El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[TheWolferts]

I dont remember false eyelashes being present in the salon, but I also wasnt looking for them. Perhaps you can email or call EDR to ask if they have them. I went to the tanning bed (I know i hate them too, but I knew i needed some sessions in the tanning bed before being subjected to the Mexico sun!) prior to the wedding and then used Banana Boat SPF 30. After being outside for 4 days before the wedding, I started using spf 70, not because I was burning, but because I was getting so tan and didnt want to look too tan for the wedding LOL. I know they actually prefer you to use this super expensive sunscreen that doesnt have specific chemicals in it that can ruin the wildlife in the water??? I didnt hear any of this at the hotel but was told when we went scuba diving that we couldnt use our sunscreen... I had to sneak putting it on in the bathroom because I was not about to spend the day on a boat and not wear sunscreen before our wedding! Sorry fishes!!! I heard that the sunscreen at the resort in teh gift shop is so expensive mainly because its the kind of sunscreen without the chemicals.

 

 

Originally Posted by ONEILL12 

I decided it was worth the extra money to buy another dress and called David's Bridal to put one on hold for me. I got on Ebay afterwards, honestly not expecting to even find my dress listed, and found that the only dress listed like mine just happened to be in my size! And even better,  it was listed for $100 less than David's price and even included free shipping! That was my sign, so I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival to my door! The dress isn't real big so taking two down and using the old one for a TTD session would work out good. Maybe I can get it cleaned up good enough to sell when we get home too! Thanks for the suggestions ladies

 

Jillsepher - Any unexpected illness would be incredibly tough to deal with so close to your big trip, but I can't imagine how much harder it is when it's your vision! We take it for granted and never think of how tough it would be without it. Thank goodness for the timing! I'm glad to hear you are doing better...keep us updated!

 

TheWolferts - Did they have false eyelahes at the salon when you got your wedding makeup done? I'm not sure wether to bring some from home or not. Also, what kind of sunscreen did you take and did you think it was enough? I've read reviews where people say only zinc oxide works in the Mexican sun but also have heard that regular SPF 30 is enough protection. I've bought both but I don't want to risk getting fried before the wedding  !!

 

We're down to three weeks before take off ! I think I can honestly say I've never been more excited for anything in my life! My FI and I have been on TripAdvisor.com reading people's reviews of the resort and looking at pictures they have posted. Some people really dog the resort but it makes you wonder if they're the kind of people who can never be pleased in life, and others offer really good tips and advice (like packing floats or rafts if you're staying in a swim up).

Here is the link for the link for the casitas side: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g659488-d1720341-Reviews-or10-El_Dorado_Casitas_Royale_by_Karisma-Riviera_Maya_Yucatan_Peninsula.html#REVIEWS

and here is the link for the royale side: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g659488-d574249-Reviews-El_Dorado_Royale-Riviera_Maya_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

[mrendic]

Originally Posted by jnitschke 

 

gorgeous!  Are the colored lights pointing at the ceiling always there, or did you request them?

 

 

Those were definitely there, we didn't request any special lighting. 

 

[Goldielochs47]

Beautiful!!!!! I still haven't decided on my accent color, it's a toss up between coral or yellow. I did get to secure the Casita Gazebo which looked really nice on the picture Valeria sent me. We don't expect a lot of family or friends to join us so it will be perfect. Valeria told me the max is 10 people and if I had more guest then they will have to move it to the Presidential Gazebo.

[CanadianLindsey]

ONEILL12...When I was there in Dec2010 they didn't have false eyelashes or glue but we had brought our own to the spa and our makup girls applied them for us. As for sunscreen, the only time you need special kind is at places like Xel-Ha b/c they don't want the chemicals killing the sea life(they will provide you with small packets of it) so at the resort you'll be fine with normal sunscreen. I also pre tanned(I know, so bad, but it was just this one time!) and avoided just laying in the sun until after my wedding. 

As for bad reviews online...I personally have never stayed somewhere as nice as EDR and I have done a fair bit of travelling around the world. I think if you've stayed in any Mexican/DR/Cuba AI before, you'll find EDR way above in food, service and the resort overall. There will always be little things you wish were better or different: some of our guests told us they had rock hard, uncomfortable beds & some had super comfy beds, some raved of amazing food & some complained of weird dishes, so things will never be perfect! It is an amazing place that made us feel like we were living in the lap of luxury for 2 weeks, so we chose to look past the small hiccups and enjoy the resort. I'd go back in a heartbeat

[chiquita8302]

Welcome, Sansan!!

