robinbood

Hi Kelly,

Just want to reiterate what Missy said- it's all available for your guests when they get there!

Hi Morgan,

The pics and books look wonderful. Thank you for sharing!!! Did you finish them? If so, what's your opinion on the different book vendors?

Just gorgeous- looking forward to the pro pics! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Missy, the one picture looks beautiful! I cannot wait to see the others! Question: Did you have the cocktasil hour on the terrace or on the beach? How about the dancing?

Hi Fanny, Daniela is Perla's assistant. I think Elisa is no longer there.

Missy,

You are amazing! I can't believe you just got back and already posted on the thread. We are truly lucky to have you on BDW. Most importantly: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

It's sounding like the 2nd week in January? I leave on the 18th- it'd be great to meet everyone before I leave to become a married woman .

Hi Megs123,

I know there are wedding coordinators in the Riviera Maya who set up weddings on beaches all the time. One is Caribbean Blue Weddings(www.caribbeanblueweddings.com)- they can suggest several locations- I know they use a beach in Playacar just past Playa del Carmen. Then they work with several restaurants in Playa del Carmen for receptions too, if you needed that. If you don't mind traveling a little further, Al Cielo is a wonderful private spot with a beautiful beach and gourmet restaurant ([email protected]). It's about an hour south of Paradisus, north of the ruins in Tulum by about 20-30 minutes.

Hi Julia,

I think you actually meant this for me (Robin), not Kelly, since her wedding is the 10th. Since we are having a large group, we didn't use any of the existing packages, so I do not know if the open bar is included in those. I would definitely email Perla and ask her if the Aqua package includes any open bar.

I think you will find you will be able to cover everything in about an hour when you meet with Perla. As far as making decisions, it all depends on how quick you and Ryan are at making them/how much you determined beforehand (are you planning on having specific centerpieces? Music? etc.).

Congratulations to you too! I think we are all going to have very special days.

Thanks Kelly! Yes, unfortunately we arrive on the 18th. We'll just miss each other! I can't wait to ask Perla about your wedding when I arrive!

Hi Everybody:). I’m back from my site visit and it was great- I’m so much more relaxed! I’m sorry it’s taken me a few days to write this- I wrote a long review on Sunday, and then when I went to post it, I had to re-login and the review was lost- ugh! So now I’m writing it in word and will cut and paste!

First: Missy, I know you’re down there already- all the best to you! I can’t wait to hear all about your wonderful day.

Ok, so here’s the scoop (I apologize in advance for being so detailed- feel free to skip ahead): My mom and I went down on Friday and returned on Tuesday. I originally was planning on having my ceremony at Paradisus and the reception at the Blue Parrot in Playa del Carmen, because I am having at least 80 guests (still receiving rsvps until Dec.1) and had thought the reception at the Paradisus would be cost prohibitive. I also had seen Nylalany’s review of her wedding last May at Al Cielo and loved what it looked like, so I had made an appointment there as well. Here was our schedule:

Arrive Friday, rent car and check in to Hotel Aqua Luna in Playa del Carmen

Friday afternoon: tasting at Blue Parrot

Saturday morning: First meeting with Perla at Paradisus

Saturday night: Dinner at Yaxche in Playa del Carmen, location for rehearsal dinner

Sunday morning: go to Tulum ruins

Sunday lunch: meeting (and lunch) at Al Cielo

Monday: check in to Paradisus, follow-up meeting with Perla

Monday afternoon: hair trial at Paradisus spa

Tuesday: leave

So since this is the Paradisus thread, I won’t go into detail about the other locations (feel free to pm me with any questions), except to say that Al Cielo is an amazing place, about an hour south of Paradisus, and I had one of the best lunches there I’ve ever had, so if you’re going to see the Tulum ruins, you may want to stop at Al Cielo on your way back (fyi, it’s cash only!).

