SoontobeMHeikkinen

I used Luisa from Weddings Riviera Maya and highly recommend her, she is fantastic! You can't go wrong, she helped me keep my sanity and did everything I wanted. As you know alot of these resorts have a couple weddings a day so it was a major concern for me as well and that's why I hired Luisa. The resort wedding coordinators worked well with her and she was able to explain things to them in spanish if they didn't understand the english I was using. I assume you've taken a look at Luisa's webpage. I welcome you to take a look at our wedding photos, she's in some of them and she was a big part in making our wedding day a success! 05.23.09 Monica and Kevin | Barcelo Maya | Photos by Vincent Congratulations and let me know if you have any questions!! Quote: Originally Posted by StephyD Have you hired a WC oustide of your resort? I've gotten in touch with Jennifer Smith from Marry Me Akumal and also with Luisa Clemente from Weddings Riviera Maya. Has anyone used either one of them as a WC? Do you know of any other WC in Riviera Maya? I worry that the resort's WC might not focus on us enough as they could have more than one wedding that day, etc. What do you think? Has the on-site WC been enough for you?

Hi Michelle, We went with Ocean Scents I believe...it made the most sense. We had 25 people at our wedding. Congrats!! Quote: Originally Posted by michelle2011 Monica - Wow your photos are beautiful. You looked stunning, so romantic! The setting is lovely. It just makes me want to go NOW!! It's so frustrating as the flights are not out for May 2011 yet so we are having to wait! ( I had an email from Victoria Robledo today. Has anyone else heard from her? I've had 3 emails from the hotel about info and every time it's somebody different. My friend got married at Iberostar Maya last May and she used the Photocaribbean photographer (based at the hotel) and her photos are gorgeous to. We are thinking of using them and hope our photos will be as nice!

I was debating between both of these resorts as well, until we found out that they do not accept outside photographers on their resort. This was last year... Hope this helps. Quote: Originally Posted by prettypigpig Ok thanks girls!! at the same time...I am hesitating between the Barcelo and the Ocean Turquesa. Did someone looked at the OCEAN Turquesa?

Elisha, No trouble at all! You do have to pay $100 fee for each vendor that comes on the barcelo property. There was two photographers, so it was $200. As far as Del Sol Photography is concerned they are outstanding and I highly recommend them! Quote: Originally Posted by elisha0607 SoontobeMHeikkinen, Your pictures were fabulous! Did you have trouble using an outside photographer?

Hi FutureMrs.D ! Thanks The runner was provided, if I remember correctly. Congrats to you too!!! Quote: Originally Posted by FutureMrs.D Wow, your pictures are beautiful!! I just had one question for you: I'm getting married in the Palace Gazebo too.. I was wondering if they provided the aisle runner or if that's something you brought? Thanks! and Congrats on your wedding!

Yesther, Thanks I actually hired an outside wedding coordinator- Luisa (who i highly recommend) from Weddings Riviera Maya Weddings Riviera Maya Weddings on the beach Playa del Carmen Tulum Riviera Maya and we used her florist. He did not speak any english so she translated what I wanted. The original flowers I wanted to use were priced at $150 a string, we ended coming up with a cheaper alternative, carnations that cost $15 a string. The total hanging flower set up cost us $300. I was very surprised it came out as good as it did, with the language barrier and he had never done it before. Let me know if I can be anymore help and Congrats! Quote: Originally Posted by yesther Monica, The pictures were great! I'm so excited to finally get there already! Can you give us the information on your gazebo decorations? I loved the hanging flowers, and would love to incorporate that into my wedding. Thanks!

Hey Stacey! Thanks We were very lucky, the resort was bare due to the "swine flu" at the time, so we didn't have any issues with on-lookers. There were a few you can see in the photos. Our wedding ceremony was 6:45pm. The staff at barcelo actually did a pretty good job keeping people back. The ceremony only lasted 15 min anyway Our reception was at the Palmeras Grill and the food was great! Let me know if I can be any more help! Quote: Originally Posted by staceychris17 HI Monica!! I LOVED your pictures!! Did you have a lot of people watching your ceremony on the walk way between the gazebo and the beach? Where was your reception held?

