Gran Caribe Real CHAPEL - Site visit...so upset

[simba1234]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa DSO Oh, sweetie, I understand all of your frustrations and worries, but I'm sure when it comes down to the wedding itself, it will all work itself out and it will be the day of your dreams. So, I'm interested in what you said about booking a room to get ready in (and be able to walk down more of an aisle)- would this be in the area behind the cross (in the path leading up to the chapel)?

Thanks for the words of encouragement:)

Directly behind the cross there is a tennis court but to the right of the tennis court (as you face the chapel) there are some rooms that have a direct path to the chapel. The rooms are on the same level and lead directly to the chapel but no one inside the chapel would see you coming out of the room.

[abbypoo]

If you're very concerned about it, it might be a good idea to change coordinators. If it helps, I've also heard that the realresorts WCs are a bit flaky at first (because they're so busy), but when it gets close to your wedding they are very attentive. I believe your WC will go over everything with you in the days before your wedding and you will be able to confirm everything you want then. Don't get yourself too worked up, this is your day!

[jplovesme]

Yikes. I was just narrowing down my resort choice to the Gran Caribe (only because the chapel is gorgeous and it's less expensive for our guests than Le Blanc Resort). I might rethink this resort, but that chapel just looks too gorgeous to pass up. I may have to tell my photographer to do a bunch of quick shots of me walking down their "aisle" ... Good luck!

[buleczka26]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cublica82 I am soo sorry! I am also getting married at the chapel and i am disappointed that the aisle wont be long.....i wanted a decent length aisle to walk down as well. i can only say that i hope everything works out for us and the photographers are pros and can get great shots anyway.. are u using their photographer? i was thinking of booking an outside photographer

I am also getting married here on Aug 7th. We booked an outside photographer. Seeing as most everything else included in planning the wedding at Gran Caribe is out of my control, I wanted to at least know my pictures would be FAB! Just FYI... there is a $350 fee for bringing an off site photographer!

[buleczka26]

Quote:

Originally Posted by simba1234 I have to vent because I'm on the verge of tears! I just came back from a weekend trip to Cancun. I'm getting married in the catholic chapel inside the Gran Caribe Real and I really wish I had done this site visit before I put the deposits and confirmed everything. The chapel is beautiful just as pictured in the photos. However the entrance to the chapel is not what I expected... you have to go through a really loud and super busy lobby just to get to the chapel. The path from the lobby to the chapel is very long with a lot of turns so it's easy for guests to get lost. When I asked the coordinator if there would be signs or a staff member guiding guests, she said no. Then they told me that I only have 30 minutes after the ceremony to take photos. We have to leave after 30 minutes because they have another wedding after mine. When I asked if there was another place to take pictures she said no. The day of my wedding, I have to enter the chapel through stairs that are to the immediate right of the chapel entrance so the walk down the aisle is VERY short. I can't even imagine how I'll get good pictures walking down the aisle because you literally come down the stairs and you are right inside the chapel. The coordinator showed me another way to get in the chapel where the walk would be a little longer. That entrance requires that I go through a kids club where there is a pool with games splashing water. Going through that entrance would mean running a risk of getting wet before arriving in the chapel. I asked if they could stop the water games from splashing out water for just 2 or 3 minutes while I walked through there and they said no. I asked if I could just wait in a kids club room where they have tables and chairs for kids to watch tv and read. I figured I could just hide in there until the guests arrive so that I could have my walk down the long aisle. You guessed it, the answer was no. I'm also having my rehearsal dinner at the Gran Caribe and I asked the coordinator MONTHS ago if I could have it on the beach. She confirmed in writing but during the site visit she couldn't remember confirming the beach so she insisted that the rehearsal dinner was in another location. I had to correct her about my ceremony time FOUR times in a matter of 10 minutes. She kep saying the wedding was at 2pm or 4pm even though we have confirmed that it will be a 3pm. I corrected her and literally 5 minutes later she said the wrong time again. I'm really at my wits end. The most frustrating part is that they are not accomodating or flexible at all. She pushes back on everything I ask for and never provides solutions or alternatives. I've had problems with this resort from the beginning and I just wish I went with my instincts from the beginning. I'm so stressed out because I have no confidence that these people will do a good job on my wedding day. They are not organized at all, the communication has bee horrible and they are making no effort to accomodate me with anything. I spoke to her manager and she's probably worse than the coordinator - a very arrrogant and unpleasant lady. My advice to anyone planning a wedding there is to do a site visit before confirming and get everything in writing. I'm really dissapointed and upset. I had such a pleasant experience with everyone else I'm dealing with in Cancun. I'm having my reception at Le Meridien and I thank God for that decision. The Wedding Planner at Le Meridien is the complete opposite of the one at Gran Caribe. She has been a dream to work with - very professional, organized and pleasant. She is making every effort to ensure I have the wedding of my dreams. The reception place is gorgeous and everything exceeded my expectations in every way. I'm going to try to find a new place for a rehearsal dinner because the fewer events at Gran Caribe the better. Sorry for the rant but I'm on the verge of tears right now.

I am very interested in Le Meridien as well... as I am starting to get nervous about the reception! Do you have any information from them? Why did you decide to do the reception off site? I would appreciate your input!

[simba1234]

Quote:

Originally Posted by buleczka26 I am very interested in Le Meridien as well... as I am starting to get nervous about the reception! Do you have any information from them? Why did you decide to do the reception off site? I would appreciate your input!

WOW...are you serious about the fee for an outside photographer? Did you already sign your contract? Do you still have to pay that amount even though it was only $100 when you signed the contract? I'm getting more and more annoyed with this place by the minute. I'm bringing an outside photographer and they told me the fee was $100.

I have a ton of information on Le Meridien- what type of info do you need? My wedding coordinator is Patricia Luyando and she is simply amazing!

[Effie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by simba1234 I'm flying in a photographer from the US. I will have to pay the resort a fee just to bring an outside photograher. She is a really great photographer and a pro so if anyone can pull off good shots it's her. When is your wedding?

DON'T pay for your photographer to come if she is staying in your hotel or the real!!!!! They try to scam you every way they can...there are ways around it

[buleczka26]

So our account was given to Angie (the office manager) so no off site vendor fee for us. You were right, if the photographer stays at the hotel then they take the fee off. Now we just have to make sure they don't try to stick us with the $400 after 4pm fee... which was NOT there when we gave our deposit.

[jplovesme]

OMG. I'm so glad I checked in on this thread today. Thanks so much ladies, for mentioning the off-site photographer fee. I haven't signed the contract just yet, but I'm bringing an outside photographer just to make sure the pics are gorgeous. I'm currently speaking to Susanna as my assigned WC, so hopefully, she does a decent job.

[carolina24]

wow, I'm so sorry to hear about all of the issues the resort is giving you ladies! that really sucks. the resort was my first choice from the pics online, but after the site visit we were so put off, it was a definate no. if any brides come across this thread and haven't booked yet, please please please do a site visit first