Secrets Silversands and/or Maroma Beach

[Kits55]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simistar Okaaaaay, ladies... I heard back from Cecilia about the differences in the menus... And I'm not sure quite WHAT to say... I'll post what she said, but basically...they DONT' HAVE SET MENUS! Sounds like whatever the chef feels like whipping up that day, that's what you get. Really. Here's Cecilia's e-mail: Unfortunately our recipes are not standardized yet due to we have just a couple month open… the positive point of these is that our Head Chef (who is an excellent chef ) could be so creative about these … in this case you could tell me what description do you like more and we can prepare for you... And this is her response when I questioned that: Unfortunately the Wedding menus are corporative then there is not an exactly recipe to follow and is in this point where our chefs use their creativity to create that delicious dishes; unfortunately there is just one head Chef for all the resort, and he has to coordinate the preparation of foods, prepare food , order foods, check the quality of the foods, for all the resort restaurants that`s why have the dishes description has been to hard and slow and that`s why, as well the reason because he can not make yet the wedding recipe and have a standard of that; So...who knows WHAT we'll get ! :-)

OK, i'm SO not a fan of this! I guess I'll have to give them what I want before I head down. blah.

good news though: i sent Cecilia an email because I want to make my own decorations and centerpieces so I can use them for my AHRs too....so I asked if i could mail them and they could store them. The answer is YES and there is NO storage fee!! woo-hoo!! She said to just let them know when you send stuff so that they can be ready and expecting it. I love it!

[Simistar]

Well, ladies, the news from Cecilia just keeps getting better!

I am, of course, being sarcastic:-)

 

She informed me two days ago, less than three weeks before our wedding, that we could not have our reception on the beach.

This, even though since the very first time I e-mailed with her I had asked about having our reception on the beach, and that's we've been planning for all along...She was always, "yes, no problem"...

Now, suddenly, it's a problem.

 

Between that and the guess-your-meal menu plan, I sent her a pretty frustrating-sounding e-mail.

She finally responded that we CAN have our reception on the beach BUT they can't guarantee good service or that the food will be hot..

 

ALSO, girls, pay attention to this one:-)

 

Look closely at what they charge you per person, either for the reception or any other private dinner you have (like a rehearsal or welcome dinner...)

It's SUPPOSED to be the charge per person, plus 10% tax, plus 15% service...

But, what they did with our bill, was charge us the 15% tax on TOP of the 10% tax...so they were taxing a tax.

It's not THAT big a difference, but times that by however many people, and it adds up, believe me!

 

I've pointed this out to them and am waiting to hear back.

 

My TA is also getting in touch with the resort to sort out the whole menu/reception on the beach debacle...hopefully:-)

 

I'll let y'all know what comes of THAT...

[jodylynn007]

Hey ladies!!! I am at the Cancun airport on my way home from the wedding and honeymoon. I will fill in a few quick details about my wedding and then write up a more elaborate review upon my return home (and a bit of a rest).

 

First off, I would NOT recommend getting married actually ON the beach. The mosquitoes are BAD and I am not even being kind with this description. They are really bad... and terrible on the beach. There is one gazebo on the beach but the walk to it isnt wonderful through the sand (no direct path) and I wouldn´t want to do it in a wedding dress. I originally wanted to be married right on the beach also so I can sympathisize with you however please strongly consider my suggestion at reserving the gazebo by the pool as it is BEAUTIFUL, that is where I chose to do mine. I will post pictures as soon as I get them from relatives or the resort photographer.

 

Anyhow, the gazebo by the pool is beautiful and the the atmosphere around it is perfect, you can see the ocean in the background and it´s got far less mosquitoes than the beach itself.

 

Ok... so my FIRST recommendation is pretty important, make sure you get your room in the 1500 - 1700 rooms and not the rooms 2000 to 2500. The mosquitoes are WAY worse on the 2 side of the resort and less on the 1 side. The swimming pools for swim up rooms are also warmer for swimming as they are not in shade all day long. Make sure you have a great room ladies!

