Back from site visit and relieved to have found a place

[melglnh2o]

But where do I begin...

 

Like some of you, picking the place was starting to drive me insane. I found that this was the hardest thing to do by far (so far)! I researched so much but what my FI and I thought we wanted and what we actually fell in love with, were two completely different things. I am so glad we looked at a variety of places. (It is kind of the same for dresses.)

 

We thought we wanted a small intimate place away from the touristy crowds (Omni Puerto Aventuras) but we ended up loving a big resort right in the hotel zone of Cancun (Fiesta Americana Condesa). We also looked at a couple of big hotels away from the crowds (Paradisus Riviera Cancun and Occidental Grand Xcaret) and a smaller place in Playa del Carmen (The Blue Parrot). All of the places we looked at were fantastic in one way or another but we both just really felt it when we were at FAC (Fiesta Americana Condesa). Making a site visit was a must for us and I am so relieved that we found our place for the reception.

 

For the ceremony, we actually want to be married in a Catholic church but I didn't think that finding a church in Riviera Maya would be a problem. Well, actually it was! There were only three Catholic churches that we found in Cancun but only one was feasible for us. I don't even know the name of it as it is located inside of a school's grounds. I don't love it but I liked it the best out of the 3 we looked at and once it is decorated I am sure it will be fantastic. Plus it will be private and it really is the perfect size for our group (we are expecting between 80 and 100). I just always pictured being married in a Spanish Style Cathedral but this place we found will be great.

 

Last but not least I want to thank everyone on this forum for helping me narrow down the selections and find the perfect place for us. I want to especially thank Anny (anacgarcia) as she responded to one of my posts and recommended the FAC. I absolutely fell in love with the place when I was there and everything about it was perfect!! SO THANK YOU very much for the suggestion Anny! With all the hotel choices in Cancun, I doubt I would have found that place!

 

If there are any particular places that you have interest in that I mentioned above, please let me know and I will email you the pictures. I haven't quite figured out how to (aka haven't even tried to) post them in here yet.

[Wisco4]

Very cool! Congrats on finding your place! I bet that was such a huge relief. Did you two look at or see any other vendors on your visit? I know we aren't getting married in the same location but I'm curious to know what sort of other details you nailed down while there.

[Spazz]

Congrats on finding your location! That must be a huge relief

[melglnh2o]

Relieved is an understatement! I really felt like I couldn't start planning any other part of the wedding until I nailed down the place and date. Now with that out of the way, the rest I know will just fall into place.

 

As for the vendors, the WC at the hotel will be taking care of everything. Food is most important to the FI and we sampled that and it was delicious. Photography is most important to me and we sampled their photographer's work and really liked it too. As for the rest, we don't really care!

[Wisco4]

Quote:

Originally Posted by melglnh2o Relieved is an understatement! I really felt like I couldn't start planning any other part of the wedding until I nailed down the place and date. Now with that out of the way, the rest I know will just fall into place. As for the vendors, the WC at the hotel will be taking care of everything. Food is most important to the FI and we sampled that and it was delicious. Photography is most important to me and we sampled their photographer's work and really liked it too. As for the rest, we don't really care!

That's funny because food and photography are our two big things too besides location! Oh and FI is concerned with the music

[Can'tHardlyWait]

Yay for you finding a place!!! Finding the place is definitely the most stressful part - you are luck to have had the chance to check out all your options before deciding!

[mjm160]

I am having the hardest time picking a site. I cannot wait until i can move on with the rest of the decision making. I also wanted to have the ceremony at on off site catholic church in RM. How many people are going to the wedding and how did you coordinate the transportation to & from the church?? I am trying to figure out how much that would cost me. I have approx 60 people to get to the church.

My other concern is that the resort will not allow me to have a large reception if the actual wedding service was not held there. Was that an issue for you? I know most wedding packages state "cannot alter package in any way". The wedding service is usually always part of the wedding package. Any suggestions/advise would be great.

[MsShelley]

congrats on finding a place!! Did you take pics during your site visit??

[melglnh2o]

We are expecting between 80 and 100 people to join us in Cancun for our wedding. We will be arranging for buses to pick up the guests at Fiesta Americana Condesa and transport everyone to and from the church. I am not yet sure about the cost as the WC at the resort is handling it. We have not had any issues in regards to hosting the reception at the resort even though we are being married in an off-site church. We will probably do some kind of ceremony (sand ceremony or something like that) in the grassy area overlooking the beach and ocean at the resort after the church ceremony so we can have some great beach pictures. Then we will start the reception outside on the concrete area between the pool and grassy area and then move it into the ballroom later.

 

I took many pictures of the church and resort (plus other places as well). If interested in them, let me know and I will email them to you.

[PaulaV]

Congratulations! It is great that you go to go see everything too!

Along with the date, the location is one of the hardest things I have had to deal with so far.