Riu Private Receptions

[KatieMcBride]

Hi everyone!

I'm getting married at the Riu Caribe next April, but they told me I am not able to speak with a wedding coordinator until 3 months before the wedding. Well obviously I have a LOT of questions (mostly money related) that I need to know before that...so hoping people who have gotten married at the Riu before can help me out!

We are going with the Caprice package (which includes up to 40 people, as my fiance's family is really big)

 

It says there is a semi-private dinner included, but from reading other threads on this forum, it doesn't seem like you can do speeches during the semi private dinner - is that correct?

It's important to me to do speeches during dinner....and I definitely want a dance with a DJ afterwards.

 

What is the cost of a private reception for approximately 40 people? What is the cost of a DJ for 4 hours?

Thank you!

[calgarybride2015]

Welcome! Congrats on your wedding. I don't have experience with Riu so I hope those brides chime in. I did wanna say though - the resort should still answer all these questions for you. When they mention the WC, that's the lady who will be present on your day and make all final selections and details with you. You should still have contact with the resort though -- responses may be slower but they have to be able to answer questions. I suggest you shoot them an email too!

 

 

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[MissJen3]

I can't offer any advise with Riu because I am not getting married there, but I dont get the chance to talk to my WC until 3 months before as well. I have found that when I email the resort, they will eventually email me back, but my TA has been awesome enough to be in constant contact with the WC herself, and she tends to answer my TA within 24 hours. If I have a question I tend to email my TA, and she forwards it to the WC. Maybe this could be an option for you?

[mark82]

Hi 

KatieMcBride,

 

we booked our wedding over a year in advance and we had a contact straight away.

 

it gave us someone to talk with and to ask questions that i no doubt know you will have even at this early stage.

Email the hotel directly and ask for the best person to contact with regards to this, the person we spoke to was not the actual wedding co-ordinator,  we didnt actually meet her until we arrived at the hotel but they were very helpful with the questions that we had to ask.

 

i would have gave you that email address but they left the company shortly before our wedding (i hope it wasnt because we had stressed them out!! lol)

 

at the semi private dinner we still done speeches etc depending on what time and location you choose will depend on whether you will need to give those speeches infront of some strangers!!

 

unfortunately i cant help out with private reception or dance/DJ etc as we didnt do this but again someone in their wedding teasm will be able to help you with this.

 

Mark

[KatieMcBride]

Thanks everyone!!
I had emailed the lady who was listed as the wedding coordinator for the Riu Caribe, and she told me she couldn't work with me until 3 months before the wedding.

 

I did email the manager of the wedding department to see if she could help me out though, as I need to know this stuff for budgeting purposes. That was just yesterday so hopefully she gets back to me at some point! No rush, but I need to know before January 2016!!! haha.

 

I will also use the suggestion about getting my travel agent to get in touch with the resort - that's a good idea, hadnt thought of that!

Mark - thanks for the info about the speeches. I'm alright with people giving speeches in front of strangers, haha! It would be nice not to have to pay for a private dinner, so we could save some money that way.

[Teacher2122]

My friend was married at the Riu and gave me all her info as I am considering the Riu as well. They also did the caprice package and paid an extra $2000 for the private dinner so they could do speeches as well as have a dance with a DJ. The DJ was $500 for 4 hours, but she said both costs were well worth it. Her wedding was 2 years ago, but I hope this at least gives you an idea.

[Megg]

I am getting married at the riu montego bay. I also book over a year in advance and I have not had a problem getting info early on. we are doing the semi private dinner that is included and added a beach party for two hours after. It was $700 for the set up, $15 per person open bar and we added a steal drum band for 1 hour. Prices will prob be different for your resort so I don't know if that was any help! They should have prices lists tho that they can send you.

[KatieMcBride]

Thanks everyone! That does give me a good idea.

The manager of the wedding dept emailed me back, and let me know that you CAN do speeches at the semi private dinner, so that will be a money saver...and then I can book the DJ separately after dinner.  Just waiting on prices for that, but it doesn't sound like it will be too bad..

 

I can't wait, I wish it was 2016 already! haha.

[penchauv]

I am having my wedding JUNE 2015 at the Riu Palace Peninsula, which is right next to Riu Caribe. The DJ service the Riu's use is PSAV. And the photographer is Photopro. The DJ cost will depend on what all extras you add, extra lights, lighted dance floor, and length of time, usually 4 hours.

[KatieMcBride]

Thanks! I got an email back from PSAV yesterday (which was nice for the quick response!)  Do you know if the wedding coordinator sets up where the dance is? Or does the DJ set up where the dance will be held? We are having a semi-private dinner at a restaurant before hand, and then having a dance afterwards.

 

PS - congrats on your wedding, let me know how it goes!