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

deniden · June 18, 2012

Originally Posted by missbizzybee

Hi, Ladies! So excited; Claudia from Claudia Photo Studio just sent us a few teaser photos from our wedding on May 12th! Can't wait to see the rest!!!

If you haven't booked your photographer yet, I highly recommend Claudia!!!

Jennifer - you looked gorgeous and everything looks great!!! Congrats again! xo

deniden · June 18, 2012

Originally Posted by SparksFly

Can anyone comment on the Royal and entertainment by the pool?? I don't want it to be boring for my guests

The area right in front of the swim-up bar is usually pretty bubbling with activity in the afternoon. They play music and the entertainment staff is out doing stuff.

SparksFly · June 18, 2012

I leave in less than 3 days!!! YEAHHH I am so excited. I am in work today which is really annoying, but I think everything is ready to go!P

Packing my clothes (and FI's) is the last thing to do!

rsosadpt · June 18, 2012

Wow! So many beautiful brides from The Royal. I am very excited for everyone. I haven't posted much, but have read every post the last few months. My day is coming very soon, July 7th and am starting to wrap everything up! Literally. I have a repetitive question that I know has been posted a while back and guess I just want to be re-assured by recent brides about going through customs in Mexico with all the wedding stuff. My FI and I have been trying to do all the research we can to make sure we do all the right things.

Is it true that we can only take $300 in merchandise into Mexico? Why? Is it because they try to eliminate the re-sale of items?

Is the $300 per person?

Do we need all receipts?

No Made in China products?

We are up to 96 guests and have all our OOT stuff. I decided to take on the challenge of getting each one of them flip flops plus other stuff. I got many of them with gift cards, so would this technically count in the $300? (confusion. . .what a pickle). Also, lots of the things we are taking have been personalized with our names so I just don't think that this items would cause a big fuss, but who knows. . .

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Rocio

missbizzybee · June 18, 2012

Originally Posted by deniden

Jennifer - you looked gorgeous and everything looks great!!! Congrats again! xo

Thanks, Denielle!!! You looked so beautiful yourself! The dress looked amazing on you!

missbizzybee · June 18, 2012

Originally Posted by rsosadpt

Wow! So many beautiful brides from The Royal. I am very excited for everyone. I haven't posted much, but have read every post the last few months. My day is coming very soon, July 7th and am starting to wrap everything up! Literally. I have a repetitive question that I know has been posted a while back and guess I just want to be re-assured by recent brides about going through customs in Mexico with all the wedding stuff. My FI and I have been trying to do all the research we can to make sure we do all the right things.

Is it true that we can only take $300 in merchandise into Mexico? Why? Is it because they try to eliminate the re-sale of items?

Is the $300 per person?

Do we need all receipts?

No Made in China products?

We are up to 96 guests and have all our OOT stuff. I decided to take on the challenge of getting each one of them flip flops plus other stuff. I got many of them with gift cards, so would this technically count in the $300? (confusion. . .what a pickle). Also, lots of the things we are taking have been personalized with our names so I just don't think that this items would cause a big fuss, but who knows. . .

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Rocio

Congratulations, Rocio! So much to be excited about!!! Yes, you need to make sure you tell customs that you have less than $250 worth of merchandise per person (to avoid hefty customs fees). If cost is not an issue, no big deal if you are okay with paying the fees, but it really is quite a bit! You also have to make sure it's clear that it's for your wedding and not for commercial sale.

We had a total of 12 large boxes of decorations, favors, and OOT bags, which we divided up among family members (each person took one box). We prepared all of the packing and included a letter in both English & Spanish with the following information:

1) that the items were not for commercial sale and were for our wedding

2) wedding date and location

3) contact information of bride, groom, and wedding coordinator

4) that all items totaled to less than $250

Truth be told, our items totaled far over $250 per box, so we made our own receipts for each box. We basically put the letter with attached receipts of box contents on the top and bottom of each box (in case TSA opened either side to inspect), and we also printed out a copy in an envelope for the person checking in the box to carry along with them in case they asked at customs (with verbal instructions of what to say if questioned). Everything made it to the venue without a problem, and truthfully, we probably over-prepared for the encounter with customs. However, there were some inspections that were much more diligent than ours, so better prepared than sorry.

We were asked by a few people about the contents of the big boxes, and we got used to explaining in Spanish that they were decorations for a wedding. That question was always followed by "how much total are in each box," and by then, we had memorized what was on the receipts we had made...so we said something like "a little over $200 maybe?"

If you want to PM me, I can send you the receipts and letters we used.

Hope that helps!

Jenn

LuckyGal4 · June 18, 2012

Thank you so much Missbizzybee for the information!!! Luckily I was able to fit all my wedding stuff in one big suitcase but I love the idea of having of the letter with the info in English and Spanish!! I have already typed it up and translated it into Spanish :-) Thanks again!

SparksFly · June 19, 2012

Hey Lucky,

Could you post what you have put together?? I really could use it and so could my parents. I am worried because I bought a bunch of Michael Kors wristlets for the girls coming to the wedding and they have the tags attached.

My mom actually will have to transport them and hopefully won't have any issues with customs if she has the letters.

WE ARE LEAVING SO SOON! WOOHOO!!!

Melissa

LuckyGal4 · June 19, 2012

Hey Melissa-- OMG I am so ready to leave, Im sure will be fine!! Here is the document that I made. There is a guy who works in my unit who is hispanic and he made sure to proof read this for me as you can never REALLY trust the internet. For the wedding location you can take out the Playa and insert Cancun as they are spelled the same in both English and Spanish. You can do the same with the names! How this works for you and hope you have a GREAT wedding!!! Best of luck to you and your FI!!! <3 Kelli

Customs Merchandise Document.doc

mae1564 · June 19, 2012

Originally Posted by LuckyGal4

Hey Melissa-- OMG I am so ready to leave, Im sure will be fine!! Here is the document that I made. There is a guy who works in my unit who is hispanic and he made sure to proof read this for me as you can never REALLY trust the internet. For the wedding location you can take out the Playa and insert Cancun as they are spelled the same in both English and Spanish. You can do the same with the names! How this works for you and hope you have a GREAT wedding!!! Best of luck to you and your FI!!! <3 Kelli

Do you think you could email this to me so I can use it as well? I don't have enough posts to open it yet My email is mae1564 at hotmail, thanks!ï»¿

Customs Merchandise Document.doc