Grand Riviera/Sunset Princess Resort Review & Pics!! Lots of Pics!!

[SuzyQ76]

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Originally Posted by gowiththeflow Thanks for the great review! The gazebo pictures are so beautiful. We went to the resort in Oct and loved it! I was a little confused...did you do the private or semi-private? If you did semi- do you remember how much pp it was for totally private? Sorry, I just wasn't clear! I received some info from the resort, but unfortunately they did not include and private reception info - the main thing I really need!!

Hey!!
We did the semi private option, so there was no minimum amount of people and it cost $45 USD per person...the private option is a 40 person minimum and it cost $100 per person, but you get the WHOLE restaurant to yourself and it is absolutely amazing.

If you need the semi private and private options just send me your email and I'll send you the info I have!

Hope this helps a little bit!

Suzy )

[SuzyQ76]

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Originally Posted by Lizg Hi Suzy, congrats and awesome review, definitely puts my fears at rest (I'm getting married there on 11/26/10). Unfortunately for me, the semi-private option for the thai beach club is not an option because it's closed on fridays I was wondering, did you end up doing a first dance, and if so where? Did you go to the lobby and would you reommend doing it that way? I'm entertaining the idea of getting the private gala dinner so this way i can do a first dance there etc...but it definitely doesn't look as nice as the thai beach club more of a conference room look Any suggestions based on your stay there? Thanks! Liz.

Hey Liz,

You will have a blast!! We did not do a first dance. But we did see a lot of people go to the courtyard bar for their dance and it was really nice, and really packed with people!! The courtyard is a popular place to be at night, it's where the live shows happen nightly...and there is usually live music nightly too - the lobby doesn't have music so there wouldn't be anywhere to dance.

I think the gala dinner would be really nice, and you would have the whole room to yourself, so you could do speeches and dancing, whatever you want - just check to make sure that you don't have to pay for drinks to be set up, I don't think there's a bar there and from what I understood you have to pay a per person drink charge that adds $$'s to your dinner. Then there is always the beach party too, if you wanted to pay for the private option...but that's expensive, $85 per person with a 40 person minimum...I know this may sound really stupid, but is there any way you might be able to change your wedding day to Thurs? have you sent out invites etc...It might be worth seeing if you can change things and see if the Thai Beach is avail for the Thurs - just a thought...

I don't think I helped your decision any, but if you have any questions or need any more info just let me know.

Suzy )

[Lizg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuzyQ76 Hey Liz, You will have a blast!! We did not do a first dance. But we did see a lot of people go to the courtyard bar for their dance and it was really nice, and really packed with people!! The courtyard is a popular place to be at night, it's where the live shows happen nightly...and there is usually live music nightly too - the lobby doesn't have music so there wouldn't be anywhere to dance. I think the gala dinner would be really nice, and you would have the whole room to yourself, so you could do speeches and dancing, whatever you want - just check to make sure that you don't have to pay for drinks to be set up, I don't think there's a bar there and from what I understood you have to pay a per person drink charge that adds $$'s to your dinner. Then there is always the beach party too, if you wanted to pay for the private option...but that's expensive, $85 per person with a 40 person minimum...I know this may sound really stupid, but is there any way you might be able to change your wedding day to Thurs? have you sent out invites etc...It might be worth seeing if you can change things and see if the Thai Beach is avail for the Thurs - just a thought... I don't think I helped your decision any, but if you have any questions or need any more info just let me know. Suzy )

Hi Suzy,funny that you mention changing the dates because I've been considering doing just that!! Even though we've already sent out our invites but I couldn't do it on thursday since a lot of people are getting there on thursday and I think saturday was already booked which is why we went with friday i think...but it wouldn't hurt to ask my wedding coordinator, maybe it's available! Good point about the drinks for the gala dinner, I assumed they were included, I should def double check!!
Thanks again Suzy for taking the time to answer my questions, you rock!

[Lizg]

Hi Suzy,funny that you mention changing the dates because I've been considering doing just that!! Even though we've already sent out our invites but I couldn't do it on thursday since a lot of people are getting there on thursday and I think saturday was already booked which is why we went with friday i think...but it wouldn't hurt to ask my wedding coordinator, maybe it's available! Good point about the drinks for the gala dinner, I assumed they were included, I should def double check!!

 

I meant to ask you...you mention the courtyard bar has live music everyday...what type of live music? do they play salsa & merengue or what kind of music or does it change? I had asked my coordinator and she said that they typically play slow relaxed music!! I hope they play fun music too, I mean after all it IS mexico and it SHOULD be lively!! So what's your take on the live music there? What about the shows are they any good?

