Helpless Destination & Resort Decision

[blomelin]

Hi everyone,

 

I am new to this site, but everyone seems extremely helpful and I love some of the discussion I've been reading.  My fiance and I are planning for a wedding in Mexico in April 2013.  I think that we have it narrowed down to are top five resort; NOW (Jade or Sapphire), Dreams Los Cabos, Dreams Riviera Cancun, Moon Palace and Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe.  Currently NOW Jade is my top choice but I'm scared to make that final decision.  I am working with a travel agent but I'm not thrilled with her help and I don't feel like she's offering me the best deals and packages... I was also reading about using outside vendors.  I didn't even know that this was an option.

 

Needless to say I'm feeling pretty helpless and I welcome any advice that others have regarding the decision and planning process!

[TATrisha]

Welcome to the forum!!

 

This is a decision that everyone has to make for themselves, but you definitely have very different resorts listed here.

 

NOW (Jade or Sapphire) - More modern resort very close to the airport.  Not really a viable outdoor reception area.

 

Dreams Los Cabos - completely different side of Mexico.  Very different feel to the resort.  More laid back.  Beach is not the crystal clear blue of Riviera Maya, instead has gorgeous HUGE waves.  It's not swimmable.

 

Dreams Riviera Cancun - I honestly don't know much about this resort other than they have a pretty cool wedding structure.

 

Moon Palace - gazebo wedding.  Horse and carriage ride.  Not swimmable beach, and really not that pretty to look at either compared to other riviera maya resorts.

 

Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe - large complex, cool gazebo or beach location for a wedding.  Since it's a large complex your guests can stay at different price points and there is more to explore.  Outdoor and open air reception options.

 

So it's really about what YOU want.  What do you envision your day looking like?  Do you see yourself getting married with sand between your toes or underneath a gazebo?  Do you want Cabo or Riviera Maya (which is cheaper to fly to)?  Do you want a more modern feel or a more traditional Mexican feel?  Is swimming in the ocean a big deal to you? 

[Mlite83]

Originally Posted by Tlseege 

 

Welcome to the forum!!

 

This is a decision that everyone has to make for themselves, but you definitely have very different resorts listed here.

 

NOW (Jade or Sapphire) - More modern resort very close to the airport.  Not really a viable outdoor reception area.

 

Dreams Los Cabos - completely different side of Mexico.  Very different feel to the resort.  More laid back.  Beach is not the crystal clear blue of Riviera Maya, instead has gorgeous HUGE waves.  It's not swimmable.

 

Dreams Riviera Cancun - I honestly don't know much about this resort other than they have a pretty cool wedding structure.

 

Moon Palace - gazebo wedding.  Horse and carriage ride.  Not swimmable beach, and really not that pretty to look at either compared to other riviera maya resorts.

 

Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe - large complex, cool gazebo or beach location for a wedding.  Since it's a large complex your guests can stay at different price points and there is more to explore.  Outdoor and open air reception options.

 

So it's really about what YOU want.  What do you envision your day looking like?  Do you see yourself getting married with sand between your toes or underneath a gazebo?  Do you want Cabo or Riviera Maya (which is cheaper to fly to)?  Do you want a more modern feel or a more traditional Mexican feel?  Is swimming in the ocean a big deal to you? 

Just to add to it - if you haven't already check out the wedding packages and compare what they provide to what you want and need.  Some resorts have packages that cater to smaller crowds (ie under 10 people) so having a larger crowd could get pricey.  On the other hand if a package is set for 25 and you only have 8 guests you may be able to get more bang for your buck else where.  My parents have been to the Barcelo 3 times and LOVE it but we didn't think their wedding packages suited our needs so we opted to try some place new for everyone! 

 

Congrats and good luck - its the most stressful part so don't worry it all gets easier!

[KLPhoto]

Julie from Vacations to Remember http://www.VacationsToRemember.com/ is awesome! She has actually helped two of my brides find their resort for what they wanted and educated them on it

[Sandy Planner]

Dear Blomelin :

 

I have been  in around 600 weddings all of them among  Riviera Maya   and I can teel you that all the resorts  you mentioned  are experts in weddings and beautiful in  my experience  based in logistic , attetion , customer service and food and beverage quality  I would  say the following order:

 

1.Now Sapphire , it has  better  beach  and  outside Location , the food  and wedding service is very good. MEXICAN FEEL

2.Barcelo, large resort  very nice  locations  and  wedding facilities  , offer different options for your guests in terms of  rates  MEXICAN CASUAL FEEL

3. Dreams Riviera , new resort  is beautiful MODERN AND MARBLE

4. Now  Jade , very modern nice facilities , limited beach  but has a nice air conditioning  room . MODERN AND CHIC  FEEL

6. Moon palace  so big   , they may have 6 weddings a day  , they have  a new designed collection so chic  and modern , they may offer variety in rates  too.

 

I hope this information help you , we provide flower decor to some Barcelo Brides so  I can tell you that logistic  and expertise of the coordinator there is awsome .

 

Our  furniture  division handle  all the decor  part  for Moon Palace through Gama Group  so  I can tell you how beautiful and  elegant are....

 

Good  luck and welcome to the forum

Sandy

[Matt Adcock]

Originally Posted by blomelin 

 

Hi everyone,

 

I am new to this site, but everyone seems extremely helpful and I love some of the discussion I've been reading.  My fiance and I are planning for a wedding in Mexico in April 2013.  I think that we have it narrowed down to are top five resort; NOW (Jade or Sapphire), Dreams Los Cabos, Dreams Riviera Cancun, Moon Palace and Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe.  Currently NOW Jade is my top choice but I'm scared to make that final decision.  I am working with a travel agent but I'm not thrilled with her help and I don't feel like she's offering me the best deals and packages... I was also reading about using outside vendors.  I didn't even know that this was an option.

