Paradisus Riviera Brides - POST HERE!

I just heard from Perla yesterday- she has been sick this past week. She usually responds to emails within a day or so, and is WONDERFUL in person. Hope this helps.

Could anyone provide me with their feedback on the spa at Paradisus? TIA!

Happy Wedding Day Kelly!

Hello everybody!! I don't get a chance to post much but I read all the posts and they have been very helpful.

I was just curious what everybody is doing for music - ceremony, reception etc.

I am thinking about doing a strings ensemble of some sort for the ceremony but worry about them being drowned out by the waves

I would love to hear what everybody else is thinking about doing.

Hello everyone!

I'm having my wedding at the Paradisus on November 7, 2009. I'm really excited about it. I did a trial run this past November and had a wonderful experience. We met wih Perla first hand and she was wonderful

Has anyone had any dealings with the in house DJ there? I'm wondering how your experience has been with him. I find that the DJ issue is becoming the most annoying part of planning so far. Any imput?

Sam, I believe Missy used Swank for dj service and had a positive experience. Her review is on this thread or the post-wedding review forum.

How is everyone's planning going thus far? Updates, please! : ) I can't believe how fast time is flying. As for me, I am still so indecisive when it comes down to picking colors, huppa design, and centerpieces. I already ordered bouquets from AA, but now considering selling them after realizing the amount of stuff I would have to bring down to Mexico. My bouquet, 5 bm bouquets (but now I have 7 bm), centerpieces... YIKES! I think I may order bouquets from the resort for the bm and use them as centerpieces for the reception. Decisions, decisions!

Hmm I don't know what sort of update to give really but people are finally starting to book and it's super exciting! We have RSVP's rolling in too.

- We put deposits on hotels for our honeymoon. We are just heading down to Tulum for some seclusion and adventure. We are staying at "Al Cielo" hotel 3nt and "Nueva Vida de Ramiro" 3nt. Glad that is all out of the way. We couldn't make decisions for the longest.

- What is everyone doing about mariachis? Are you using the hotel ones or do you have an outside vendor for that to suggest? I just can't get over the $1200 for 45 minutes pricetag but we really want them. We are trying to figure out a better way.

- As far as colors.. I'm not being super duper crazy about them but trying to stick with the invitation colors we used which were chocolate brown, an apricot orange and aqua blue accent.

- i have also decided to not spend extra money on centerpieces. I think I want to go with the fantasy candle centerpiece and then maybe add something else.. but I don't want to pay for mega centerpieces. I am going to let the beach be the "centerpiece". I went to 2 weddings in december and was paying attention to how unimportant the centerpieces really were. (But that's just me..)

- I am worried about having to bring down a lot to Mexico because I am the worst packer. Even when we go away for a weekend I overpack- so this scares me.

- I am going to wait till our rsvp date (2/15) to start pulling together OOT bags and stuff cause I have no idea how much to buy.

* Fanny - I just realized that we arrive to paradisus on May 19th.. you will be married!

Hey girls! We have 55 booked so far. Very exciting.

I agree about the centerpieces - who remembers those? What is the "fantasy" centerpiece. I was just thinking of using a hurricane lamp and candle for the centerpiece and throw some stones around it. I wonder how much they can charge for that? I thought the hurricane lamp might better protect the candle from the wind so it won't go out.

I am asking my soon to be father-in-law to play acoustic guitar at the wedding to try to save some money. If he can't, then I would pay the loads of money. I think music really sets the stage for the wedding and is really important.

Just an FYI - Perla confirmed with us that the dinners include 3 hours of bar. If you just get the appetizers it only comes with 1 hour of open bar.

What are you doing for OOT bags? I think the hotel charges $5/room to deliver them...yikes.

I was wondering what the fantasy centerpieces are too. Hurricane candle holders sound good. Maybe I can dim the lighting on the terrance (does anyone know if this is possible) and have tables of glowing candles. I love restaurants with lots of candlelight!

For OOT bags, I'll to keep it relatively simple w/ aloe vera packets, lotion, mints and perhaps a couple of other items and put then in small paper gift bags. I think I'll hand them out at our welcome party at the lobby bar.

I am 99% positive that the fantasy centerpieces are the hurricane lamps. I am not sure about the stones- but I may bring those down. Initially I was looking at center pieces that were like $85 each and decided against. When i asked about candle lighting ( i love tons of candles too) Elisa told me that the best ones are hurrican candles because the tealights tend do blow out easily since there is such a strong breeze on the terrace. I also want to find out how to dim the terrace lights. I was thinking maybe paper lanterns? Someone posted some LED paper lanterns (I need to find that thread again) Hmm fanny maybe we could split the cost since you are there right before me??

I am leaning towards a paper OOT bag. I don't know yet- again it's a bout minimal packing for me so we'll see.