AmyG

Originally Posted by Mya062813 

 

We ordered luggage tags for each of our guests. We are going to mail the luggage tags with a packing & Mexico tips letter before the wedding. Has anyone else done this? Any suggestions on what to include in our letter?

Hi Mya062813,

I created a brochure for my guests with packing tips, resort info, schedule of events, etc.  I can send it to you for ideas if you want....if you're interested, send me your email address.  :-)

Originally Posted by EMoss 

 

Our wedding is May 18th, 2013, staying 15-22. Does anyone have feedback on food?? Trying to decide on appetizers and entree, thinking chicken supreme and either surf and turf or beef filet, has anyone had these?

I had the beef for all of my guests and it was Excellent, no complaints!

Originally Posted by danda 

 

Is anyone planning to get maracas?  I found some on amazon but if they're easy to find and buy in Mexico, I'd rather save the luggage space.

 Hi danda,

Did you want a lot or a little amount of maracas?  I'm asking because they sell them at the resort gift shop...they are really nice but a bit more expensive then if you wanted a bunch of them and bought them in bulk online.

CONGRATS!!!!   :-)

Originally Posted by FutureMrsKC 

We just got married on February 21st and and are now a few doors down at the Dreams Riviera Cancun for our honeymoon. I can't wait to get home and write a review for all future brides. I'm a planner and am all about the details that I toted around in my specially made binder (nerd I know). It was more than I could have hoped for or expected, and not one thing went wrong, even tho I had expected something might because even if its little there is always the possibility of a hiccup somewhere. Don't stress your day will be perfect. All past brides wrote that and I still had some stress, once I got there Ramone worked his magic and we were able to enjoy the amazing week of wedding bliss and I wished I hadn't worried as much.

Originally Posted by blondi1029 

 

We are getting married on a cruise.. I think the most reasonable for me would be the charms on the bouquet.  Any ideas on where to get them or how to make them?  Also did you talk to the florist ahead of time? or were you able to put them on yourself.

Hi blondi1029,

The charm frames were purchased at Michael's craft store or A.C. Moore craft store (I can't remember which one, lol).  Then tiny photos of my dogs were inserted in them.....all done at home prior to leaving for the destination wedding.

The charms were put on by my mom after my bouquet was delivered to my room.  Hope that helps!!

-  Amy

Originally Posted by Mya062813 

 

Has anyone had the photo package included in the Divine Package?  Were you happy? 

 

What outside photographers are you ladies using?  How long are they with you?  What is the price range?

 

Hi Mya062813,

I used the resort photographer included in the package and I was very pleased!  I did upgrade the amount of photos after I saw them all because I could not decide....I really loved them. 

I personally did not want to spend extra money on vendor fees and the cost of an outside photographer. 

Originally Posted by blay0204 

 

 

Wow beautiful set up!! We will have about 5-6 round tables with 10 ppl at each. Does the resort supply the table covers/ napkins or did you have to bring those? I want to do our wedding colors on the tables... But I don't want to get there and realize it will cost an arm and leg to rent them!

Thank you blay0204! 

I did have to rent the table covers and the napkins.  The long table was either three or four tables long so I rented three or four table covers @ $25/each....sorry I can't remember how may I had.  The cloth napkins were a few dollars each. 

I had thought about bringing down my own fabric for the table covers and bringing my own napkins, but in the end just decided to rent them because itwas easier nd frnakly I already had enough extras in my luggage.  I will say that the resort has a book full of different fabrics to choose from with literally every color imaginable...some textured and very beautiful.

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

 

Great minds think a like! We have battery tealights. I just didn't want to waste them on my trial set up. But now that I know I will deff start stocking up on them like a mad woman. Do you have pics of your table. I would love to see. Another question for you since you've been there and done that. We were thinking about bringing down our portable Bose sound system. It may be small but it's powerful. Do you think this would work? I really REALLY do NOT want to have to pay the $350 an hour to rent their sound system and I refuse to hire a DJ. We're getting married on the beach terrace. Let me know your thoughts and thanks so much for all the insight!

Hi melnryluvco,

If your ceremony and everything else is on the beach terrace, your sound system just may work...But if you have anything on the beach you may want to ask the resort what they think only because the ocean can get pretty noisy.  Our ceremony was on the beach and all I know is that they set up speakers that faced out to the ocean and the music was def. loud enough over the ocean noise.  We also used a microphone for the vowels and the officiant, so you may want to ask the resort if you can still get the microphone even if you dont rent their sound system.  The sound system is $150/hr....I am not aware of it being $350/hr. 

