AmandaPierson

here's a few from our rehearsal: http://www.brandonmoffitt.com/2013/08/31/gene-amandas-rehearsal-dinner/ you can see the beach deck, plus we did strings of lights for the setup (from zuniga). otherwise we just did a few tea lights and maracas (bought downtown for about $50 for everything).

Hey ladies! Just got pics from my friend from our rehearsal dinner on the beach deck.. thought you might want to check it out! We went minimal on decor, main purchase was renting strings of light from Zuniga. http://www.brandonmoffitt.com/2013/08/31/gene-amandas-rehearsal-dinner/?fb_comment_id=fbc_450827038364048_2248535_451053451674740#f39ed9bae5f47

I also used an outside florist and paid no fee! Esp if you just drop at the lobby, they will definitely not charge you (and mine did some set up but I pointed out that they shouldn't charge ME for having my florist help THEM with setup). Loved my flowers, and they were under 2k for everything (alter setup, centerpieces, chair flowers, bouquest/bouts/corsages, etc.). I think I paid less than half what the resort was charging!

Hey Lynz--just sent this as a PM but wanted to include it for everyone else... The resort credits were sort of a pain. The golf is down at moon palace, so no one from our group of 70 wound up going to use it (it's around 45 minutes each way, plus catching the shuttle, etc.). They also have a couple of excursions that are available to use with the resort credits. It sort of depends how long you're there whether you'll use them. Most of the excursions are only 1-2 days/week and I don't think anything is really available on the weekend aside from the dolphins on Saturday. Since our guests came mostly Thursday-Monday, not many people were able to use the credits outside of the spa. For the spa, you're only allowed to use 20% of your overall credits at the spa (for 1500 it's 300). The spa services wind up being fairly expensive though I think to compensate for the credits (around $139 is the starting price for massages). I definitely used all the credits I could (and went over a couple of hundred) at the spa for hair, hair trial, and then part of a massage. The spa is new and absolutely gorgeous! One other thing for the spa-- tipping. It's very confusing because there's no place to tip, however when you get your bill at checkout you'll notice there's a service charge (in addition to tax) that is fairly high for the spa. I believe this is the tip, so no need to worry about it. It would have been nice to know though because we did wind up tipping a few people double (of course, they're all awesome and deserve it). Of our 1500 credits I think we just used the 300 for the spa. We tried to do the romantic dinner on the beach, but it looked like it was going to storm so we wound up bailing. It might be possible to use credits to have a photographer take pictures of the rehearsal dinner or another event outside of the wedding. We had some friends who took those pics for us so we didn't ask, but it might be worth checking into.

I think we are good on the videos I'm using Sascha Gluck for photos... I really loved Ivan luckie too. Both are affordable and only require a day pass! I'm using cinematic riviera maya for video! Not much more than the resort video and I'm sure way better. Send me your email and I can send the info for Zuniga! Less than 2 weeks to go, can't believe the wedding is so soon!

eek yeah super steep!!! that's just why I went with the in-house one, plus he lets you pick the songs for just about everything so how bad could it be (famous last words).... anyone can PM me i'd be happy to share more details

Oh one other thing! We are reserving a table for bridal party and family of bride and groom but the rest is self seating to save us the hassle and I hear it gets messed up anyway

I didn't get charged for the florist, but she is mostly dropping flowers off and is going to assist w the arch setup in case there is confusion on how to do it. I ordered a ton of flowers-- the arch, the bridal party, bouts and corsages for the family, and center pieces for all our tables (75 guests), we even got flowers to tie to chairs for the aisles all total it cost I believe $1700. Not bad since it saved me from using a cowie package, but I still get more decor than the standard complimentary! I just used the standard dj though- ill let you all know how he is! I did book outside photog and video... Seemed important to me at least As for inlookers I have tasked a few friends w clearing the area/ asking for about 10 min of privacy!! Just the immediate vacinity ESP behind the alter/ between alter and beach for pics. So tacky that we even have to consider it people are rude to hover but oh well!!!! I did programs and menus super cheap too from zazzle and wedding paper divas! For menus just 1/table + an easel to prop it up. I'm getting votives too myself to scatter around Seriously cannot wait its coming up finally

Yes of course! For the DJ we did a 3 hour package and added a few extra ambient lights (we're using the ballroom), which didn't wind up being too expensive. We didn't hire an MC because the DJ will do basic introductions for the bridal party/announcing the first dance/father daughter dance/cake cutting and we don't need anything more complicated than that. We also splurged and paid for a sound system for 3 hours for the rehearsal dinner so we could have background music, mics for the speeches, and a plasma screen to do our baby picture slide show. For both nights plus our extras I believe everything came to around $1800. Since we wound up switching to the complimentary package after speaking with Dulce (and we're using an outside florist so decorations for the ceremony still came to less than the cheapest Palace Resort package) we had a little room in our budget to throw toward the DJ

