mrseddy

Great to hear that everything worked out and that you are happily married now! Happy Wedding Day!! I cant wait to hear all about it. Congratulations!!!

Thanks Drtracy. Good luck to you and to Camie in the countdown to MP!!!

This was a post that amduran made regarding the restaurant accomodations. I would imagine they would be okay with pulling up a few more chairs if need be, right?? Re: Moon Palace 2008 & 2009 Brides - POST HERE! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote: Originally Posted by amduran Hi everyone - I thought this would be helpful too. This is the list of restaurants at the resort and the group sizes they can accommodate. Restaurants In Nizuc Manglar Rest. - Italian Buffet, Air Conditioning, casual dress code. (For no more than 35 people) Arrecifes Rest. – Brazilian Style, Air Conditioning, casual dress code. (For no more than 35 people) Palapa Delfines Rest. – Grill, open air, casual dress code. (For no more than 25 people) Caporales Rest. – Mexican, a la carte, Air Conditioning, casual dress code (For no more than 10 people) Caribbean Rest. - Air Conditioning, formal dress code ( long pants), set menu (For no more than 10 people) Restaurants in Sunrise Gondola Rest. - Italian Buffet, Air Conditioning, casual dress code. (For no more than 35 people) Bugambilia Rest. – Mexican Buffet, Air Conditioning, casual dress code. (For no more than 35 people) Barrucada Palapa – International /Steak, a la carte, ocean front, casual dress code. (For no more than 30 people) Fragata Palapa- Seafood buffet, ocean front, casual dress code (For no more than 30 people) Momonohana Rest. – Oriental food (chinese, japanese and Thai), a la carte, Air Conditioning, Formal dress code (long pants) (For no more than 10 people) Golf Course Trattoria Rest. - Italian a la carte, Air Conditioning, formal dress code (long pants). With set menu (For no more than 10 people) Bambu - Oriental a la carte, Air Conditioning, formal dress code.(long pants) (For no more than 10 people)

TinaM2B, it looks like you'll have over the 35 guest capacity for group dinners at a restaurant. We are most likely going to be in a similar position. Do you think it'll be a problem to still have the welcome dinner as planned?

Thanks for the tip Nibsmom! I haven't decided if it just makes sense to rent linen there, like you said, or bring some along because then I know what it looks like. Then again, I have a tendency to overpack too so it would certainly be an adventure to get everything down there. Hmmmm, I'll have to think about that. Does anyone know the size of the tables? What size tablecloth would I need? 60", 90"?

TinaM2B, it looks like you'll have over the 35 guest capacity for group dinners at a restaurant. We are most likely going to be in a similar position. Do you think it'll be a problem to still have the welcome dinner as planned?

Forgive me if this has already been addressed. I did a few searches on this thread and couldn't find what I was looking for. Are most of you taking table decorations with you? I want to bring my own table covers or table runners but I don't know the size of the round tables. There was discussion on large rectangle tables that seat 14 versus round tables. Is there a choice and if so is it free or an extra charge? Also, is anyone planning to bring paper lanterns or have you seen the outdoor reception decorated with them? Does the resort offer them and/or offer candles? Thank you!

It has been quite the year! It's natural for guests to worry but it's the over-worrying that is frustrating. People concerned about going to Mexico due to a conflict in one part is as crazy as people not going to NYC because there's a wildfire in Montana. Hang in there. Your guests who do decide to come will have a wonderful time!!

Jodimichelle-I used the template from Alyee Bits. I've attached the link below. She's got some amazing ideas and great templates to use. The only thing she asks is that you credit her when you use/share them. If your fiance is a graphic designer he will have a blast with this! We just used cardstock and a colored printer! The pictures of the flowers and starfish I found online--clipart infact. Posts tagged template - Aylee Bits Dana, I forgot to mention that my fiance's name is Eddie too! You don't find many of those

Thank you! They were fun to make! Nibsmom, I want to tackle the passports, but did you find them much more time consuming to make than the boarding passes? I was thinking of making them for the invitations but also more as a reference point that has information about the resort and the intinerary, maybe even simple Spanish phrases...basically information that we have on our wedding website but mobile.

