Gran Caribe Real 2011 Brides

[carmresu]

 

Originally Posted by Norma83 

 

Hi Cassie323 - You'll love the Catholic Chapel and the Terrace.  The Chapel is beautiful in person and the terrace, you have a great view of the ocean and the lagoon side.  The only thing is you have the background of some of the rooms that can look onto your wedding.  I personally don't think it's a big deal.  I think you'll love it!  It has it's own bar too
 

 

Hi Norma83 - I just booked the Chapel for November 2011 and am deciding between the Albatros terrace & the beach for the reception.  Are there any pictures of the terrace on the website?  I can't see to find any.  Is the reception on the terrace private (aside from the view from some rooms, which I don't mind)?  Does anyone have any thoughts on a terrace vs beach reception?

 

Thanks!!



 

[KathyW]

We are also getting married at the Gran Caribe and staying at the Royal in April. We are going to do a site visit in a few weeks and Im planning to take a ton of pics of the reception options... If anyone has anything they want info/pics on just let me know and Ill try to take pics of everything I can while Im there

[Cassie323]

 

 

Originally Posted by carmresu 

 

 

 

Hi Norma83 - I just booked the Chapel for November 2011 and am deciding between the Albatros terrace & the beach for the reception.  Are there any pictures of the terrace on the website?  I can't see to find any.  Is the reception on the terrace private (aside from the view from some rooms, which I don't mind)?  Does anyone have any thoughts on a terrace vs beach reception?

 

Thanks!!

 

 

 

 

Hi carmresu!

My wedding coordinator sent me a few pics of the Albatros terrace.  I'm not sure how to post them on the website, but if you send me your email address I'll be more than happy to forward them along.

p.s. one thing to keep in mind is that I'm being told, depending on the day, the terrace can get very windy.

 

-Cassie

 

 

[Norma83]

 

Originally Posted by carmresu 

 

 

Hi Norma83 - I just booked the Chapel for November 2011 and am deciding between the Albatros terrace & the beach for the reception.  Are there any pictures of the terrace on the website?  I can't see to find any.  Is the reception on the terrace private (aside from the view from some rooms, which I don't mind)?  Does anyone have any thoughts on a terrace vs beach reception?

 

Thanks!!



 

Hi Carmresu -

 

I don't believe that there are pictures of the Albatros Terrace on the website.  The terrace is private.  To get to it you have to walk up some stairs.  The stairs aren't grungy or anything...it's really nice.  The flooring of the Terrace is green.  It reminds me of putting green and it's a pretty big terrace.  It's kinda like in two sections.  When you get up there from the stairs, there's a big open space that overlooks the ocean, then right next to the open space, there's a step or two up and it's the other section that overlooks the lagoon side.  It's a big enough space also and one side is the bar area.  It's hard to explain but hopefully you get the idea  

 

When we went for a site visit, I did take pictures.  Let me know if you'd like to see them.  I'll have to figure out how to post the pictures on here.  They do have another terrace that's in front of the Gazebo but it is pretty small.  It looks like it would be best for a cocktail party not so much for a reception if you are thinking about dancing. 

 

-Norma

[larias004]

Vanessa -

 

I will let you know what our priest says in Chicago.  We should be able to talk to him this Sunday.
 

Originally Posted by Vanessa C 

Who knows! He's saying that the "rules" are that the original documents (baptism, confirmation, etc) need to be kept in the church where the marriage will be held. He doesn't understand how they will make it work....

 

[larias004]

I inquired as to their photographers and they indicated it is

www.funeverphotos.com

 

They even gave me examples of other weddings held there.  The login information to see those pictures is....

user: trent

password: wedding

 

hope this helps!

[larias004]

Abby -

 

Thanks for the tip. I was able to do it the way you suggested and obtained great rates.   My next items to tackle are the flower decorations for the Ceremony and the Reception Decorations. The prices provide by the resort are really too much and I was going to see if there were any other vendors locally.  Thanks!

