Moon Palace 2012 Brides

[FutureMrsHammer]

I am getting married in June 2012 and Pilar, in the Miami office, told me that I can't block rooms until June 2011 because they don't have the rates yet. I would reserve your date ASAP!
 

Originally Posted by merrylee 

Thanks Coco, so you don't have to have your rooms booked in order to reserve a date?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by coconoir1908 

Hi MerryLee,

 

Definitely begin by going online to www.palaceresorts.com and send your wedding reservation requests.  This will begin the process of at least getting the date that you and your FI would like. If you are feeling like you aren't getting what you need from your TA, some serious thought should be put into that before you guys begin booking etc..

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by merrylee 

Thanks Perry, my problem is that I don't have an MP WC yet I've been dealing with my TA.  We've been engaged a little less than a month and our wedding is in April 2012 so I am truly just at the beginning stages and I sometimes feel like I am not getting the care I should be from my TA

 

 

[merrylee]

and do you have to put $$ down to reserve the date?

[FutureMrsHammer]

If you do a package other than complimentary then you do have to put money down. I am doing the complimentary package and I still had to fill out a form with credit card information, just in case of cancellation.
 

Originally Posted by merrylee 

and do you have to put $$ down to reserve the date?

[MoonPalace2012]

We are doing a symbolic ceremony becuase neither of us are religious or go to church at all, so we are either getting married before / after our trip, just with our family. I have also not heard back yet with a confirmation of our date. I wonder what is taking so long? I think if your thinking of doing the symbolic ceremony then to stick with it, because then you don't have to get your blood taken in Mexico and be there 4 days before your ceremony, or have to pay the extra $300.00 (I think) to have the Catholic ceremony. Up to you though, just my thoughts.

 

Originally Posted by krsmith 

STILL haven't gotten the confirmation from the Minister yet! I guess its ok since we have more recently decided we might want to do the Catholic ceremony. I was raised Catholic and my FI became a Catholic last year. We don't go to church regularly, and with how much work (and $$) it takes to get married in the Catholic church, we originally decided we wanted to do a symbolic/civil ceremony. 

 

I showed my mom the pictures of the Chapel Gazebo, and just couldn't stop talking about how beautiful a Catholic ceremony would be in there. I feel like we should just do it, as that is REALLY important to my mom. She already wasn't to comfortable with the idea of a Mexico wedding, so I feel like I should at least give her that. UGH!!! Decisions decisions!

 

We will be calling either this weekend or on Monday to check in with what is taking SOOOO long, and see if doing a Catholic ceremony would be an option. I'm hoping they could also let us do a civil one so we can have our date be our REAL anniversary too. I need to send out STD asap, but I am waiting to hear from MP so I can set everything up with our TA. Seems a little daunting!

[merrylee]

Okay it helps to see that others are being asked to put the credit card information on hold in case of cancellation.  We are budgeting to go a la carte for some wedding items, and we can use that $200.00 deposit for those extras or get a refund.  I'm just so protective that my guests get the best deal that I am questioning every little thing instead of just letting myself enjoy it and knowing if my guests choose to go they will go regardless

[krsmith]

I agree. I think we will end up doing the legal part before we go. I'm not too fond of needles...and some of the stuff I have read about that part from other brides doesn't help that any! We actually called today to get the package switched to the Catholic ceremony. I figure we might as well since we ARE Catholic, and might get back into going to church regularly someday. But I thought it was funny that we got our contract emailed right away after we switched! I guess they were having a hard time finding a minister on our particular day and thats why it was taking so long. 

 

Although now that THAT is taken care of I am having some small issues with my FI. We were talking about the guest list, and he I guess is really uncomfortable that my side makes up about 2/3 of our list. I come from a BIG family with lots of Aunts and Uncles, where as he doesn't. Then I guess he realized for the first time how much the accommodations were going to be for everyone to stay at MP. Needless to say he freaked a bit...and is convinced that no one on his side will come because of it! I told him he didn't know that for sure as people will have a year to save (which I tried to calculate a monthly savings at about $140 per person)...so now I'm more stressed about THIS whole thing! Ughhhh....I guess I should have sat him down and REALLY made sure he was on the same page!

[MoonPalace2012]

So you guys are going to do the blood tests and everything in Mexico? Or what's the difference between having the Catholic ceremony and the Symbolic ceremony?

 

Yes we have had some trouble with those same problems as well (both of us don't wanrt to invite our extended family, becuase we are not close with them, and we wanted under 35 people) but my parents are VERY unhappy about it and we have had many fights over it, but in the end, its our wedding, and we should be able to chose who we want there.

 

As for you FI, tell him you are giving the guests PLENTY of time to save their money (PLUS they get a vacation, right), so the ones who truly care about you two, will come, and will find a way to save the money, and book time of work etc. Also, I don't think for this type of wedding it matters that you have more family coming than he does. Tell him not to stress over who is coming, just to hope that people show up, and those who do will have a great time.

[mochamakes3]

I thought you still had to do the blood test for a Catholic ceremony? The only ceremony without is the symbolic, so you either have to get married at home before or after. If you do the Catholic, it is part of the sacrament to attend marriage prep classes, have the marriage announced in your home church etc.

[krsmith]

I Catholic ceremony is performed in the Chapel Gazebo by a Catholic priest and includes mass. It usually lasts about an hour. I symbolic ceremony is done wherever you want it by a non-denominational minister. It usually lasts about 30 mins. I was really surprised by how much extra the Catholic ceremony costs...but it does include things like a harpist and chapel decor. 

