Barcelo Maya Palace Brides

[Brenners]

Kristina the weather was perfect the entire time!  It rained once for about 10-15 minutes but we had no idea that it had rained as we were in our room getting ready for dinner.  We just noticed that it was wet when we walked outside.  It was occasionally cloudy but cleared up and was sunny most of the time.  The water was pretty calm most of the time and even when it became a little wavy, it wasn't nearly as bad as the waves in Cancun.  I think the reef protects the area pretty well.  Temps were 80-82 and lows of low 70's upper 60's. 
 

Originally Posted by Kristina610 

JoanneIreland-  Thanks for the info.  Originally we were thinking the first week of November but i just found out that a bridesmaid and very close friend is pregnant and she is due the end of October, so travel at that time would be out of the question for her... not sure where to go from here :/

 

Brenners-  How was the weather while you were there?

 

 

[Brenners]

We brought our iPod and danced on the beach without a problem.  Our guests had a blast as did we.  A dance floor was relatively spendy and just not worth it for us.
 

Originally Posted by FireyNurse 

I am wondering, what is everyone's take on the dancefloor rental, we were planning on using our ipod for music and saving money on the DJ and my FI just realized we would be dancing on the sand and is sorta thinking he wants a dancefloor.

 

Has anyone rented the dancefloor....did you get the regular or light up one? What did you think?

 

Thanks!

 

 

[Avens]

I'm with Brenners. We just danced in the sand, it was fun.
 

Originally Posted by Brenners 

We brought our iPod and danced on the beach without a problem.  Our guests had a blast as did we.  A dance floor was relatively spendy and just not worth it for us.
 

 

 

Welcome Mexico!

 

When we were there, there was a corporate event right by the pool (where I'm assuming you'd be).  In between a little activities Palupa, and the Coco Bar.  It was nice, and the area clears out pretty good at night, still some people walking by though.  The pools are open until 10 (we went swimming one night at 8, but we were the only ones).

 

I seem to recall a wedding with 70 or 80 people getting the Coral Grill. That might be something to ask you coordinator. Is the Pameras Grill already spoken for? That one is a free option. I've heard the Mariachi Grill is an option as well.

 

Originally Posted by MexicoHereICome 

 

Hey Ladies, 

 

   I'm new to this site. My fiance and I have booked our wedding for October 6, 2012. I unfortunately wasn't left with a lot of options to have our reception. We ended up picking the Palace pool area. I was wondering if anyone has any pictures to look at or had seen an reception take place there while they were at the Palace. I'm concerned about the weather seeing that its outside and we will be in rainy season (but that's a risk I just have to take) We REALLY wanted to have our reception in an open aired restaurant but that option wasn't given to us. We have invited 200 people and already have a for sure 50. Does anyone know how many people you need to have attend in order for them to bump you up to the Coral Grill?  Also, I just want to make sure I'm up to speed all that my WC has booked with me is our locations for reception, ceremony, cocktail hour....Just scanning this site I have noticed that some people that are getting married after me are already choosing what type of musician they want to play at their ceremony. Are we behind? I'm not liking what I am hearing about the on site photographers....does anyone have any suggestions for photographers that won't break the bank? Lastly (for now) has anyone used the resort D.J. if not does anyone have any suggestions? Sorry I have so many questions I'm just so anxious to know everything and it takes a little bit of time to hear back from our WC. 

 

Congrats to you all!

 

Jessica

 

I have been having trouble posting (or at least finding where they are actually posting to...forgive me if this is a repeat post)

 

[Kristina610]

Thanks Brenners, were you still able to tan or sunburn even though its the "winter" months. I've always been there in July when the sun is really strong. Also, what time was your ceremony in comparisons to sunset? Sorry about all the questions, I'm just trying to figure out what time of year we want to go.

Kristina the weather was perfect the entire time!  It rained once for about 10-15 minutes but we had no idea that it had rained as we were in our room getting ready for dinner.  We just noticed that it was wet when we walked outside.  It was occasionally cloudy but cleared up and was sunny most of the time.  The water was pretty calm most of the time and even when it became a little wavy, it wasn't nearly as bad as the waves in Cancun.  I think the reef protects the area pretty well.  Temps were 80-82 and lows of low 70's upper 60'

[AudEv2012]

Hi Jessica!

