El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[AllieH]

Hi Kristen (@kfracassi) - check out this post on the official EDR/EDCR thread. It lists all the reception locations and the # of guests that can be accommodated at each.

 

Are you looking for a beach location, poolside, or indoors? 

 

Tucanes is the most popular location for a private reception. It's poolside, and in the main part of the resort (very central location). It also has greenery around it that makes it fairly private. 

 

Let me know more of what you're looking for, and I'd be happy to share some other thoughts. 

 

 

Hello all, 

my fiancee and I have been hard set on a destination wedding in mexico since we started talking about engagement 2 or so years ago. Well, we are now engaged and finally beginning to plan. Originally, we wanted a wedding without kids, but then it seemed like everyone wanted kids there so we were planning on Azul Beach. Well, now we are back to no kids... unfortunately I have not seen a lot of what El Dorado has to offer. I will begin searching this thread, but I was wondering what are the best places for receptions? 

 

Thanks guys.

 

Kristen

[hdm116]

Hi everyone! I have been following this post for a while and love it! thank you for all the great info! we are getting married on oct 11th so trying to get everything wrapped up! I have a bunch of questions related to tipping everyone there for their services...

 

How much did you set aside to tip? 

Who did you tip?

Did you tip some people more?

Did you tip individually or can you tip all the people working the reception/party in a lump sum?

 

Thanks! I'm totally lost when it comes to that!

 

Holly

 

[NickiLynn1116]

@@lauralane  I didn't do the memorable moments route because it is pretty pricey.  We are adding the chair covers and bows for the chairs ($6 a chair) and we are bringing our own centerpieces (charging $15 a table).  I decided to keep the white napkins and white table cloths.  Any flowers you use in your ceremony can also be brought over to your reception area free of charge.  However, if you do chairs with covers and bows they charge you to have at the ceremony and again for the reception.  Hope this helps

Hey ladies! I'm wondering if anyone has photos or can describe the base table set up for receptions. I'm leaning towards customizing my own package instead of going the Memorable Moments route, but it would be helpful to know what we're starting with. White table cloth, white chair covers...? Or literally nothing? Thank you!

[kfracassi]

@@AllieH, 

Thank you so much for that! It gives me a way better idea of what I can do . Now, the best man is saying he will be bringing his two kids, so now I'm looking at doing the GMR/EDR combination, which is not what I really wanted, but it's right next door, so hopefully everything will workout still. I know there are some brides on this thread that are doing this as well. Any advice? I have joined the GMR thread as well, it just seems that there is less info regarding this resort vs the others that have been around longer.

[AllieH]

Hi @@hdm116 - your countdown is on! 

 

Tip whomever you feel went out of their way to give you excellent service, and try to tip those you see more frequently (e.g. pool bartender, beach butler, shuttle driver). Tip the bellman who delivers your luggage, and the one who picks it up and takes you to the lobby when you check out too. I'd also tip the concierge if he/she helped you set us reservations or something special. And don't forget to tip housekeeping - generally at the end of your stay. 

 

Our most frequent tips go to:

Bartenders - we tip $1 per drink generally. This is an easy way to keep the drinks coming, and have them made exactly how you like them!

Waiters - $5 for the two of us depending on the level of service

Shuttle drivers - $2-$3 if they pick us up en route as we're walking. We'd tip more if we called them from our room vs. waiting at a shuttle stop. 

 

We usually take $100 in singles with us for a week. Everyone is really grateful for tips, and we want them to know we appreciated them taking care of us. 

 

After the reception, the staff will line up for you to tip them all individually. at least that's what they did for us. I don't know if they trust each other to divvy it up equally 

 

Hi everyone! I have been following this post for a while and love it! thank you for all the great info! we are getting married on oct 11th so trying to get everything wrapped up! I have a bunch of questions related to tipping everyone there for their services...

 

How much did you set aside to tip? 

Who did you tip?

Did you tip some people more?

Did you tip individually or can you tip all the people working the reception/party in a lump sum?

 

Thanks! I'm totally lost when it comes to that!

 

Holly

[kmk2016]

After the reception, the staff will line up for you to tip them all individually. at least that's what they did for us. I don't know if they trust each other to divvy it up equally

They line up???? I'm all for tipping the reception team and planned to do so discreetly but I certainly don't want my guests seeing this and feeling like they need to pull out their wallets too! I'm shocked to hear that they do this!! I'm at Sensatori, but I would assume all karisma properties would operate the same way. How many staff were there in this "line up". We are generous tippers but if this is done in view of my guests I will not be pleased.

[AllieH]

It wasn't anything negative!!! The staff stood by the exit to say good bye to our guests that they've served food & booze to for the last 4 hours. We didn't do a grand exit or anything - just a last dance and then everyone filed out to move on to the next bar. Since they were lined up, it was easier to tip everyone vs. worry if we missed someone.

 

How many staff you have will depend on the size of your party. I think we had our WC and 3 servers/bartenders for about 36 ppl. 

 

If this is a concern for you, talk to your onsite WC about the best way to do it when you have your meeting with him/her. Then he/she can instruct your team. 

 

They line up???? I'm all for tipping the reception team and planned to do so discreetly but I certainly don't want my guests seeing this and feeling like they need to pull out their wallets too! I'm shocked to hear that they do this!! I'm at Sensatori, but I would assume all karisma properties would operate the same way. How many staff were there in this "line up". We are generous tippers but if this is done in view of my guests I will not be pleased.

[kmk2016]

Oh that's good then! Haha... I just didn't want it looking like some sort of line up asking for $... They do this on cruise ships all the time. We look to have about 80-90 people based on bookings... So I will have a good deal of staff and definitely want them to be allowed to be properly thanked! Just didn't want guests feeling like they were having to go through a receiving line of sorts that implied "money time"

[AllieH]

no I can't imagine it'd be a money line like that with such a big group!!! and I know what you mean about the cruise ships. 

 

and no way would I expect our guests to tip the staff at a private party...that was totally our job.  

 

 

 

Oh that's good then! Haha... I just didn't want it looking like some sort of line up asking for $... They do this on cruise ships all the time. We look to have about 80-90 people based on bookings... So I will have a good deal of staff and definitely want them to be allowed to be properly thanked! Just didn't want guests feeling like they were having to go through a receiving line of sorts that implied "money time"

[HancockBride]

@@robingabrielle - We are getting married 11/22/14! So a week later! Can't believe how fast its coming up! 

 

For those of you doing welcome bags, how do you plan on distributing them? Paying the hotel to distribute them or just handing them out when you see them? 

 

 

Thanks!