RIU Palace P.C.--reception questions

[jenthony]

Hi ladies!!! I've been reading a lot of great reviews and am loving this site!! My fiance and I are planning to get married at RIU Palace Punta Cana in May 2012 and are trying to get great tips.

Does anybody know where they hold the semi-private receptions (included in free wedding package) and whether there is 1) a dance floor and 2) an ipod/mp3 system to play music? We are only expecting to have about ~30-35 guests... so not sure if we would even qualify for the private reception.

Hope to hear from anyone who has had an experience with this!!!

 

Jen

[Iamalldiva]

Hi Jen - I too am getting married at Riu Palace Punta Cana in Oct 2011.  My wedding count is currently at 60 (hoping it doesn’t, grow to much more!)  I'm doing the Caprice package which covers 40 and paying the additional per person fee.

 

The wedding coordinators (Magnolia & Maria) there are great and are more than happy to answer in questions via email.  It may take a few days to get back to you but they ALWAYS respond.  Through my contact with them, and emails with others on this site:

 

~ The semi-private reception is held at one of the restaurants (steakhouse or buffet place).  I am actually doing a private reception for an additional fee.

~ The dance floor is set up at the restaurant.  If you send me your email via PM, I can email you the set up...

~ If you do a private reception, than the hired DJ can take your iPod and move your playlist to his laptop and play the music from there.  I believe if you are not doing a private reception, then the music is just the music being played for the entire restaurant. 

 

I think you can do a private reception without a guest limit but there is a fee.

 

User FutureMrsTO got married there this past October and ablj209 is getting married there in the next 2-3 months - BOTH have been valuable resources in my planning.  Search for them and their posts will be very useful.  Feel free to ask any additional questions and I will be more than happy to answer!

 

~Q

[jenthony]

Hi Quiyana,

 

First off, CONGRATS to you and your fiance!!! Have you booked your ceremony date yet and gotten group rates?

Thanks for your response. I will also PM you my email address.

I'm really contemplating whether or not to have the reception private vs. semi-private (in the restaurant).  I just feel with such a small group it's a lot of money to rent the reception (is it like $500-$600?), the DJ and an open-bar?  If you don't mind me asking how much are you paying for all 3? You can PM me if you feel more comfy there

 

Talk soon!

 

Jen

[Iamalldiva]

Jen,

 

Thanks for the CONGRATS!!! The same to you and your FI...

 

Yes, I have booked my ceremony dare and got group rates.  Since I'm doing a medium size party (60 people), I opted to use a travel agent here in Maryland and she handled the room bookings and negotiations with the Riu Palace P.C.  I didn’t want to have to deal with questions and/or booking travel for folks...

 

It's totally up to you and your budget on what you wish to forgo and what you are willing to pay extra for.  There are so many extra add on's which drove the increase in my budget so I weighed the pros and cons of what was most important for us. 

 

Things I did to keep my cost low:

~ Stayed with the house minister, it's free in the package.  At first I was looking into an outside minister but the fee was $300 + $200 resort fee for the day pass.

~ Purchased my bridesmaid bouquets, Mom's corsages, and mest man/dad's boutonnières on my own from a silk touch florist instead of purchasing from the resort.  Approx $200 savings! 

~ Purchased my own satin chair sashes (approx $60) instead of paying the $200-$300 fee for the upgraded decoration package.

~ I'm purchasing my own cake topper and table decorations and not doing any upgrades to the cake.

 

Areas I decided to splurge and pay for add-on’s:

~ My group is a live party group so we decided on the private reception (approx $600) and the DJ (approx $400). 

~ Using an outside photographer instead of the house photographer.  Cost will be approx $1000 - $1200 + $200 resort fee for the day pass - BUT the pics will be the only tangible item I have (besides the wonderful memories) so this is an area I didn't want to skimp on.

 

Things we're on the fence about:

~ Doing a private happy hour (approx $10-20 per person) only to keep the wedding guests all together and not bored while the wedding party is taking pics.

~ A fellow BD user who recently got married in Oct added on a private bar to the reception (not sure of cost) as she stated that the nearest bar where guest could get drinks wasn't to close. 

 

These will be last minute decisions based on if we are under budget closer to the wedding.

 

Just as a reminder, the prices mentioned are for 2011.  There will be an increase for 2012.  In 2010, the resort fee for a day pass was $100 in 2011 it's $200.

 

Again, let me know if you have additional questions!  I'm more than happy to assist if I can )

~Q

[jenthony]

Hi Q (by the way my friend's nickname is "Q" also-- real spelling is Kieu)

Regarding the cocktail hour before reception:  I read in another BD's forum that she requested setting up a few tables for her group at the lobby bar. Not sure if that's remotely close to the restaurant you'll be having your reception, but it's worth a try asking. Are you having it at the Steakhouse Restaurant? Do they have a bar in the restaurant that your guests can chill at during the picture-taking?

