Sandos Playacar Brides!

Ok...sorry to be a little 'posting happy' but just after I sent this post, I continued to read on with the reviews on trip advisor. The one directly underneath to the link I sent you, was from a bride with a not so great review. She had a couple of rather misfortunate incidents.

thank you!

I heard back from Paola and I got all the questions answered that I wanted, so I'm feeling confident and I booked it! It's nice to have it all finalized.

We are leaving on the 22nd and it is coming fast... I want to start posting some info incase I run out of time.

[bThis is the most recent email that I got from Sandos talking about the documents we will need and any info that we have to send earlier. ..[/b]

I would love to move forward to the next step with the legal requirements for your wedding. Please both of you bring your birth certificates, passports and tourist card in our first appointment. Also fill out the form attached and scan it for me, I need this information as in birth certificates, it is very important to have all addresses complete and ages of your witnesses and you. Can you confirm if you are divorced or not please?

These are the requirements to get married in Mexico, (for singles never married before)

arrival 3 working days prior to the ceremony

passport valid at least 6 months after the ceremony & birth certificates, scanned prior your arrival.

tourist visa - you get it upon your arrival in Mexico (be sure that is in perfect shape and the 11 numbers of the top are complete)

4 witnesses (arriving the same day as the couple to be married)

blood test done in Mexico ( arranged by the Wedding planner)

For your fiance if he is divorced there is not any problem because he didn't change his name after his first marriage.

Now, about you, let me know if you are divorced and if so, if your passport has your divorced or maiden name?

If you are divorced I'll need your birth certificate where your parent's name is shown. Also, your divorce certificate both with a legal seal.

These documents have to be faxed at least 2 weeks prior to your arrival to be translated by one professional translator here in Mexico, at the Registry office.

The original copies will stay here in Mexico with the judge. The cost for this service is 50USD per page.

To legalize your marriage certificate you will need a translation of it into English and also a Mexican Apostille with international approval. This service has an additional charge of 270USD. I can arrange it for you right after your ceremony. Papers will be sent to your place and it takes around 2 weeks to receive them. Shipping fees are included in the price. Payment is in cash in our first meeting.

Thank you for your beautiful efforts.

I am looking forward to see you...

Warm Regards

--

Paola Padrón | Groups & Weddings Planner

WeddingPaperwork1.xls

Here is another email answering some random questions that I asked... My questions are followed by her answers...

1. what would the cost be to have the beach setup from the higher packages added to the sandos package?

Can you please explain the set up that you would like to have please? The set up included in the wedding package is a nice decoration at the beach with white clothes (please see pictures attached), white clothes on the chairs with ribbons (we have different colors) You mean for a private reception, dinner or party with drinks?

For private events these are the new prices for this 2009, i'll work with these prices at least until July 2009.

Private events are not included in your "All Inclusive" package, so they have additional charges because you will have a reserved area just for your whole group of guests. Available time is from 6.30 pm to 10:30pm. Place: beach or pool area far away from the beach.

Site fees= 500USD on the beach (minimum number 40 people)

Site fees by the pool= 400USD (minimum number 40 people)

menu charge per person = since 39USD per person

open bar = since 18 per person

Music.. DJ= 50USD per hour

15% service and 10% taxes (of the total amount of the event)

Note: People that are not guests of the resort will need to pay a day pass $77 usd.

2. on the wedding packages it mentions that if you reserve 18 rooms for 7 nights you can get the sandos package free and upgrade to the carribean for $800. we do not have 18 rooms for 7 nights but we do have 20 rooms for varying amounts of time. 18rms x 7nights 6. If you calculate the total number of room nights booked it equals 133. Does this qualify us to get the sandos package free. (most of our guests are booked in the ocean front rooms)

If you have 5 rooms for 7 nights your can have for free the Sandos Symbolic Package.

If you have 18 rooms for 7 nights you can have for free the Sandos Legal Package. My question for you is the wedding that you are looking for is legal or symbolic?

My system will only allow me to take the rooms that are staying for 7 nights.

If you have The Sandos Symbolic Package for free (it does not include the Minister $350usd) and you want to upgrade it to the Caribbean Symbolic Package the difference to pay is for 1100 (including minsiter).

If you have the Sandos Legal Package for free (it does not include the Judge´s transportation $70usd & translator $40usd) and you want to upgrade it to the Caribbean Legal Package the difference to pay is for $800 (it does not include the Judge´s transportation $70usd & translator $40usd).

3. what type of payment do you accept?

We accept visa or mastercard, American express, debit or credit. Even though some of the payments are paid in cash in our appointment. This will depend on the type of wedding that you will have.

4. can you send me some information photography costs?

Photography prices: 2009

10 photos = 150USD (no CD, no photo album)

20 photos = 270USD (no CD, no photo album)

** 30 photos = 470 USD

**60 pictures = 770 USD

** 90 pictures = 1100 USD

** 120 pictures = 1300 USD

**Note: prices include print pictures & pictures in a CD ROM & a Caribbean photo album.

IMPORTANT: PICTURES IN THE CD ARE THE SAME PRINTED PICTURES, NUMBER OF THESE PHOTOS DEPENDS ON THE PACKAGE THAT YOU CHOOSE.

Video= 30 min edited in DVD price is 650 USD

5. how much does it cost to call the united states from your resort?

$18 pesos per minute and with the exchange rate 12.40 pesos per dollar for now it will be $1.45 usd

Best Regards

--

Paola Padrón | Groups & Weddings Planner

I wanted to review/confirm some of the prices that we had talked about.... Here is the "corrected" information (it is slightly different than what she had sent before... "estimated" suddenly showed up and this is the first time I had heard about an additional $6.oo per person over 30 people for the toast and cake.

