Now Sapphire Weddings Formerly Paradisus Riviera

[vanessav53]

@GingerJ228- OH NO!! Well you can hang out with my wedding at the club on Saturday night. We will DEF be there

 

we are actually flying out Wed AM from JFK with my parents/grandparents. We were going to come earlier BUT my fiancé only has 3 weeks vacation total and we are using two full weeks for our honeymoon so he didn't have a lot of days left. I wish we were going to NOW longer but it is what it is. I will just have to be very productive on Wed with welcome bags,etc. because most of our guests arrive Thursday( The ones that arrive Wed I'll have their bags delivered to them Thurs AM)

[GingerJ228]

I just submitted my form yesterday. It felt so good!  We decided to extend our reception by 2 hours.  We were debating on whether to do this, since it is $15US per person/per hour + taxes + fees (which we feel is extreme since it's an all-inclusive resort), but we decided that we wouldn't be ready for our special night to come to a close by 10 or 11pm, so we just bit the bullet and did it.  I am hoping we will find savings elsewhere.

 

What are you ladies planning on doing for flowers?  Are you going with the resort?  Or an outside vendor?  I have received a few quotes from outside vendors and the prices are so much less and the quality of the work seems the same or maybe even better.  Hmmmmm

That's so exciting!!!!  I'm using the hotel vendor for my flowers even though they are a little more pricey.  I may end up regretting this decision. 

@vanessav53  I will def be at the club for a little bit on Sat  - since my ceremony is at 5pm on Sunday I can stay out a bit after my welcome dinner.  I am thiking about distributing my OOT bags at the welcome dinner - Im not 100% sure yet.

[meganwitt]

@@meganwitt You can extend it as much as you want ( they will charge you for extending-- $15US/per person/hour to keep the bar open) the timing for my day is as follows:

 

Ceremony 4-4:30

Cocktail Hour 5:30-6:30

Reception 6:30-10:30 ( we might just extend until 11pm just because..)

 

I left an hour in between ceremony and cocktail hour so that we can take pictures and not miss the entire cocktail hour.

 

And I can totally understand the nervousness you are feeling. The other night I freaked out and decided I should fly down to the resort this week to see it because I was freaking out that I never saw the resort! I think it's just that time is getting closer and so we are just thinking of things to worry about!!! Try not to let your mind wander. I am thinking about all the exciting things at this point ( or at least trying to!)

 

I just actually got the wally60 in the mail today! It looks really big but so many girls on this forum said they used it. My fiancé is traveling for work next week so I am going to have him use it/bring it on the plane to test it out and see if they let him bring it on as a carry on so I'll report back to everyone. Jet blue DOES NOT have closets on board so I have no choice but to figure out a carry  on bag to bring my dress in. LIke you said I am short and my dress is not puffy/big since it' sa lacey dress for a beach wedding so I am thinking I should be able to get it down there.

Vanessa,

I cannot believe your and Ginger are only 2 months away. You ladies are getting married a week before me! We will be passing in the night!

 

For our wedding right now our timeline is

ceremony 5-5:30

cocktail hour 6:15-7:15

Reception 7:15-10:15,

 

But I'm thinking about moving cocktail hour to start at 630 so we can take family photos. I want to make sure we have enough time for all the photos. We are using amorcitocorazonstudios. They seems like we would be able to get all the photos in but since we having had a wedding in our family for 17 years I know my parents will want some good ones.

 

Its crazy how fast things are coming.

 

Has anyone flown United down to Mexico? Just curious about transporting dress. I had friend fly in Oct. down there and the flight attendents did not help her at all.

[DinaQtobe]

Ladies

Has anyone ordered late night food for the end of the night? I feel like knowing my group I might have to have a little snack provided maybe as the night is wrapping up before we head to Eclipse as I'm assuming eclipse does not have food there?

I am certain that the resort could do this for you.  Something like a "late night buffet".  It would cost you, but it's doable.  Room service is available 24hours.

[niknic456]

29 days and counting....I can't wait!!! I will be sure to write a very informative review to help all the 2015 brides out because I know it's tough trying to plan from a distance.

