TA Wendy

Hi Jessicaallie, TA Wendy here! You have chosen a great resort! I love love love this resort! It is in such a great location, and has a happy fun feel to the whole property.. Plus I love their gazebo, I think it is the prettiest location in the entire area! If you need some help with securing your group block on the rooms, and/or you just have any questions about the process in general, we are here to help and have worked with this property many times! Happy booking! TA Wendy

Welcome, Jania! How exciting! With Palace, are you being married at Playacar Palace, in Playa Del Carmen? RE advice, have you blocked your rooms yet with a group block and are you working with a Travel Agent who specializes in Destination Weddings? If not yet, those should be top on your to do list! If you would like to chat or have one of our expert TAs contact you to assist, just click the Contact Me button at the top of the page. We at Wright Travel Agency are very experienced and are here to help!! TA Wendy

Hi Brittney, and Welcome! You have come to a great place here! You will find a lot of help and information here. We at Wright Travel Agency are Destination Wedding Specialists and would be happy to offer assistance to you for any of the locations you are considering! If you click the Contact Me button above one of our agents will respond quickly and can help you to get all the information and direction you may be looking for! Best wishes and happy planning! TA Wendy

Hi there! You will find lots of good information and recommendations here! You can get further, and more personalized information by clicking on the link above and one of our Wright Travel Agents will quickly be in touch to assist! Good luck and congratulations on your marriage! TA Wendy

Hi Pamib, You are on the right track! RIU Montego Bay is quite a good choice! Please let us at Wright Travel know if we can be of assistance to you! We are experts in all things Jamaica! Just click the Contact Me link above and one of our agents will be right back with you to assist with all you need! Congratulations to you!! TA Wendy

Hi Jenn, TA Wendy here! I second what TA Patty has stated. The Royalton is a great property. In a great location, with easy arrival and departure transfers to the airport included with your group package. The property has an Adults only section for those who wish to be apart from the family friendly side of the resort. They have some great wedding locations and their wedding department has proven to be helpful and willing to work with couples to make the wedding day magical! The restaurants are excellent and the buffet is like no other in size and variety of goodies! To answer your question about the rooms/ vs the wedding day itself, often couples choose to book their actual wedding, and work with an on site wedding coordinator at the resort pertaining to the details of the wedding... flowers, colors, linens, etc. We CAN also assist in getting your wedding date booked for you if you are in need of a bit of help. As TAs who specialize in Destination Weddings, we at Wright Travel would be of the biggest help to you with blocking your rooms, speaking with your guests, taking everyone's payments, arranging transfers, (and air if needed), and delivering your documents. We also can offer some nice group incentives for you as bride and groom, and we are happy to explain the process. Just click above and fill out a "Contact Me" form and one of our Wright Travel Agents will be right back in touch with you!! All the best for your engagement and planning! TA Wendy

Hi Megan, TA Wendy Here. Both Now Jade and Now Sapphire are great choices, and we at Wright Travel have worked with and advised on both. They are both part of the AM Resorts group of resorts, and so will offer you the very same in the way of amenities and benefits for booking your wedding group. They are nearby each other. Some of the main differences are decor... Now Jade is a bit more modern and has very Jewel tone colors and decor, and Now Sapphire has a bit more of a traditional "Mexican" feel to the architecture and decor. Both have some great wedding venue locations, and price wise they will be similar. In recent months we have seen a bit of a rise in popularity of Now Sapphire among couples, but honestly I think it is purely a matter of which look and feel appeals to you more. We would be glad to get you prices and a list of amenities that would be available to you for your wedding, and can also check the wedding date for you and see what dates and times might work for you if you like. We at Wright Travel also have some additional amenities we can offer couples that qualify such as a "Bride and Groom fly free" program and we would love to tell you more about the details. I also have both the full wedding guides and would be happy to forward to you so you can have a better look at the venues, rooms and restaurants. Please if you would like to have some help with getting quotes, and other information just click on the "contact an agent" button above and we will be glad to assist!! Best regards and wishes to you! TA Wendy

These personal reviews were very helpful I am sure to many brides, and I believe were very accurate. We at Wright Travel Agency know and have visited them all ourselves. We are always glad to answer questions and help when a couple is trying to decide between several resorts, and/or we are happy to make suggestions. Please let us know how we can be of help to you throughout the entire process of selecting a resort, and getting all of your guests booked! TA Wendy

