SharlaScott

Quote: Originally Posted by DallasAshli Thanks for the pics! We are trying to do a site visit, but aren't sure yet. The main thing I don't like about the gazeebo is that the guests sit 3 steps below and in the sun. It would work for some people, but not my Irish in-laws who, um, don't tan FI is that way too so I have to provide some shade. We are also doing it closer to sunset so that should help. What time was the wedding in the photos? Thanks!! I believe it was around 6ish...

Hello! I thought I would post some pictures I took while on our honeymoon at Secrets this summer. Secrets is an extremely nice resort, but the wedding ceremony we saw was a bit awkward. I'm sure this is only because they used the gazebo... First, the bride walked along side the pool extremely fast...I'm sure she was just nervous because everyone was cheering and watching her: She walked up to the gazebo where people yelled and whistled (not exactly romantic) during the ceremony: The ceremony only lasted about 10 minutes with everyone (including ourselves) watching on. They cut the cake and everything inside the gazebo, so it was very short and sweet. Secrets is AMAZING, I just wouldn't choose the gazebo while the pool was open. I'm sure they have something they can put together at night I don't know. Please let me know if you have any questions!!

Quote: Originally Posted by johnson_jc With the cocktail party...I know you said you got the free 1 hour and that they didn't seem to care about how long it lasted. Did you just book the 1 hour and keep it going that night? Or did you work out with them ahead of time to extend it? Because from what I've seen we have to pay for additional hours, so I didn't know if I should bother them about the additional hour or just leave well enough alone and keep it going as long as we can when we're actually there?? Thanks!! We just kept it going. They won't tell you NO at all that day, so all the minor things like that they tell you will cost $50 here $100 there etc...we just waited it out and did it anyway for FREE! I'd recommend it to anyone. They really do want you to be perfectly happy on your wedding day, no hidden fees!

Quote: Originally Posted by erinnjosh That's so great to hear! your pics were beautiful and I'm glad everything worked out!! I think I'm just going to wait until the 90 days before and then get a few things squared away, then plan the rest when we get there!! any tips? Not really...just patience. They plan way too many weddings there sometimes and can make you feel like you're just another one of their tasks. But I guarantee on your day you WILL feel like the only one. They will make that happen, no matter what it is you need!

Quote: Originally Posted by HaleGrifa Sharla - I love your photos - it looked amazing! I hope to have my civil ceremony at the Chapel Gazebo and then a cocktail reception followed right after the ceremony - then we can have our pics done at the beach while our guests enjoy some tappas and bevies. Can I assume that you can do this are they flexible? What was your planning experience like once you arrived at the resort? TY They are pretty flexible. Let them have an idea of what you want before you get there and then confirm it at your meeting. I didn't get into the planning of it too much because I was so frustrating with the lack of communication from my WC...so I gave up. I'm glad I didn't put too much effort into it because everything is pretty easy to negotiate once you arrive!

Quote: Originally Posted by KBMD12309 Sharla, Did you have your minister guy say the san ceremony or did you guys say it yourselves? I want the guy to say it but they told me they wont. I know we've all discussed this before but i just wanted to know what you had Thanks. Also, did you have a lot of time b/w your ceremony and your cocktail hour? Is that when they typically take pictures? They told us before we got there and at the meeting 2 days before that he wouldn't read it. Then all of a sudden he starts reading the paragraph we had for the sand ceremony...soooo I guess they will surprise you?? I don't know, I never asked because I completely forgot. Either way, it was a nice surprise. We had about a hour in between the 2 which was plenty of time because I was so tired of posing for pictures by then!

We did the non-religious ceremony with a sand ceremony and it took about 25 minutes. They have alot of Mexican traditional paragraphs that they read. It's really sweet. I didn't plan anything before the wedding, I just knew that all I had to memorize was I DO!

You were so BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE your hair...LOVE!

