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

[Kris10Bshaw]

Hi! 

 

I have actually been down this road as I wanted the gazebo for my reception as well!  What they call the "gazebo" is only allowed for the ceremony and not the reception...not even for an extra price from what I was told (bummer!) But they do have what looks like a gazebo on the La Perla side for the reception that you can use.  It is what they call poolside, but it does have a palm roof.  Unfortunately, I have a few kids coming to my wedding, so I couldn't use the adults only side for my reception, but maybe it will work for you!  I ended up going with poolside at La Esmeralda just because it looks gorgeous and I don't have to pay an extra fee.  If only I had it in the budget to do it at the Gabi Club

 

A gracious bride from this forum sent me the documents that have the pricing and locations for the ceremonies and receptions and I will be happy to pass on to you.  Just send me a PM if you would like it as it definitely helped me out!

 

Hope this helps!

[Rola Nabhan]

Hi!! Thanks for the insight! I was kind of assuming the same for the gazebo...and it takes foreverrrr to get email replies, guess I will see when I hear back. I would LOVE the travel agents info! My email is [email protected]. It seems like that is definitely the way to go

Just emailed you the travel agent info let me know if you need anything else!! Hopefully it works out with the gazebo I can't believe they don't allow you to host the reception there anymore

[jgogan1]

Just emailed you the travel agent info let me know if you need anything else!! Hopefully it works out with the gazebo I can't believe they don't allow you to host the reception there anymore

Rola...thank you so much!! I will definitely contact her. I was disappointed by that too but it's okay...we still love the resort! Now if the planner in Miami would respond to my emails better I could actually book it! Haha

[imnotarunner]

When I went down for an initial visit, I was told by the wedding planner several things were included and even though I had two children coming to the wedding I would be allowed an exception to have my reception on the Perla side. and by the time I had my official visit, EVERYTHING was an extra charge and now I was not allowed to be on the adult side with kids.  Sometimes I regret booking here. They are so much more expensive than any other resort in Mexico: from Gabi bridge fees, per plate charge, per person in the packages to flowers, decor, etc. The people who work there are super nice but it's been frustrating at times to have them stick to their word. GET everything in writing, word means nothing there.

During my site visit, for some reason they forgot to include cake in the food tasting.  So I was told I could schedule it day before the wedding. *sigh* 

[jennmariegarcia]

Originally Posted by imnotarunner 

 

When I went down for an initial visit, I was told by the wedding planner several things were included and even though I had two children coming to the wedding I would be allowed an exception to have my reception on the Perla side. and by the time I had my official visit, EVERYTHING was an extra charge and now I was not allowed to be on the adult side with kids.  Sometimes I regret booking here. They are so much more expensive than any other resort in Mexico: from Gabi bridge fees, per plate charge, per person in the packages to flowers, decor, etc. The people who work there are super nice but it's been frustrating at times to have them stick to their word. GET everything in writing, word means nothing there.

During my site visit, for some reason they forgot to include cake in the food tasting.  So I was told I could schedule it day before the wedding. *sigh* 

I know the extra fees add up, Is there an extra charge to have your ceremony on the Gabi Bridge? And I am not even sure about the flowers and decor fee with Alquimia Evente (in-house décor company) All the pictures of wedding setups that they have sent me look nice but I have no idea how much it will cost to have those extra touches.  I also had the same issue with the Gazebo as a reception location, its not on there list of wedding reception sites but I came across pictures online from blue lens showing the gazebo being used as a reception for several weddings and with children present. When I asked they told me I could not reserve the Gazebo until 60 days prior to my wedding date and they may consider an exception if I have less then 2 children but it didn't seem like a site they wanted to accommadate. I have been a little anxious thinking about it all. I didn't know that a destination wedding would require this much planning!

[jgogan1]

Hey ladies....I'm wondering how everyone is handling guest rooms for their group. Travel agent? Or did you block rooms through the resort? I'm very confused at how that all works and what the best way to go is!! Thanks. Jess

[anisha]

Hi All:

 

I never heard about them not allowing reception in the gazebo either, but they told me that they could not confirm until about 2weeks to one month before the event.  Our wedding is in a little over a week and I got the gazebo confirmed for cocktail hour + reception late last week.

 

I don't know if the # of people in the party matters - we have a tiny wedding of 20 or less.

[KK2013]

Originally Posted by jgogan1 

 

Hey ladies....I'm wondering how everyone is handling guest rooms for their group. Travel agent? Or did you block rooms through the resort? I'm very confused at how that all works and what the best way to go is!! Thanks.

Jess

 

I have a travel agent, Wendy Hicks, whom a lot of people recommended on this forum.  I know some of the other girls have a good one as well.  It's a lot easier to have a TA because then they can deal with all of the guests, and you can get all of the booking information from one source.  I found it helpful.  Best of luck!

[imnotarunner]

Originally Posted by jennmariegarcia 

 

I know the extra fees add up, Is there an extra charge to have your ceremony on the Gabi Bridge? And I am not even sure about the flowers and decor fee with Alquimia Evente (in-house décor company) All the pictures of wedding setups that they have sent me look nice but I have no idea how much it will cost to have those extra touches.  I also had the same issue with the Gazebo as a reception location, its not on there list of wedding reception sites but I came across pictures online from blue lens showing the gazebo being used as a reception for several weddings and with children present. When I asked they told me I could not reserve the Gazebo until 60 days prior to my wedding date and they may consider an exception if I have less then 2 children but it didn't seem like a site they wanted to accommadate. I have been a little anxious thinking about it all. I didn't know that a destination wedding would require this much planning!

 

It adds up faster at Paradisus than any other resort I've looked at including the Royal.

There's no charge at the Gabi Bridge for now...

The flowers are ridiculous at Alquimia.  For a simple roses (small) centerpiece is 180 USD, hello, in the USA it wouldn't be even close to 180. To have 3 orchids on my cake was about 38.00 still not sure about getting that.  You can't have the Gazebo reception if you have children at your wedding, it's on the Perla side.The wedding planners are very nice and helpful so it helps soothe the pain of the costs.  The pricelist they sent me were suddenly not accurate.  I haven't brought it up more than once.  They couldn't explain to me why the prices were different and why I am being charged a lot more.  In the pamphlet pdf document it says DJ is like 900 bucks for 3 hours. But when I inquired about their in house DJ it's 1200 from JSAV.  Not sure why. 

[imnotarunner]

Originally Posted by jgogan1 

 

Hey ladies....I'm wondering how everyone is handling guest rooms for their group. Travel agent? Or did you block rooms through the resort? I'm very confused at how that all works and what the best way to go is!! Thanks.

Jess

 

I am using Wendy Hicks, she's amazing as you can see her reviews here.  You can block rooms yourself but then you'd have to ask each guest if they booked and track it yourself. Wendy does their booking and gives you a spreadsheet of who's confirmed(who actually put down a deposit) . She's very thorough and organized.  It's the best way to go and she doesn't cost you anything.