NicIowa

I don't recall any disco/dancing or themed shows - we literally just went to dinners and then the bar. There was some live music from a band at least one night. It is VERY close to Playa del Carmen, so if you did want to go dancing, I'm sure they'd arrange for transportation and make recommendations.

I hear ya all on the legal / symbolic / religious wedding - my family is Catholic and doesn't quite understand either - they've been calmed that we do plan on doing a blessing, probably the weekend of our AHR. And, we're not having anyone at our legal - we're viewing that as a necessary piece of paperwork (our take is everyone goes to get the marriage certificate, so why should it be a big deal if we have to do one more legal step since we're getting married internationally?!) Best of luck to you deciding Peach - just have the conversation with your Nana, she loves you and if a destination wedding is best for you, I'm sure she'll want you to have it and will think of you during it!!

Oh fun JoanneIreland!! Yes, we went on site visits so saw it - and it is lovely! It's just big enough that our group shouldn't get in the way of anything for you! Enjoy our wedding, and if you're there by 4, we'll be the couple on the beach - I'm crossing my fingers there won't be anyone in a speedo or topless in our wedding photos since that's the one negative of ERC - the beach isn't huge. I can't believe we're all so close!!

Well, I'm a bit late to join this but we're getting married November 19th at the Excellence Riviera Cancun! We have 70 people booked - very surprised and excited so many are able to join us but now we just want the maybes to decide...because over 80 wasn't planned for! I saw the question on aspirin/etc - I'm not sure about customs but I've decided that we're not doing individual medicines for the OOT bags, we're going to do 5-6 first aid kits (one w/ each of our moms, my sister, and a couple friends so everyone knows someone who has stuff) - we'll take some stuff but plan on just buying the rest at the Walmart has in Playa del Carmen. We were already planning on picking up sunscreen there so ... Overall, it sounds like as long as you have receipts (and maybe a wedding invitation handy) you should be fine.

I'm also a huge fan of eyelash extensions (mine were from JJ in NYC as well) My bachelorette party was on a lake, so I figured boating, swimming and various water antics were the best place to test them out - and they worked amazingly. I was nervous they'd look weird, fall off, pull my eyelashes out, etc - nada. My closest friends and sisters asked what mascara I was wearing and didn't believe me at first that they were fake. I figured if they couldn't tell, well, nobody will. It was a bit odd when they started falling out a few weeks after that though - but not enough to keep me from doing them for our wedding. They stayed in place for 3 days of fun + another 2 weeks - so they should be good enough for the 2 weeks we'll be in Mexico.

This is a bit delayed, but in case it helps anyone! We decided on the Excellence Riviera Cancun. No it wasn't part of the original list - I was being a snot about the name including Cancun. Anyway, we're thrilled, it's a beautiful resort and perfect for what we were looking for - great value, enough restaurants/bars, beautiful resort, nice ceremony location but wonderful private reception location. We did view these properties, my overall thoughts are below but if anyone has questions, ask away. Grand Velas - gorgeous, but the entry level rooms were more expensive than the Excellence, and they were a bus ride from the beach. A colleague is getting married here and they've been great for her to work with though - she chose this b/c they allow kids. Excellence Playa Mujeres - really nice. We loved it so much, but knew the beach was a bit nicer where the Excellence Riviera is located, and when we looked at that one, we were sold. The PM location's decoration is a bit more modern; the Riviera Cancun is a bit more Mexican inspired. La Amada & the Villa - La Amada was nice, but a bit small for what we're looking for. They allow kids. The Villa is somehow associated with both La Amada and the Excellence PM, it was nice but didn't blow us away. If we had 20 people, it might've been perfect though. These are both right by the Excellence Playa Mujeres and there are no other resorts currently on that beach. Valentin - this was our #2 - I really loved the private ceremony location on the beach, but the reception locations weren't as private - they were in places our guests would be every day. It's a bit less $$ than the Excellence but we decided from seeing the two that the overall value of the Excellence was solid enough to ask our guests to pay a bit more to join us. Playacar Palace - very small. If you have a small wedding, this might be a good fit, but for ours...we would've been on top of everyone, all the time. The pool/beach are right there, there is no escape, unless you walk into Playa or take the ferry to Cozumel. The ferry is RIGHT there. The Royal Playa del Carmen - not right for us. It is right in the thick of Playa del Carmen, seemed like it was always a party, and that the wedding would be in the same place you were partying. Iberostar Grand - #3 for us. I was very hesitant since it's part of such a large complex, but was impressed by the Grand and how intimate it felt. We decided it wasn't right because we thought people would end up staying at the other resorts also - and our main reason for a destination wedding is to spend time with family & friends who we don't get to see often. We saw the other resorts that are part of the complex as well - some of the less costly ones aren't on the beach but they all looked nice. Now Jade - this was our home base for our site visits and they were the worst experience we had; we cancelled seeing the Now Sapphire. The person who I had confirmed the tour with (and reconfirmed 2 days prior) decided to take the day off, their back-up didn't know anything and we had to ask to see the ceremony/reception locations. Every other resort was more than accommodating, pleasant, knowledgable, etc - this place didn't care about hosting our wedding at all. And then we found out they upgraded my best friend and her husband - who booked the same way, arrived the same day, and wasn't planning a wedding. Lack of consistency?! We also saw Azul Beach - we talked our way in for an impromptu tour (not so easy, I recommend making appointments!) - it was a nice resort and they were very helpful, but they didn't have a covered reception location for more than 40 people. I like being outside but if it rains...I don't want to deal with changing absolutely everything. If you go on a site visit, I highly recommend taking videos of the ceremony locations and reception locations. We took photos and they are helpful, but a video would be great to really see the space again as we're figuring out details.

