El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[mstigger]

How very cool!!! It's a mystery vacation!!

Hope that it's wonderful! Enjoy your belated anniversary!!

Originally Posted by amanda50388 

Hi ladies, 

 

We are headed to Mexico on Monday because we were unable to go over our anniversary due to my husband's vacation time that had to be used by January. This time we are headed to Azul fives, we had to save on money since the trip was so soon. So we did funjet's deal ( Azul's fun for less) through our travel agent, where they e-mail you your resort a couple days before you leave, so you don't know which one you end up at. We are still very excited since we did tour all the karisma properties 2 years ago for our wedding. It however is a kid resort, but hopefully since kid's are in school we will not have as many. I will have to let you know how it end's up for future reference if anyone has kids.

[amanda50388]

Originally Posted by AllieH 

 

hey Amanda! have a wonderful trip!! I hope you like 5's, and can't wait to hear your feedback. happy almost-anniversary! 

 

 

Thanks Allie!!! I will let you know how it goes. I am just really glad it's a Karisma property or I think I would be more disappointed because you know they treat you well. lol. 

[amanda50388]

Originally Posted by mstigger 

 

How very cool!!! It's a mystery vacation!!

Hope that it's wonderful! Enjoy your belated anniversary!!

Thanks Gale!!! Hope your wedding planning is going great and it will be here before you know it.

[JEM236]

Thanks Ladies!  I'm excited. A little overwhelmed but one thing at a time right?

 

Since the date was just booked, my save the dates go out this week. If people will already be booking rooms, it seems redundant to send invitations but I think it is the right thing to do right?  For a regular wedding, I know you send invites around 2 months prior, but I feel like they should go out sooner? What was everyone's time frame? Was more information about the resort/wedding included or is that saved for a welcome letter?

 

For brides that already had their wedding, was the EDR cool about brides sharing decor and/or bringing their own? 

[AllieH]

yes, one thing at a time, for sure. 

 

there are no hard and fast rules about invites for a destination wedding. if you are satisfied with the STDs, and don't want to do formal invites, then don't. I had a bit of a SNAFU, and my STD's ended up being electronic rather than the postcards I'd envisioned. I'm a big paper girl (scrapbooking, etc.), so formal invites were a "must have" on my list. 

 

I used the invites as a reminder for final payment. They were sent in late July for our November wedding. They included the RSVP (so I could get entree choice), RSVP for the welcome dinner (because I didn't know when everyone's flight was getting in), and a card with a link to our wedding website (this had all the travel/resort info on it). 

 

We also did a welcome letter to let everyone know we appreciated them being there. I had one given to them when they checked in (the staff was not thrilled about this, but they did it anyway), and then one was tucked in their OOT bags (which we gave them at the welcome dinner). 

 

I was planning to share some deco with another bride, and it took some pushing to get the wedding coordinators to agree to hold it from her wedding to mine. They were eventually agreeable to doing it, but we ended up not sharing. I'm honestly not sure how well it would have all worked out, so I don't know that I'd rely on that for a decoration you absolutely have your heart set on having. I'd do it with stuff that'd you'd like to have, but if something doesn't work out and it's not there (can't find it, whatever), it won't totally ruin your day. 

 

they are ok with brides bringing their own. they will charge you a set up fee for it. this amount can vary widely if you try to get it quoted with your Lomas WC. they tend to like to price this and have you pay for it once you get onsite (in cash). this was one of my biggest stresses leading up to the wedding - even though it all worked out fine in the end. only one recent EDR bride was successful in getting her Lomas WC to quote and let her pay for set up before they got onsite. 

 

they will generally start with a quote of $5pp (per guest) as the set up charge if you bring your stuff. I never got this quoted to me - but other brides did. I'd use that as a general guideline, depending on what decorations you're thinking of. 

 

Originally Posted by JEM236 

Thanks Ladies!  I'm excited. A little overwhelmed but one thing at a time right?

 

Since the date was just booked, my save the dates go out this week. If people will already be booking rooms, it seems redundant to send invitations but I think it is the right thing to do right?  For a regular wedding, I know you send invites around 2 months prior, but I feel like they should go out sooner? What was everyone's time frame? Was more information about the resort/wedding included or is that saved for a welcome letter?

