pebbles

Quote: Originally Posted by beachbride17 I asked this question in an earlier post and didn't get a reply so I thought I'd ask again. Has anyone who is flying with Air Transat booked one of their wedding packages that is offered at the Barcelo. Apparently it's a new thing that Air Transat offers this year and it seems a lot less expensive and I was wondering if anyone had experience with this. Hey beachbride17 When are you planning your wedding? I just booked with Air Canada for departure of April 5 2010(right after Easter) and got a really good price. They offered an early bonus booking if we pay in full by Oct 31/09. Their offer is every 21st person is free! We are paying $1485CAD(taxes included) for the Barcelo Maya Palace. If guests don't pay by Oct31 then the price goes up by $500....so I think the $1485 is a great deal. It also gets cheaper if there is triple occupancy. Is this what your talking about when you say wedding packages? Sabrina

Quote: Originally Posted by TCIbride We are doing OOT bags that will be personalized with each guest's name and our monogram embroidery (it will cost me $15 per bag but we only need 12... so after thinking for ever I decided it was worth it). I'm putting beach towels, koozies, chap-stick, playing cards, tylenol, 5-hour energy drink, a couple of protein bars, first-aid kit, bottled water, a couple of gossip magazines/newsweek type of reading and a welcome brochure. For favors - women will get pashminas and guys - cigars. I hope my guests will like it... TCIbride, are you just packing everything in your suitcase? I want to do OOT bags too but I'm affraid it's going to add so much weight that it's going to cost a fortune. How are you getting around this? When do you give the OOT bag anyway? Sabrina

Quote: Originally Posted by MKRN Hello---- Does anyone know what Claudia's current prices are? I tried to download the attachment in one of the other threads, but it's not working. So if anyone can copy and paste it or try attaching it again, I would appreciate it. Here is the 2010 pricing...let me know if you can open it. If not I can email you it. Sabrina Photo Video info 2010.doc

Quote: Originally Posted by sdtooley Claudia is absolutely amazing! She truly made our wedding day wonderful and our pictures just show it all! I would recommend her to everyone. She is so easy and wonderful to work with and all of my guests enjoyed having her and her brother at the wedding. Here is the slideshow of our pictures! THANK YOU CLAUDIA! You are incredible Claudia Rodriguez | Wedding Photographer | Shannon & Michael | July 31th 2009 | Dreams, Tulum Mexico Shannon your pictures are amazing! I'm so happy that I picked Claudia...not that I had any doubt. Which package to you pick? The 5hr or 8hr? I can't make up my mind and I want to make sure that I capture the whole day. Sabrina

Quote: Originally Posted by beachbride17 I'm a little confused on the whole photographer thing. When I contact Barcelo they say no outside photographers at all but I hear you can book a room for your photographer and they are considered a guest? Do you then still have to pay the $300.00 to Photo Caribe? and won't the resort recognize the photographer and that they are only a guest for one night? I hate to pay to have a photographer there and then be told they can't take pictures. Sorry, but it seems to be different for everyone...... Thanks for the help!! Hi Beachbride 17, My WC Xhail (at the Palace) told me the same thing "No outside photographers". When I asked her that I "heard" that if you have the photographer stay at the hotel this was allowed. Her response from a direct quote in an email was "* Our policy is: external photographer are not allowed to come in the resort to take pictures, however if one of your guest is staying in the hotel and he/she will take your pictures, it is not going to be a problem" So in other words....book a room for your photographer and have them listed as one of your guests. I actually had my travel agent do this and we got a discount room price since we already had a block of rooms booked for "real guests". I wouldn't worry....just go a head and book. I booked with Claudia Rodriguez. I felt her rates were pretty good and I LOVE HER WORK! Hope this helps! Sabrina

Quote: Originally Posted by pebbles Sorry...it wasn't....this was the cocktail hr I mean the welcome dinner...so was this the night before Erica?

Quote: Originally Posted by pebbles But there are pictures of you guys ouside dancing Is this the outside restaurant? Sorry...it wasn't....this was the cocktail hr

Quote: Originally Posted by eblum999 Thank you so much! My reception was actually in the French Restaurant that they have on site at the Palace. But there are pictures of you guys ouside dancing Is this the outside restaurant?

Quote: Originally Posted by finzup ^^ I just found out too, that if the wedding is at the palace, the photographers can stay at the tropical, colonial, or beach and still be a "guest" at the wedding... the only restriction is they cannot eat in the palace restaurants... Thanks finzip! I guess I'll figure it soon....I think if I book it, it would make me feel better. Sabrina

Erica I love your pictures! The are absolutely beautiful! What was the exact location of your reception? beach or pool side? Sabrina

