PLEASE help with Royal Playa del Carmen. I booked Dec 7th 2012 on the Gazebo

Amy Smith · May 26, 2012

Hello all,

Please take a minute to read this and tell me your thoughts...Im running out of time.

I chose a DW for fun and ease. I have been to PDC yearly for a decade now. I absolutely love the 5th ave area and want my gueststo have other hotel options if the cost is a bit too much..

After hours online pouring over their wedding website It seems the Royal PDC has it down to a wedding science without being too assembly line. BUT

I have just come acrossed a big problem (to me). After talking with the off site WC , she's located in Cancun, (not very friendly and doesnt communicate promptly) I have found out that the entire beach and all the ballrooms are "blocked off" or "not available". This is after I have paid my deposit. So I can have my gazebo wedding (covered) a gazebo terrace cocktail reception and a central courtyard "private" reception. That all sounds really good..... right.... but she had to point out to me that leaves NO bad weather contigencies on my Dec 7th date. NOWHERE to go insde for a reception. The only inside reception option is a semi private dinner in a restaurant that will not allow more than 30 ppl. We will prob have more than 30. I am so stressed. They have offered to refund my deposit or book a different day. Of course I have already informed all of my friends and family of date. WC is suggesting Dec14 saying that every venue option is open to book on that day. The funny thing here is that when you go to the The Royals wedding website you are able to see that both beach locations are still available for a ceremony. I said I can understand if there are other weddings or they are wanting to save spots for other would be brides...She assured me there are no other weddings that day. So HOW can all the beach locs (2) and ballrooms be blocked off? private events? if so are they large corporate events that tend to have lound, drunk and onoxious attendees celebrating their sales award. I have been to those myself...

BOTTOM line. Do I look for another Hotel? Or do I pick a date so close to the Christmas holiday and change it all. Im running out of time....

Please lend me your thoughts. THank you!!

TATrisha · May 29, 2012

Honestly, I would contact the resort yourself. Call them up and ask them what the rain alternative would be for your wedding if you booked a reception at the gazebo terrace.

tphanders · May 31, 2012

Hi Amy,

Sorry to hear about your situation. First, have your guests booked their airfare for the Dec 7th wedding date? If they have, is the ballroom and beach/gazebo available the day before or after? Maybe, you can have your wedding on either of those days? If not, I would email or call someone in the higher command chain about your situation and see if they can accommodate your request or offer additional incentives. I've been to the Royal and know that they have several sit down restaurants. Can they close one of the smaller one for your reception as one of the incentives? If someone in the higher command chain won't accommodate you, I would suggest going with another hotel. If you change your date around the holidays, the costs may be significantly higher for your guests. Hope things pull through for you!

Amy Smith · June 10, 2012

Thank you, I did.

In fact contacting the groups coordinator by calling hotel direct gave me a polite guy who said it was odd to have all beaches and ballrooms blocked as well. He looked into it, found no one had signed a contract or paid the deposit. justa block on the space. He contacted the GM of The Royal who gave the other group a week to respond. They did not. So now the space is MINE. This all came about because I went past the WC. She seemed clueless the whole time. I have read that the beginning WC's you are assigned are pretty ineffective. Some people have said they even fired their first and asked for a replacement. Thanks for the advice. It really worked!!

Amy Smith · June 10, 2012

thank you tphanders,

Those are all great ideas. I was able to go "higher up" and get someone to help on the actual property. I guess I do understand the the beginning wedding coordinator you are assigned is a desk/phone person. They are mainly concerned with signing contracts and collecting money. Im glad i didnt give up!