newloves1975

Cricri, thank you so much for your input! It's nice that you have experienced both! I was debating doing a TTD w/ adventure rather than Juan since they are cheaper, but I think I'll just stick with Juan!

The 4 month mark is creeping up on me! And the panic is starting already! Hey I think I heard somewhere that a DW is supposed to be easy and less stressful. If this is what planning a DW feels like, I'd hate to feel all the stress if I was having a big wedding back home! On a serious note, is anyone using Juan Navarro? And have you been able to contact him at all?? I have him booked, but I have a question on substituting something in my package. He hasn't responded to any of my emails or the ones that Cecilia sent him and copied me on. Has anyone done research on the in house photographer at Secrets? I think it's Adventure photos?

I am feeling your anxiety KC!!! I  have right under five months, and the timeline thing is becoming overwhelming. I cant seem to focus on one part because I get sidetracked so easily. We are hoping to have between 50-75 guests, and I just emailed Cecilia today if we can arrange to try all the food options the day we arrive. My fiance has pretty much let me take the reins . . except in the food department, LOL. I will let you know what she says. I am still confused on the beach ceremony options. I also asked her to send me both chuppah options with only what is included in the cost. I have so many differing emails, Im getting confused!!!

When did everyone's guest book their trip, or how many have booked already? My wedding is not until October (5 months to go)! I got a fairly good response from my save the dates. I am driving myself crazy checking the prices. I don't know if I got a good deal on my trip, but the prices are going up, and up, and up! Today I checked at its $1700 pp for a 6night 7day trip. My guest aren't going to pay that, and I don't want to feel like I am forcing them to stay at Secrets, but I really want them to. I want to be able to spend time together, have dinner, drinks, etc. Is anyone else freaking out over the rise in prices? Have any guests backed out after saying they want to go?

I feel so relieved, I was so worried about the gazebo lighting. This is what Cecilia sent me. What do most brides do about reception lighting at the gazebo for dancing?- they use the same lights that comes inside of the Gazebo and the lights provided by the Dj package, or they add Christmas lights or lit up the curtains with different colors I wish someone would have told me before that the DJ will have lights. For me, that can justify the cost for the DJ, rather than renting the sound system for the reception and paying for all the fancy lighting.

KCDawn, I just heard from Cecilia on the gazebo lighting. This is what she sent, and now I'm even more confused on what to do: "We do have lights inside of the Gazebo but they are not so Bright" Basically I want the gazebo reception to look nice without spending a ton of money. I think colored lights would look cool in there, for dancing.

That price was confirmed by Cecilia too, because I figured it would only be $78. This is the email: Video package 1 is included in the ultimate package. If I wanted to upgrade to video package 2 will it only be an additional $78?- Price list do not necessarily reflects the Price of the items included in the wedding package, in this case the upgrade it would be of $108 usd

newloves1975, that is a great deal to upgrade the video package!  Thank you so much for letting us know.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by newloves1975 

 

After my little freak out yesterday I sent Cecilia an email asking about lighting. She sent me an email back with a picture of the reception set up at the gazebo with a light circled in red, (near the pool) if anyone has the "wedding areas" document she sent out the picture is from there. She never verified that the gazebo was dark, but that's kinda what I get from the picture she sent.

She also sent me a VERY helpful document "wedding services price list 2011-2012" this has all the decor WITH prices. She copied and introduced me to someone at planner1events. I guess that's the decorating/setup company they use...? This is extremely helpful! It's making me rethink my budget though!

Cecilia is wonderful, she is always so helpful and quick to respond. I just don't understand why she doesn't send out all the information, pricing, maybe a FAQ list after we put our deposit down. It seems like all of us have to ask her a question, then we get an attachment with pictures etc. Just my opinion, it would lessen her inbox and make things a bit easier for herself.

