ROYAL PLAYA DEL CARMEN BRIDES: were kids allowed for the day? ...and other questions

You girls are wonderful! Once again, I find myself lurking more than anything else, but I'm here for you if you have any questions that I can help with! Last Wednesday, I broke some stuff (too long of a list) in my knee, so when I'm not pumped up of drugs, I'm here!

 

Katy,

I'm so sorry for your loss. I know that my furry children mean the world to me too and I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to them. You're in my thoughts...

 

Giminie,

You're photos are BEAUTIFUL! They look like they're right out of a couture magazine! WOW!!!

 

Shay,

I swear, we must've been separated at birth when it comes to this whole wedding planning thing! After you showed me the pic of the chuppa, I've loved it, but I agree- 15 minutes on the beach= $400?!?! It is a little steep... I've got a pretty tight budget

 

I also agree that my heart is set on getting married on the beach ("why go all the way to Mexico to get married to not have your wedding on the beach?!?!" is what FI says all the time), but privacy is an issue too... I'm afraid of some creepy people just staring us down...

 

Oscar Ernie,

You are a wealth of information yourself, lady! You are so active on this thread and forum, I feel like I know you already!

 

Happy planning ladies!

Thank you!! I can't wait to see the rest

I do agree with the cost of the chuppa on the beach being so expensive and the negatives of the time and privacy issues.. you have to also decide between a symbolic ceremony, or a civil one (civil is legal + very short from what i've heard) .. has anyone looked into a private beach??

Check out Sol's blog .. about a great post on different types of ceremonies available in the Riviera Maya: (scroll down a bit)

Sol Tamargo Photography

I think the best thing for those wanting a beach ceremony.. is to look into the cost of a private beach ceremony... i have no idea what it is tho...

the Royal is not private at all... (on the beach)

also everyone here has been awesome about helping me figure out what I wanted to do before I left for my wedding.. so hopefully this little blog post : Luxe Photography will help new destination wedding brides find their way here.. and experience this awesome community too

OMG Tati, I know what you mean...everytime you post something, I'm always relating to it! I love ya! Haha...AND you get married right before us...I'm SO freakin excited...good god.


Thanks again Geminie...I have not looked into the cost of a private beach...I might, but honestly, I can't imagine the cost being better than...free! The gazebo is where I am leaning toward......today...but that Chuppa is beautiful!! We ARE having a symbolic ceremony (married here before we leave)...so its food for thought. I guess now, my only reservation, besides not being on the actual sand (that whole sand beneath my feet thing gets me everytime) is...the gazebo is HUGE! There are only going to 13 of us...and I still want it to feel...Mexican...Intimate...Romantic...

Any suggestions on how to do that? I do love the wood of the gazebo, and again, sensibly, for the cost (or there lack of), how could I not investigate that?! I'm sure it can be made into a very romantic setting...I'm thinking of asking about fabric being hung inside...maybe making some hanging flower thingies! I can DIY when I really put my mind to it!

ahh...I love this board!

Hello there ladies

 

Congratulations to you all. I just got back from PDC and I can tell those of you who haven't been there that The Royal ended up being the actual only viable option for us for our wedding. All the resorts are beautiful and the funny thing that I realized is that each and every one has pros and cons. We settled on the Royal because it is right in town which we think is an important benefit to give to our guests. We are expecting about 80 people and decided to do a beach wedding and the reception in the garden area. The reason for that was due to the fact that we have some older people and walking a lot will be harder for them in the sand. I did see a wedding reception while I was there and it was beautiful on the beach and the pics I have seen are great.

 

 

I was so excited to see it in person and we set the date for May 15t, 2009. I am now a bit freaked out because we are trying to negotiate with the hotel and they don't seem to want to accommodate us in any way as far as prices go. We have a travel agent who is trying to get us a better rate and block on rooms but it is also a slow process. I am just curious out of all of you girls who have gotten married there or are planning on being married there how the whole thing is going. I couldn't be more thrilled by our choice but was hoping they would give us some deals on rooms, rates etc. since we are bringing about 80 people to their resort. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. We were quoted the same prices as you guys for the plated or buffet meals but we were quoted more for the cocktail hour. I will have to look but think it was about $25 pp. The one disadvantage to doing the garden is that it has to end at 10pm so we are thinking of actually doing a cocktail hour post wedding in the ballroom. They said they'd give us a better rate if we go that direction because our actual reception will not be the 5 hours that you normally get.

