Any Grand Palladium brides?

I was thinking about doing the cake cutting early too, while the photographer is still there. But I think I want to have it at the dinner... We can always have other people take pics of it

Mexicobride- Our ceremony is going to be early as well, 1 or 2 pm (Rocio has said both to me!). We are planning to do the ceremony, and then have a cocktail hour, possibly do our first dance and father/daughter dance (so its done while the photog is there), and then have a cocktail hour from 2:30 to 3:30. We haven't quite decided if we will do pictures before or after the cocktail hour- I want my hair to still look good for them, but I don't want to abandon our guests while we do pictures! We may do pictures from 3:30 til 5:30 (when I think the dinner reception will be), and then cake cutting at dinner, followed by dancing at one of the bars where live music is played, etc. I'd be interested to hear how all you ladies are handling these choices!

I'm hoping that we can make some choices this week. My fiance is coming home from work tomorrow night (he's been away for a couple of weeks), so it'll be easier to make the decisions when we can talk about it. We just need to pick a photographer and come up with a timeline of how the day/evening should run. Biggie: pick and book a photographer.

 

We're struggling with what to do the night before and whether we should be staying in separate rooms. If we do that, we need to come up with a plan to make sure we don't see each other until 4pm the next day (when the ceremony starts). How are we going to manage this?? Have you guys decided what to do about this?

 

Jennifer

I've simplified it to this- we are staying together the night before, and up until preparations for the ceremony start. I'm not very superstitious- I just don't want him to see me as a bride until the moment I walk down the aisle. Hence, once I need to start getting ready, he gets kicked out of the room, goes to one of his gm's rooms and gets ready over there:).

 

jcarson- I'm right there with you on booking a photographer. There are so many options, but I don't really know who I want, really! I'm thinking about flying one in, but I don't know about that, and I'm worried about a local photog just not showing up! *sigh* so many decisions (besides deciding on a private reception or on just doing one at the a la carte, which I haven't decided on yet either!).

Most photographers don't take breaks so if you hire them for 5 hours then it will be a steady 5 hours. I was actually planning to just have a photographer for 3 hours but the one we chose will be with us for 5 hours, starting 1.5 hours before the ceremony. So, there will be 1.5 hours of "getting ready" (which makes me wonder..... I don't take nearly that long to get ready ever!), 1/2 hour ceremony, champagne toast after the ceremony, group and solo portraits.... I'm guessing after all of that we will have about 1 or 1.5 hours of the photographer time left. Maybe that is when we will have the cocktail hour. I kinda like the idea of doing the first dance there. We're looking into having the cocktail hour at one of the bars (hopefully semi private). I don't think I want the dinner reception until 6 or so and the photographer will be long gone by then! So, we will have to rely on family to take pics of the cake cutting.
That's all I have come up with as of now. Please let me know if you have any ideas!!

Yeah- I'm planning to have my photog take pictures of the cocktail hour (like a mini-reception) in case they have to leave before my actual reception (depending on how much coverage I get:). We'll see how it works out- so many photographer options!!

Mexicobride- which photographer have you chosen? I'm debating between flying in my own or having a local photog- I can see advantages to both, and I just haven't decided yet!

coppergoddess - We just booked Tamm's Photos Tamm's Photos - Wedding Photography Intro

We got what I think is a great deal and it includes an extra session which we are going to use on the Monday after our Friday wedding. I am SO excited to have this booked!!

I requested the menu for the cocktail/appy hour from Rocio but I haven't heard back from her yet. I will let you guys know when I do!

I just got an email from Rocio with the appy menu for the cocktail hour. For $14 USD per person you get your choice of 12 appies (there are hot, cold and vegetarian options) and waiter drink service for 2 hours.

Here is the menu:

 

 

Appy Menu for Palladium.pdf

Thank you! Great info! I think we are going to do our cocktail hour over by the saltwater pool for a great location (we are planning on getting married at the gazebo). However, depending on the temperature, we may move it inside so that our guests are more comfortable- who knows! I'm looking into getting a photog to cover from about 1 or 1:30 until at least 5:30, possibly 6 or 7:30. We aren't having a hugely formal reception, but I want the first dance and father/daughter dance caught on professional film, hence the cocktail hour idea:). We'll see!