Hi Emily, Le Blanc would be a wonderful place for a vow renewal. They have a beautiful gazebo, and their service, location, food and rooms can not be better. We at Wright Travel would love to help you to have a most wonderful 5th year anniversary celebration. Just let us know and we can get pricing and put you in touch with the wedding department on site that can arrange the vow renewal for you. TA Wendy

Hi Rocio, Congratulations! You have selected a wonderful destination for your wedding! We at Wright Travel have personal experience with the resorts you are considering. TA Babs makes some great points about the resorts. I would add that you might want to consider what activities and excursions you have in mind for yourself and your guests. Moon Palace is very near to so many of the great attractions in Jamaica.. Dunns River Falls is just across the bay, and Rafting on the Martha Brae river, Tubing, all are nearby and convenient to get to. From the Hyatt, you are near to and convenient to the airport and to Rose Hall area which has a very cool plantation to visit as well as beautiful golf course just across the street. At Azul, up in Negril Beach area you have the fun Ricks Cafe nearby for a great excursion ... a place to sip a Red Stripe and jump from the cliffs into the ocean below! We at Wright Travel are happy to discuss and help you to find your perfect resort. Info@wrighttravelagency.com. TA Wendy

Hi all, TA Wendy Here... Please allow me to share my thoughts on the recent reports you may be hearing. Mexico is a very safe place, and the resorts are very safe. Over the years I personally have sent literally thousands of guests to resorts in Mexico without incident. The Cancun/Riviera Maya area receives millions of guests per year, with the VAST majority having a great experience. I myself typically go there alone or with friends/spouse/groups about 4 times per year without incident of any sort. Unfortunately, whether you are at home or abroad, you can never guarantee safety 100%. In my personal experience, I have observed that it frequently happens that people arrive at an all inclusive resort, hang in the pool all day in the hot sun, drinking at the swim up bar, much more than they normally would, and maybe forgetting to hydrate properly, and they can and do have ill effects from consuming too much alcohol. I recall one gentleman at a wedding I helped arrange and attended, who went out on the wedding day, and spent the day golfing, drinking the entire time, and he wound up passing out in his room and missing his best friend's wedding from a combination of heat stroke/too much alcohol. In the case of the two siblings that has received so much press, it is tragic and sad, but also it must be noted that these two teens each consumed at least 5 shots of tequila in a fairly short time. This would certainly knock me out. I would never try to push anyone to go somewhere they dont feel safe, but please just keep in mind when you read stories like these, that the whole of the Cancun /Riviera Maya economy is based on tourism. Almost everyone you meet earns their living in one way or another from tourism. It would be extremely short sighted for resorts to allow a tainted product of any sorts to be on their menu that could result in a huge drop in bookings, and potentially collapse their entire economy. When /wherever you travel, domestically or internationally, some common sense rules apply pertaining to watching your drink, not leaving it unattended, not drinking to excess etc. This is just the world we live in. Sorry to be preachy, but I do know that the VAST majority of travelers to Mexico have a safe and wonderful time there, and I hate to think that a couple of sensational stories could be cast as normal when they certainly are NOT the norm.

Hi There, Kee, Well you have made the first decision in choosing Jamaica and Montego Bay!! A couple of things to ask yourself are: Will there be children there, or only adults? What is your budget for the resort? Do you envision your wedding on the beach, in a gazebo, on a terrace or in a ballroom, or in a chapel? Are you envisioning an intimate resort, or one with lots going on, many restaurants to select from and lots of entertainment options? Those sort of questions will help you to make your selection! Resorts that are right in Montego Bay and have a lot to offer with great wedding packages include, (but not limited to) Secrets Wild Orchid or Secrets St James - (both adults only) Hyatt Ziva/ Zilara - (both an adults and a family friendly side) Iberostar - large property with a number of resorts all on the same complex RIU Palace - on the lower end of the price point, easy to reach location. If you would like to speak to one of us from Wright Travel Agency please click the contact me button and we will be glad to answer all your questions and help you to come to a decision on the perfect resort for you! Best wishes! TA Wendy Wright Travel Agency

Hi There, TA Wendy here. I read your post and just wanted to suggest that if you have not yet considered Merida you might want to put on the list.. It is a charming colonial town with much history, beauty and great venues from Haciendas, to boutique hotels to regular resort venues. Let me know if we at Wright Travel Agency can provide any info for you! Best to you, TA Wendy

