Excellence Riviera Cancun Brides?

[karijean]

Hi ladies, we got married at ERC in November and had an amazing time. I will post my review (which is insanely long) after this. Everyone uses these forums for help but once people are married, not many people hang around afterwards (which makes sense, I don't plan to either), so it can be hard if you're asking for advice from past brides when it's only people planning their weddings who are reading. I would recommend for you guys to go through this entire thread. I know it sounds crazy, but I did it and had a pen and paper to jot down notes, tips, etc and by the end of it, I had almost every question I'd wondered about (and some I'd never thought of) answered for me. I thought I'd answer some of the recent questions you had, if I'm able to.

 

Bethbazzel - We went through a travel agent, who wasn't that great in the end but I still would recommend for people to go through one. They can answer all of those nitpicky questions your guests have about the resort, the flights, what to bring, etc. Most travel agents will be able to get you some sort of deal, like if you book 20 guests, you get one trip free, or something like that.

If you don't do a private dinner for your reception, it wouldn't be weird but I'm not sure how easy it would be to go to one of the restaurants. We noticed that if we had a table of more than 6 people for the restaurants, it caused a bit of a problem and we usually had to wait a long time for our table. You'd have to ask Gloria if they can reserve tables at one of the restaurants for you for a certain time.

 

JessT - Ampanda used the in-house photographers and she loved them. Look back several pages in this thread, as she posted some photos from her July wedding. We won a mini photo shoot with them during our honeymoon, so we had a half hour photo shoot. He was excellent to work with and the photos turned out amazing. 

We used the Gold wedding package so a wedding video of the ceremony was included. They film the entire ceremony and cut it down to around 20 minutes, but it included every part of the ceremony. It wasn't the best quality (or the worst), but you can hear everything we're saying and it's great to relive it. We've shown it to people probably half a dozen times (on their request, as they missed the wedding) and everyone loves being able to see the ceremony.

 

IrishRose - We were going to have our ceremony at 4pm, but our photographers begged us to move it earlier because of the time of the sunset. The only way it would have worked for photos is if you do photos before the ceremony (first look, etc) and then just do half an hour of photos afterwards. The sun starts setting around 4:30pm and it's dark by 5pm, if I remember correctly. We had our ceremony at 2pm, which lasted until 2:30pm, then everyone is congratulating you afterwards, so we didn't start photos until 3pm. After the family photos it felt like we had little time left for photos of us and the wedding party. Sounds crazy but the time goes by so quickly. If you're not too concerned about getting a lot of photos, I wouldn't worry about it, but if you are, consider moving your ceremony time.

 

I'm not sure if the other packages charge different prices, but each extra guest (above the 20 guest limit) is $45/pp.

 

cdespres - I got married in November and it was a fantastic time of year! The weather was beautiful, sunny and warm but not too warm (around 30C), it wasn't as busy and it wasn't too hot for the wedding day.

 

Yeah TealMarie you are right, it's $45 pp after 20 people for reception. I was getting that confused with a private rehearsal or meet and greet dinner which is $20 pp. Have you posted a review or any photos yet? I can't wait to hear how your wedding went! Did you bring your own chair sashes and table linens? Do you know if the Martini Bar is still there at ERC? Did you have any problems with the cake not being out or being served to you and your guests? Thanks!!

[TealMarie]

Yeah TealMarie you are right, it's $45 pp after 20 people for reception. I was getting that confused with a private rehearsal or meet and greet dinner which is $20 pp. Have you posted a review or any photos yet? I can't wait to hear how your wedding went! Did you bring your own chair sashes and table linens? Do you know if the Martini Bar is still there at ERC? Did you have any problems with the cake not being out or being served to you and your guests? Thanks!!

 

Karijean, you inspired me to write the last of my review and post it, so here's the link: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/index.php?app=reviews&module=reviews&section=reviews&do=view&id=4275

 

Hopefully that works, but if not, it's under the 'Resort Reviews' under ERC. It's a super long review as I tried to write about everything I could think of and remember. 