Good Morning Everyone! It's been awhile since I've been on here, we actually got married almost a year ago Anyway, I remembered how much I valued the information given to me from previous brides at Barcelo and thought I share my photos for those that were questioning, the resort, food, etc. The photos should be able to answer alot of those questions! Congratulations to everyone!! 05.23.09 Monica and Kevin | Barcelo Maya | Photos by Vincent

We hired an outside wc in Riviera Maya to coordinate with Gabriella and Ana at Barcelo. It ended up working great. There are 4-6 wedding coordinators at Barcelo and Gabriella is the head coordinator. Ana is fairly new but she is great!! I will post pics soon

We just got married at the Palace and did not use the DJ. I heard through the grapevine he wasn't worth it so we used our I-pod. It ended up working out great since we got to put together our own list of music and the sound system was VERY LOUD! We wouldn't change a thing!

Awesome review! I can't wait, getting married in 11 days! Can't see your pics unfortunately I am at work

Quote: Originally Posted by CaraW I wonder what they would say if we wanted to bring our friend, who's not technically a photographer yet, and he's staying at the resort the whole time we are.. Cara, It should not be a problem. We were originally going to have a friend take photographs then changed our mind. Barcelo can't make you use their photographer, and since your friend is staying at the resort it shouldn't be a problem. Always confirm with the wc there.

Quote: Originally Posted by IndianBride Hi Everyone! I just read that someone got confirmation from the WC at Barcelo that they no longer allow outside photographers and have changed their policy to this recently. Is anyone else aware of this or have information about it? My wedding planner checked with Gabriela, the head wc @ barcelo, and we just need to purchase two day passes for two of our outside photographers Our wedding is May 23, 2009! Hope that helps!!

Quote: Originally Posted by TrishB12 I have a question, I hope someone has an answer for me! My fiance and I have reserved our wedding date the Barcelo and I was just wondering if we decide to have a symbolic wedding (not legal) can we still have a "Under the Stars" package or do we have to use the "Renewal of Vows" package? The Under the Stars package has way more to it and I don't want to have to add all these things to the Renewal of Vows package for a ton of extra money! If anyone knows it would be a great help for me. Thanks! Hey Trish, Typically the Renewel of Vows are for those already married and want to renew their vows. So they would expect you to choose a package other than the Renewel. Just like you, we are not having a legal ceremony, instead we are having a religous ceremony. We are getting married in May and our wedding package, Ocean Scents, has been confirmed. Hope that helps!!

Quote: Originally Posted by harv0136 Thanks for the info sunshinekc08. That is a good idea to stay at the Colonial/Tropical and then upgrade to the palace for your wedding and rest of stay. Did you feel there was a big difference between the two hotels? Do you have different options for your wedding ceremony and dinner if you stay at the Palace. I think I want my ceremony on the beach and my dinner in one of the outdoor grills. I'd love to see pictures and hear more. Thanks! Yes there is a major difference in the wedding packages. If you want your dinner/reception outdoors you have to have the Ocean Scents package or higher (more expensive). The first two packages Mayan Sunset & Under the Stars are banquet room only for dinner, but you can still have the ceremony outside. The first two packages also have a limited menu, three courses,for you to choose from. Ocean Scents and higher have a five course meal (one of the choices is beef tenderloin w/lobster tail). I hired an outside WC in Riviera Maya to work in conjunction with Gabriela (WC at Barcelo Palace). My WC is making sure all our i's are dotted and t's are crossed so we know what we're getting into.

If you would like to use any outside vendors you must first get them approved by the wedding coordinator. You will have to purchase a day pass for each person that comes on property, I believe it's $100-125. We are using del Sol Photography. and two photographers come in our package with them so we will have to purchase two day passes.