Hi There Mfinberg716, TA Wendy here! Congratulations on your engagement! You are at the beginning of such an exciting time! You will find a wealth of information here on the BDW forum, and we at Wright Travel are here to help you through the entire process! You are correct that there are many options and locations and destinations to select from, but once you have narrowed it down a bit, your choices will become clear, and when the resort has been picked and rooms blocked, and wedding date on the books it becomes a very easy process! A few questions to ask of yourself that will help to zero in on your perfect destination wedding: What is the ideal date and time of your wedding What dates would you like to stay? How many people will be attending? Where will most of your guests be traveling from? Will this be a legal or symbolic wedding? (We can explain the differences for you!) Would you prefer a gazebo or a beach wedding? Will there be children at the wedding? Do you have any resorts in mind (all inclusive, family friendly, etc)? If not, describe the type of resort you are interested in as well as a target price range (per person, per night) Please let us know if we can be of help! If you click the contact me button at the top of the page one of our Wright Travel Agents will be in touch and will answer all of your questions about the process! Again, our biggest Congratulations! TA Wendy

Hi There, FutureMrs2018! TA Wendy here! Welcome and I hope you find lots of help and information here on the BDW forum pages! One of the first orders of business in doing planning for a Destination Wedding is selecting a resort and blocking your rooms for your group. We at Wright Travel are experts in working with all of the tour operators and resorts and are here to help you with the entire process! Please let us know how we can help! if you click the Contact Me button at the top one of our experienced agents will contact you back and answer any and all of your questions about the process! Happy planning! TA Wendy

Welcome to you Alice25! You have come to the right place to find so much information and help on all things Destination Wedding!! We here at Wright Travel Agency can also help with answering any and all questions you have about the entire process. Please let us know how we can assist you! TA Wendy Wright Travel Agency

Hi Inessa, Congratulations on your engagement and congratulations on deciding on doing a Destination Wedding! You will find that the you have so many options to select from and if it gets to be a bit overwhelming we here at Wright Travel Agency are ready and able to help in any and every way you may need it! We specialize in Destination weddings, and know all of the ins and outs of getting the most for your money as well as creating an amazing experience for you and your guests. Narrowing down your choices of Destination, and selecting the resort that provides you with the perfect fit is where we can be your partner/advocate/agent. Let us know how we can best assist at the moment even if it is just bouncing questions off of us, and giving you information on how the process works! Best wishes to you in this exciting time!! TA Wendy Looking for a travel agency that specializes in Destination Weddings? We are an award winning travel agency and you can read our reviews HERE. Awards and recognition: Palace Resorts Top PRO Agency Karisma Hotels Diamond Level 5 (highest production), Top 10 Azul Weddings, Top Wedding Coordinator AMResorts Master Agent & Top Agency Travel Impressions Best of the Best Globe Winner Apple Vacations Golden Apple Winner5 (highest production), Top 10 Azul Weddings, Top Wedding Coordinator | AMResorts Master Agent & Top Agency | Travel Impressions Best of the Best Globe Winner | Apple Vacations Golden Apple Winner

Hi LM2017, TA Wendy here! Congratulations on deciding to have your wedding in Cancun/Riviera Maya.. it is a great choice and you are correct that there are so many wonderful resorts to choose from. With regards to pricing for groups, the resorts set their group rates normally 1-2 years into the future, and the pricing does not need to be negotiated or bargained on. The thing that will vary and can result in you as bride and groom receiving more in the way if amenities is the size of your group. The more rooms you wind up booking with your group the more you stand to earn in the way of complimentary nights, upgrades, free events and other amenities that your selected resort may offer. At Wright Travel, we do a great deal of business with the resorts in the area, and are experts and can often get you even more in the way of amenities such as spa certificates, or Bride and Groom fly free promotion, and we are here to advise and assist as you go through the process. Moon Palace and Dreams Tulum are both wonderful resorts in the area, but really could not be any more different one from the other... We would be glad to chat, and answer all your questions about the process and help you to find your perfect resort! Let us know when you might like to discuss and we will be glad to help! TA Wendy wendy@wrighttravelagency.com Looking for a travel agency that specializes in Destination Weddings? We are an award winning travel agency and you can read our reviews HERE. Awards and recognition: Palace Resorts Top PRO Agency Karisma Hotels Diamond Level 5 (highest production), Top 10 Azul Weddings, Top Wedding Coordinator AMResorts Master Agent & Top Agency Travel Impressions Best of the Best Globe Winner Apple Vacations Golden Apple Winner5 (highest production), Top 10 Azul Weddings, Top Wedding Coordinator | AMResorts Master Agent & Top Agency | Travel Impressions Best of the Best Globe Winner | Apple Vacations Golden Apple Winner

