Jackie

Sounds good. Hopefully that can get some newbies posting.

Holly Molly that is a gorgeous house.

Good Idea. I'll be thinking of ideas but I'm not real creative like that. Hmmmm.

Thanks for the positive reinforcement Tammy, I'm just gonna post till posts are comming out of my ears, and you know what at the end of the day all this stuff helps me out anyway. So its not like I'm not benefitting.

This is a really good thorough review. August 2006 Wedding Coordinator- We arrived at the hotel a few days before the wedding and met with the wedding coordinator to finalize all of the details. The wedding coordinator, Alexandra, appears young, but don't worry because she is on top of every last detail. Our wedding went very smoothly and this is due in large part to her. Ceremony- We chose to get married at 5:30 in the gazebo. This is a good time to get married because the gazebo area is shaded by this time and was a very comfortable temperature. We had a violinist play for the ceremony which was a nice option in place of recorded music. An English speaking minister performed our service and we felt he was very nice. Cocktail Hour- Immediately after the ceremony we had a mariachi band come in and play from 6:00-7:00. The mariachi band gave a nice touch and entertained our guests while we escaped to take pictures with the photographer. The mariachi band played on the side of the gazebo where we had a small bar and appetizer table set-up. The hotel ropes off a good portion of the patio area so that other hotel guests cannot join the party. Dinner- After the cocktail hour our guests moved over to the Brazilian restaurant for dinner. We opted to pay a little extra so that the restaurant was closed off to other guests and was private just for our party. We had dinner from 7:00-8:30. The Brazilian restaurant offers 6 different courses of meat in addition to the buffet of different salads and vegetables. The dinner was fun and enjoyable. Party- After dinner we moved to the disco at the hotel. The disco doesn't open to the hotel guests until 11:00, so we paid to have it opened for our party from 8:30-11:00. The disco opened for the rest of the hotel at 11:00, but most of our guests stayed and danced until 2:30 in the morning. Photographer- When you meet with the wedding coordinator, she will offer several different photography options. The photographer will meet with you a few days after the wedding with your albums all complete. We made a side deal with the photographer and for $100 cash he gave us all (about 250) of the pictures he took on CD. We have since taken the CD to a local photographer so that we could have large portraits made. We also made a side deal with the photographer for $50 each he made a smaller album for each set of parents to have. We were very happy with the pictures that he took. Videographer- Also, when you meet with the wedding coordinator, she will offer several different video packages. The videographer did a great job and we were able to view the video and take it home with us a few days after the wedding. He did a great job selecting our music and editing the video. Flowers- My family owns a flowershop back home so flowers were very important. We chose the flowers from a book when we met with the wedding coordinator and everything was beautiful! Spa- The day of the wedding I went to the hotel spa with my mom and sisters and we all got our nails, hair and make-up done. It was fun and we were all happy with the job the stylists did. Overall, our wedding experience at the RIU Cancun went very smoothly and was exactly how we had hoped and imagined the day would be. I highly recomend this hotel if you are considering it for your wedding. The wedding coordinator is very open to ideas, so if there's something that you want that is not being offered do not be afraid to ask, in all cases she was able to accommodate me. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email me at [email protected] and I would be happy to help.

I just though it was funny to see the big NEVER been posted sign right next to the Martha Stewart thread. It made me feel like I needed to get my butt out of this chair. Ofcourse I never got up, I just sat there and laughed.

this is a review from another bride that was recently married here: Quote: My wife and I got married at SERC on 6/29/06. We were very happy with our decision to have the wedding there. Overall, the planning process was hassle free. This was very important to us, since we have busy lives and did not want to spend our free time planning a wedding. We picked the food, DJ, flowers, cake, location, and photography package 3 days before the ceremony. The Wedding Planner Lety Ku did an excellent job with everything. We were a little bit worried before we arrived because it was difficult to communicate with her. However, once we were there she went out of her way to make sure everything was perfect. And it was! We choose to have the ceremony on the beach near the Excellence Club and had a private reception for 15 people on the Foyer. I would recommend these locations. The Steak and Grouper dinner was excellent. The resort photographer did an exception job. The pictures exceeded my expectations. Email me if you would like to see a few. The only thing I was not completely satisfied with was the Justice of the Peace. She was not dressed appropriately for a wedding and we did not have any contact with her until the ceremony. So there was no rehersal and we had to wing it. Overall, I would strongly recommend SERC for a wedding or vacation. I think people that complain about Secrets look for things to complain about.

