Playa Fiesta Weddings

[DB2B]

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Originally Posted by jdrewett I read in the contract the coordination and DJ were required. Does anyone know if they are flexible on this? Since we are having a church wedding and very low key dinner, I don't feel we need the coordination. We were also planning to do live music, instead of the DJ. I was planning on bringing my own photographer, but read about the extra $250 for the slideshow. I'm going to email my questions to Adam tomorrow. I always appreciate the input here too. Let me know your thoughts! Sam- Great pics! Can't wait to see the rest! Shreets- I was wondering the same thing. I used the catering industry standard of 1 server per 25 guests for estimating purposes in my budget.

Jdrewett - Since we used one of the photographers who works with Playa, I didn't compare costs. I really loved Michelle's work when we were first looking, plus there is the added bonus of less stress, because her flight/accomodations/etc were taken care of by herself and Lindsay. If I remember correctly, I think Melissa brought in a photographer (and the pictures are amazing!), so maybe she can share more info.

They assign one waiter per table (8 guests per table) and I think one captain. Ian and I had a separate table just for us two, and 4 guest tables; I'm trying to remember if we had 5 waiters or 6...

As someone mentioned, the coordination fee is for Lindsay and Blaire's amazing work while you're planning. When it is done, I am pretty positive you will think that is money well spent - the amount of work and effort they put into everything is amazing! They don't just plan the wedding/reception - they coordinate your entire stay, and Lindsay goes way above and beyond. During my four days there I managed to request makeup remover (she loaned me her own), scissors, super glue (which she went into town and bought!?), and nail polish remover - all of which she found/got for me within minutes! And about the dj, I will tell you Aldo (the dj/bartender/karaoke leader) is awesome. He is totally worth it and especially at the end of the night, he does a really great job of reading your group and keeping the dancing going. We had dancers nonstop until 2am! I think he maybe would have kept going, but we kind of pooped out at that point! If you decide to use him for part of your wedding night, I think you'll be happy! Have you decided on the band you're going to use yet?

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Hi Sheri! Welcome to the goup. Las Celatas was on my list too! It's such a beautiful place. My grandmother would have had a hard time getting around - so we decided against it. But the pics of the place are gorgeous.

Shreets - We looked at Las Caletas too, but decided against it for the same reason! It is a great venue, but a little more rustic than we were hoping for, plus I was worried about casualties on the boat ride back! About the kitchens - there are SOME pots and pans (in at least the bridal suite - we used a skillet to warm up our leftover wedding dinner ), but I'm not sure how many or if there are any in the other two penthouse suites. Lindsay would definitely be able to tell you how many or if they can make sure to round some up for your stay.

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I am falling for Playa Fiesta!! I started out thinking that for sure we would be going to Punta Cana and then started reading reviews on this site. Now Playa Fiesta and Las Caletas are my two tops!! Question for those of you who have been to PF - in some photos it looks like there is some nice sand and others are totally rocks - same beach different tidal time or different beach? Also, I see kids in some of the wedding pics but can they stay at the hotel or were they just there for the wedding day? I am not sure about staying there for a week with our small group but maybe a week at Dreams and then a wedding weekend at PF or something like that.

Sheri - the beach varies from week to week - or even day to day! We arrived on a Sunday and the beach was pretty rocky... but by the time we left on Thursday it was definitely more sandy. I guess it all depends on the tide! And kids can definitely stay at PF - they have a few cribs/pack n plays for babies, and in the suites the couches can be converted to twin beds. I think with both PF and Las Caletas, you have the option to work within a budget or go completely over the top! Although I think Las Caletas can be cheaper. The biggest deciding factor is probably how you envision your wedding. I really wanted a "family" wedding - I wanted people to be in close quarters and run into each other in the hall and feel like at the end of four days they knew everyone (kind of like when you went to camp as a kid!). The atmosphere at PF is somewhat unique (I think) - PF is definitely a "villa-feeling" wedding... kind of like Lindsay just invited you and all your friends to hang out at her house for a week! Which she kind of is doing Also, have you done a site visit to Las Caletas? It is a great venue and the coordinators there are really sweet, but there were some aspects of it I wasn't expecting...though I DID really really want a parrot to fly my wedding ring down the aisle... Let us know what you decide though! As I'm sure you've seen on the site- there are LOTS of great weddings at both places!

[mlabbe]

Hurray, I booked my photographer & chose the minister. I'm getting things done! Now if I could only finish and mail those STD, otherwise they'll turn into invites!

[shreets]

Thanks Sam - I'll check with Blaire on that!

 

Way to go Magalie! whoo hoo! That's a lot more than I've accomplished. We're still stuck on figuring out a date! So which photographer did you decide on? I bet five months is going to go really fast! Do you have any other DIY projects planned?

[mlabbe]

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Originally Posted by shreets Way to go Magalie! whoo hoo! That's a lot more than I've accomplished. We're still stuck on figuring out a date! So which photographer did you decide on? I bet five months is going to go really fast! Do you have any other DIY projects planned?

I went with a fantastic Vancouver photographer, she was offering her rate at 50% off for destination weddings as she is trying to get expand her portfolio and for the cost I get an engagement session (that I will use to cover my city hall wedding I think) and a day-after shoot. I'm pretty excited! You can see her site here: Vancouver Wedding Photographer | Amber Hughes Photography - Home.

As for the DIY, I also plan on doing the invites, the menus, all of the seating-related stuff and probably some decor items, not sure what yet!

So I really have to pick my colour theme... I'm being asked to choose my flowers and I have no idea! Did anyone ask for flowers that were not on the list? Some of the costs are outrageous and some of the choices are just not inspiring me.