 

I also heard there was some flamenco show at one of the restaurants, did you see it? And did you eat at Mamma Mia or La Hacienda...which do you think is better? I was thinking of having one of those as my rehearsal dinner if I do a private gala dinner.

 

Thanks again Suzy for taking the time to answer my questions, you rock!

[SuzyQ76]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lizg Hi Suzy,funny that you mention changing the dates because I've been considering doing just that!! Even though we've already sent out our invites but I couldn't do it on thursday since a lot of people are getting there on thursday and I think saturday was already booked which is why we went with friday i think...but it wouldn't hurt to ask my wedding coordinator, maybe it's available! Good point about the drinks for the gala dinner, I assumed they were included, I should def double check!! I meant to ask you...you mention the courtyard bar has live music everyday...what type of live music? do they play salsa & merengue or what kind of music or does it change? I had asked my coordinator and she said that they typically play slow relaxed music!! I hope they play fun music too, I mean after all it IS mexico and it SHOULD be lively!! So what's your take on the live music there? What about the shows are they any good? I also heard there was some flamenco show at one of the restaurants, did you see it? And did you eat at Mamma Mia or La Hacienda...which do you think is better? I was thinking of having one of those as my rehearsal dinner if I do a private gala dinner. Thanks again Suzy for taking the time to answer my questions, you rock!

Hey Liz!
No prob with answering your questions, I know I had a trillion before I left, so I'm just glad I can help out and put other concerns to rest!

I think one night a week, not sure which night, they have a live Mariachi Band, which was awesome!!! Most the other nights, it's pretty slow relaxed music, these two people, one female singer and a guy that plays the keyboard and sings backup, and they have a VERY SPECIFIC short list of music that they can do. You hear a lot of the same songs played nightly...Hotel California...80's soft rock-ish...there is a list they will let you look at to request a song, but if it's not on their list they won't play it - I think because of not knowing anything else! I think one night they actually had salsa and were teaching people...but I missed that night.
The shows are good, and *funny*, they put A LOT of work into them, the costumes, the lip syncing and hair and makeup - we actually only went to one show so I can't really comment on them all! It's entertainment, we didn't really hear a lot of people complaining, some may have applied the term "cheesy" lol
We didn't see the flamenco show, totally wished we would have, heard it was good - and we didn't even get to eat at Mamma Mia or La Hacienda!!!
It was a FAST week, so my one piece of advice...scratch that make that 2 pieces of advice:
*learn to say NO to family and friends on YOU trying to coordinate everything.
*stay 10 days to 2 weeks if you can!!! 7 days + a wedding with a ton of needy guests is not enough to get full use of all the amenities on this resort!!!

Most of our group really LOVED Las Olas...and really I'm not sure about the rest, sorry I can't help you there! I didn't even try Las Olas, the only one's I tried were:
La Valqueria, really good, everyone liked it (that was our rehersal)
Miso - again really good, but that was a regular night so not a set menu...

OMG I think that's it, time just went soooooooo fast!!
Any other questions don't hesitate to ask!!
Good Luck!!
Suzy )

[ccm]

What is the better time for a wedding in the gazebo, 2 pm or 3 pm? We are planning to have our reception in the Thai Beach Club (semi-private) and I think that starts at 6 pm.

[SuzyQ76]

It all depends on how many pics you're going to take...if you want lots of time for pics, then I'd say choose 2 pm, that's what we did and I didn't find there was an excessively long wait in between, like I said most of the time was eaten up with pics and socializing and having some drinks. If you're going to do a cocktail hour, definitely pick the 2 pm option so that you and hubby can enjoy the drinks too and then do pics.

But I still think you would have lots of time with the 3 pm option, I don't think that was avail when I booked or I prob would have picked 3 pm.

Sorry not a definite answer, hope this helps a bit!!

[ccm]

Thanks for the reply Suzy, it helps. Also who did you use for a photographer?

[kryst1012]

Hi there, I'm considering the Grand Riviera, but have concerns about the beach. I don't mind sea weed on the shore or anything, but other resorts have talked about needing to wear beach shoes due to the rocks. Another resort I'm seriously considering has some coral reefs or something nearby, so there aren't many waves.

 

I'm more concerned for the times other than my wedding - I'd hate for people to have to be at the pool if they wanted the beach...

[kristy1980]

Hi Suzy! Just wondering about photography - is there a resort photographer or did you bring someone in to take your pictures? I can't seem to find any pricing for this. Thanks for all of your info!