Time to Look at a Different Resort!

UGH! I am getting frustrated! We want to get married at one of the Iberostar resorts in Playa but they have not released the 2008 rates yet!

August is almost here! I need to get STD's out, book the wedding, hire a photographer and all that fun stuff! Everyone else getting married around the same time I am are already on the ball. I have NOTHING done.

Give me some ideas, ladies! Our only requirement is the Riveria Maya area.

Help, por favor!

I would say to check out Moon Palace also. That was the first place our TA suggested and the only reason we crossed it out was that they do weddings every hour of the day. But I know some brides on here who had a great wedding there, and it has all the same features/amenities I know you're looking for...

They can be very cost effective too because of the 'free wedding' and you can get perks through your TA for your room block.

I think at Moon Palace we have to do a room block, no? Is this the one that requires 18 rooms?

We dont wanna do a room block. We dont have all that many people going and dont need 18 rooms.

Or...maybe I am thinking of a different place?

Martha - Are they able to hold a date for you without a deposit? When are they saying the 2008 rates will be released? Maybe if you can have them confirm the date then you can move forward with the other stuff - like reserving the photographer, DJ etc. Because even if you end up changing locations you can always take your vendors with you (right?). I would just hold off sending the STDs - 6-9 months in advance is more than enough time.

Don't give up on your dream place yet - but it's always a good idea to see what your other options are!

There is suppose to be an increase in the rates at the resort we want. I dont wanna book anything w/o knowing how much this will cost our guests.

And..I don't wanna book my vendors w/o knowing they can get me the date I want.

Will their rates be out in August? My hotel isn't releasing their rates until August. I think thats pretty typical. I was able to reserve my wedding date & time without a deposit or anything. There will probably be a rate increase (I think there always is), but I don't anticipate it being much.

Martha, something that helped me out a lot was looking at Apple Vacation and FunJet Vacations' websites to get an idea of pricing. Do you plan to book land and air separately or do you plan to book through a tour company such as these? Our TA said that prices typically go up approx. 10% from the previous year. Good luck!! I hope the prices come out soon. Also, can you email the resort and ask them when the 2008 rates will be out? They may be able to give you some insight as to what they will be next year.

From what I read they are expecting more than 10%...More like 20-23%, which can really add up!

I just cant ask our guests to pay a whole lot....

The rates were suppose to be out this month. I can'ty really check air for next July yet because they only have rates 11 months out.

I checked Fun Jet and Apple and as of right now, it's just hard to say.

Martha, I don't think the Lindo/Maya releases their rates that far out. When we were looking at Jan 08 for our date, they didn't release the rates until almost May.

I do know that you can reserve your date at the Lindo without having to put down a deposit and you don't have to pay a cancellation fee if you cancel the wedding there (unless you're within a couple weeks of your wedding date).

Moon Palace offers the "free" wedding with either a 5 or 7 night stay by the couple. Our TA was going to get us a free cocktail hour if we booked a minimum of 10 rooms. (if I remember correctly).

Even without the free cocktail hour, I remember thinking their rates weren't too bad.

(The 18 room minimum hotel you're probably thinking of is Playa Fiesta up in PV...)