El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[KirstenRN6]

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Originally Posted by ctpetch I agree with you about going with a TA. Mine also as I stated has been very helpful from Berman Travel. We also only had to put $150 pp down and pay balance 6 wks prior to departure. Berman travel has been great to deal with.

I just tried to call your travel agent, Heather, but her message says she is out of town until the 16th. Let me know if you hear anything in the meantime.

[ctpetch]

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Originally Posted by BandE2008 Side questions I am hoping you girls can answer! I am starting to book the details for the wedding. Please help by answering the following. I am sure it will help future brides too! FREE RECEPTION INFO WHERE ARE YOU ABLE TO HAVE YOUR FREE up to 40 guest DINNER AS PART OF YOUR WEDDING PACKAGE? IS IT OPEN MENU OR DO YOU NEED TO MAKE SELECTIONS? DO THEY PROVIDE MENUS FOR THIS? PRIVATE RECEPTION INFO WHAT ARE ALL THE LOCATION OPTIONS FOR THIS THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT? AND, WHAT LIMITS DO THEY HAVE (i.e., La Isla option, limit is you need more then 70 guests)? WHAT WERE YOU TOLD IN MAKING SELECTIONS? (i.e., you need to pick min three courses) HOW MANY CHOICES DO WE GET TO MAKE (i.e., a meat and a veg option)? HOW LONG DO YOU GET FOR YOUR PRIVATE RECEPTION? CEREMONY INFO WHAT ARE ALL THE LOCATION OPTIONS FOR THIS THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT? AND, WHAT ARE THE LIMITS? Thanks in advance! I think I have a few answers to some of this - and will help other girls, but I want to "top up" these answers for informed decision making!

You can have free Reception dinner at Fuentes or El cocotal. They have specific menu to choose from depending on the night. They will provide menu choices for this. You have your choice of 2 entres and then the guest choose one of them.

Private Reception

I only know a few options but may be for smaller groups. Your choices are Tucanes, Health Bar, Beach (for 30 or more) and Gaviotos. There are a few more.

For private events they have minimum requirement of amount of guests on each selection. Like buffets is for more that 40 people and others are 16 guests. For the entre menu's you have to pick 3 choices. Ex. entre, salad, desert, soup, or appetizer. Then they are all priced seperately. On the average probably $50 pp

Private dinner receptions are 4 hrs. Cocktail parties are 2 hrs.

For the ceremony we are having ours at Gazebo 55. Which is on the beach & more private. They have a white gazebo on the beach and you can do in their church. I can send you all the choices if you want to send me your email

[ctpetch]

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Originally Posted by KirstenRN6 I just tried to call your travel agent, Heather, but her message says she is out of town until the 16th. Let me know if you hear anything in the meantime.

She actually is in Mexico right now checking out some of the Iberostars. I can give you her email since she is checking it. She is great about getting back to you & following through with anything you need. Her email is [email protected] All my guest have been very satisfied with her & her help.

[jfwolfe72]

How have past EDR brides and how do future ones intend to tip? Other than tipping the bartenders and housekeepers, do you also tip the wait staff? And do you tip for any private events? My FI doesn't think we should tip at all b/c it's an AI, but I heard that the tips are highly appreciated. Considering how much we're spending, though, I don't want to have to tip too much. Any input is greatly appreciated!

[shannon]

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Originally Posted by jfwolfe72 How have past EDR brides and how do future ones intend to tip? Other than tipping the bartenders and housekeepers, do you also tip the wait staff? And do you tip for any private events? My FI doesn't think we should tip at all b/c it's an AI, but I heard that the tips are highly appreciated. Considering how much we're spending, though, I don't want to have to tip too much. Any input is greatly appreciated!

On our wedding website- we put that although tipping is not required- we would recommend our guests bring approx $10/day in one dollar bills to tip. From what I've read on tripadvisor- most guests leave a few bucks every morning for the maid, or tip the bartenders throughout the day. we did state that it wasn't required, though...

