Avborges

Hi Dina, We are only offering the Platinum group rates to our guests and we have been advertising the amenities that comes with it. Of course we won't force anyone to book platinum but they will have to find out about the other accommodations on their own. However, the price difference is not much and we think most people will be attracted by those add-ins. Now let's say we have 25 nights booked under platinum and 5 nights booked under non-platinum.. in that case, Matt and I will upgrade those 5 nights to platinum because the difference would still be less than paying 60 guests (double occupancy) for the $70 or $80 meal. It would cost me $800 to upgrade 5 rooms with 2 adults for 3 nights while it would cost me $4800 to pay for all my 60 guests the $80 meal. We did the math and under our group rate, the difference between someone staying at the lowest level room and the platinum is $104 per person for 3 nights. The difference for the next level but still below platinum is $80 per person. You just really have to do the math to see what makes sense for you and your fiance. I hope this helps..

I spoke to Deyanira and if you book the Premium or Elite wedding packages, the meal will be free if you have a combined 30 nights booked under a platinum junior suite. Our travel agent has done several weddings there and he confirmed that it doesn't matter if you have 3 rooms booked for 10 nights each or 10 rooms booked for 3 nights. With a combined 30 nights, the meal is free. This is from an email I exchanged with El Cid: 2) We wanted to be extra sure that if we book at least 10 platinum rooms, we can have a free private reception at the El Cid regardless if we have 10 or 50 guests without having to pay for the $80pp rate. For have the free reception the couple have to complete 30 room nights in platinum rooms. And this is from their wedding package: Your Wedding Banquet is our gift to you when your guests (10 rooms or more) stay with us for a minimum of 3 nights in Platinum Room accommodations.

Hi Julie, El Cid charges $100 outside-vendor fee to use a different photographer. However, if your photographer is also a guest at the resort, this fee is waived. Also, if you and all your guests stayed a combined 30 nights in a Platinum room, the $70/$80 meals are free - regardless of the number of guest... and it would also include your guests not staying in platinum rooms.

So excited!! We are now booked at the El Cid for June 15, 2013!!!

Please send them to me! [email protected]. Congratulations on your wedding. Where was it?

To all the ladies, where are you planning to get your hair and makeup done? Also, who is your photographer? Also, I have just received our contract and hope to sign it soon. If anyone needs, I have just received an email with bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. Please email me if you need it: [email protected]. Happy planning! Amanda

Hi kleelee! I might book my wedding at Marina El Cid in June 2013. How far along in the planning you are? I'm also trying to learn as much as can from this forum!

Thank you, Lincoln! Could you please email me your pricing? [email protected].

Just back from site inspections in Mexico. It will be Grand Porto or El Cid in June 2013!!

Hi Dina, I loved the El Cid. First, you walk in to a beautiful air conditioned lobby with a beautiful bar you can use to have a welcome cocktail party. The rooms were great.. Some Are 2 and 3 bedroom suites. What I loved the most was the beach. The wedding site is off to the side and there are no ugly beach chairs or curious people sunbathing next to your ceremony. You have a lot of sand to actually have your reception there. One advice I got from my travel agent who is the liaison was to offer guests only the platinum rooms. They are only a few bucks more expensive and a minimum of 10 rooms will get a free wedding (max 30 guests, have to check). The ocean was very quiet. No waves. The WC told us some of the alges were there because of recent rain. I didn't mind. Didnt see any rocks but noticed lots of couples snorkeling in the calm waters. they have a nice reef off shore. El CID also has lots of trees so this wonderful breeze kept us really comfortable during the tour. If you send me your email, I can share the resort pics once I get home and upload the pics to my pc. Good luck!

Hello everyone! We are planning our wedding in Playa del Carmen for June 2013. We are actually here doing site inspections - well, leaving today.. :( I'm interested in finding talented photographers who won't break the bank. Pictures are so important to me but unfortunately we are not getting any help so we need to stick to the budget. Would love brides suggestions and advice. In you are a photographer, please let me know how to get in though or email portfolio and pricing to: [email protected].

Your wedding date is my engagement anniversary! Most likely I will be a June 2013 bride. Best of luck!

How do you get all your OOT items to the destination without blowing through budget?

I love the gifts. Can't go wrong with accessories and clutches, especially if they will compliment their look on the big day. I do believe MOH has more responsibilities and financial burden - especially if she is paying for your shower alone. So maybe she deserves something extra... Not expensive, but just to differentiate her from your bridesmaids. Maybe you can give it to her privately to avoid making the other girls feel left out.

Hello everyone! First of all, congratulations to all the brides and newlyweds here! I'm so excited to be here and I hope once I have my wedding figured out, I will be able to be of assistance to others! First things first, Matt and I got engaged on July 23, 2012 while on vacation in Brazil. That's where I am from. What a wonderful surprise! It didn't take me very long to get extremely overwhelmed by all the plans and cost to the point where I begged Matt to just elope. The destination wedding idea became real after some of Matt's friends told us about their experience at the Excellence Resorts. It really seemed like the light at the end of the tunnel for me. So here I am.... Sitting by the pool at the Occidental Allegro sipping margaritas and relaxing after five back to back site inspections... We will most likely choose between the Marina el Cid or the grand Porto. Let the planning begin! If you are planning a wedding at those locations or have already gotten married there, I would love to hear from you! All the best, Amanda

Hello everyone! I'm now to this site but I'm actually visiting Mexico and yesterday I did a site inspection at the El Cid among other resorts. The wedding site location is all I ever dreamed of. So private and intimate. We also visited the Royal and I absolutely hated all the blue chairs on site. We are very close to picking out site. Our only concern about el CID is that they only have one pool. Has anyone noticed if they have additional bars? We are concerned our guests might be a little bored. Any thoughts? Good luck to all!