 

To answer your questions, I didn't bring any chair sashes or table linens. I didn't have room in our luggage for that stuff and I realized that I really didn't need it. I liked the look of the beach wedding set up with white chair covers and white linens hanging from the gazebo.

 

 

Yes, the martini bar is still there and it's fantastic!

 

 

I had read on this thread before about people having a hard time getting them to serve the cake. The servers came up to me after dinner and asked if I'd like the cake served. I said, yes, not thinking about the fact that we should cut the cake first. Ooops! So they served it, we ate it, marveled at how delicious it was (tres leches) and went on with the night. It wasn't until our photographers asked if we wanted to cut the cake that I said, "Oh whoops, my bad, it's gone!" I think they were more upset than we were about not getting those photos.

 

Here's a link to our photographer's blog. They've posted a few photos from our wedding, if you're interested: http://victorherrerablog.com/?p=5019

[karijean]

Karijean, you inspired me to write the last of my review and post it, so here's the link: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/index.php?app=reviews&module=reviews&section=reviews&do=view&id=4275

 

Hopefully that works, but if not, it's under the 'Resort Reviews' under ERC. It's a super long review as I tried to write about everything I could think of and remember. 

 

To answer your questions, I didn't bring any chair sashes or table linens. I didn't have room in our luggage for that stuff and I realized that I really didn't need it. I liked the look of the beach wedding set up with white chair covers and white linens hanging from the gazebo.

 

 

 

Yes, the martini bar is still there and it's fantastic!

 

 

 

I had read on this thread before about people having a hard time getting them to serve the cake. The servers came up to me after dinner and asked if I'd like the cake served. I said, yes, not thinking about the fact that we should cut the cake first. Ooops! So they served it, we ate it, marveled at how delicious it was (tres leches) and went on with the night. It wasn't until our photographers asked if we wanted to cut the cake that I said, "Oh whoops, my bad, it's gone!" I think they were more upset than we were about not getting those photos.

 

Here's a link to our photographer's blog. They've posted a few photos from our wedding, if you're interested: http://victorherrerablog.com/?p=5019

 

Thank you for such a fantastic long review! Very detailed and you looked gorgeous! I loved that you changed dresses too, how fun! Glad to hear that it was an amazing wedding day for the two of you (as well as your guests). Gloria has already been so much help that I just can't wait to meet her. I'm also happy to hear that the resort photographers were good, we are using them for the wedding day. Lovely pictures!

[TealMarie]

Thank you for such a fantastic long review! Very detailed and you looked gorgeous! I loved that you changed dresses too, how fun! Glad to hear that it was an amazing wedding day for the two of you (as well as your guests). Gloria has already been so much help that I just can't wait to meet her. I'm also happy to hear that the resort photographers were good, we are using them for the wedding day. Lovely pictures!

 

You are so welcome. I hope it can help you and other brides with some decision making. Thank you for the compliments! It was actually the same dress - the lace overlay comes off! I didn't know this when I picked it out but it sure sold the dress for me. We definitely had the best day and our guests had such a wonderful time. Everyone said they wished their wedding had been so stress free and relaxing. It also helps that you're on vacation with all of your guests, so you get a whole week to spend with them chatting, instead of just a few hours at the reception.

 

Gloria is such a peach, just as sweet in real life as in her emails. The resort photographers are great, I wouldn't worry about anything

[HNeal]

Karijean, you inspired me to write the last of my review and post it, so here's the link: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/index.php?app=reviews&module=reviews&section=reviews&do=view&id=4275

 

Hopefully that works, but if not, it's under the 'Resort Reviews' under ERC. It's a super long review as I tried to write about everything I could think of and remember. 

 

To answer your questions, I didn't bring any chair sashes or table linens. I didn't have room in our luggage for that stuff and I realized that I really didn't need it. I liked the look of the beach wedding set up with white chair covers and white linens hanging from the gazebo.

