Moon Palace 2011 Brides

[kris10kay]

I believe in my contract it also says no outside vendors but I figured I just wouldn't tell them and get my day pass. I guess I will just see what happens! 4 more months until our big day!!

Originally Posted by erinandchad 

We're getting married October 15 and I have an email from Michele Farinas (Miami office) saying we need to book a room for our outside photographer. So that is what we did. I was originally under the impression that a day pass would work fine, but apparently that's not the case. They seem to be inconsistent about this policy from bride to bride which is disappointing. 

 

 

[Terpgurl]

Jcoke! I am so glad you had a good experience with Doris! She's so sweet. Can't wait to see your pics!

Originally Posted by jcoke 

Hi ladies,

 

I also had some serious fears about my hair and make-up.  With me being an African American bride I was really concerned because not everyone knows how to work with our hair and skin.  But based on the recommendation of Terpgurl I went with Doris and she did a WONDERFUL JOB.  I would totally recommend her to any of the brides out there.  

 

 

 

[erinandchad]

That's what I thought we would do, but our photog (Sascha Gluck) had serious concerns about not being allowed on the property. Since we really wanted him as our photographer I decided to get something in writing about the outside vendor requirements, bite the bullet and just pay whatever we needed to have him. We're going pretty cheap for the rest of the wedding (i.e., dinner reservations instead of private reception) so it's worth it to us to spend the extra dough on good photos. Your photog may be okay with sneaking around... If it were totally up to me, that's what I'd try to do. Honestly, has anyone's photographer EVER been turned away on the wedding day? I'd be willing to bet no.

 

Originally Posted by kris10kay 

I believe in my contract it also says no outside vendors but I figured I just wouldn't tell them and get my day pass. I guess I will just see what happens! 4 more months until our big day!!

 

 

[ndvidul]

I'm going to PM you.

 

Originally Posted by leenancy 

Hi everyone! Can anyone tell me how strick MP is about the 20% guest passes thing? I sent out my STDs a few weeks ago and I'm starting to hear that some of our guests are booking other resorts and just purchase wedding day passes, which is fine with me if it will save them money but I'm now worried more than 20% of my guests will be at other resorts as I know at least 7 or 9 guests have told me they are using timeshares. They are all fine with purchasing their own guest passes, but I would hate to think I can't get these people into my wedding  Can anyone share their experiences or give any advice? I am also thinking of putting something on my website that tells guests they need to book at MP, but I don't want to push too much and require it. Any advice on how I should word it? Thanks so much.

 

[Kristibear]

Ooooh good idea Jamie! I didn't even think of an extended cocktail hour.  Our wedding is 11/4/11.  So pretty much, a month away.  We are at 20 people right now and it just doesn't make sense to spend money on a DJ.  Thank you so much for mentioning extending!
 

Originally Posted by Jamie5280 

I believe even with an I-pod we still need to rent speakers and a technician for like $400 or so (don't mark my words on that, though). With that said, I believe the technician will start and stop your songs for you.

 

As for a reception...It honestly depends on how many book.  I want a reception, but if we only have 20-25 we may opt for the dinner option and maybe extend cocktail hour????  Not sure.  We just sent our STD's, so we have a ways before we know the # of guests coming.

 

How soon is your wedding??? 

 

 

[jenford10]

Hi I am new to this website....I am getting married 10/29/11 and find it's like pulling to get the WC to return my emails (Valeria). Does anyone else have any experience with her and have the same issue I have? I find myself waiting a week before I send a follow-up email - it's so frustrating!! I see many questions about their fee when it comes to an outside photographer, which I am using, but have not booked a room as I am going to try to just get them in with a guest pass.

[jenford10]

pulling teeth*

[ndvidul]

Thanks for this post, Jcoke.  I just updated my website to include this info, so now it says:

 

*IMPORTANT NOTE*: If you are NOT a guest of ANY of the Palace Resorts Sites on the day of the wedding you WILL BE required to purchase a Day Pass to have access to the resort. They charge $88/per person for full access to the resort amenities from 7am-11pm (you will not be allowed back on the resort grounds for any reason after the day of the wedding).

 

If you plan on staying off the resort, you need to inform us ASAP because there is a limit to the amount of day passes that the hotel will give out -- anyone over that limit will not be allowed on the resort.

 

How would you suggest I ask the people who book offsite for their $88?  We are definitely not going to pay for that.  We'll know mid-December our final count for bookings.  I was thinking of calling those that booked offsite and asking for them to paypal me or something?  Sounds so bad though!! 
 

Originally Posted by jcoke 

I would say that this is something that you shouldn't start to worry about.  1. Its too early and even though folks are telling you that they are coming, by the time it's actually time to book many of those folks will back out.  2. On my website I told my guests that if they planned on staying off the resort that they needed to inform me asap because there is a limit to the amount of day passes that the hotel will give out and anything over that limit they would not be allowed on the resort. So the passes would be based on a first come first serve basis. And even though people say they will pay for it I would not trust them.  They don't come on the resort and actually pay the $88, it gets applied to your final bill.  So if someone happpens to "forget" to give you the money you're stuck.  I had 72 people at my wedding and fortunately we only had 1 guest stay off resort so we only had to pay for them to come to our rehearsal dinner and wedding.  

 

 

[ndvidul]

Hmmm. For some reason, I have $250 marked down in my budget for iPod set-up.  I think I saw somewhere on here that that's how much it costs to have the minimal iPod set-up with speakers.  Does anyone else have this info?  I was wanting to do the iPod set-up for ceremony and cocktail hour as well.  I'm not sure if I'd want a technician or if I'll just have someone from our wedding party press play, etc.
 

I was also considering an extended cocktail hour as well if we have the dinner instead of a reception. 

Originally Posted by Jamie5280 

I believe even with an I-pod we still need to rent speakers and a technician for like $400 or so (don't mark my words on that, though). With that said, I believe the technician will start and stop your songs for you.

 

As for a reception...It honestly depends on how many book.  I want a reception, but if we only have 20-25 we may opt for the dinner option and maybe extend cocktail hour????  Not sure.  We just sent our STD's, so we have a ways before we know the # of guests coming.

 

How soon is your wedding??? 

 

 

Originally Posted by jenford10 

Hi I am new to this website....I am getting married 10/29/11 and find it's like pulling to get the WC to return my emails (Valeria). Does anyone else have any experience with her and have the same issue I have? I find myself waiting a week before I send a follow-up email - it's so frustrating!! I see many questions about their fee when it comes to an outside photographer, which I am using, but have not booked a room as I am going to try to just get them in with a guest pass.

 

[ndvidul]

I'm actually pretty nervous about the music we want to talk down the aisle to. It's the song "Hello World" by Lady Antebellum. I feel like it's a long song, and it'd also be the song that our whole wedding party enters to. (Depending on the number of guests that come... that may be everyone - LOL!) How do you think the horse and carriage time it with the music so that I arrive right when I want to? (The climax of the song?) Any ideas? Has anyone else done this in their ceremony with success?