 

I didn't think you do a blood test for the Catholic ceremony because it isn't viewed as legal in Mexico. We are lucky that we have all our classes done! We were actually supposed to get married at my childhood parish last Aug, but the guest list was getting so out of control I was getting to be a mess and decided we needed to postpone. So I'm hoping we have a lot of that work already done, however it seems like the paper work to do an out of country wedding will be a pain in the a$$! Not to mention pricey! 

 

I guess my next task is to compile costs and figure out how to present it in a POSITIVE light on our website. Of course airfare is not out yet for Feb 2012, so I guess I will have to just put hotel costs. I was going to go through Vacations For Less Inc TA, but the rates she gave me doesn't seem that discounted. Has anyone been given rates yet? This is what she sent me:

 

 

Rates below apply to Moon Palace quoted "per person per night" and include all taxes/fees, valid for stays January 4 - April 14, 2012:
Deluxe Resort View:  $214.00 per person based on double / $392.00 per night single / $206.00 per person triple / $197.00 per person quad
Superior Deluxe Garden View*:  $238.00 per person based on double / $440.00 per night single / $229.00 per night triple / $218.00 per person quad

Superior Deluxe Ocean View:   $250.00 per person based on double / $464.00 per night single / $242.00 per night triple / $230.00 per person quad

Superior Deluxe Ocean Front:  $256.00 per person based on double / $476.00 per night single (maximum occupancy 2 Adults)
Concierge Level:  $272.00 per person based on double / $506.00 per night single (maximum occupancy 2 Adults)
Children 4-17 years pay $52.00 per night.  Child rate applies only when child shares room with 2 or more adults

 

You may already be familiar with the "Added Values" Palace Resorts offers when booking a wedding at their resorts.  We can of course confirm the same group benefits:

·  Hotel will provide one complimentary Cocktail after ceremony with 5 to 9 rooms paid nightly for 3 nights or total of 15 room nights. (Function areas are assigned upon availability with the onsite wedding planner and confirmed upon arrival).  Should you require additional functions there will be a surcharge based on the number of guests and type of event.

·  Hotel will provide one complimentary Cocktail after ceremony and 2 complimentary nights (based on lowest room category rate) for bride and groom with 10 to 19 rooms paid nightly for 3 nights or total of 30 room nights.  Complimentary nights have a $10.00 per person, per night, nonrefundable charge for tips and gratuities applied.

·   Hotel agrees to provide one upgrade to a complimentary private function instead of a cocktail party plus 4 complimentary nights for the bride and groom with 20 to 24 rooms paid nightly for 3 nights or total of 60 room nights.  Complimentary nights have a $10.00 per person, per night, nonrefundable charge for tips and gratuities applied.

·   Hotel agrees to provide unlimited private functions plus 7 complimentary nights with 25 rooms or more paid nightly for 3 nights or total of 75 room nights.  Complimentary nights have a $10.00 per person, per night, nonrefundable charge for tips and gratuities applied.

·   Hotel agrees to provide the bride and groom with a room upgrade for a minimum of 25 rooms paid nightly for 3 nights or 75 room nights, based on availability.

·   Private Group functions are available without surcharge in meeting rooms and outdoor venues, except for beach and rooftop terraces with no elevator access, when using inclusive Hotel menus.  The private functions provided by the resort will solemnly depend on the number of rooms booked through the group contract with Vacations For Less, Inc.  Reservations booked through other sources will not be counted towards the group room block.  Private areas are assigned based on availability.

The above group benefits apply only when securing a Group Block Agreement which would lock in the rates for your guests and guarantee the availability of rooms.  All rooms would have to be reserved through the group block which would mean that all your guests would have to book through our office.  Reservations booked through other sources would not count towards your group block room night production.

Palace Resorts is also offering a Resort Credit for all guests staying at their hotels:  $1500 Resort Credit per room for stay of 5 or more nights, $750 Resort Credit per room for stays 4 nights, $500 Resort Credit for stays of 3 nights.  The Resort Credits can be applied towards Tours, Golf, Spa, Beauty Salon, Upgraded Wine Selection, Romantic Dinner, Room Upgrades and Palace Wedding Collections.  

Depending on number of rooms required, when securing a room block at any hotel there is a good faith group deposit required by the hotel.  The deposit amount for Palace Resorts is about 6% of the total estimated room revenue and I can let you know the amount based on number of rooms and nights you would consider blocking.  The first group deposit would be applied to the cost of your room and/or any other rooms you may be paying for and any overpayment is refunded back to you upon finalizing the group which is usually about 30 days prior to arrival.

Your guests would be required to guarantee their room reservations with a one night deposit at time of booking, there would be a second deposit due date set by the hotel to complete 50% of total room charges and final payment would be due 45 days prior to arrival date.  Each guest would receive a confirmation invoice from us upon booking detailing the deposit/payment deadlines.  Guests usually welcome the payment plan rather than having to pay in full if booking online and they can also make installment payments in between as long as each deposit is completed on

the due dates.

 

Anyone get anything different/better? If people go through something like Priceline can they still count towards our group so we can get the "added values"? 

[bjp3766]

2 weeks ago, I left 2 voice mails for Janina to call me back regarding questions about the packages.  I have not heard back.  

 

My dream wedding is not turning out well so far, getting responses from Miami staff is not very expeditious.

 

It is about 80 days out from my wedding and have not heard about any wedding coordinator from Moon palace who was supposed to contact me 90 days before the wedding date.  

This is the most unorganized wedding planning experience I have had and I have been in the event planning business for over 25 years.  

 

More later.  Good luck to you.