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

[kshows03]

Diahr:

 

Thanks!  Pretty much our whole group...I think we had 22 out of the 36 guests.  We left at 5:30 from the Royal and the Pirate Cruise leaves the dock at 7:30.  There tends to be more traffic at that time, so it took about an hour and 15 to an hour and 30, but when you have 14 of your guests in the same van it seemed to go by pretty quickly.  They used one big van and one medium sized van for our group and the second van just followed us.  Francisco at CancunTransfers was the one who was our contact point, came to pick us up, made sure everyone was there, and escorted us onto the ship.  With a big group, they really hooked us up with our own little area, first to eat, best seats to eat...etc.  It is more for a younger crowd, but some of our old fokes were getting busy too! =)

 

 

Originally Posted by diahr 

Kayla aka Kshows!! Such a wonderful planning thread. Luv all of your details. Sorry it rained, but it sounds like everything came out great anyway. I have tons of questions for you. I hope you don't mind.

 

I am using Cancun Transfers also for the airport pickup.  Did your whole group go on the pirate cruise? About how long did it take you to get to Cancun from the Royal and how'd you get there?

 

Thanks so much! Again, thanks for the planning info. It helps alot of us out who are looking for ideas.

[Bride2B22]

Thanks, Diahr!!

 

Has anyone tried to make a deposit and have their card declined??? I've been trying to make my deposit since yesterday online and over the phone with my WC and the system is denying my card (there is plently of money there) and it's only 300 bucks......i've called my bank to reassure that is nothing on their end.......WTHHHHHH this is getting super annoying! any advise would be greatly appreciated!!

 

Happy Planning to all!!

[kellygrrrl]

welcome, amina : )
 

Originally Posted by Amina684 

Hello Royal Brides! I am new to this website and forum and was so excited when I found this thread! A lot of great information on here! I am looking to get married at The Royal in February 2012. I spoke with Angie today to get some basic information and I have also been working with destinationweddings.com Just wanted to introduce myself and say that I appreciate everyone's input and advice! Look forward to hearing some more! -Amina

 

also had a few bits of information from my conversation with Ana Perez to share with the forum. if you're considering doing a morning wedding and evening reception, it IS possible to split them up like that. however, you will still pay the $400 suset charge for the reception, and if you have guests not staying at the royal, they will need to leave in between the ceremony and reception (unless you purchase a day pass for them).

 

if you're attempting to do a legal ceremony and one of you has been previously divorced, the contract states that you will need the divorced person's birth certificate, passport and divorce decree translated into spanish (at the bargain rate of $30/page ; ). we sent these documents to ana, and she said no need to translate, which is a huge relief. I'm not sure what would necesitate translation - maybe having them in a language other than English? 

 

if you are not working with a travel agent, the resort can offer you a special wedding rate for you and your guests. it is currently $415/night (versus the rack rate of $450/night); however it will change as the resort has sales. the great part about it is if you and your guests put a downpayment equal to one night's stay, you will LOCK IN the rate for the duration of your vacation. pretty fantastic info for those of us without travel agents. ; ) the only potential downside is waiting on the resort to have a sale, but it's a pretty nice concession they offer to us brides.

 

thanks for all the info, ladies (and the planning thread, kshows!). I feel like I could fill out my contract right now and know I made the best choices. ; )

[kellygrrrl]

oh hey, last one, if you want to have a private reception, you do not need to have 20 guests in attendance. the only condition is that you must PAY for 20 guests, regardless of the number that attend. I have my fingers crossed that we'll make it to 20! (but not more than 30 because that's where it starts to get expensive ; )

[Amina684]

So I am still very new to this so my question may have been answered numerous times before but I wanted to know if anyone is using destinationweddings.com as their travel agent.  Or do you all recommend getting a local travel agent?  I definitely want to have one point of contact for all of my guests to make travel arrangements but the destinationwedding.com agents really only specialize in booking the hotel and not the flight.  Are you guys having your guests book their hotel/flight on their own or using an agent?

 

PS All the pics from the previous weddings is making me even more excited about having my wedding here!  Beautiful pics, ladies!

