The new Paradisus Playa del Carmen (La Perla and La Esmeralda)

[imnotarunner]

Originally Posted by happilyeveraftr 

 

 

I ended up cancelling a little more than a month before my wedding was booked at Paradisus La Perla and if it within 30 days I think you lose the $500 deposit but if it's more than that you get your refund I can check my papers for you if you like. I still have all the contracts that were sent to me. I feel like in the end I made the best decision by doing this not that I don't think brides shouldn't get married there as I said it's a beautiful resort and I wish all the brides the best in their wedding planning but for me it was the right decision for what I wanted. I found a place called the Grand Coral Beach club it's a private beach club and only 5 minutes from the Paradisus.

 

The main reasons I changed my mind was that I felt like the wedding planning at Paradisus was overwhelming for me, that the place did not care they were getting my business and wanted to go above and beyond or at least meet me half way to ensure I had the best wedding day possible. I am not a overly picky bride but communication is key when organizing your big wedding day but it would take 3 days to a week at times to get a response I would have to email constantly just asking if someone could please respond to me. At times I would call and I would get their answering machine when I wanted to speak with someone. The other reasons I changed my mind had to do with all the extra added costs to have my wedding there. Everything that I wanted was adding up and I felt like I had no options at personalizing my wedding to get what I wanted. When I first started looking at getting married in Mexico I looked at Dreams Rivieria and a few other resorts and to be honest with you Paradisus was the only resort that charged $1000 for every vendor. It's a huge cost to eat up as a bride. They are not good with negotiating there if I asked other wedding planners at other hotels they would come back to me and offer solutions or even cut some costs down but Paradisus would not. I cannot say enough good thing about the Grand Coral Beach club. I hired a wedding planner and changed my venue there. We had the private beach which was great for our wedding day and we had the reception at the Beach club after. It was beautiful there at night all of my guests raved how they never attended a wedding such as ours they loved the venue. It was so private and secluded and we had a wonderful time. How many guests are you planning on having? Our wedding was more small and intimate so it worked out nicely for us. We had the venue until 11 PM and it was great. We got a 3 course meal, cocktails and appetizers, dessert and 5 hours open bar. The chef is great to play around with the menu as well. The great thing about picking a place like this is that you have no rules. You get to personalize your wedding how you like. So picking a florist, DJ, cake etc it can all be done if you want and there is no outside vendor fees to do so. I did not want to use Blue Lens from Paradisus and because it was an extra $1000 to bring my own photographer in so I considered using them but when I got the pricing back from them the costs per packages were not worth the cost of getting a photographer I wanted for my wedding.

 

If you do book with Paradisus I would make sure I have everything in writing I am good with keeping my emails as a few times they would go back on something they already quoted me or promised me. Just be careful it's all about costs there to protect yourself just have everything in writing as a back up. It's hard to plan a wedding in Mexico and I don't usually take the time to come on here and write these messages but as a recent bride I REALLY want a bride to not go through the stress I did. I wish I had someone educate myself when I was planning mine. It's very stressful. If you want to see pictures of the Paradisus hotel let me know I did stay there for a week I just didn't get married there. I can email them to you.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself. I hate the nitpicky little(well not little) charges for everything and no budging.

[imnotarunner]

Originally Posted by happilyeveraftr 

 

 

I ended up cancelling a little more than a month before my wedding was booked at Paradisus La Perla and if it within 30 days I think you lose the $500 deposit but if it's more than that you get your refund I can check my papers for you if you like. I still have all the contracts that were sent to me. I feel like in the end I made the best decision by doing this not that I don't think brides shouldn't get married there as I said it's a beautiful resort and I wish all the brides the best in their wedding planning but for me it was the right decision for what I wanted. I found a place called the Grand Coral Beach club it's a private beach club and only 5 minutes from the Paradisus.

 

The main reasons I changed my mind was that I felt like the wedding planning at Paradisus was overwhelming for me, that the place did not care they were getting my business and wanted to go above and beyond or at least meet me half way to ensure I had the best wedding day possible. I am not a overly picky bride but communication is key when organizing your big wedding day but it would take 3 days to a week at times to get a response I would have to email constantly just asking if someone could please respond to me. At times I would call and I would get their answering machine when I wanted to speak with someone. The other reasons I changed my mind had to do with all the extra added costs to have my wedding there. Everything that I wanted was adding up and I felt like I had no options at personalizing my wedding to get what I wanted. When I first started looking at getting married in Mexico I looked at Dreams Rivieria and a few other resorts and to be honest with you Paradisus was the only resort that charged $1000 for every vendor. It's a huge cost to eat up as a bride. They are not good with negotiating there if I asked other wedding planners at other hotels they would come back to me and offer solutions or even cut some costs down but Paradisus would not. I cannot say enough good thing about the Grand Coral Beach club. I hired a wedding planner and changed my venue there. We had the private beach which was great for our wedding day and we had the reception at the Beach club after. It was beautiful there at night all of my guests raved how they never attended a wedding such as ours they loved the venue. It was so private and secluded and we had a wonderful time. How many guests are you planning on having? Our wedding was more small and intimate so it worked out nicely for us. We had the venue until 11 PM and it was great. We got a 3 course meal, cocktails and appetizers, dessert and 5 hours open bar. The chef is great to play around with the menu as well. The great thing about picking a place like this is that you have no rules. You get to personalize your wedding how you like. So picking a florist, DJ, cake etc it can all be done if you want and there is no outside vendor fees to do so. I did not want to use Blue Lens from Paradisus and because it was an extra $1000 to bring my own photographer in so I considered using them but when I got the pricing back from them the costs per packages were not worth the cost of getting a photographer I wanted for my wedding.