 

And Oneill... I've had so much dress drama, too, but that is awful. I would say that I would probably lean towards getting a new one if it was that bad. On the other hand, I've read a lot of post-wedding reviews on here, and most of the girls said that not spending more on an extra-nice dress if you find a cheaper one that is fine was the one piece of advice they had. I've considered getting another dress due to my drama, and because I don't feel like it's "the one", but I have decided to just make it work and that it'll be fine and won't matter once we're down there.  The only other things I can think of.... if there is a seam, like empire or something like that, could you add in a strip of chiffon or something to that effect to lengthen it? or adding a strip of satin at the top behind the top layer of chiffon, or something like that to add some length? Argh, what a terrible thing to deal with, though. Good luck, and I"m sure you'll make the right decision!

 

Jill!!! What a stressful thing to go through.... I'm so glad you've turned it into a positive thing and that you're all set to enjoy your wedding! You're also making me think i should get the trip insurance LOL.... did the rest of you girls get it? Argh. Seems so stingy but I've just been telling myself it's our wedding, all these people are coming for us, we HAVE to be there no matter what. I think it's like $140 pp, so almost 300 more for the trip. ugh.

 

-Chris

 

 

Originally Posted by Sansan 

I just booked for may 17, 2013. Hello all!

 

Originally Posted by ONEILL12 

I need some opinions, ladies!

 

My grandma's good friend did my dress alterations for me. She's been sewing for years and does a lot of wedding alterations. I picked up my dress from her yesterday and its TOO SHORT! I've been holding back the tears . I couldn't bring myself to say anything to her because she's not charging anything for her work and her and my grandma both just thought it looked perfect when I tried it on. I thought maybe I was just over reacting and I knew if I told her I was unhappy my grandma would feel so guilty. When she measured it for me I was barefoot since that is how I will be for our wedding and she pinned it perfectly. I wanted it to still cover my feet but not be long enough to step on. Now you can see the tops of my feet while standing still and my ankles when I walk. I went straight to my MILs house when I left with my dress for her opinion and she agreed that it was too short but didn't think it was short enough for people to really notice it. There is no material left in the hem to let it out and its chiffon so adding material to it wouldn't work either without changing the look of the dress.

 

My FI said I should go buy another dress and have it redone by another person if I'm that unhappy with it. Luckily, David's Bridal stocks my dress in store and the cost of two dresses would still be cheaper than what some people pay for just one dress. After sleeping on it, I don't know that I want to put my wedding dress on and be unhappy with it in any way. We are 28 days out until the wedding and 25 until we leave so I need to be making my decision soon! Am I over reacting? And am I crazy to go buy another dress?? 

 

Originally Posted by Jillsepher 

I've had a HUGE set back that has made me truly appreciate everything and put everything into perspective. I told Allie already but last Friday 8/10 I went in to my normal eye dr to get an eye checkup because I had some serious vision change. I ended up having a detached retina and got rushed to the hospital for emergency eye surgery. I'm completely blind in my right eye now. It's been a very horrific but humbling experience. And the timing honestly couldn't be better (I know sounds weird.) I ended up getting a gas bubble inserted in my eye that makes me unable to fly for 6 weeks. My wedding was in exactly 8 weeks from my surgery. I saw my dr yesterday and he seems to think I should regain most of my vision back just in time for the wedding. So as much as I've complained about a ton of stuff recently it all seems like peanuts compared to this hurdle. I have been able to see how much my FI will truly help me and love me in sickness and in health and feel truly blessed to be marrying him. I'm now just happy to be marrying my best friend and have left everything up to fate. All my planning is done and I'm positive that everything will be perfect. 

[chiquita8302]

Mrendic- This got me back to thinking about centerpieces. I'm not willing to spend a bunch on centerpieces with big flowers or whatever- it's just not something that's important to me. But, I do want the tables to look pretty. You did a great job adding in pink to this...

