2011 Iberostar Brides

[Hannah5611]

My wedding is 45 days away and I am still not exactly clear on what is included...lol...Tara and Erin are probably the best people again to answer that since they had their weddings already - I know Tara had AMAZING centerpieces, but they also came with an amazing price of $90 each!!  I helped plan 2 other destination weddings in the same area (both at Palace Resorts - 1 at Moon Palace and 1 at Spa Palace) and I can tell you that they seemed to offer a lot more for a lot less as far as the wedding package was concerned....After I booked the Iberostar, I also started finding places that will do half of your wedding stuff for Free if you stay there...I know I am going to love my day, and I love Iberostar, but I had no idea it was going to cost me this much to do this wedding....I know my sister and my friend that planned theirs didnt spend CLOSE to what I am spending....their packages were closer to 3500, and they got free reception because they both had over 40 people...so they probably paid closer to 5000 after all was said and done (which is my BASE price, before paying extra $12/pp for the last 2 hours of my reception and before any upgrades)

 

As far as communication, I have found (in my case and the 2 weddings I helped with) that you send an email, and it takes a few days, but you will eventually get a response....my travel agent warned me that they all work like robots down there - straight out of the book...when you start to ask for them to customize, they reply with answers they are trained to say..but my WCs are both very nice...and I am sure their job isnt easy dealing with Brides all day!! lol  They have sent me tons of pics when I ask for details, which really helps! And then there is this website, which REALLY REALLY helps!!

 

If you have a specific question about centerpieces, email them and ask for photos of what is included in the package - there are always upgrades and outside vendors available...

 

Hope that helps!!!!  Im sure the other girls can offer some great advice too

 

Hannah

Originally Posted by cole379 

Being in the very early stages of planning and still undecided on a resort, I was wondering how the packages work at Iberostar. I asked Reyna about it but I am still unclear. The pacakges include things but are very vague...like bridesmaid bouquet or centerpieces. Do you get to pick the flowers and design of the centerpiece? If you don't like the choices, can you 'upgrade' (for example to have an orchid bouquet?). What has your experiences been like with the wedding coordinators (either the Lindo or the Grand) dealing with the details of your weddings?

 

Thanks!

 

[Hannah5611]

Are they making you do table numbers????  I already did my place cards with everyone's meal options, but I didnt do table numbers with them because I wasnt going to do assigned seating.....I hope I dont have to REDO everything...lol

 

ps - CONGRATS on your wedding!!!!!!

Originally Posted by nucci 

Hi everyone!  It's been a few weeks so thought I would drop in to say hi!  WOW so many new girls...welcome!!  Things have been so crazy lately.  Jeff had his back surgery and is doing well.  I had my shower and bach Saturday and it was awesome!!  So many great family and friends to celebrate with and it was so much fun.  We got SO MANY presents it's insane.  Out dining room and kitchen are packed!  We also got married yesterday haha!!!  YAY!!!!  We went to City Hall for our legal marriage since it seems like such a pain in the butt to legally get married in Mexico.  It was amazing...now just have to get through Mexico in a few weeks!!!

 

So I feel like I still have a lot to do...AAHHH.  We sent all our final details to Karla.  I'm finalizing the centerpieces with the outside florist now.  We have to get DJ Doremixx our music list in a week and I'm stressing about that.  I want to just tell him to play good fun music haha.  He sent us a list to look through that is 50 pages long.  Jeff and his guys have to get shirts still and their suits altered.  I'm going to my 2nd fitting today, which is making me nervous b/c I ate my way through this weekend .  We still have to do escort cards that are color coded with people's dinner choice.  Have to make table numbers.  Have to decide on a welcome book/idea.  Have to figure out how I'm getting all this crap to Mexico haha.  Lets see...what else.  I just feel like I can't even concentrate any more!!