KCDawn-from what I understood from the attachments she sent me, if there was lighting, candles, etc it was all purchased separately. I wish someone who was married there could let us know. I don't want to make these decisions too early, my goal is 6 weeks before the wedding have everything picked out. Cecilia did say to make the spa apointment for hair/makeup 1 month prior to coming down. I can make a massage apointment when I get there, or before.

Another bit of information that I didn't realize or know until yesterday. The champagne flutes are mailed to your house AFTER the wedding. And if anyone reviewed the video packages, the basic video of the ceremony is included in the ultimate package, but to upgrade to the next video package it's only $108 more. That sounds like a good deal to me.

 

 

After my little freak out yesterday I sent Cecilia an email asking about lighting. She sent me an email back with a picture of the reception set up at the gazebo with a light circled in red, (near the pool) if anyone has the "wedding areas" document she sent out the picture is from there. She never verified that the gazebo was dark, but that's kinda what I get from the picture she sent. She also sent me a VERY helpful document "wedding services price list 2011-2012" this has all the decor WITH prices. She copied and introduced me to someone at planner1events. I guess that's the decorating/setup company they use...? This is extremely helpful! It's making me rethink my budget though! Cecilia is wonderful, she is always so helpful and quick to respond. I just don't understand why she doesn't send out all the information, pricing, maybe a FAQ list after we put our deposit down. It seems like all of us have to ask her a question, then we get an attachment with pictures etc. Just my opinion, it would lessen her inbox and make things a bit easier for herself. KCDawn-from what I understood from the attachments she sent me, if there was lighting, candles, etc it was all purchased separately. I wish someone who was married there could let us know. I don't want to make these decisions too early, my goal is 6 weeks before the wedding have everything picked out. Cecilia did say to make the spa apointment for hair/makeup 1 month prior to coming down. I can make a massage apointment when I get there, or before. Another bit of information that I didn't realize or know until yesterday. The champagne flutes are mailed to your house AFTER the wedding. And if anyone reviewed the video packages, the basic video of the ceremony is included in the ultimate package, but to upgrade to the next video package it's only $108 more. That sounds like a good deal to me.

Anyone who's wedding is coming up soon, or already passed can you tell me when you decided on all the little details? Like flowers, menu, decorations? My wedding is 6 months away and this is stressing me out already. Cecilia sent me a ton of pictures of decorations, am I supposed to pick out of them without knowing any of the prices? Are the only bouquets they have to chose from the ones on their website? Same goes with the cake.... Also anyone who is having their reception at the gazebo what are you doing for lighting? This just occurred to me that the inside of the gazebo will be dark. I thought I was pretty much set and had everything planned, now I have so many more things to decide on! @CriCri: Cecilia sent me the wording for the symbolic ceremony. I would assume that since the sand ceremony is added by you, then you can decide when during the ceremony you want it. I have read a ton of ceremony scripts and its been done at different times during the ceremony. Most of the time it is after the vows and rings. But really It's up to you. I think that I am doing the hands of the bride and groom reading, and I want it done before the vows and rings.

I sent her 2 emails yesterday and she responded to them both within a few hours.

Hi all,

 

Has anyone had any trouble contacting Cecilia in the last week or two? I have sent her a couple of e-mails but she hasn't got back to me. I'm getting a bit worried as my wedding is in 4 weeks so want to get the final details sorted out!

 

Thanks in advance!

My wedding will be at the gazebo.  I didn't even think about the clean up with the fake flowers.  I may give in and get the real ones.

LED candles are a great idea.  They would give the reception tables a romantic touch.  Are you bringing them down with you, or shipping?
 

Originally Posted by beachbride2013 

I'm doing my own chair sashes and centerpieces. I have lots of the wax LED candles for the tables as well. We aren't purchasing any additional lighting, flowers, or decor. We can use our bouquets. I have 2 bridesmaids.

I would like to purchase rose petals for the isle to give it some color. My sashes are ivory and my bridesmaids are a bright blue. I'm thinking one bag should be enough. If not, I would probably just opt out. Maybe I would splurge on 2 bags, but def not more than that.

