ROYAL PLAYA DEL CARMEN BRIDES: were kids allowed for the day? ...and other questions

[jesmcan]

HAAHH Lisa thats funny. No I never get that error wonder what that's about.

[JoZee84]

Thanks for the advise! Glad to hear your having a good time! Is your make up trial with SpaAzul? I was thinking of using them also, would love to see pics !

 

 

Originally Posted by jenniferkuhr 

Greeting Royal PDC Brides!!!

 

It's been FOREVER since I posted, but I'm writing this FROM Playa Del Carmen!  Ryan and I are here on our site visit and OMG, it is so gorgeous here.  By sheer beauty alone, your wedding is going to be amazing.  

 

To answer some questions:

 

5th Avenue is pretty happening, plenty of people everywhere, but its more of a low-key beach town feel than the crazy Cancun or Puerto Vallarta party feel.  The clubs are all a few blocks away from 5th, I think on purpose.

 

Decorations on 5th avenue:  I haven't seen any flower shops.  Not sure about vases.  There are some more inexpensive things like maracas for about $1.00 each that would be nice on top of tables...I just don't know how much time anyone is going to want to spend on a scavenger hunt for decorations while you're here.  To be honest, the reason we chose a Destination Wedding is to just mark off a checklist and call it a day.  Weddings are way too much work otherwise!  Keep it simple...

 

Also, we've only been here one night so far, but the food is FANTASTIC!  The restaurant Maria's has a great menu and the Mexican Coffee is DEFINITELY worth asking for, an experience in and of itself.

 

I am so, so, so happy to be here.  It is all so exciting seeing the real deal!  Your weddings are going to be an experience of a lifetime.  

 

Tomorrow I do my trial makeup and engagement photos with Ivan Luckie!!!

 

 

 

JYD1- We were thinking of going to the blue Parrot after our reception dinner, casue everything at the hotel closes at 11. But if anyone who's been down there has any other suggestion on where to go we're all ears! I would say Coco Bongo but I think that too loud and Cluby for the old folks.

 We're not having a DJ in Mexico cause we're having a reception when we get back to the states.

[jamk32179]

 

Originally Posted by Lisa DSO 

You are right, Jess, i have been going back and forth. However, FI insists that all of that stuff can go in it's own suitcase (uh, his then cuz I'm not giving up space lol). I just really hope they don't think something odd about the multiple advils and what not.

Lisa,

We are packing our OOT bag stuff in a suitcase and taking it with us. I created signs in english and spanish stating "Not for resale" and "Wedding favors".
 

[FutureMrsYak]

Is anyone else working with Ana as a WC? She has been wonderful all along emailing back right away and even emailing me randomly to see if I have questions. But about a week ago she said she was going to set up my hair appt and let me know when it's confirmed. Ive emailed her a couple dys ago and asked if it's been confirmed and still haven't heard back.....

[JYD1]

Is anyone having their makeup done outside of their SpAzul? I've read from a few brides that their makeup is limited but hairstyling is pretty decent. I'm considering using M.A.C since they have two locations: one on 5th Avenue and one in Cancun.

 

If you're having an outside person do your makeup do you know if they're charging $100 vendor fee? I've heard if they're there less than 3hrs there's no charge.

 

Thanks!!

[jamk32179]

 

 

Originally Posted by JYD1 

 

Is anyone having their makeup done outside of their SpAzul? I've read from a few brides that their makeup is limited but hairstyling is pretty decent. I'm considering using M.A.C since they have two locations: one on 5th Avenue and one in Cancun.

 

If you're having an outside person do your makeup do you know if they're charging $100 vendor fee? I've heard if they're there less than 3hrs there's no charge.

 

Thanks!!

Hi JYD,

I am having Fernando Fuentes come to my room to do hair and make-up. I was told he could be on my "list" of people that could come 3 hours before the wedding without a fee. His website is http://the-makeup-pros.com/. I was originally going to walk to the MAC store on 5th, but when I called to make an appointment they said I had to purchase approximately $70 in product for the trial and then $110 on the day of. I'd rather spend that money sitting in my room sipping a little bubbly in the A/C. Let me know if you want his email.

Jen

 

 

[risa1818]

Sounds like you are having an amazing time! I am so happy to hear that is beautiful! Let us know if you spy on any weddings you see going on while you are there

 

I know you are using Ivan Luckie for your engagement photos, is he going to be your wedding photographer as well? Do you know what his wedding packages start at?

 

I was seriously looking into Juan Navarro for our wedding photographer. His prices looked good and I really like his pictures, but wanted to know what Ivan charged as well.

 

 

Any brides on here used Juan Navarro?

 

Enjoy the rest of your trip and thanks for the updates
 

Originally Posted by jenniferkuhr 

Greeting Royal PDC Brides!!!

 

It's been FOREVER since I posted, but I'm writing this FROM Playa Del Carmen!  Ryan and I are here on our site visit and OMG, it is so gorgeous here.  By sheer beauty alone, your wedding is going to be amazing.  

 

To answer some questions:

 

5th Avenue is pretty happening, plenty of people everywhere, but its more of a low-key beach town feel than the crazy Cancun or Puerto Vallarta party feel.  The clubs are all a few blocks away from 5th, I think on purpose.

 

Decorations on 5th avenue:  I haven't seen any flower shops.  Not sure about vases.  There are some more inexpensive things like maracas for about $1.00 each that would be nice on top of tables...I just don't know how much time anyone is going to want to spend on a scavenger hunt for decorations while you're here.  To be honest, the reason we chose a Destination Wedding is to just mark off a checklist and call it a day.  Weddings are way too much work otherwise!  Keep it simple...