 

Oh and I'm having milk and cookies to end my reception, it's $3/pp and each person will get 2 cookies. My fiance has milk and cookies every night before bed like he's a 5 year old!!!! lol....so I thought it was a cute idea to add this.

[JaxBchKay]

@@niknic456 - that is such a cute idea, I bet you fiancé will love the milk and cookies!!

 

I have to say that Juan Carlos has been so great! I have emailed him a ton of questions this week and he has answered them all within 24 hours! I so wasn't expecting that since my wedding is still a year away but it's great to be able to have all the facts when making these decisions. I was bummed that the lighted lanterns are $850 from the resort. I feel like there are so many things we are going to have to bring with us already I was hoping that I could at least get that from the resort.

 

I booked Dean Sanderson for our wedding and a trash the dress session for a couple days after. I worked with Dean's wife, Anna and they put together a package that had everything I wanted and fit my budget exactly.

 

Have any of the past brides used the lounge furniture? Was it worth it if you did? I love the way it looks and it gives that cozy vibe but I'm not sure it's worth $200 for each little grouping.

[gannonham]

Thanks for all your timeline posts, ladies!  After reading them, I am considering moving my cocktail reception to later to allow my fiance and I enough time to take photos and not miss our cocktail reception.  I was concerned about people getting bored in between, but if there's a bar nearby, they could always grab a drink there.  Plus, it might give guests a moment to go back to their rooms to freshen up, etc.  And of course be a part of group shots.  Here's what I'm thinking for our timeline now:

5 - 5:30 ~ ceremony
5:30 - 5:45 ~ champagne toast (past brides, is 15 minutes accurate?)
5:45 - 6:30 ~ photos
6:30 - 7:30 ~ cocktail reception
7:30 - 9pm ~ dinner, speeches, toasts, first dances, garter & bouquet toss, cake cutting
9pm - midnight ~ drinking and dancing

@@meganwitt, I am using amorcitocorazonstudios.  I love their work and have seen so many positive review about them.  Are you doing a TTD session as well?

@@JaxBchKay, happy to hear you're ahappy with Juan Carlos!  I was also bummed to see how much it costs to do the lanterns.  They are so pretty and my heart was set on them, but it's just so expensive.

Ladies, I am totally blanking on how many hours are included in the Divine package for the reception :S  Is it 3 or 4 hours?  

 26 more days until I am a wife 

Edited March 29, 2014 by gannonham

[JaxBchKay]

@gannonham- so excited for you! You are in the home stretch now to answer your question, the reception is 3 hours but you can extend for $15 per person, per hour

[DinaQtobe]

Thanks for all your timeline posts, ladies!  After reading them, I am considering moving my cocktail reception to later to allow my fiance and I enough time to take photos and not miss our cocktail reception.  I was concerned about people getting bored in between, but if there's a bar nearby, they could always grab a drink there.  Plus, it might give guests a moment to go back to their rooms to freshen up, etc.  And of course be a part of group shots.  Here's what I'm thinking for our timeline now:

 

5 - 5:30 ~ ceremony

5:30 - 5:45 ~ champagne toast (past brides, is 15 minutes accurate?)

5:45 - 6:30 ~ photos

6:30 - 7:30 ~ cocktail reception

7:30 - 9pm ~ dinner, speeches, toasts, first dances, garter & bouquet toss, cake cutting

9pm - midnight ~ drinking and dancing

Ladies, I am totally blanking on how many hours are included in the Divine package for the reception :S  Is it 3 or 4 hours?  

 

 26 more days until I am a wife 

 

I would say that 15 minutes is a good estimate for the champagne toast.  You will meet with the WC before the wedding and go over this timeline, and they will make good suggestions too!

[JaxBchKay]

Did any of the previous brides use the photo booth? They seem so fun but I'm wondering what all they have and how it turned out?

 

Also do I understand the chair up charge? If you upgrade the chairs you pay for them twice? Once for ceremony and once for reception ?