Newbie planning for spring 2012 wedding in Tulum, Playa de Carmen or Cancun area

Hi There, We got engaged earlier this year on Valentine's day and recently decided we would like a beach wedding. We would like to get married next year during the spring time in the Tulum, Playa de Carmen or Cancun area. What is the best and affordable way to book? Call the resort directly and talk to the wedding coordinator, look for a local (in Mexico) travel agent, online discount websites, or walk in to my neighbor (Vancouver, Canada) travel agent? So far we like the Dreams, Gran Bahia Principe, Le Reve, and Palace resorts, but we are open to other resorts that are kid and senior friendly. Please help out, thanks.

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Congratulations!!!! If you need any help, let me know, I am American and am living in Playa Del Carmen!  The choices you are looking at are excellent!  There are many options here and would love to help you out!  I am a wedding planner here!  If there is anything I can do for you, do not hesitate to message me!!! Best wishes and again, congratulations!  You are considering the most beautiful destination for your wedding and everyone here is incredibly accomodating!!!!

Welcome to the Forum and good luck with everything....

Welcome!

For us it was the most affordable to book our trips through a travel agent.  We were able to secure a discounted price as we had a group booking of 10 or more people.  I have been dealing directly with the resort for all the wedding aspects and planning and the travel agent has only been dealing with the travel aspect.  Its probably easiest to deal with a local travel agent then it will be easier when it comes to paying deposits ect.  Good luck with your decision!

Originally Posted by glowbride 

Hi There,
We got engaged earlier this year on Valentine's day and recently decided we would like a beach wedding. We would like to get married next year during the spring time in the Tulum, Playa de Carmen or Cancun area. What is the best and affordable way to book? Call the resort directly and talk to the wedding coordinator, look for a local (in Mexico) travel agent, online discount websites, or walk in to my neighbor (Vancouver, Canada) travel agent?
So far we like the Dreams, Gran Bahia Principe, Le Reve, and Palace resorts, but we are open to other resorts that are kid and senior friendly.
Please help out, thanks.

Congratulations and welcome to the forum!!

This website will be a great help in figuring out the best way to go about things!  Make sure to keep an eye out for those super bargain flights, it can be as low as $400 CAD roundtrip to come down here from Vancouver and have a look around.  A small hotel in town can be as economic as $40 per night.  Perhaps a personal visit can get you started and help you narrow down your choices! 

Happy Planning!

Congratulations and welcome to the forum!!  Great choice for location.   It may depend on the size of your party but I have heard a travel agent can be very helpful and you may receive better rates.  This board should have lots of information to help you.

Warmest wishes,

Lori

and Congratulations. I think finding a local travel agent that has destination wedding experience is best. S/he will be able to suggest resorts and you can do some research from there. There are lots of great reviews on this forum from past brides.

Hi! I've been to the cancun area many times, and would be glad to offer some advice.

Regarding where - tulum playa del carmen, or cancun:

Cancun has big hotel towers, big night clubs ( some holding 1000's of people), shopping malls, Lots of concrete.

Playa (the town) has smaller 2 or 3 story buildings, more laid back. Nightlife is more 'funky' with 50ish patrons.

Tulum is to Playa as Playa is to Cancun. You are getting away from it all.

from airport, cancun is ~20 minutes,  playa closer to 60, tulum 90.

if you plan to see some of the major sights, which I highly reccomend

Chitchen Itza 2.5 - 3 hours from anywhere

Xcaret, Xel-Ha are close to playa.

Nice ruins (but small compared to Chitchen) in Tulum.

basically, your location should depend on what activities you want to do. Shopping / big nightclubs = cancun. funky chic & activities = playa. getting away from it all = tulum.

As others have said, travel agent should get you a better group rate than booking yourself.

Congratulations and welcome to the forums! It is probably best to contact a local travel agent that specializes in destinations weddings. You have to remember its not that easy to get a group of people, that may not all leave from the same destination... to the same hotel in a reasonable time from down here in Mexico. There is lots to organize and plan for.

Best of luck with all your planning. If you would like to see any particular resorts... please let me know. I have shot a lot of weddings over the years down her and can give you my experiences dealing with them.

Have fun!

Linkn