El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[TheWolferts]

I know the safes are pretty small in the Junior Suites, but I am not sure about the Casitas. We have to bring our laptop and will be bringing down our portable iPod player as well, so I think we will just have to keep them well hidden in the bottom of a suitcase maybe... Maybe we could bring a lock for the suite case to have a larger locked storage area?

 

I am also curious if everyone will be wearing their engagement ring in the pool and on the beach. Normally I would not want it on if I were in the pool or on the beach, but 1) it seems odd to not where your engagement ring when you are at the resort to get married and 2) I am nervous about leaving it in the safe. Perhaps I will just bring the box down with me and wear it, but have the box in my bag so I when I take it off, it will go directly in the box.

 

 

Originally Posted by ElDorado2012 

Has anyone heard anything regarding the safety of personal items being left in the rooms? We are planning on bringing a portable ipod player to have music at the pool and I assume it will be too big to fit in the safe for when we aren't using it and leave it in the room. The player was like $150, so it's not something I'd be happy about getting stolen... I'm wondering if maybe it's not even a good idea to bring it?

 

 

 

[murmel]

 

Originally Posted by ElDorado2012 

UGH that is so frustrating. That's insane that they hadn't booked a flight and you are like 3 weeks out... we have a few guests who are waiting on booking their flights and I have a sneaking suspicion that they may fall out last minute as well. We've followed up with them numerous times to remind them that we are finalizing things and will be paying for all this stuff for each guest (I think they think we aren't paying for anything since it's an all inclusive), and they assure me they are coming, but they haven't paid for their rooms yet, or purchased flights. SO FRUSTRATING!!! 

 I would suggest paying only for your confirmed guests, and if these other guests do come you can always pay after. We ended up with 3 extra guests that decided last minute (ie. within the week) that they would attend. Since we had already paid our balance, we were just asked to pay the extra when we got to the resort.

 

Good luck!

 

 

Originally Posted by ElDorado2012 

Has anyone heard anything regarding the safety of personal items being left in the rooms? We are planning on bringing a portable ipod player to have music at the pool and I assume it will be too big to fit in the safe for when we aren't using it and leave it in the room. The player was like $150, so it's not something I'd be happy about getting stolen... I'm wondering if maybe it's not even a good idea to bring it.

 We were just at the Royale in February, and I wasn't worried at all. Quite a few times I left our camera out in the room, or watches/jewelery and it was never touched. You should of course be careful, but I have been travelling to the Karimsa resorts for 3 years now, and have never had an issue!

 

We have taken our Ipod dock with us many times, with no problems.

 

Just to make you understand how seriously they take the issue, my MIL had hidden her safe key under the mattress. When the maid was making the bed she came across the key and immediately called security. Then a security guard waited at the room until management found my MIL to confirm nothing had been taken from the safe or room. They then told her not to hide the key under the mattress LOL!

 

 

Originally Posted by TheWolferts 

I know the safes are pretty small in the Junior Suites, but I am not sure about the Casitas. We have to bring our laptop and will be bringing down our portable iPod player as well, so I think we will just have to keep them well hidden in the bottom of a suitcase maybe... Maybe we could bring a lock for the suite case to have a larger locked storage area?

 

I am also curious if everyone will be wearing their engagement ring in the pool and on the beach. Normally I would not want it on if I were in the pool or on the beach, but 1) it seems odd to not where your engagement ring when you are at the resort to get married and 2) I am nervous about leaving it in the safe. Perhaps I will just bring the box down with me and wear it, but have the box in my bag so I when I take it off, it will go directly in the box.

 The safe is the same size through out the resort.

 

I always wear my engagement ring (and now wedding band). I would only be concerned if your ring is loose and it could slide off. A few guys I know have lost their wedding bands because they were loose. If you're worried about losing it while you are swimming then I would lock it in the room safe. You can also always take it to the front desk and have them lock it into the main safe in the office, if you're really worried! Personally I would not leave it in a box in my beach bag unattended.

 

[TheWolferts]

Since we are only 2 weeks out, we had to pay our final balance and those 3 guests were confirmed at the time... my dad gave us money for the wedding, so anything left over, we wanted to use towards our honeymoon. We have some left over already, but it would be nice to have the couple extra hundred dollars back. The one couple is a good friend of mine, so would it be crass to ask them for the money since they canceled so last minute?

[Jillsepher]

My FI asked me today if we were doing the Chinese wishing lanterns. Those are the ones that your guests write well wishes and prayers on them light them and they float up I to the air. He got the idea from The Hangover II and I do like the idea of it. However, Lomas offers them at $20 a pop. I found some on eBay for like $20 for 10! Do you think they would let me bring my own?

[TheWolferts]

I dont think EDR allows those. We wanted to have a beach bonfire cocktail reception and Valeria told me that they didnt allow anything flammable on the beach because embers from the fire could drift over to one of the many buildings they have with a dried glass palapas roof. Which makes sense, but was a bit of a bummer because a beach bonfire is very "us"!

Originally Posted by Jillsepher 

My FI asked me today if we were doing the Chinese wishing lanterns. Those are the ones that your guests write well wishes and prayers on them light them and they float up I to the air. He got the idea from The Hangover II and I do like the idea of it. However, Lomas offers them at $20 a pop. I found some on eBay for like $20 for 10! Do you think they would let me bring my own?

 

 

 

[AllieH]

I would have loved to do the chinese lanterns too. But we'll survive without them.

 

So I finally received my spreadsheet with the services that will be the final invoice. Oy.