Oh good. Sometimes I wonder If anyone is even interested in these places I keep reading about.

September 2006 we have just stayed at the moon palace golf and spa resort for 2 weeks we had our wedding there it was paradise we took our 2 children and 15 family members we stayed in the nizuc side it was absolutly wonderful the rooms were pool view which many of the rooms are either pool view or ocean view when we arrived we was greeted with champaine and cold clothes after our long flights the rooms was beautiful with jucuzzis as standard, the wedding coordanater was really helpfull and anything you want at the wedding she will get within reason, (carolina) the place is so big you had to travel to the other parts of the hotel in golf buggys( the kids loved it) or lobby bus. we went up to the sunrise side what was equaly nice but more hussle and bussle alot of americans was on that side(very nice people) the beach was fantastic 24 hour room service so when coming in from sen frogs (a club you really need to go in if going to mexico in in cancun and cost 18 dollors 1 way and the taxi waits outside for you ( personal taxi) ) room service is a phone call and eat anything you want (also reccomend coco bongos, pat obrians,) a bus from the hotel takes you to them at 10 everynight but remember to buy a band 40 dollors when you get in there as your drinks are included all night). there is a night club on the complex but it is mexican music, jungle bar is great with a kareoke night and casino night, restraunts are all great but dont reccomend the chinese. the waiters are great people and cannot do enough for you when sat at the pool there is constant drinks and food being brought round to you( please spare 1 or 2 dollors for then as they run about like headless chickens and a lot of people take them for granted(orrr) the kids club is great for the kids. strongly advise the jungle tour on speed boats then snorkaling its like something off james bond its fab, and the water sports are right at the beach when you come off the pool i was addicted to the jet skis. (all non motorised sports are free so do do them as they are great for the kids. my wedding ..... we it was magical from getting up in the morning carolina was phoning the room aand champaine and strawberrys was sent whilst we was getting dressed to my room and the grooms for all the party, the horse and carrage was stunning, pictures were done special, and the dvd was like a movie well worth the money, and the wedding was the best day of my life if i could do it a gain i would do it there all over again thy made you feel really special, whilst we was there the mexican president was staying there ( if it good enough for him it was good enough for me) the spa treatments was really nice ( recomend going to the golf restrants it was amazing)booked again for next august carnt wait...........................(to be continued) haha

I just saw this forum/thread thingy and saw that not one of us has ever posted in it. Is this a sign that we all spend way to much time on the computer and not enough time trying to be more martha stewart like? I thought it was kinda funny.

Do they have horseback riding? I dont know if your into that but that would be on my top 10 list. Just a suggestion

I have read that too. Thats to bad, but at the same time I keep reading about how the grounds of the resort are kept so clean. You think being so sufficient in the clensliness (again I'm making up words) department that they would get right on a sewer smell problem. Huh, weird.

Hi Girls, I e-mailed the Palace Resorts last night to ask about their wedding packages ect. I am most likely going to the Occidental but the Aventura Palace gets such outstanding reviews that I figured I'd see what kind of packages they have. Palace Resorts owns the Aventura Spa in the Riviera Maya and also Playacar Palace in Playa Del Carmen. They own more that than I think but these were the two I was concerned with. Attached is the different wedding packages they offer. Bacconnic - I also asked them if they had any wedding dates available in your week of July 4th and they said that they do. I also inquired about how many guests they could accomadate and they said that there limit is 40. They seem pretty Rigid on this number, they said that if there was more than 40 guests that they would have to move the wedding to Moon Palace.

