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Welcome! We are about "this close!" to booking Secrets Maroma Beach resort for our 08-08-09 wedding...it would be great if we can share details and tips along the way! Who have you been working with at the resort? Antonieta has been writing me with basic information so far, and has been pretty helpful. I'm still a tish worried about extra costs for the Secrets of Love and higher packages when you bring more than 20 people...is this something you are dealing with too? They have awesome packages, but the extra costs are about the same as anywhere else!

Quote: Originally Posted by adias.angel You ladies are the best!! I think we are going to use a TA for us and let other book how they want. I am going to ask though about group rates. If it ends up better I might have everyone use our TA then. Your number and links have really helped. I am going to budget high while we look into resorts. Hi adias.angel, I just noticed your comment about the group rates - our TA helped me to understand that the 'group rates' you get through the resort are a bit different than the ones that a TA can provide (which are technically not 'group rates'). The resort rates require you to put your credit card down and agree that at least 10 rooms (different at each resort) will be booked for your dates. Yikes! But with our TA at least, each guest can call them and book however they would like - no airfare is included upfront, but the TA can handle airfare if the guest would like. Apparently, TAs don't get commission for selling plane tickets anymore, so their prices aren't often different from what you can find online. And, having just received quotes for the Secrets and Excellence Resorts in the Cancun region, I can definitely say that $1500-2200 per person for 7 nights is what we are looking at as well. The Secrets Capri is slightly less than the Maroma Beach or Silversands, and the Excellence Riviera is between the Capri and the MB/Silversands properties in terms of price. How does anyone ever make a decision?! Best of luck!

Hi ErinB, Quickie Question - how did you transport all of this to Jamaica? I'm struggling (we're headed to Mexico) mainly because of the new restrictions on baggage, but even with that I have no idea how I would be able to get all of this down there for 40 bags without it all exploding or being so heavy I have to pay $50 just to get it on the plane. Not that it can't happen that way, but I am just looking for tips. Hope your wedding was a blast!!

We are also working on booking an adults-only, AI property in the RM region, and from my research so far I have found the Secrets and Excellence resort lines to be the "most for the 4.5 star money", so to speak. I am struggling now with the fact that for the most part, adults-only AIs are rather expensive (ranging between 200-300pp per night!). I have even gone through 2 travel agencies, and have checked with all resorts and their groups bookings sections to see if I can get discounts, but the cheapest numbers are coming in around $220pp per night. With food, alcohol, fruits/juices, room service, and some activities included, this is really not a BAD deal - I had just hoped for something around $150 or so. But I don't think I can let go of the Secrets/Excellence lines -- their resorts both have no problems letting you bring in outside vendors, and their Silver and Gold level wedding packages (the 2 highest) both allow for a cocktail reception and a wedding dinner for up to 20 people...I have yet to find any other resorts that offer such great options in their wedding packages for under or around $3000. If anyone has heard of any, please let me know! And good luck to you! )

Thanks so much for posting this thread - I hadn't thought about heading to Belize after our RM wedding!!! We are planning right now to do a few nights at Le Blanc Spa for our honeymoon (a trip up the road is cheaper than a plane flight)...but perhaps that trip could be south to Belize instead. Wonderful! Thanks for the idea!

These are awesome! And that price is just right for the bridal party, or even a gift in OOT bags if your guest list is not very large. I do wish they were available in a different color...

Thanks so much for this tip!! I had been looking ALL OVER for bags like these for under a dollar.

We used mywedding.com for our Bridal Party wedding website, and will be making a more complicated one for our wedding once we determine our exact location. MyWedding has some excellent designs and they also pair with a few invitation designers so your website and invite can match! Mindy&Christopher - wedding website by mywedding.com

Hello all - my fiancee Christopher and I have finally made the decision to wed in Mexico! We are aiming for the Riviera Maya/Cancun region, and have already narrowed down our search for a venue to either the Secrets Silversands or Excellence Maroma Beach resorts. Although the Silversands is super new, my contacts with their wedding coordinator Miriam have been very positive and she has been relatively fast to respond. I also like the Secrets resort line because they allow you to more completely customize your wedding - some of the other resorts I have researched will charge you to bring in an external photographer, whereas Secrets does not have this policy. I'm excited to learn about how other brides have dealt with various destination-wedding-issues, and hope I can be of some help along the way! I'm glad to be here!! Mindy this bunny cracks my butt UP -->