 

Anyone have any feedback on the floating lanterns for beside the Tucanes pool? $75 for 4 is crazy, but it might be a nice touch?

 

Anyone have their make up done there? I was shocked to see make up cost as much as the hairstyle (which is expensive, but I'll deal with that). Not sure it's worth it (hair, yes. but make up?!)

 

Also - are their only cake flavors really chocolate, strawberry and vanilla?? As a self-proclaimed cake fanatic, I'm less than excited about the boring flavors.

 

what's the deal with the breakfast in bed? there's a specific menu? can't we just order from room service...?

 

Jill & I are commisserating about the lack of answers from Natalia. We're getting emails back (slowly), but not answering the specific questions we've posed.

 

 

 

 

 

[TheWolferts]

We reviewed our final spreadsheet about 6 weeks ago so I am very familiar with all of the pricing and things included in the packages.

 

I am having my hair and make up down as well, and doing a rehearsal trial run the day before the wedding. The trial day is cheaper, which is nice if you are doing both, but I am not sure why if you are just doing the wedding day hair and makeup, you couldn't say you want a hair and makeup "trial" on your actual wedding day. Make sure you get the bride and groom 15% off discount which is included in the Free Wedding Package (so I am assuming in the paid packages as well). Also, make sure you factor in the 10% mandatory "service charge" that is due at the time of the service.

 

Yes, the only cake flavors are vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. I get so jealous when I hear about other couple's cakes at other resorts! I guess you could technically pay the outside vendor fee (ha yea right!) and get your cake outsourced. My cousin got married at EDR in September 2010 and said that if she had to plan it again, she would not bother spending money on the cake because 1) teh cake is covered in fondant so not very tasty, 2) she said the cake was very dry, almost stale, and 3) because all the meals come with dessert, not a single person had a piece of cake, so she basically wasted a couple hundred dollars for a 3 tiered cake. My fiance isnt a big cake person and we both are very excited for the dessert we selected, so we are actually just ordering the small $80 cutting cake, so we can do the cutting of the cake ritual. We are doing it at the beginning of the reception, so that people arent sitting there waiting for cake when dessert time comes!

 

I thought the breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding was odd as well. We are leaving the day after, as well as a majority of our guests, so we wanted to get up and be around the resort to see everyone off. We arent staying in seperate rooms the night before our wedding, so we requested our breakfast in bed the morning of our wedding to get some calm, alone time before everyone is pulling us in every different direction. After breakfast, we are getting our beach massages and then parting ways to get ready. I have a huge smile on my face just typing this, Im so excited! They were also really good about altering the menus for our tastes. My fiance and I detest salmon, but we really wanted the omelette and french toast option so they let us change what we wanted in our omelettes. I think the point of us ordering it ahead of time rather than just ordering room service is because the wait wont be as long if they are already preparing it, and I dont know that all of the items on the breakfast in bed menu are generally available on the regular room service menu.

 

 

I have been working with Valeria and sometimes she is quick to respond, some times it takes a couple of days, but overall, I have been happy with Lomas. I always get a very fast response if I do their online chat service. While you wont get your specific WC every time, they can all address specific questions about EDR and are in close proximity, as I once was chatting with Natalia, and she said "hold on, Valeria is right here, let me ask her" and I got the answer to my question right away!

 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by AllieH 

I would have loved to do the chinese lanterns too. But we'll survive without them.

 

So I finally received my spreadsheet with the services that will be the final invoice. Oy.

 

Anyone have any feedback on the floating lanterns for beside the Tucanes pool? $75 for 4 is crazy, but it might be a nice touch?

 

Anyone have their make up done there? I was shocked to see make up cost as much as the hairstyle (which is expensive, but I'll deal with that). Not sure it's worth it (hair, yes. but make up?!)

 

Also - are their only cake flavors really chocolate, strawberry and vanilla?? As a self-proclaimed cake fanatic, I'm less than excited about the boring flavors.

 

what's the deal with the breakfast in bed? there's a specific menu? can't we just order from room service...?

 

Jill & I are commisserating about the lack of answers from Natalia. We're getting emails back (slowly), but not answering the specific questions we've posed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jillsepher]

As for the cake selection we chose to do the $35 heart shaped cake for two since its merely the ritual of doing the cake cutting but with everybody already having dessert I could justify actually purchasing a big cake. I've never actually had a good tasting wedding cake anyway! The fondant always makes them disgusting! Yeah Allie and I are having a lovely time trying to get answers. And the live chat feature was offline all Friday-Tuesday so I "sent a message" using the live chat and have yet to get a response. That was Friday night, almost a week ago I can't use it while I'm at work and by the time I get home it's offline. Allie, can you bring your own floating lanterns or do you have to purchase them through lomas? $75 for 4 is a crock!

[Jillsepher]

And what the heck is muesli with walnuts anyone?! It seems to be on all of the breakfast in bed options and I have no clue what it is!

[jnitschke]

 

Originally Posted by ElDorado2012 

Has anyone heard anything regarding the safety of personal items being left in the rooms? We are planning on bringing a portable ipod player to have music at the pool and I assume it will be too big to fit in the safe for when we aren't using it and leave it in the room. The player was like $150, so it's not something I'd be happy about getting stolen... I'm wondering if maybe it's not even a good idea to bring it?

 

 

Pacsafe makes a portable safe that I always bring with me when I travel,  I don't want to risk my $2,000 macbook walking away.  It's a little on the expensive side, but I've used it dozens of times.  It rolls up pretty small in my bag too.

http://pacsafe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=18