El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[Cvantine]

I wore my hair up because I was worried about being hot and sweating. It was definitely hot on the day of the wedding and I'm glad I had it up, even though we had our ceremony in the chapple. Also consider that if you plan on taking pictures on the beach or near the water, there are going to be strong breezes blowing your hair everywhere. It was a challenge with just my veil =) I would have loved to have my hair down but I thnk I made the right choice based on the weather. (For reference we got married in October at 4:00pm).

 

As for getting your hair done there - Rafa is AMAZING. They have plenty of books down there and she literally can replicate anything. My mom, sister, mother-in-law and both bridesmaids had their hair done and get exactly the result they were looking for - I was surprised how good the stylists were. Unfortunately, Rafa is the only name I can remember because she did my hair. I speak Spanish so I didn't have a problem with communicating but my mom and sister don't and they were just fine with showing pictures.

 

If you book a service with them (hair, spa, etc) you get a free hydra-treatment if you want. It's pretty cool - my sister and I went a few hours before our hair appointments and got to experience different jacuzzis, pools, massagers, etc.

 

None of us got our makeup done there but after seeing what a great job they did with hair I'd be confident that they do great makeup. They had a room for us where we could get our hair done together, talk, take pictures, do our makeup and get ready. It was really perfect.

 

Make sure to let them know that you want a golf cart from the Spa to your wedding site! For some reason the ball was dropped on this and my mom was freaking out that we were going to be "late." The resort is big and it would have taken us 20 minutes to get to the chaple - also taking into consideration the dress/shoes weren't exactly excercise gear and I would have been a sweaty puddle by the time we got there. I was oddly calm - I guess I figured the wedding couldn't start until i was there so they could all wait =) It didn't turn into an issue, but it was a minor inconvenience.
 

Originally Posted by ElDorado2012 

Did any of the brides who have already been married at the resort have their hair down for their wedding? I'm wondering if it's gong to be too humid for my hair to be down (i.e. it will get frizzy and lose the loose curls I want to have)... Also, if anyone had their makeup done at the salon at EDR, how did you like it? Can you send or direct me to a picture of how it looked? Thank you

 

[Cvantine]

Angi is correct, it's $5 per GUEST, not item. But again, I got this waived by asking my coordinator I could have my mom and sister do the set up to eliminate the fee. She said it was fine and that saved us about 160 =) Definitely get it in writing! I brought so many e-mail print outs when I went down so that I would have "proof" if they tried to charge me for something I didn't ask for or something I was supposed to get as a part of my package. I did not have a problem but I had read on here that other girls did (were told at the last minute there would be add-on charges, etc). Just make sure you have the backup documentation so there is no confusion.
 

Originally Posted by angi111111 

Girls- 

just a note... I believe the set up fee for any decor you bring is $5 per wedding guest not per item.

It was for me anyway which is why I we decided to not bring our own table decor.

Just make sure you get it in writing in an email or on your spread sheet. 

Either way, they do a beautiful job setting up! 

 

[TheWolferts]

AllieH-

 

We booked our 5pm wedding on May 12, 2012 in March 2011 and were told we had to book 7 nights in a casitas prior to us signing our contract.

 

By default we chose the free wedding package because we didnt feel like the "upgrades" for the paid for wedding packages were anything we really wanted.

 

Our travel coordinator, Christine Kennedy, explained that if we were going to pay the additional money, either paying for our casitas stay versus paying for the paid-for wedding packages that we didnt really care for anyways, why not spend the money on treating ourselves to something we would definitly enjoy?!

 

We said "good point" and signed the contract

 

Something else be away of and I cannot stand EDR's policy on this, the "bride and groom stay free" deal is kind of bogus... From my research, many resorts will take the average of the total amount of nights your guests stay and credit that towards the bride and grooms room. This works out nicely because if you have a majority of your guests staying a week or 5 days, and then one friend can only gly in for the weekend, that guest doesnt reduce the amount you get towards your room by much.

