El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[Mamzaleg]

Hi everyone, I am so excited to announce that I have signed my contract! Ill be getting married at the El Dorado Royale April 5, 2014! With that being only 8 months away I'd love any advice or feedback from current or past EDR brides! We are estimating 80-100 guests and have reserved the white gazebo beach area for the reception. I was down at EDR last week and it was by far my favorite out of the 8 I visited. A few questions, Are you guys using the resort DJ? Florist? Spa for hair and make up? If so, where can I find the preferred vendor list? Any other ideas, advice etc is much appreciated!! Very excited to start the planning process! Thank you!

[AllieH]

congratulations!!!!! EDR is a beautiful resort, and the white gazebo will make an amazing setting for your wedding.

 

the official EDR thread lists most of the preferred vendors, and choices for planning/customizing your wedding. the first post lists the topics, and also links to each post to make it easier to navigate and find the info you're looking for. I tried to organize and explain it a little better than Lomas Weddings website does (which has all of the official options & pricing).

 

We used the resort's DJ (DJ All Music) for our wedding last November, and had no complaints. We really had a great time with them.

 

My mom & I also used the spa for our updo's on my wedding day - also very happy with those services (I also did a rehearsal for my hair).

 

We didn't use the make up services, or the florists - I brought fake flowers instead. That said, the flowers I've seen from EDR have been gorgeous (with the except of poor Jen's!). If you stick with their flower selections/availability, you'll be good. There are tons of flower examples on the Lomas weddings website.

 

 

Originally Posted by Mamzaleg 

Hi everyone,

I am so excited to announce that I have signed my contract! Ill be getting married at the El Dorado Royale April 5, 2014! With that being only 8 months away I'd love any advice or feedback from current or past EDR brides! We are estimating 80-100 guests and have reserved the white gazebo beach area for the reception. I was down at EDR last week and it was by far my favorite out of the 8 I visited.

A few questions, Are you guys using the resort DJ? Florist? Spa for hair and make up? If so, where can I find the preferred vendor list?

Any other ideas, advice etc is much appreciated!! Very excited to start the planning process!

Thank you!

[jnitschke]

Y

congratulations!!!!! EDR is a beautiful resort, and the white gazebo will make an amazing setting for your wedding. the official EDR thread lists most of the preferred vendors, and choices for planning/customizing your wedding. the first post lists the topics, and also links to each post to make it easier to navigate and find the info you're looking for. I tried to organize and explain it a little better than Lomas Weddings website does (which has all of the official options & pricing). We used the resort's DJ (DJ All Music) for our wedding last November, and had no complaints. We really had a great time with them. My mom & I also used the spa for our updo's on my wedding day - also very happy with those services (I also did a rehearsal for my hair). We didn't use the make up services, or the florists - I brought fake flowers instead. That said, the flowers I've seen from EDR have been gorgeous (with the except of poor Jen's!). If you stick with their flower selections/availability, you'll be good. There are tons of flower examples on the Lomas weddings website. Yeah, to follow up on what Allie said, if you pick out flowers from the choices they give you or don't try to get too crazy with your flower choices, you'll be fine. Just don't get the blue dendrobium orchids, I asked from them special and it wasn't what I expected. Also, I say don't worry about the flowers they just need to look nice in pictures. In the end I really regretted spending so much on them. The simple $60 bouquet they made for my MOH would have been fine. I really didn't need anything more than that, and definitely not the big thing I ordered. As far as hair and make up at the Spa, I loved my hair and makeup. My stylist was Vicky and she did an awesome job. I'm also glad I did the rehearsal the day before. It made things easier on the day of the wedding to not have to worry. Everything was perfect with the look we created. If you want to PM your email to me I can give you some close up photos, or if you scroll back few posts I put up some pictures. Congrats and have fun planning!

[amanda50388]

We did the white gazebo as well, it turned out perfect, below I posted a picture. Also, we had fresh flowers for our wedding day and I was very pleased with how they turned out and looked with all the bridesmaids and I. The girl's had the smaller version then me and it complimented the dresses and color scheme we had going on.  I did use the spa to get my hair and make-up done, but never did a rehearsal for my hair and was in love with how they did my hair and make-up for the day of our wedding.  El Dorado is seriously an amazing resort and we were so pleased with how everything turned out we had no issues which made it that more special for us. Hope this helps and best of luck with planning!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mamzaleg 

Hi everyone,

I am so excited to announce that I have signed my contract! Ill be getting married at the El Dorado Royale April 5, 2014! With that being only 8 months away I'd love any advice or feedback from current or past EDR brides! We are estimating 80-100 guests and have reserved the white gazebo beach area for the reception. I was down at EDR last week and it was by far my favorite out of the 8 I visited.

