Hello!! My fiance and I are getting married at Sandos Playacar at Riviera Maya in May 2011... however, I hate to admit it, but I've been slacking on the details until now! I'm still waiting on our final head count before we can finalize plans for our reception site. We have requested a beach ceremony, but is there any way of securing a specific beach location (if there is one?) for the ceremony? I'm creating welcome bags for guests and would like to provide some basic information as to where to be for the ceremony and reception, but I don't know if I can get that information before we're in Mexico, or if we have to wait until we're down there to meet with the WC. Any insight on this? Also, has anyone used the resort videographer or photographer? Both seem so expensive for the short video and/or limited pictures. Does anyone have other recommendations for videographer or photographer in that area? Has anyone done the private beach reception? Was the extra cost to rent the beach, in addition to the $50 cost for food worth it? Is it possible to rent the beach for cocktails?? Has anyone tried renting a local restaurant out or is that just as pricey? Otherwise we were thinking of sticking with the Italian buffet (but some of our guests are staying for a week so we're worried that they'll be sick of the buffet food by the day of our wedding and will be disappointed that we're not doing something extra the night of our wedding). Has anyone rented a chartered boat excursion for 30+? I never realized planning a destination wedding would take so much work! We're also having a party back in the States (for both sides of our parents and family members) when we return-- it's funny, we originally planned a destination wedding to keep everything low key, but now we're try to plan two celebrations on a budget. Uffda!!! Thanks in advance for whatever feedback available. I've enjoyed gaining valuable info already through these threads. I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences after this May!! Thanks again! Molly