Please find all the numbers corrected below:

$220.00 per couple for blood test

$ 77.00 per guest pass

$ 70.00 judge transportation

$ 40.00 translator (our wedding ceremonies are in Spanish)

$270.00 to translate the marriage paperwork from Spanish to English estimated

$30-60.00 to steam my dress or suit $30 usd

$65 to 100 usd for your hair at the spa salon

If you would like me to do the Mexican Apostille for you, you will go home with copies of your legal papers and I stay with the originals, the judge has two original copies too. I will send you the original papers via mail with the legal apositlle in the next two weeks after your marriage.

The set up will depend on your wedding package.

I can confirm the June 26th and I have you in my schedule at 5pm. I would like to let you know. The wedding packages are for 30 people, and the extras are 6 usd per person for the toast and cake.

Please let me know if you have special set up ideas and if you want something special we can do it! All I want us to help you to prepare the wedding of your dreams!

Have a nice weekend!

Best Regards

Paola Padrón | Groups & Weddings Planners

Here are some more random questions (FYI our ceremony time is 5pm):

1.What papers are needed for proof of his divorce? (I have never been married)

For your fiance there is not any problem because he didn't change his name after his first marriage. For both I will only need passport, tourist card & a copy of your birth certificate.

2.Are we able to use one of our guests as a translator?

Yes you can! We have had this case before and it is possible.

3.Do they offer acrylic nails at the salon there?

Yes we do have acrylic nails. And I can recommend you a lot our beautiful spa and they are very good.

4.What is the cost to have our wedding clothes pressed/steamed?

Depending on the complicity of your dress it will go form 30 to 60 usd and I would just ask you to give me the wedding clothes on the day of our appointment; so, we have enough time to do it.

5.Do we need to have anything translated before we arrive?

Not before; if you are not divorced. You will need a translation of your marriage certificate afterwards.

6.Do you offer translation of wedding certificate into english?

To legalize your marriage certificate you will need a translation of it into English and also a Mexican Apostille with international approval. This service has an additional charge of 270USD. I can arrange it for you right after your ceremony. Papers will be sent to your place and it takes around 2 weeks to receive them. Shipping fees are included in the price. Payment is in cash in our first meeting.

7.Is there an answering machine system available on the room phone? We are trying to figure out a way to let our guests know our plans of the day.

We do not have this service; but, we do provide written messages if your family wuld like to send you a message and they ca do it through our operator.

8.When do you need to know how many guest passes we will need?

On the day of the appointment you can let me know if you would like me to charge them to your room, or they will pay for them directly at the front desk.

Note: People that are not guests of the resort will need to pay a day pass $77 usd and $39 usd per child. This is a special wedding rate, it is normally 90 usd per person.

For further questions please do not hesitate on asking me.

Have a nice week

Guadalupe Porras & Paola Padron

t is my great pleasure to assist you in this very special occasion and please let me answer below your questions...

1. What time should guests arrive at the ceremony location (the beach)?

hey should arrive at 4:30, the wedding hut is at the very end of our beach right hand and it is a beautiful location.

2. Is there any way to know what time and where we will be eating dinner? (I do have one child guest)

The opening time for restaurants is 6:30 and we have time for you to have the ceremony, take pictures and be at the restaurant 6:30

The restaurant reservation will depend on the number of final guests in your group.

3. Suggestions on where to gather after dinner but before the disco opens?

I recommend you to have your dinner in one restaurant and then you can hire the disco to have a private event for speeches and dance.

Our Disco is available from 7pm to 11pm, since it opens its doors for the rest of our guests.

Additional cost is 280USD per hour plus 15% per service. It includes: drinks, microphone, DJ and screen for slide show.

**Children are allowed just in private events. (younger than 18 years old)

Another recommendation is to have a private reception to dance (1rst and 2nd dances, etc.), toast and have the cake aftewards in a private setting at the beach or at the pool. For private events these are the new prices for this 2009, i'll work with these prices at least until July 2009.

Private events are not included in your "All Inclusive" package, so they have additional charges because you will have a reserved area just for your whole group of guests. Available time is from 6.30 pm to 10:30pm. Place: beach or pool area far away from the beach.

Site fees= 500USD on the beach (minimum number 40 people)

Site fees by the pool= 400USD (minimum number 40 people)

menu charge per person = since 39USD per person

open bar = since 18 per person

Music.. DJ= 50USD per hour

15% service and 10% taxes (of the total amount of the event)

I would like to know what your policy is regarding outside photographers. Are they allowed? Is there a fee? Also, can you please let me know who your photographer is or what company he/she is with? Thank you.

The fee is 77USD per the photographer. The company is Photoshop but they don't have a web page. They do a very good job don't worry.

Formato_Wedding.pdf

thank you for all the detailed information.!

Hi, my husband's co-worker stayed at this resort in April and he HIGHLY recommended this place to me. He said he had a great time there and even saw a wedding take place. Great service and a beautiful resort is what he said. He was nice enough to bring me a packet back to review. I haven't decided yet on a location because I'm torn between Playa Del Carmen and Punta Cana (Dominican Republic).

I'm getting excited girls.....We are leaving in 8 days and the wedding is in 13!!! I'll try to post pics when I come back but I haven't been very good at doing that.

Diana, that's interesting they say $6 per person extra for the toast and cake. It seems like they nickel and dime you to death on things.