cantorballard

Hi everyone! I would like to offer a recommendation of resorts, if you are considering Riviera Maya for your wedding. I just returned from my 4th wedding at Iberostar, Paraiso Maya, and it is truly the best. Lily, the head WC is absolutely amazing. She makes you feel like you are the most important family on the property, and she goes way above and beyond to make your wedding dreams come true. Lily has been on top of every detail, and she is friendly, happy, and eager to please. The food there is amazing, and they have a beautiful chuppah and she understands all the Jewish traditions. I highly recommend the venue! Enjoy! Cantor Deb

In case you are still searching, I just returned from the DR, and I travel there several times a year, because there is no Rabbi down there to officiate Jewish weddings. You have to "import" your officiant. The only Rabbis in the Caribbean require Jewish-Jewish weddings, and that they be Kosher. I'm happy to help in any way possible. Cantor Debbi Ballard

Most resorts I see have a standard structure they use, that is often used as a chuppah. Have you checked with your coordinator to see what they can do? In a pinch - Walmart sells lightweight curtain rods. Buy 4. You can bring a tallis, or any piece of material, should be 6' x 6', or maybe a little less, and bring lots of tape. You can tape the material to the rods (which pack nicely in any suitcase) and voila - you have a hand held chuppah. It's a nice way to honor 4 guests. by asking them to hold it. Otherwise, as long as the gazebo is open on the sides, that is also your chuppah. I've been very "creative" quite often! Cantor Debbi Ballard

Dear RSidman, There are literally no Rabbi's in Mexico - not only to co-officiate, but to perform anything but an Orthodox style wedding. (Both Jewish, kosher food, etc.) I perform about 10-20 weddings a year in Mexico, many of those are co-officiated, but the only way to have an authentic Jewish clergy is to hire one from the states. Best wishes!

Dear MDLady, If you have hired your dj, ask him to search for Bobby Morgenstern's wedding cd's. They have recordings for the hora, siman tov/mazel tov, heveinu shalom aleichem, etc. (mixes all in one) It should be a relatively easy cd for most dj's to find. Morgenstern has the most widely used Jewish music.

Hi Ladies - Just thought I would offer the advice that all of my Mexico (and most other DW location) brides have their civil ceremonies in the states, and perform the Religious/Spiritual ceremony at the destination. I highly recommend this, as there is never any question about documentation, and you have no legal grey areas. Also - dear Mexicobride - a challah recipe is very difficult to translate into how to cook in Mexico! The altitude is different, the water is different, and so I have seen many of the resorts attempt to make a challah - but it is SO hard to get right! I usually bring a challah with me, when I officiate in Mexico. It might get a little squished -but it's so much better than what results when they try to make it! Lastly, learning the components of a Jewish wedding is simple - anyone can pull it up on the internet, and script something out. But, it's usually at times like very meaningful lifecycles, that anyone who wants the presence of Jewish tradition will want someone more authentic to perform the ceremony. That's why people seek out Rabbis and Cantors to perform their weddings. I find that even the most non practicing Jews (and non Jews alike) want the "real deal" to solemnize their wedding. They feel it gives more credibility to the holiness of their marriage. But if that is not an issue and your local officiant will read a script, then that is an easy way to include the rituals and traditions of your faith. Hope that helps!! Debbi

To answer your question about Jewish ceremonies in all of RM (and most of the East coast of Mexico) - the resorts themselves do not have Jewish officiants. They will refer you directly to the only Rabbi in the area, and you will have to contact him directly, however he only officiates Jewish (Non Interfaith) and he will requires Kosher food. Most RM brides import a Jewish officiant, if they wish to have a Jewish wedding.

I've done weddings at both resorts - all you have to do is let them know you are providing your own religious officiant, but you still need to arrange for the civil as well. Your planner wherever you book will accommodate - the resorts are top notch and very sophisticated wedding professionals. Good luck!

I'm at MP right now, as I type, and I have to say, this has officially become my FAVORITE resort! The amenities are absolutely amazing- including wireless everywhere, a great coffee lounge with computers, tv's, internet, lots of great restaurants, and staff that are the most attentive of anywhere I've been in RM. The rooms are amazing, though the only drawback is that this place is humongous, and walking from a room to the wedding location could take a while, but they have golf carts that drive around, so it isn't terribly bad. I especially love that the weddings are held further down the beach, so you won't have onlookers gawking at you, like they do in every other DW I have ever performed. It is incredibly private, well managed, and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you have already booked - you can take a sigh of relief. You are in for a wonderful treat! Debbi

When I stayed at the Riu Palace in RM, we could access Internet in the lobby, but not in the rooms.

Tammy - I am really confused - I cannot find anywhere in the User cp to add the vendor banner to my signature/profile. Please let me know where to go!

A good wedding coordinator in your destination resort should have no problem working this out for you - but you should decide, then, if you want to make the legal ceremony public, or perhaps, as many of my clients do - have the legal ceremony privately, and then your relgious/spiritual ceremony as the one your guests participate in. If you want to make both public, then ask your coordinator to allow your Aunt/Uncle to contact the local officiant beforehand, to see if they can plan out the ceremony. Then, the local officiant can make the pronouncement, and your Aunt and Uncle can "present" the couple for the first time. I've done that a few times... Debbi

A good wedding coordinator in your destination resort should have no problem working this out for you - but you should decide, then, if you want to make the legal ceremony public, or perhaps, as many of my clients do - have the legal ceremony privately, and then your relgious/spiritual ceremony as the one your guests participate in. If you want to make both public, then ask your coordinator to allow your Aunt/Uncle to contact the local officiant beforehand, to see if they can plan out the ceremony. Then, the local officiant can make the pronouncement, and your Aunt and Uncle can "present" the couple for the first time. I've done that a few times... Debbi

Tammy - I've sent a couple of requests for pricing for a premiere vendor - can you please let me know what that entails? Thanks!

A good officiant will have a fully functional website, and a readily visible phone number. Try googling them, and see what comes up. There are several sites that will refer officiants to you...Try Decidio.com, Wedding Wire, Eventective, etc. Are you looking for a civil or religious ceremony?