Indecisive Newbie

[Christine]

So many great places in So Cal. I have a friend who got married at a beautiful park in San Diego over looking the ocean and it was so much fun (and a rather large wedding). Have you thought about doing something like that? Or do you want it on a beach?

I didn't get married on a beach, but had a Napa wedding which was great for all my family as we made it a short weekend DW style. You could even do that in So Cal in the santa barbara area. I had a friend get married up there near SB and I think she did it at a winery and her photos were beautiful and it was nice for her guests because it was something different.

Good luck and congratulations on your engagement!

[BEACHBRIDEMA]

Welcome, best of luck

Sarah

[PVBride]

Welcome to the forum, Sarah! FI and I searched endlessly for a quaint, intimate location for our wedding. We ended up choosing Playa Fiesta in Puerto Vallarta, and are thrilled with our choice. (We will be married there in February!) It only has 30 rooms, so it may be too small for your guest list though?? Let me know if you have any questions

[foxytv]

Congrats and welcome! Can't be of much help to you personally, but I'm looking forward to seeing what you decide and watching the plans take shape!!!

[nellieboo]

Congrats on the engagement and welcome!

[nylalany]

Wow, you guys are great for replying so quickly and enthusiastically! Thanks!

 

In response to all of your questions:

 

Cabo Surf Hotel in Cabo-- I have been considering this place (found it a while back when looking for surfing hotels), but worried that it is too small for all my guests but will look into extra places to stay nearby. Wondering if the beach (ocean) is swimmable in addition to surfable.

 

Playa Fiesta in PV - Can you actually get married ON the beach there? And is the ocean there swimmable?

 

Las Caletas in PV - Do you have all your guests stay at some hotel and then transport them to the island just for the ceremony and reception? I want a group bonding vacation type thing going on...

 

SoCal - I definitely want to be married ON the beach, which is harder than it looks in Southern California it seems. I looked at Sunset Restaurant in Malibu (it is ON the beach in a pretty location) but didn't like my meal and the restaurant smelled moldy, sadly. My mom is against villa rentals because she had to bring everything in for my sister's wedding at a mansion in NY and it was apparently a pain (though it went off beautiful, all the guests said it was the best wedding ever...) Casa del Mar in Santa Monica is down the street from me, but it is kinda ritzy feeling (I love it's style, but maybe it is not totally the vibe I was going for) - and my guests wouldn't be able to all stay together in Santa Monica or Malibu due to the hotel prices. I was thinking about the Surf and Sand in Laguna just because all the hotels there are walking distance from each other, but they are all kinda pricey too. Cute town though. Haven't looked into Santa Barbara yet. I should - maybe I can organize a surfing morning and a wine tasting afternoon .

 

Riviera Maya - I was looking into Azul Beach, but due to wedding size, I'd have to have my ceremony and reception at Maroma Marina and I have read nothing on that location in any of my research, besides on the site sent by Lomas travel. Worries me a little. It is supposedly next to Mi Hotelito, which has yet to reopen. This is a place I keep coming back to in my mind, although it doesn't have any surfing, which is sad. Too bad we can't have it in Maui!

[LCBride2007]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nylalany Las Caletas in PV - Do you have all your guests stay at some hotel and then transport them to the island just for the ceremony and reception? I want a group bonding vacation type thing going on...

For our wedding, we all stayed at the same resort (Dreams PV) and then yes, we arragend for a bus to take us to the marina, and then you all take a boat to Las Caletas (not technically an island). There was 1 family that chose to stay at a different hotel in PV, but that was up to them. The rest of us hung out at Dreams the whole week - it was great. But some of the girls have had their guests stay at various hotels/resorts. That part is all up to you and your guests.

[jenvh]

Welcome to the forum. I was having the same dilemna. I didn't want a resort but something much quainter. I decided on having immediate family only instead of inviting everyone (i probably would have had 200 invitees as well). I chose Isla Mujeres which is a small island a few miles off Cancun. There are some nice hotels that are inexpensive. I rented a house on the beach so I could use the beach in front and have privacy. There is a beach club next door (Zama Beach Club Photo Gallery by SunHorse Weddings at pbase.com) my WC does many weddings at. I am not sure of it's capacity but it looks pretty big.

 

Congrats on your engagement.

[1elephant]

hi sarah,

 

congrats and welcome!! i'm getting married in pv, but i have never been there, and therefore am of no use to you at the present time...

 

again, welcome - and let me know if you need info about dreams in pv b/c that's all i know about.

[jamisoncollette]

Welcome-you'll have plenty of help in locating the perfect location here.