 

EDR's policy is that you only get credited the amount of the guest staying in the cheapest room pays for the least amount of nights. So for us, we have about 40 guests staying 5-7 nights, but one of my BMs has exam week and can only be there for 3 nights. So basically, we are bringing the resort 40 people paying for 5-7 nights but they are only crediting us the amount if costs to stay there for 3 nights ... all other guests are staying for at least 5 nights, so the difference is about $800 that we are not getting credited towards our room... PAINFUL!

 

 

[TheWolferts]

I LOVE those coral place card holders!!!

 

I have no idea what we were going to do for the table numbers, but I might have to get these white coral holders!!! I only need 8, so it kind of stinks that the minimum order is 16

 

Hmmm... unless you guys can help me think of other things to do with the other 8! Ideas?

[CanadianLindsey]

I brought so many printouts of email conversations, etc at the suggestion of other brides who were told one thing online and another in person! My friends kept teasing me about my folders and asked if I were conducting a test on the plane lol! I clung to that paperwork like gold!! Its a good idea since the person you deal with at the resort isn't the one you talk with online.

Originally Posted by Cvantine 

Angi is correct, it's $5 per GUEST, not item. But again, I got this waived by asking my coordinator I could have my mom and sister do the set up to eliminate the fee. She said it was fine and that saved us about 160 =) Definitely get it in writing! I brought so many e-mail print outs when I went down so that I would have "proof" if they tried to charge me for something I didn't ask for or something I was supposed to get as a part of my package. I did not have a problem but I had read on here that other girls did (were told at the last minute there would be add-on charges, etc). Just make sure you have the backup documentation so there is no confusion.
 

 

 

[ElDorado2012]

So, the credit is based on whoever stays the least amount of days, and the cheapest room category? So, if one of our guests is staying in the Jacuzzi Jr. Suite for three nights and this happens to be the guest who is staying for the shortest amount of time, we (bride and groom) will get however much it costs to stay in a jacuzzi jr. suite for three nights credited to our stay?

 

That's pretty lame. Especially for those of us who are bringing tons of guests to the resort and all but one are staying five to seven days...
 

Originally Posted by TheWolferts 

AllieH-

 

We booked our 5pm wedding on May 12, 2012 in March 2011 and were told we had to book 7 nights in a casitas prior to us signing our contract.

 

By default we chose the free wedding package because we didnt feel like the "upgrades" for the paid for wedding packages were anything we really wanted.

 

Our travel coordinator, Christine Kennedy, explained that if we were going to pay the additional money, either paying for our casitas stay versus paying for the paid-for wedding packages that we didnt really care for anyways, why not spend the money on treating ourselves to something we would definitly enjoy?!

 

We said "good point" and signed the contract

 

Something else be away of and I cannot stand EDR's policy on this, the "bride and groom stay free" deal is kind of bogus... From my research, many resorts will take the average of the total amount of nights your guests stay and credit that towards the bride and grooms room. This works out nicely because if you have a majority of your guests staying a week or 5 days, and then one friend can only gly in for the weekend, that guest doesnt reduce the amount you get towards your room by much.

 

EDR's policy is that you only get credited the amount of the guest staying in the cheapest room pays for the least amount of nights. So for us, we have about 40 guests staying 5-7 nights, but one of my BMs has exam week and can only be there for 3 nights. So basically, we are bringing the resort 40 people paying for 5-7 nights but they are only crediting us the amount if costs to stay there for 3 nights ... all other guests are staying for at least 5 nights, so the difference is about $800 that we are not getting credited towards our room... PAINFUL!

 

 

 

[AllieH]

This is GREAT info. Thank you!! I did finally find it on the website where it specifies casita for the free wedding. 

 

I'm kinda of leaning towards the same decision you made. I'd want to swap out a lot of the purchased wedding package anyway (we aren't doing a legal ceremony, I don't want fresh flower bouquets, whatever). So we're just waiting for the price of the casita to add that to the contract so we can do this stuff up.