[diahr]

I thought it was only me!! Whewww! Yes. We have been trying to make payments with my fiance's card since yesterday and it keeps coming up declined. I told my FI to call his bank and I emailed our WC - Andrea. I have tried multiple times!!! As soon as I figure it out, I'll let you know. I have always made payments online with my card and have never had a problem so this is quite frustrating.  You know, you try to give people money and they just won't take it.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bride2B22 

Thanks, Diahr!!

 

Has anyone tried to make a deposit and have their card declined??? I've been trying to make my deposit since yesterday online and over the phone with my WC and the system is denying my card (there is plently of money there) and it's only 300 bucks......i've called my bank to reassure that is nothing on their end.......WTHHHHHH this is getting super annoying! any advise would be greatly appreciated!!

 

Happy Planning to all!!

 

[Bride2B22]

 

 

 

Ok! So I just called my WC and she tried to make the payment again using a different system and it worked!!! So give your WC a call and hopefully it'll work for you too! Good luck! And let me know the outcome!

[Lisa DSO]

 

Originally Posted by diahr 

Hey Lisa - LaTortuga / El Bistro has not gotten back to me yet.. (Booo!!!) Do you have any pictures from the rehersal dinner that you can share. Also, thanks for the room reccommendation. I am going to request it now!

Oh no! Did you try emailing the manager directly? I didn't really get good shots from my rehearsal dinner, but here are a few:

 

My brothers by the pool

 

 

 

steps leading up to the rooftop:

 

[violagirl]

Wow, the date is fast approaching, May 21st!  And the more I read, the more questions I have!  Kellygrrrl, you mentioned a basecamp login....what is this, and should I have this already? 

 

Also: for those of you who booked a room for your photographer, did you clear that with your WC?  We haven't been assigned our on-site coordinator yet, and I'm slightly afraid to ask about booking a room for the photographer to try to get around the vendor fee.  However, I'm afraid that if I don't ask, I'll end up getting charged both for the room and for the outside vendor fee.  Any thoughts?

 

For those of you interested in adding to the basic decorations, I found very inexpensive table covers at efavormart.com.  The tables used for the Royal receptions are 1.5 meters round (app. 72").   I also ordered a couple of rolls of tulle in burgundy and ivory (very inexpensive!), and I am thinking of making small, round paper luminaries for the tables (reception starts at 7, so we'll be in the dark for much of it) with LED lights inside.  I'm pretty amazed at how easy and inexpensive these decorations can be--now the question is, how do I get all this stuff down there?? 

 

Anyone have other ideas for table lighting?  I am afraid it may be too windy for candles (we're not on the beach, but near it--at the gazebo). 

 

Here's yet another question:  is anyone else taking care of the legal ceremony at home, prior to the Mexico wedding?  We are thinking of doing this, just because of all the additional requirements to get legally married in MX.  Any thoughts on this?

 

Kshows03, your description is fantastic!  I love the detail you put into this, it's so helpful and gave me lots of ideas. Congrats on your awesome wedding

 

Thanks,
Jen

 

[JHarris]

Ladies - thanks for all the fabulous comments. 

 

Anima- I am using destinationweddings.com myself. My travel agent does it all for me. I keep her in the loop of any plans I have & communications with my WC just in case I can't answer as quickly. She helped me out when the Royal made a mistake on booking another event as my wedding in the other ballrooms. She is booking both hotel and air for my guests. They should be a one stop shop. I haven't had issues with that from my guests. 

 

ViolaGirl - We did the legal part already and are having a symbolic wedding - which means you can ask a close person to officiate and you can have your vowels as you chose. Definitely makes life a tad easier if you don't want to deal with making it legal in Mexico. 

 

Kayla - Fantastic review!! So glad to hear that it all worked out despite a bit of rain. Can't wait to see your pics!!! You are quite the DIYer. I loved how your invites turned out. I went with classic an boring. LOL.... If only there was more than 24 hours in a day!! Did you get your dress steamed/pressed at the resort? Did you like how it turned out?

 

Lisa - Love how your rehearsal dinner turned out. How did you get past their rule that you have to be a guest at the hotel to have a rehearsal dinner there? I remember last year there was an issue with that.