El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[jnitschke]

That's so sad about your FIL.  I'm glad that things have worked out though.  My future in-laws came around to it when I showed them a video of the place, and they realized it wasn't all people in sombreros jumping around firing guns in the air, yelling Arriba Arriba!  All in all I'm psyched and it's nice that everyone is behind the idea now.  People who before were opposed and were sure they wouldn't be able to afford it are talking all about getting rooms now.  Which is great.  I'm hoping for around 30 people.  I think that will be a really fun size group.  We're not really doing a Honeymoon.  One of the reason we picked the El Dorado was because of how big the place was and it having the Casitas in it.  We're staying on the Royale side before the wedding and moving to the Casitas side afterwards... to do our own private thing.. kinda like a honeymoon.  Then hoping to do a big trip somewhere for our 1st anniversary.... maybe to Japan... or Ireland.

[ashbrooke3ou]

My onsite coordinator had everything exactly the way Valeria and I planned.  I would just make sure to have Valeria send you your final worksheet before you go down there so you can compare.  I had saved all my emails so if something was off I would have went and printed them off but thankfully I didn't have to do that.

[TheWolferts]

That is what I was thinking. I am working with Valeria as well and I have been very diligent about making sure the spreadsheet she keeps is up to date with the prices and numbers her and I have discussed over emails. We have been working together for over a year so I dont want to have to tote down a years worth of emails!
 

Originally Posted by ashbrooke3ou 

My onsite coordinator had everything exactly the way Valeria and I planned.  I would just make sure to have Valeria send you your final worksheet before you go down there so you can compare.  I had saved all my emails so if something was off I would have went and printed them off but thankfully I didn't have to do that.

 

[ONEILL12]

I also love those starfish sandals but I can't justify spending that much money right now! I thought I'd share these sandals I bought yesterday at Old Navy for $18. They are really cute!

 

 

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=55151&vid=1&pid=897806&scid=897806002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stina9562]

Oneill112, we bought these sandals for my Bridesmaid. They are really cute!

 

Also, I am the second wearing my shoes and be willing to pass them on to another bride. They are a size 10.

 

Originally Posted by ONEILL12 

Hey AllieH, I too envy Stina's starfish sandals!! I found them online but can't justify spending around $120 for them right now. I found these sandals at Old Navy yesterday for $18. The starfish are a little smaller but I still really like them!!

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=55151&vid=1&pid=897806&scid=897806002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[murmel]

 

 

Originally Posted by AllieH 

 

 

We are staying at EDR for the rest of the week as our honeymoon (or weddingmoon I suppose). The plan is to go to Thailand in late 2013 or early 2014 as our "big" honeymoon. 

 

We did the same thing....big honeymoon almost 9 months later. Went to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. (my only piece of advice- avoid Phuket. It was so expensive, and it was really quite dirty and really westernized. It was quite disappointing. But a lot of my friends later said we should have gone to Ko Phi Phi instead)

 

 

Originally Posted by ONEILL12 

 

Hey AllieH, I too envy Stina's starfish sandals!! I found them online but can't justify spending around $120 for them right now. I found these sandals at Old Navy yesterday for $18. The starfish are a little smaller but I still really like them!!

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=55151&vid=1&pid=897806&scid=897806002

For anyone looking for Starfish sandals, Avon has some in their new catalogue as well. I think they were about $30.

 

[AllieH]

oh good info - the FI is talking about Phuket. We definitely want to hit pretty beaches. His big thing is he wants to take some MMA classes/training while he's there. I want to lay on the beach, ride in a boat, and spend time at the spa. Sooo not ambitious!! One of my friend's fiancé is from Thailand, and they've offered to connect us with his family there if/when we go. 

 

on the wedding front, I've decided to give DIY a try for my veil. I just can't see paying a bunch of $$$ for one, even on etsy. And I don't trust ebay/chinese sellers - I want to be sure it's a quality tulle. So I bought ivory tulle and a plain comb from Joann's today, along with thread. I've googled it, and it seems the hardest part is cutting the shape. I haven't decided if I'm going to put a ribbon edge on it, or just leave it a cut edge. I will figure it out...  

 

I'm also waiting on final pictures of my sash and hair flower from the etsy seller - so excited about it!! 