 

If you do book with Paradisus I would make sure I have everything in writing I am good with keeping my emails as a few times they would go back on something they already quoted me or promised me. Just be careful it's all about costs there to protect yourself just have everything in writing as a back up. It's hard to plan a wedding in Mexico and I don't usually take the time to come on here and write these messages but as a recent bride I REALLY want a bride to not go through the stress I did. I wish I had someone educate myself when I was planning mine. It's very stressful. If you want to see pictures of the Paradisus hotel let me know I did stay there for a week I just didn't get married there. I can email them to you.

 

Can you tell me if I can just book my wedding day and reception at the beach club?  My guests will still stay at paradisus. I'm seriously thinking about it. They never showed me a bridal suite, I had to find out through this website

[jennmariegarcia]

Hi Ladies I never realized how stressful destination wedding can be, its the beach and the sun what could be so diffucult but I soon realized how wrong I was. My wedding is 4 months out and I am getting very frustrated with the wedding planners, they told me my planning call would be end of April which bothered me cause I thought they would start better communication with me at least 4 months out. After some serious complaining I got them to move up the planning call to the end of March. I also thought about canceling it here all together and moving it somewhere else but the contract I signed required 50% of the wedding package 6 month prior. So on top of my $500 deposit I would be losing a good amount. Im just trying to stay calm and remind myself daily why I choose this resort, it looks beautiful and I beleive my wedding will be fabulous I just hope I can make it to that day without too much stress or anxiety. Hang in there imnotarunner, I feel your pain!

[happilyeveraftr]

Hi imnotarunner, when is your wedding did you already put a deposit in with Paradisus. I did lose my $500 deposit but I didn't pay anything extra so I am mot sure what your situation is but if you have not committed then yes for sure consider other venue options. My venue you can book the wedding ceremony and reception and yes still have your guests stay at the Paradisus hotel. As I said I stayed there its a very nice resort I just didn't care to have my wedding there for the costs that they charged. I am very happy that I booked the Grand Coral Beach club instead. The beach club is right by the Paradisus I went for a food tasting and saw the venue before we had our wedding and it's literally a 5 minute cab ride from the hotel.
 

I got married directly on the beach and had the 5 hour reception afterwards. The venue is so private and beautiful I have no regrets. I will email you some pics of my wedding we have not gotten back all the pictures yet.

[Rola Nabhan]

Thanks kk! I think I am finnally done with the ceromoney music- I'm going to time how long it takes to walk the gabi bridge the first day I get there and then just email my DJ the info. Still need a first song, but I still have 2 months for the wedding . By the way I was going to get the maracas personalized but it was way too expensive . I have over 70 people coming so spending $800 was crazy. I ended up ordering maracas from amols.com and I love them. Going to use hem for guest Seating and then my guests can use them throught out the night. In regards to the planning process with the wedding coordinators I have to stay they have been amazing!!!! I love love love Ana and Bianca and they have been great to work with . Ana was one of the reasons why I choose this resort . It's crazy to hear that some brides on here are having communication issues with the resort. I have to admit this resort is more expensive then a dreams riviera , but you get what you pay for. Dreams riviera is a wedding factory and It was so not for me.

[maylin6282013]

Hi pretty brides Hope you are all having fun planning !!! We r getting married 6.28.13 yikes !! Have not started my planning calls yet ! Does anyone know how many calls you actually have ? I m working with perla now. she is great prices are a bit high but she works with you . Any tips ? Thx all !!!

[AmandaPierson]

I might be too late on this but I'm having the EXACT same colors For the peach bridesmaid dresses I went with Ann Taylor--  http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/product/product%3A286107/AT-Silk-Georgette/Silk-Georgette-Pleated-One-Shoulder-Bridesmaid-Dress/286107?colorExplode=false&skuId=11967347&catid=cata000035&productPageType=fullPriceProducts&defaultColor=5011  that dress on clearance and discounted, can't get much cheaper for a nice dress the girls want to wear again!  It fit everyone perfectly too   They have new dresses in basically the same exact color so there's plenty of selection if that one doesn't come in the sizes you need anymore.

[KK2013]

Originally Posted by AmandaPierson 

 

I might be too late on this but I'm having the EXACT same colors For the peach bridesmaid dresses I went with Ann Taylor--  http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/product/product%3A286107/AT-Silk-Georgette/Silk-Georgette-Pleated-One-Shoulder-Bridesmaid-Dress/286107?colorExplode=false&skuId=11967347&catid=cata000035&productPageType=fullPriceProducts&defaultColor=5011  that dress on clearance and discounted, can't get much cheaper for a nice dress the girls want to wear again!  It fit everyone perfectly too   They have new dresses in basically the same exact color so there's plenty of selection if that one doesn't come in the sizes you need anymore.

 

Thank you so much!  I actually bought dresses this weekend!  Here they are: http://www.donna-morgan.com/lauren/lauren-flat-silk-chiffon/invt/d0869mxephz/?source=253_75&gclid=CMrS-Pu047UCFQ_znAodKGcA6A  I love yours too!  When is your wedding?  Would love to see how you are incorporating the colors! =)

[aury1214]

Hi ladies, does anyone know if paradisus let's you ship things to them in advanced?

[KK2013]

Originally Posted by aury1214 

 

Hi ladies, does anyone know if paradisus let's you ship things to them in advanced?

 

They told me they will accept packages 2 days in advance of the wedding.  I found that to not be a great option since its cutting it so close, and who knows if something got caught up in customs.  I am just making my entire family each bring an additional bag =)