El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[ElDorado2012]

Thanks for all of the information. Can't wait for the review! We were thinking of doing koozies, but if they weren't a big hit for you, we might decide against them... Just one question - were they serving beer in the plastic cups too?
 

Originally Posted by ashbrooke3ou 

Hey Everyone!  I just got back from our honeymoon so I'm not going to write my review just yet.  I'll try to do it soon though.  Just wanted to give you all a few tips from our wedding.  We had an amazing time!  The weather was perfect the whole time we were there.  On Sunday it was overcast and I think rained for a few days after that so I feel very fortunate to have had the weather we did although it was pretty windy.  I would say as far as the cocktail, ceremony, & reception were concerned, everything that I had planned with Lomas went exactly as I wanted.  I have had some frustrations with plannnig with them along the way but it was really nice to be face-to-face with them and they were all very helpful.  I would say the only things that didn't go as planned were from the outside vendors that I used.  My dj did not follow the schedule that I had for the reception and kind of deviated from the playlist we had discussed.  It wasn't too bad and we were able to guide him back but I certainly did not want a Tupac song played 20 minutes after dinner.  haha 

 

As for welcome bags, I did these and included an itinerary, coozie, chapstick, & sunscreen.  I handed most of them out at the Welcome Cocktail that we had on Thursday night.  I actually only saw 1 coozie used the entire time.  I thought they were really cute but I don't know if the bags didn't make it back to their rooms with them that night or what.  Maybe they were using them and I just didn't notice with everything else going on.  I guess it probably depends on your guests too but if I had it to do over again, I may not have stressed so much about them.  As for the question about how the drinks are served, they mostly give you plastic cups at least at the pools anyways.  There are cans in the rooms but I don't think they ever serve bottles of beer.  Not that I saw anyways.

 

We actually went to the courthouse and got married right before we left.  To me that was just the legal part and our real wedding was in Mexico.  We actually told people because I didn't really think it was a big deal but I wish we hadn't.  It would have been hard to keep it a secret because I actually got in a little wreck on the way to the courthouse the morning we did the legal ceremony.  Whoops!  Anyways, it kind of bothered me that people already considered us married beforehand and I didn't feel like we were yet but it's not really a big deal now.  Just a feeling I got the few days before the ceremony.

 

One more suggestion that I have for you all is try to schedule any meetings that you have the first day so you can relax the rest of the time and hang out with your guests.  I had 3 outside vendors plus my meeting with the wedding coordinators.  I feel like all I did the first 2 days were meetings and run around trying to make sure things were ready so I actually did not get to go hang out with my friends and family at all during the day.  I know they all had a good time but I just wish I could have been there for more of it.

 

Anyways let me know if you have any questions and I will try to help!

 

Ashley   

 

 

 

 

 

[ElDorado2012]

I'm sorry to hear you aren't getting a response! I've been using Valeria (emailing her directly, myself) and she's been great... I wonder if you can switch??
 

Originally Posted by Undomesticgirl 

Hi Ladies,

Has anyone been dealing with Natalia? She had not been very helpful at all and she took almost 4 weeks to respond to one of my emails. I only heard back from her when I emailed the resort directly. I haven't book anything yet but we were getting ready to send our invtations but now I'm thinking we should choose another resort. We really loved this resort and wanted to book it but Lomas Travel has me leery. Hopefully one of you will have some input.

Cheers

 

[ashbrooke3ou]

We used the Gazebo 55 for the ceremony and the White Gazebo area for the reception.  I'll include a few pics below that I grabbed from some friends and family.  You can see the arrangements on the last pic.  We actually brought most of the decor with us and then Maya Floral set everything up for us and did the centerpieces.  It's hard to tell but they included some purple flowers which I did not want but it was too late once I got to the site and noticed they were in the arrangements.  Other than that I thought everything looked great. 

 

I think my favorite restaurant was La Isla.  They don't have the fondue restaurant any more but you can actually get fondue at La Isla.  I think the general consensus was that no one really like the cheese fondue though but everyone liked the beef fondue.  A lot of people really enjoyed Kampai as well.

