El Dorado Royale (EDR) Brides - POST HERE!

[CanadianLindsey]

Originally Posted by LKocelko 

 

You suggest moving up the spa times?

 

You may want to. I found it to be a tight schedule, and since DW are all about relaxing and enjoying the moment, I think it's better to start early and then hangout in an air conditioned room if you find your ahead of schedule. Also, an hour for hair, hour for makeup is just an estimate. My hair stylist/make up artist Rafa was wonderful and took her time to make me look amazing...but she did take her time LOL!

[Jnadair]

Those of you who have done this before...were you given all of your guests room numbers once you arrived?  I have a list of guests, arrival & departure dates, and room numbers in a booklet for each guest to have and just wondered if you can get this info when you check in. 

 

Also did any of you request a specific room or section ahead of time, or just took your chances that they'll give you a fantastic room once you got to the resort?

[AllieH]

We arrived before our guests, and didn't ask EDR to give us their room #'s. We did ask our guests, and then would just use the phone to call them.

 

We didn't request certain buildings, etc. - our guests were spread across several buildings in the center of the resort based on the room category they booked. That was fine for the most part.

 

My poor brother & his FI were placed in a room next to my uncle & the woman he married (family drama!!), and my brother did NOT want to be there, so it took them a while to move him.

 

My girls were in rooms in the same building & same floor, so that worked well for them since they were almost always together.

 

I would suggest if you have folks you know will want to have rooms close to each other, indicate that on your room/guest list to your WC (one of the tabs of the spreadsheet is the rooming list - they will eventually ask you for that if they haven't already).

 

Having said all of that, your WC should be able to give you their assigned rooms if everyone is arriving on the same day.

Originally Posted by Jnadair 

Those of you who have done this before...were you given all of your guests room numbers once you arrived?  I have a list of guests, arrival & departure dates, and room numbers in a booklet for each guest to have and just wondered if you can get this info when you check in. 

 

Also did any of you request a specific room or section ahead of time, or just took your chances that they'll give you a fantastic room once you got to the resort?

[mstigger]

No, I'm not really interested in the getting ready pictures and we are nto doing the first look so the 3 hours starts when the ceremony starts.

Originally Posted by LKocelko 

Will you want any "getting ready" pictures beforehand? Or a first look?

[LKocelko]

Has anyone ever bought/done the private dinner on the beach? I was thinking of giving it as a gift to my MOH, and wanted any input people had. Worth the $140 a couple? That or I was thinking of doing a massage for them, but thought they might just book one themselves.

 

She's the only person in my bridal party, and she is so hard to shop for because if she wants something she just buys it! So I thought doing something there might be a nice surprise instead of a gift.

[murmel]

Originally Posted by LKocelko 

 

Has anyone ever bought/done the private dinner on the beach? I was thinking of giving it as a gift to my MOH, and wanted any input people had. Worth the $140 a couple? That or I was thinking of doing a massage for them, but thought they might just book one themselves.

 

She's the only person in my bridal party, and she is so hard to shop for because if she wants something she just buys it! So I thought doing something there might be a nice surprise instead of a gift.

The dinner on the beach is nice. But sometimes it can be very windy, and even with the wind shades they put up might be a little off putting for some. I know my husband and I enjoyed our beach dinner, but I don't think it was as romantic as we had hoped (because of the wind).

 

I love the massage idea (especially if you know it's something they enjoy). The Sky massage is amazing!  Another idea is to order a nice bottle of wine to be delivered to their room with chocolate strawberries and a thank you note.

 

If you have been friends with your MOH for a long time, what about a photobook of pictures of you and her over the years? I know it can be extremely difficult to surprise someone sometimes, but the one thing that is always appreciated is a heart felt note/card! Good luck.

[AllieH]

We had the dinner on the beach as part of our package. It was nice...but I wouldn't pay $140 for it. It wasn't worth that much IMO.

 

We didn't have the wind problem that Miriam did, but we were serenaded by saxaphone. And it was less-than-romantic. No lie - he played bohemian rhapsody! We were biting our tongues trying not to laugh out loud. "Momma, I killed a man..." - yeah. romantic!!!!

 

The massages on the otherhand were absolutely amazing. We did the sky massages outside on the beach, and talk about bliss!! Maybe give them a spa credit to choose what they want?

 

Or if they are the adventurous sort, you could buy/give them a credit to do an excursion - snorkeling, ATVs, etc.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by murmel 

Originally Posted by LKocelko 

Has anyone ever bought/done the private dinner on the beach? I was thinking of giving it as a gift to my MOH, and wanted any input people had. Worth the $140 a couple? That or I was thinking of doing a massage for them, but thought they might just book one themselves.

 

She's the only person in my bridal party, and she is so hard to shop for because if she wants something she just buys it! So I thought doing something there might be a nice surprise instead of a gift.

