El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[TheWolferts]

For our rehearsal dinner at Toucanes, I got them to include the rest of the decor set up in the $150 set up fee for the lanterns. I did the math again on our cost per guest and it was actually almost $6 per guest for all of the events.

Originally Posted by AllieH 

40 guests. even at $5 per guest for everything else ($200) and then $150 for the lanterns, it's only $350.

[TheWolferts]

We tipped the DJ $50, the wait staff at our reception $70 (that was on mistake, we meant to tip $50), the wait staff at our rehearsal dinner $80 (the same wait staff worked both the rehearsal and reception), the videographer $50, tried to tip our photographer $70, but she was a good friend of ours and wouldnt accept. Our minister was also a good friend of ours and wouldnt accept a tip. We fully expected to tip our WC; however, with the issues we had, we ended up not tipping them, as not only were there mistakes, some of the WC staff, not all, just had undesirable attitudes. I got the feeling that they expected to be tipped though. I tipped my hair/makeup stylist $20 because you already have to pay the 10% service fee at salon. Hope this helps!

 

 

Originally Posted by mrendic 

Quick question for those of you who have already had their weddings. What did you ladies do as far as tipping the wedding vendors? Im talking about everyone from the officiant, to on site coordinator, to photographer, stylists at the salon, etc? We know 100% that we will tip the waitstaff at tucanes and of course all of the regular resort staff, but I keep hearing mixed things as far as the actual wedding vendors & people associated with just the wedding aspect. I was hoping someone who has already been there will have some insight! 

[mrendic]

Originally Posted by TheWolferts 

 

We tipped the DJ $50, the wait staff at our reception $70 (that was on mistake, we meant to tip $50), the wait staff at our rehearsal dinner $80 (the same wait staff worked both the rehearsal and reception), the videographer $50, tried to tip our photographer $70, but she was a good friend of ours and wouldnt accept. Our minister was also a good friend of ours and wouldnt accept a tip. We fully expected to tip our WC; however, with the issues we had, we ended up not tipping them, as not only were there mistakes, some of the WC staff, not all, just had undesirable attitudes. I got the feeling that they expected to be tipped though. I tipped my hair/makeup stylist $20 because you already have to pay the 10% service fee at salon. Hope this helps!

 

 

It does! Thanks a lot! My TA said to just tip the people I thought did an exceptional job so maybe I'll just set money aside for everyone and see how it goes. Did you just give it to them yourself or did you have someone in charge of handing out tips? 

[TheWolferts]

I think traditionally the best man holds and distributes the tips during the the reception. Our best man did that as well, though with all the shots they were doing, that would explain how we ended up tipping the wait staff more than we intended!

Originally Posted by mrendic 

It does! Thanks a lot! My TA said to just tip the people I thought did an exceptional job so maybe I'll just set money aside for everyone and see how it goes. Did you just give it to them yourself or did you have someone in charge of handing out tips? 

[mrendic]

Originally Posted by TheWolferts 

 

I think traditionally the best man holds and distributes the tips during the the reception. Our best man did that as well, though with all the shots they were doing, that would explain how we ended up tipping the wait staff more than we intended!

LOL. I can just see our best man getting drunk and losing all the money or something crazy. 

[murmel]

Originally Posted by Stina9562 

 

 Thank you for the advice. We definatley want to take this kids ans I was so pleased with Karisma, I didn't want to look elsewhere! Do you mind sending me some pics to [email protected]?

 

Thank you! We are looking to book at our year anniversery.

I promise I will email you early next week. I have a bunch of family coming to visit for the weekend and am busy trying to get the house ready.

[AllieH]

hi EDR brides!! how is everyone?? 

 

my FI is in NYC this weekend for his bachelor party. so I've had the house to myself for a couple of days - very relaxing!! I've watched several chick flicks while he's been gone, and have also been working on my invites. Yes, ahead of schedule, but I'd rather do that than study lol 

 

I also had my second fitting today for my dress - she had done the neckline alteration from a straight across to a soft sweetheart. it looks AMAZING. I can't wait to wear it!! 

 

hope you ladies are all doing well and enjoying the weekend. 

 

[mrendic]

Leaving for EDR in the morning. I can't believe it's here already! If anyone needs any photos of anything specific or any info that I can get while I'm there, let me know! 

[AllieH]

WOOOHOOO!!!!!! I'm so excited for you. Hope it all goes well, and wishing you all the best. 

Originally Posted by mrendic 

Leaving for EDR in the morning. I can't believe it's here already! If anyone needs any photos of anything specific or any info that I can get while I'm there, let me know! 

 

 

[chiquita8302]

Originally Posted by AllieH 

 

hi EDR brides!! how is everyone?? 

 

my FI is in NYC this weekend for his bachelor party. so I've had the house to myself for a couple of days - very relaxing!! I've watched several chick flicks while he's been gone, and have also been working on my invites. Yes, ahead of schedule, but I'd rather do that than study lol 

 

I also had my second fitting today for my dress - she had done the neckline alteration from a straight across to a soft sweetheart. it looks AMAZING. I can't wait to wear it!! 

 

hope you ladies are all doing well and enjoying the weekend. 

 

 

Hi Allie! A house to yourself is always nice! Fun to get caught up on stuff like this! Glad your dress came out well!

 

So... we've officially paid our deposit on the rooms so we have our group block reserved, our wedding date set (3/1/13) and I'm working on the DIY passport invitations I found on this site now to send out to everyone with all of the information. I am so excited that some of the stressful details are over and now we can officially make our announcement to everyone I know it's premature to send out invitations, but so many of the poeple we're inviting want all of the details now, that it only makes sense to skip the STD and go straight to the invites. I figured the passport invites would be a good way to get them as much info as possible, and am listing a link to our wedding page on the Knot so they can stay up to date. I figure I can then send out a little e-mail updates or a note to everone as we get closer to the date. (I'll have to send something to everyone once it's time to do the meal choice anyway). I am hoping that everyone R.S.V.P.'s asap so I can get an idea of how many people will actually be coming! We're inviting about 75-100 people (he is supposed to be getting me a list of all his coworkers and addresses tomorrow so I know who we need to invite!), but I have a pretty good idea of who will actually be coming, and who I'm inviting more for the formality. (I have a lot of cousins and aunts/uncles that I'm not that close with that aren't really in a situation to attend this type of trip). I am expecting our guests will primarily be our immediate families, my friends (half of which are bridesmaids) and my FI's coworkers (most of his childhood friends won't be able to come)... he's a firefighter so they're all like family and he sees them all all the time, plus, they've been waiting for this for a while... so we should be able to get an idea of who is coming pretty soon.

 

Next week will be dress shopping!! Question for you girls... when you went to just start looking at dresses, who did you invite? I have a large group of girlfriends/bridesmaids and I am thinking it might be overwhelming to invite them all the first time I go, so I was thinking of secretly going with my MOH... and then once I have a better idea of what I want and where I want to go, then I can invite everyone the next time... but I wouldn't want the girls to be hurt that I didn't keep them informed all along the way, because that's kind of how they've all done it. (most of my bridesmaids are girls I've been friends with since 6th grade, so we've all been each others bridesmaids)

 

To you girls who are leaving soon, have an amazing time! :)