mlklee2013

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Hi ladies, It's been a while since I've really wrote anything on this thread but I have been peeking in and seeing everyone's post, which have been REALLY HELPFUL since I have never been to EDR. I must say I have shared many frusterations as you all and there are things EDR does that drives me up the wall especially since I have worked at resorts the past 10 years planning corporate events & meetings. This site is where I found EDR and Gazebo 55 location. So I head to EDR next Wednesday and my wedding is on Sunday 4/28. I finally finalized all my wedding details last week, I know last minute, but I've been pretty busy at work, so honestly when I come home "planning" a wedding wasn't the first thing I wanted to do. I have some questions for the ladies who have been to EDR already. I hope you can help me put my mind to ease so I can sleep at night. Gazebo 55 - How soon did you have your wedding before the scheduled sunset (ie 2 hrs) and did you end up having shadows in your pictures on your faces? Since the sun sets behind the buildings (not on the beach side) I'm worried either the sun will be beaming in my eyes and I will be squinting or I might have a half shadow face. Would it be better to stand under the Gazebo portion or worse? Will our guests be in the shade/shadow too? My wedding is scheduled at 5:00pm and sunset is 7:11pm, is that a good time? I thought about pushing it back to 5:30pm as it will be a little bit cooler too but don't want it to be dark.Our Cocktail reception will be at the same location afterwards and then we head to Tucanes for our sit down dinner at 7:00pm. I'm trying to find some chinese fans for the wedding ceremony. Does the WC place these out for you and do they charge for you just this one little thing? Or should I ask a friend to do it? Ceremony Songs - Is one song long enough to have the two couples walk down the aisle before the bride? Both of our brothers and moms will be walking down the aisle before me and that's it. Group Bars Onsite - Rather than paying for an additional money for a "meet & greet" reception, we thought we could just meet at one of the bars with everyone and have drinks together. Then everyone can have dinner on their own at their choice of restuarant since they are paying money to utilize the restuarant. Any bars you would suggest that would have a nice atmosphere and the ability to order appetizers if someone is hungry? There will be about 37 of us, very informal and maybe on a flow basis. I would let the hotel know we are coming as s courtesy too. Also, would you suggest the meet & greet before dinner or after dinner. Will it be hot at 5:00pm outside and are restaurant really busy around 7:00pm? DJ - we are using Lomas Travel's Outdoor DJ and have put together our song list. Have any of you used them before and were they able to fade out a song for you? For example our intro song is a little long and perhaps all of our dance songs (bride/groom, father/daughter, mother/son) are a little long and may need to be shorten a little. Arrival Process at EDR - Do they try to sell you on a time share? Ask you to go on a tour for an hour one morning? I would like to warn my guests about this, they did this to us at another all inclusive place in Playa. Wait Staff Uniforms - Do most of them wear white shirts and khaki colored pants? I think I saw some pictures of them wearing these colors for private banquet events. We picked out some Tommy Bahama shirts in blue and green for the brothers and my dad to wear with khaki pants. I don't want them to look like the wait staff. LOL Wedding Giveaways at Dinner - Are any of your ladies doing this? Any ideas that's simple and cheap? Spa - I'm having my hair done at the Spa but on the fence about them doing my makeup. I was thinking of just having a friend do it in our room so we are able to be together and take photos together. Does the Spa do a good job on makeup or do they go overboard on colors and eye liners? Photography - We are using an outside photographer and the hotel said they can only be onsite for 8 hrs. Our pkg includes 10 hrs, most likely we won't use the full 10. I'm curious if they really "time them" when they are onsite. (ie the staff comes and tells them to leave at the 8 hr mark) Or do they just say this and since you have a private event you are paying for they don't really pay attention. Thanks for your feedback ladies. I'm trying not to freak out now...I go to see my seamtress tomorrow to get the bottom of my dress hemed, I still need to figure out my earrings and hair too. My friends are doing a Bridal happy hour on Friday night for me.....on top of everything else my mother in law just got into town today who is staying with us. Busy week....just taking one day at a time. FYI I found out there is a Walmart within walking distance to 5th Avenue in Playa Del Carmen, so worst case if you need to pick up some things rather than carrying them, you have that option. Also, there are a few printing places too if you need to make changes on welcome letters etc.. And they have tote bags and local food goodies/candy that you can use for your welcome bags too. I have a friend who lives in Playa, which she has help with a lot of questions. ~ Melanie