So aside from the maraca, it looks like you have candy or something as favors? then what is it that you have the pink bow on?

Otherwise, the main centerpice you have what? I think I see starfsih, and some smaller candles around the table number? If you don't mind chatting centerpieces with me, i'd love to know more about yours... it looks like it was affordable and easy enough to carry down whatever you may have brought.... THANK YOU!

-Chris

Originally Posted by mrendic   

 

 

[chiquita8302]

Congrats on your dress decision- I"m sure it will be perfect!

 

 

So, I went to the links you posted (thank you for that!!) and couldn't help but share with you girls this comment from one  of the terrible reviews....

 

"The outdoor shower was just weird. I had assumed it was to wash the sand off of you before entering the suite but it was on the opposite side of the room from the patio so you trampled sand and water through the suite when coming in. Plus the shower head sprays water straight out and not down, it's impossible to shower or wash off out there."

 

I just laughed so hard at all the negative comments this person had, and I"m so glad that I'm not marrying this person- way to kill the romance! I love that they can't think of anything better to do with the shower than to clean off the sand!!  LOL

 

 

Originally Posted by ONEILL12 

I decided it was worth the extra money to buy another dress and called David's Bridal to put one on hold for me. I got on Ebay afterwards, honestly not expecting to even find my dress listed, and found that the only dress listed like mine just happened to be in my size! And even better,  it was listed for $100 less than David's price and even included free shipping! That was my sign, so I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival to my door! The dress isn't real big so taking two down and using the old one for a TTD session would work out good. Maybe I can get it cleaned up good enough to sell when we get home too! Thanks for the suggestions ladies

 

Jillsepher - Any unexpected illness would be incredibly tough to deal with so close to your big trip, but I can't imagine how much harder it is when it's your vision! We take it for granted and never think of how tough it would be without it. Thank goodness for the timing! I'm glad to hear you are doing better...keep us updated!

 

TheWolferts - Did they have false eyelahes at the salon when you got your wedding makeup done? I'm not sure wether to bring some from home or not. Also, what kind of sunscreen did you take and did you think it was enough? I've read reviews where people say only zinc oxide works in the Mexican sun but also have heard that regular SPF 30 is enough protection. I've bought both but I don't want to risk getting fried before the wedding  !!

 

We're down to three weeks before take off ! I think I can honestly say I've never been more excited for anything in my life! My FI and I have been on TripAdvisor.com reading people's reviews of the resort and looking at pictures they have posted. Some people really dog the resort but it makes you wonder if they're the kind of people who can never be pleased in life, and others offer really good tips and advice (like packing floats or rafts if you're staying in a swim up).

Here is the link for the link for the casitas side: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g659488-d1720341-Reviews-or10-El_Dorado_Casitas_Royale_by_Karisma-Riviera_Maya_Yucatan_Peninsula.html#REVIEWS

and here is the link for the royale side: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g659488-d574249-Reviews-El_Dorado_Royale-Riviera_Maya_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

[murmel]

Originally Posted by chiquita8302 

 

Congrats on your dress decision- I"m sure it will be perfect!

 

 

So, I went to the links you posted (thank you for that!!) and couldn't help but share with you girls this comment from one  of the terrible reviews....

 

"The outdoor shower was just weird. I had assumed it was to wash the sand off of you before entering the suite but it was on the opposite side of the room from the patio so you trampled sand and water through the suite when coming in. Plus the shower head sprays water straight out and not down, it's impossible to shower or wash off out there."

 

I just laughed so hard at all the negative comments this person had, and I"m so glad that I'm not marrying this person- way to kill the romance! I love that they can't think of anything better to do with the shower than to clean off the sand!!  LOL

 

 

 LOL! I LOVED the outdoor shower (Casitias side only)! And yes, it's true it does shorta shoot out and up....but it looks like a branch that has been made into a shower head. So unique! It's just such a neat treat to shower outside ....naked and not be seen!

[TheWolferts]

Did anyone see this horrible TTD article?

 

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/331603

 

I guess its a good reminder to be careful when doing your TTD in the water.

[murmel]

Heard about it on the weekend. So tragic. And yes, a very good reminder if you choose to do a TTD in the water- be careful. Avoid currents, strong tides and be aware that the dress does get very heavy!