Lala's Ceiba del Mar Wedding Week

Brenners · March 31, 2011

Lala, would you like to plan my wedding? lol You have so much great information that I wish I could just learn from you through osmosis!

lalanyc · March 31, 2011

Haha. Can I take planning trips to Ceiba?! If so, then definitely!! Any excuse to go back! lol.

Well keep asking and I'll try to impart whatever little details I can think of. When you've spent so much (too much?) time planning a wedding, it's just a shame to let this information go to waste!!

Originally Posted by Brenners

Lala, would you like to plan my wedding? lol You have so much great information that I wish I could just learn from you through osmosis!

dhstar019 · April 1, 2011

Thank you so much for posting that awesome info! My wedding is coming up in May at CdM and we are adding in last minute decisions every day!

tracysf · April 1, 2011

Thanks again Lala!! This is so helpful! Did your florist wrap the actual candles in wax or the votive? Sorry... i don't quite understand but definitely want to tell my florist (Planner1) this idea.

Also, you mentioned you have to turn music off at 11. Is that alwasy the case? Not for weddings, right?

Looking forward to getting the kereokee info--that sounds like so much fun!

Thanks!

lalanyc · April 4, 2011

Hi Tracy,

I asked the florist to wrap the votives in wax paper. It's common practice and both Diana and Planner1 should know exactly what you mean.

As for the time cutoff, I believe most events should "officially" end at 11 PM unless they are held inside a restaurant. From my understanding, smaller weddings are also held to this standard though I expect much depends on how full the hotel is. Since most of the hotel was comprised of our guests, we did not have a set cutoff time. Whatever the case, I would definitely suggest you discuss this ahead of time w/ Ceiba!

Originally Posted by tracy.clements

Thanks again Lala!! This is so helpful! Did your florist wrap the actual candles in wax or the votive? Sorry... i don't quite understand but definitely want to tell my florist (Planner1) this idea.

Also, you mentioned you have to turn music off at 11. Is that alwasy the case? Not for weddings, right?

Looking forward to getting the kereokee info--that sounds like so much fun!

Thanks!

tracysf · April 4, 2011

Thanks Lala!! I will talk to Diana and Lala. We have about 120 guests so I don't think we have to end our wedding at a certain time-- i'll double check though.

Thanks again for everything!

MKA611 · August 1, 2011

Hi Lala,

This is really helpful information! Thanks so much for sharing. I have a few questions for you if you don't mind answering...

1. How did you go about buying the liquor outside and bringing it in? Was Ceiba ok with this? Did they help you transport it? The open bar per hour seem really high which is why i am inquiring. Did you do this for the rehearsal dinner as well?

2. Were you able to negotiate the set up fees to be included?

3. What is a Tequila Donkey?

4. What did the hotel charge for the bonfire? And did you only have marshmallows?

5. Is the rental furniture necessary and what did you use it for?

6. Not sure if you know this but if you have your reception on the beach, do you need to rent a dance floor?

Thank you so much for your time and help! I really appreciate it!

AnaS · August 15, 2011

Hi Lala,

I love your review. Very helpful while planning a wedding even if I am at a different resort.

I wanted to ask you a few questions about the wedding ceremony:

How did you decorate the place? (do you have pictures to share?)
What did you do about music during ceremony?
Any other pictures from the ceremony would be very helpul for me to be able to imagine the wedding day

Thanks so much,

Ana

lalanyc · August 15, 2011

MKA - sorry for the late response; didnt see your post sooner! See below:

1. How did you go about buying the liquor outside and bringing it in? Was Ceiba ok with this? Did they help you transport it? The open bar per hour seem really high which is why i am inquiring. Did you do this for the rehearsal dinner as well?

WE BOUGHT OUR LIQUOR, BEER AND WINE FROM LA EUROPEA (A CHAIN OF VERY BIG LIQUOR STORES - http://www.laeuropea.mx/euro/) AND THEY DELIVERED IT TO THE HOTEL. WE BOUGHT ALL OF OUR ALCOHOL FROM THEM AND THEY ALSO OFFERED TO BUY BACK ANY LIQUOR WE DID NOT USE. THEY HAVE LOCATIONS IN CANCUN AND PLAYA DEL CARMEN. I WOULD PAY THEM A VISIT IN PERSON TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ENGLISH SPEAKING STAFF THAT COULD WORK WITH YOU DIRECTLY. DIANA/PAOLA KNOW THEM WELL AND WORK WITH THEM OFTEN; THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR YOU.

2. Were you able to negotiate the set up fees to be included? THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL SET UP FEES W/ CEIBA. I ONLY PAID $100 FOR THEM TO PUT UP STRING LIGHTS FOR THE RECEPTION WHICH WERE EXTRA EFFORT.

3. What is a Tequila Donkey? A TEQUILA DONKEY IS A DONKEY THAT HAS A TEQUILA BARREL HUNG ON EACH OF ITS SIDES. GUESTS CAN SERVE THEMSELVES TEQUILA FROM THE BARREL

4. What did the hotel charge for the bonfire? And did you only have marshmallows? I THINK THEY CHARGED $300 AND YES, WE ONLY HAD MARSHMALLOWS. I'M SURE YOU COULD GET DIFFERENT FOOD THOUGH IF YOU REQUEST IT AHEAD OF TIME.

5. Is the rental furniture necessary and what did you use it for? DO YOU MEAN THE LOUNGE FURNITURE ON THE SAND WHICH WAS USED AFTER THE DINNER? FROM WHAT I COULD SEE, PEOPLE DID USE IT TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE DANCING BUT ONE COULD GET AWAY WITHOUT HAVING IT.

6. Not sure if you know this but if you have your reception on the beach, do you need to rent a dance floor? YOU DON'T HAVE TO RENT A DANCE FLOOR IF YOU DONT WANT TO. IT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU!

Thank you so much for your time and help! I really appreciate it! YOU'RE WELCOME!

lalanyc · August 15, 2011

Hi Ana, happy to share!

How did you decorate the place? (do you have pictures to share?)

Yes! Can you see the pics I posted earlier under "decor" in my earlier review? I basically used lights everywhere - string lights, lights on the palm trees, lights in the centerpieces, spot lights in the background, candles, etc.

What did you do about music during ceremony?

My aunt sang and played acoustic guitar - the church where we wed has a small speaker system which was sufficient. Had she not been available, we would have probably contracted a mariachi or trio.