Playa Fiesta Weddings

For those of you PF brides did any of you have any empty rooms that you had to pay for? I am getting married in Oct this year and we are still short six rooms. I am really nervous. We are even at the point of paying $500 to cancel the photographer in Mexico to bring someone in to fill a room. We have just had some really bad luck with friends and family, deaths lost jobs etc. I feel like we are jinxing them. We did the partial takeover and have 12 rooms filled. We need 18. We have offered to pay half of the cost of the rooms for many people but still couldn't get them to come. We also have two couples staying offsite in a crappy condo . We offered to let them pay what they are at the condo and we will pay the rest but they didn't want to take our money. They just don't understand. Adam even broke down costs for us but they still wouldn't stay with us and they are in the wedding. Lets just say I want to kick them out!!! I don't know what else to do to fill rooms. I think we can get two more for sure but other than that we are stuck. We will have to pay for four rooms. Does anyone know what rate you pay? Since the rooms will be empty do we have to pay for the open bar/breakfast and the D&E if no one will be using it? we have had to cut things that we really wanted b.c we just can't fill the rooms. Anyone else have this problem? HELP!!!!

So frusterating!

Yes, we paid for 3 rooms. It sucked, but we were over it once we got there and everything was sooo beyond PERFECT. But, I know that doesn't help you out right now. We had the same thing, death in family, layoffs.

Really frusterating about your wedding party though. I suppose that you told them that you'll be paying for the rooms regardless, so it isnt really taking your money?

You end up paying for the room minus tax. (D&E and breakfast are incl in room rate so that isn't subtracted.)

We also opened up to co-workers and people that weren't invited to the wedding at a lower rate- anything helps. No one took us up on it though.

 

So sorry you are dealing with this, been there. But, TRY to focus on the positives: You are getting married... and you are getting married in the most perfect spot ever! Wish I could help more.

Hi,

We were able to book all of our room, but I just wanted to offer my support. Your stress will melt away once you get there. Your friends that are renting the condo are going to miss out on so much. It's really sad. I think my parents helped some of our guests out financially, and that's how we were able to get all of our rooms booked. I think it was understood that we would lose even more money if guests decided to stay elsewhere. The few that thought of staying elsewhere were so happy that they decided to stay at PF. We did have some guests stay down the road, but that was because they couldn't commit to 5 nights. As far and D&E costs go, we didn't include D&E in the room bill. We paid for it on the final bill, and I think we only paid per person and for the people that were there. So if one room only had one person in it, we only paid D&E for one person. This might be just because we didn't include in the room bill.

I'm sorry for the stress you are going through, but you have the best week of your life to look forward to, so please be so happy for that!

I'm so sorry to hear about your situation and I can totally relate to your stress! My wedding is November 6th and we still have 3 rooms to book. We actually have 20 total and have 17 of them taken. A couple of our friends who were 'definites' have had things come up and had to back out.

We still have a group of people that we think will be booking soon, so we're hopeful we will get all 20. However, we're preparing ourselves mentally that we might have to pay for 1-2.

It's so frustrating b/c we have 11 people right now staying off site! Prices at neighboring hotels dropped so much after the whole swine flu thing that even with the offsite guest fee, it is cheaper to stay at other places. However, I've been selling PF as an amazing experience and it's been working for some people.

However, I almost strangled my Mom a couple weeks ago b/c I overheard her telling someone who was saying how expensive the hotel was that there was a more inexpensive one down the road. Arghh! I know she was trying to help them figure out how to swing the trip, but I'd rather it not be at my expense!

Hang in there! Stay positive and see if there are still a couple people who might be on the fence. And let us know how it goes. I'm right there with you in this stressful situation and it helps to talk to others about it.

AND like Kate and Melissa said, you're getting married soon at the best location!

Aaargh! I can totally relate to all of your stress! Our deadline to book rooms is this Saturday and no one has done it yet! We should meet our room requirement though - eventually. But we have had a lot of stress related to one guest with a timeshare who offered floorspace to all of the Man's best friends! It is so frustrating! My stomach was in knots, thinking about the awkward situations that would ensue - we didn't want guests to choose between hanging out at PF with the Man, or going offsite to hang out with his other friends (who live elsewhere, so we don't see that often), and I didn't want the Man to have to go offsite and pay cash bar just to see his friends. It was a stressful few weeks, but the Man explained to his friends that it was important to us for everyone to stay at Playa Fiesta, since I'm from across the country, so everyone gets to know each other without cliques or groups (there's no bigger bummer than attending a wedding where everyone knows each other but you!). I think most of his friends understood - only one couple is staying offsite.

 

In a whole 'nother ball of wax, the same gentleman who was offering up a timeshare (and had already accepted the invitation) then sent the Man the rudest, most offensive e-mail I've ever read, giving "Life Lessons" insulting every decision we've made related to the wedding from the hotel to the timeframe to the bachelor party (which he also said he was attending) and accusing the Man of being on an ego trip and costing people too much money! This from a gentleman my father's age! I was floored - and shaking mad! But in the end, we made the decision to politely tell him we felt it was inappropriate to attend the wedding, given his feelings about the event (and the not-so-nice way he shared it - really people! Keep it to yourself!). All I could think was seeing his face on the day of and remembering all the awful things he said - plus stressing that he was ruining our guests' vacation as well by sharing his opinion. I'm not sure that was in the etiquette book, but we felt 100 times better after doing it! Has anyone else EVER had to uninvite someone from their wedding? Not something I imagined in a hundred years!

 

However, with that drama over, we're just trying to keep in mind that people are strapped for cash and we should feel good that they really want to attend our wedding, so they're trying to find a way to do so. But I wish I could have them read the forum, so they can see that everyone's really glad they're staying! And I really believe they will be thrilled when they get there - the wow factor at PF is unbelievable!

 

That said, I am still planning our wedding! The invites went out (and looked gorgeous! totally worth the work!), I've made the ribbon runners, and am working on making matching fabric flowers for the napkin rings. And the dress is in! My first fitting is at the end of the month, so I am painfully working through Jillian Michaels' fitness routines. Ouch! Does anyone have any wedding porn to share! I need a motivational boost! Ooh, and Melissa - I remember one of your posts where you shared the wedding brochure you sent out to the guests who are attending. Can you link to that again? Thats next on my list!

Thanks for all your responses. At least I know we aren't the only ones having trouble filling rooms. I just wish it we weren't short six. I know it will all work out in the end.

 

Thanks again. I will keep you posted on how it goes. 2.5 months left! Yay.

Did you really ask for wedding porn?!Am I naive? What is that?

I sent you the brochure.

I'm glad you are working your guest issues out! It stinks that you had to un-invite someone, but it seems like you are moving forward with a good attitude!

Hahaha wedding porn is code for wedding pics:)

You can click the link in my siggy to see our pics and wedding video if you haven't already!

Ha ha! Ok, I do have wedding porn then. Our slideshow just went up on Playa Fiesta's website!Playa Fiesta

ahhhhhh!!! Playa Fiesta is just soooo amazing!!! Mel which ambiance/candle package did you have?? Gorgeous!!