Also, @newlove, I don't think that they will allow fake petals. Is your ceremony on the beach?

I think the overlays are a great idea. That is something I may look into, but I think we are pretty much done with the spending!

 

It all adds up so fast! Cecilia sent me a bunch of pictures of reception set up decorations but all it says is *extra cost*. I don't know how much. I read they charge $2 per bow, but in her last email Cecilia said $1 per person. Maybe that means they will not use the same chairs for the reception that they do for the ceremony. I found some nice colored overlay table cloths really cheap. I think it will add a big pop of color and really make it look nice. Everything included in the ultimate package is white. I think I'm gonna bring cheap fake rose petals for the isle. I think it will still look nice. I'm curious what type of lighting there is if I have my reception at the gazebo, does anyone know? I do not want to have to pay for extra lighting, even though it looks nice I just don't want to spend the extra cost.

What is everyone doing for their reception decor? I'm thinking about bringing my own chair sashes and tablecloths and paying the small set up fee. They are charging $5 per chair bow, I can get them online for like .60 each, and/or maybe have someone in my wedding party set it up. I'm only going to have about 20 people. $20 for a bag or rose petals sounds pretty outrageous to me. I'm trying not to blow my budget on little stuff like decorations for a 3 hour reception. Does anyone have any good ideas?

I love it! Dang, I found some good stuff too, AND I wanted to do a sand ceremony. At this rate my ceremony will be way over the 30 min!! Love the hand thing though, love it, love it, love it!

I haven't been on here for a while, but I think I'm all caught up now! There's been a ton of talk about the reception, etc but has anyone done any research on the actual wording at the ceremony? Cecilia sent me the wording for the symbolic ceremony, and maybe it's just me, but I don't like it. I've been doing some research on different ways to word it. I'm looking for a good scripture reading and/or a poem. Does anyone have any ideas?

I just booked my date earlier this week with Cecilia. October 13th, can't wait!!!! I told her I wanted the Secrets Paradise package, I think I may change that after I see how many guests I have. Anyway, I was thinking about gazebo decorations too, the contract only has the chairs w/ white covers and the ceremonial table included in the package, with decorations listed as price subject to change. So I don't think the decorations will be included.

I also just booked Juan as my photographer. It takes him a few days to respond but he always gets back to me. The way I read his packages I think you only get the print rights on whatever is on the CD. So on #1 or #2 that's only 36 pictures. That's just my opinion, I don't know this for sure. I went ahead and got the 5 hour package, photography is my only splurge!

What kind of dress is everyone getting? And does anyone have any experience or opinions on getting a replica dress made from china? I've been looking at eBay and dressilyme. I want to do a TTD, and I'd feel a lot better about it if my dress was under $300. Some of the ones I liked we're even around $150!!
 

Originally Posted by amberh1884 

BeachBride, I can't believe how rude some of your guests are being. I'm surprised you haven't snapped at them! Lol, well I do think they will be in for a rude awakening if they show up with the kids because I think they will just tell them flat out no. I don't think they will let them in honestly.

Is anyone else having trouble getting Juan to email you back? He emailed me right away initially, but after I asked him about the printing rights on package #1 he has not responded and I sent him another just to make sure he got it. I went ahead and booked #2 with Cecilia because I was worried but I would love a clear answer from him so I could book #1 if I could print them. Agghh, well at least I have this forum to help answer my questions! It really is awesome. 

Also, does anyone know if the gazebo comes with the white cloth on it? I just realized I didn't know if that came standard? I really don't want a plain gazebo, lol!

I am so so happy that I found this forum! I haven't booked my DW yet but I want to have it at Secrets Maroma! The price for my guest has me on the fence about the resort, so I have been looking for other options, but I keep returning to Secrets.  I just think it is the perfect resort for me.  I'm thinking about September or October 2012. I have emailed Cecilia a few times and she always responds very promptly, that gives me a great feeling about having my wedding here! I emailed a few other resorts 2 days ago and have yet to hear back from them.