 

For brides that already had their wedding, was the EDR cool about brides sharing decor and/or bringing their own? 

 

 

[JEM236]

Thanks Allie! You're reply is a big help!

[JEM236]

I mean "your reply is a big help"...my wedding brain is messing up my grammer

[murmel]

Originally Posted by riz157 

 

So now that I'm getting all the costs in from Valeria I may have to cut our private Welcome cocktail reception.  Have any other brides just had your group meet up at one of the bars to give out the OOT bags and have an informal meet and greet?

There are so many bars at EDR, that meeting at a smaller one out of the way will feel like a private cocktail party anyway! Just let your guests know when and where. And if you have a guest list larger than 20, I would try to give the WC a heads up so they can plan for bartenders. As for OOT bags, we met our guests as they arrived at the hotel (we got married at Azul Sensatori), but it worked out great, plus the guests thought it was a really nice personal touch to be greeted as they arrived.

Originally Posted by mstigger 

 

So, I feel a mini-melt down coming. I'm just really fed up with so called friends complaining about the cost of attending my wedding. REALLY?? It's my wedding, and while you are invited it in no way means you have to be there. How about someone who is supposedly one of my "best friends" saying her boyfriend wanted to know how we can "expect" them to pay that kind of money to go to our wedding. Have I mentioned this is my 3rd marriage? I know that's a lot, but first time was my baby daddy who was abusive.....took 10 years of that and had enough. Second time was a minor lapse in judgement....he stole some of my 401k and gave it to his ex-wife. As I told my family, my picker has been broke for years!!! So Chuck and I went to high school together and I feel like I finally got it right......it just took some trials and tribulations to get there. We both wanted to get married on the beach and we wanted it to be small. I still sent out numerous invitations knowing most would not attend. I just don't get this kind of friendship....it is unbelievable. My MOH is actually a girl we graduated with and her and I reconnected last year while I was debating rekindling things with Chuck. She was great then and has been great now. She is actually making my bouquet out of shells - took that project on all by herself!! So, my local friends have done nothing. Offered no help of any kind and the one friend who I really thought would help me out has been MIA. My mother is attending the wedding and we are close, but she's been no help either. No input, no suggestions, nothing. I'm a hot mess right now!! I think this is what I need!!!

With my son leaving for basic in 20 days, I'm kind of stumped on the whole wedding thing. I have no motivation and just feel so frustrated and irritated!!

 

Think all that's normal?? Sorry for the long dialogue, just needed to vent!!!

I am so sorry to hear about all your stress! Just concentrate on you, your FI, and your family. The wedding is for you and your FI, and having guests is a bonus. But at the end of the day, it's your day. Don't let others ruin it. Just tell those friends that complain- "we didn't want to have a big affair here locally. We would love to have you there, but no pressure, we understand if you can't make it." Hopefully they are smart enough to then keep their mouths shut.

 

In the meantime, know that all destination brides go through similar stress, and we are all here to lend support!  Take a deep breath, enjoy the time with your son, and then get going with the planning again.

Originally Posted by mstigger 

 

Thoughts on bubbles ladies?

Found these really cute pink bubble bottles with hearts on them. 24 bottles for $2.89 and I love me some bubbles.

I really am a big kid!!

Thanks!!

Always fun! Although sometimes when it's super windy (which it is down there), it's tricky to have the bubbles blown or stay where you want them.

Originally Posted by jnitschke 

 

Has anyone done a hand-fasting.. or thinking of doing a hand-fasting and knows some good links for ceremonies?  My FI and I aren't religious at all and we're doing a symbolic ceremony.  So far hand-fasting is the only real "ceremony" like thing that I've really found.. I like the sand ceremony too, but I'm a bit afraid that the sand will just get shook up on the way home.   Any other good ceremony ideas out there?

 

Love the hand-fastening ceremonies. But you may find that because it's unknown by the minister down there, it might be a bit tricky to do right.

As for the sand shifting. Just bring some foam chunks down with you that you can stuff into the top of the vase. That way the sand will be wedged in place and will not shift. As well, if you take it in your carry on, you can keep it upright.

