What should I do?

[jawedding]

I hope this is an ok place for this! I need some advice..

 

Fi and I got engaged in January.. We knew we wanted to have a DW, and we both thought it would be fun to go to mexico.. but we had a lot going on for the next few months (moving, school, etc), so we were looking for places to have a DW, but also pretty distracted. Originally we thought we wanted to go to Dreams Tulum.. but then we heard that the beach was crappy, and for the money, we thought we would go somewhere else. We looked into Dreams Huatulco, but it was like a concrete jungle (and his parents, who had been to Las Brisas Huatulco, said they wouldn't stay there), so THEN we found Las Brisas Ixtapa. We liked it because the beach was great, the food was supposed to be great, rooms all ocean facing, etc.. BUT it's not a true all inclusive, PLUS there was limited space for when we wanted to go. SO we got in touch with a travel agent (who requested $200 just for starting the process of looking). I paid it because at this point, we needed some help. She recommended Iberostar Rose Hall beach, and RIU ocho rios in jamaica, as well as somewhere in st. Lucia. We LOVED both the rose hall and the RIU, and we thought we'd do it. But Rose hall's wedding packages seemed WAY more expensive than the RIU, so we decided to go with RIU. We got quotes for Jan 16-23 of $1780, and while we still felt a bit uncomfortable about the price, we decided to go for it. THEN we couldn't get a wedding date with the RIU. SO we booked a later date with the RIU, and tried to get new prices (leaving on Jan 18th (from TO)), but these prices are even more expensive ($1820). I know it's not THAT much of a difference, but for us we are really uncomfortable with asking people to pay that much (the company has a promotion where the 16th person is free, so we were going to apply that to the original quote so that the first 15 people who book could go for $1673 - which psychologically just sounds better to me). Argh.. i don't know what to do.. I feel like I'm driving my TA insane, but at the same time, we are paying her! and we have so many guests who want to come, she'll make tons of money when we all book.. Part of me wants to try to get a date at the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach, but since they only do one wedding a day, that might be tough..

 

I'm sorry to spend so much time venting, I just don't know what to do.. we're really not comfortable with that price, but we want to get something booked! (we are trying to get married in january 2010).. part of me is superstitious though, and wondering if it's so hard to get it booked, is it the wrong place? argh..

 

thank you for listening!

[jk1101]

First take a deep breath!

I found picking the resort to be the hardest part of the whole thing. I probably researched more than 20 in 5 different locations.

Are you totally committed to January?

If you love one resort, find out which days are available for them and for you and book that based on availability.

I don't think you'll go wrong with either hotel - they're both awesome - just look at all the BDW reviews.

Maybe make a list of what you like about each one - amenities vs pricing vs dates etc...it might help you see things more realistically and help you make a better decision.

 

Good Luck!

[BachataBride]

I don't know if DR is an option?? It can be cheaper than MX & JA. The RIU Palace Macao in Punta Cana offers "free" weddings with 10 people & 5 rooms booked. You only have to pay for the judges fees ($560 US). We ended up going with the RIU Bachata in Puerto Plata - it was fantastic, but the beaches aren't great, so if you're looking for nice beaches go with Punta Cana. When we were looking last year I think the price for the Macao was around $1600 or $1700 out of TO. Maybe you could look into that?? (as if you need more options!!)

 

Good Luck sweetie!! And just think - this is the hardest part. After you settle on a resort the rest is easy!!

[jessicachantel]

I have been to both Punta Cana and just got married at the ROR in Jamaica. Both have nice beaches but I found the Dominican to be kind of depressing (it is dirty EVERYWHERE outside of the resorts and I mean everywhere!) We stayed in a really fancy hotel in dominican with a high price tag ($3000 pp) and had a good time but the ROR far exceeded our expectations. I think we paid 2000pp to go to ROR and people complained at first. Everyone had their two cents about where is cheaper (Cuba, Mexico, etc...) But trust me, you get what you pay for! The food is amazing at ROR- you never have to worry about the sanitary conditions- the grounds are beautiful and relatively new. In the end all the guests decided next trip is to a RIU and completely forgot that they had to spend an extra few hundred more than Cuba or another location:)

[YoursTruly]

Both are awesome resorts. You are booking during the high price season (Jan - Mar). I f you can wait until April and onward you could save money but it looks like you really want Jan. I wish you well. Could your TA do 4day 3 night packages for your guests so it would be cheaper?