Hi 2018 Brides! It may SEEM to be far away but 2018 is really just around the corner, and you are all very wise to make your resort selections, get the wedding date booked, and hold your rooms at your selected resort now, so that you know you can have the date and space you will need! We here at Wright Travel Agency are in the US, but work with all of the resorts, and are very familiar with all of the promotions offered for groups. We all travel to visit new properties, and are here and ready to be your TA resource! Please let one of the agents at Wright Travel Agency help you to find and confirm your resort and date for you! TA Wendy Wright Travel Agency Looking for a travel agency that specializes in Destination Weddings-CLICK HERE? We are an award winning travel agency and you can read our reviews here. Awards and recognition: Palace Resorts Winner "Top Travel Agent", "Top Homebased Travel Agency" PRO Platinum Agency (Top Award) | AMResorts Master Agent & Top Agency Karisma Hotels Diamond Level 5 (highest production), Top 10 Azul Weddings, Top Wedding Coordinator | Wright Travel & Karisma GIVC Benefits Travel Impressions Best of the Best Globe Winner | Apple Vacations Golden Apple Winner

Hi Mother Phyllis, TA Wendy here.. I myself was married on the Big Island on the Kohala coast. Can I be of help to you? How many guests are you expecting and what is your chosen resort? I would be glad to offer any advice and assistance I am able! You can message or contact me here or directly at Wendy@wrighttravelagency.com. Best regards, TA Wendy

Hi KBReis, TA Wendy here.. I wanted to chime in as I know the initial part of the search for your Destination wedding location can be overwhelming! Some things to ask yourself that may help you to narrow your selection would be: What is the ideal date and time of your wedding (if you have not booked this with the resort, what dates are you interested in and I can check with the resort to see if it is available) What dates would you like to stay? How many people will be attending? Where will most of your guests be traveling from? Will this be a legal or symbolic wedding? Would you prefer a gazebo or a beach wedding? Will there be children at the wedding? Do you have any resorts in mind (all inclusive, family friendly, etc)? If not, describe the type of resort you are interested in as well as a target price range (per person, per night) Most all resorts offer benefits and amenities for you as the wedding couple for booking your wedding and group there, some more than others. If you have any questions or would like to chat with one of our Wright Travel Agents who specialize in Destination weddings please click the Contact me button and one of us will be happy to discuss and explain the entire process with you and perhaps help you to zero in on the perfect resort for you! Best regards, TA Wendy

Hi There to ep643! Welcome! I am TA Wendy, and I would be happy to give you some input on all of the resorts you are considering.. I work frequently with wedding groups at each of these properties, and each one is a very good choice for its own unique set of reasons.. but you wont go wrong with any of these! Of the three, Moon Palace is of course the largest.. lots to do with something for everyone, MANY beautiful wedding venues, chapels beach, terrace, gazebo, you name it and they can offer it! You can even be delivered to your wedding in a horse and carriage here! Plus Palace resorts has a wonderful wedding department that will work with you on all your choices for the wedding and reception, and guests get a nice bonus in having the resort credits that Palace offers.. starting with $500 per room for a 3 night stay and up from there. Moon Palace is easy in/out from the airport, and all your guests will stay occupied and busy with everything the resort has to offer. I am not sure which of the Dreams resorts in Cancun/Riviera Maya you are referring to, but Dreams Riviera Maya is a great choice as it also is easy to get to, has great wedding locations, (I love their sort of Tahatian looking Gazebo), and is sort of a "Sweet spot" in pricing.. the resort is family friendly, and all the AM Resorts properties offer a very generous amenities package for you as the Bride and Groom. Also worth a mention is the BRAND new Dreams Playa Mujeres property that is just opening shortly. It is in a very up and coming part of the Cancun area, and has a great beach, plus is right next to Secrets Playa Mujeres and adult guests may choose to go over to Secrets and eat at the restaurants there as well as the ones at Dreams. It also have some very good deals right now as they take pre - opening bookings for future dates, so you are in a perfect time to get some really great prices here. For Now Jade, I would say that there is a lot to like about this resort. Also part of the AM Resorts group of properties, the Now Jade is quite affordable and has many of the pluses that others in the AM Resorts family of resorts offers such as the 3G promo of amenities for Bride and Groom where you can begin to earn comp room nights and upgrades for your 6th room booked. Now Jade is modern in feel and I love their Jewel Tone color scheme used throughout the property. This would certainly be the lowest priced of the resorts you are considering, and you do get a very good value for your money here. AM Resorts properties also offer Resort Credits for your guests which they can use for tours, spa and other on site options. I hope this information helps a bit! At Wright Travel we also have some unique promos and specials just for the couples we work with only! If I can answer any of your questions, or request group rates for you at these or any other of the resorts you may be considering, please contact me and I would love to work with you! Wendy@wrighttravelagency.com.