Hi ladies, It's been a while since I've really wrote anything on this thread but I have been peeking in and seeing everyone's post, which have been REALLY HELPFUL since I have never been to EDR. I must say I have shared many frusterations as you all and there are things EDR does that drives me up the wall especially since I have worked at resorts the past 10 years planning corporate events & meetings. This site is where I found EDR and Gazebo 55 location. So I head to EDR next Wednesday and my wedding is on Sunday 4/28. I finally finalized all my wedding details last week, I know last minute, but I've been pretty busy at work, so honestly when I come home "planning" a wedding wasn't the first thing I wanted to do. I have some questions for the ladies who have been to EDR already. I hope you can help me put my mind to ease so I can sleep at night. Gazebo 55 - How soon did you have your wedding before the scheduled sunset (ie 2 hrs) and did you end up having shadows in your pictures on your faces? Since the sun sets behind the buildings (not on the beach side) I'm worried either the sun will be beaming in my eyes and I will be squinting or I might have a half shadow face. Would it be better to stand under the Gazebo portion or worse? Will our guests be in the shade/shadow too? My wedding is scheduled at 5:00pm and sunset is 7:11pm, is that a good time? I thought about pushing it back to 5:30pm as it will be a little bit cooler too but don't want it to be dark.Our Cocktail reception will be at the same location afterwards and then we head to Tucanes for our sit down dinner at 7:00pm. I'm trying to find some chinese fans for the wedding ceremony. Does the WC place these out for you and do they charge for you just this one little thing? Or should I ask a friend to do it? Ceremony Songs - Is one song long enough to have the two couples walk down the aisle before the bride? Both of our brothers and moms will be walking down the aisle before me and that's it. Group Bars Onsite - Rather than paying for an additional money for a "meet & greet" reception, we thought we could just meet at one of the bars with everyone and have drinks together. Then everyone can have dinner on their own at their choice of restuarant since they are paying money to utilize the restuarant. Any bars you would suggest that would have a nice atmosphere and the ability to order appetizers if someone is hungry? There will be about 37 of us, very informal and maybe on a flow basis. I would let the hotel know we are coming as s courtesy too. Also, would you suggest the meet & greet before dinner or after dinner. Will it be hot at 5:00pm outside and are restaurant really busy around 7:00pm? DJ - we are using Lomas Travel's Outdoor DJ and have put together our song list. Have any of you used them before and were they able to fade out a song for you? For example our intro song is a little long and perhaps all of our dance songs (bride/groom, father/daughter, mother/son) are a little long and may need to be shorten a little. Arrival Process at EDR - Do they try to sell you on a time share? Ask you to go on a tour for an hour one morning? I would like to warn my guests about this, they did this to us at another all inclusive place in Playa. Wait Staff Uniforms - Do most of them wear white shirts and khaki colored pants? I think I saw some pictures of them wearing these colors for private banquet events. We picked out some Tommy Bahama shirts in blue and green for the brothers and my dad to wear with khaki pants. I don't want them to look like the wait staff. LOL Wedding Giveaways at Dinner - Are any of your ladies doing this? Any ideas that's simple and cheap? Spa - I'm having my hair done at the Spa but on the fence about them doing my makeup. I was thinking of just having a friend do it in our room so we are able to be together and take photos together. Does the Spa do a good job on makeup or do they go overboard on colors and eye liners? Photography - We are using an outside photographer and the hotel said they can only be onsite for 8 hrs. Our pkg includes 10 hrs, most likely we won't use the full 10. I'm curious if they really "time them" when they are onsite. (ie the staff comes and tells them to leave at the 8 hr mark) Or do they just say this and since you have a private event you are paying for they don't really pay attention. Thanks for your feedback ladies. I'm trying not to freak out now...I go to see my seamtress tomorrow to get the bottom of my dress hemed, I still need to figure out my earrings and hair too. My friends are doing a Bridal happy hour on Friday night for me.....on top of everything else my mother in law just got into town today who is staying with us. Busy week....just taking one day at a time. FYI I found out there is a Walmart within walking distance to 5th Avenue in Playa Del Carmen, so worst case if you need to pick up some things rather than carrying them, you have that option. Also, there are a few printing places too if you need to make changes on welcome letters etc.. And they have tote bags and local food goodies/candy that you can use for your welcome bags too. I have a friend who lives in Playa, which she has help with a lot of questions. ~ Melanie