 

[radiochic10]

Hannah,

 

 I am laughing to myself because you ARE me 6 weeks ago.  I had no clue what I was going to do about centerpieces.  I emailed the people Tara used with some ideas I had (i.e. shells surrounding a floating candle, candles in sand with shells around them, etc.) and I think the best price was around $50 and they didn't blow me away.  Tara's were AWESOME-but you're right-you get charged extra crap all over the place. SO-I met with Karla when we got there & she helped me choose centerpieces.  They were elegant & simple and I think around $23 each.  (If you have the Mac Daddy package-the one for your table is included) Mine were similar to the bridesmaids flowers, so it tied things together nicely.

 

I wasn't going to do table numbers either, but Karla wanted me to...I don't know if they can MAKE you----but you've got quite a few people going, so I am betting she'll ask you about it.  She actually did the #'s themselves.  I printed out place cards & color coordinated the names with what they ordered.  (Like my sister-table 3, green for veggie, my aunt table 2-red for beef, my friend Julie table 4-blue for chicken)  Did you put their meal options in a way that they are easy to read on the place cards?  You should be ok-but don't get flustered when she asks you about the table #'s...just say you have the place cards and tell her how many tables you will need. (that part is important for set-up)  We mostly did tables of 6, one with 7, another with 8.  It looked good-less than 6 would've looked too bare I think.

 

We customized almost everything.  We got 3 different entrees served for dinner-beef, chicken or veggie, and better sides than what was normally offered.  They decorated the cake EXACTLY the way I wanted....I can't think of something I asked for that they didn't do.  The problem is-most brides don't ask!  They just take what's written as fact & never push the issue.  After talking to Tara-I decided to ask for what I wanted & I got it.  They want to make it as easy as possible for the planners-since they do so many weddings.  If everyone eats the same thing-it's easy.  It gets more stressful when people order different items and they all have to be prepared & served at the same time, ya know? 

 

I will say the Iberostar is more than other resorts-some will even do it for free-as they are thankful YOU are bringing 40+people to their resort. BUT-they also are the one place I found that only allowed one bride a day to get married at the resort. (I'm sure there are others-but since I got married on Valentine's Day-I was finding that even the one or 2 other places I located in the Caribbean with the one bride policy- lifted that rule for V-day because they wanted the business) Since I have no other point of reference, I'll tell you this.  I felt like a PRINCESS the entire time I was there.  I don't regret one second of anything.  Yep, it cost more than maybe some other resorts.  But everyone had the best time the entire time they were there.  And if we were to do the same wedding back here in the states, OMG-it would have been at LEAST $40,000...and that's not counting the extra 100 people who would've shown up.  They make you feel like you are the only bride they have-even if there are others there that week.

 

And the best part was I really felt like they CARED.  Ivan, Karla-these people in guest services, who are in charge of the wedding-they WANT you to have the best day of your life and they'll do whatever they can to make sure that happens.  They'll drive you everywhere in a golf cart on your wedding day-they are at your beck & call.  I can't imagine a place where it was all free going above & beyond like that.  They all knew our best man broke his jaw (Ivan ran to us when he was told-as their office is next to the lobby) and he radioed the medics, stayed with us...and asked about him every single time I saw him.

 

You won't regret getting married at the Iberostar.  It's the best decision I've ever made, next to going on that first date with my husband!

[nucci]

Hannah- Not sure if you have to do numbers but I just figured it would be the easiest.  I went to Michael's and bought stands and then I'm just going to print numbers off the computer.  For escort cards I'm just printing people's names and table number on color coded cardstock and folding it over so it'll stand up.  I figured that'll be good enough haha.  

 

I totally get what everyone is saying about pricing but like a few brides said...You have to remember how much you are saving by doing a destination.  Also Iberostar is SUCH a nice resort and I've never heard a bad thing about their weddings.  Hopefully all of us will only be doing this once so I'm fine with paying if it's what I want.  Other resorts I know will through things in for free but I'd rather it be nice than free!  Plus you can choose what you want to spend money on and what you don't.  I loved Tara's centerpieces so I'm spending the money but that's b/c I LOVE flowers.  I'm also spending a lot on photography but I think that's worth it.  It's all up to your personal preferences ya know?  Some other brides did SO much more than me and I was feeling overwhelmed but you have to remember the only person who knows what you don't have will be YOU!  

