Hello!! I'm new to the forum. My fiance and I are from Long Island NY and we are considering getting married in the Riviera Maya in April 2013. We haven't set a date yet. We want to get married in Mexico because we want a wedding vacation and not just a one day event.Like most engaged couples, we're looking for a budget friendly wedding. We both have been to the Cancun and Riviera Maya area. We want a traditional Catholic wedding with the Filipino/ Spanish influences of the Arras,Veil and Cord Ceremony. We are considering resorts with an onsite Catholic Church/Chapel. Right now we've booked out trip for Grand Palladium Kantenah resort. We plan to stay there to review their services and see what they have to offer. I have emailed Rocio Recinas Solano, the Grand Palladium wedding coordinator. She was very prompt in answering my questions. We wanted a private reception. So she sent me pictures of the buffet restaurants which becomes private reception areas. La Laguna is a lovely pool front restaurant with a Mexican rustic feel with a palapas roof. Gran Auzul is also the same as La Laguna but is surrounded by lush jungle. My father had died this year from pancreatic cancer. I wanted to send him sky lanterns into the night sky for him. Rocio said it is forbidden because of the danger to the wildlife and surrounding jungle. Not to mention the palapas roofs of the restaurants! I wonder if they do fireworks on the beach instead. I understand that prices will change by 2013. I'll post more information once I find out. Another resort we are considering is El Dorado Royale. They have a beautiful Catholic chapel also. We want to invite children. I wonder if they allow children in this resort. We love Xcaret but don't love the prices. I have hired a wonderful stationer for our invitations! Kristy Rice of Momental Designs. She and her lovely staff handpaints and designs original artwork on invitations. We're booking my very good friends Carol and Chris of Benchwerk Photography of NYC to take our engagement photos. They do amazing work! Think NYC magazine layouts! Chris is so laid back and very artistic. He know all the flattering angles on a girl! lol We just need a videographer. I am very excited and hopeful with our wedding planning. I pray God will be with us every step of the way. I will post whatever information I can find about Grand Palladium, Riviera Maya and hope it will help other brides planning their wedding in the same location. Best regards, Celle