We are having 4 private events throughout our time there, so we can't tip alot at each event- I was thinking we'd(FI and myself) probably just tip $20-30 for each event-- to whoever is serving us at those events.

I don't know if I'm being really cheap?!?!?! but that is kinda what I had in mind...I'd like to hear from others-- I might have to change mine if I find out I'm being super cheap-hehe...

[jfwolfe72]

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Originally Posted by shannon On our wedding website- we put that although tipping is not required- we would recommend our guests bring approx $10/day in one dollar bills to tip. From what I've read on tripadvisor- most guests leave a few bucks every morning for the maid, or tip the bartenders throughout the day. we did state that it wasn't required, though... We are having 4 private events throughout our time there, so we can't tip alot at each event- I was thinking we'd(FI and myself) probably just tip $20-30 for each event-- to whoever is serving us at those events. I don't know if I'm being really cheap?!?!?! but that is kinda what I had in mind...I'd like to hear from others-- I might have to change mine if I find out I'm being super cheap-hehe...

I think your plan sounds totally reasonable! And unless we hear differently from anyone else, I think we'll do the same thing.

[bre]

As for tipping, Pete and I tipped quite a bit. We actually meet in the service industry and Pete is a chef so we are habitually big tippers possibly b/c we might have a different view of the work these people do.

 

We got a chance to talk to one of the bartenders on a rainy day at our Casita pool and learned that bartenders have what is considered the best job at the resort. They make about $5 A DAY from EDR and if they are lucky, they make about $20 in tips. I personally was nauseated as we sat in front our our room that we spent almost $5,000 for!!! They also leave there families in other parts of Mexico to work six or seven days a week at the resort.

 

We had already been tipping big before that (giving about $40 per server at our reception - same guys for cocktail and dinner), but tipped even bigger after.

 

So to each his own, but I know that even though we were on a budget, the work these people are doing is the same as if we were not on a budget and the money means more to them than it does to us.

 

My two cents on the subject...

[shannon]

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Originally Posted by bre As for tipping, Pete and I tipped quite a bit. We actually meet in the service industry and Pete is a chef so we are habitually big tippers possibly b/c we might have a different view of the work these people do. We got a chance to talk to one of the bartenders on a rainy day at our Casita pool and learned that bartenders have what is considered the best job at the resort. They make about $5 A DAY from EDR and if they are lucky, they make about $20 in tips. I personally was nauseated as we sat in front our our room that we spent almost $5,000 for!!! They also leave there families in other parts of Mexico to work six or seven days a week at the resort. We had already been tipping big before that (giving about $40 per server at our reception - same guys for cocktail and dinner), but tipped even bigger after. So to each his own, but I know that even though we were on a budget, the work these people are doing is the same as if we were not on a budget and the money means more to them than it does to us. My two cents on the subject...

Thanks Bre--- this definitely puts an interesting perspective on things. I'm taking more cash with me than I planned- thanks again for your input!

[hlj033]

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Originally Posted by ctpetch I would like to recommend an outstanding TA. Her name is Heather from Berman Travel, her direct line is 1-518-369-8322 or 1-866-934-6292 ext 114. She beat prices that airline workers get (perks) and has been very helpful and accomodating. She made several calls & straighten out issues with WC on these fees for photographer too. Also Berman travel is well known for their business at Karisma resorts. They were just voted top TA for 2007 with the resort. The owner of Berman travel knows the owners personally at the EDR & Karisam resorts. So they will take care of you and give you alot of help when booking your wedding even there.

I used Heather from Berman Travel as well. She is most knowledgable about the EDR and very nice. I highly recommend her.

[hlj033]

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Originally Posted by hlj033 Yeah, I'm not paying that. My wedding planner here and Monica worked it out. I'm sure you can too.

Actually, I guess this was be because I signed my contract so long ago, over a year so things were different back then. I guess EDR is updating some of their policy. SOrry I could not be of more help.