 

Needless to say I'm feeling pretty helpless and I welcome any advice that others have regarding the decision and planning process!

 

Hola Blomelin,

 

All of the resorts you mentioned are great options, although they are all different.

 

We know practically all of them and in my personal opinion, the Now Hotels and Dreams Riviera Cancun are some of the best!!!

 

Here are a few slideshow that might help you dream about your big day:

 

NOW JADE

Janet + Wei - Photos by Matt Adock

Dana + Charlie - Photos by Melissa (loved the ceremony spot)

 

NOW SAPPHIRE

Adelle + Kyler - Photos by Jonathan 

Elna + Jamall - Photos by Jonathan

 

DREAMS RIVIERA CANCUN

Caryn + Michael - Photos by Melissa

Dmitriy + Alina - Photos by Juan Jose

 

MOON PALACE

Kelly + Daniel - Photos by Juan Jose

Myra + Ruel - Photos by Jonathan

 

BARCELO MAYA

Jeni + Scott + Photos by Juan Jose

Carla + Craig - Photos by Jonathan

 

Hope this helps and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

[LurkerDan]

I don't have much to offer, except you don't mention whether price is important to you or your guests. We chose Moon Palace because unlike many resorts, they don't gouge you to have your wedding there, and recognize that if you have a large wedding there, they should charge you less, not more, because of all the business you are bringing. So if you have a large group you get free room nights and free event(s). I don't know, however, how the price of these resorts compare for individual guests and for you.

[delmarchic]

Congratulations. This is a very exciting time, good luck. My husband and I were married at the Now Sapphire July 6th 2012. As brides we all have our own vision of what we want and what will make us happy but it is all good. I hope my review helps you. I was having a flower girl and ring bearer so we needed a Resort that allowed children. I had a definite vision from flowers to center pieces and decorations. We did not want to have our ceremony in the sand because I had purchased Christian Louboutin very high shoes. We went to Mexico and visited the Now Sapphire, Now Jade, Iberostal Paraiso, the Fiesta Americana Condesa and Moon Palace. We had scheduled appointments, with each wedding consultant. They took us on a tour and we sampled the food. The Excellence Resort will treat you like royalty. My cousin was married there 2 years ago. It is adult only resort so it was not an option for us. The best food was at the Americana, Sapphire and Jade. Everybody at each resort were fantastic with one exception (the Iberostal) we ended that tour early because the wedding consultant was not interested in anything that was important to us. She had her own agenda. 1) MOON PALACE... is an enormous but beautiful resort. They were definitely willing to negotiate the pricing more than the others. This was very appealing to us. The ocean water was beautiful! However for us it had way too many weddings a day, (sometimes 6 a day). Where we would want the ceremony there was construction going on that would be visible. Also we were not looking for such huge resort. (be prepared to have your questions answered very slowly. They have people in Florida running the show) you only are able to interact with the resort itself is when you arrive.) 2) FIESTA AMERICANA CONDESA... beautiful and had decent pricing. Ocean water was beautiful, decent beach. The wedding consultant was great and she always answered our email question faster than any of the others. It just did not have the feel we were looking for. Food was Great. 3) IBEROSTAL was a wash for us. Aloof and had their own ideas, was not paying attention to anything we were saying. We ended the tour early and left. 4) NOW JADE...was beautiful, food was delicious, many restaurants to pick from. Not flexible on the cost. We had seriously considered the Jade. No place to have a reception to speak of. 5) THE NOW SAPPHIRE... for us, as soon as we walked in the resort it just took our breath away, we loved the openness, no matter where you were you are able to see all the beauty. Gorgeous without being all closed in. NOTE: When driving down the long road to the Resort you may think "get me out of here" but it is well worth taking a tour. ALSO: if the beach and swimming in the ocean is important to you this is definitely not the place. The water has tons of seaweed!!! The sand on the beach is gorgeous and soft, we had our welcome party on the beach. Food was delicious. It is a mid sized resort with plenty to do. The pool was outstanding with swim up bar and friendly bartenders. Waiters will take your drink orders and bring them to you if you are not at the swim up bar, nice plus. We loved the Bali beds, reserved one every day. NOTE: Sapphire is Pricey if going outside their wedding packages.. If you are not having many guests and the wedding packages fit your needs you will be fine. They do not negotiate much at all on price even though we were having 85 guests attending. We had to buy one of there wedding packages even though we did not need some things that were included. They would not credit us much in exchange. We wanted a riser for our little sweetheart table in the ballroom and they were going to charge us $500.00. We said forget it. We loved the layout and the grounds so much that it was worth it to us. It all depends on what is most important to you. I did get the wedding of my dreams! But we did hired our own wedding planner, photographer and flower/decorations vendor who took care of everything for me. They stayed in contact with Pelar the resorts wedding consultant and made all arrangements for me. I emailed pictures of my visions to them and They made my visions come to life. We live in San Diego, so the price would have tripled if we held our wedding there. It is all relative to your budget. As every bride knows they need to decide what is most important to them. That will help guide you with your decision. With the ocean in the background your wedding will Be beautiful no matter which resort you pick. GOOD LUCK and much happiness.

[Stresscase]

Your responses are so helpful. We are trying to book a June or October wedding (up to me and I can't decide if 6 months advance notice is enough for guests). Was thinking of Barcelo Palace (since there are lower price points for guests) or Excellence Riviera Maya because of the great pics and reviews. Help?

[Laura1220]

I attended a wedding in June at Excellence Riviera Maya.  Everything was beautiful and the bride was happy!  Best of luck!