My mom and I were not comfortable with the lack of privacy at the Blue Parrot at night (it becomes a lively club), and their hotel was a little too far away from the venue to place kids with a babysitter, so when we first met with Perla at the Paradisus, I told her that we would love to be able to have the reception there, but I was concerned with budget. Perla felt confident that we could make it work. WELL, I did not know that the open bar was included in the per person cost of customized packages, as well as tables, chairs, etc.! I had emailed Perla a few months ago about the cost of open bar and she had responded with $10 an hour per person, so I did not realize that was after the first 5 hours (1 hour for cocktail hour, 4 for dinner). Perla apologized for the miscommunication, and said she would update the menu/package options to indicate the inclusion of open bar to clarify for future brides! Did anyone else not know this, or was I just clueless?

When we arrived at the Paradisus, it was as beautiful as I remembered (my fiancé and I had gone down last May). My mother was very happy, which was great, because she was a little apprehensive about the whole destination wedding thing. Now she answers the phone “Holaâ€! There were TWO weddings that afternoon. As most of you know, Paradisus only has ONE wedding per day: However; due to the Dreams Tulum closing, the bride who was booked at the Paradisus agreed to allow another wedding to occur on the same day (very nice of her!). The original wedding was on the beach and the terrace above it. The wedding moved from Dreams was using the area between the pool and the beach- I hadn’t seen that as an option before- it looked very nice and could accommodate a large party (the wedding was for 70 people).

Perla had to go tend to the wedding set-ups, and she let us eat at the buffet restaurant (Caribbean Marketplace), which was nice since we weren’t staying there that night. We let her know the food we were interested in having for the tasting on Monday.

Before we came back on Monday, we went to Plaza Las Americas- a mall in Cancun, to pick out shells for place card holders (per our friends’ recommendation at Hotel Aqua Luna. Muchas gracias Marco, Hugo and Anola!). It’s a large mall, about 10 minutes from the resort, and the shell store is near the Sears entrance. We found great ones, and headed to the resort for the tasting and to finalize the rest of the details. We met Perla. I asked about the weddings on Saturday, and she said it rained during one of them- right after the ceremony. They moved the cocktail hour inside the lobby area, and then were able to have the rest of the reception back outside (one good thing about the climate- other than rainy season, if it rains, it’s for no more than 10 minutes!).

The tasting: The food is good. For foodies, it is not mind blowing, but definitely respectable. The tres leches wedding cake is delicious! One thing to note: some of the menu choices may be available in the daily buffet. We wanted to make sure the food at the reception was not something they would have already eaten during their stay. If this is an issue for you too, just ask Perla, and she’ll let you know. After the tasting, we met up with Perla again, to give her our menu choices and receive a written quote. We will be having a welcome dinner in the buffet restaurant on Friday night- Perla is sectioning off an area for us (no charge). For the reception on Sunday, we are getting married on the beach, and having the reception on the terrace. The per person cost came in less than what we had thought it would . I don’t know if Perla gave us a deal because we were there in person, or because we already have 30 rooms booked, or just that prices have changed, but we were in budget, so whoohoo!!!

After the tasting, we checked in to our room. They had given us a free upgrade to a royal suite ocean front room- it was great to be out on the balcony overlooking the waves. Then we went to the spa for our hair appts. The hair stylist, Leticia does not speak English, but the receptionist does if you need her. Between the pictures I had brought (of a soft updo) and my broken Spanish, we figured things out. She did not follow the pictures closely, but I thought, “Let me see what she will do, because that is what she is most comfortable doingâ€. It turned out really well. I had my mom take pictures so I can remind Leticia what she did come January! My mom, who has short hair, just needed a blow dry, and was not happy with the results. I strongly advise getting a trial appointment before the day of the wedding (for bridesmaids too, if possible), to avoid any unnecessary stress! For dinner, we ate at L’Hermitage, which is beautifully done (pumpkin soup, delicious, sea scallops good, Mom’s duck, not the greatest. Excellent cappuccino). We walked around the resort at night- checked out the lighting on the terrace (which was fine), and had a drink at the lobby bar while listening to guests singing (or trying to sing!) karaoke. It was a really nice, relaxed atmosphere- fun, but not rowdy. If you want more action, you will need to go into Cancun. We went out to the beach before heading back to the room, and laid on the chaise lounges, watching the waves. It doesn’t get much better, does it?

