2013 Iberostar Rose Hall Suites Brides

[carajoe08]

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm so pumped for what we have in store for us this year.

[fut MrsAntenor]

Hi Alie1, For my cocktail hour, we are doing shrimp cocktail and jerk chicken wings with open bar in Blue Moon. For the dinner in Calabash, the guest have been given three choices, which I have already mailed to them and starting to get meal cards back; oxtails, lamb chops and snapper filet. All of these has been confirmed with Nicole and Tiffany. Please note that if you do not want their appetizer menus, they will charge you per piece of food. Meaning, I have to pay $2.20 per shrimp that I want and $1.50 per chicken wing....rather annoying but we weren't fond of their apps menus. Hope that helps!!

what are you donig for your customized menus?  The hotel allowed you to do that?

[fut MrsAntenor]

Hi Woods26, All of my details have been confirmed with Nicole and Tiffany either during our previsit in June 2012 or over email during the past few months. It definitely is not easy to get a hold of them but eventually I do get responses. All of my vendors have also been contacted. I just need to get things going so I'm not super stressed. For us, we have noticed that the price for what we want is no different from what we would have paid for a wedding in NY, especially photos and flowers. OMG. When do you arrive at the resort? We get there on May 8, with most of our guest arriving on May 10.

Wow, Fut MrsAntenor! You have so many details planned out! Just wondering, are they confirmed with Nicole/Tiffany, or are these just the items you want? I'm getting married the day before (May 11, 2013), and I want to know if I should be firming up my details, too (I remember Nicole saying we'd start 3 months ahead of time, so I thought I had a bit more time). My "Wish List" Welcome dinner or cocktail party (May 9): Undecided location Rehearsal/Group dinner (May 10): Japanese restaurant (Beach location) Ceremony Time: 4:30pm Ceremony Location: Undecided - beach, gazebo, or lazy river Pictures/cocktails on the beach: 5 - 6:15pm Reception Location: Calabash - not rented (6:30 - 8:30pm) Bonfire/cocktails on the beach: 9-11pm I'm only going to have about 30 people, but I've read from various reviews on this site, that although you're not paying for a Private or Semi-Private reception, with a group that size, the hotel won't seat other guests. I don't know how many other brides chose a destination wedding because it's significantly cheaper than having a wedding back home (especially being around Washington, DC). That said, I'm looking for ways to save money, while still ensuring my guests having an amazing day (i.e., a bonfire is more exciting for them than centerpieces or table runners). Anyone with suggestions for saving money (or at least not wasting money), please send them my way! I'm also planning to send a package directly to the hotel with items for my welcome bags (which I'll assemble when I get to the hotel), and I'd like to find out if Tiffany/Nicole can reserve a section of some restaurant for a group dinner on our last day - has anyone asked about that?

[fut MrsAntenor]

As for the group dinner, we confirmed with the WCs about a welcome dinner (70+ guest) and a rehearsal dinner (15+ guest) and most of our guest are only staying for 4 days. Just ask them.

I'll agree with Justine ... i don't believe they will accept packages either. Plus, I've heard horror stories of the WC not getting the wedding documents ... I don't know how comfortable I would be paying a ton of money to ship something, when they seem to have mix ups between their resorts.  Are you planning on booking a DJ for your bonfire ? The only reason I ask, is because I have read that dinners often go over scheduled time ... and some brides have lost money to a DJ that they book for 2 hrs, and only use for 1 !  As far as the group dinner ... as long as you're staying enough days, you should be able to reserve a group dinner when you arrive. For instance, the rehearsal/welcome dinner counts as one of your guests reservations. Therefore, a last day group dinner would just count as another reservation I would think. With that said, anyone know how many reservations you get with a 4 night stay ? 

[fut MrsAntenor]

Hi Woods26, All of the details have been confirmed with Nicole and Tiffany either during our site visit and emails. I need to have things ironed to avoid unnecessary stress When do you arrive to the resort? We arrive on May 8 with most of the guest arriving on May 10.