Quote: Originally Posted by barcelobride10 Hi ladies, I just wanted to say hi and thank everyone for the wonderful posts!!! My fiance and I are in the process of booking our flights with Transat, mailing out invitations next week and confirming our wedding date (that is on hold for us). We are getting married at the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort. The property looks beautiful from the pictures that I have seen and reading all of the positive reviews looks so promising. I hope I can be helpful and be able to answer of ppls questions along the way too =) I know that the deal Transat is giving us for booking guests is that for 26 people that book, the 27th person only has to pay taxes ($272). That will be a savings of $1372 for us. Not as good of a deal as WestJet, but every 'free' bit helps. Also, I do agree that having a dedicated and caring TA is important! Hey barcelobride 10, Try qoutes from air canada.....our package was every 21st person. We got an amazing deal with them as we got the early booking bonus. The down side is that guest MUST pay in full by Oct 31/09 to guarantee the price....$1485 (taxes included) at the Palace. Happy planning! Sabrina

To everyone that is getting an outside photographer, How are you booking a room for your photographer (if from Mexico)? Do i call the resort? Do I do it on-line? My WP (Xhail) made it VERY clear(for the Palace anyway) that a "guest" at your wedding may phograph BUT NOT an outside photographer. She is just trying to cover her butt in the email since it explicitly states in the 2010 wedding packages that NO OUTSIDE photographers. Sabrina

Thanks Bethbride1! I can't wait to see pictures! If you can't post them on here for some reason do you think you can email them to a couple of us? I would love to see pictures of the reception on the beach. We want to get married by the beach/pool side and decided to make the $1000 splurg. Is the reception right on the beach or the pool area? I want it outside with view of ocean but not right on the sand. The boys are wearing dress shorts so I don't even think they would be a allowed in the banquet hall......does anyone know if long pants are a must in the hall? Sabrina

Hey Ladies, ok I guess the hunt begins with finding a photographer outside the resort. We're staying at the Paalce so I will take your advice Danielle and book at one of the cheaper resorts (beach/caribe). Would I have to book a room now already for April 2010? I'm sure if I wait there will be something open. Sabrina

I had no clue...thanks for posting this message! Sabrina

Sandra, do you have an outside photographer? If so, do you how much it is for one night for them to stay? I looked at the website for the photographer at the Barcelo and I didn't like his pictures at all. Does any one have any recommendations for a photographer.....OR one that is coming from their home town and staying at the Barcelo Maya Palace with them the week of April 5th, 2010 to see if their interested in doing another wedding while their there. Sabrina

Adriana, Where is Samual located? Do you need to pay his travel fees? What are his rates as there is nothing on his website about this. He does have beautiful pictures! Sabrina

Great ideas ladies! I'm doing wine stoppers with a crystal starfish OR crystal Shell on the top of it. I might do the mugs thing too...love that idea FutureMsMoulton1 Sabrina

I was thinking of having mine before we go to Mexico too but having it afterwards is sounding even better after reading everyone's comments. I'm going to confirm with my WC vs my TA.... My WC sent me the different types of symbolic ceremonies offered: - Symbolic wedding ceremony performed by a Christian Minister (spiritual) - Symbolic wedding ceremony performed be a Justice of the Peace (as a legal one, with out be legal) - Symbolic wedding ceremony performed by a Shaman (Mayan ceremony) My FI and I haven't decided on which one yet. Happy planning! Sabrina

Hi Erica, Can you please let us know how you used an outside photographer? Was the band, hair dresser etc...from outside the resort? I was told that we have to use photographer at the Barcelo unless we pay to have them stay overnight.....not sure how much that would cost. Sabrina

Good points, never thought of which date we would be celebrating. Celebrating both dates sounds good! Agreed that would be double the fun. I'm hoping that our wedding date back home and the one for our symbolic wedding will be close together so it won't be a big deal. To me it doesn't make sense that you have to bring your marriage certificate....unless you want the honeymoon suit or something which I want. Usually to get the upgrade at a better price this is required. Great idea to have the same vows...... I'm all about trying to save money so it makes sense for us to do the legal stuff back home. Sabrina

Thanks Melisa! This definitly helps my decision of just having the symbolic wedding...i'll let you know if I have any other questions. Sabrina

Hey everyone, Does anyone know any info on Symbolic ceremonies in Maya Riviera? I have a few questions and any help would be appreciated. 1) Do you still need blood tests when you get there? 2) Do you still need all your legal papers (i.e certification of birth certificate, etc) 3) Is it like a regular ceremony (i.e exchange of vows) but just not legal? 4) Do you still need to wait the 3 days? I'm asking because my FI and I are having a Catholic wedding back home but we are still having the wedding and reception in the Maya Riviera. Thanks, Sabrina

I have no clue...I'm just trying to understand how all this works right now. I'm going to try and call the WC today and my travel agent is off until Tuesday. You must have to put some sort of deposit down to gaurantee your date.....at least you would think so. On a nother note.....does anyone know why we need to have a blood test when we get there? It's $180USpp which seems a little high to me. Thx Sabrina

Thanks Rowena! Could you send me the WC email address so I can contact ASAP. Ok this might be a stupid question but does the Kitchener photographer have contacts there or are you flying him out? Could you send me the contact info please. So your getting married around the same time that i would like to......what did you end up paying? I'm tried to find the cheapest week for everyone. S.