That’s about it. We have all chosen a wonderful place and I feel very lucky! Feel free to ask me any questions. Please also let me know how to upload pictures on here, and I will !

I'm in- let me know where and when(although I'm leaving for my wedding January 18- so hopefully before then)! Thanks for setting it up:):)

I wish I were from Canada!

I'm going to Al Cielo for a site visit the weekend of Nov 15. If anyone has specific questions let me know!

Hi Teacherbride,

I love the costumes! Forgive my ignorance, but what is a wedding social? Can't wait to hear about the shower!

Hi and Congratulations! Another member and her guests stayed at the Grand Riviera Princess and had the rehearsal dinner there, but did not have her wedding there (this past May). She posted some great comments, which you might want to check out. Her thread name is NYLALANY, and I think if you do a search for "Al Cielo" (where she had her ceremony) the thread will come up---she also did a post under "wedding reviews" for it. I hope this is helpful!

Hi Everybody,

I'm going down for a site visit next weekend- Nov 15-18. I've already been to the resort last May, but this time I'm bringing my mom so she can see it and we'll meet with Perla to finalize details.

Please let me know if you want me to ask any specific questions, take certain pictures, etc. while I'm down there!

Missy, it's almost here!!! I am so excited for you

That's awesome- I am sooo happy for you!!! Congratulations(!), and I can't wait to read the review/see your pics!

HI Missy!

I've been in Utah, hiking thru the national parks w/ my FI (our last active getaway before the wedding ). I just wanted to send a quick post to you- you must be getting so excited!!! You have been so helpful to everyone w/ the information you have provided. Thanks again. I also like the new pic of you and your FI.

My mom and I are going to be down for a site visit Nov 14-18: It's probably too early, but will you be there yet?

Hi everybody!

My FI and I have been away in Utah, hiking thru all the gorgeous parks. I ended up spraining my foot on the last day, but it's getting better now (and thank goodness it happened on the last day!). I think I'll save mountain biking until after the wedding!

So I have all the big things done, of which I'm psyched: dress, BM dresses, FI's suit, hotel, reception spot, photog (waiting for contract to finalize), but it's the list of little things that's still long: BM gifts, music, designing programs (I bought the paper), OOT bag stuff, etc. My mom and I are going down for a site visit mid-November (should be some good bonding- I think she's really excited), so I think I'll be able to move ahead with everything (and will have to!) after that, but it's a little stressful being in planning limbo...anyone relate?

Thanks everyone for the rsvp input!!!

oops, I meant STDs, not SODs!

Hi Everybody!

I had my surprise wedding shower this past Saturday . It was so sweet- my BMs and mom and FI planned it and created this ruse to get me out of the house. They decorated the place with tropical flowers, beach stuff, etc. and had everyone wear vacation/beach clothes. It was a lot of fun and I was very touched. I'll post a couple pics if i can figure out how!

I have a question about invitations: What rsvp date is everyone giving? I sent out SODs back in July, and will send a reminder email to book rooms Oct. 1 (the rate is only guaranteed until Oct. 15), so I was viewing the invites as a formality, which we'll be sending out Nov. 1, and was planning on putting December 15 for the rsvp date for my Jan 25 wedding. But I'm thinking maybe I should put December 1, just so I know by then, in case there are any stragglers. The woman at the stationery store is against it (I guess from a strict etiquette standpoint, it's not proper, but I think with a destination wedding, etiquette is more flexible). What do you think? Thanks!!!

Hi Missy,

I have similar question: are you getting your makeup done at the spa? Did you have a trial of that (and if so, how'd it go)? Thanks!

I'm sitting across from my FI right now. In general, he has been pretty good- helping put together the SODs, picking out his suit, etc., but he hasn't asked his Best frined to be his BM yet! When I ask him when this is going to happen, he says Christmas! I just threatened that I'm going to ask for him , and I told him him I was writing about it- he asked if i got a post point- lol. Ah, love .

KLC77- yes I'm at the PRC- I'll change it on my profile! We're there a couple weeks after you it looks like! We're arriving the Sunday before (the 18th I think). Will you still be around? Who's your photographer?