Wow, Fut MrsAntenor! You have so many details planned out! Just wondering, are they confirmed with Nicole/Tiffany, or are these just the items you want? I'm getting married the day before (May 11, 2013), and I want to know if I should be firming up my details, too (I remember Nicole saying we'd start 3 months ahead of time, so I thought I had a bit more time). My "Wish List" Welcome dinner or cocktail party (May 9): Undecided location Rehearsal/Group dinner (May 10): Japanese restaurant (Beach location) Ceremony Time: 4:30pm Ceremony Location: Undecided - beach, gazebo, or lazy river Pictures/cocktails on the beach: 5 - 6:15pm Reception Location: Calabash - not rented (6:30 - 8:30pm) Bonfire/cocktails on the beach: 9-11pm I'm only going to have about 30 people, but I've read from various reviews on this site, that although you're not paying for a Private or Semi-Private reception, with a group that size, the hotel won't seat other guests. I don't know how many other brides chose a destination wedding because it's significantly cheaper than having a wedding back home (especially being around Washington, DC). That said, I'm looking for ways to save money, while still ensuring my guests having an amazing day (i.e., a bonfire is more exciting for them than centerpieces or table runners). Anyone with suggestions for saving money (or at least not wasting money), please send them my way! I'm also planning to send a package directly to the hotel with items for my welcome bags (which I'll assemble when I get to the hotel), and I'd like to find out if Tiffany/Nicole can reserve a section of some restaurant for a group dinner on our last day - has anyone asked about that?

[Woods26]

We arrive on May 8th (most guests will get there on the 9th, with a few arriving on the 10th), and then we're staying until the 17th (most guests are only staying 3 nights). Glad to hear that you were able to customize the menu at Calabash, albeit for extra $$, but it definitely seems worth it.

 

I can't remember who asked earlier, but we are not going to have a DJ at the bonfire; just bringing Bose speakers and an iPod. Towards the end we're going to light Wishing Lanterns.

[fut MrsAntenor]

We may see you there, Woods26; checking in on the same day. However, we leave on May 14 to honeymoon in Antigua.

We arrive on May 8th (most guests will get there on the 9th, with a few arriving on the 10th), and then we're staying until the 17th (most guests are only staying 3 nights). Glad to hear that you were able to customize the menu at Calabash, albeit for extra $$, but it definitely seems worth it. I can't remember who asked earlier, but we are not going to have a DJ at the bonfire; just bringing Bose speakers and an iPod. Towards the end we're going to light Wishing Lanterns.

[animo]

Just wanted to let you know I finally heard back from Nicole to give me the final official confirmation. She also stated in that email that they don't start planning until 3 months from the wedding date but are always glad to answer questions. When she has answered me in the past, she will usually answer a couple questions, but not all. But at least I heard back. I guess I'll try to plan in my head for now & finalize with her later. I hope you hear back soon. It did take her 3 weeks to get back to me. But when I asked my travel agent to check for me, then I heard from Nicole. So sometimes it takes a push & sometimes just takes some time. So now I am ready to send out my save the dates/invitations. I am only 7 months away, so I need to get these out asap. Happy planning.

Received my confirmation as well during the holidays. I'm going to send a consolidated list of questions, understanding that it may take a bit for a response. Other than that I'll trust them that everything will be planned appropriately 3mths prior. The invites were the biggest thing on my list ... Menus, decor etc not stressing about that yet as my date is Dec 2013.

[Kassi22]

I see everyone posting that the wedding coordinators contact you about 3 months prior to the wedding date to get everything ironed out.

 

Has this actually happened with people?

 

I was told by my TA and its also in the Wedding Package Details that they will contact you 1 month prior..

 

My wedding is less then 3 months away and I have not heard anything. I don't expect to until 1 month prior... however I am curious if people heard as far as 3 months out as it would be nicer to have things ironed out sooner rather then later!
 

[newbiebridetobe]

I am about 1.5 months out and haven't heard a thing.  I am doing my ceremony off-site, however, but am still doing the reception dinner at the resort.  At this point I've pretty much accepted that I may not know if I'm having a private or semi private dinner or at which restaurant until we get there!