Negril, Punta Cana Or Mexico?

katiewills · May 10, 2014

Hello!

I am recently engaged, and we were on the verge of booking a traditional venue in Toronto... but at the last minute we decided that it was a destination wedding that we really wanted!

We are looking at early July 2015 (because we have some teachers in the wedding party, and we're trying to keep the price down for our guests). We have heard that the weather can be very nice this time of year in Negril (we LOVE Negril)... but we need a kid-friendly resort, and even though Beaches is our dream resort in Negril for a wedding... it is still super expensive even in July.

It looks like July is OK in Mexico and Punta Cana as well... I am looking for a fun resort with a really nice wedding package. We want a private (as possible) ceremony on the beach, and a private reception (hopefully outside, or partly outside) that feels like an actual wedding!

So far I really like the look of NOW and Dreams resorts... I'd love your opinions!!!!

Also... does anyone know of a great (and affordable) kid-friendly resort in Negril? We have been to the RIU Negril... but the RIU websites don't really give a clear picture of what the weddings actually look/feel like.

Thanks everyone!

Edited May 10, 2014 by katiewills

KathyandEthan · May 11, 2014

I'm doing our wedding at Now Sapphire and they seem really helpful so far. It seemed to be the best deal for our guest which was a major deciding point for us.

colivia · May 11, 2014

Congratulations and happy planning @@katiewills

My fiancé and I were at the Riu Palace Negril last year during the July 4th weekend. While we were there we saw a wedding being held on the beach. The ceremony was not private at all. It was set-up on the beach in between lounge chairs. There were people were laying out all around them during their ceremony. I don't know if it was just an odd week weather wise to be in Negril, but it rained every day we were there. The rain started right after we checked-in and didn't stop for a few hours. The next morning on our way to breakfast we thought it was odd that so many people we already laying out at 8AM. It's vacation & we usually sleep in. However, we got plenty of rest the night before since it rained most of the evening. Sure enough, right around 1:00 the rain came again and didn't stop until dinner time. This happened all 4 days we were there. The employees told us it only rains for 15-20 minutes, but it rained for hours so maybe it was out of the ordinary the weekend we were there. Other than that, we loved Negril!! We just didn't get much time in the sun & on the beach unless we woke up super early and caught some rays before lunch time.

If you are looking for a private ceremony on a beach then I suggest looking into a couple venues in Punta Cana. My gf and her husband were married at the Jellyfish restaurant in Punta Cana in February 2013. It was gorgeous!! The ceremony was on the beach, and the reception was on the first floor of the 2 story open air restaurant. Guests stayed at the Majestic Elegance and were shuttled to the venue. It was a magical night! Here is the link to the Jellyfish http://www.jellyfishrestaurant.com/gallery.html

My fiancé and I are getting married this December at the Kukua Resturant Beach Club in Punta Cana. It is also directly on the beach. (We didn't want to choose the same. venue as my gf & her hubby) We will be renting out the entire venue for the day so our ceremony and reception will be completely private and free from gawkers. Bego, the wedding coordinator, has been fabulous to work with!! We and our guests will be staying at Now Larimar. Patty and Kristen with Wright Travel Agency helped us narrow down our choice to Now Larimar. We couldn't have done it without them. They are awesome!!!! They were also the TA's for my gf Jenn's wedding. Here is the link for Kukua's website and their Facebook page: http://kukuarestaurantpuntacana.com and https://www.facebook.com/kukua.puntacana

One other venue we looked into in Punta Cana is Huracan Cafe. It looks just as gorgeous as Jellyfish and Kukua based on the photos we have seen. Here is a link from Katya Nova's photography blog about a wedding they shot at Huracan cafe. http://www.katyanovablog.com/huracan-cafe-punta-cana-wedding-alexandra-tyler/

Good luck with narrowing down your location and planning the wedding of your dreams!!

Edited May 11, 2014 by colivia

rvalenka · May 11, 2014

Congratulations and Happy Planning!!

Picking a location is the hardest point. We went back an forth between Jamaica and Mexico for a long time an ultimately decided on Mexico. I just love the beach and the easy flights!

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angelajackson · May 12, 2014

I had my heart set on Now Larimar in Punta Cana but there weren't enough flights available for my dates. I am now booked in at HRH in Cancun.

It's a good idea to speak with your TA to find out if there is an Early Booking Discount and/or space at all 3 choices to narrow it down. I too had Negril, Mayan Riviera, and Punta Cana as my 3 choices. Many of the eliminating factors were out of my control, leaving me with the available options to choose from.

Congratulations and Happy Researching!