May 2013 Brides

[CourtandMatt]

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

 

Are you guys using a TA? Also have you already booked your hotel?? We used a good friend of the family as our TA and I couldn't imagine doing otherwise. Because she's a TA she has access to chartered airfare that is NOT published to the general public. This can not only help you save money but the stress of trying to get mass groups of people on the same flight. I would suggest even if you have the rooms booked to maybe use a TA for the flight portion and travel insurance so you won't have the headache of attempting travel for your whole wedding party.

 

We have a family friend who is our TA.  However, there was only one flight we wanted so we just booked it ourselves.  Our group can get airfare from her or on their own initiative, but we didn't get any group rate because we have people coming from all over the world, not from one main place.  We will be getting travel insurance through her just to be safe (after I talked to her, I decided to just get it).  

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by ChocoTaco7568 

 

Hey Khunt - I checked both Expedia.com and Hotels.com. I also Tried Orbitz.com but kept getting an error message stating the my request couldn't be processed.  I haven't contacted the resort or my TA to verify, simply because it didn't mattter to me since I have rooms blocked.  But this was the first time that I went to check prices and started seeing 'Sold Out' notices.  

That's becuase a certain portion of the rooms are blocked out by the restort as well as companies like Apple and AAA. So you're TA could see those rooms but on general public sites liek Orbitz it'll show up as "sold out". Wheeew good thing you have your own set of rooms blocked out.

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by chrystine888 

 

Hay ladies!

 

I'm just jumping in now; I love it how everyone on this thread is going through the same thing at the same time!  LOL!  I am in the process of finishing up my DIY invitations and in the beginning stages of OOT bags.  I am also making bridesmaid foot jewelry, place cards, etc. :-)  Good luck!  This site is a life saver!!!

 

-Chrystine

OOOh are you and the maids going barefoot for the ceremony? Welcome and congrats!!

[melnryluvco]

Ok so I already posted this is the Now Sapphire thread but I haaad to get my May 2013 girls perspective because you all are so lovely and responsive. So anyways, I just got direct confirmation from our WC Ramon about how much per person it is to add additional guests to the Eternity package. Drum Roll Please.....it is $94 usd per person over out alloted 25 (that inclds bride and groom in that count). So we're looking at around 5 additional people so that's basically $500 extra!!! I'm ready to just say F' it to the whole package and just go to the buffet. That is so insane to me. For got sakes we are already paying for ALL INCLUSIVE!! What are you guys doing and how are you dealing with extra costs and what not?? Has anyone tried to bargin this down? That is waaay to crazy and I'm ready to just tell them NO

[Tulumbride2013]

Melnry... Yea, its the same for our resort, only it's something like 65.. 7 for chairs ect.. So would prob add up to that much. It def blows bu we only have 20 ppl so far and our package includes 20 ppl so I'm not freaking to quite yet. Bt I agree its outrageous. I wish I had factored all this into our original budget before... But we didnt, so I'm almost hoping to not have more ppl come. I would certainly try to bargain with them. Maybe you can downgrade your dinner menu?

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by CourtandMatt 

 

 

We have a family friend who is our TA.  However, there was only one flight we wanted so we just booked it ourselves.  Our group can get airfare from her or on their own initiative, but we didn't get any group rate because we have people coming from all over the world, not from one main place.  We will be getting travel insurance through her just to be safe (after I talked to her, I decided to just get it).  

WOW! That is really neat you have people coming in from all over! Kinda sucks though that you can't get group rates cuz of it. Oh well I'm positive you'll have a blast all the same. We were kicking around the idea of travel insurance but I"m pretty sure we're just going to do it. My luck something will happen and we don't get it. Better safe than sorry!

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by Tulumbride2013 

 

Melnry...

Yea, its the same for our resort, only it's something like 65.. 7 for chairs ect.. So would prob add up to that much. It def blows bu we only have 20 ppl so far and our package includes 20 ppl so I'm not freaking to quite yet. Bt I agree its outrageous. I wish I had factored all this into our original budget before... But we didnt, so I'm almost hoping to not have more ppl come. I would certainly try to bargain with them. Maybe you can downgrade your dinner menu?

I don't think it works that way. Lame sauce! I don't think I can tell them if we get cheaper items can we have cheaper per person....but then again maybe I can. So we chose going to NOW resorts vs Dreams or Secrets because even though they are owned by the same company NOW was the only property to have packages for up to 25 instead of up to 20. Thank god we did cuz I'd seriously poop myself having to pay for 10 additional people at $94 a pop! Just so frustrating to feel like we're being nickled and dimed despite the fact that the package is already almost $2500 and that's not including any extras like flora arrangements or chair sashes. I don't think we'll do them cuz it's so much more expensive and honestly I don't think our guests will walk away going "You know what was missing?!??! Chair sashes!". Vent over for now. Thanks for the input. I will ask him and see if we can have cheaper menu items and maybe cheaper per person!

[danak71]

Ok so I already posted this is the Now Sapphire thread but I haaad to get my May 2013 girls perspective because you all are so lovely and responsive. So anyways, I just got direct confirmation from our WC Ramon about how much per person it is to add additional guests to the Eternity package. Drum Roll Please.....it is $94 usd per person over out alloted 25 (that inclds bride and groom in that count). So we're looking at around 5 additional people so that's basically $500 extra!!! I'm ready to just say F' it to the whole package and just go to the buffet. That is so insane to me. For got sakes we are already paying for ALL INCLUSIVE!! What are you guys doing and how are you dealing with extra costs and what not?? Has anyone tried to bargin this down? That is waaay to crazy and I'm ready to just tell them NO

Ours is $45 for everyone over the allotted $25...we're just going with it (we're expecting between 50-60 people) but we did know about it so we included that in our original budget. One bride that got married in May said to make sure they charged everything in pesos and not US dollars because she said they saved a ton if money that way. We are planning to do that.

[Tulumbride2013]

The only reason I say downgrade dinner is cause we are at dreams and we have the ultimate package which includes the gold dinner menu.. But if we wanted to downgrade to the silver I know we could and that would be cheaper per person.. Like instead of 65 pp maybe 45 pp.

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by danak71 

 

 

Ours is $45 for everyone over the allotted $25...we're just going with it (we're expecting between 50-60 people) but we did know about it so we included that in our original budget.

One bride that got married in May said to make sure they charged everything in pesos and not US dollars because she said they saved a ton if money that way. We are planning to do that.

 

See he made sure to put USD in the quote. Am I able to ask them when we're down there?

 

Originally Posted by Tulumbride2013 

 

The only reason I say downgrade dinner is cause we are at dreams and we have the ultimate package which includes the gold dinner menu.. But if we wanted to downgrade to the silver I know we could and that would be cheaper per person.. Like instead of 65 pp maybe 45 pp.

 

See I think our package is already at the "silver" menu. But maybe we can see if they have another option. Our package is the "better" upgrade but not the "best" upgrade.