Below is my reception table set up...you can see the votive/tea light holders.  That centerpiece came with the package.

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

 

I am making a table runner out of burlap. I did a "mock" set up of the table tonight. I'm taking our table decor down there cuz I REFUSE to pay the AI resort a dime more than I have to!!! And I want a Nautical theme which I think wouldn't translate well trying to explain that to the WC staff. Here's a peek...btw burlap is totally cheap and comes in different colors. I'm still getting everything together but I'll be dying all the clear glass to make it look like sea glass. I went to Ikea and they have so many cute ideas and cheap stuff to help you stretch your penny. Try looking there.

 

Hi melnryluvco,

Your set up looks beautiful!!! 

I just wanted to let you know that it will be very difficult to keep the taper candles and possibly the exposed low votive/tea lights from blowing out.  I had candle holders that I put votive candles and tea lights in that were pretty deep and all my candles still blew out rather quickly from the wind...we just gave up on lighting them.  If I were to have a 'do over' I would have brought the battery powered votive/tea lights. 

I would just hate for your vision not to work out how you want it to.  I love the burlap too!!

Originally Posted by DinaQtobe 

 

Hi Ladies,

 

I am wondering if anyone can help me about the cost of a DJ.  I've looked on the wedding guide but can't find any information.  Does the resort have a DJ?  Could anyone give me a price?

 

I've also heard that you have to rent a speaker system if you want to bring an IPod and play your own music.  Can anyone verify these for me?

 

I know that I have read about renting the speaker system, I just can't remember if I read it in this thread or not.

 

Any help would be great.

 

Thanks!

 

Dina

 

I used the resort DJ, but it came with the Divine Package....I believe it no longer is included in that package so I am not sure how much the resort DJ costs.  I was very happy with him.  I sent down my playlist one week before I got there and they played exactly what I wanted. 

I also rented the ipod speakers for the ceremony and cocktail hour.  It did cost $150/hour, BUT they only charged me for one hour so it really was a good deal considering they take care of hooking it all up and making sure the sound is perfect.  I had loaded my ceremony songs and cocktail hour songs on it and they played it exact. 

Originally Posted by Shelgal 

 

Planning form sent in. Now just got to wait and hear back for some questions. Went with Devine package. We are using IPod for ceremony and having gautartist during cocktail hour. Little over a month and we will be married.

Very Exciting!!!!!!!!   :-)

Originally Posted by Loreal30 

 

Can you tell us where your fiancé got the charms? Also, where can the cut outs be made?

Hi Loreal30,

He got the charms at the craft store 'Michael's' or 'AC Moore'.   :-)

Originally Posted by Noxx 

 

I have a question. I am making up my invites now for April. I have already sent out my save the dates and have 46 people booked. Im sending out invites this week but im not sure when to have my rsvp date. i have heard a families saying they want to book last minute but i am wanting to know my number for cost reasons and i want to get my favors and decorations finished. I have planned for a few extras just in case some do show up last minute. but families can change my numbers quite a bit. Is it too short to have it back for Feb 28? My wedding is April 8 and we leave on the 5th. Also for location are you guys putting Riviera Maya, Mayan Riviera or Puerto Morelos?

Thanks for your input 

Hi Noxx,

My wedding was on March 16th and my RSVP date was March 1st.  I basically knew who was/wasn't coming because anyone who was interested had let me know or had contacted my travel agent for more info.  I also had an at home celebration on March 24th so I just used the same RSVP date for that too in the same invitation envelope.  I did not have to give the Sapphire my final count until 2 weeks prior to me coming down so my date worked out well

For the location, I put 'Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun'.

Hi melnryluvco,

I posted some pics on this thread on Page 31 and then a link to my slideshow on Page 34.  I never did a full review, but I did post some 'pointers' on Page 33...and some pages right before and after that.

I chose the Divine package and I picked the beef for dinner and it was delicious!!  The wedding dinner was very very good and the service was amazing.

Let me know if you have any other questions!  :-)

-Amy

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

Amy G- YAY! Do you have any pics or did you do a review for the resort? Any suggestions on meal choices and what to stay away from? You opened up a can of worms and now we'll all be asking you since you've already been down there. Congrats by the way!

Hi Min12kow and melnryluvco,

 

Just wanted to share with you that I had 25 people for my beach terrace reception and they made one looong rectangular table so all my guests sat at the same table....it was very intimate and felt like a big thanksgiving dinner, hehe!  They should have no problem doing it for you too!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Min12kow 

I am also having our reception on the beach terrace, and having rectangular tables for our guests. The table fit 10 per table, but I don't see why you can't put the tables together to make one big table. Just a thought!

