LurkerDan

I don't have much to offer, except you don't mention whether price is important to you or your guests. We chose Moon Palace because unlike many resorts, they don't gouge you to have your wedding there, and recognize that if you have a large wedding there, they should charge you less, not more, because of all the business you are bringing. So if you have a large group you get free room nights and free event(s). I don't know, however, how the price of these resorts compare for individual guests and for you.

Thanks! I'm only on here because my now-wife is not much of an internet person, whereas I spend a lot of time on forums. She kept saying that she was going to get on here and and take over for me, but never did.

Most of your questions were answered, but didn't see a response re bathrooms. And the answer is, I think, no, there aren't any super close by bathrooms. Most of our guests had rooms nearby, so if someone had to go they could probably have easily walked to their room (and for those not close by, someone else surely would have offered the use of their room). The closest "public" bathroom is probably near the lobby of the Grand side, there was a little bathroom that was probably 200 yds or so from Tucan.

The way they do this is so half-assed and annoying. They apparently let some people lock in locations months ahead of time, but everyone else is told they have to wait. Then they also randomly assign locations. We were assigned Tucan Gazebo, we never actually booked it. We actually asked to be switched to Bugambilla Gazebo, because we were supposed to be on the sunrise side, but were told it wasn't available. Then they placed us at Nizuc, close to tucan, so it all worked out.

I believe only one wedding per time slot. However, that doesn't mean all locations are available for every time slot. For ex., if I get married at Tucan Gazebo at 2pm and have my cocktail hour at Tucan Terrace from 2:45 to 3:45, all Tucan locations would be probably be considered "booked" until at least the 4pm timeslot (or even 5pm).

My review of Smile Market as well other people's reviews are in the Moon Palace reviews on this site. Direct link to my review is back a couple of pages.

We paid for all the extras at the resort, added to our room bill upon checkout. Given that they are changing the whole planning process, that may be changing. But I would certainly just ask if you can pay at the resort and see what she said (for ex, we were asked for payment ahead of time but didn't pay until we arrived).

I don't think there is just one photographer. The resort photographer is called "Smile Market" but I am sure they have more than one actual photographer (sorry, I don't remember the name of the guy who was ours).

I just updated my review to add in details re Smile Market photos.

Great and detailed review. Sorry for your bad experiences, many of which mirrored mine. It sucks, but it's a little validating (for us and probably for you) to see that others had similar experiences.

yep, I can still edit the review!

Weather is hard to predict. My research said June sees 8 days of rain on average, which didn't scare me, yet we had at least some rain 4 of the 6 days we were there, and 3 of those 4 days had very significant rain (including one day of nonstop rain). We chose June to accommodate families and friends who are teachers (we have many); there weren't other options for us. But if you do have options, May would be an improvement over June.

Yeah, it won't be much better (if at all) unless they significantly add to their staff down there. We got very few responses from our on site, Valeria, after she was assigned. If they just heap on more responsibility to the same staff, it will be much worse, I think.

I posted my review: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/products/moon-palace-golf-spa-resort-all-inclusive/reviews/6276 I will post more when I get our pictures back. And happy to answer any questions.

Smoylan, sorry your wedding was in that rain. I got married the day before, so was still there for that torrential downpour, which made the previous Friday's rain look like a mere sprinkle. Our room even started flooding! I am going to post a review soon, too. I wrote about 50% of it already, then my browser crashed and I lost all of it. My short review is that the wedding was great, we and our guests had a great time, and much of the staff was fantastic as well. That said, we had a few hiccups along the way (the flooding being one of them, but a small one), that bothered us (and yes, I know that MP can't control the weather, but they certainly can prevent rooms from flooding!). Some of the service was fantastic, some of the service was pretty darned bad.

I had my cocktail reception there. It is a public location, that is a public walkway, but the Tucan is in a much quieter part of the resort. There was the occasional person or golf cart going by, but I didn't really notice them. It certainly felt intimate enough to me, but hard to say whether it would for everybody.

The token male is leaving soon, too. Leave on Thursday, so many things up in the air but we're trusting that we -- with Valeria's help -- will pull it all together.

I wish you could edit posts to correct brain fart errors. I meant to ask "did Mo Mo No Ha Na go away/disappear?"

anyone? also, did Mo Mo No Ha Na? It's not on the website: http://www.palaceresorts.com/moonpalace/dining-en.html

What have folks done for rehearsal? I know that many have a "rehearsal dinner" but every rehearsal dinner I've been to was just a dinner, whereas my fiancee is expecting to actually rehearse. Did you actually rehearse, with the wedding planner there?

Haven't signed anything like that, just the initial contract months ago. Our room is fully paid for and we're doing the complimentary (and symbolic) wedding, so I'm really figuring that we can pay everything else at the resort. I mean, how can she come in now, after months of no contact, and start demanding payment for things? no way.

Joannis has asked us for money too, after virtually no contact at all. I won't pay her and don't trust her. I think most things can be worked out with your on-site coordinator in the end. I hope.

Does anyone know if any of the restaurants offer milk "alternatives", such as rice milk?

Reposting for more info: Anyone? We're considering Arrecifes (sp?) or Palapa Fragata. I know that Arrecifes has an outside area that is semi-private. I'm concerned that it will be really hot (dinner starting at 6 or 6:30) and that it will be too MEAT oriented (we have at least one vegetarian/fish eater). I don't know much about Palapa Fragata, I have heard the seafood is good but have no idea if it would be good for a dinner "reception". Thoughts or advice? I think we'll just use the cocktail hour for our first dance, and go to the disco after dinner. Thanks!

And one last question for now (amazing how you get close and all the questions start popping up): Did anyone use a babysitter at Moon Palace? The concierge has referred us to www.cancunnannyservice.com which provides babysitting services to the resort, but it's tough to let a complete stranger, in a foreign country no less, watch your toddler. Any experiences?