I'm also having a hard time choosing my MOH and bridesmaid - the ones I thought of asking no longer know if they can come . It gets to me quite a lot at times and I just get into a mind frame where I'll just buy two dresses and who ever shows up can wear them! Silly, I know! Anyone else had issues with this?

Shreets, good luck with getting things started!!! It takes some time in the begging but it gets better. Maybe asking them what dates they have free may help narrow things down?

[shreets]

Magalie - I checked out Amber's pictures. She looks fantastic. Nice choice!

 

Did Lindsey send you a list of flowers with prices? What are the cheapest? Flowers aren't too big of a deal for me (I think). I would rather put that money somehwere else - like pictures, so I'll probably go on the cheaper end. Of course I say this now - we'll see what happens when I'm in full swing planning mode! I'm sure its easy to get carried away!

 

I hear ya about the MOH. My best friend in California is going through IVF, so she might be preggo and not be able to come, but she might not be.....soo....i dunno what I'm going to do! Did anyone pay flight / hotel for the wedding party?

 

Magalie - keep us posted on your projects! It's always fun to see pictures!

[kate.com]

It is so fun to hear about all of your plans! I have to ask, Shreets- what is your real name? Hahaha don't want to call you that forever!

We didn't pay for anyone's flights but we did help a couple of people with their hotel- just half though.

Part of a destination wedding is letting go of the guest list I'm afraid... I was really bummed at first too... some of the people i thought would be there for sure didn't come. Lots didn't rsvp. But I let it go and the group that was supposed to be there, and wanted to be there, were! And whoever didn't MISSED OUT!

 

I think it is great that you haven't chosen your wedding party yet Magalie. Believe it or not you are saving yourself some stress:) Bridesmaids dresses can be ordered last minute, so just pick them out with whomever you are thinking in mind... or pick the designer/color and then you have something to go with. I know David's and Jim Hjelm (Who I used) have tons of styles in each color so you are sure to get something that works! I am sure all BM dress designers are the same. It'll all work out! Oh and my colors were aqua and red (mainly bc of the flower choices) and I had already ordered the BM dresses in a darker blue (teal/ocean blue.) I talked to the wedding designer I used and she said that layering colors is very classy anyways... it DID turn out better than I could have imagined... even if I couldn't see the big pic at first. I think I am trying to say that it is ok if it isn't matchy matchy. Does that make sense?

[Mel&B]

Hi Everyone! There's been so much activity here lately! I was away for Thanksgiving, but I'm back now. I read through all of the posts, and it looks like all of the ?'s have been answered. Congrats to the newbies!

[Monty Crysto]

Hey Kate!! Just wondering if you have any pics of your table runners and if you know what size they were?? Thanks!!

We are pretty much done everything...Just waiting on finalization of guests and trying to fill rooms....sigh. We have also offered to pay half of room for some guests and they say they can't take that offer, however, it's like people still don't realize we will end up paying for their whole room if they cancel.

Anyways...just trying to decide on some ice breaker games for when everyone arrives. If anyone has any ideas...we will take them!!

[mlabbe]

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Originally Posted by Monty Crysto Anyways...just trying to decide on some ice breaker games for when everyone arrives. If anyone has any ideas...we will take them!!

We're doing the karaoke as the icebreaker activity / get to know everyone party. It should be a blast! I was also thinking of doing a crossword puzzle (who knows the bride and groom best sort of thing) on the rehearsal night. Not sure yet though, just ideas!

I'm not stressed at all about my bridesmaids - if it were up to me I'd have none but FI has two friends standing with him, so it would look weird if I had none! I'm mostly stressed about choosing the colours because I love everything! I just can't figure out how to pick. I can't ask FI because his colour opinions are very... unique!

As an aside, I was thinking that we could do on here something similar to the Post Your Wedding Date thread, so this way we'd know everyone and could congratulate them as weddings come to be! It would also be fun to know who is getting married before or after you - or even who will be there during a site visit if you're doing one! Either use the copy/paste function or use the "quote" function.

December 2009

January 2010

February 2010

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010
Magalie & Travis (mlabbe) - May 16, 2010

June 2010

July 2010
- Resort closed -

August 2010
- Resort closed -

September 2010
- Resort closed -

October 2010

November 2010

December 2010

Cheers!

[mlabbe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monty Crysto Anyways...just trying to decide on some ice breaker games for when everyone arrives. If anyone has any ideas...we will take them!!

We're doing the karaoke as the icebreaker activity / get to know everyone party. It should be a blast! I was also thinking of doing a crossword puzzle (who knows the bride and groom best sort of thing) on the rehearsal night. Not sure yet though, just ideas!

I'm not stressed at all about my bridesmaids - if it were up to me I'd have none but FI has two friends standing with him, so it would look weird if I had none! I'm mostly stressed about choosing the colours because I love everything! I just can't figure out how to pick. I can't ask FI because his colour opinions are very... unique!

As an aside, I was thinking that we could do on here something similar to the Post Your Wedding Date thread, so this way we'd know everyone and could congratulate them as weddings come to be! It would also be fun to know who is getting married before or after you - or even who will be there during a site visit if you're doing one! Either use the copy/paste function or use the "quote" function.

December 2009

January 2010

February 2010

March 2010

April 2010

May 2010
Magalie & Travis (mlabbe) - May 16, 2010

June 2010

July 2010
- Resort closed -

August 2010
- Resort closed -

September 2010
- Resort closed -

October 2010

November 2010

December 2010

Cheers!