 

We used DJ Doremixx.  I've heard nothing but good things and actually he was really good.  My only issues were the schedule of activities and timing of when certain music was playing.  I guess I should have been more clear.  I sent a list before I went down there and requested to play Frank Sinatra type songs during dinner.  They actually used the music I requested for cocktail hour during dinner which was more like Jimmy Buffet, Bob Marley, etc. and we all enjoyed it more than Sinatra which was probably a little too formal for the setting for us.  At one point during dinner they played a song called "Chug a lug", I was cringing but I guess it is a really old song that even my grandparents enjoyed so I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought.  I probably worried a little too much about what was playing because I think everyone had a great time and I don't even think anyone else noticed those things.  Well except for the quick transition to Tupac.  :-) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ashbrooke3ou]

One more thing....we actually did the Mexican Donkey Cocktail before the reception.  I wasn't so sure about having the donkey but it was a hit.  I think just about everyone got up on it and the poor thing was so tired by the time we got there.  It was great though!  I have to thank my fiance for pushing for that one though.

[TheWolferts]

Ashbrooke-

 

We are using DJ Doremixx as well. I have been working on filling out the spreadsheet they sent me when I first booked their services. It lists our the exact times you want things (first dance, garter toss, etc), so I am feeling pretty good about the timing of things. I have also been trying to think of things that we want to include on our "Do Not Play List" so I will be sure to add that "Chug a lug" song to the list, though my dad loves that song and sings it to annoy me, so he would probably get a kick out of it! Did you use the spreadsheet they provided?
 

Originally Posted by ashbrooke3ou 

We used the Gazebo 55 for the ceremony and the White Gazebo area for the reception.  I'll include a few pics below that I grabbed from some friends and family.  You can see the arrangements on the last pic.  We actually brought most of the decor with us and then Maya Floral set everything up for us and did the centerpieces.  It's hard to tell but they included some purple flowers which I did not want but it was too late once I got to the site and noticed they were in the arrangements.  Other than that I thought everything looked great. 

 

I think my favorite restaurant was La Isla.  They don't have the fondue restaurant any more but you can actually get fondue at La Isla.  I think the general consensus was that no one really like the cheese fondue though but everyone liked the beef fondue.  A lot of people really enjoyed Kampai as well.

 

We used DJ Doremixx.  I've heard nothing but good things and actually he was really good.  My only issues were the schedule of activities and timing of when certain music was playing.  I guess I should have been more clear.  I sent a list before I went down there and requested to play Frank Sinatra type songs during dinner.  They actually used the music I requested for cocktail hour during dinner which was more like Jimmy Buffet, Bob Marley, etc. and we all enjoyed it more than Sinatra which was probably a little too formal for the setting for us.  At one point during dinner they played a song called "Chug a lug", I was cringing but I guess it is a really old song that even my grandparents enjoyed so I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought.  I probably worried a little too much about what was playing because I think everyone had a great time and I don't even think anyone else noticed those things.  Well except for the quick transition to Tupac.  :-) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[murmel]

 

 

Originally Posted by ONEILL12 

 

Does anyone know how EDR serves their beer? I'm looking into koozies for our welcome bags and I'm not sure if I should get can or bottle koozies. Thanks

All the drinks at the bars were served in plastic cups, or glass in the restaurants. There are beer cans in your room. Didn't see any bottles anywhere.

 

 

 

Originally Posted by ashbrooke3ou 

Congratulations on your wedding! It looks like you had a beautiful day

 

 

 

[ElDorado2012]

We also were planning on having Sinatra-style music during dinner...Maybe that's not the best idea? Would you be able to send me (or post) your play list of music? I am just strating to organize mine...
 

Originally Posted by ashbrooke3ou 

We used the Gazebo 55 for the ceremony and the White Gazebo area for the reception.  I'll include a few pics below that I grabbed from some friends and family.  You can see the arrangements on the last pic.  We actually brought most of the decor with us and then Maya Floral set everything up for us and did the centerpieces.  It's hard to tell but they included some purple flowers which I did not want but it was too late once I got to the site and noticed they were in the arrangements.  Other than that I thought everything looked great. 