 

Secondly was the menu, the food is delicious there ladies, not to worry! I was a Dreams Tulum transplant and had NO IDEA of what would happen when I got to Secrets and I asked if I could have the same menu as was planned for at Dreams and they said no problem. The food was creative looking and tasted great. I made my hubby take pics of each dish so I will post those up as soon as I can also and let you know what they were.

 

As for the wedding decorations, set up and organization, everything was PERFECT. Cecilia and Landy (my Dreams wedding coordinator) set up everything EXACTLY like I asked. My major recommendation as far as setup goes is to bring pictures of everything you want and any extras you may need, bring them also. I brought blue tulle (which you will see in all my pics when they get posted), starfish, seashells and seashell placecards. Everything I brought I left at the resort for future brides to use. They had candles and flower holders that the resort supplied and they were beautufil. Oh, I also brought sea foam blue table runners also which I also left. So if your wedding is that colour (sky blue sorta), ask Cecilia what is left for you to use as I specificially said anyone can use them in future weddings.

 

Final recommendation is take pictures of everything you want... hair, make up, set up, decorations, etc. They will do their best and honestly a great job, to make it all the way you want. Everything was beyond my expectations and believe me, they were high to start off with. Also, the ladies at the salon don´t speak much English, so a picture says a thousand words. My hair and makeup looked lovely though, exactly like I asked and showed them in the pics. The SPA also ladies, was the BEST SPA experience I have ever had at a resort, make sure you plan in some time to enjoy their services, truly beautiful and skilled workers in there, I was MUCHO impressed.

 

So that´s my quick review from the airport (I type fast), more details and pictures etc to come. I wont get home until 2 am Vancouver time and it´ll be 5 am Mexico time so I am gonna be very sleepy! Bye for now!

[Simistar]

Welcome home!!

 

I'm so happy to hear everything went well!!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodylynn007 First off, I would NOT recommend getting married actually ON the beach. The mosquitoes are BAD and I am not even being kind with this description. They are really bad... and terrible on the beach. There is one gazebo on the beach but the walk to it isnt wonderful through the sand (no direct path) and I wouldn´t want to do it in a wedding dress. I originally wanted to be married right on the beach also so I can sympathisize with you however please strongly consider my suggestion at reserving the gazebo by the pool as it is BEAUTIFUL, that is where I chose to do mine.

Really...?? That sucks...

The mosquitos are that bad? Boo:-)

 

Well, I guess since they're now telling us we can't have our reception on the beach, maybe it's turned into a good thing:-)

 

What time of day did you get married...? Or maybe the bugs are bad no matter what time of day..? :-)

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodylynn007 Anyhow, the gazebo by the pool is beautiful and the the atmosphere around it is perfect, you can see the ocean in the background and it´s got far less mosquitoes than the beach itself.

Is the gazebo by the pool very private...? Or does everyone gawk at you? :-)

 

I'm VERY happy to hear all your decorations were put out properly etc...

(maybe I'll be able to make use of some of them, haha:-))

Actually, I'm bringing stuff down too, which I'll probably end up leaving...

But myabe I'll make use of your seafoam runners:-)

 

Anyway, welcome back! and I look forward to hearing/reading your more detailed review...after you've slept of course:-)

[julielynn]

How would you handle this? I am pretty upset right now. Probably feel about the same way Simistar did when they told her to have cold food on the beach for her reception!! LOL Below is what I came into Monday morning from Cecilia. The first comment is in response to the $100 spa gift card promotion I got when I booked my wedding (I found it on a disount site). I was going to use this for my hair and make-up, finally a place to save a little money on the all-inclusive wedding... Oh and our wedding is perfectly timed at 3pm so we will have sunset pictures for our couples shoot. Sunset is at 5pm..