Yah at least I know I'm not alone around here. The rest of the world thinks I'm nuts but at least you guys don't. lol

Tammy M, I am having so much fun looking at these resorts and what people have to say about them. This is kinda a good quality and bad quality of mine though... I tend to get really obsesive over stuff like this.

Tammy M, you are getting me too excited!!! Engagement pictures, OH, I'm gonna cry. And yes I better be engaged by then. I am pretty sure it will be happening sometime this winter. If my guess is right, it will be on one of our weekends up north in the cabin or on the mountain somewhere. Its kinda our little place to get away from it all, and for some reason I see him proposing there.

I'm not sure when? I thought it would be next Sept/Oct but If this sale that they have going right now is for closer dates than I might shoot for this spring like Aprilish. If I do end up booking a site visit I am going to do cartwheels all through my house.

Hey Tammy I sent you an e-mail not a PM with some of our info and a couple more questions. Looks like we might be going to Mexico. Wohooooo.

Here is another good wedding review at the Aventura. This place is really rocking the good reviews in general though. Seems like this resort is a real good one to consider if any of you Riviera Maya girls are still looking. October 2006, We just returned from the Spa Palace where we got married. Wow, what an experience!! The resort itself is beautiful, the service impeccable, and the staff is the most courteous we have encountered. The restaurants are outstanding with something for everyone to choose from. The rooms are beautiful and housekeeping does an unbelievable job with the upkeep of your room. We were married at the resort and the ceremony was beautiful, there are actually two locations on the resort to choose from, both with georgeous views. The wedding coordinator, ours was Lorena, does everything for you. Everything was handled beautifully and we had a worry-free, hassle-free wedding. We ordered the larger wedding picture package, were married on Saturday and the pictures were done and ready for pick-up Monday morning. The photographers were very detail oriented and we were amazed at how well they turned out. We met several nice people while staying at the resort and the majority of them were repeat vacationers who have been there multiple times; we will be returning as well. The resort is fantastic with a little something for everyone. You can either relax by the pool or there are several tours / activities you can choose from. You can do as little or as much as you would like. The spa is a nice added bonus, we had a couples massage down by the lagoon the day of our wedding and that was very nice as well. The service is impeccable and we were really fond of Juan Pablo during breakfast and lunch and Antonio during dinner at La Trattoria. They made our meals quite an enjoyable experience!! We have stayed at many resorts over the years and several in Mexico / Carribbean and this by far exceeded any of our past accomodations.

Ha, Ha, too funny. I think I could be wearing a few of those today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by host Jackie, for a 4-star it is very reasonably priced...they are actually having a sale for trips booked this year for 2007. out of boston for 5 nights in sept. 2007 it is about $880 per person. for 7 nights it is $1090... this includes airfare and taxes (but rates based on availibilty and can cahnge at any time). Tammy, that is such a good deal. If I'm reading this right that means I would have to book in 2006 for a stay in 2007. Is that correct. If so that leads me to my next question. I have never booked travel like this before, and do not have 100% of the money upfront to book. I have always booked travel paying things seperatly (i.e. plane ticket, hotel etc.) Are there payment plan options out there? Do you book trips with payment options? If so I would feel most comfortable booking through you. I just dont trust expedia, orbitz ect and would be nervous to book through these travel agencies. If you dont offer this then I will just wait till I can save up the entire cost of the trip and book then.

Welcome Monica

Quote: Originally Posted by jilly76 Thank you everyone for the welcome! Jackie, the Occidental looks beautiful, I may have to look into that further. I am thinking the same thing, I don't want this to be outrageously expensive for my guests, and my fiancee is no help, he says just pick the place where I'm going to be happy and don't worry about everyone else. We have children coming as well and that's why I'm not looking at the El Dorado, because I have heard from so many people that it's wonderful. Jillian, I know isnt it a buetiful looking resort. Something about it just catches my eye more than the other resorts in the same price range. I'm trying to dig up info on the Occidental and I will post whatever I can. We are also seriously entertaining the idea of doing a site visit in Sept/Oct 2007 where I hope to get tons of information first hand. I am going to try and e-mail the hotel and maybe give them a call also. Hopefully I can get them to reply.