May 2013 Brides

[melnryluvco]

Hi all,

What a great thread to start! My FI and I are torn between the Dreams Tulum and NOW Sapphire. Could someone who's chosen the NOW Jade tell me why they chose the Jade over the Sapphire? Also, are any of you doing the "upgraded" packages? I was just looking at the NOW Jade thread and looking over the extra costs (aka, DJ, chairs, flowers, etc) and the price seems to grow and grow. What are your plans after the ceremony and are you adding the extras? Sorry for the rapid fire questions, I'm just trying to get a handle on all of this. Congrats to you all!

Thanks All,

Melissa

[ChocoTaco7568]

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

Hi all,

What a great thread to start! My FI and I are torn between the Dreams Tulum and NOW Sapphire. Could someone who's chosen the NOW Jade tell me why they chose the Jade over the Sapphire? Also, are any of you doing the "upgraded" packages? I was just looking at the NOW Jade thread and looking over the extra costs (aka, DJ, chairs, flowers, etc) and the price seems to grow and grow. What are your plans after the ceremony and are you adding the extras? Sorry for the rapid fire questions, I'm just trying to get a handle on all of this. Congrats to you all!

Thanks All,

Melissa

Hey Melissa! Congrats on your engagement and welcome to BDW and the May 2013 thread. I will be a Now Jade bride so hopefully I can help you a bit with your inquiry. I did consider Dreams Tulum, and a few other Dreams Resorts, but for the mid level wedding packages which were equally comparable, Dreams only covered 20 guests where NOW covered 25. Aside from this, Now Jade was just more aesthetically pleasing to me. I preferred the venue options that were available, and the resort was just more modern in feel and overall appearance. And a reoccurring complaint of many guests when your read reviews on tripadvisor is that the resort caters to weddings and seems to provide better customer services to and bridal parties and their guests.  I guess this is unfortunate for the average guest, but it’s exactly what I want and expect from a resort during my wedding week.

 

As far as add-ons go, I am purchasing many items and have taken on many DIY projects that I will bring with me: chair sashes, table runners, paper lanterns, centerpieces, signage, the list goes on. I am doing the eternity package but upgrading to the devine meal selections for the happy hour and  dinner.

 

BDW is a great resource and can help you achieve you vision while staying true to your budget. Hopefully I’ve helped a bit.  Feel free to ask questions, we’re here to help. Happy planning!

[melnryluvco]

ChocoTaco- Thanks so much for all your awesome advice. The FI and I have recently switched our wedding plans from Maui to Rivera Maya because it was so stressful and expensive for everything. Just a few more questions for you. So are you getting a DJ or are you just going to bring CDs/iPod? Also are you working with a travel agent or are you doing this all on your own? I need to find the DIY thread and get some ideas going now that we switched wedding locations. Again, thank you so much for all your input!

Best Wishes!!

[ChocoTaco7568]

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

ChocoTaco- Thanks so much for all your awesome advice. The FI and I have recently switched our wedding plans from Maui to Rivera Maya because it was so stressful and expensive for everything. Just a few more questions for you. So are you getting a DJ or are you just going to bring CDs/iPod? Also are you working with a travel agent or are you doing this all on your own? I need to find the DIY thread and get some ideas going now that we switched wedding locations. Again, thank you so much for all your input!

Best Wishes!!

We decided not to have a DJ and we will create a few playlists on our iPod for the dinner reception. We will only have +/- 30 guest and didn't think a DJ would make or break our evening, so it was an easy to save money.

 

My TA is Teresa Stauring of Vacations4less who partnered with Wright Travel Agency (owner of BDW).  Both companies have great relationships with AM Resorts and Teresa has been fantastic to work with.  I solicited the help of a TA after my Fi and I agreed on our top two resorts which were Dreams Riviera Cancun and Now Jade. I had deposits with both of them to secure my wedding date (not normal, but our wedding date is our anniversary so it was pretty important to secure).  From the time of my deposit it took a month to decide between the two resorts. In the end Now jade covered more guest for the same package price (worth about $450) and prior to 2013 group rates being published NOW Jade offered promo pricing which made the per person rate about $25 cheaper which seems minor but it adds up quick. That promo pricing sealed the deal.

 

If you have any questions with DIY, let us know.  There are many of us in the May 2013 thread that have had great success and produced awesome projects.