 

Yes, you can get the coupon at your arrival… unfortunately does not apply for saloon services (make up & hairstyle)

 

I was checking our activities program because has a lot of changes due to the hotel is new; and I realize that at 3:00 pm there is a Circus Show been performed by the pool. This really concerns me, due to we like a nice wedding for you, and have the wedding and at the same time the circus show wont be helpful, because they make some noise and could distract the guest attention… My suggestion is move down 1 hr the schedule, and starts the ceremony at 4:00 at this time the natural lighting is perfect for pictures during and after the ceremony… however if this schedule change create any problems, please let me know and I`ll check with the Entertainment Manager what we can do for you … J

 

I told her to try to change the Circus Show so we will see. I am keeping my fingers crossed!!

[Simistar]

Julielynn -- I didn't know we're getting married the same weekend??!! Do have this right...? :-)

We'll be there at the same time...? So cool:-)

 

I'm really sorry to hear you're now having problems as well...

I think with this resort, b/c it's new, the left hand doesn't always know what the right hand is doing...(or in my case, what the hell they offer in their literature as opposed to what they really offer:-))

 

I actually talked to SMB's general manager a few days ago, and now they say we can have the reception on the beach...which is really funny, b/c after what Jody told us, we're not sure we want it there!:-)

 

Anywaaaay, as for the spa credit...that sucks. I find this resort is very UNflexible when it comes to things like this...Not sure if other resorts are like this as well...

BUT, I'd say use the spa credit for a nice massage or something relaxing the day before your wedding...or in the morning before...I'm sure you'll enjoy it...No, it doesn't help you cut costs, but hey, you've got it, you might as well use it, right? :-)

 

Also, the whole menu thing is crazy...I'm sure it will be different for girls getting married there a few months from now...They SAY they're going to standardize the menus...who knows:-) At least everyone says the food is good:-)

 

Lastly, THIS IS FOR ALL THE GIRLS -- I'm going to repeat myself (not unusual, haha)...

When they calculate out the costs per person for your dinner...whether it's reception or welcome or rehearsal...double check they are not charging you tip on top of the tax, or tax on top of the tip...They tried this with me. They've now fixed it. But I get the sense that's how they do it normally...

 

Okay, Julielynn -- I'm going to PM you right now BTW...

:-)

[jodylynn007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simistar What time of day did you get married...? Or maybe the bugs are bad no matter what time of day..? :-) Is the gazebo by the pool very private...? Or does everyone gawk at you?

I was married at 3pm at the gazebo by the pool, which I personally chose after seeing the gazebo out on the beach. Yes, the mosquitoes are BAD. Does everyone gawk? Well a bit... but honestly not enough that it bothered me or that I really noticed. The way the gazebo is set up, the pool is on one side, there is a building on the other and the beach/trees are in the back. So the photographer can either stand behind or to one side and get great photos with no people in bathing suits in the background very easily. I hope to get pictures of the wedding itself soon... I haven't even seen any myself yet!!!

PS. It's kind of nice to get the attention don't you think? As for major gawking, that came later when I did my TTD in the resort pool. lol. Now that was serious gawking. Tee hee!!

[jodylynn007]

Okay... I am done my review (it's long!) and here is the link!

 

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...452#post607215

[Simistar]

Wow -- thanks for the detailed review Jody!!

 

Of course, I do have some questions:-)

 

- It sounds like you guys paid for the sound system during your ceremony...

Did this help with people being able to hear you over the wind..? (I know some girls say even with the microphone, you can't hear:-))

Just wondering if it's worth it for us to get this...

 

- I'm confused about the taxi fare card thing... The doormen at Secrets have fare cards that we should check...? Are these actually, physical cads that we take with us...?

Sorry for being thick but if you could explain a bit more so I can let our guests know ahead of time, that would be GREAT :-)

 

 

THANKS again...and congrats!!!

[Simistar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jodylynn007 PS. It's kind of nice to get the attention don't you think? As for major gawking, that came later when I did my TTD in the resort pool. lol. Now that was serious gawking. Tee hee!!

That sounds like an AWESOME idea! I think maybe we'll use the pool for some shots! :-)
As for gawking...I don't know...I think I'd feel weird walking in front of everyone who's hanging out at the pool boozing it up:-) But maybe not...maybe I'd just need some booze too:-)