Now Sapphire Weddings Formerly Paradisus Riviera

[blay0204]

I am looking at the Divine package and wasn't sure about if there was any taxes added on, so I emailed Ramon and he said he wasn't sure at first, then I just heard back this morning that there is an additional 11% tax and food and beverage is 11% and 15% service charge...Doesn't make sense on a package when it is all lumped together, so I told him to break it down for me and to show me where in the paperwork/website where it says there is a tax on the package.  I'll keep you updated - but in the meantime, can anyone clear this up??  Yes please keep us posted! I didn't even think of that:/

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by hayleymarch13 

 

What I dont understand with the cocktail hour is that we are all inclusive anyway and so I thought paying for the cocktail hour was basically paying for the service, but then they add service and tax ontop of the initial price and so it seems its just another way of charging more money.

 

I am sure it will all be lovely and work out fine but it is slightly annoying not knowing upfront what you have to pay for and what your actually getting for that money before the event!

 

Very exciting though x

Those were my thoughts as well! I wonder if they charge you to have corona buckets or bottles of wine at the table since it is AI. There's just so many questions that I know if I sent an email I wouldn't hear back from them for a while.

 

 

 

Originally Posted by SamM 

 

I am looking at the Divine package and wasn't sure about if there was any taxes added on, so I emailed Ramon and he said he wasn't sure at first, then I just heard back this morning that there is an additional 11% tax and food and beverage is 11% and 15% service charge...Doesn't make sense on a package when it is all lumped together, so I told him to break it down for me and to show me where in the paperwork/website where it says there is a tax on the package.  I'll keep you updated - but in the meantime, can anyone clear this up??

 

 

So does the service charge mean "tip". I could see them charging tax and then if that 15% is a "tip" then that makes sense too. Hopefully we can get this cleared up.

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by AmyG 

 

Hi melnryluvco,

 

I posted some pics on this thread on Page 31 and then a link to my slideshow on Page 34.  I never did a full review, but I did post some 'pointers' on Page 33...and some pages right before and after that.

I chose the Divine package and I picked the beef for dinner and it was delicious!!  The wedding dinner was very very good and the service was amazing.

 

Let me know if you have any other questions!  :-)

 

-Amy

 

YAY! Ok I"m going to have to go back and look through the pages again. Thanks so much!

[SamM]

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

 

Those were my thoughts as well! I wonder if they charge you to have corona buckets or bottles of wine at the table since it is AI. There's just so many questions that I know if I sent an email I wouldn't hear back from them for a while.

 

 

 

 

So does the service charge mean "tip". I could see them charging tax and then if that 15% is a "tip" then that makes sense too. Hopefully we can get this cleared up.

 

I am still waiting to clarify because I kind of got a little upset in a previous email to him since they aren't being consistent...so far, the entire package is an additional 11% which is what I have seen from other brides, however, I am asking him to send me a budget calculator for about 35 people and to break down the taxes because an extra 15% on the package price is a lot of money and since he said it is only on the food and beverage, I need to know how that works being a package price.  I think it is a scheme of sorts to charge extra, but I will make sure they only charge the 15% on my food and beverage!

[hayleymarch13]

The delay is annoying, I sent 5 questions which I need to know 2 weeks ago and had to chase today as I get married in March and with Christmas coming up it needs to be sorted as soon as possible.

 

If you get any clarification please let us know.

 

Thanks

 

Hayley

[LTLFAITHY]

Originally Posted by SamM 

 

 

I am still waiting to clarify because I kind of got a little upset in a previous email to him since they aren't being consistent...so far, the entire package is an additional 11% which is what I have seen from other brides, however, I am asking him to send me a budget calculator for about 35 people and to break down the taxes because an extra 15% on the package price is a lot of money and since he said it is only on the food and beverage, I need to know how that works being a package price.  I think it is a scheme of sorts to charge extra, but I will make sure they only charge the 15% on my food and beverage!

 

So, in talking with other brides on here (going back a few months) this is how I understand the +tax and + service charge regarding the

package. The package has an additional 11% tax on (but I don't believe that there is an additional service charge) and each additional guest for the cocktail hour/dinner has an 11% tax and 15% service charge, the same holds for the cake for each additional person and the champagne toast if you choose to have one. So, I'm not sure what package you are doing, but if you were doing the cocktail hour and then the  Eternity Dinner with a toast and wedding cake the total cost per person would actually be: $89 (toast, cocktail hour cocktails, cocktail hour hors d'oeuvres, dinner, wedding cake) + $23.14 = $112.14/person over 25 people. If you did all of the same but the Divine Dinner the total additional cost would be $118.44/person over 25 people. 

 

One way that we are going to try and save some $$ is by not doing the cocktail hour. Our thinking is 1) it is an all-inclusive, if people want to have a drink and snack before dinner they can simply go to one of the bars and get those things for free 2) by doing this we'll save $37.80/person over 25 people....................................

[DinaQtobe]

This thread has been super helpful.  I have been doing a TON of research into resorts.  When I saw the Tequila Terrace that leads straight out onto the beach, I fell in LOVE!  It's the first time that I have seen a location for the wedding/reception that I have gotten excited about.  Can't wait to hear more of what you ladies have planned!

 

Dina

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by SamM 

 

 

I am still waiting to clarify because I kind of got a little upset in a previous email to him since they aren't being consistent...so far, the entire package is an additional 11% which is what I have seen from other brides, however, I am asking him to send me a budget calculator for about 35 people and to break down the taxes because an extra 15% on the package price is a lot of money and since he said it is only on the food and beverage, I need to know how that works being a package price.  I think it is a scheme of sorts to charge extra, but I will make sure they only charge the 15% on my food and beverage!

Pleeeease let me know what they have to say! I want to make sure of the same thing. I hope to God it's not another 15%. I'll cancel my package right now and just go with the complimentary wedding service and have dinner at the buffet if that's what it comes down to.

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by LTLFAITHY 

 

 

So, in talking with other brides on here (going back a few months) this is how I understand the +tax and + service charge regarding the

package. The package has an additional 11% tax on (but I don't believe that there is an additional service charge) and each additional guest for the cocktail hour/dinner has an 11% tax and 15% service charge, the same holds for the cake for each additional person and the champagne toast if you choose to have one. So, I'm not sure what package you are doing, but if you were doing the cocktail hour and then the  Eternity Dinner with a toast and wedding cake the total cost per person would actually be: $89 (toast, cocktail hour cocktails, cocktail hour hors d'oeuvres, dinner, wedding cake) + $23.14 = $112.14/person over 25 people. If you did all of the same but the Divine Dinner the total additional cost would be $118.44/person over 25 people. 

 

One way that we are going to try and save some $$ is by not doing the cocktail hour. Our thinking is 1) it is an all-inclusive, if people want to have a drink and snack before dinner they can simply go to one of the bars and get those things for free 2) by doing this we'll save $37.80/person over 25 people....................................

Are they going to allow you to do that? I thought you couldn't alter the packages?? Can you just use the cocktail hour money towards having over 25 guests? This is all so confusing

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by DinaQtobe 

 

This thread has been super helpful.  I have been doing a TON of research into resorts.  When I saw the Tequila Terrace that leads straight out onto the beach, I fell in LOVE!  It's the first time that I have seen a location for the wedding/reception that I have gotten excited about.  Can't wait to hear more of what you ladies have planned!

 

Dina

Hi Dina! The resort is so beautiful and I'm sure I'll be much less stressed about things once I'm there but for now as you can see a majority of us all have questions about different planning issues and we're all here to help. Good luck planning and congrats!