 

I have to say that the costs are really tallying up and the one thing that is a bummer is the inability to do a semi-private event in a restaurant. We do have that option at other resorts which is the only reason we have been contimplating the Occidental Xcarat. They really have some good prices for big groupsl Anyway, any advice would be helpful

Hey there

 

Just wanted to suggest the Gran Gazebo to you. I saw it in person and its beautiful and much smaller. There is a girl on this site that recently posted pictures and its meant for a smaller occasion.

We got married (total of 10 people) and had our reception IN the Royal's gazebo and it was absolutely perfect for our little group! They put tiki torches in between all the posts and it was gorgeous at night! I can't wait to get all the pics so I can show you girls

 

istephiez - have you considered having the reception at a restaurant on 5th Ave? Depending on what you like there's some very nice and elegant restaurants (La Casa del Agua), and then there's more fun and mexican ones (Ajua Maya) .. a really nice one is Yaxche... Elizabeth Medina covered this wedding at Yaxche.. and the ceremony was at The Royal Elizabeth Medina Photography Blog Archive Playa del Carmen Destination Wedding Photography, Gladys and Carlton in Mexico

 

More weddings at the royal covered by Elizabeth...

 

Elizabeth Medina Photography The Royal Weddings

We got married (total of 10 people) and had our reception IN the Royal's gazebo and it was absolutely perfect for our little group! The put tiki torches in between all the posts and it was gorgeous at night! I can't wait to get all the pics so I can show you girls

 

istephiez - have you considered having the reception at a restaurant on 5th Ave? Depending on what you like there's some very nice and elegant restaurants (La Casa del Agua), and then there's more fun and mexican ones (Ajua Maya) .. a really nice one is Yaxche... Elizabeth Medina covered this wedding at Yaxche.. and the ceremony was at The Royal Elizabeth Medina Photography Blog Archive Playa del Carmen Destination Wedding Photography, Gladys and Carlton in Mexico

 

More weddings at the royal covered by Elizabeth...

 

Elizabeth Medina Photography The Royal Weddings

I've been checking with some of the restaurants in town to have our reception. I have a few group menus if any of you guys want them. Honestly the prices are fine, but (this may sound weird) but they might be a little too mexican-y. Like just the description of some of the food items might scare off some guests... When I get to work tomorrow, I'll try to post some menus. Ajua Maya seemed to be fun and more "normal" mexican food- just have to see if the budget will stretch!!

 

Okay, is it tacky for me to not have a big reception? What would happen if we showed up at Spice with say... 15 people? Will they make a table for us (even if we have to wait)? Kinda push the system a little?

 

Also, I can't remember what I saw about day passes- does anyone have that info? My parents had to be difficult and stay at the Riu Yucatan. Do they need day passes for the wedding day and/or for any other day they want to come on the Royal property?

 

You girls are the BEST!!!

Thanks so much Geminie! I am going to email my wc paty and ask her which location I will have...looks like in front of the gazebo would be nicest!

Gemine

 

I have looked into other venues but not for the reception. We want to stay at the hotel for that and think the garden will be beautiful. We wanted to do a rehearsal dinner at the hotel and a brunch but they are quoting us the same prices and we were hoping to get a better deal since we have so many guest coming and spending a bunch of cash at the hotel. We are actually planning to do the rehearsal dinner at The Blue Parrot in one of the palapas and then see their fire show. That part is all sorted out. I just have been frustrated because some other hotels have the ability to do semi private events by sectioning off the restaurant and then you pay like $15 per person. The Royal doesn't have those capabilities so its much more costly. We haven't started choosing our decorations or anything but does anyone know if all the extra chairs and such come with the wedding when you book it for say 60 people? Also what about the upgrades on the chupta's on the beach? I am curious to know how much more the choices I make is going to cost. Its just so much fun getting to see eveyone's pictures!! I am going to start researching photog's but would love to bring one from home if I can find a way to afford it. Do you guys feel that the packages make sense? It seems if you have a bigger wedding they don't make as much sense because so many of the things are extra's I don't feel that I need.