Generations Riviera Maya 2015 Weddings (And 2014 Too)

[kmk2016]

Yes duh.... Sorry! They are team approach whether Miami or cancun... But woops- I forgot that one! Good catch @@AllieH

[hanaefaith]

I am having my wedding March 21 of THIS YEAR! I wanted to ask past brides in Generations RM what they think of the food served in your reception. Which one did you choose? I am leaning towards the BBQ deluxe. Did anyone choose that? Please email me back ASAP!

 

-HANAE

[AllieH]

@@hanaefaith - several AS & EDR brides have done the BBQ and all have raved about it. I don't think there have been too many Generations brides just yet on BDW. 

 

We did a pick & choose dinner at EDR and it was fantastic. I don't think you can go wrong when it comes to food at any of the Karisma resorts. 

 

I am having my wedding March 21 of THIS YEAR! I wanted to ask past brides in Generations RM what they think of the food served in your reception. Which one did you choose? I am leaning towards the BBQ deluxe. Did anyone choose that? Please email me back ASAP!

 

-HANAE

[hanaefaith]

@@AllieH which one did you pick and choose? I was thinking of doing BBQ but it would cost more per person. I am deciding on giving my guests the choice of filet mignon or mahi mahi. I'm hoping the food will be good.

 

 

@@hanaefaith - several AS & EDR brides have done the BBQ and all have raved about it. I don't think there have been too many Generations brides just yet on BDW. 

 

We did a pick & choose dinner at EDR and it was fantastic. I don't think you can go wrong when it comes to food at any of the Karisma resorts.

 

@@AllieH

[AllieH]

we did the surf & turf (filet w/ lobster tail) and the pork chop w/ cherry glaze. my vegetarian folks had a pasta dish. our guests are STILL talking about the food and how good it was. let's see if these work... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@@AllieH which one did you pick and choose? I was thinking of doing BBQ but it would cost more per person. I am deciding on giving my guests the choice of filet mignon or mahi mahi. I'm hoping the food will be good.


@@AllieH

[lauralane]

Hey Generations brides! I'm 2 months out and needing to wrap up the final details. Was wondering if anyone knew or had recommendations about a few things I'm kind of stuck on in the planning process!

 

1. Ceremony music - I originally wanted the violinist, but I just got his song list and they're some pretty heavy classical tunes. Does anyone know if he's more flexible in person with what he plays? If you don't choose a live option, how does music for the ceremony work? Could we pre-load an ipod and will the coordinator play it from speakers? Does it sound OK? 

 

2. Flowers - I asked to swap out the green hydrangeas for white hydrangeas in the bouquet "BB-07" and the price went from $90 to $200 because they're "imported".... does this sound crazy to anyone else!? Can we wait until we get on-site for the flowers? (We get in Tuesday and the wedding is Saturday.) Our Lomas contact told us that we had to do this ahead of time but I wonder if she's just saying that because she'd prefer we purchase these things through her. 

 

3. Table decor - same as above - I'm really struggling to visualize the centerpiece options and tablecloth colors -- I know there's the gallery online, but the thumbnails are tiny and would love to just pick a few things on site; has anyone waited to do this? Will Lomas let us get away with it?  My general idea is a champagne table runner, transferring the bridesmaids' bouquets into vases for the tables and adding tea lights. Nothing crazy! I'd just like to be able to see things like the vases, actual colors of the runners, etc. 

 

4. Food - we picked the family style menu on the advice of Lomas; it sounded like everyone gets to try a ton of food, and they also mentioned that it's all served/passed, not just plunked down in the middle of the table! Has anyone done this?

 

Thanks, ladies! I'm so excited, can't believe how fast it's coming!

[AllieH]

I can help with the first question - yes they will do an iPod of ceremony music for you. 

 

just label the songs for when you want them played: 

guest seating

parents seating

groom/groomsmen entrance

bridesmades

bride walk

 

and then parts of the ceremony where you want it played. it sounds great! 

 

as for the flowers and linens - my guess is they want you to choose these ahead of time so they can have them at the resort for you. I would choose what you think is close to what you want, and then work it out with the onsite coordinators (you'll meet with them the day after you arrive). 

 

 

Hey Generations brides! I'm 2 months out and needing to wrap up the final details. Was wondering if anyone knew or had recommendations about a few things I'm kind of stuck on in the planning process!

 

1. Ceremony music - I originally wanted the violinist, but I just got his song list and they're some pretty heavy classical tunes. Does anyone know if he's more flexible in person with what he plays? If you don't choose a live option, how does music for the ceremony work? Could we pre-load an ipod and will the coordinator play it from speakers? Does it sound OK? 

 

 

 

Thanks, ladies! I'm so excited, can't believe how fast it's coming!

[girlinthecity97]

UGH! I have been trying to post here forever and keep wiping it out.  Here goes nothing - hopefully it works this time!

