May 2014 Brides & Past Bride advice

[Edygiselle]

Originally Posted by brownsugarbride 

 

 

I would love to see your website and how your planning is coming along! I agree that guests waiting to book is super stressful. What some brides have done is to send out a reminder postcard to remind people of deadlines for passport applications, hotel booking, etc. You could do it through VistaPrint (as you note above) to cut down on costs. A friendly reminder email also works. There's also the option of calling and reminding folks to get on the ball!!

 

As for me, a few things have changed since I last posted. I decided to get married for sure off-resort at the Grand Coral Beach Club. I was so excited until my planner told me that they instituted a new $2000 site fee! My fiancé was not amused, and we ended up going with the Blue Venado Beach Club just outside of Playa. We are really psyched. Although there are some great hotels in Playa, we knew our family and friends would prefer an all-inclusive option, so we reserved some rooms at the Now Jade in Puerto Morelos. Also, due in part to Blue Venado's growing popularity, the May dates I wanted were booked up.. So we ended up going with a date at the end of April. (I hope I can still post here!)

 

So far, we have selected our planner (Dream Weddings), our photographer, our housing, and our venue. We also sent out save the dates to many guests. I also have my dress purchased. The big things left to take care of are the invites (a friend is designing them), the bridal party attire, the dj, the makeup artist, and the entertainment.

 

brownsugarbride - hey! Thanks for sharing. It's always nice to see there are others in the same boat as me! I think I will send emails - I sent out 1 STD 1 Reminder, so it's about time to get extra personal.

 

Eeeekkkk $2000 site fee. what are they thinking?  As for the Blue Vendado Beach Club -  I love that place I was considering it as well. 

 

You sound like you got everything covered please don't leave the forum. You were first a May bride    I initially wanted to have a wedding on April 26 -  my fiances birthday- but he said that's his day and I always thought it would be cool to be in Mexico for Cinco de Mayo

 

I will PM u my wedding website let me know what you think.

[brownsugarbride]

Originally Posted by Edygiselle 

 

 

brownsugarbride - hey! Thanks for sharing. It's always nice to see there are others in the same boat as me! I think I will send emails - I sent out 1 STD 1 Reminder, so it's about time to get extra personal.

 

Eeeekkkk $2000 site fee. what are they thinking?  As for the Blue Vendado Beach Club -  I love that place I was considering it as well. 

 

You sound like you got everything covered please don't leave the forum. You were first a May bride    I initially wanted to have a wedding on April 26 -  my fiances birthday- but he said that's his day and I always thought it would be cool to be in Mexico for Cinco de Mayo

 

I will PM u my wedding website let me know what you think.

 

 

I will stay on board then and have the best of both worlds!

[pixelspack]

You're Brilliant! 

 

Just to clarify, you and your FI paid $200 each? or for each room held? Curious how your TA works? What information did they provide you with so you're able to be as far along as you are? obviously you're a rockstar and proactive as can be, but i'm curious if you found a local TA or one through this site? Were you recommended a hotel by them or did you make that decision on your own?

 

This is our biggest struggle, our hotel is "all inclusive" but I do not know how to translate the value for our guests via room block, the prices went up remarkably from 2013 - and there is not a per person daily rate for less than $240! (and that's the 3 night/double occupancy rate 240 x3 nights = 720 x2 people in a room - $1440 minimum for a hotel for 3 nights) + flights down (say 600 x 2) = Minimum Total for Flights and hotel for 3 days $2640 - almost embarrassed to ask. Is this normal? Curious what rates other people are getting?? Any input would be GREAT

 

We had everything flowing well, got engaged in December 2012, did research, did the Brides Dress Rehearsal offered thru Karisma Hotels. FI and I stayed at 2 different hotels and went on 7 site inspections, narrowed down our property, sent contract in... and now we're stuck...

 

We are trying to do our STD's but we want our "wed-site" to have all the booking info and for our guests to be able to have all the information - and when we inquired with our TA - we were told we the room block contract was different than the wedding contract..

 

 

I want to share the "value" for us to express with our guests - why they should book using our TA vs finding their own deal, or not even going because it's too expensive. if we could get the per person rate per night below $200 at double occupany - that would still generate $1200 for 1 room - and we would be generating more revenue to the property with more people via private reception etc.

 

Ex - my brother, his wife + 3 kids (2-10) if they wanted to get the family suite the group rate gives them :

 

$897 x2 adults = $1794

$207 x2 children 4-12 = $414

$35 x1 baby = $35

 

Essentially $2500 just for 1 room for 3 nights ?? Of course they could make arrangements for the kids not to come, but they're my immediately family! and the day would not be right without all of them! How do I make this work without causing my loved ones to resent me for bankruptcy?? 

 

 

Double	Triple	Child 4-12	Child 0-3
897	897	207	35

 

Apologize for ramble - I am really at a loss of how to communicate next steps to our invitees...

 

Thank you for any TA, ave All Inclusive price + Negotiation advice!

[csho]

Hi I am a May 2014 Bride... I am starting to get super excited! I have been planning since April 2013 and have a lot of my decisions made! We chose to get married at the Iberostar Laguna Azul in Varadero Cuba! I have purchased my wedding dress and my girls bridesmaid dresses!

[csho]

So what are everyone's colors???

I am going with coral, taupe, and white. Very neutral, but I love the classic look. I am going for beachy classic. We're also incorporating starfish into our wedding!

[photoisforever]

Sounds really beautiful, csho !!! great choices would love to see your photos showing your classic colour schemes - pls share after your wedding next May........Congrats!!!

 

 

 

Photography Is Forever Studios  

[Brit11]

I am also a May 2014 bride. We will be getting married in St Maarten on Little Divi Beach when we get off the Oasis of the Seas for the day. 

[csho]

I am also a May 2014 bride. We will be getting married in St Maarten on Little Divi Beach when we get off the Oasis of the Seas for the day. 

Oh that sounds like it will be so nice!!!!

[tmayeux27]

Help!!!! I just recently got engaged a few weeks ago and I am struggling to choose a resort. We want to get married in Mexico around Cancun or riviera maya June 2014. I was looking at the dreams riviera as we went to a wedding there about 2 years ago and it was amazing!!! I just don't want to have the same exact wedding/location. I was looking at the other dreams resorts. I think it was dreams cancun and also the NOW jade. I am open to other resorts as well. We want all inclusive, a newer resort, an interfaith ceremony as my FI is Jewish and I am Christian, and something that is going to be affordable for my guest. I would also like a place that has multiple restaurants. We are planning to have around 65-75 guest. Any suggestions?!?

[simpsondunn]

I would first get with a travel agent to help you narrow down some options. They have usually stayed at most of them and they know the advantages, prices, and availability for each place. I got married at the rui palace peninsula in cancun. We did a 7 day, all inclusive, with 50 guest. Amazing! But your travel agent can be a life saver if you get a good one.