Sunrise Villa Wedding

[Mishi]

No, they don't care. It would be treated as a regular wedding ceremony, since it really is. They will let you say or do whatever you want, the sky is the limit. We are working now to get a copy of what she is planning on saying to see if we want to tweak it. And I think we are going to throw in a few words to each other but leave the rest alone. I would love to be mushy and say my own vows (I have been saving love letters and cards to pull stuff from for 5 years) but I know I will be too nervous and too emotional to talk and if he starts pouring his heart out I will melt into a pool of mascara mess right in front of him, lol. So, I think we are gonna skip it

[tvt]

Ha! I couldn't agree more! I wouldn't make through 3 words before I started to cry - and I'm pretty sure he would too!

 

I actually contacted the owner - you weren't kidding about them being quick! I think it's a little more than we thought we'd spend... I hope we make it work, it's so perfect!

 

Let me know how everything goes! I can't wait to hear about it!!!

[tvt]

Just realized that I've used about 100 !. I've turned into one of those... Again, SO GLAD YOU SHARED!!

[tvt]

Just when I think I'm done asking questions - how did you find this place? Do you know people that have been there?

[Mishi]

Well actually, Castellamonte is in the same neighborhood and comes highly reccommended, you can find it everywhere. We had decided on going there and then were looking for other accomodations in the area for extra gifts and stumbled upon the Sunrise. We later found out they are like three houses apart in the same gated resort community, and apparently the owners are friends as well. Although we though Castellamonte looked more luxurious and had the same accomodations, the Sunrise seemed to flow better. I love the idea that guests can be playing pool in the living room that has huge double opening doors that spill right into the awesome bar they have, with enough seating for the entire guest list. Then the bar backs right up to the hot tub, which spills over into the pool. You have four areas right there that are all close enough and arranged so that the guests can mingle and still feel "together" which is what we are going for. And, the seperate villas give a lot more privacy to the guests than seperate suites off of the same guest house.

Anyway, as far as the price, if you rent the villa for like 5 nights, which is sufficient, and you do it in the low season, like we are, in April, it is very cost effective. You can ask the guests to pay for their own shuttle and food and activities. Then you just have the Villa rental to worry about. You could even ask the guest to pay a portion towards the accomodations if you wanted to. You wouldn't have to tell them its all one fee, just break it down by the villas and have them pay that way.

I have read a few reviews online and everyone describes it the same way, living in the lap of secluded luxery(sp?), or live like you are famous or royalty, but for low cost. The place is only a few years old though and hasn't been able to build up the norioty that its sister villas have. But, the price is a little better too, lol!

[japonick]

So nice to see other brides who got married in the same area that we will! We are getting married at Flor de Cabrera, it's down the road from Castellamonte and Sunrise in the same gated community. It's only a few years old and has 10 bedrooms. It's really beautiful and fully staffed (American owners, American chef) to make you feel like you're on your own little private resort. Check it out if you're interested in a villa rental. It was seriously much more cost effective than all of the resort options. We decided to charge people $300/week toward the villa and then they pay for their meal plan for the week. With the flight, villa, food, taxi, and tourist card..it should be about $1250/person for the week. Can't beat that! Plus the wedding package we are getting is about $3500 for everything (flowers, centerpieces, officiant, etc.)

[ls415]

I love this thread...I am just starting my planning and think it would be amazing to make a private villa work -- but I think we will have at least 30 guests (maybe even 50!?). Are there any private homes in this gated community that would house that many people?

[Mishi]

Sunrise offered several other hotels and accommodations in the area that the other guests could stay at. So we had our family/wedding party at Sunrise and then other guests could stay at the local places and come in for the day etc. They even offer a plan where the guests pay a fee for the day and can be included in meals, etc, even though they aren't staying there. We actually booked Castellamonte to begin with and changed only because we liked the separate villas that Sunrise had to offer, verses all being under one roof. It made it feel more private and we were really renting a small village verses a small villa, lol.

 

Feel free to reply or PM me with any specific questions. Sunrise was by far the best decision I made, next to my Groom choice

[DEMKI925]

We are looking to have our wedding at Sunrise Villa in 2011...

Thanks for all the helpful info!!!  I have a few questions if you don't mind...well more like a whole bunch!! 

Did you visit before your wedding?

I read on some reviews that the beach is "unswimmable" is this true?

Where was the reception held within the villa?

How was the rehearsal dinner at the nearby hotel?

What kind of band played during the reception?

How was the staff?

What does the meal plan include for $50 pp/pd?

Is it required to do the meal plan for all the days?

Thanks so much!!!

 

 

[vlynnw]

That place looks great! You're going to have a beautiful wedding!