El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[AllieH]

well ladies, I got my spreadsheet and we are officially paid in full! now let's go to Mexico... t minus 11 days.

 

[amanda50388]

Originally Posted by chiquita8302 

 

Thank you for that! I do think we're not going to do the coctail hour... It's looking like 20-30 people, with probably 10 or so being wedding party and the rest spouses/family... then just a couple other friends. So we're just going to wing it and have everyone go to a coordinated bar if they want if they are not in the pics...

 

Any other tips any of you past brides have about budgeting... what was a must have and what you really could have lived without would be helpful!! i.e. decorations, meal choices, excursions, welcome parties, favors, etc.

 

Thanks ladies!

We didn't do a cocktail hour either, everyone just went to have drinks at joe joes and we met everyone back at Tucanes for the reception after pictures were done.We did the BBQ buffet and everyone could go up for seconds, there was lots of choices and it comes with dessert, so we didn't do a cake either. We just feed each other the tiny desserts and you don't have to worry about food because there is plenty of it, everyone said it was amazing. They had different kinds of meats that came fresh off the grill where the cooks were cooking it and the sides were just as great. Everyone was a big fan, it was the talk of our wedding, but whatever you pick well turn out amazing. They have such great food and amazing cooks. We used the cocotail for our rehersal the night before our wedding and it was nice, we started at 6pm and they put us near the back with everyone and as we were getting done people were coming in, so it really worked well for us. Best of luck with whatever you pick. Hope this helps a bit.

[amanda50388]

Originally Posted by AllieH 

 

well ladies, I got my spreadsheet and we are officially paid in full! now let's go to Mexico... t minus 11 days.

 

OMG!!! You have to be getting so excited, I keep thinking of you. It's going to be here before you know it. I wish you nothing but safe travels and lots of fun!!!!

[AllieH]

I'm totally giddy. thanks for all of your help, tips and advice!!! 

Originally Posted by amanda50388 

OMG!!! You have to be getting so excited, I keep thinking of you. It's going to be here before you know it. I wish you nothing but safe travels and lots of fun!!!!

 

 

[Feb2013]

We are having at home reception. I have to pay for my wedding so to get what we wanted and to be able to actually spend time with those coming to our wedding (my FI is from New Jersey and I am from St. Louis and currently we live in the STL). But our parents were not all to happy with having the wedding in Mexico. So really to please our Mothers we said we would do something state side. We also wanted to do something to celebrate with my grandma and his grandpa. 

 

With that said we are now doing 2 additional state sides receptions. One in New Jersey a little more little a true wedding reception and then one in St. Louis (my original plan) in the summer as a backyard BBQ at my parents house a little more relax so the family can watch the video, see me in person in my dress and celebrate. I guess the plus side is I will be wearing my wedding dress 3 times so I will be really getting my moneys worth! 

Originally Posted by chiquita8302 

OK reading Allie's to do lists made me think of something....

 

 

....are any of you doing at home receptions?? I wasn't planning on it, but at the last minute here I"ve realized that none of my family can come (my mom recently got diagnosed with early onset alzheimers and it's just too much for her) and not many of my FI's friends can go, so I'm considering doing something at home, maybe in the summer? I'd want it to be casual, more like a party where we could play the video (I think I'm going to do the online video thing through Lomas where I think you get to keep a copy of hte video) and eat and drink and what not?

 

This kind of made me think of the registry.... I am not registering, but was thinking that I almost wonder if I shoudl consider it if we're going to have an AHR? Or if we shoudl just keep it as is and be greatful that some people are joining us in Mexico as our gift. Just a thought....

 

Chris

[CanadianLindsey]

We had our 24 guests email us 2 song choices each and then made up a playlist with all of those plus our favs. We just had a friend keep an eye on it but basically she announced our first dance, then hit play and away we went, dancing and partying under the stars and a bit of misty rain! It was awesome! The bar staff was really good at keeping the party mood up too. They had us all doing a congo line where we finished by taking turns doing "tequila boom booms" which was a highlight of the night seeing my Gramma do it! I don't think you will have any problem having fun without a dj. Everyone is on holidays, enjoying great food, weather, drinks and in the mood to celebrate your wedding

And yes, this site is therapy for us with crazy friends and families who just don't seem to understand the concept of a DW or doing non traditional thing or even deadlines or common courtesy for that matter! Ah good old wedding drama, you can't seem to avoid it no matter what you do so just enjoy the wedding planning journey(you only do it once!) and leave it all behind you on your wedding day

Originally Posted by chiquita8302 

Hey Lindsey...

How did it go with the ipod?? We're going to have a smaller crowd than initially imagined, but I keep getting worried about the iPod... I want to have everyone dancing, whether it be at the reception or at a bar, but the reception is 6p-10p, so I just want to make sure it's fun enough and a party atmosphere... I worry that it won't be like that without a DJ, but a DJ is so expensive and may be overkill with such a small party. We're having our reception at Tucanes. Generally my friends could have fun in a cardboard box LOL but this is a "wedding" so I just don't want to do it wrong.

