El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[lfvieira]

It's a non-refundable deposit / payment to hold and lock in your wedding date and time.

[AllieH]

good grief. they sure do gouge you for spa services... 

Originally Posted by mrendic 

Oops the actual spa services picture didn't post... here it is again...

 

 

 

[Jnadair]

I was wondering the same thing about people being hungry during an informal cocktail hour as I do not want to have to pay for a private one.   I was sort of thinking about letting people know to grab a snack at one of the quick restaurants or order room service for a late lunch a couple of hours before the ceremony, that way they won't be starving by the time the reception rolls around.  (Our ceremony is at 4pm so I figure if people eat around 2 they should be ok until the reception at 6.)  I definitely understand about not wanting to pay for a formal cocktail hour that the B & G aren't going to be able to enjoy anyway...and it IS an all inclusive...let the guests take advantage of that!   

Originally Posted by jnitschke 

Do the bars, like Guacamayas, Jo Jos, and the Beach Bar have food?  That's my only concern, that people will be hungry and not want to wait for food.  Every wedding I've ever been to, I was always hungry come cocktail hour- and sometimes disappointed by the selection and amount of food even.   Also, were you able to ask them to do a "signature drink"?  I really like this idea... or to ask them to have more of a certain amount of liquor to make one of their own drinks on hand?  I've seen tons of really great cocktail hour ideas.  Things like two color napkins, each with fun facts about the bride and groom on them... or coasters with the drink recipe on them... even seating done by putting the name and table number on a tag attached to a straw.  But... in an all inclusive resort, I'm not sure it's worth it... especially.. and this will sound horrible and selfish.. but it's not like we'll be able to enjoy it-we'll be off shooting pictures somewhere.   I saw the picture of you on the swing- adorable by the way- did you join your group for a bit before dinner?

[Jnadair]

Just noticed I need to be added to the list and join you lovely brides!  Mine is February 23, 2013!! 

Originally Posted by AllieH 

updated EDR Brides list! 

 

Stina9562 – April 20, 2012

Amanda50388 – April 30, 2012

TheWolforts – May 12, 2012

Msbritbrit57 – May 19, 2012

ElDorado2012 – June 30, 2012

ONEILL12 – September 15, 2012

Jillsepher – October 11, 2012

Allie H – November 5, 2012

Feb 2013 - February 15, 2013

JNitschke - May 25, 2013

 

Stina! You leave soon!!! 

 

Jennifer - I really wasn't thinking about lighting the paper lanterns. My assumption was Tucanes will have enough lights that we won't need to light them (and I'm still hoping Tucanes will be available for us). 

 

Jessica - what are your thoughts on that since you've been to the venue? (and thank you again for the insider info!!!)

 

Ashley - thank you for sending me the template for your programs. Very much appreciated!! 

 

 

 

[mrendic]

Originally Posted by AllieH 

 

good grief. they sure do gouge you for spa services... 

 

 

Yeah it's terrible.... if you work with a GI consultant, one of the free options is spa services for the bride... its includes hair & makeup rehearsal, hair & makeup for the day, manicure & pedicure for the bride plus one other person. It definitely helps if you know for sure that you're getting it done

[AllieH]

Originally Posted by mrendic 

 

Yeah it's terrible.... if you work with a GI consultant, one of the free options is spa services for the bride... its includes hair & makeup rehearsal, hair & makeup for the day, manicure & pedicure for the bride plus one other person. It definitely helps if you know for sure that you're getting it done

 

I wish I had known that sooner! ah well... we'll make it work one way or another. I'm just doing the hair rehearsal & day of style for me, day of hair style for my mom, and maybe a pedicure (depending on how mine holds up in the days before the wedding). 

 

 

 

[ElDorado2012]

The Beach Bar (also known as JoJo's Bar) doesn't have food, but guests could grab an appetizer at JoJo's if they were starving (they would have to sit down for this, but if there was enough time and they were starving it would work out). No food at Guacamayas. I think your best bet if you don't want to pay for the private cocktail hour, is telling everyone to order room service or eat a late lunch and just let them know ahead of time that they won't be eating until the time of your reception. They serve the food as soon as you get to the reception (unless you ask otherwise), so you can pass that info. on to your guests as well. We didn't want to have to pay extra for the cocktail hour and so I advised our guests to eat late and everyone seemed fine...

 

The swings at the Beach Bar were so fun! Great for pictures. We actually did all of our photo's before the wedding, so we just walked with our guests over to the Beach Bar and hung out with them until the reception began.

Originally Posted by jnitschke 

Do the bars, like Guacamayas, Jo Jos, and the Beach Bar have food?  That's my only concern, that people will be hungry and not want to wait for food.  Every wedding I've ever been to, I was always hungry come cocktail hour- and sometimes disappointed by the selection and amount of food even.   Also, were you able to ask them to do a "signature drink"?  I really like this idea... or to ask them to have more of a certain amount of liquor to make one of their own drinks on hand?  I've seen tons of really great cocktail hour ideas.  Things like two color napkins, each with fun facts about the bride and groom on them... or coasters with the drink recipe on them... even seating done by putting the name and table number on a tag attached to a straw.  But... in an all inclusive resort, I'm not sure it's worth it... especially.. and this will sound horrible and selfish.. but it's not like we'll be able to enjoy it-we'll be off shooting pictures somewhere.   I saw the picture of you on the swing- adorable by the way- did you join your group for a bit before dinner?

[ElDorado2012]

Yeah - just regular shirts from Macy's and pants from Dockers. We wanted to be casual. We considered linen, but like you I wasn't a big fan of how much they wrinkled up (we had just gone to a wedding where the groomsmen were in linen and they were so wrinkly even at the ceremony!)...

Originally Posted by jnitschke 

Your guys, are they just wear regular dress shirts and pants?... this is something my fiance and I have been discussing a lot lately, since all the summer wear suits have been going on sale.  We've looked at linen, but Todd doesn't like how it wrinkles as you wear it.  And he's afraid of sweat marks and being uncomfortable in sweaty clothes.  We've seen Jos A Bank sells wicking dress shirts and Stay Cool Suits, which are kind of like wicking.  But the shirts only come in white, not so big a deal, and the suits only come in khaki and olive- He really wants to do grey.  Plus we were thinking of doing a vest to make it a little more formal, without the added heat of a jacket.  Does anyone have any input or suggestions on any of this?

[ElDorado2012]

It's a Jenny Yoo dress. Here's the stock photo. It's discontinued now, but the name of the style is Hannah (they actually make bridesmaids dresses in the same style, just not in white). I'm selling it if you know of anyone who might want to buy it! I'm 5'5'' and I had it altered so I could wear flat sandals...

 

Originally Posted by riz157 

El Dorado2012, your dress looks so pretty. Do you have a full length shot? Where did you get it from?

[heydenay]

Hey everyone....I'm leaving in 16 days!!!! So excited.

For those who already had their wedding...

what was your schedule for the reception....

I only have 20 people coming down.. not sure if I should just do our intro (minus bridal party) and toasts then eat...

Also Did anyone have a second dress...and when did you change? I have an "at home reception" two days after I get back and cannot ruin my dress. So I bought a second one and was planning on changing mid way through the dancing portion of the reception.

Just not sure of the logistics!

 

Thanks Denay