A few questions, Are you guys using the resort DJ? Florist? Spa for hair and make up? If so, where can I find the preferred vendor list?

Any other ideas, advice etc is much appreciated!! Very excited to start the planning process!

Thank you!

[jackiep]

I am talking 2013!!!! 

I am leaving the regular gazebo white linens, but did spring for two hanging corsages that I am going to reuse at the reception. I bought orange chair sashes from the tablecloth.com website that everyone talks about on this thread (sorry I am at work and do not have the exact site). They were $.59 and I got enough to cover the chairs at the ceremony and the reception. I am not using chair covers so it will just be the orange sashes at the ceremony.I have not decided if I am doing some sort of fan/program or just a program yet.

At the reception we have 6 floating candles in the pool and 6 strings of lights around the pole. Keeping the white linens on the tables just adding the orange chair sashes. 

I will be using the two hanging corsages and my bouquet as centerpieces for 3 tables which just leaves one table that I need to come up with something for. We are having a sweetheart table and I do not feel like it is necessary for us to have a centerpiece (more room for drinks!). We are also just using the sound system. The playlist was a great thing to give the future husband!

Due to the small group we are having, I decided to just have people look for their names on their place card holders. (This also allows me to control where everyone sits as there might be some friction....) So no sign in table to decorate.

Our colors are orange, turquoise and fuchsia. We are doing welcome bags so I decided to put vintage postcards (my future mother-in-law has been scouring thrift shops) in each bag and will ask everyone to write a message rather than do a sign-in book. We can then put the postcards in a photo album for a personal keepsake.

I think that about covers it. We talked about doing more but after seeing all the pictures on this thread we went with simple is better.

 

You?

[mstigger]

Good morning EDR past and future brides! I am in need of a few opinions from you guys. My new husbands mother has wanted to host an informal type of AHR for us since we tied the knot in April.

However, there hasn't really been much time due to relocating myself from SC to WV and both of my boys to their respective colleges. We finally were able to pick a place and the date. Sept 21 at a picnic shelter in a local park with a playground nearby, etc. The date is actually exactly 5 months from the actual wedding date and I didn't feel it was necessary but his mom really wants to do this for us. Now here's my dilemma.......we combined 2 households, so we have plenty of dishes, pots, pans, etc, etc but we did just buy an older house that needs quite a bit of work. His mom wants us to register at places like Bed, Bath & Beyond and/or Target but we just don't need things like that......we need 2x4's and shower doors, etc. So his mom suggested listing that we are registered at Lowes......which would be great if it were possible. So should we just leave that off and let people ask if they are so inclined to bring a gift? We are not expecting gifts, but I'm sure some people will bring them. Ok and lastly, what type of informal invite would be good to use? I did say that if she wants to do this I am NOT doing any of the work.....I did ALL the work for the wedding at EDR......does that seem unreasonable or rude? It's not meant to be, it's just that no matter how simple you try to make a "picnic" it becomes a HUGE ordeal!!

Thanks ladies!!

[TheWolferts]

I think its a great idea to "register" at Lowes! Try this website http://www.myregistry.com/ I think you can "pin" items from any store to the list. If this particular site wont do that, I know there are a few out there.

 

My MIL also wanted to host an AHR, but my husband had been to another couples AHR and he didnt like the feel of celebrating twice. Plus our families live so far apart that his family would be the only people that could attend, so my husband didnt want the AHR to feel "all about him."

 

I keep prodding my hubby for a 5 year vow renewal! Less than 4 years to go

 

 

 

Originally Posted by mstigger 

Good morning EDR past and future brides! I am in need of a few opinions from you guys. My new husbands mother has wanted to host an informal type of AHR for us since we tied the knot in April.

However, there hasn't really been much time due to relocating myself from SC to WV and both of my boys to their respective colleges. We finally were able to pick a place and the date. Sept 21 at a picnic shelter in a local park with a playground nearby, etc. The date is actually exactly 5 months from the actual wedding date and I didn't feel it was necessary but his mom really wants to do this for us. Now here's my dilemma.......we combined 2 households, so we have plenty of dishes, pots, pans, etc, etc but we did just buy an older house that needs quite a bit of work. His mom wants us to register at places like Bed, Bath & Beyond and/or Target but we just don't need things like that......we need 2x4's and shower doors, etc. So his mom suggested listing that we are registered at Lowes......which would be great if it were possible. So should we just leave that off and let people ask if they are so inclined to bring a gift? We are not expecting gifts, but I'm sure some people will bring them. Ok and lastly, what type of informal invite would be good to use? I did say that if she wants to do this I am NOT doing any of the work.....I did ALL the work for the wedding at EDR......does that seem unreasonable or rude? It's not meant to be, it's just that no matter how simple you try to make a "picnic" it becomes a HUGE ordeal!!

Thanks ladies!!

