Are we missing something? The 'Upgraded' package

Hi ladies,

I'm hoping you can help me out because I think I'm just not getting something. We're about to sign our contract and we need to let the Wedding Coordinator know which package we want. When we first started planning we thought we would get the best package because you only get married once. We're getting married at the Grand Palladium in the Mayan Riviera.

With both packages you get:

-Registration fees / Civil Judge

-Marriage license (Legal documents are issued in Spanish)

-Wedding area decorations (Decorated tables with clothes and covered chairs during the ceremony)

-Bridal bouquet & Groom’s boutonniere

-Flower arrangement for the wedding table

-Wedding Cake

-Red Carpeted walkway

-Translation of ceremony into English

-Turn down service / Special décor in room

-Honeymooner’s special weekly dinner.

-Wedding Gift

-Witnesses if required without any additional charge.

-Sparkling wine toast at the wedding site

The basic Crystal package is $1,700 and the Diamond package is $2,200. So $500 more for the extras. Here'e the extras you get with the Diamond package and what they cost (they give you a list of individual prices):

-“Premium†flower centerpiece for the wedding table (instead of regular) ? ? ?

-Fruit Basket and champagne for the wedding couple ($20 and $25)

-Continental Breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding. (upon request) Room service is included for free already

-Confirmed late check out until 6:00 pm for bride & groom (upon request with wedding coordinator) We need to check out at noon anyways to catch the plane

-Bride’s & Groom’s wedding clothes steamed (with 2 days notice) ($25 and $20)

-Extra flower decoration at wedding site ? ? ?

-Strawberries covered with chocolate ($35)

That's only $125 worth of extras, not including the upgraded flowers. But I've seen their flower prices (they're not expensive at all) so I can't see it being over $375 worth of flowers.

So why would anyone get the Diamond package? I mean, that's even considering you use all the extras. We for example won't drink the champage, we're more margarita and beer people! And FH is wearing khakis and a short sleeved button up shirt so I can iron it myself instead of paying $20 to have it steamed. And if we're at an all inclusive and can get food any time (including room service), why would we pay extra for a fruit basket?

Is it just me that's not 'getting it' or does the upgraded package seem like a waste?

That's exactly why we didn't choose any package other than the free wedding with 7 night stay.. when comparing packages you didn't get much for the additional money. of course we were at a different resort and I'm sure that matters but for some people it's easier to go with a "package" and not worry about anything. You're smart for checking the line items and seeing where your money is going. In Cabo the flowers are really expensive and if you have many tables that might add up to a larger difference but if you already know flower prices and aren't interested in the other perks, you're fine... many times you get the stuff like a fruit basket just for having your wedding there.

Our WC actually suggested the very basic package and then add on to what we wanted rather than start with a bigger package and have to modify it to get what we wanted. In the end it saved us about $900.

I'm with Becks! We are getting married at the same resort and when I priced it out "a la carte" it was over $1000 cheaper!

Sounds like you should go with the basic package. Doesn't seem worth it at all.

I am doing the same thing - getting the free package and doing add -ons. It is not worth it the other way.

I got confused in the packages as well (I am at a different resort but same sort of deal.) In fact, about a month ago I went ahead and paid for the most expensive package and about two weeks later realized that I was spending a lot of extra money for what I really was going to want...lucky for my my WC refunded my money immediately and we got the free package instead. If you are staying seven nights or more it seems to be the better deal to take the free package. I think they charge so much for the packages for the people that are not spending all their money staying at the resort for so many nights in the first place, and the packages is how they make their money off these people who aren't paying to stay for very long. Does this make sense?? Anyway, I agree with the others that the free package would be better in the long run and just adding on to your package.

We are getting married at Dreams Cancun and I originally thought the basic package would be good but then when we started to add things on it got way expensive and it was cheaper to go for the upgraded package as everything and the kitchen sink are in it - fair enough I don't want some of it but that is cause I can't be bothered with fuss FI is a different matter lol

I think it must vary resort to resort really

We were going to get married at Dreams and they had a WAY better wedding package then the GP in my mind. We just went with the GP because of the cost to our guests (GP is a bit cheaper).

The GP doesn't offer a free package at all - regardless of how many people are coming or how long they're staying. They just offer the basic package at $1700 and then the upgraded one at $2200.

Thanks for all your thoughts! I honestly thought I was missing someone because I couldn't understand who would upgrade with them.

Thanks!!