 

We are getting married on April 12th at the Palace.  We have 80 guests joining us.  We decided to go with the Palmeras Grill - we asked for it in particular.  The coordinator told us that we would have to get the Strawberry Passion package and pay $66.00 extra for every person beyond the 15 person limit.  We asked if it would be possible to get the Mint Breeze Package at the Grill, and she said that if we guaranteed at least 80 people we could have the Grill under the Mint Breeze Package.  So, we are having our reception at the Palmeras. 

 

It's difficult sometimes to determine what response you will get on your requests for the reception, as it seems that each coordinator takes a different approach to it and it depends on other things that are happening at the resort as well.  We asked about the Coral Grill, but our coordinator said the Grill is open for business that night and so we would have to go with the Palmeras. 

 

We decided to bring our own photographer.  It was the same cost as hiring one there any seemed to be better quality than the onsite photographer. 

 

I hope this helps.  I will post information after our wedding if I find out anything that is helpful. 

[MexicoHereICome]

 

AudEv2012 who is your WC? I would much rather do the mint package and we are thinking we will have about 80-100 . That would save me so much $$$

 

Avens: Xhail (our WC) didn't say that the Palmerras was booked but it wasn't an option that she gave us. I specifically asked for a opened aired restaurant and she gave me Captain Morgan grill as an option. It may be for some people but a pirate ship in the middle of the room isn't for me. She told me that only 30 people could sit together on a side as well and I have at minimum 50 people already attending. We would like everyone to sit together.

 

I just hate to get all the way down there and it rain on our Wedding day and be are stuck in a Banquet room. If we wanted that we would of got married here at home. An open aired restaurant is just what I had my heart set on. But the WC wouldn't even begin to talk reception spots until you book your stay locking you in!!! I'm a little frustrated at that, now having this booked and not being able to have it where we wanted it. I'm attempting to NOT let it bother me

 

Sorry for venting for a moment. I must say I didn't think that it would be as stressful as it is planning this. I thought hey destination wedding...PERFECT. We will take a vacation and get married in a stress-free environment. That hasn't seem to be the case since its hard to communicate and get answers (and everyone seems to get or give different answers)  Whats  okay for one person doesn't seem to be okay for the next. Its just frustrating!

 

Did those of you that used the IPOD feel like you missed out on having a DJ to help get the party moving? Just wondering?

 

Thanks for letting me ramble!

 

Jessica

[Brenners]

Hi Kristina,

I am more than happy to answer your questions.  BDW was extremely helpful to me so it is the least I can do for other brides!

 

Everyone tanned quite easily and those who missed spots of skin with sunscreen did, unfortunately, burn quite easily.  I used an SPF of 30 and reapplied after each swim.  I got a nice tan and no burn. The heat and humidity were perfect.  We have been in the Riviera Maya in May and it was hot and miserable - even with an ocean breeze. 

 

Our ceremony was at 4:00 because it lasted about 30 minutes and we wanted pictures before and during sunset.  Sunset was around 5:45 or so.  We originally planned for 4:30 but changed to 4:00 and I am really glad we did as it allowed us time to take photos on the beach and other areas of the resort before we lost light.  We had our photographer for 8 hours (1:30-9:30) and it still seemed like we could have used more time with him.  We even wound up doing a TTD on the spur of the moment because we had such a good time with our photographer Erick Rodriguez.

Originally Posted by Kristina610 

Thanks Brenners, were you still able to tan or sunburn even though its the "winter" months. I've always been there in July when the sun is really strong. Also, what time was your ceremony in comparisons to sunset? Sorry about all the questions, I'm just trying to figure out what time of year we want to go.