I guess we're thinking on the same boat regarding keeping costs low regarding: sashes, decorations, centre-piece etc. I'm all about doing things myself and getting silk/fake flowers to cut on costs!!! :0

Are you paying to have an open-bar at your reception? I heard that's extra as well?!

WOW this is definitely where the resort is making money eh.... the reception!!! ;p

 

I'd love to send each other our wedding pictures after we've successfully had our happy moment!!!! It'll be nice to see each other's hard work planning turn into a spectacular event

 

jen

 

Originally Posted by Iamalldiva 

Jen,

 

Thanks for the CONGRATS!!! The same to you and your FI...

 

Yes, I have booked my ceremony dare and got group rates.  Since I'm doing a medium size party (60 people), I opted to use a travel agent here in Maryland and she handled the room bookings and negotiations with the Riu Palace P.C.  I didn’t want to have to deal with questions and/or booking travel for folks...

 

It's totally up to you and your budget on what you wish to forgo and what you are willing to pay extra for.  There are so many extra add on's which drove the increase in my budget so I weighed the pros and cons of what was most important for us. 

 

Things I did to keep my cost low:

~ Stayed with the house minister, it's free in the package.  At first I was looking into an outside minister but the fee was $300 + $200 resort fee for the day pass.

~ Purchased my bridesmaid bouquets, Mom's corsages, and mest man/dad's boutonnières on my own from a silk touch florist instead of purchasing from the resort.  Approx $200 savings! 

~ Purchased my own satin chair sashes (approx $60) instead of paying the $200-$300 fee for the upgraded decoration package.

~ I'm purchasing my own cake topper and table decorations and not doing any upgrades to the cake.

 

Areas I decided to splurge and pay for add-on’s:

~ My group is a live party group so we decided on the private reception (approx $600) and the DJ (approx $400). 

~ Using an outside photographer instead of the house photographer.  Cost will be approx $1000 - $1200 + $200 resort fee for the day pass - BUT the pics will be the only tangible item I have (besides the wonderful memories) so this is an area I didn't want to skimp on.

 

Things we're on the fence about:

~ Doing a private happy hour (approx $10-20 per person) only to keep the wedding guests all together and not bored while the wedding party is taking pics.

~ A fellow BD user who recently got married in Oct added on a private bar to the reception (not sure of cost) as she stated that the nearest bar where guest could get drinks wasn't to close. 

 

These will be last minute decisions based on if we are under budget closer to the wedding.

 

Just as a reminder, the prices mentioned are for 2011.  There will be an increase for 2012.  In 2010, the resort fee for a day pass was $100 in 2011 it's $200.

 

Again, let me know if you have additional questions!  I'm more than happy to assist if I can )

~Q

[Iamalldiva]

Thanks for sharing, I will def look into the tables at the lobby bar, but not sure how that would work for 60 guests?!?! 

 

My FI and I are still on the fence about the open bar.  It will soley depend on if we're nder budget close to the wedding.  @ $10-$20 per person, that's an addition fee of $600-$1200, so we'll have to see...

 

Yes, all the add-on's (ceremony and reception) is DEF were they are making tons of $$$$.  I've spent more in add-on's than the actual cost of my $2350 caprice wedding package.

 

I'dlvoe to swap pics ) GREAT idea!!!
 

[jenthony]

Hmm... that's true, 60 guests might be a lot for tables, but hey you never know! Some of them may want to be around you while you're taking pictures with the photographer.... to have on their own camera! Let me know what they say ....

I wonder if there's an actual bar or area where guests can get drinks outside of your private area. Maybe they can bring their drinks inside....or maybe they can pre-drink prior to the reception.  It's just so weird to have to pay for drinks at an all-inclusive resort eh.

Which outside photographer are you using?

 

jen

[jenthony]

I read that this photographer is pretty good. I just emailed him to ask what his package prices are... I'll pass on the info if you'd like. 

 

http://www.weddingpuntacana.com/Information.html

 

jen

[Iamalldiva]

I'm going with HDC Photo.  I heard rave reviews and their work is AMAZING.  In addition, I friend of mine was recently married in DR and used them.  He and his wife were BEYOND happy.  http://www.hdcphoto.com/

 

The other options I reviewed and were runner ups:

 

http://caribbeanemotions.com/english/

http://weddings.jorgeallocco.com

 

And the Riu Palace P.C. house photographer is:

 

http://www.antillanafoto.com/ENG/index.html

 

Good luck with selecting a photographer!

[jenthony]

Thanks!!! I will look into these suggestions

 

jen