Here are my boarding passes! I sent roughly 100 of them out. They were time consuming but my guests LOVED them. I have to credit Alyee Bits for her incredible templates.

JodiMichelle-we are using an outside photographer and we are having her book through our travel agency so that she appears to be part of our guest list. She suggested having one of our guests also take pictures to be a decoy, not so much because she anticipates the resort giving us a problem but just to be extra cautious. We are going to also sign up the resort photographers (cheapest package) in the event something happens to our photographer and she can't make it. The most important thing is the memories that we'll be creating so we want to ensure something gets caught on film!!

Hi Everyone! I am happy to announce that after much deliberation, my FI and I just booked the Moon Palace resort for our November 27th, 2009 wedding! What a relief! It seemed that we'd never find a place. We had initially overlooked the MP only because of its size. After researching EVERY all-inclusive resort (adults-only and non adults-only) I became convinced that MP does weddings well and is simply the best choice for a nice destination wedding. It was important to me that we had ceremony options. I hadn’t warmed up to the idea of a beach ceremony (especially considering the pictures I found of spectators butting up close to the ceremony), so I wanted a gazebo option. Most resorts either had a gazebo smack dab in the middle of the beach or within feet of the pool. I wasn’t about to fly our guests all the way down to Mexico for that. Also, if I had chosen a beach option and later changed my mind, I wanted there to be an alternative. Clearly, MP has a selection of gazebos and this is what eventually sealed the deal. After mulling things over, we realized that the size of MP actually works in our favor. This will give our guests the option to do many different things and considering that we are having a diverse group coming (young, old, beach-goers, pool lovers, shoppers, show-goers, golfers), this is perfect. The only other concern was that I didn’t want to be at a resort where I felt that my day would seem less unique because it was a wedding factory. After spending countless hours on this forum and reaching out to brides, I feel confident that my day will be special. Brides do not run into each other as you are given a section specifically for you and your guests…unless of course, we decide to head to the disco afterwards  I am almost done with my boarding pass STDs. I will post them once I’m done! mrseddy

When I attemptted to attach the file it tells me that my file is invalid. The jpg isn't large and I tried opening it in word and saving it that way. Am I missing something? Sorry, I'm relatively new to all of this!

Thanks for everyone's help! That was very informative. I agree with you regarding Secrets Capri, JLRJEN. My fiance and I don't have the luxury of doing a site visit which has made this process that much tougher but I once I found out Secrets had our date available, I thought it would be a slam dunk! After reading through the threads and looking at every picture I could find on the resort, I decided it wasn't for us. I certainly didn't like the gazebo location and for me a beach ceremony was a second option to a gazebo ceremony. I didn't like that off the bat we were down to one option and I'd read that their indoor alternative, in the event of inclement weather, was not a nice one. Futhermore, their WC is not only slow in responding (which I'm accepting goes with the nature of doing a destination wedding), but has also mixed up weddings and in fact double booked a wedding! With those strikes against it, we decided not to go with it. We were torn with the adults-only option. We thought we'd resort to it (and tell my aunt that she couldn't bring her two daughters) if we exhausted all of the other all-inclusive resorts. When it came down to it, I was convinced it would either be VIM or SC but with the size of our party and the fact that it's a diverse group (young, old, drinkers, non-drinkers, beach-goers, shoppers) we decided to go with the Moon Palace. We haven't signed our contract yet but it's just about a sealed deal. We had passed on it very early on in our research based soley on its size but after coming back to it we realized that it really did have everything we're looking for. The resort will offer our guests options and as I said, with the differing interests I think it'll be a good choice for us. With that said, I have only heard positives about Valentin. I actually got an email back from the WC-Guadalope, and she said that the gazebo fits about 80 people! She sent me a map of the resort ( i didn't see one posted on the thread so I will attempt to do so) but, unless I totally missed it, I couldn't see where the gazebo was located (#26). At any rate, thank you again ladies for all of your help and good luck with all of your planning!! I plan on checking back on this thread and I'm looking forward to seeing reviews on your weddings! mrseddy