 

and I agree - their policy on the free room does stink. but it sounds like most of my guests are planning on 3 or 4 nights. Only a few have said a week is what they want to do. Fine by us... 
 

Originally Posted by TheWolferts 

AllieH-

 

We booked our 5pm wedding on May 12, 2012 in March 2011 and were told we had to book 7 nights in a casitas prior to us signing our contract.

 

By default we chose the free wedding package because we didnt feel like the "upgrades" for the paid for wedding packages were anything we really wanted.

 

Our travel coordinator, Christine Kennedy, explained that if we were going to pay the additional money, either paying for our casitas stay versus paying for the paid-for wedding packages that we didnt really care for anyways, why not spend the money on treating ourselves to something we would definitly enjoy?!

 

We said "good point" and signed the contract

 

Something else be away of and I cannot stand EDR's policy on this, the "bride and groom stay free" deal is kind of bogus... From my research, many resorts will take the average of the total amount of nights your guests stay and credit that towards the bride and grooms room. This works out nicely because if you have a majority of your guests staying a week or 5 days, and then one friend can only gly in for the weekend, that guest doesnt reduce the amount you get towards your room by much.

 

EDR's policy is that you only get credited the amount of the guest staying in the cheapest room pays for the least amount of nights. So for us, we have about 40 guests staying 5-7 nights, but one of my BMs has exam week and can only be there for 3 nights. So basically, we are bringing the resort 40 people paying for 5-7 nights but they are only crediting us the amount if costs to stay there for 3 nights ... all other guests are staying for at least 5 nights, so the difference is about $800 that we are not getting credited towards our room... PAINFUL!

 

 

 

 

[ashbrooke3ou]

I was actually told because they gave me some "five star" rate for all of my guests that I didn't qualify for "the bride and groom" stay free so I'm actually getting no rooms for free and we are booking 36 rooms with my group.  I find this ridiculous but I have asked multiple times and they will not budge.  Did everyone have a group rate for their rooms?  If that is the case, I plan on approaching the subject again.

 

I am getting married March 3rd and will be posting an extensive review once we are get back from the honeymoon.  This has been a very eye-opening process for me.  When we went down in May for the Bride and Groom promotion, I never imagined all the overcharging that would occur.  I had read quite a few posts and reviews but wish I had asked a few more questions and done more research.  That being said I am still very excited about having the wedding at EDR and know that we will have a great time.  There are just a few things I wish I had known to ask about to make things more affordable and less stressful.

[TheWolferts]

AshBrooke30u-

 

We were given 20% off normal room rates for all of our guests and are receiving the "bride and groom stay free" package. I do know that had we signed our contract a month later, those deals were no longer being offered, since they had switched up the specials.

[angi111111]

Definetly try and stay in the Casitas! They are wonderful! And we were upgraded on our second night....We stayed 9 nights and went with the free wedding package...I had some extra expenses like colored sheers, flowers, private cocktail & BBQ on beach, table decor, tiki torches. All and all, it was still so much cheaper than a wedding at home. I picked tropical flowers  and went with the basic bridal and bridesmaid size and they turned out gorgeous!  $160 total for all 3 of our bouquets. It is $10 extra if you want your bouquet long stems with ribbon. I did this to match the sash on my dress and so happy I did. Our flowers were delivered to us while we were in the spa.   You really don't have to spend a lot , they make it all very pretty. I saw several weddings with white ( free) sheers set up on beach gazebos and it looked very nice. Some of the Gazebo  sites do not need sheers, they are white with lattice edging. Depends on the location you choose. I did not go with an aisle runner  (extra $$) I just had rose petals in the sand- looked beautiful! 

The girls and I did get our hair and make up done at the spa. We were very happy with both. My stylist insisted i have fresh flowers in my hair and went outside and picked em herself! They really listen to you and you can bring a picture.  The appointments are scheduled thru the WC and will be on your spreadsheet. We choose not to book the bridal suite, instead went back to our casitas and had appetizers and champagne delivered! Fun!

I hope to post pictures, I'm usually on my iPad instead of computer tho!