 

@@lauralane - I am using Vanessa Jaimes Floral Design instead of Lomas.  I want a cascading white orchid bouquet and they quoted me $420 compared to Vanessa's $250.  All of her other quotes for bridal party flowers and bouts etc... are way cheaper than Lomas even with her delivery fee factored in ($70).  If you contact her via email, she either responds same day or will do so in a couple of days. I think she is a 1 woman show in her shop so sometimes she is away doing an event/wedding. She has been great to work with so far.

 

Ok ladies, my wedding is beyond fast approaching and now somehow, I thought I needed my headcount before finalizing things like menu options and event locations now I am FREAKING OUT!  I am hoping you all can help me feedback on the following:

 

• Welcome Reception - did anyone do one of these in lieu of a dinner?  We have a little under 60 people coming so we thought we'd do a cocktail reception from say 5pm - 7pm to say hello and spend time with people.  What location did you choose? I am thinking the beach or maybe one of the lounges/bars? Also, what appetizers did you choose and did you just do a signature cocktail?
   
• Rehearsal Dinner - I know I have seen posts about this being included in the Always & Forever package but we are choosing a Memorable Moments decor package for our wedding.  Does this impact the dinner options? Where did you do your dinner and how many can attend with you? Also is there a limited or special menu for this?
   
• Reception Menu - based on food preferences selected on our RSVP cards, we have a split between beef, chicken and fish and will need 3 vegetarian/vegan dishes as well.  Does anyone have recommendations for each? Do you know if we can choose one of each or is it just 2 plus a Vegetarian option?
   
• Sound System - a friend who's a DJ is coming to the wedding and is going to do a playlist for the reception and cocktail hours because I didn't want him to have to bring DJ equipment.  Our coordinator says they have equipment available to rent.  Is it worth the $1500 or should we just stay the course with using an ipod and the $500 speaker system for this instead? 
   
• cocktail hour location - we are thinking of having the cocktail reception on the sky deck as well but I can't tell if the bar area there is sectioned off or separate from the wedding ceremony area.  On the one hand I think it would be nice to let guests mingle there while we are taking some of our post-ceremony pics there as well then see them again on the pier for the reception after we have taken pics on the beach and elsewhere. Thoughts?

Also, there seems to be a HUGE gap between the end of the ceremony and the reception.  Did anyone else experience this? If so, was this awkward? I'm hoping we can shorten the window to less than a 2 hour gap.  Was anyone able to do so?

 

• Cake - is this a separate cost?  I do not see anything on the planning spreadsheet about this.  Did you already send pics and get a quote?
  
  As you can see I have a LOT of loose ends to tie in a VERY short time. Thanks in advance for your help/insights!

XOX - spazzed out Girlinthecity

[lauralane]

@@girlinthecity97 - Thanks for that tip, lady! Her florals are absolutely beautiful (and your cascading orchid bouquet sounds beautiful!); I will definitely reach out to her. So, you do not have to pay the $800 off-site vendor fee to use her? (Or do you know that answer, @@AllieH?)

 

I am so sorry that I can't help you much with any of your questions except that I can email you photos someone forwarded me of the pier if you want to send me your email address! It looks like there are two distinct sides of the pier; you could work with your on-site coordinator to do a cocktail reception up there.

 

We chose to do the cocktail reception to fill that break between the ceremony and the reception; but really, the whole resort is basically one big cocktail reception! There are plenty of places for guests to go hang, grab a drink, and then come back for the reception. So I honestly think you'll be okay, whatever you decide.

 

My personal opinion on the DJ thing is just to stick with the plan of a playlist. Unless he's like... Calvin Harris or something, most people don't appreciate the art of a good DJ and you'll all have just as much fun with an awesome playlist he puts together for you ahead of time instead of having him doing it live! That way he'll be able to hang out and dance, too. Just make sure you have a plan for announcing your entrance and the bridal party and all that, if that's important to you. (This did not occur to me until a week ago, watching wedding videos!) Maybe it's just asking Lomas for a mic so that your DJ friend can do it. 

 

Finally, just remember that this will somehow all come together and you'll be ok! I totally get why you're freaking out but seriously, you'll be at your wedding and all of this will be behind you and you'll just be having fun  

 

--- 

 

@@AllieH - thanks for the tip on labeling the songs. I think we will do that! Also, good call on getting everything done ahead of time... I think I just need to sit down and make some decisions  

[girlinthecity97]

@lauralane - many thanks for the kind words and support.  To get around the $800 fee, Vanessa's team is going to deliver all flowers the morning of the wedding.  My fiance & his best man (and if needed a friend's hubby) are going to meet the delivery and take the flowers to the wedding office.  We would have to pay the $800 fee if I wanted to have Vanessa come on site and set everything up.

 

We are already doing that with the florist and possibly a videographer.

 

Oh one more thing, did anyone use Lomas' cigar roller?  I haven't heard great things about it for the cost.  I am trying to find the card of a guy we met during our scouting trip but welcome any outside vendor suggestions OR if you know that EDR or Generations has a cigar roller already on hand.  If that's the case, we won't bother with one.

Edited January 14, 2015 by girlinthecity97