 

I'm tempted to buy the fancy starfish sandals like TheWolforts has. I can justify it, right?? i mean, I only spent $35 on my wedges, and if I DIY the veil successfully, that's a big savings. Not to mention what I've saved by doing a sash & hair flower on etsy - the bridal shop wanted $500 for a similar sash! So $100 for a fancy pair of sandals is reasonable, right? lol 

Originally Posted by murmel 

We did the same thing....big honeymoon almost 9 months later. Went to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. (my only piece of advice- avoid Phuket. It was so expensive, and it was really quite dirty and really westernized. It was quite disappointing. But a lot of my friends later said we should have gone to Ko Phi Phi instead)
 

 

 

 

[AllieH]

Jnitschke - I completely agree with you about the reasons for a DW and the legal stuff at home. I'm going to borrow your reasoning that it's about the vows. so true...so true! 
 

Originally Posted by jnitschke 

That's totally the reason that I'm doing a Destination Wedding too... we live in MD and my family is spread out between NY, TN, GA, MA and NM... everyone would have to fly in... so why not fly somewhere nice?  The only people who are really put off by it are my friends and my FI's family.  But his part of the guest list is only 7 people, vs. my 70.  So it made sense... plus it made my MIL really happy when I told her that I'd let her throw a mini-reception in PA for her people who can't go.  Makes everyone happy.  We're going to just go to the courthouse here before we fly.  No ceremony, just paperwork.  At first that ruffled some feathers with family.  But the cost and the hoops you have to jump through just aren't worth it.  For me marriage isn't about the legality, but more about the vows you make.  When we explained that it made things better. Plus, the ceremony has to be in Spanish for it to be legal, and I thought that would take out some of the romance. 

 

 

[TheWolferts]

My grandmother is making my veil, I guess there are patterns for veils?? LOL

 

I went to some bridal stores trying different veil options because I wasnt sure if I wanted one, but I think what I wasnt sure about was the price! I am still not sure that a veil will work, especially if its windy, but I wanted to have the option to make the decision that day, and I knew I would feel like I HAD to wear the veil if I had spent a lot on it. At one particulary "posh" store, the owner kept putting different veils in my hair and I looked at the price of one that she of course said looked the best and it was over $600!!!! Are they serious?!?!?!
 It's basically glorified mosquito netting that if I even decide to wear it, it will only be for the ceremony and some pictures.

Originally Posted by AllieH 

oh good info - the FI is talking about Phuket. We definitely want to hit pretty beaches. His big thing is he wants to take some MMA classes/training while he's there. I want to lay on the beach, ride in a boat, and spend time at the spa. Sooo not ambitious!! One of my friend's fiancé is from Thailand, and they've offered to connect us with his family there if/when we go. 

 

on the wedding front, I've decided to give DIY a try for my veil. I just can't see paying a bunch of $$$ for one, even on etsy. And I don't trust ebay/chinese sellers - I want to be sure it's a quality tulle. So I bought ivory tulle and a plain comb from Joann's today, along with thread. I've googled it, and it seems the hardest part is cutting the shape. I haven't decided if I'm going to put a ribbon edge on it, or just leave it a cut edge. I will figure it out...  

 

I'm also waiting on final pictures of my sash and hair flower from the etsy seller - so excited about it!! 

 

I'm tempted to buy the fancy starfish sandals like TheWolforts has. I can justify it, right?? i mean, I only spent $35 on my wedges, and if I DIY the veil successfully, that's a big savings. Not to mention what I've saved by doing a sash & hair flower on etsy - the bridal shop wanted $500 for a similar sash! So $100 for a fancy pair of sandals is reasonable, right? lol 

 

 

 

[AllieH]

Geez, $600 for a veil? Was it trimmed in gold?? lol 

 

the one I liked at the salon was $250. we found another that my mom wanted to buy for me for $150 - which isn't bad for a cathedral from a retailer. but the price just made me ill and I wouldn't let her buy it. 

 

the materials I bought today totaled $23. And if I buy a pattern and ribbon to trim it, kick that up to a whopping $30. I don't feel so bad spending that for a 30 minute ceremony + pictures. 

Originally Posted by TheWolferts 

My grandmother is making my veil, I guess there are patterns for veils?? LOL

 

I went to some bridal stores trying different veil options because I wasnt sure if I wanted one, but I think what I wasnt sure about was the price! I am still not sure that a veil will work, especially if its windy, but I wanted to have the option to make the decision that day, and I knew I would feel like I HAD to wear the veil if I had spent a lot on it. At one particulary "posh" store, the owner kept putting different veils in my hair and I looked at the price of one that she of course said looked the best and it was over $600!!!! Are they serious?!?!?!
 It's basically glorified mosquito netting that if I even decide to wear it, it will only be for the ceremony and some pictures.