Riu Palace Cabo - Maximum Capacity For Wedding?

[AlissaIowa87]

Hello brides-to-be! 

 

I am getting married in January 2015 at Riu Palace Cabo (hopefully at this point).  I had chose the hotel based on reviews of friends who have been, reviews I've read online, price, and one of the biggest - capacity.  I read on multiple sites and even Riu Palace's "extras" sheet that they have venues that can accommodate 300 people.  I had to wait until the date was even available and reserved the day it became an option.  I'm working with a TA to help with this, too.

 

I expect to have about 130 people fly to Cabo with us to celebrate our big day!  HOWEVER, I received an email yesterday telling me that the maximum capacity for my date and time is 70 people and that I can move my date to the day before, at a much earlier time and have 100 people.  I'm so frustrated because I chose the hotel based on the fact they can accommodate large groups, I am planning nearly a year in advance, and am at a loss for what I am supposed to do.  I even printed out my invites after I put my deposit down on the ceremony. 

 

What is the most people you have heard of/read that has a wedding at Riu Palace Cabo?

 

This is the first hiccup in my planning and certainly won't let it get me down! I'm hoping to learn something from this forum while I wait for a reply email from the hotel's wedding coordinator.

 

Thanks!

[jenna32schap]

Hey! Just wondering if you were able to get anything settled with the guest number and accommodations? I just starting planning for a July 2015 wedding at Riu Santa Fe. We also will have close to if not over 100 guests. I was told that the hotel will only accommodate 100 guests for the ceremony. Also, we have to pay $22 per person for each person over the guests included in each package plus the cost for open bar and per plate for each guest. Please let me know! Thanks. 

[nbarrera]

AlissaIowa87

Hi,I'm planning a March 2015 wedding in cabo, i'm expecting about 120 guest. did you resolve your issue? what do you recommend?? 

[AlissaIowa87]

Hello ladies, I ended up having to switch my entire venue because Riu was a nightmare to work with.  As you can see above, I originally had chosen a different date and they took my deposit, I had all of my invites printed for January 10 and then come to find out they can't accommodate the number they advertise.  I got past that, switched my date to January 17 and reprinted everything.  We didn't put down a room block because you have to pay a large percentage of the entire block as a deposit, and at the time we were unsure of the number of people, everyone was staying different number of nights (3-6 nights) so we did it under "flexible getaways" and was told we would be fine with how many rooms were available at Riu Palace.

 

Fast forward to a month ago, we find out that Sunday - Tuesday night at Riu Palace is 100% sold out and only 1/3 of my guests had booked.  We were looking into options of moving guests to Santa Fe on Sunday, with the option of day passes.  Riu refused the day passes.  Then after working on the issue of where to place, or split up my guests for the hotel stay, we come to find out that Riu had moved our wedding to Santa Fe months ago and didn't even inform us.  They were completely unapologetic and very "matter-of-fact, this is how we do things."  I tried to stay optimistic, first moving my date, then splitting my guests, but then moving my wedding?!  If this is how they treat a bride with over 100 guests before I arrive, I can't imagine the things that could go wrong once I'm there.  I also want to add that the wedding coordinator for Cabo, is actually located in Cancun which may explain her care-less attitude.

 

My solution?  I moved the entire wedding, and all of my guests to Melia Cabo Real.  It's a smaller resort and I've heard they have amazing food, it's the only swimmable beach in Cabo and they aren't a wedding factory so I am the only wedding that day.  I am just now starting to work with the wedding coordinator and so far, SO much better.  Also,, with Melia, my wedding package includes a one hour, cocktails and appetizers while we are getting photos done.  the photos are gorgeous on the beach or in their garden area.  As I get more info, I can send it on if you're interested.

[melisbriones]

Hi Alicia,

Is there any way you can send me information about the Melia Cabo Real. I seem to have a problem getting a hold of them and I'm trying to send out my save the Dates for May 2015 (Totally last minute...I know) my email is melisbriones@@gmail.com

Thanks!!!!

[jazzzy23]

@AlissaIowa87  Great choice!  I've been to Melia Cabo Real for a wedding last year.  It was very intimate and beautiful.  The food was delicious and so was the cake!  We definitely enjoyed ourselves and it made me fall in love with Cabo for my own wedding.  I'm recently engaged (April 2014) and I'm starting to plan our wedding.  We've stayed at the Riu Santa Fe and I loved the amenities and options (much bigger resort).  However, I didn't like how the beach weddings were right below the infinity pool and you have the drunk crowd yelling at times (I was there to observe from the pool while a wedding was going on).  Anyway, I was really thinking about the Riu Palace, however it seems like there are hidden feels for everything and now reading your review, I'm really siding against it.  Thanks so much for the info!!!  Congratulations and I hope things go smoothly for you moving forward.