Check In: We arrived around 11am on a Thursday from our flight and we were greeted with champagne.  They then whisked us off to the preferred lobby for check in. My parents stayed in the regular checkin and had a room immediately.  Our honeymoon suite was not ready, they instructed us to return at 1pm.  We then were greeted by Vucko, who was awesome!  He told us about the resort and signed us up for a marketing event for referrals after we had some light breakfast of course.  We were to enter into a raffle and receive a gift as incentive to attend.

I was searching for my parents room since they were checked in immediately, unfortunately I couldn’t find the room! Lol  In any case when I was returning to the lobby a bell hop let me know our room was ready!  It was about 12pm.  I was surprised he remembered who I was. 

Room Review: I was a bit disappointed in the honeymoon suite 2501 as I was under the impression the honeymoon suite was what they call the master suite.  The honeymoon suite is an oversized regular American hotel room.  It did have a love seat and coffee table but it lacked any wow factor, the room itself.  The bathroom was closed off (as compared to the standard rooms).  They did have a jacuzzi inside and outside on the balcony.  The view on the other hand was amazing!  We did have issues with the AC, it didn’t go lower than 74 degrees.  I’m from Jersey that is hot!  We complained when we arrived, on the third day they came up and said it was working.  Some of our other guests had the same issue, while other guests rooms were freezing.  I believe they regulate the room temperature to save on energy costs.  Any who on my wedding day it went up to 77 degrees and the men were working on it for a while then left without saying a word.  It was the wedding day so I let it be.  The next day I complained again, they came back and were working on draining the AC unit. After a couple of hours they left and I had to call again to find out what was going on.  Finally they switched us to another room one floor down 2401 (on Monday 4 days later).  This room wasn’t that much better until later on in the week. 

I spoke to one of our neighbors in a master suite and they said they had the same issue.  They were in the other building and their room was at 85 degrees.  They definitely have issues with the AC.

Meeting with Wedding Staff: After we settled we met with Gina our wedding coordinator.  We went over all the wedding details and made slight changes.  We were to have our wedding rehearsal the next afternoon as not all my wedding party was at the resort as of yet.  We then met with Jorge our DJ from AVI.  He was great and understood exactly what we wanted for the music.  This was a brief meeting.  At this point we were exhausted (we were up since 2:30AM) so we skipped out on meeting the photographer Anel.  Anel did give us a call later on that night to confirm some details.

Wedding rehearsal went great with Gina.  I had my friend marry us so we didn’t use the hotels officiant/minister.  We only rehearsed the ceremony with Gina.  After she left we did a little rehearsal for the reception entrance on the pool deck.

Wedding:  I got my hair and makeup done at the hotel spa.  I had really long curly hair (down to my behind) and cut it before the trip because I know not everyone can deal with my hair.  Good thing I did because the stylist said my hair was really long (I cut a little longer than shoulder length) lol.  I showed her some pictures of the hairstyle I wanted and she did an ok job.  Again my hair is really curly and most stylists don’t know how to handle.  She straighten my hair slightly to work with it.  With the make up she did a great job, I let her know I wanted a natural look and it was great. My mother also got her hair and makeup done and they did a good job.

I hung out in the room, ordered room service and ate lunch with my mother until the wedding party arrived.  Gina delivered our flowers during this time.  The photographer went to the grooms room first to take photos, then made her way to my room for photos.  I haven’t received the slideshow yet but should get it soon. I told Anel to take her time as my husband didn’t want to sit during our vacation to pick out photos. I received the photo link about two weeks after I returned (about 3 ½ weeks after the wedding) due to the storm and they didn’t have internet.  Anel took photos until Gina went up to get us as everything was ready to get started a bit before 4pm.  We had our ceremony on the North Beach and it was a good choice.  Not many people on that side of the beach as the beach bar is on the South Beach. 

Ceremony was perfect, I did mess up a bit on the vows and exchanging of rings but I’m just a spaz.  It came out cute on the video.

After the ceremony we took family photos and wedding party photos.  Our cocktail hour didn’t start until 6pm so our family hung out at the bar while myself and the hubby took photos around the resort.  We returned for the cocktail hour at the center beach and to my surprise they made us a signature drink.  I don’t know what it was but it was interesting.  The food for the cocktail hour was good, the favorite was the tempura shrimp.  We had the mariachi band playing and some people took pictures with them.

It was supper windy the whole time and it was drizzling off and on throughout the day.  When we went to begin the reception it started drizzling and the staff started discussing back up plans.  I wasn’t too worried as I knew it would stop but Jorge the DJ said he couldn’t play music while it was raining this way.  The hubby wanted to go inside and I didn’t want to as I didn’t go to Mexico to have a wedding in a ballroom lol.  They provided us with some back up plans and we decided to do our entrance, eat dinner (Caribbean buffet was good) and then decide.  By the time we were going to begin our entrance they told us the ballroom was ready for us.  At that point it stopped raining and we continued with the reception outside on the pool deck.

DJ was great and followed my instructions on the music.  The dance floor was full most of the night.  Anel commented that she thought it was great that everyone was dancing.  My little one fell asleep during the reception but as soon as her favorite song came on (Scream & Shout by Will.I.Am and Britney) she woke up and started dancing.

When reception was over most of my guests were tired and went to their rooms.  Some others went to the after party at Desirees Lounge.

Overall the wedding was great, staff was amazing and I was 100% satisfied.  More than I had expected. 

Restaurants:  I went to most of the restaurants in the hotel as I stayed for 10 days.  Our favorite was the French restaurant Bordeaux.  We went there twice but the first time was better than the second time.  We also ordered room service several times, they do take some time to get to your room but overall not bad.  The buffet was our least favorite, the first time we went for dinner it was bad, the other time it wasn’t so bad.  Breakfast is good at the World Café buffet.  We didn’t go to the Himitsu (hibachi restaurant) as we didn’t want to make reservations but some of my guests went and thought it was good.  Some of my guests did get sick during the trip, in particular after they ate at El Patio.  I ate there too the same night but didn’t get sick so IDK if it was the food itself, I thought it was good.  Overall the food was good.  My guests travel a lot and they said they have had better.  I have been Secrets Capri before and the food was better there.

Drinks: As in all resorts they skimp out on the alcohol but if you give a good tip and ask for double they do provide.  As a preferred guest we were able to enjoy our favorite Grey Goose and Jack Daniels in the preferred lobby, but in the other bars they would give Absolut and Jameson which is not the same!  I think bring it up to one of the workers there but they acted like I had two heads because they are suppose to serve the same drinks everyone, which was not the case.

Overall if I had to do it again I would have my wedding here and then go to Secrets for my honeymoon.