Newly Engaged Canadian Planning Destination Wedding!

[natalia555]

Wow thanks everyone! So much support and guidance on this forum - love it!

 

The TA we spoke to specializes in DW's, she has done so many I am was just probably hard to work with since I had NO knowledge of DW's going in lol. I've done a bunch of research and am also sort of liking the Iberostar Paraiso in Riviera Maya as well (either the Lindo or Maya)... but having much more trouble finding info on that pertaining to weddings vs. the GBC. 

 

- Does anyone have any feedback on the Iberostar, especially vs. the GBP? 

 

We are going to see another TA tomorrow to sort of shop around and see if the quote's differ by a lot or a little and go from there. 

 

Honestly one of the biggest stressors so far for me is knowing I will have a good photographer during my DW *WITHOUT* breaking the bank! I love some of the photographers I have seen online but at the same time am also saving up for a down payment for a house so it's hard to balance my want for an excellent photographer vs. my want to move out of an apartment with loud neighbors... lol. Especially since some resorts charge fee's to have other photographers come in.

 

-Does anyone have any photographers they can recommend?

 

Thanks again everyone! 

Congratulations!!! Looking forward to hear all about it when you get back!

 

Welcome and congrats from another Canadian bride!

 

I agree that starting with a good travel agent will be so valuable.    The one I used was phenomenal, if you have any troubles finding one and want her info just let me know.

 

I totally recommend you do a lot of your own research to ensure her suggestion for you is what you want.  My travel agent recommended quite a few throughout Mexico for us and we did end up with one of hers, but we also priced a lot of our own.   You also want to look into their wedding packages, etc. to ensure they are a fit for your wedding as well - it's double sided now, not only do you need a good resort but also a good wedding department & packages.  

 

Good luck!

I leave in 2 sleeps for my wedding - heheh I love saying that now.

[breezie]

Congratulations!!! 

 

I remember trying to pick a resort... I was sooooooo incredibly stressed out... i must have gone back and forth between 10 different places. I also had a lot of family members in my ear saying which resorts where the best. What i did was picked a location. So i didnt want to be in Cancun or Playa del carmen, and thought I wasn't sure about going much more south cause its a long drive from the airport. I researched a ton of hotels and found that this was better then looking on travel websites. a lot of hotels have websites with tons of pictures as well as all the wedding info you need. I picked The Now Jade Riviera Cancun (which none of my family has been to) after originally picking Grand Bahia. However i did change my mind a lot and was extremely stressed out. But i finally just picked one and stuck it out. I hear Grand Bahia Coba isn't on the ocean side. You have to cross to the other resorts to get any beach. I originally picked Grand Bahia Tulum but didn't like what they offered for wedding details. Strictly white was there only colour option. So i choose somewhere else. 

 

I spoke to a wedding specialist at Flight Centre and they gave me some info, but decided to opt out of booking through them, as guests could get cheaper rates from where they were flying from. 

 

Honestly though, once you pick the resort (which is the most stressful part) it will be easy from there. I had so many questions but this website and everyone apart of it has been extremely helpful!!!

Edited January 28, 2015 by breezie

[Brandii]

My big concern when choosing a location was finding somewhere that was at minimum, 4*, had access right on the beach, modern looking rooms, had good locations for the wedding, and fit within a tight budget for guests.

 

Then I asked for quotes from different agents, I found a lot didn't have personal experience at the resorts I was looking at and only a few of them had weddings in them and kept suggesting places they had experience with but I didn't like.

 

I attended a wedding show this past weekend and spoke to each of the booths with destination wedding planners and told them which ones I was thinking of. I would say I was thinking "..." but "..." is the main contender, changing the main contender at each booth. Each and everyone said that while the others were nice, the Iberostar was the nicest for weddings in that area. I also found a travel agent when I was there there that I got along with fantastically, who said that 3 of his agents at their office had been there and loved it, and that they plan several trips there yearly... when he got back to me with a quote it was FAR better than the other agents, PLUS he gives a free customized bag with each booking (bonus!)

 

Moral of the story, if you have a wedding show coming up, I suggest going to it and speaking to the planners there. Finding a good TA is the main thing as they will be able to help you narrow it down and give you better pricing.