Hi Julie and Ladies! TA Wendy here! I wanted to say hello and let everyone know that the Forum is actually owned by and partner to Wright Travel Agency who specializes in Destination Wedding groups! We actually are one of the top booking agents for all the Excellence properties! I have stayed at all of their resorts, but most recently just visited Finest and stayed there last fall and I am working with a number of Destination wedding groups at each of the Excellence resorts this year. If you would like to be contacted by one of the agents from Wright Travel just click the button above and we would love to chat with you! The Excellence resorts are a great choice! Happy planning!

Hi Kathryn, Thank you so much for the kind words and endorsement!! Yes, there is most certainly something wrong, KJB if you are being told that once booked you may not change dates or release ANY rooms without 100% penalty. Yikes! No one knows for sure their numbers or guests dates of stay a year into the future!! Group contracts on rooms for Destination weddings have very clearly spelled out dates by which you may release unneeded rooms or even cancel the group entirely! (Quite typically with more than 120 days notice you may usually cancel everything with no penalty!) Excellence Group is a bit more strict than some of the other chains pertaining to last minute name changes and such, but not being able to release any rooms that far in the future is quite likely a misunderstanding. If you would like to contact me, I would be glad to share what the rules on a typical group contract for this resort looks like along with the release by dates. Unless you are perhaps looking at something like Christmas week which might have much more strict rules pertaining to cancel, I do not think you have the correct information! My direct email is wendy@wrighttravelagency.com, or you can reach me by filling out the contact me form on the top of the page. Best regards, TA Wendy

Hi Ladies, TA Wendy here from Wright Travel Agency. I have just been reading the thread and thought I would chime in! With regards to room rates, so many things are variables.. rates are dependent on when they were booked, (IE someone who locked in a group contract a year ago may have different pricing from someone booking today even if the date of the stay is the same for both). Time of year can make a huge difference.. peak travel months can differ in price from the lower summer/fall time by a considerable amount and many couples take this into account when choosing their dates. When you sign your group contract you are locking in those rates as well as the amenities being offered at the time you book. A group contract ensures that you have the number of rooms you need and at the price being quoted. My advice is to go through a Travel Agent rather than working on the rooms direct with the hotel. Most of the couples I work with do elect to use a group contract and hold their rooms. The risk you take in only booking a few at this time and hoping to add more as your guests materialize is that while it is likely that your group rate would remain the same as the months go along for new guests being added to the group numbers, there is no guarantee the rooms will still be available by the time you know you need them. IE if you contract for 10 rooms, and then months from now realize that you will actually be needing more like 18 rooms, there is no guarantee that the resort will still have the rooms to give you if they are filled. You are only guaranteed the rooms that you have under group contract, and anything else is space the resort will be selling to the general public.. so no guarantee the rooms will be there to pull in. I always advise couples to book the rooms they think they will need and maybe even an extra.. yes you do have to put up initial deposit on those rooms, but as long as we comply with the release dates laid out in the contract you can always let go of rooms that are not needed and you will not be penalized by cancel fees. Better to have them and let some go, than to wait, and need them and not be able to get extra rooms for your guests. RE priced drops, and adjustments to your group rates.. if the resort themselves advertises a lower rate on their own website, then typically we can ask for a group rate adjustment and they will allow. But if a guest is seeing a price online with one of the online booking engines, it likely does not qualify for a price match and often does not actually include transfers, or taxes or other cost that would bring the rate back in line with your group price. If you do go with a contract for your group you would want to really encourage your guests to exclusively book via your group contract. I hope that information helps! We at Wright Travel work often and extensively with the Excellence resorts properties and are one of their top agencies in the country. We can also often add some extras that other agencies are not able to offer. The Excellence resorts are a great choice! Please let us know if we can answer any questions for you! TA Wendy TA Wendy