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

 

Wow! Beautiful. I wonder if I can have one long rectangular table or if they have to be all round. How many guests are you having? I expect a full report and detailed pics and lots of FUN to be had since you get married before me!

Moderncosmo1,

I only had five girls all together (including myself) that needed to get theirhair done.  Four girls wore their hair in updos (sp?) and I wore my hair half up/half down with extensions.  We did not have an issue with getting everyone in and we all even got our make up done...how many girls do you have that need their hair done?  I was very very pleased with my hair.  The hairdresser did exactly what I showed her in pics.  No one even considered wearing their hair all down because the beach is too windy...even with a lot of hairspray, Lol.  We all just washed and blew out our hair the night before.

Originally Posted by Moderncosmo1 

One more month to go and I'll be in Mexico.... Was just booking the appointments for hair and makeup and found out there's only 2 hairdressers and that they dontttt wash or blow dry your hair the day of the wedding! Tis baffles me . I'm. Hairdresser and I never heard of such a thing. And also I barely can accommodate my moms and maid if honors to get their services done because there are only 2 hairdressers and I take up 2 1/2 hours with one. Advice please or any information on how it went ecttt

Welcome back HeatherViolet and CONGRATS on your getting married!!!  I'm so happy that you had a great time there.  I loved your decor and your color choice!   :-)

I'm sad to hear that you were caught off guard by some of the add on fees.  I would have mentioned the hourly rate for the speaker rental in my previous posts but it did state that charge in the wedding guide.  I only needed to use the speaker rental (at $150) for one hour during my cocktail hour because I used the DJ for reception that was included in the wedding package at the time I booked my wedding date. 

I did not mention the tax before because it did state the tax/gratuity charges in the info I was sent from the previous wedding cordinator.  Tax is added onto everything pretty much anywhere you would have a wedding so any future brides/grooms should know this.  I did not think there were any other hidden costs but my guest number was 25 so I did not have the extra add ons for the additional guests over 25. 

I also had my reception on the Beach Terrace and I was also so happy with that decision.  I can not wait to see your pictures!!  

-Amy

Originally Posted by HeatherViolet 

Hey Everyone! 

I just got back last weekend from my wedding at the NOW Sapphire!  I am here to answer any questions you may have.

 

Couple things.....

 

I didn't use the resorts photographer... I used Gonzalo Nunez Photography, and he was AMAZING!  I heard comments from almost every one of my guests on how awesome he was.  He took pictures of EVERYTHING!  I would highly, highly recommend him!  He also speaks great English so he is easy to communicate with.  We also did TTD pictures with him.  What a blast!

 

I also did not use the resorts flowers.  I emailed them a picture of what I wanted... 5 bouquets and 5 bouts, and they quoted me $1000!  Yikes!  So, I ended up using "Flowers by Lucy".  Her name is Liz, I can get any of you her email if you are interested.  She did the 5 bouquets, 5 bouts, 5 centerpieces, and a bag of rose petals all for half the price of the resort!  The pictures I emailed her were exactly what I ended up with for flowers.  The resort wants $300 for an outside vendor fee.... BUT, if you meet her in the lobby and have some of your friends place the centerpieces on the tables for you, you can get around that fee.  I just played dumb when they asked me why I didn't need flowers for the wedding. 

 

As far as a DJ goes.  I didn't want to pay $350 an hour for one, so I brought my IPod.  It worked out great!  Just some info I wish I had known earlier though.  They charge you $150 an hour for a speaker rental for your IPod.  The ceremony part is free, but the cocktail hour, dinner and dancing, they will charge you that speaker fee.  I told them that was insane that they want to charge that, so they knocked down the price a bit.  It was great.... and a lot cheaper than a DJ.

 

I had the Now to Eternity package.  The appetizers were amazing... but I ordered the fish for the main dish for dinner, and it was icky.  Super, super salty.  I don't recommend ordering that.  Everything else we ordered for the dinner was great! 

 

We had our wedding on the Beach Terrace and I would highly recommend that..... it was beautiful!  People have said that the Tequila Terrace had wide slots in-between the deck, and it does.  If your guests had on heels, they could easily get caught in them.  The Beach terrace is stamped concrete...easy to walk, dance.... whatever!