 

 

[Brenners]

Mexico,

 

Sorry that your planning has been so stressful.  Lillian was our WC and we had the exact opposite experience.  As for the iPod, we did not miss a DJ.  One of our groomsmen manned the iPod which was not a lot as I downloaded the wedding dj app so all of our music was organized.  Our guests had a great time between our bocce ball/heart game, drinking, talking and dancing.  The dj was not missed by us.

 

Originally Posted by MexicoHereICome 

 

AudEv2012 who is your WC? I would much rather do the mint package and we are thinking we will have about 80-100 . That would save me so much $$$

 

Avens: Xhail (our WC) didn't say that the Palmerras was booked but it wasn't an option that she gave us. I specifically asked for a opened aired restaurant and she gave me Captain Morgan grill as an option. It may be for some people but a pirate ship in the middle of the room isn't for me. She told me that only 30 people could sit together on a side as well and I have at minimum 50 people already attending. We would like everyone to sit together.

 

I just hate to get all the way down there and it rain on our Wedding day and be are stuck in a Banquet room. If we wanted that we would of got married here at home. An open aired restaurant is just what I had my heart set on. But the WC wouldn't even begin to talk reception spots until you book your stay locking you in!!! I'm a little frustrated at that, now having this booked and not being able to have it where we wanted it. I'm attempting to NOT let it bother me

 

Sorry for venting for a moment. I must say I didn't think that it would be as stressful as it is planning this. I thought hey destination wedding...PERFECT. We will take a vacation and get married in a stress-free environment. That hasn't seem to be the case since its hard to communicate and get answers (and everyone seems to get or give different answers)  Whats  okay for one person doesn't seem to be okay for the next. Its just frustrating!

 

Did those of you that used the IPOD feel like you missed out on having a DJ to help get the party moving? Just wondering?

 

Thanks for letting me ramble!

 

Jessica

 

[ANGELA2013]

Hi

 

We have Xhail too, and to get some information has been difficult and a lot more stressful then I ever thought with a destination wedding.  Our travel agent won't even give me price information until August and I can't book my vacation portion until then either, I am very stressed that we will lose nicer spots due to this problem. The date is held but that's all we can do until the travel part which makes sense but I thought that part would be easy. The last week or so we have started to regret a destination wedding due to the lack of response we have been getting from the resort and the difficulty with the vacation part from the travel agent. I am glade I am not alone.

Originally Posted by MexicoHereICome 

 

AudEv2012 who is your WC? I would much rather do the mint package and we are thinking we will have about 80-100 . That would save me so much $$$

 

Avens: Xhail (our WC) didn't say that the Palmerras was booked but it wasn't an option that she gave us. I specifically asked for a opened aired restaurant and she gave me Captain Morgan grill as an option. It may be for some people but a pirate ship in the middle of the room isn't for me. She told me that only 30 people could sit together on a side as well and I have at minimum 50 people already attending. We would like everyone to sit together.

 

I just hate to get all the way down there and it rain on our Wedding day and be are stuck in a Banquet room. If we wanted that we would of got married here at home. An open aired restaurant is just what I had my heart set on. But the WC wouldn't even begin to talk reception spots until you book your stay locking you in!!! I'm a little frustrated at that, now having this booked and not being able to have it where we wanted it. I'm attempting to NOT let it bother me

 

Sorry for venting for a moment. I must say I didn't think that it would be as stressful as it is planning this. I thought hey destination wedding...PERFECT. We will take a vacation and get married in a stress-free environment. That hasn't seem to be the case since its hard to communicate and get answers (and everyone seems to get or give different answers)  Whats  okay for one person doesn't seem to be okay for the next. Its just frustrating!

 

Did those of you that used the IPOD feel like you missed out on having a DJ to help get the party moving? Just wondering?

 

Thanks for letting me ramble!

 

Jessica

 

[melcrna80]

Hi all! I'm very new to this forum. My fiancee and I have were at the Barcelo Maya last May and plan on having our wedding there in November this year. I have spent some time searching this thread and I would like someones direct opinion of the onsite photographers offered through the resort. Are they really that bad and is that why people are getting there own? Does anyone have any personal pics from the Barcelos photographers they wouldn't mind sharing?

 

Thanks!

 

~ Melissa