las Caletas and am so excited! I am wondering, if you had any advice about the photographers. Did you/ are you going to use the photographer from Adventure Weddings, or are you bringing another one? Thanks! 

[peachykeen159]

I'll be using Adventure Weddings because I just feel it will be a lot easier. With photography being so expensive in general, I would hate to have to pay the $500 outside photography fee.