Hi ladies, I have been thinking about trash the dress and have been on the fence. Glad to see I am not the only one. It's hard after spending a lot of money on a dress and ruining it. I asked a lot ladies what they did with their dress and they said it just sits on hanger in the closest. One said they donated it so someone else can use it. Another wants to give it to their daughter, but if you think about it, your body is different from anyone else and it has been tailored to you. So who can really fit in it and look as good as you? So why not get great photos with the dress and you can include your husband in the fun too and have great photos to share in the years to come. I'm getting married in the Riviera Maya and they have cenotes where you can only find there or Yellowstone. Some of the cenotes have Crystal clear water from the rain, no salt water, I would use those ones and let your photographer know. They make it an experience for you pick you up from your hotel. Prices vary between $1000-$1500+ depending on the hours. 3 hrs is about $1000 and then some take additional pictures on the beach or do underwater videograpghy which is cool looking that no one else will have because you did a destination wedding. If you think about it, it's like engagement photos which is about $500-$700, but with water. I think it's worth a try. If you are sentimental then it may not be your cup of tea, is what I heard. I think I'm going to do it!!!

Sorry...I'm still trying to learn how to use this site..... Shannon, Check out this link...you can get a 360 degree tour of the wedding locations. I found it very helpful. http://www.travimp.com/hotel.php?msg=cunelc Just click on take a virtual tour and click on the HD360 tab. Once the picture comes up, click on the picture and it will come up full screen. Click on the picture in full screen and on the top left hand corner you will see a drop down menu of different locations, you can see Gazebo 55 as well as restuarants/bars etc.. You can even click on the picture to stop it from rotating and move around as you wish. I booked Gazebo 55 based on seeing the locations on this site and other pictures. I get married on April 28, 2013, so this site has been very helpful. I won't visit EDR until days before the wedding. Good luck! Melanie

Shannon, Check out this link...you can get a 360 degree tour of the wedding locations. I found it very helpful. http://www.travimp.com/hotel.php?msg=cunelc Just click on take a virtual tour and click on the HD360 tab. Once the picture comes up, click on the picture and it will come up full screen. Click on the picture in full screen and on the top left hand corner you will see a drop down menu of different locations, you can see Gazebo 55 as well as restuarants/bars etc.. You can even click on the picture to stop it from rotating and move around as you wish. I booked Gazebo 55 based on seeing the locations on this site and other pictures. I get married on April 28, 2013, so this site has been very helpful. I won't visit EDR until days before the wedding. Good luck! Melanie

Hi Amanda, Are you still on the site??? Curious to see how the weather was during your wedding dates. Very humid at your wedding location and Tucanes? Getting married same time frame as you but in 2013. Thx! Mel

Hi Shannon, I just happened to find this site too and what a wonderful one it is. I picked out my wedding location, gazebo 55, based on it. Like you I am having my dinner event at Tucanes. I just confirmed my wedding date this week and I am curious what we can do with the Tucanes location. I think up lighting will dress the place up and heard from a friend you can add a light with your initials or logo on the dance floor very cheap. I personally think you can save money on needing to pay for a dance floor at Tucanes versus having at the beach. We are getting marred April 28, 2013 at EDR. I would love to see what feedback you get or any tips. Happy planning! Melanie