[melnryluvco]

Again Choco you have been more than helpful. I will at some probalby pick your brain about your DIY wedding stuff and OOT bags. Thank you for being so awesome!

[Susannah]

What do you think of this?? I have been dealing with a travel agent in Ireland for the last few months, and all along, she has being quoting us for 'The Moments that Matter Wedding Package'. Eventually we decided on NOW Jade and then when we got the confirmation invoice from the UK, it says its for the Renewal of Vows Package. I have just queried that with the UK Travel Agent, and she said "as you will already be married you cannot have the wedding package, you will have the Renewal of Vows package. The ceremony is similar and it is the hotel’s wedding co-ordinator who performs the Renewal as it is not a legal ceremony"

 

I have read so many reviews on here of people who had their civil wedding at home, then had a symbolic blessing in Mexico. I want our day on the beach to feel like our wedding day...

 

The reason, we have decided to have a civil wedding at home is to avoid blood tests, translations etc... But this is the first time anyone mentioned to me that we could not be 'married' if we are married here!!

 

Any thoughts input greatly appreciated

[PuntaBride]

Originally Posted by Susannah 

 

What do you think of this?? I have been dealing with a travel agent in Ireland for the last few months, and all along, she has being quoting us for 'The Moments that Matter Wedding Package'. Eventually we decided on NOW Jade and then when we got the confirmation invoice from the UK, it says its for the Renewal of Vows Package. I have just queried that with the UK Travel Agent, and she said "as you will already be married you cannot have the wedding package, you will have the Renewal of Vows package. The ceremony is similar and it is the hotel’s wedding co-ordinator who performs the Renewal as it is not a legal ceremony"

 

I have read so many reviews on here of people who had their civil wedding at home, then had a symbolic blessing in Mexico. I want our day on the beach to feel like our wedding day...

 

The reason, we have decided to have a civil wedding at home is to avoid blood tests, translations etc... But this is the first time anyone mentioned to me that we could not be 'married' if we are married here!!

 

Any thoughts input greatly appreciated

 

It will still feel exactly like a normal civil wedding.  The coordinator will perform the wedding, they should have fake papers for you to sign.  Nobody should be able to tell the difference.  A lot of brides are going this route, myself included, and it will feel just like an actual legal wedding!  

[ChocoTaco7568]

Originally Posted by Susannah 

 

What do you think of this?? I have been dealing with a travel agent in Ireland for the last few months, and all along, she has being quoting us for 'The Moments that Matter Wedding Package'. Eventually we decided on NOW Jade and then when we got the confirmation invoice from the UK, it says its for the Renewal of Vows Package. I have just queried that with the UK Travel Agent, and she said "as you will already be married you cannot have the wedding package, you will have the Renewal of Vows package. The ceremony is similar and it is the hotel’s wedding co-ordinator who performs the Renewal as it is not a legal ceremony"

 

I have read so many reviews on here of people who had their civil wedding at home, then had a symbolic blessing in Mexico. I want our day on the beach to feel like our wedding day...

 

The reason, we have decided to have a civil wedding at home is to avoid blood tests, translations etc... But this is the first time anyone mentioned to me that we could not be 'married' if we are married here!!

 

Any thoughts input greatly appreciated

I would send an email directly to the wedding coordinator at Now Jade and ask what the difference is and maybe ask for copies of the scripts that are used. [email protected]

 

 

[Susannah]

Originally Posted by PuntaBride 

 

 

It will still feel exactly like a normal civil wedding.  The coordinator will perform the wedding, they should have fake papers for you to sign.  Nobody should be able to tell the difference.  A lot of brides are going this route, myself included, and it will feel just like an actual legal wedding!  

 

Thank you PuntaBride I just find it strange that the wedding coordinator performs the ceremony!! I think the fact that they are calling it a Renewal Of Vows also, rather than Symbolic Blessing. It is only my fiance & I going over, so others telling the difference is not the problem. I just dont want to feel I am going to Mexico, to renew my vows, (that I will make the week before in an office) I want to go to Mexico to get married )))

[Susannah]

Originally Posted by ChocoTaco7568 

 

I would send an email directly to the wedding coordinator at Now Jade and ask what the difference is and maybe ask for copies of the scripts that are used. [email protected]

 

 

 

Thank you ChocoTaco7568 ) Yep, just about to do that. thanks for your help