randi.renstrom

Quote: Originally Posted by super19 Randi - I just noticed you are from MN. I'm from Eden Prairie, what city are you from? Jen Hey!! I am from White Bear Lake/Shoreview area. (I grew up in Shoreview, now I work in White Bear, but I just bought a house in Circle Pines). So a bit north of you. But that's fun....I didn't notice that

i added myself as well (nov 11 2010) and i believe trinas is also the 11th...but i'll double check before i add Quote: Originally Posted by LynnieS Hi Everyone!! I'm pretty new so I thought I'd add myself. Look forward to talking with everyone! Thanks for all the wonderful tips so far, they're amazing daphrenee - October 23, 2009 traceyfranzel - October 24, 2009 dcheung1111 - November 7, 2009 meli122 – November 7, 2009 olsontco - November 22, 2009 jaxsebridetobe – December 2, 2009 allison&kevin – January 8, 2010 loanmao - January 16, 2010 Playa2009 - February 5, 2010 diana&steve0304 - April 3, 2010 kimmy44 - April 21, 2010 jcooper79 - April 22, 2010 aerazo - April 23, 2010 kimmy44 - April 28, 2010 AprilandRyan - May 1, 2010 jennie.lewis - May 7, 2010 SDbeachgirl - May 7, 2010 LynnieS - May 14, 2010 Lexibride - May 15, 2010 tutti1299 - May 15, 2010 boolo318 - May 28, 2010 Denisema00 - May 29, 2010 Lady_Di - May 29, 2010 candicemarie - June 5, 2010 kenlyn8984 - June 10, 2010 ~Stephanie~ - June 11, 2010 super19 - June 21, 2010 cinny726 - June 2010 Pattie - June 2010 smckinney22 - October 9, 2010 Shirley_Ken - October 28, 2010 bmlynch - November 6, 2010 Randi - November 11, 2010 jesmcan - November 12, 2010 Trinas79 - November 2010 pineapplebride - *maybe* April 2011 vlynnw - May 6, 2011 stevensfiance - 2010 -Royal, Cancun __________________

i am doing the same. we are having our ceremony in the gazebo, taking an hour or so to do pictures, then meeting back for a cocktail hour at the garden by the gazebo before heading into the reception in the ballroom.

lisa - how was the royal i would love to hear any of your thoughts! good/bad/anything! i haven't been there, and won't make a site visit, so any info would be great!

we started to plan about a year in advance....but the flights aren't out until 11 months in advance. So we started to plan, and figured out if our date was available, and as soon as flights were out we booked, just to make sure everything would work out as planned.

are there any brides out there who are having, or who have had, their reception in the ballroom? i know most people have theirs outdoors and it turns out amazing, but we kind of prefer to have ours indoors.....to give it more of a 'traditional' feel. we will be having about 60 guests and have the dj booked. i've just heard so much about the beach receptions, i was just curious

i definitely would LOVE to meet up for a drink! we booked our trip the other week. we will be flying out saturday november 6th, and leaving saturday november 13th. our wedding will be thursday november 11th. i'm so excited! we are sending out our saves the dates this week! and i actually went out to "look" for a dress for a few weeks ago....and unexpectedly bought one! which they told me would be in around march, and i just got an email saying it's in! so i'm going to be picking up this weekend. things are just suddenly falling into place....it's almost making me nervous! i know i don't post too much on this site....but i am constantly reading! i have only really had contact with my travel agent. she is the one who has been contacting the wedding coordinator (she's worked with the WC a lot) . so i haven't really had much info to give so far.....but when i do have any info....i will definitely give it!

did you get any kind of discount for bringing in an outside photographer? I am planning on using the resorts videographer and bringing my own photographer

where did you change your reception to?

i don't know if anyone else has experienced this....but my travel agent contacted the royal on monday, to double check that it is ok i use ivan (i was just about to sign my contract with him to hold the date). at first, they said yes, that they go through him and he is a 'preferred dj'. then they responded with a 'new policy' saying that you cannot book him directly, and you must go through the royal, otherwise he won't be allowed to even enter. i emailed ivan and he told me the same thing, and i must book through the royal. so my travel agent got it figured out where he is booked through the royal, for $1100, but that includes the music AND the light up floor (on his site he had quoted me the same price for both). but i just wanted to let you know, incase he says he can't book you directly. you can book him through the royal for pretty much the same price. i was worried at first....but now i'm very excited!

