Riu Santa Fe- 2011

[JenK]

Hi Ladies!  I am actually getting married at the Riu Palace, but I was snooping and I am doing something similar at the Palace-I'm having a semiprivate dinner, and then I have the disco rented. Lighting was mentioned-does anyone have some great ideas on lighting? I am trying to figure out how to decorate the disco a little bit as well!!! Any other ideas? Someone else I know got personalized cocktail napkins. I also thought to have candles.

[murphie310]

Sweet!  I was hoping it wouldn’t be too hot!  I have been there before about 3 years ago with my family; it was in August so it was insanely hot.

 

Another question for you: did you ask or notice if the wedding party was allowed to take off the "all inclusive bracelet" they make you wear while there? 

 

Good to know about the chairs...of course they show the nice ones without the covers in all the pictures. $10 a chair?!  That is nuts! So chair bows are a must. Danielle - I will def leave the blue one’s for you! 

 

Darn I thought Costco was closer...wierd.  I was hoping to get extra cake there and good wine or champagne for the toast. ($20 for a bottle of champagne is too much and $8 for extra slices of cake is a rip off!) With about 130 people coming I need to find a way to cut corners! I bet Wal-mart will have decent stuff that will work if we can’t make it to Costco. 

 

haha, yeah the mariachi is a must as it was my fiancé’s only request.  He is not a fan of dj's and reception dancing so he was ok with it if we could have a mariachi first! 

 

I was told that food was not allowed in the disco, but that they would do the cake service in there.  I actually think it will be kind of nice moving from the beach, to the steakhouse, to the disco.  That way we are not stuck in one place for the whole night.  We are doing pictures before the ceremony so from then on we can just go with the flow.

 

I think DW's are becoming so popular that resorts are now starting to take advantage of the bride and groom.  We wanted to do Cabo because there was no way we could afford a wedding in L.A. but geeze there are fees on top of fees!! 

[murphie310]

JenK - I think I am going to have all the bridesmaids and groomsmen transfer the center pieces from the dinner to the Disco.  I am def going to have some candles.  I am hoping that maybe they can hang some of the round lanterns to brighten it up a bit.  I have found some lanterns connected by string pretty cheep online. 

 

http://paperlanternstore.com/4roshpastli.html

 

Let us know if you can think of anything else! 

 

[JenK]

That sounds good! Thanks for the lantern link!!!! I also saw you comment about the all inclusive bracelet-that's a good idea, I hope that the bridal party doesn't have to wear it!!!! Hopefully someone out there knows about that

[TVM7211]

Thanks for the info.  I'll send you my email, and I'd love to see pictures!  We are now deciding between Disco (which my fiance also said was dark) and the Tequila Bar on the oceanfront side.  I'm also hoping I can talk them into providing house chips and salsa for the reception once the day arrives.  If not, I suppose I'll just have one of my guests fill up some plates and bowls for us from the buffett and go that route! 

 

Considering our guests pay for the all-inclusive as well as the couple, the $$ per head for food doesn't make sense to me either!

 

We're having 30-40, so hopefully our dinner area will end up being more private.  I'm not too worried if not - I just want the reception to feel like a real wedding reception.  I plan to bring/buy extra decor too. 

[abswsu21]

Costco is about 4 minutes away!  

Just FYI... we were just there and read lots of reviews before we went, the Disco is very dark and it smells like puke and spilt alcohol.  Basically a frat house.  I would not recommend it!  We tried it a few times and every time, it was the same.

[IdOinCABO]

Yes im having all of us in the wedding party take off the bands…we did it for our engagement pictures when we were there in October and the front desk seemed to be fine with it. We cut them off kept them in the pocket and then took them back and told them that we were taking special pictures and didn’t want them in there J

 

We had taken some pictures prior too and didn’t realize how TACKY they were so YES they are coming off or ill put it on my ankle or something!!

 

Highly doubt they will give anything extra, no chips or salsa (again it’s a doubt, not certain) I have been working with the WC and she is very by the book and nothing extra at all! It’s a total joke especially since its all included.

 

If you have a lot of errands and running around I would rent a car so that way going to Costco or Wal-Mart or making stops for last minute things is convenient.

 

The disco is very very very very very DARK…

 

I’ve been kind of nervous about the June Weather but at this point we are already committed J ! I hope there is a nice breeze at the least.

 

We are doing the same deal too (taking pictures before) so we can roll with it as well and since it’s a smaller wedding (under 20) we will take pictures w the family after and then move on to dinner at the steak house… I know that what they consider “semi private†is the same area but kind of roped off overlooking the pool

 

Also the chairs are ugly without the white cover! LOL they have the white cover deal and you can choose from purple, gold or silver bows or bring them yourselves. Also I asked about just a plain white chair and she said they cost 10$ to rent so we are going with the white cover deal…I’m trying to debate if I want rent a bow or just use silver. The ceremony on the beach doesn’t last long… 20 min TOPS.

 

The other thing im trying to decide on is if I want to bring cloth napkins or?? They don’t provide anything extra or special and I cant seem to remember what they used in the steak house for linen. We are bringing, little candle votives and vases and im doing Mexican paper flowers (to save money and give some flavor) so we are bringing all of that down. Also someone mentioned about paying extra for the cake and toast materials but does anyone know if you go over 15 do you just bump yourself up to the next package? Its almost 1000$ bucks but you do get the hair, pedi/mani or do you just pay the extra? I wish they would let you have a tray of the desert like mixy matchy from the main buffet bc they are awesome on top of the cake?

 

Yes all the DW’s costs go up every year and they really do get you for every little thing. I hate the idea of having to pay extra per person for anything at the All Inclusive…im having a few family members that will have to pay for the day pass and they are already complaining about that… (80 per person)

 

Gosh I know this is LONG but im getting so close and trying to help all the girls out with the info ive already asked!

[IdOinCABO]

does anyone have the flower website they use???

 

also has anyone done anything different for bridesmaids boquets? I dont really want to spend 65 each one...

[Babycakesdh]

Hey everyone!!

 

Just wondering if there is anyone on here who's gotten married at this resort recently...there are no current reviews so I was just wondering how the experience was?

 

Also- does anyone know about the semi-private receptions?? Do you still get a head table??

 

Thanks

 

Danielle~*

[Krys21]

Hi Danielle,

 

I am getting Married in Cabo San Lucas, April 2012.  We are staying at the Riu Santa Fe, but after a lot of reviews and from talking with people who have been, I've learned that the weddings there (ceremony and reception) are not very private, and can end up getting quite costly if you want a private reception.  I decided to look into having the wedding outside of the resort.  There is soo many more options and the prices aren't bad.  I feel like I might be only paying a little bit more for a whole lot more. We chose the Sunset Da Mona Lisa for the amazing scenary and the rav reviews on the food. I have lot more choices for colours, decorations, flowers, photographers, chairs, ministers, etc.  And the wedding coordinators are great, very helpful and easy to work with.

 

Just consider it as an option

 

Krystle