The dinner on the beach is nice. But sometimes it can be very windy, and even with the wind shades they put up might be a little off putting for some. I know my husband and I enjoyed our beach dinner, but I don't think it was as romantic as we had hoped (because of the wind).

 

I love the massage idea (especially if you know it's something they enjoy). The Sky massage is amazing!  Another idea is to order a nice bottle of wine to be delivered to their room with chocolate strawberries and a thank you note.

 

If you have been friends with your MOH for a long time, what about a photobook of pictures of you and her over the years? I know it can be extremely difficult to surprise someone sometimes, but the one thing that is always appreciated is a heart felt note/card! Good luck.

[LKocelko]

IQuote:

Originally Posted by AllieH 

We had the dinner on the beach as part of our package. It was nice...but I wouldn't pay $140 for it. It wasn't worth that much IMO.

 

We didn't have the wind problem that Miriam did, but we were serenaded by saxaphone. And it was less-than-romantic. No lie - he played bohemian rhapsody! We were biting our tongues trying not to laugh out loud. "Momma, I killed a man..." - yeah. romantic!!!!

 

The massages on the otherhand were absolutely amazing. We did the sky massages outside on the beach, and talk about bliss!! Maybe give them a spa credit to choose what they want?

 

Or if they are the adventurous sort, you could buy/give them a credit to do an excursion - snorkeling, ATVs, etc.

 

Quote:

Do you remember how much the Sky massage was? My WC sent me a spa pricing list, and I didn't see it on there. There was a sunrise one....but do you think it actually has to be at sunrise?! That's so early haha.

 

I'd been trying to find some informatio/prices on excursions, but haven't had very much luck. Jamie is just impossible to shop for! I think gifting something there would be better, as opposed to buying jewelry or something. I guess it's just a matter of deciding what that is. Whether it's dinner, a massage, excursion, etc. One of the last few things on the to-do list.

[AllieH]

oh no - it doesn't have to be at sunrise. I think it's the 1 hour fees that you see on the 2nd page of the spa brochure. it ends up being about $100 per hour if I remember correctly. so yes, pricey, BUT..it's the setting that's worth it. plus you can go early and enjoy the water ritual/facilities. 

 

there are many, MANY companies that offer excursions in RM. Several of them have desks right at EDR and will try to strong arm you into planning your entire stay (that was one of the negatives I had, but I can't blame EDR..it was totally the guy with the tour company that was an annoying sh*t lol).

 

We went through Lomas for the ease/streamlined process & payment. Some of our friends used Olympus Tours (but this was the annoying guy IMO), and they didn't have any issues with them. Another one I looked into was Riveria Maya Eco Tours. I'm running out of the office to a client meeting right now, but I'll look up the links for you when I get back.

 

You can use Trip Advisor to research the other companies/tours too - definitely do the legwork.

 

Originally Posted by LKocelko 

IQuote:

Originally Posted by AllieH 

We had the dinner on the beach as part of our package. It was nice...but I wouldn't pay $140 for it. It wasn't worth that much IMO.

 

We didn't have the wind problem that Miriam did, but we were serenaded by saxaphone. And it was less-than-romantic. No lie - he played bohemian rhapsody! We were biting our tongues trying not to laugh out loud. "Momma, I killed a man..." - yeah. romantic!!!!

 

The massages on the otherhand were absolutely amazing. We did the sky massages outside on the beach, and talk about bliss!! Maybe give them a spa credit to choose what they want?

 

Or if they are the adventurous sort, you could buy/give them a credit to do an excursion - snorkeling, ATVs, etc.

 

Quote:

Do you remember how much the Sky massage was? My WC sent me a spa pricing list, and I didn't see it on there. There was a sunrise one....but do you think it actually has to be at sunrise?! That's so early haha.

 

I'd been trying to find some informatio/prices on excursions, but haven't had very much luck. Jamie is just impossible to shop for! I think gifting something there would be better, as opposed to buying jewelry or something. I guess it's just a matter of deciding what that is. Whether it's dinner, a massage, excursion, etc. One of the last few things on the to-do list.

[TheWolferts]

Originally Posted by LKocelko 

 

Do you remember how much the Sky massage was? My WC sent me a spa pricing list, and I didn't see it on there. There was a sunrise one....but do you think it actually has to be at sunrise?! That's so early haha.

 

I'd been trying to find some informatio/prices on excursions, but haven't had very much luck. Jamie is just impossible to shop for! I think gifting something there would be better, as opposed to buying jewelry or something. I guess it's just a matter of deciding what that is. Whether it's dinner, a massage, excursion, etc. One of the last few things on the to-do list.

 

If I were you, I would try to wait to book a massage for someone else until you get there. Their Spa staff walk around the pools and beaches with really great specials. I was lounging by the pool with my fiance and a spa person offered us a 1 hour massage with a facial for 2 people for a total of $150! I think that option is almost double if you reserve it ahead of time with the hotel or your WC.