Quote: Originally Posted by [email protected] SERVED GALA DINNERS SET UP MENUS Menu # 1 Cesar Salad Half Marinated Chicken with garlic and herbs Crunchy tulip with cheesse mousse and ice cream Coffee, petit fours Menu # 2 Mixed Salad Cordon blue chicken breast creamy lemon pie Coffee, petit fours Menu # 3 Fish soup with marinated au garlic crocant and rouille sauce Fillet of fresh salmon with dill Tropical fruits with vanilla ice cream Coffee, petit fours Vegetarian menu Cream of carrot soup Vegetable strudel with red pepper sauce Dessert Coffee, petit fours N.B: Some dishes are subject to season or market availability, and number of guests in party Prices are in U.S. Dollars and include tax & service charge, and include 3 hours of open bar (domestic drinks) Pepsi, where did you get this menu from? I am getting married at the Palace in May and that is not the 08' or 09' menu. Also, it is very tough to get in contact with the WC there but I hired a Riviera Maya WC outside of the resort and she is touch with the WC there on a regular basis. All the information I have is up to date. If you purchase Mayan or Seabreeze packages there are 4 courses (including dessert). My fiance and I will spend $100+ on a nice dinner when we go out, and I have to say that the Palace menu is by far the nicest we've seen of any resort. Although we were impressed with the menu we wanted our reception outside so we needed to upgrade to the Under the Stars, which offers Surf and Turf as an option (packages after Seabreeze are 5 courses). The following menu is not to get confused with the other resorts at Barcelo and is offered at the Palace. It is also ONLY FOR MAYAN and SEA BREEZE PACKAGES. There are four courses and you can pick which course you want from any of the menus to make up your wedding menu. Menu # 1 Yellow fin tuna carpaccio Cream of asparagus sauce Beef tenderloin Luke warm half baked dark chocolate fondant Coffee, petit fours Menu # 2 Sea scallops salad with lime vinaigrette Lobster bisque Beef tenderloin Wellington Crème brûlée Coffee, petit fours Menu # 3 Homemade rabbit terrine Coquille Saint Jacques with saffron cream sauce Fillet of fresh salmon with dill Stracciatella parfait with caramel sauce Coffee, petit fours Menu # 4 Beef carpaccio with green peppercorn sauce Consommé Célestine Roast rack of lamb with rosemary Caribbean pineapple & coconut cake Coffee, petit fours Vegetarian menu Tomato salad with goat cheese & pesto dressing Cream of carrot soup Vegetable strudel with red pepper sauce Dessert Coffee, petit fours N.B: Some dishes are subject to season or market availability, and number of guests in party Prices are in U.S. Dollars and include tax & service charge, and include 3 hours of open bar (domestic drinks) I am not on here often, but will be happy to answer any questions sent pm

Quote: Originally Posted by harv0136 I heard that the menu options changed and they no longer offer surf and turf. Does anyone know if this is true and what the new options are? Thanks! Your menu options depend on what wedding package you choose. For 2009, there are 6 wedding packages. The first two packages, Mayan Sunset and Seabreeze do not offer surf and turf as a combo (they are the least expensive of the 6). Also it's good to know with the first two packages you are not able to have the wedding reception outside, only in the banquet room. This is why my fiance and I upgraded to the next package up "Under the Stars".

Monamor, Wow, your reception sounds awesome with the lighting and location!! I'd also love to see photos! I am still waiting for Gabriela to send me my options

Hey there! Yes we have proceeded with Barcelo Maya Palace. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have

Hi there! Not sure if you're still looking for a WC in Cozmel or not but I am using Luisa from www.weddingsriveriamaya.com and she is fantastic! I know she travels to Cancun to do weddings and believe she does Cozmel. Let me know if I can be of any more help

Quote: Originally Posted by mexicanbridewithquestions I haven't picked my site yet, but looking closely at Azul Sensatori. Even with the little communication I have had. I can see how planning a wedding from this far is frustrating. I saw on BDW that someone suggested hiring an outside WC. This is the first I have heard of this and really like the idea. Does anyone know more about it in the Riviera Mayan area? Do the resorts allow it (especially the Karisma resorts) Does anyone have any recommendations? How much does it cost? Thanks in advance Hi there! I am actually using Luisa from Weddings Riviera Maya wedding planner playa del carmen tulum riviera maya and she is excellent! My fiance and I had specific requirements we needed met in finding the perfect resort and she was able to assist in the research. We went through MANY resorts so if I can be of any help let me know. Do you plan on using an outside photographer as well? That will also narrow down your search, since there aren't too many resorts that allow outside photographers. Again, let me know if I can be of any help!

Hey brides! I am also looking for a sylist, I'll search as well and see what I can find

Does anyone have photos of the outdoor grills used as reception sites?

Have you found anything yet?