Paradisus Riviera Brides - POST HERE!

Congrats Erika! I'm glad you settled on a date and place!!! That was the hardest part for me. Once that was finalized - all of the planning fun could begin!!!

Thanks for the tips on lighting on the terrace!

I am thinking about not doing much ceremony and reception planning until Feb 1 or so when RSVPs are due. We have a big guest list that can swing either way in size, so I figure it's easier to see what my options are when I know exactly how many people. For example, things like the menu, cake, decorations, steel drummers/mariachi, etc. I have ideas already and can work from that come Feb. What do you think? Would it be too much for a mid-May wedding?

We have a photographer already, so that's another big check of the list!

Still debating the iPod/DJ situation. I want Mannia and his light-up dance floor, FI wants the iPod. I guess it will depend on how much money there is after the cost of dinner. A DJ could liven things up w/ lights and music selection. For some reason, I am just scared people will get bored! Def bringing some maracas for everyone. My cousin had them at her wedding and they were SO much fun to dance around with! Anyway, how far in advance did you reserve your dj? My wedding is on a Monday so availability may work in my favor? Who's doing iPod or DJ?

In terms of the timing for planning - I think you are totally fine if you know sort of what you want. For things like cake, menu, decorations etc. you can basically just tell Perla a few months before (even a few weeks).

We are using SWANK which is the in-house DJ service that the Paradisus provides. We met him when we were down there (his offices are right on Paradisus) and he was great. If you are thinking of a DJ you may want to consider booking sometime before the end of December as rates sometimes go up per calendar year - we booked in November 2007 for our wedding in November 2008 and I convinced him to honour the 2007 rates. Something to think about..

My ticker is getting shorter and shorter! WOWSER!

Fanny,

As far as a DJ v. IPod, I think it is a budget issue and person choice. I liked Missy's tips about booking before the end of the year to save money! I don't think you can really go wrong between Mania or SWANK.

I went with the DJ just because I wanted someone to "host" the wedding and keep it moving. I have been to some weddings where they didn't have a dj and they didn't have anyone "announce" the cake cutting, or people walking in or generally keep the party with a lot of energy. I think that the DJ can the party moving along with a great vibe.

That said - if you have a great IPod mix - you can get the same effect.

Congrats on Your beautiful wedding!!! Now that you've experienced the Paradisus, I have a question for you (If you don't mind)... My fiance and I are going to be with our guests for 1 week before the wedding day - Then we're leaving the resort, early Sunday afternoon for our honeymoon. We want to have a goodbye brunch with our guests, but after all the money spent on the welcome party and wedding itself, we cannot afford to rent/reserve a restaurant and serve another meal for all our guests. Can you give me an idea of what restaurants offer a casual setting and good food so we can suggest our guests gather there for one last meal together.?

Thanks in Advance for any advice you can offer me!! Stephanie from WI

Hey, does anyone know if we decide to bring our own chair bows down to save the $4 per chair, if they are going to charge us a fee to put them on the chairs? Like a fee for decorating since we're not using the resorts supplies?

I don't know. when we were deciding about chair ties, they didn't have what I wanted (fuschia organza) so I looked into bringing my own, and Perla never said anything about a fee. But, in the end we used the satin ones so I'm just not sure.

Ping Daniela or Perla with an e-mail.

I am getting married on the beach in the afternoon around 4:00. I would like to have a veil, but I am worried that it would just blow around in the wind and be in the way (during the ceremony and in the photos). Can anyone provide some insight or thoughts

Thanks!

Meredith