Originally Posted by jnitschke 

 

Another question... sorry for posting so many of these...

 

what kind of footware are your men wearing?  Does sand get inside the Men's dress shoes?  Should he be wearing sandals?  and if they're wearing sandals has anyone found any that look at least a little bit more formal?

 

It really depends on the outfit your groom is wearing. My husband wore a linen suit, with bright pink Converse sneakers. His groomsmen wore shorts and short sleeve dress shirts, some ended up bare foot, and others with sandels. But I have also seen more traditional weddings where the men wear dress shoes. You'll likely get a bit of sand in there, but I don't think it will be a big deal. And after the ceremony, they can always dump what little sand there might be out.

Originally Posted by JEM236 

 

Hi Ladies! 

 

I am new to this forum. I just booked our wedding on May 31, 2013 at the El Dorado Royale. I am really excited but a little nervous booking a place site unseen. My FI and I chose a destination wedding because we both have small families and most of our friends and family are spread all over the place. I also didn't want to be a bride that had to pick details from a million different vendors and I want to be able to party and see my friends for more that a few hours. Plus who doesn't love the beach?

 

Did you all use TA's? I found the rates to be better and we are only using her for the rooms, not airfare. I am super nervous because I have read some bad reviews about the site I used - destination weddings.com. I am also nervous about the how all the little extras from the resort will add up.

 

I guess I am looking for some reassurance and some wedding buddies.

Using a TA is helpful in a lot of regards. They will work at getting you and your guests a good room rate, as well as airfare. Plus if you have someone doing the work for you, you won't have guests bugging you. Also if you find a GI travel agent, you often get special bonuses at the Karisma resorts. I can recommend Wright Travel agency, see below for a direct link. (bonuses could include room upgrade, free cocktail party, etc.)

 

As for budget planning, it can be daunting, but they are lots of options for every budget in mind. I know when I had started planning I could only find the huge wedding packages that were thousands of dollars. But as you do more research you will find lots of simple options to keep the price down. We personally ended up with a basic package and then added on small details.

http://www.weddingsbylomastravel.com/planning/ This is the planning page from Lomas, take some down at look at the options and I am sure you will find the makings of a perfect wedding (and price)!

Originally Posted by JEM236 

 

Thanks Ladies!  I'm excited. A little overwhelmed but one thing at a time right?

 

Since the date was just booked, my save the dates go out this week. If people will already be booking rooms, it seems redundant to send invitations but I think it is the right thing to do right?  For a regular wedding, I know you send invites around 2 months prior, but I feel like they should go out sooner? What was everyone's time frame? Was more information about the resort/wedding included or is that saved for a welcome letter?

 

For brides that already had their wedding, was the EDR cool about brides sharing decor and/or bringing their own? 

There are no set rules for when and how you send out STD or invites. Personally I sent out our STD about a year in advance. Then we sent out invites about 6 months in advance with the travel info, TA contact, website, etc. I wanted to make sure if people wanted to come they had time to save up and plan. Once people had confirmed last payment and I actually knew who was coming we sent a little pre-travel package (luggage tags and what to expect in Mexico brochure, kids travel booklet for the plane) about a month before the wedding. http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/65791/pre-travel-brochure-for-mayan-riveria-cancun-using-word-photos-now-added-on-page-2 (link to the travel brochure)

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/69844/kids-airplane-activity-booklet-template-included (kids airplane booklet)

 

Karisma resorts have no problems with brides bringing their own decor. Just be aware there is a set-up fee which is determined by the onsite WC. This price could be $5/pp, but usually will be under $250. It really depends on how much extra decor they have to set up and how many guests. Keep in mind this a price that is negotiated locally, and is to be paid in cash.

[riz157]

I'm trying to figure out what what type of room to stay in...we're planning on being there for a total of 10 days.  Is the casitas really worth it versus staying in the regular part of the resort?  Would love to hear what everyone else is doing or has done.  thanks!

[Maybeachbride]

I am using the free dinner for a welcome dinner/rehersal dinner Saturday night since my wedding is on Sunday.  I want to have everyone go to a bar after but I have no idea how to narrow it down.  Ladies who have been there which one would you recomend?