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Quote: Originally Posted by KBMD12309 Congrats and thanks for your review. And your dad is so cool! awww! Thanks. He was so excited that entire day! He kept saying how he had thought about this day everyday for the past 24 years....(I'm the only daughter, so you can imagine how excited he was!~)

Here are the answers to these questions: Hi Sharla, great review and fantastic pictures. Just a few questions I would like to ask you: Did you get 2 hours free with your cocktail party or 1 hour free for booking 10 rooms or more? They don't really care about how long it lasts. I know it says 1 hour but they will go for 2 or more without any complaints. Did your upgrage photo package include pictures of the coctail party and reception? No. We had a dozen cameras with us so we just took them ourselves. Also could you have the photographer taking pictures while you was getting ready? We didn't. I knew we were having a professional photog for the AHR so I didn't worry too much about it. I'm sure you could find a way if you asked, I know they had upgraged packages up to $1000 more over the deluxe package. Did any of your guests stay outside the resort? if so did the resort charge the guest passes to your room? Yes. 2 guests have a condo in Cancun. They just drove in and paid their $81/person. They will not let guests into the gazebo without a bracelet. They were very strict with us about that. Did you have a welcome dinner for your guests? if so what resturant? No. I wanted everyone to do what they wanted the whole time. If I were to go to a DW I wouldn't want a iteniarary handed to me...that was just me though. I just told them all to show up on the wedding day at a certain time...it went flawless. We all hung out with anyone we ran into the whole week and everyone did their own excursions etc....no one felt like they were tied down or HAD to be anywhere. We were very laid back. How much did your bridesmaid flowers cost? I made them ...but about $10/bouquet. Did you get to choose the gazebo? No. They just emailed me and sent pictures saying this is where you will be....which was fine by me. I didn't need anymore decisions to make!

Quote: Originally Posted by cja1976 Great review. You looked great. I have one questions, I like the shoes you wore the day of your wedding could you please let me know where you purchased them from or who makes them? This is the only information I can find for them right now: Description: Women's Annie Sadie Size/Width: 9.5 M Color: Silver Annie Sadie - Free Shipping Both Ways & 365-Day Return Policy I'll look later tonight though!

Quote: Originally Posted by cheeks75 Great review Sharla!!! I am getting married there in 2 weeks, and loved reading the good/bad of the resort. It is very helpful to know that there is someone there who can do hair, because that was quite a concern. You looked FABULOUS!!!! Would you had done anything different if you had known prior to the wedding? I would have tried harder to have the wedding at 5 or 6....4 pm was soooo hot. Other than that, nope!

Quote: Originally Posted by mtomas5555 GREAT REVIEW! Thanks Sharla!! I am happy everything worked out for you! Your wedding day looked perfect!!! I can't believe mine is just about 3 weeks away! So, do you by any chance know what your few guests ate that made them sick? Maybe we can just stay away from that type of food, lol That's the only thing that worries me a little.... I am there 4 days before I get married, so I want to a) try not to get sick and try not to get sunburned. hehe!!! -Melissa I'm not sure where they ate since they stayed after we had gone on our honeymoon but I bet it was just the normal food. No offense to this part of the family.....BUT they are a little overexaggeratory at times, so I wouldn't doubt it if they were just exhausted! I never had a problem with the food but I stay away from anything that looks like it should have been in a frig or heated and wasn't! We packed 10 bottles of sunscreen and I managed to make it 2 weeks without any tan lines! So just keep applying that nasty sunscreen and it'l be perfect!

Quote: Originally Posted by Tam1984 Wow Sharla great Review! Your pics are amazing and you look stunning! Im getting married at the Moon Palace next June and am so reassured now that i have read your review, Just a few questions... Nag,nag,nag! What Gazebo did you get married in? What Photographic package did you chose? I have decided to go with the resort photographer after seeing your pics so now i need to decide on the type of package.... Its decisions all the time... STRESSED!! XXX We were married in the Bugambilia Gazebo. We used the photo package from the deluxe package. It was like 36 photos with an album and a DVD. I'm not exactly sure. Once you arrive they offer you a package upgrade with larger picktures, 62 photos instead of 36, a larger album (that's much nicer), and all copies of the photos on a DVD. It was an additional $220 I think. COMPLETELY worth it. If you don't get a copy of the pictures on a DVD you will never be able to see all that they took. They pick out which 36 to print and put in your album so you don't really get a say. If you get the upgraded package you can keep them forever and order them yourselves. That's what we did anyway!