My grandparents don't travel anymore either, and while they are very close to me, I know they are pleased that I will have loved ones with us. My sister and a close friend are due right around the time of our wedding, so I've been struggling with this also. This is definitely a personal decision and one you need to make sure you are deciding for YOU - not both of you, but you. You know yourself and are the best one to decide what's most important! I think it also depends on why you decided to have a destination wedding - for us, it was because I grew up in Iowa, he grew up in Brooklyn and we live in NYC with family/friends scattered everywhere. It may be different to decide/communicate to them if you grew up very near your fiance. And, finally, outside of family - will those most important be there with you? We're really close with our 'family of friends' so this helped me decide as well. My solution - I'm planning to live webcast our wedding, and my aunt who lives nearby will have my grandparents over for coffee/dinner to watch. It can be set up with various companies, I'm still deciding which to use, but skype, facetime are good starting points, and then there are companies who actually have packages for this. I've also seen some resorts that provide this as part of their package. I'm also considering using that to have a video chat with my grandma and sister while I'm getting ready. If there is wireless at your reception, you could have someone hold up an iPad to do the same for your first dance, or a toast where you mention them. A few other things we're planning/considering: - It's a family tradition for us to carry one of my grandmother's hankerchiefs, so that will be tied into my bouquet. I'm thinking around the base of it, my sisters did that and it looked really pretty, but TBD. - we're not having dancing at our AHR but we may do a dance and ask my grandparents to join (my grandma used to teach couples dance classes) - adding something to our ceremony to honor those who aren't with us due to 'life's middle moment's' - it's been a theme of our wedding, since we're asking people to meet us in the middle - oddly enough, the Riviera Maya is between Iowa/NYC! - I'll bring my dress to my grandparents, so she can see it in person - I'm thinking of asking to borrow some of her lace tablecloths to have those on various tables Good luck - and congratulations!

Hi there. We stayed there last February and really enjoyed it. How many people are you planning on? it's a smaller resort so depending on your #s...and preferences... We'd absolutely go back though. Let me know if you have specific questions!

Hi everyone, I'm new to the boards, been reading a lot and have figured out quite a bit from that! I'm ready to start sharing some info/asking some specific questions... We're going on site visits in Jan and I'll be posting reviews when we return - but if you have any specific questions or photos you'd like me to take...let me know and I'll do my best! Resorts we're considering and have visits planned with their wedding coordinators: Grand Velas Excellence and possibly La Amada or the Villa Valentin Playacar Palace The Royal Playa del Carmen Iberostar Grande Now Jade A few FYIs, in case you're lurking and trying to decide on the right resort for your wedding: we plan on 80 adults don't really care if kids or no kids we live NYC, I grew up in Iowa so trying to find the right balance for our loved ones budgets and expectations #1 for us is to spend time with those we love, so we are only considering all-inclusives to help encourage that time/level the 'playing field' for those who will join us Priorities: ceremony location, reception location. Enough restaurants for variety. Good food & premium alcohol (we're spoiled in NYC) My sisters have been to Secrets Maroma and El Dorado Royale, they both loved their time at each - but since they were on their respective honeymoons, I don't want to step on their toes by having our wedding at either of those. Before we realized we would have this many people, we considered smaller, 'boutique' all-inclusives. My favorites were Azul Beach & Cieba del Mar. We also would've considered Royal Hideaway, we've stayed there before and loved it. Due to the size of our group, we are looking for hotels with a few more rooms and restaurants. I just don't want to worry (as much) about it filling up before our guests book.

Hey jen1252 - How's your site visits go? I'm considering a few of the resorts you listed and would love to see pics/hear details since I'm not sure how timing to do a site visit is going to go...we just got engaged a couple weeks ago and would like to send save the dates for a 2011 wedding...before this year's holidays...but already had a trip to Barbados booked. rough I know...but you know how stressful making a location decision is! I really like Azul beach ... did you see that one?