 

One more thing I wish I knew... the price they quote for the packages DOES NOT include tax.  If you add that, the price for the Now to Eternity for just 25 people is $2,440, not $2,199.  Everything else you add on the tax and service fee you to death.  I had 8 people over the 25 (they include the bride and groom in your number) and it is about $100 per person over that number.... plus tax and fees.  If you want me to go over that more, I can....

 

I don't have my pictures back from the photographer yet, but I did take some pics of the Beach Terrace and the Tequila Terrace for you all to see.  I will put some up for you!

 

Overall... I am SUPER happy with my decision to get married here.  Ramon was WONDERFUL to work with.  You will all be very happy you chose the Sapphire!

 

Heather

RFinger,

SOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!   CONGRATS!!!  :-)))

Originally Posted by RFinger 

Here you go:

 

   

 

Thanks, I tried to get a pic so you could see the whole view.   :-)

Yes, I got marreid on the beach, but it was right in front of that concrete area next to my reception location (the Beach Terrace). 

So basically there are two beach ceremony locations, one in front of the Beach Terrace and the other in front of the Tequila Terrace.  Depending upon which cocktail/reception location you pick that will determine which beach you would have your ceremony at.  They will allow two weddings at approx. the same times but they are not at the same locations so you don't have to worry about that.  They could have multiple ceremonies at the same location but only at different time slots.

Have you checked to see what locations for the ceremony, cocktail and reception are available for your day?

Originally Posted by craftygal 

That's a perfect picture. Thank you.  I'm sure I've read that you got married on the beach. Was it off the tequila terrace? I believe there is someone in the time slot before the one we're looking at. I was wondering if they were having their reception on the tequila terrace if that would effect us having the ceremony on the beach. Any thoughts on that?

 

PS. You're an amazing resource. Thank you so much for answering all these questions.

Hi craftygal,

I chose the Beach Terrace for my cocktail hour and reception.  Yes, the pool is in the other direction, but it is ot directly next to the pool.

The best way I could think to describe the setting was the pic below, lol....basically my reception was within the yellow circle. 

Absolutely gorgeous at night because the pool is light up and there were no other guests around.  :-)

Originally Posted by craftygal 

Amy G, 

 

What location did you choose for your reception? I've been thinking about the beach terrace but there only seems to be the view looking out over the water, what is on the other side? The pool?

 

Thanks

Hi Teresa23, see my comments below....   :-)

Originally Posted by Teresa23 

Hi everyone,

 

This website and all of you have been so helpful as I plan for my June 2, 2012 wedding at NOW Sapphire. (I can't believe it is so close!)  I plan to write a complete post, from planning to the big day, once we return.

 

In the meantime, I have a few unanswered questions. I'd appreciate any insight any of you have to offer:

 

1. Are the slats on the Tequila Terrace so large that heels will actually fall in? I noticed that some past brides were planning to wear flats but if I wear heels am I really risking it?  Since my event was not on the Tequila Terrace I am not sure. BUT I did dine on this deck for dinner one night....with heels on....and I was not comfortable falling through the slats.   :-/  

I would definitely recommend you warn your guests about this.

 

2. Is there an overhang on the Tequila Terrace? I have a bunch of paper lanterns that I want to hang.  Sorry I didn't take notice since my event was not in this location.

 

3. Did they charge you for EVERY little detail? We are bringing our own bows (we got them for just $.59 each!), table runners, centerpieces, paper lanterns, candles, etc. Will they charge us to put all of this out?  I brought my own centerpieces and decorations and they did not charge me at all for the set up.  I did not bring down chair bows so I am not sure about them.

 

4. We'd like to get our stuff back. Did any of you bring your own things (like centerpieces, candles, etc.) and if so, were they returned to you?  They took all of my decorations down after my event and I picked them up from the wedding department office the next day with no problems.

 

5. I noticed that some brides at NOW Jade provided their wedding planner with a "map" of how they'd like the area laid out. Did any of you do this? Was it necessary? If you didn't do this do you feel like the wedding team at NOW Sapphire was able to "see your vision" for your day?  During my meeting and walk through of the locations I told Ramon how I preferred the set up and he took notes and executed it perfectly.

 

6. Some past Tequila Terrace brides have mentioned that wedding parties and guests from the Beach Terrace cut through their area. Is there a way to prevent this from happening? I know there is another wedding on June 2.  I am not really sure how this could happen since there is no reason for those on the Beach Terrace to walk over to the Tequila Terrace, there is nothing over there for them to go to.  The Tequila Terrace is off of the buffet restaurant. 

I was a Beach Terrace bride and we never even glanced over to the event on the Tequila Terrace.  The only time we came in contact with them was in the lobby and night club after both parties ended.  I would not worry about this at all.