[inunez]

if your heart is set on JA maybe you should try looking at the RIU hotels in Negril. i believe they are a little less expensive. i've been been to the Tropical Bay and it was beautiful! we're getting married in August at the RIU Negril and we're paying about $1800 for 7 nights and 7 days.

 

and if your TA is huffing and puffing b/c u can't make up ur mind...then she's not the best of TA's. she's suppose to be patient and help u in deciding on the resort and be sensitive to the amount of $ u want your guests to spend! at least that's what my TA's doing!

 

good luck with your search!

[Marie]

This is YOUR wedding, and in the end-it's about what makes YOU and your fiance happy!? Isn't it?

 

I think if the price is something thats really bothering you (like it did at me first) then you have to make a choice, and decide whats most important to you.

 

A. Going to a "not so expensive" resort (and remember you do get what you pay for) so that more guests will go OR

Booking and planning your wedding at a resort of your dreams with a limited amount of guests

 

People will always have an opinion, no matter the price. And imagine how you'll feel if you book a resort because its mroe affordable, and you STILL dont get a big turnout!? I would be pissed!

 

Price was definitely an issue for us--we had some "complaints" that RIU/Jamaica was a lot of money....but in the end, it was OUR wedding, and we done what WE wanted. Wed didnt force anyone to book--we found out our immediate fam would be going and that made us happy--so we booked....and guess what? There's over 30 of us going....anyone who really wants to go--will go...THE END....for the sake of a couple hundred extra? Who cares.......!

 

And yes--HAVING said all that...maybe you could think about moving your date....the most expensive season is Jan-April.......although I will tell you---we depart toronto the first week of may--and our group quote was 1900 tax in.......so 1780 is super good (if it incls tax) DO IT!!!!

[haskinl]

I know what your going through. I'm in the same boat

I meet again with the TA on Monday to discuss 2 destination and 4 resorts. For us it's too about the price and the accomidations. I'm struggling with this too... and I'm frustrated. Dreams is my first choice but not when it comes to price.

I guess I'll have to wait and see what they say on Monday..I'll keep ypu posted:)

 

Stay positive, and the others are right...It's your wedding and do what makes you(and you fience) happy:)

[Jill]

We got married at ROR and were there from April 18-25 we left from Toronto and our price was $1606 per person, we split the free tickets between all guests. No matter what the price of the resort people who are not going to come are going to complain about the price be it $1400 or $1800, bottom line is they are not coming and people who are coming dont mind spending a little extra. Not a single person who came complained to us about price! The Riu is amazing and you get what you pay for. You are going in expensive season, if you push it to the first week of April it will be cheaper. I dont know why your travel agent would charge you to look for resorts is that not her job. We went and saw our TA she told us about a bunch of resorts and then we picked we did not pay her a penny, maybe you should find a new TA!

[montegobay09]

You are definately not alone with this. The most stressful part of planning our DW was by far choosing the resort. We too were concerned about price. We wanted to make sure we had a beautiful resort that would provide excellent service and a perfect wedding but we didn't need a superior resort with all the extras. We were willing to pay a little bit extra to make sure we got a great resort but not so much that our guests would feel that it was unnecessary. - in other words...I know how you feel!

 

It really is always difficult to find the right place but once this decision is made (which for me was finally just telling my TA to just book it cause I didn't care anymore!) the only real thing you'll have to worry about is paperwork. All the rest is just extras and you're smooth sailing!

 

I think you'll be happy with either of those resorts. I would totally recommend RIU Tropical Bay in Negril but I do think it's a little more expensive than ROR because it's a RIU "palace" which is higher quality. Anyway, whatever you decide remember that it's your wedding and the people that want to be there will not back out because of a couple of hundred dollars (but I know what you mean about $1600's sounding much better!). People will always complain but hey...they don't have to come if they don't want to!!

 

I hope you're able to get this part over with quickl and have a happy planning experience from here on!!