2015-2016 Moon Palace Brides

[KatyM81]

@@KatyM81 wow, you must be do excited!!! I wish you well during your wedding week and hope you have a great time! Please let us know how it turns out

Yes I'm very excited! It can't get here soon enough I will for sure come back and post reviews on everything... I know how helpful it was for me when I was starting to plan!

[moonpalacebride2be]

Hello fellow MP brides!

We are 15 days away from leaving for Cancun, I can't believe how quickly it's gotten here! I keep going over and over my lists, feeling like I'm forgetting something, but I'm hoping it's just nerves I figured I would share what we have arranged for our big day, if anyone has any questions let me know!

 

Guests: We are at 47 people, including us. We've had a few last minute changes, which came as a surprise even though everyone on these threads has said to expect it Luckily it didn't change our 75 room nights that we hit so hopefully there are no more changes we have to deal with!

 

OOT bags: I bought papel-picado themed bags from the Wedding Chicks shop that say Muchas Gracias on them. Inside there will be a welcome letter using our invite stationary (my sister designed all of our STD's, invites, signs, etc), personalized drink mugs (purchased from the Factory21 shop on Etsy), and a First Aid kit (small muslin bag filled with advil, pepto, bandaids, makeup remover wipes for the girls, and hand sanitizer wipes. I made my own red cross stamp and painted it onto the outside of the bag). There will be 7 kids attending so they are all getting different bags filled with pool toys, games, etc. instead of the meds kits. I debated adding something else but since the bags and cups weren't cheap I decided against it I figured for our crowd those would be the things used the most to that's what I decided to stick to!

 

Welcome dinner at the Grand Terrace the night before the wedding - no decor besides some personalized drink napkins.

 

Ceremony at the Caribbean beach: I'm getting the complimentary package and added in some coral sashes on the seats along the aisle (our colors are blue, greens, and pops of coral), and large antique-looking lanterns (that will later be moved to the reception space). Other than that just letting the natural beauty shine! I bought about 20 vintage-looking handkerchiefs and there will be a small table near the seats with a sign that says "hankies for your happy tears". I haven't decided how to display them yet, I keep going back and forth and really need to make a decision ASAP!

 

Cocktail hour at the Tucan garden: No decor besides the personalized drink napkins

 

Reception at the Tucan terrace: We are renting decor from Gama, who was so easy to work with! Prices are a little high but we are keeping it pretty simple. I'm renting five 10-person wooden rectangle vintage looking tables (plus a sweetheart table for the two of us), with a table runner in muslin and clusters of small vases/flowers. I am debating bringing small candles, but am not sure how necessary it will be. There will be coral napkins and I got turquoise maracas (that I personalized with a k&k tag that I made using a stamp bought on Etsy). I'm doing 3 strings of the white chinese lanterns over the dance floor, and the large antique floor lanterns will be moved from the ceremony. I also got the mexican lounge set for a hang out area next to the bar. I made my place cards and they will be displayed in hammered tin trays filled with sand. I'm also going to get a piñata when we are down there and cut a hole in the top as the card holder (I got a little wooden sign that says Cards to put around it). 

 

Flowers: I decided to get my bouquets and bouts made out of fake flowers so that I'm able to easily save them/transport them back home. I didn't want to deal with the expense and hassle of flowers once we are there and I love that I know exactly what I'm getting. I'll be using the complimentary bouquet as decor on the cake/cards/seating cards table. Other than this the only flowers we will be getting are through Gama as part of the decor in the little vases along the middle of the tables.

 

DJ: We hired DiscoMovil, who has great reviews and prices!

 

Photographer: I took a risk on this and am using a friend of a friend and paying for her trip in exchange for photos. She is with us for 3 days and will be taking pictures during our little bachelorette evening, welcome dinner and of course the big day. She's only done a few weddings but based on her pictures I felt like she would do a good job. It was a great way for us to cut the cost a bit and ensure we will be getting lots of candids (which are more important to us) versus a stranger coming in for a bunch of posed pictures. Fingers crossed it works out as expected!

 

I think that's about it for all the big stuff! Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions

 

Have a GREAT time and do let us know how it goes!  It looks like you have most everything figured out

I used Blume boxes loved them I added some ribbon and a sticker with our names and such on them!!

 

 

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That is a great idea, to decorate the boxes!  I may just have to do that

[calgarybride2015]

Have a GREAT time and do let us know how it goes! It looks like you have most everything figured out

 

 

That is a great idea, to decorate the boxes! I may just have to do that

There are pics of them in my links below - planning thread and wedding pics

 

 

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[FutureMrsSam]

@FutureMrsSam   you can do what we are.  Just ask them to set up the cocktail hour on the grassy area exactly next to the terrace.   Usually they use the grassy area across the walkway, but just ask your coordinator and they can accommodate it.  

 

 

@Moonpalacebride2be   -  We have less than 3 months to go!  We are getting married at Moon on June 23, 2015.  Right now just waiting for last minute guests to book.    We have right now 21 guests booked, but after the rest do we should have about 37-43 guests total.

 

We are getting married at the Tucan Gazebo,  cocktail hour booked for Tucan Garden and reception for Tucan Terrace.  What we are going to do is use the grassy area just to the right of Terrace for our cocktail hour.    Typically the garden area is right next to the gazebo, but you can always ask to do it right next to terrace if you want.  Just got to ask.   We figured it would be easier for the Music Vendor to have the speakers right there.   

We are doing the complimentary package.  

 

Vendors:  

PSAV for Ipod system setup.