[mstigger]

Thank you for that site, what a great idea!!!

 

I don't think either of us really cared about the AHR. We both have friends in WV that weren't able to attend the wedding, but ALL of his family is up there and his mom really wants ALL of the family to "meet" me......again. We dated off and on in high school and college, so I'm sure it will be fun but it just feels weird to me......kind of like, Hey we got married, come eat some food and give us something. I know that's not the intention though and numerous people have asked us if we were doing something, but I just wasn't sure about a registry. Didn't make sense to me.

 

Now a vow renewal would be AWESOME!!! I can't wait to go back!!

Originally Posted by TheWolferts 

I think its a great idea to "register" at Lowes! Try this website http://www.myregistry.com/ I think you can "pin" items from any store to the list. If this particular site wont do that, I know there are a few out there.

 

My MIL also wanted to host an AHR, but my husband had been to another couples AHR and he didnt like the feel of celebrating twice. Plus our families live so far apart that his family would be the only people that could attend, so my husband didnt want the AHR to feel "all about him."

 

I keep prodding my hubby for a 5 year vow renewal! Less than 4 years to go

 

 

 

[AllieH]

Nikki- I love the idea of a vow renewal! I'm hoping to get my husband to renew our vows (informally) while we're at EDR this November. it's a good excuse, right??

 

Gail - it's so nice that she wants to do this for you. I totally understand how it might seem weird though. I agree - register at Lowe's or HD! I would also put on the invites something about "no gifts please, just your presence is required!" She could do a simple print at home type invite on some fun stationary or paper - Office Depot or Staples will have a variety.

 

Originally Posted by mstigger 

Thank you for that site, what a great idea!!!

 

I don't think either of us really cared about the AHR. We both have friends in WV that weren't able to attend the wedding, but ALL of his family is up there and his mom really wants ALL of the family to "meet" me......again. We dated off and on in high school and college, so I'm sure it will be fun but it just feels weird to me......kind of like, Hey we got married, come eat some food and give us something. I know that's not the intention though and numerous people have asked us if we were doing something, but I just wasn't sure about a registry. Didn't make sense to me.

 

Now a vow renewal would be AWESOME!!! I can't wait to go back!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWolferts 

I think its a great idea to "register" at Lowes! Try this website http://www.myregistry.com/ I think you can "pin" items from any store to the list. If this particular site wont do that, I know there are a few out there.

 

My MIL also wanted to host an AHR, but my husband had been to another couples AHR and he didnt like the feel of celebrating twice. Plus our families live so far apart that his family would be the only people that could attend, so my husband didnt want the AHR to feel "all about him."

 

I keep prodding my hubby for a 5 year vow renewal! Less than 4 years to go

 

 

 

[Feb2013]

mstigger- I went through this twice my MIL wanted a reception in my husband's home state of NJ and My parents wanted one in MO. I was totally hands off and they kept trying to drag me in... So I feel your pain. And I know with being you MIL it is the tread lightly situation. 

 

As far as "registering" for Lowes or another hardware store, I had put on our wedding website that we have tons of Honey To Do projects going on and asked for money or Home Depot gift cards if they wanted to get us something. Also you can register on Amazon.com for those things too. 

 

For invites we took the photos from the actual wedding and made postcard to send people and had them RSVP by email or phone. We also let people know on the post card that it was informal. If you want you can shoot me a PM and I will look for the PDF to show you the post card for our reception. 

 

Last but not least Good Luck! 

Originally Posted by mstigger 

Good morning EDR past and future brides! I am in need of a few opinions from you guys. My new husbands mother has wanted to host an informal type of AHR for us since we tied the knot in April.

However, there hasn't really been much time due to relocating myself from SC to WV and both of my boys to their respective colleges. We finally were able to pick a place and the date. Sept 21 at a picnic shelter in a local park with a playground nearby, etc. The date is actually exactly 5 months from the actual wedding date and I didn't feel it was necessary but his mom really wants to do this for us. Now here's my dilemma.......we combined 2 households, so we have plenty of dishes, pots, pans, etc, etc but we did just buy an older house that needs quite a bit of work. His mom wants us to register at places like Bed, Bath & Beyond and/or Target but we just don't need things like that......we need 2x4's and shower doors, etc. So his mom suggested listing that we are registered at Lowes......which would be great if it were possible. So should we just leave that off and let people ask if they are so inclined to bring a gift? We are not expecting gifts, but I'm sure some people will bring them. Ok and lastly, what type of informal invite would be good to use? I did say that if she wants to do this I am NOT doing any of the work.....I did ALL the work for the wedding at EDR......does that seem unreasonable or rude? It's not meant to be, it's just that no matter how simple you try to make a "picnic" it becomes a HUGE ordeal!!

Thanks ladies!!