Any Grand Palladium brides?

[StephyD]

5th avenue in Playa del Carmen is very crowded.  Obviously, there are some locals so you need to be careful anywhere you go in Mexico but Playa del Carmen is very touristy.  I wouldn't wander in the connecting streets, but it is safe on 5th avenue.

 

Coco Bongo isn't right on 5th avenue, but very close.  The bus drops you off a corner down from the club itself but I felt very secure the whole time we were there.  None of us (there were 18 of us... 7 girls and 11 guys) brought purses with us, but I'd be careful what you bring in case of theft or whatever.

 

I'll be going to Coco Bongo again for sure!  It was SO worth it and SO much fun!!  The bus picked us up around 10PM at the resort (we had a party bus!!) and came back to pick us up after the show around 3:30AM.  The guide said she would come with us but didn't.  I guess she had went a few nights before and didn't feel like going again... She promised we wouldn't have to wait in line when we'd get there, which didn't happen... we had to wait about 30 minutes and made it in just in time for the show to start.  I did argue with the staff a bit so they gave us an awesome spot for the show.  Alcohol is included in the ticket price, so it's all you can drink.  Make sure to give good tips if you want good service... the guy was on our side for most of the evening and brought regular rounds of drinks remembering what everyone had even without us asking for it.

 

Originally Posted by Caroline1110 

Hey Stephy,

 

Just curious, how did you find Coco Bongo's? Did you all go as a group (guys and girls)? Is it run like an excursion in the sense that you come and go as a group with a "guide"? Not to sound paranoid or anything, but I've heard bad stories about the smaller towns in Mexico after dark and how they're not very safe. Did you get that feeling at all?

 

[StephyD]

You can have your cocktail reception at any time you'd like... Bars open to all of the resort's guests at 6PM (and some are open all day) so depending on what time you have your reception, it might not be private.

 

The bar by the salt water pool won't allow you to have a private reception as guests have access to it throughout the day.

 

We had our cocktail reception at the Sport's bar terasse (go back in the thread to see my review) and it was private since none of the guests ever hang out at that bar.  We held it from 4PM to 6PM and had our dinner reception from 7PM to 11PM at the White Sand.

 

Originally Posted by skewy01 

I am getting married July 13, 2012 at the GPRM!  Cannot wait!!!  I have a few questions that I can't seem to find the answer to.  Of course there are ALOT of posts to go through so I may have missed the answer.  We are interested in doing a cocktail reception.  Do you ladies know if the salt water pool area is the only place?  Also can we have music(i.e. mariachi band) at the cocktail reception?  Are there specific times you can hold the reception?  And finally is it a private cocktail reception?  Thanks ladies!!!  Save the Dates are going out next month!  Let the fun begin!!!!!!!!!!

 

[StephyD]

We had a hard time finding suits at a decent price here in Montreal too... We got our suits at Gaudi (they are located in various shopping malls) and they weren't linen but they were a light grey and we paid 275$ for each suit.

 

Other than that... no idea, sorry

 

Originally Posted by Manda123 

@ Stephy: My FI and I are having a hard time finding linen suits here in Ottawa so we are going to go shopping in MTL. Any advice on good places to check out suits?

 

[skewy01]

StephyD,

Thank you so much for your advice and information.  We wanted to have a "Welcome to Mexico" cocktail reception at the salt water pool with a mariachi band but that may not be the best option.  Definitely going to explore other areas of the resort.  And I am pretty sure I am just going to go with my TA that I have used the last two times we went to Mexico.  I think it's a peace of mind thing for me.  Plus she will handle all of the bookings and everyone will get discounts. 
 

Originally Posted by StephyD 

You can have your cocktail reception at any time you'd like... Bars open to all of the resort's guests at 6PM (and some are open all day) so depending on what time you have your reception, it might not be private.

 

The bar by the salt water pool won't allow you to have a private reception as guests have access to it throughout the day.

 

We had our cocktail reception at the Sport's bar terasse (go back in the thread to see my review) and it was private since none of the guests ever hang out at that bar.  We held it from 4PM to 6PM and had our dinner reception from 7PM to 11PM at the White Sand.

 

 

 

[Wcook]

Is there a charge for having your photographer come in to the resort?  I am actually looking at the same photographer, and just emailed the resort today to find out if there is a cost in bring them in.  I am only planning on having 3 hours of service done, as we are having an at home reception.  so I just want pictures of the ceremony and then the photoshoot afterward.

 

Thanks in advance for any insight on this!

[Wcook]

How long did it take for you to get your pictures back from him editted?  We have an at home reception booked and i am hoping to receive the pictures before then so I can display them. 

[Wcook]

How long did it take for you to hear back from Rocio, I am trying to get a date in place as I am making our travel arrangements for May 19 - 26 and want to ensure that the availability is there.  I am also trying to coordinate with the photographer who is only availalbe the 21/22 and I would like to get it all confirmed and booked so I can book everything else.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can get the location and date i want for the 21/22 May. 

[Caroline1110]

Are you legally getting married there? I'm not (we'll do all the paperwork here and have a symbolic ceremony there), but I hear you need to be in Mexico for three days before they will marry you.

[JND2012]

Hi all!

 

I finally heard back from Rocio - I'm getting married January 26th, 2012 at 4:00!  I'm so excited!

 

How's the planning going?  What are you guys doing now?  I'm trying to get my "invites" done (everyone who is coming has already made their deposit, so it's more of an info thing), I'm trying to get a website up...  and I'm pushing FH to get some appointments made for suits.  I need to get my BM dresses too...  and I guess any clothing/shoes that we'll be wearing then.  It's so hard having to buy the clothes so far in advance, with the seasons changing!

 

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed - 6 months!  Any tips as to what I should be doing/have done at this point?  Anyone know where I can find a "to do" checklist?

[JND2012]

PS:  Welcome to the new brides