 

7. What do you WISH you'd done that you overlooked or didn't even know was an option?  This is a tough question because I was so happy with my whole event.  I had a few minor hiccups but it didn't effect the overall experience.  If I had to say something it would be that I wish I had opted for a longer video.  We absolutely loved the video that came with our package but it only featured us getting ready and the ceremony.  When we watch the video now it really brings us back to those special moments.  Some of my guests took some very 'priceless' video footage of the reception and after party that will keep us laughing for years so it would have been nice to get a lot more footage of that.  Other than that I would not have changed a thing!   :-))))

 

Thank you!

T.

Hi Noxx,

What joda said is dead on!

I like the gazebo surrounded by the pool (not the chess board gazebo) but if you want private then that is not the route to take.  Pretty much any location you choose (unless you pick the ballroom) is not going to be completely private.  I got really concerned with privacy during my planning too but to be honest when the day came and I actually went through with everything, I don't think I noticed a single on looker....it just didn't bother me at all.

Did you want to do a beach wedding?...or something other than a beach?

-Amy

Originally Posted by joda 

 

 

Hi Noxx,

 

I am not Amy, but I will answer anyway! Our wedding was booked (and took place) on the Tequila Beach. But we went around with Ramon to discuss a plan if there happened to be rain. One of the backups in case of rain was the gazebo you are talking about, which does normally have large chess pieces on it. I will attach a picture, although it's not very good, to try and give you an idea of where it is located. In the front you will see the pool gazebo, and behind that another dome. That is the "chess gazebo". So if you are in the gazebo, to the left you have the lobby bar, to the right where they hold the event nights, and right in front the pool. He said they have a blind thing that they pull down to try and block as many people as possible from the lobby bar area, but it is still completely open pool side, which I really didn't like. Especially as if people gather there, they will all be behind you in your pictures! Unless they block them, but I don't see how they would do that, because that is the only way to get around on that side of the pool. He also said they would turn off the pool/lobby music during the ceremony, but you would still have all the shouting, etc from the pool.

 

 

The other option we were given was actually really private, but you won't have the beach feel at all, and I guess it may not work depending on how many people you have at your wedding. But we were discussing the ball room in case of rain (which is MASSIVE) and right outside of the room you have an open space that has a bunch of trees on one side, and then a big wooden lattice "wall" in front. The other side is open, to the hallway, but hardly anyone ever walks there, so it would be really private. And it was actually quite pretty, so it was definitely what I was going to use if there was rain. I don't have any pictures of it, but you could probably get Ramon or Anel to send you one. Or maybe you could rope RFinger into taking one for you

 

For me, I wanted to be married on the beach, that's why we picked a destination wedding in Mexico. The location is not totally private, but there were really not that many onlookers, and anyone who was walking along the beach was directed up and around us so as not to get in pictures. And I was told this before I got married, and didn't believe it, but I really didn't notice the other people while the ceremony was going on, so to me it was no problem! I am a very private person, but it really was no big deal.

 

Anyway, that's two cents, hopefully it helps you a bit.

 

Anyway, my two cents.

Originally Posted by Noxx 

Amy G,

 

I just booked my wedding for April 2013. We were looking at the Gazebos but cant seem to find any good pictures of them. The only one that tends to pop up are pictures of the one in the pool. Can you please tell me if the gazebos are good enough for a wedding. i believe the one we like is surrounded by water, it might possibly even have a chess board in it?? Any suggestions on the best most private ceremony site?

Any suggestions or pics are appreciated

Have Fun RFinger!!!!  Best Wishes to you on your day!!!!!!

:-)))

Originally Posted by RFinger 

I know it took me a little while to hear from Anel and I was surprised that when I did hear from her that she never received my planning form so I got that sent again.  She did confirm that she received it and also sent me back confirmation of the private transfers...

 

Our taxi is picking us up at 4:45 AM tomorrow and we should be at Now Sapphire around 1ish.  

joda,

Such BEAUTIFUL pics!!!!   I'm so happy you got to see them!!   :-))

Originally Posted by joda 

Oh, and I finally have pictures to share! Love, love, love del Sol and would recommend them to anybody
[=http://delsolphotography.com/blog/content/galleries/?gal=678][/]

Hi all,

I just wanted to share what we did for our pets at our destination wedding...it was actually a surprise to me!   My fiance had them add these photo charms of our pets to my bouquet.  I was so surprised/happy that of course I cried and almost ruined my make up, Lol.