 

Originally Posted by abbypoo 

No no no no!!! Use an agent and get a black of rooms: a good agent will negotiate a better price because it is a group, and will make things easier on you and your guests... I promise! Also, by doing this it is easier for the hotel to figure out who are your guests which they will need to go when it comes to charging you per person for the reception. Also, if you do it this way you get a free room with each 15 that are booked! Also, an agent can help negotiate the deposit for the rooms as well (my agent got it lowered from 75 per person to 50 per person). Also, when you put down your deposit for the block of rooms you they give you so many months to have the rooms booked, then you have the option to cancel the rest like two more times. So by the third deadline everyone has booked and you can cancel the rest. The biggest reason to do this is because the Gran is known for raising their prices, so if you don't have a contract it could get really costly for your guests who wait to book their rooms until next year. Anyway, just my two cents (my wedding is in Dec. 2010 at the Gran)
 

Originally Posted by larias004 

I am getting married in the Chapel on Friday June 17, 2011 and my reception has been set for the Villas Terrace. I have not looked into the photographers and DJ suggested by the hotel but if any of you have and can provide your reviews that would be great. I'm nervous because when we did the site inspection - it was raining and we did not get a chance to see the Villas Terrace.  I was debating whether I wanted the reception in the beach or in the terrace and we ulitmately decided to go with the Villas Terrace.

 

I will not be having my guests book directly with hotel as I find the room rate for both Royal and Gran Caribe higher than if they were to book with an agent. Also the resort will hold us liable for those blocked rooms if not enough guests (minimum 10) book their rooms with this resort direclty.   So - the downfall is that they will not block rooms for my guests and now I have to worry about my guest booking early enough to get a room in the premises.   

[jplovesme]

 

 

Originally Posted by larias004 

 

I inquired as to their photographers and they indicated it is

www.funeverphotos.com

 

They even gave me examples of other weddings held there.  The login information to see those pictures is....

user: trent

password: wedding

 

hope this helps!

 

 

Wow! thanks for sharing! The photos look like Playa Del Carmen, but they're beautiful.  I noticed that the photos show chivari chairs -- are those available now?   I haven't posted in a while, but we're getting married in the Oceanfront Gazebo on New Years Day 2011.  Still getting RSVP's and booking info for our guests, so I still don't know where our reception will be.  I haven't talked to a WC in a while since they've changed locations and had all their turnover, so I appreciate everyone's latest feedback here.  It's about time for me to start up on the wedding planning since the date really creeps up way too quickly.  I can't believe it's already September!! 

[larias004]

Wedding Rehearsal/Dinner/Flowers - Chapel Wedding - June 2011

 

I thought I'd share this in case you all have not gone through this yet. I'm trying to finalize my estimated budget and so I had to smooth out more details.  We are getting married in the Chapel and I was planning the rehearsal and the subsequent dinner.  The coordinator tells me they charge USD 300 for the rehearsal at the Chapel and the priest won't even be there.   The wedding specialist is the only one that will be there.  The wedding specialist is the one they tell you is included in all packages.  I do understand if she has to work after hours, etc. but these are just small things that they dont' tell you upfront.  

 

I asked if they could reserve a spot for me in one of the restaurants of the hotel for my wedding party after the rehearsal.  They tell me that they would charge me USD 15 per person (if staying at this resort) or USD 30 per person (non-guest).  This would not be a separate private spot in the restaurant. Has any of you encountered this and if so - what did you decide on?   I find it hard to believe that they charge USD 15 per person for someone that is a hotel guest and is already under the all inclusive plan.  IF the food was to be any different and to our choice then I would really see where this price was maybe coming from but just put a few tables together and not really reserve a side or private room?  In the grand scheme of things - I just like to know that I'm being charged for a service and not just because.  At the end of the day USD 15 is not much but it adds up when you start adding people and types of events during the wedding weekend.

 

 

Flowers - I received the three types of flower arrangments that we can have at this chapel.  the best one of my choice costs 810.  I asked my coordinator if she was to adjust my pricing since this price included altar centerpices which were already included in  Catholic Royal package (she had forgotten so if I don't remind her - she won't even tell me).  She sent me adjusted pricing which would end up costing me like 300 bucks (savings of ~500 bucks).  I thought - wow those alter pieces that come with the packagte must be like 500 (the difference).  I take a look at their "la carte" menu and I see they cost 60 each (still leaves me wondering for the difference).

 

Hope this helps in you planning. 

[larias004]

I am planning on going back to Cancun in November to the food tastings, check out the resort suggested DJ and Mariachi, and see if we can figure out the flower vendor because the options on the flower vendor were not really that appealing.  I'm either going to talk to the vendor to work with me or if not - I will check out two or three other outside vendors on my own.   I will let you know about the DJ if I do find out more.

 

Originally Posted by char79uk 

Hi ladies

 

I am getting married at the Gran Caribe in July 2012, I have managed to pick up quite a lot of details from this forum, however I was just wondering if any of you are using the hotels DJ, I am struggling to find any information or reviews about their DJ I know that you can bring along your IPOD for the reception but we would prefer a DJ do any of you have any info on this??

 

Thanks