Mexico Danger-wedding cancelation PLEASE HELP

[Majimart]

I've had all kinds of problems with people cancellng for the same reason. I'm now down to 13!!!  Oh well!  You just have to decide what's best for you.  There is also a generation gap thing happening here.  My older relatives cancelled due to all the violence (too much CNN news watching I think).  They are oblivious to the drug violence happening close to our home of course (it's just Mexico that is dangerous).  I pointed out the fact that both my parents still went to Northern Europe when there was an outright WAR in Serbia/Croatia which is a few hours south of where they were--similar to the distance between the Mayan Riviera and the towns affected by violence.  It doesn't matter--if they are suspcious of Mexico, no amount of "safety" articles or news clips will change their minds.

 

My younger guests are still coming (all 13!!) and they seem to not be affected at all.  We are still going (my parents are NOT).  I've come to realize that there could always be a problem with some aspect of the wedding that guests won't like/be comfortable with etc...  The day is for us, and not having the nervous people there will make our holiday there less stressful too.  Look at the bright side:  smaller crowd means more $$$ to spend on other things or less debt when you come back!  Hang in there!  Do what feels right for you.

[Mistinicole]

That has to be incredibly hard to have your parents not come.  I'm sorry to hear that. My heart goes out to you. 

[Vanessa C]

Sorry to hear that your parents and other guets will not be able to attend. Maybe you can plan something upon your return such as a newlywed Fiesta in your home! That was something a couple that I knew did upon their return from their wedding in Mexico about 3 years ago. I'm thinking of possibly doing the same!

[tris]

I'm so sorry you're being put in this situation, it's awful. I agree with a lot of the girls here that a lot of people don't educate themselves. They hear that something bad is happening and assume it's the whole country. The tourist areas are so safe... I've been to Mexico 4 times now and had a blast every time. And we never stayed on the resort, we went into the cities and towns and met amazing people.

 

Do you have your heart set on Mexico or is there any way you can toy with the idea of switching to another resort in the same chain as yours (if they have) in another country? I know it's awful to have to do but it may make your guests feel better about it. Your wedding is all about YOU and your FIANCE, but I know how hard it must be to have everyone bail...

[NA2015]

I am truly sorry that this is happening. Just remember that this is your day with the person that you are spending the rest of your life with. Stop thinking about the negative and plan a wedding with the thought of your close friends attending. Party hard and celebrate your marriage with them in Mexico.

 

Cheers,

Nicole

[shelbs97]

I'm so sorry.  Our wedding is in Cancun in May 2011.  My parents didn't want me to have a destination wedding to begin with because my father wanted his only daughter to have the party of the year here at home.  But the Cancun area is truly like our second home, we travel there often and love it.
With reports of violence, this just adds fuel the fire.  My parents tried to talk me out of it AFTER we booked and I just looked at them and asked them if they REALLY think I'd put my friends and family in harms way?  Especially my niece who is 5 who I love more than anyone in this world.  No, I wouldn't.  I tell friends to research and educate themselves and if they want to come, we'd love to see them and if not, we'll miss them.

My 6 bridesmaids are thrilled and are helping me to calm everyone down. Keep your head on straight, remember this is YOUR special day and don't let anyone ruin that for you.  The ones who didn't come are the ones who are going to have the regrets in the end.
Personally, I'm more nervous about being robbed in a city in Europe on our honeymoon than I am about violence in Mexico!!!!

[sebitasalejo]

People who don't get their facts straight before opening their mouths make me mad. People that are so quick to talk don't make educated decisions. They let other people decide instead.  

Did you decide to go through with it or cancel?

[yeya99]

Since I started this thread I think its only fair to say that my wedding went on and my husband and I had the time of our lives. Though not as many guests  showed up as had RSVP due to the media sensation that gave Mexico really bad press, we had the time of our lives. None the less our day came and went and it was MAGICAL. My father did not go but my mother did and in the end the few people that did show up really showed me that they genuinely cared and wanted to be there for our special day.  My mom was  a bit antsy because we had  lots of things going on for our guests.  However we made sure all hotels were close to each other and we provided transportation where ever we could.  We hosted a welcome cocktail on the 29 at the Aavlon followed by a Mayan ceremony.  One of our wedding guests did have her purse stolen, as she left it unattended on the beach at night.  This happened while we were all on the beach late at night having cocktails and dancing to brazilin drums so no one heard or saw anything. So just be careful where you leave things laying around.  Luckily only a cell phone and make up were lost.    

The following day we had our Catholic ceremony at the Gran Caribe Real- Cancun.  The chapel was amazing everyone always felt safe.  It really is a great hotel. Again Mm mom was a bit worried as we did not host the reception on site  she wanted everything to be in the tourist area, to feel safer  Unfortunately I did not plan it that we. We were married on a catholic chapel on the beach but I wanted a true authentic Mexican wedding in an hacienda. We shuttled everyone just outside of Cancun to the private estate It was a 30 min drive.  The hacienda is not in the tourist area what so ever but it was a private residential estate so everyone felt equally safe.

In the end we had the wedding of our dreams, I just wish that we had not already paid for all the people that RSVP and did not show up. Many backed down too close to the wedding date so we could not get our money back as far as the catering was concerned.  We could have easily saved 4k on food alone.  None the less getting married in Cancun was the best decision we ever made.

We splurged on caviar to lobster tails, cigar rollers and fireworks to fire dancers unlimited international open bar accompanied with a variety of dishes and deserts for the dinner. The we had even more food and drinks for an after party and live band, live mariachi, l it was by far the best thing we could have ever done.  We had a fairy tale Mexican wedding that we would have NEVER  been able to afford in the US.  I planed the wedding of my dreams and IM GLAND that I had the support of this forum to help me  stay sane and not throw all the plans I made for over a year.  ( I was so very close) 

To sum it all up go  to México and live your dream.  We were all super safe and NOW EVERY ONE THAT DID NOT GO AND after SEEING the pics of the wedding and how calm and safe everything was, are kicking them self in the butt.  They missed out on going to beautiful Cancun and having a blast!

 

 

Tidbits of the wedding  Mayan ceremony and coctial and a tiny bit of us arriving to the hacienda

 

 Getting ready on the BIG day and Trash the dress!

[caboose]

 

Yeya this is off subject but where did you get your fire dancers from? I've been looking for a vendor. BTW your wedding sound like it was great! Congrats. 

[yeya99]

 I hired the dancers through a company called “The hits bandâ€.  Don’t be fooled by the name.  They offer more than just live band music.  The company is awesome. They provide a wide range of services from music to entertainment shows, mayan ceremonies, to equipment rental.  I hired a quartet to play during the catholic ceremony, the dj for reception, and also the fire dancers and an MC that kept the party going and passed out entertainment items during the lively reception.  I got all these services through "The hits bandâ€.  Look them up on face book if not go to their home page. It was easy for me to work out packages and talk to them since spanish is my first languge but I think Ricardo speaks English. =0) http://hitsband.com/v2/