Paradisus Riviera Brides - POST HERE!

[nenamono]

Thanks for clarifying Neen that helped a lot actually. I still need to add an hour I think 3 is just too short and I would rather have the DJ for after the cocktail hour. The steel drummer does not sound like a bad idea at $350 (how long is that for?) during our cocktail hour, although after all this price gouging I have to be sure I can afford it.

 

We are paying $1850 for the 5 hour package with Citlalli. I cant believe the $3250 quote is that normal. Sometimes Claudia responded right away other times there was a delay. The contract was pretty simple and she was accommodating to any changes I wanted to make within reason of course. Why not try to work up a package with her that suits your price point if her quotes are too high.

 

Our guest guesstimate is 40, so far 16 booked YEAH!!!!! What about everyone else?

 

I was going to get some stuff from oriental trading not sure if I still will though. I will check again I did see some fun stuff.

 

We opted not to have a rehearsal dinner and will be doing a Welcome Party instead. Figured it was a good time for guests to get to know each other break the ice and to hand out the OOT bags. LeShay I dont blame you I would bring an easy bake oven and make some cookies for our guests (Im crazy enough to do such a thing) to avoid paying another fee at an all inclusive. So I 100% agree with you. I dont think I would mind so much if prices were average and consistent but Im starting to feel like my pockets are getting seriously empty. Ive heard of some girls just mentioning a get together at a certain spot/bar so guests could get to know each other they avoid paying any additional fees and all has worked out. So I dont see it as crazy.

 

Can wait to see your invites. I sent mine out 2 weeks ago and still havent posted Im such a lazy camera girl I should get on that.

[MissyR]

We originally had 30 people on our guest list and now it is looking like about 60 - we already have 18 people booked - I am actually crying right now cause my uncle from Calgary just called to say they are booked - all my mom's side has confirmed and paid the deposit - wow.

 

 

I think we are going to do the welcome dinner as well as opposed to the rehearsal - we have people coming from all over Canada and the US and most of our families (with the exception of our parents and siblings) haven't met as our parents live in different provinces and FI's brother in New York -

 

I am curious too as to how long the steal drum band is for - sounds better than the $750 for the mariachi trio for 45 minutes!

[neen]

i so wish we had a small guest list, but ours is currently at 173...yes 173. just kill me now. we haven't sent out our save the dates yet so no idea how many will actually come, but all our budgeting has been figured on 100.

 

the steel drum is $350 for 45 minutes. when i met with perla and elisa, they said it was a band, but honestly, i wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be just one guy. i have to re-confirm with perla and elisa in writing.

 

i don't think we're going to do a welcome dinner...we have a pretty generous budget and it still just won't fit. so we're just going to let everyone know in the welcome letter that we'll be meeting at the lobby bar at 5pm on Friday night for cocktails after our ceremony rehearsal/walk through. Then we're going to have a private dinner in one of the restaurants at PRM with just our families and the wedding party. We're letting everyone else make their own decision on when/where to eat dinner that night since some will only be there for 3 nights and we figured we didn't want to tie them down two of three they have. Does that sound OK?

 

the PRM is very nickel & dime-y. i think i'd feel better if they started off with crazy prices, but let you customize for free, instead of the other way around. oh well. the only thing that makes me feel better/not like a fool is that we're not the only ones getting screwed over in terms of costs by our resort and vendors, its a general trend across the RM and Cabo now. i can't image what it'll cost the brides that get married in 2010!

[becks]

Ooh. Steel drums! I like that idea! I need to get hold of Elisa or Perla and get moving on the music and photog thing.

 

With regard to your welcome dinner, Perla told me that they would be happy to block a space for us at either the Mexican or the Buffet. We were thinking that we'd also reserve the patio area (the fountain by the little gazebo) for a cocktail function and just hire a waiter for an hour to pop around the corner to the lobby bar for us. Certainly saves a bit of $$. The welcome dinner won't be as fancy, but at least we'll all be together.

[neen]

ooh - good idea becks about the mexican terrace with a waiter! if we wind up having a cocktail hour, that's where we'll have it.

 

so here's my new question. if we have the ceremony from 3:30-4pm, can we give guests the next two hours on their own before regrouping for the reception dinner at 6pm? i know that's weird, but the only reason i'm asking is because i don't want to start the reception at 5pm because that just seems too early to start dinner...and i don't want a two hour cocktail hour. thoughts

[GettinhitchedDC]

Hi there! I am also considering the Paradisus Riviera. I looked at reviews on Tripadvisor and I heard some people say that they felt like the resort "nickel and dimed" them on everything. Are you feeling at all like that? What is the wedding coordinator like? Do you feel like she is responsive and that all your needs are being met?

 

Thanks so much for your help! It is SOO hard finding the right place!

[MissyR]

We are debating the exact same thing! Ceremony is at 3:30 - we were thinking of doing cocktails from 4:00 - 5:00 but then I didn't want to start dinner until 6:00 - We were at a wedding in November in the RM and that is what they did - ceremony was at 3:00 - met for dinner at 6:00 and in all honesty we kind of wish something had been organized because we ended up going to the beach bar in our wedding clothes ... that being said it sort of depends on the resort too.. I think perhaps you could have people off from 4-6, do a cocktail reception from 6-7, then do dinner... after.. would that work?

[becks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by neen ooh - good idea becks about the mexican terrace with a waiter! if we wind up having a cocktail hour, that's where we'll have it. so here's my new question. if we have the ceremony from 3:30-4pm, can we give guests the next two hours on their own before regrouping for the reception dinner at 6pm? i know that's weird, but the only reason i'm asking is because i don't want to start the reception at 5pm because that just seems too early to start dinner...and i don't want a two hour cocktail hour. thoughts

I can see how a 2-hour cocktail party might not be what you want, but yeah, dinner at 5 seems a bit early-bird-special-y for me. It's not ideal to have them do their own thing, but I don't know that there are other options, either... it's not as if you can suggest a volleyball tournament or something when everyone will be dressed.

Melissa - what are you thinking of doing? Your ceremony is in the 3:30 range, too, right?

[becks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GettinhitchedDC Hi there! I am also considering the Paradisus Riviera. I looked at reviews on Tripadvisor and I heard some people say that they felt like the resort "nickel and dimed" them on everything. Are you feeling at all like that? What is the wedding coordinator like? Do you feel like she is responsive and that all your needs are being met? Thanks so much for your help! It is SOO hard finding the right place!

The costs do add up. There's no way around it. But, at the end of the day, we figured $200 per head for the wedding stuff, and that's about right (not including travel and our hotel rooms).

I think the WCs are great - and they have good suggestions. They don't necesarily respond as fast as we'd like - but usually within 48 hours or so, which from what I can tell is pretty much standard in the RM.

[MissyR]

we haven't really decided - we are thinking of giving people an hour and a half off and then having them come for cocktails from 5:30 - 6:30 - but honestly we haven't decided yet - I know the sun sets at 5:30 so we want to make sure we get our pics in before then..

 

On the other hand - we may have cocktails from 4:00 - 5:30 and then start dinner - we have kids and my grandparents so I would rather start earlier and then the people who don't want to stay late can go to bed early while the rest of us party!