 

Also, we've only been here one night so far, but the food is FANTASTIC!  The restaurant Maria's has a great menu and the Mexican Coffee is DEFINITELY worth asking for, an experience in and of itself.

 

I am so, so, so happy to be here.  It is all so exciting seeing the real deal!  Your weddings are going to be an experience of a lifetime.  

 

Tomorrow I do my trial makeup and engagement photos with Ivan Luckie!!!

 

 

 

[jenniferkuhr]

 

Originally Posted by JoZee84 

Thanks for the advise! Glad to hear your having a good time! Is your make up trial with SpaAzul? I was thinking of using them also, would love to see pics !

 

 

JYD1- We were thinking of going to the blue Parrot after our reception dinner, casue everything at the hotel closes at 11. But if anyone who's been down there has any other suggestion on where to go we're all ears! I would say Coco Bongo but I think that too loud and Cluby for the old folks.

 We're not having a DJ in Mexico cause we're having a reception when we get back to the states.

 

I was very happy with my SpaAzul makeup.  I have to be honest, though, I put on make up like a 4-year-old with a crayon, so anyone doing makeup on me is going to show some great results!  I will post my engagement photos when they get back.  Ivan is so sweet, he's going to rush a few in the next week so we can get our Save-The-Dates out soooooon!

 

Our photo session was awesome, Ivan and his wife were a ton of fun to work with and he has a great eye for color and beauty, as well as a great sense of humor.  We definitely took some funny photos along the way.  

 

Also, the Blue Parrot is AWESOME!!!  Ryan and I scouted it out last night as a possible "post reception" venue and we had a BLAST.  Forget what I said about "low key beach town feel."  It was definitely a club hopping party along Calle 12, which is just a few blocks from the resort and perpendicular to Avenida 5.  There were many clubs blasting music and competing for our business, and lots of people out and about.  Also, the Blue Parrot hosts daily fire shows M-W at 12:00 midnight and 11 and 1 Th-Fri, which will definitely appeal to the old folks.  SO fun.  The music was hoppin, top 40 danceable stuff.  Everyone was having a great time.  We promised the waiter outside we'd buy a ton of drinks and didn't have to pay the $10 cover.  CocoBongo's is nearby too, and they advertise bottle service, for folks looking to reserve something in advance online.  I might see if Blue Parrot can do something similar and get back to you all!

 

Also, ladies...trendy flat sandals are all the rage here, paired with cute, clubby cotton dresses or miniskirts.  I am barely seeing anyone in heels.  I think between the sand and the brick streets, its just not what anyone wants to deal with.  Now if I could only get my 6'8" fiance and his very large family to shrink a bit...

 

[jenniferkuhr]

Random Photographer Vendor Tip:

 

While we were out and about shooting our engagement photos along the beach, Ivan and his wife got stopped by some guards (cops?) along the beach.  They told him he cannot take photos on government property for commercial purposes without a permit.  At first they even wanted to charge him a FINE!!!  WTF?!?

 

Ivan said in all his years of photography, this has never happened to him before.  We learned it was because they were cracking down on all the vendors on the beach that would go up and harass people to buy t-shirts, jewelry, fruit, etc, etc.  So now they've lumped photographers into this group.  

 

It just means photographers now need to apply for a permit to shoot beach photos (doing commercial business on government property?).  Ivan and his wife took down all the info and are going to get their permit, but you might want to give your photographers a heads up about this too, it seems very new.  They could probably get the info from Ivan.

 

As luck would have it (his name IS Ivan Luckie, after all...) the guard turned out to be a childhood friend of Ivan's brother, so he let us go without any fine and continue our shoot.  Whew!  

[Lisa DSO]

 

Originally Posted by jenniferkuhr 

 

 

I was very happy with my SpaAzul makeup.  I have to be honest, though, I put on make up like a 4-year-old with a crayon, so anyone doing makeup on me is going to show some great results!  I will post my engagement photos when they get back.  Ivan is so sweet, he's going to rush a few in the next week so we can get our Save-The-Dates out soooooon!

 

Our photo session was awesome, Ivan and his wife were a ton of fun to work with and he has a great eye for color and beauty, as well as a great sense of humor.  We definitely took some funny photos along the way.  

 

Also, the Blue Parrot is AWESOME!!!  Ryan and I scouted it out last night as a possible "post reception" venue and we had a BLAST.  Forget what I said about "low key beach town feel."  It was definitely a club hopping party along Calle 12, which is just a few blocks from the resort and perpendicular to Avenida 5.  There were many clubs blasting music and competing for our business, and lots of people out and about.  Also, the Blue Parrot hosts daily fire shows M-W at 12:00 midnight and 11 and 1 Th-Fri, which will definitely appeal to the old folks.  SO fun.  The music was hoppin, top 40 danceable stuff.  Everyone was having a great time.  We promised the waiter outside we'd buy a ton of drinks and didn't have to pay the $10 cover.  CocoBongo's is nearby too, and they advertise bottle service, for folks looking to reserve something in advance online.  I might see if Blue Parrot can do something similar and get back to you all!

 

Also, ladies...trendy flat sandals are all the rage here, paired with cute, clubby cotton dresses or miniskirts.  I am barely seeing anyone in heels.  I think between the sand and the brick streets, its just not what anyone wants to deal with.  Now if I could only get my 6'8" fiance and his very large family to shrink a bit...

 

I love this review, thanks so much! Especially about the trendy flat sandals and the tall FI (mine is 6'6 and I'm 5'3). I'm also glad to hear about Ivan because I will be using him too.