Bicoastal Images for wedding day and TTD photography    (outside vendor)

Hair & Makeup -  using resort salon.    trying to save $ so using resort credits for this

 

Add-ons:

horse carriage ride

1 extra hour to reception

1 extra tier to cake    (cake flavors:   chocolate on bottom layer,  strawberry on top layer)

 

Colors:     Coral, Aqua and Gold        

Flowers:   DIY  made myself   7 bridesmaid bouquets   1 bridal bouquet.   using the free one from resort for toss.  we are going to use the bridesmaid bouquets after for centerpieces.

Décor:  bringing my own

            table runners, signs, chair sashes,  starfish chair hangers, DIY menus, DIY vases, Mr&Mrs signs. I have more.

really need to start typing up my planning board for you all...

Thanks @@misbosox I'll keep that in mind

[FutureMrsSam]

Another Canadian bride? Yay!!! Yes, definitely get your TA to see if they can contact them for you. My TA is a destination wedding specialist and she travels to resorts quite often so she has her connections. Even my wedding coordinator knows who she is so I was quite impressed! Are you asking about the air travel contract or palace contract? We went with Air Transat and we get every 11th person free. We also get priority boarding, a reserved overhead cabin for my wedding dress, free seat selection and I think we get a free room upgrade.

 

My fiancé hates the idea of travelling with a lot of decorations so most of it is rented from LatinAsia. I'm bringing a few things but not a lot

 

And I hope you find your dress!!!

omg that's pretty cool! My TA is not a destination wedding specialist  but I know her personally and she's been super helpful so far  I was asking about the palace group contract, which I got saturday.. I looked it over and it doesn't seem too bad.. I needed them to clarify a few things for me (such as upgrades and kids stay free) and am waiting for a response.. Our wedding is in the summer and Air Transat and Sunwing don't go to Mexico then.. it appears I'm going to be stuck with using either Westjet or Air Canada... though i think a packge deal with them should be cheaper than booking hotel and flight separate... Apparently, the rates aren't out yet for these airlines so I'm gonna have to wait and see...

 

I've never head of LatinAsia.. I'm gonna have to check them out

 

Thanks

[calgarybride2015]

omg that's pretty cool! My TA is not a destination wedding specialist but I know her personally and she's been super helpful so far I was asking about the palace group contract, which I got saturday.. I looked it over and it doesn't seem too bad.. I needed them to clarify a few things for me (such as upgrades and kids stay free) and am waiting for a response.. Our wedding is in the summer and Air Transat and Sunwing don't go to Mexico then.. it appears I'm going to be stuck with using either Westjet or Air Canada... though i think a packge deal with them should be cheaper than booking hotel and flight separate... Apparently, the rates aren't out yet for these airlines so I'm gonna have to wait and see...

 

I've never head of LatinAsia.. I'm gonna have to check them out

 

Thanks

Def cheaper than booking separately as they include flight, resort, taxes and transfers. Also all the your operators offer deals - I used AC and I got every 17 person free (minus taxes) and a free upgrade to first class for the bride and groom. Well worth it.

 

 

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[misbosox]

Wondering if any of you have heard of photography/video outside vendor fee changing? When I had booked a year ago they had a special that it was $400. Then recently they changed it back to original price of $800.

we had told my coordinator prior were only using outside photographer vendor but for video one of our guests was filing it. She said since its a guest we don't pay a vendor fee. Now I heard from another bride that she was just told that even if they stay as a guest there is a fee "guest with professional equipment fee applied when booking under same group contract"

Fee $400

 

Has anyone else heard of this?

Edited March 31, 2015 by misbosox

[KatyM81]

Wondering if any of you have heard of photography/video outside vendor fee changing? When I had booked a year ago they had a special that it was $400. Then recently they changed it back to original price of $800.

we had told my coordinator prior were only using outside photographer vendor but for video one of our guests was filing it. She said since its a guest we don't pay a vendor fee. Now I heard from another bride that she was just told that even if they stay as a guest there is a fee "guest with professional equipment fee applied when booking under same group contract"

Fee $400

 

Has anyone else heard of this?

Yikes! I definitely haven't heard of that changing... I was worried they were going to somehow charge me for one of our guests taking our pictures but they seem to be okay with that one still. But if you were told there wasn't a vendor fee for your guest taking video then hopefully they will honor that. They certainly should! 

[Wafflesmom]

@@misbosox I have not heard anything about that, though my coordinator has told me that they've changed a lot of things this year. So far my wedding coordinator has honored all my old contract info, as long as it was already addressed or booked. For example, the old outside photographer vendor fee will be honored since I booked him before the change. I didn't book my DJ until this year so the new electricity fee would have applied had I gone with an outside dj vendor.

 

In your case, I'd say print out that email as proof that they said there are no charges for your guest to film your wedding. They should honor that!

[moonpalacebride2be]

Wondering if any of you have heard of photography/video outside vendor fee changing? When I had booked a year ago they had a special that it was $400. Then recently they changed it back to original price of $800.

we had told my coordinator prior were only using outside photographer vendor but for video one of our guests was filing it. She said since its a guest we don't pay a vendor fee. Now I heard from another bride that she was just told that even if they stay as a guest there is a fee "guest with professional equipment fee applied when booking under same group contract"

Fee $400

 

Has anyone else heard of this?

 

 

Yes, I was told that if one of my guests acts as my photographer that I would be charged $400, even if they are booked for multiple nights!  Ridiculous.  Its hard for me to believe they police wedding guests and charge brides for other people taking pictures- I feel like they would get a lot of bad reviews from upset brides that way.

 

Also, for those of you that have used styling trio, how long did it take for them to respond to your emails?  I have sent them two emails about a week ago and haven't heard anything back!  Their website says that their response time is 24 hours so I don't understand why they aren't responding.  At this point I am reconsidering using them, but I don't have many choices due to the outrageous vendor fees.  If a vendor doesn't respond I wonder what the hotel's policy in letting you use someone else?

Edited March 31, 2015 by moonpalacebride2be