 

Tara and Erin- I have a question?? How did you ladies come up with your playlists for DJ Doremixx?  This is totally stressing me out!  I want to just tell him to play fun dance music haha!!

[radiochic10]

DJ Doremixx will play whatever you want him to.  I met with him a few days before the wedding to go over specific songs...Bride/Groom 1st dance, Father/daughter song, etc...and I sent those ones to him ahead of time to make sure he had them.  It only takes him seconds to download a song, so it shouldn't be a big deal.  He found every song I asked for.  As far as the fun dance stuff, he'll ask you if there are any songs you want to avoid (i.e. Baby Got Back) but we didn't care.  He mixes one song into the next.  He played a lot of older stuff like "Shout" and "Jailhouse Rock" but also played Usher's "Yeah."  I MAY have even karaoked "I will Survive" at my own wedding reception....sober, none the less. (I had sang that at everyone else's wedding, so they all had me sing it at mine! It was a blast)  DJ Doremixx sent me a list of popular songs way before the wedding-did he email that to you?  I looked at it & just added the songs I liked that weren't on there.  It kinda  stressed me out too, but there was no need for the stress because he KNOWS what to play & what will make people get out of their seats.  My husband's 86 yr old grandma was dancing the entire night!!!

[Kroshka514]

Hi Amy,

 

I sent you the contact info via the e-mail address that you provided. I hope you can find it helpful.

 

Good Luck!
Olga
 

Originally Posted by amyr610 

Hi Olga,

would you mind sending me the contact info for the hair and makeup people?  my email is amyryan921@aol.com.

Thanks!

Amy

 

 

[nucci]

Erin- He did send us a bunch of info and songs.  He sent us the popular list and then a 50 page list of songs in ABC order which I think is the part that is stressing me out.  I guess we'll let him know all the important songs we want for the dances and stuff and then give him a few suggestions and let him do the rest.  I've only heard great things about him and his work so I trust him to play music that will get us up and dancing!  Thanks again!!!

[amyr610]

Thank you so much! I emailed Adrian yesterday we shall see.. My wedding is the day before yours so he may be booked already too! One of my dear friends is a super- talented stylist but hasn't officially booked her trip yet so I'm sort of waiting in regards to hair.

[amyr610]

We just upgraded to the mac daddy package:) I emailed Karla about what flowers were included specifically and she said one centerpiece, 3 arrangements for the arch if on the beach, or 2 large arrangements for the gazebo.. Plus your bouquet and your grooms boutinire(sp?). I love the welcome reception and the cocktail hour before the reception, but I didn't realize the cocktail hour was champagne only. Time for more upgrades$$ I'm at the del mar so the grand could be different! Did someone say that iberostar doesn't charge vendor fees? Does that mean outside stylists and florists don't need day passes?

[Lindobride14]

Hi my lovely ladies! 

 

How is everyone?  I tried to catch up on the new posts, but just quickly scanned through them. 

 

We should be getting out profesional pics from Ivan Luckie any day now.  He sent me a teaser bridal portrait this morning (my new profile pic!)  Anxiously awaiting the rest -- especially our TTD pics!  Mike Cantarell should be mailing us our wedding video any day now as well!

 

 

Glad to see all the new brides!  I'm Tara and we got married two months and two days ago (but who's counting) at the Del Mar.  If anyone has questions for me, please don't hesitate to PM me.  I don't have internet access at the new job, but I do check emails on my phone and it's easier to keep track of PM's than forum posts.

 

Well, just wanted to send a quick hello!  Take care, chicas.

 

Tara