 

 

 

Yes, the martini bar is still there and it's fantastic!

 

 

 

I had read on this thread before about people having a hard time getting them to serve the cake. The servers came up to me after dinner and asked if I'd like the cake served. I said, yes, not thinking about the fact that we should cut the cake first. Ooops! So they served it, we ate it, marveled at how delicious it was (tres leches) and went on with the night. It wasn't until our photographers asked if we wanted to cut the cake that I said, "Oh whoops, my bad, it's gone!" I think they were more upset than we were about not getting those photos.

 

Here's a link to our photographer's blog. They've posted a few photos from our wedding, if you're interested: http://victorherrerablog.com/?p=5019

 

 

Thank you so much for this review!  You looked amazing and seemed to have exactly what you were hoping for!  I am getting married in August and think I may change my reception option after reading your review.  We were planning to have it in the foyer but if you were hot in November I cannot imagine how hot it will be in the Foyer in August.  We might have to opt for Barcelona which scares me a bit since I have only seen it as the buffet.

[TealMarie]

Okay, last review for me. This one is for our wedding photographers, whom we just loved!

 

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/index.php?app=reviews&module=reviews&section=reviews&do=view&id=4279

[JessT]

Hi JessT! I am getting married at ERC June 12, 2014. I am going to use the in-house photographers, I've heard mixed reviews but don't want to pay all the extra money for it when it's included in the Gold Package. Wedding video is only the ceremony part. I've also heard mixed reviews on that as well. As far as I know they don't video the whole day and do a summarized wedding day video. I wish they did! You'll have to recruit someone to do that. Any date set yet? Hope that helps.

 

 

Hi IrishRose. I would assume Christmas decorations will be up all of December! If your wedding is at 4:00 there should be some time left for pictures but the sun does set there earlier in the winter. That ultimately would be a question for Gloria, also the question about the beach/pier reception dinner would probably need to be checked by her as well. Are you in contacts with her yet? Any date set?

 

Hi Beth! My fiance and I are getting married June 12th! Have you for sure set the date yet? We did use a travel agent but only for the 2 of us. We are staying in the two-story rooftop terrace the whole time and our travel agent gave us a price that was $1,000-1500 more expensive than we were finding online (cheapcaribbean and travelocity) They price matched but it cost $100 to do so. My Fi and I decided that we would help everyone book their own trip. So far it's been going fine. I would say to go with a travel agent for your trip at least just in case anyting goes wrong it will go back to them.

 

How many people do you think will come to your wedding? The Gold package is what we went with and it covers up to 20 people for a private reception. You will have to pay around $20 per person if it is over 20 though. You always have the option of doing "semi-private" and it is not a set menu and you don't have to pay extra. We are doing that for a "Meet and Greet" for all of our guests the day they get to the resort.

 

Hi Karijean!

 

Thanks for the info! My wedding date will be on July 8, 2014! I am only doing the excellence love package so photographer wil only be there for the ceremony. So I am still keeping my options open and searching for others.  

 

JessT.

[JessT]

Trying to get a hold of Gloria. She has been MIA for sometime. Has anyone in contact with her?

 

Thanks!

[sls0510]

Trying to get a hold of Gloria. She has been MIA for sometime. Has anyone in contact with her?

 

Thanks!

 

She emailed us on Tuesday, but it took her 2 days to respond. 

[karijean]

Okay, last review for me. This one is for our wedding photographers, whom we just loved!

 

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/index.php?app=reviews&module=reviews&section=reviews&do=view&id=4279

 

 

A couple more questions for you!

 

1. We are going to legally get married in Mexico too. Is it $200 per person or $200 per couple for bloodwork?

2. Do you have to get your marriage license translated into English? Do you know how much that costs? I'm sure it varies per state. 

3. How many people did you have attend your wedding? Did you have a Meet and Greet?

4. How did you win an in-house photographer photoshoot? I would love to see more of those pictures if you don't mind sharing! The one you posted is adorable!

 

Thanks!!