 

I think my favorite restaurant was La Isla.  They don't have the fondue restaurant any more but you can actually get fondue at La Isla.  I think the general consensus was that no one really like the cheese fondue though but everyone liked the beef fondue.  A lot of people really enjoyed Kampai as well.

 

We used DJ Doremixx.  I've heard nothing but good things and actually he was really good.  My only issues were the schedule of activities and timing of when certain music was playing.  I guess I should have been more clear.  I sent a list before I went down there and requested to play Frank Sinatra type songs during dinner.  They actually used the music I requested for cocktail hour during dinner which was more like Jimmy Buffet, Bob Marley, etc. and we all enjoyed it more than Sinatra which was probably a little too formal for the setting for us.  At one point during dinner they played a song called "Chug a lug", I was cringing but I guess it is a really old song that even my grandparents enjoyed so I guess it wasn't as bad as I thought.  I probably worried a little too much about what was playing because I think everyone had a great time and I don't even think anyone else noticed those things.  Well except for the quick transition to Tupac.  :-) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ElDorado2012]

I keep getting an error message when trying to view your photos saying I don't have the correct "permission" to see them. Does anyone know how I can get around this? Thanks!
 

Originally Posted by ElDorado2012 

We also were planning on having Sinatra-style music during dinner...Maybe that's not the best idea? Would you be able to send me (or post) your play list of music? I am just strating to organize mine...
 

 

 

[ashbrooke3ou]

No, I didn't use their spreadsheet.  I guess I misplaced it at somepoint because I'm sure they probably sent it to me.  When we met, he filled out the information but I guess I was not clear enough on the times.  We made a list of songs that we liked and kind of the genre we wanted for the cocktail and dinner but I didn't want to pick out every song because I figure he does that for a living and that's why I'm paying him so I didn't want to have to worry about it so much.  In hindsight I probably should have just spent a little bit more time on it but who knew Chug a lug would come up.  haha It's all kind of funny to me now but at the time I was not feeling it. 

 

I think Sinatra music would still be good during dinner.  I guess it depends on the mood you are going for.  For us, the beachy music was more fitting.  It made it more casual and fun to me but I don't think that would be everyone's style.  I can email you my playlist.  It is by no means very organized but you can probably use it as a starting point.

 

I'm not sure what's going on with the pics.  I can email those to you as well.

[TheWolferts]

Ashbrooke-

 

We are having our cocktail hour on the beach next to Gazebo 55 and using our own iPod docking station to play reggae/beachy music.

 

Our reception is indoors at the Salon Dorado and we were wanting a Sinatra, Louis Armstrong vibe for dinner, so I think because its indoors and less beachy, it will work out nicely.

 

I have a few specific songs that I would like him to play during the general dance portion of the evening, but other than that, I think I will just ask him to keep it to top 100 type songs, with some mix ins from "the older generation's era" for my parents and older relatives LOL.

 

I am such a spreadsheet organizer, so I will definitely be using the one DJ Doremixx provided. I found a comprehensive wedding spreadsheet outline that has kept my guest list. budget, registry/gits received, vendors info. I had to tweak it a bit to suit the needs of a DW, but I live by it!

 

 

 

Originally Posted by ashbrooke3ou 

No, I didn't use their spreadsheet.  I guess I misplaced it at somepoint because I'm sure they probably sent it to me.  When we met, he filled out the information but I guess I was not clear enough on the times.  We made a list of songs that we liked and kind of the genre we wanted for the cocktail and dinner but I didn't want to pick out every song because I figure he does that for a living and that's why I'm paying him so I didn't want to have to worry about it so much.  In hindsight I probably should have just spent a little bit more time on it but who knew Chug a lug would come up.  haha It's all kind of funny to me now but at the time I was not feeling it. 

 

I think Sinatra music would still be good during dinner.  I guess it depends on the mood you are going for.  For us, the beachy music was more fitting.  It made it more casual and fun to me but I don't think that would be everyone's style.  I can email you my playlist.  It is by no means very organized but you can probably use it as a starting point.

 

I'm not sure what's going on with the pics.  I can email those to you as well.