 

As I'm typing this I'm thinking that maybe I'm worrying too much... I just pictured how awesome it will be to be in such a beautiful palapa (or whatever you call it) with open bar and something to celebrate... maybe it really won't matter and it will be fine winging it and we can just play the song we want for our first dance, and plan to play whatever after that....

 

The same crew that will be in Mx comes to my house every year for a Thanskgiving party and we play pandora on our phones through my stereo, get drunk and end up dancing the night away in my living room LOL so maybe I really am worrying too much...

 

OK this apparantly you chatting on board is like therapy- you girls are like my wedding therapists. LOL 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by jnitschke 

That's what I'm thinking too, originally I wanted lots of people and fun dancing- but I think they'll need encouragement to actually get up and let loose.  So, a DJ with glow in the dark necklaces and a light up floor seemed like the way to go.  But, now it's looking like the group is going to be smaller and all of that will be over kill. It's hard to judge what this group will be like, since I've never had this exact mix of people together before.  But, I don't have final numbers or even close to it yet...so I know I'm over-reacting a bit.   Just, everyone and their mother seems to be getting pregnant right now and my friends/family keep dropping out left and right. The big scare is that of the 20 people I thought were a "yes for sure" 12 of them have real commitments that they won't be able to get out of.  But, on the plus side the first couple on my "maybe" list just paid and bought airfare, so that is promising.  There might be other people who surprise me still.

[chiquita8302]

Yes, you girls are the best!!! Most of my girlfriends have recently had their own weddings, but nobody has ever done a DW.

 

That is an interesting option about having a DJ mix the music, not a bad idea at all. I'm still torn on the whole thing and will probably keep going back and forth for another few months LOL. Or at least until I hear how yours and Jill's are! :-)

Originally Posted by AllieH 

we are wedding therapists! lol I think it's hard to find friends - even those who are excited for you - who just "get it" unless they've recently planned a wedding. 

 

Another BDW bride mentioned they did the iPod route, and had a local DJ mix the music for them so it'd flow better. Is that an option? If you and your friends already enjoy the music you play on pandora, I don't think I'd be all that worried about the "lack" of a DJ.

 

 

 

What about getting everyone to tell you what songs typically get them out on the dance floor? Then you can work those into your song selection. 

 

 

[chiquita8302]

Yes, you girls are the best!!! Most of my girlfriends have recently had their own weddings, but nobody has ever done a DW.

 

That is an interesting option about having a DJ mix the music, not a bad idea at all. I'm still torn on the whole thing and will probably keep going back and forth for another few months LOL. Or at least until I hear how yours and Jill's are! :-)

Originally Posted by AllieH 

we are wedding therapists! lol I think it's hard to find friends - even those who are excited for you - who just "get it" unless they've recently planned a wedding. 

 

Another BDW bride mentioned they did the iPod route, and had a local DJ mix the music for them so it'd flow better. Is that an option? If you and your friends already enjoy the music you play on pandora, I don't think I'd be all that worried about the "lack" of a DJ.

 

 

 

What about getting everyone to tell you what songs typically get them out on the dance floor? Then you can work those into your song selection. 

 

 

[chiquita8302]

Yes, you girls are the best!!! Most of my girlfriends have recently had their own weddings, but nobody has ever done a DW.

 

That is an interesting option about having a DJ mix the music, not a bad idea at all. I'm still torn on the whole thing and will probably keep going back and forth for another few months LOL. Or at least until I hear how yours and Jill's are! :-)

 

Originally Posted by AllieH 

we are wedding therapists! lol I think it's hard to find friends - even those who are excited for you - who just "get it" unless they've recently planned a wedding. 

 

Another BDW bride mentioned they did the iPod route, and had a local DJ mix the music for them so it'd flow better. Is that an option? If you and your friends already enjoy the music you play on pandora, I don't think I'd be all that worried about the "lack" of a DJ.

 

 

 

What about getting everyone to tell you what songs typically get them out on the dance floor? Then you can work those into your song selection. 

 

 

[chiquita8302]

Yes, you girls are the best!!! Most of my girlfriends have recently had their own weddings, but nobody has ever done a DW.

 

That is an interesting option about having a DJ mix the music, not a bad idea at all. I'm still torn on the whole thing and will probably keep going back and forth for another few months LOL. Or at least until I hear how yours and Jill's are! :-)

 

Originally Posted by AllieH 

we are wedding therapists! lol I think it's hard to find friends - even those who are excited for you - who just "get it" unless they've recently planned a wedding. 

 

Another BDW bride mentioned they did the iPod route, and had a local DJ mix the music for them so it'd flow better. Is that an option? If you and your friends already enjoy the music you play on pandora, I don't think I'd be all that worried about the "lack" of a DJ.

 

 

 

What about getting everyone to tell you what songs typically get them out on the dance floor? Then you can work those into your song selection.