Feeling distressed about my choice of resorts---is a little privacy and a beautiful view too much to ask?

[brownsugarbride]

After reading this forum and a long discussion with my TA, I got the 2014 rates for my top choices that I thought would be reasonably priced for my guests: Azul Sensatori, Dreams Riviera Maya, and NOW Jade. My criteria were good food, nice scenery and off-beach options, especially a garden. After looking through the photos, I thought NOW Jade would give me the best choice. I was especially loving the seaside garden. However, I have finally found some photos of real weddings and the seaside garden seems to not be private at all and doesn't seem to overlook the sea. I also didn't like the canopy/chuppah the resort used instead of the arch. And the beach...I couldn't believe the hordes of people staring! I really don't like the gazebo at Dreams, and Azul's beach has lots of people staring too, from pictures. (The Sky Deck is great, but not quite what I want.) I feel really bummed right now. My hubby to be and I are trying to save money, have a strict budget, and we both have demanding jobs. Thus, I've reluctantly given up the idea of having a private villa wedding overlooking the crashing waves. . Perhaps I'm letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, but I'd love a suggestion for reasonably priced resort that allows kids, with good food and a modicum of privacy, even if not total privacy. Am I just being picky and unreasonable? I don't know, maybe one of these is still the resort for me?

[Yazmin De La Mora]

Hello brownsugarbride,

The reason why most of the hotels do not have garden in front of the ocean is because it need tons of maintenance and it is more profitable to have rooms or restaurants instead of.  

 

But if you are looking for an affordable hotel with good food and kids allowed with a seaside garden then I suggest the Hacienda Tres Rios Hotel.

 

Attached is an aerial view photo of the resort were you will see the garden area in front of the wood deck.

 

Hope it helps!

 

 

[brownsugarbride]

Thanks so much Yazmin! Joyce also recommended this place to me, and I will take a closer look at it. I have heard brides mention that the wedding coordinator/staff are a bit challenging to work with, but not having to pay vendor fees is a plus. In addition to this venue, can you recommend any other places that have a semi-private place for the ceremony? Anyway, I think I was venting a bit because I am such a visual person and need to see some of these places in real life! However, May dates are being booked up at venues and with the top photographers, hence my slight panic.

[Yazmin De La Mora]

Originally Posted by brownsugarbride 

 

Thanks so much Yazmin! Joyce also recommended this place to me, and I will take a closer look at it. I have heard brides mention that the wedding coordinator/staff are a bit challenging to work with, but not having to pay vendor fees is a plus. In addition to this venue, can you recommend any other places that have a semi-private place for the ceremony?

 

Anyway, I think I was venting a bit because I am such a visual person and need to see some of these places in real life! However, May dates are being booked up at venues and with the top photographers, hence my slight panic.

Hi brownsugarbride,

 

Yes, most of our fellow coordinators like to work at the Hacienda Tres Rios because there is flexibility and enough privacy for weddings vs other all inclusive hotels.

 

Most of our weddings are offsite resorts so yes, we do know other locations but all of them are offsite, so for an all inclusive option our favorite hotel with seaside garden will be the H3R.

 

I am attaching the following slideshows so you can have a better idea:

 

1. Slideshow from beach ceremony set up at the Hacienda Tres Rios.

2. A site inspection to Secret Jewel and Hacienda Tres Rios and a a slideshow from a site planning in our offices.

3. Slideshow from a Garden ceremony in a beautiful tree located at the Grand Coral's golf course.

4. Slideshow from the wedding at a terrace in Grand Coral's Club House.

 

Hope it helps a little bit to clear up your ideas.

 

Best Regards,

 

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/a/beach-ceremony-set-up

 

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/a/what-is-a-wedding-site-planning

 

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/a/grand-corals-golf-club-house-garden-ceremony

 

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/a/wedding-set-up

[DinaQtobe]

Have you looked into Now Sapphire at all?  The Tequila Terrace is right off the beach and from what I have seen in photos fairly private.  There is a beautiful wooden deck that leads down to the beach.  The deck is where the reception is afterwards, so no gawkers.  I fell in love with it after I saw photos of other brides weddings there.  Del Sol and Sasha Gluck's photos sealed the deal for me.  I couldn't find anywhere else that I loved more!

 

Good Luck... finally deciding on a resort was the toughest part for me.  It all gets better from there

[DinaQtobe]

Just some links to give you a better idea:

 

http://cancunphotosblog.com/lauren-josh-now-sapphire/

 

Here you can see some onlookers, but they appear to be quite far away.  Beautiful photos.  Click "View More Photos" on the Right hand side of the page to see a slide show.

http://delsolphotography.com/destination-wedding-mexico-now-sapphire-sr-041113/

http://delsolphotography.com/kelly-ron-now-sapphire-destination-wedding/

http://delsolphotography.com/elna-jamall-now-sapphire-destination-wedding/

 

 

Looking at these photos makes me so excited for my own wedding.  Gives me goosebumps!!

[Yazmin De La Mora]

Originally Posted by DinaQtobe 

 

Just some links to give you a better idea:

 

http://cancunphotosblog.com/lauren-josh-now-sapphire/

 

Here you can see some onlookers, but they appear to be quite far away.  Beautiful photos.  Click "View More Photos" on the Right hand side of the page to see a slide show.

http://delsolphotography.com/destination-wedding-mexico-now-sapphire-sr-041113/

http://delsolphotography.com/kelly-ron-now-sapphire-destination-wedding/

http://delsolphotography.com/elna-jamall-now-sapphire-destination-wedding/

 

 

Looking at these photos makes me so excited for my own wedding.  Gives me goosebumps!!

Hi Dina,

We have coordinated weddings at the Now Sapphire when it was Paradisus and we are agree with you, the terrace is beautiful.

 

Here is a link from our wedding there, hope it will inspire you as well.

 

Happy planning!

 

http://www.elizabethmedinaphotography.com/JDKN/

[brownsugarbride]

Dina and Yazmin-- This is a great suggestion! I had not thought too much about NOW Sapphire because NOW Jade is supposed to be more up to date, but this is definitely something for us to think about!