Thank you for all of your insight! It's always nice to compare notes. What would we do without the internet and this forum?? My fiance and I have spent over 2 months researching and trying to find the perfect resort for our group. Secrets was voted the best all-inclusive by Apple Vacation (golden apple 6) but because we have a diverse crowd coming and spanning different age groups we decided to go with Moon Palace. We initally avoided it strictly because of its size but that aside, it has everything that we're looking for, including the gazebo that can hold all of our guests. The options for our guests are limitless but frankly, I think they'll enjoy themselves no matter which resort we pick...they'll be on vacation!! Another factor is that although I like to think that I'm laid back, I really do like consistency and for me, I need a WC that's quick to respond. I want to wish you the best of luck DallasAshli--your wedding is right around the corner. I can't wait to read your review!! Secrets is gorgeous!! And good luck to the rest of you getting married there!

Thanks soon2bepowers! Can I ask where you're going to be having your ceremony and reception at? Also, what made you decide to go with Valentin? We are deciding between that and Secrets Capri. Our travel agent is really pushing for this resort telling us that she's only heard great things and that people have raved about it but I see mixed reviews on Tripadvisor. I do love the terrace location (outside of the Mexican restaurant?) for the reception site. I still need more information regarding the gazebo and how many people it will fit. It's hard to tell by the picture. Are you doing a beach ceremony? I've emailed the wedding coordinator so we'll see what she comes back with! Thanks again!

A couple more questions ...is the resort flexible with sectioning off areas for a group dinner at their restaurants during the rest of the week? For the reception, they list the Pool Terrace and the Capri Terrace. Does anyone have pictures or know anything about the Capri Terrace? Is the seaside grill an option to rent out and is it viable? Also, what do you think about setting up the grass area behind the gazebo and before the beach area for the ceremony?

I like how small and intimate Secrets is and I've heard nothing but great things about the service, rooms and food. However, I've heard some bad stories about the wedding coordinator, which makes me very nervous. The other negative is that the gazebo is located feet from the pool which doesn't make for a private ceremony. The other option is the beach but I want to ensure that we can section of a good amount of the area so that we don't have people sunbathing next to us. The other great thing is that the resort holds 1 wedding a day which we like. Once we found out this resort had availabiity on our day I thought it would be an easy yes, but I'm hesitiating. Does anyone have information on how the beach ceremony is? Do they rope off a section or is it generally less crowded at certain times of the day? Also, any recent feedback regarding the WC Alejandra? Thank you!!

Hi Guys! We are deciding on a couple of adults-only resorts for our Nov. 2009 wedding. and Valentin is in the running. I've hears so many great things about it. We want a gazebo wedding but i haven't seen very many pictures of the Valentin gazebo. Does anyone have an information about it? Where it's located and how the procession to be to get to it? Would it fit 40-50 guests? Thank you!

Hi!! We are still deciding between Riveria Maya (closer and more convenient) and the possibility of doing Cabo. We are deciding between a few resorts in RM, one of them being Dreams Tulum. I'm also interested in Dreams Cabo, if we choose to go that route. I haven't done much research on prices at Dreams Cabo...can someone give me a ball park on how much a wedding would cost? we're planning to have about 50 guests. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I just joined this site. We are planning a wedding in Riveria Maya in November 2009. We've narrowed our resorts to Dreams Tulum, Riu Palace Riveria Maya and Sandos Beach Resorts. I'm leaning towards Dreams and my hunch is that's where we'll end up deciding on.