i am just curious what people think of the ballroom (who have been there). we are planning on having the reception there (and ceremony in the gazebo). we know it isn't the typical destination location, but we like the idea of having the reception feel a bit more 'traditional' and the change of scene for everyone who has been outside all week. but there aren't too many pics. i've seen some from djs etc, and it looks decent. nothing extraordinary, but nice enough. i was just wondering what other people's opinions were. thanks

i'm so excited for your review! hope it was amazing!

welcome kristen! i have found this site to be extremely helpful in my planning! i am sure you will too!! and congrats on finding your dress! that is so exciting! i am going to start looking after the new year.....time is already going by so fast!

i'm excited to read the review! my travel agent has talked to the wedding coordinator and we are booked for nov 11th 2010! and i contacted ivan gomez for the dj. we are also using a friend for our photographer (he does wedding/engagement/family photos. does very good work). we are getting our saves the dates together now. everything is starting to come together already!

so i'm pretty sure i will being using ivan gomez as the dj. we can't decide on the lighted floor. what do you guys think? we are having the reception in the ballroom (we thought it would just be a change of scene, give it a more 'traditional' feel....but the beach/garden receptions do look amazing) i'm just wondering what your opinions are. it seems like most the people who have had it, really enjoyed it. we are planning to have about 50 people. do you think its worth it? did most the guests seem to enjoy it?

i finally made it!!!! i just read all 209 pages and i feel like i already know so much! thank you girls for all your information and input! it has been killing me not posting until now...but i wanted to make sure i read everything before i started posting and repeating questions/info. i am hoping to get married nov 11th 2010 at the gazebo at the royal. and then have a cocktail hour, and then the reception in the ballroom. our TA has done many weddings at the royal, and has worked with the wedding coordinator many times. we haven't put our deposit down yet, because if we do right now, we miss out on a special rebate (which would be about $1000 cash back at the end). if we put a deposit down in december once the flights are out, we can still get that cash back special. so our TA is working with her, trying to figure out how to keep it reserved and getting the special. but at the moment, we are planning on Nov 11th, and the wedding coordinator does know about it. we are planning on about 40-50 guests, but haven't sent the info out yet. but most the people know our plans and are eagerly waiting the info! i have gotten so much good info about photographers and dj's i feel like i already know everything i want! thank you guys for everything and i can't wait to give my input and hear what you girls have to say!

I spent months trying to decide on a resort! I narrowed it down to two...the Barcelo Maya and Riu Palace. We are waiting to hear back from our TA on prices etc. I am very excited about both of these places though!! Good luck on your search!!

I could be wrong...but I feel like that is a somewhat good deal. We are hoping to go to RPRM in Nov 2010 for our wedding. Our travel agent thought it would be about 1600/per person for flights from MN to Cancun, and a week at the RPRM. (She thought it might go down some with group rates etc). It is more then I was hoping for, but my FI seems to think its ok, and when you think about that being absolutly EVERYTHING included, it's not bad. I was looking at so many different places I was driving myself (and my FI) crazy. I finally got pretty excited and set on the RPRM and now I'm worried about the price. But then again, it is your wedding, you have got to do what you want and would be excited about. And you are kind of planning other people's vacations, you want to make sure they are going to get something that they love and feel like the $ is worth it. Good luck with planning! Looks like we are at about the same place/path with planning

Hello! I've been searching for the right place for a destination wedding for a few months and just felt lost. This forum/thread has helped A LOT and has definitely put OCX at the top of my list. We are aiming for Nov 2010 and we are going through a travel agent (who is a family friend). My main concerns are the beach and what sounds like, lack of beach. Also the reception and nightlife. I want to make sure my guests have a good time for the week, and I want things to run as smooth as possible. We want to have the private reception and music/dance. I have never been there so all the advice you guys have given is great! thank you!!

Congratulations!! My fiance and I got engaged back in August, and had started talking about destination weddings before we were even engaged. We are aiming for Nov 2010 in Mexico but we just done know where! I want something with a nice beach for walking, and something that will do a nice wedding, but not something that is "too romantic/coupley". We have a lot of college friends who are hoping to attend, so we want a "fun/night" atmosphere as well. I was starting to get excited over: Occidental Grand Xcaret but I am just not sure about their beach situation. I am really excited to have found this forum though!!