I heard from Dulce, the coordinator, about 2 months prior to the wedding. She gives a ton of info at that point, one of which being the contact info for the spa/salon so you can make sure to get your hair/makeup appointments booked well in advance! Everything is done at the spa/salon on the resort now so no traveling, and from what pictures I've seen online (and the website) it looks really really pretty!! Any other brides in the next couple months? I'm getting married Sept 1, 2013 and have a group of around 75 people. We've finalized flowers, DJ, resort equipment, etc. and would love advice/would be happy to answer any questions people may have! Our PP board has been so quiet lately!!!

We are using an outside florist- Flores riviera maya! They're so so much more affordable, bridesmaid bouquets start at $35!

Hey there! I'm not Canadian but we've done all our booking through a Travel Agent and have been guaranteed the complimentary add ons. Just make sure you confirm it with the TA in the beginning, you will likely go through group contract info, etc. Good luck!

When did people start to hear from their coordinator/should I reach out? My wedding isn't until Sept 1 and the group events start Aug 30. I'm just a little nervous w/our big group that we'll have the right space for everything!

Oh yeah, agreed! My family thought that they were subsidizing all the costs for the wedding too, which is frustrating. Oh well, I think it'll wind up being beautiful and cannot wait! I do know people do it for less, but w/ a big group it's hard to cut things like DJ and I'd never cut nice photography so it adds up quick!

Ours is at playacar palace and is going to run about $20k too! We're having 70 guests and the (very rough/rounded) breakdown is: Dress: $2k Photog: $2k Engagement Pics in our hometown (splurge): $500 Videogapher: $1k Our trip (10 nights, 2 hotels-Playacar Palace and Live Aqua in Cancun): $5k (this might wind up being less depending on how our package's comp nights work) Invites/thank you's/stamps: $1k Rings: $1500 DJ: $1500 Favors: $700 (we're doing sunglasses and tote bags for everyone) Flowers: $1k (bridal party/bride/groom/family corsages & bouts/etc. + reception table centerpieces which will be flowers and candles) Wedding Package: $1500 (nautical) Extras for seating over 30 ppl: $250 Groom Suit: $150 (guys have it so easy!) Hair/Makeup/spa time: $500 Some of these things I rounded up on, so we're still under $19k. I figure I'll leave another 1-2 thousand as a buffer for some random expenses I'm not thinking of (like tips, setup and extra décor if we decide to splurge beyond centerpieces). It's a lot but for 70 guests + a 10 day luxury vacation/honeymoon included, I think it's a great way to go It's definitely not "free" though, like I think some of guests get the idea it is for us...

I just saw this and I LOVE the dresses you picked-stunning! My wedding is Sept. 1 at Playacar Palace. We're doing tan linen suits for the guys with peach ties and white roses/green hydrangeas for the bouquets (all white for me). What are you doing and when/where is your wedding?

We put initial deposits down for the block (30 rooms for 3 nights) but we're dropping them 2 months before if people haven't booked. We made it clear to our guests they have to have booked by then if they want to come, and if they're late they can always just try to grab a room through expedia! What are ppl's Sept/Oct./Nov. dates?

btw for Beach Bum I always get a pretty immediate response which has been my favorite part. Like, I'll email on a Sat night and get something back right then, it's pretty awesome!

We're using Beach Bum Vacation (http://www.beachbumvacation.com/Weddings.aspx) for the wedding and they coordinated on the vendor situation. We tested them out for the site check and everything went smoothly. So far the only concern is that sometimes expedia will get our guests a slightly better package rate but we've renegotiated the rate a couple times to at least be able to match it in most cases. It's just the photographer/videographer that doesn't have a fee- I think everyone else does so we're going to use house vendors for the rest. For September brides, what are your dates? Our wedding is Sept. 1. but we're going to be there from Aug 23rd-Sept 2! Also I hate to ask this, but what are you guys doing about hurricane protection? We haven't done anything and I'm starting to get really nervous about it!

Hey there!! I think it can be literally anything and somewhat depends on where you're hosting the reception. The in house DJ has its own rate and I'm not sure what extras will be associated with that. I think for the ballroom venue option, its pretty easy to get carried away but you really don't need to have anything! Beach seems cheaper to decorate in my opinion, I'd probably just string up some lights and let that be enough They do have a fee if you go over the 3 hour private function allotment (if you have unlimited private functions). Also, there are some independent flower companies that are MUCH cheaper than what Playacar is charging. Most will meet you in the lobby, too, so you don't have to pay a vendor's fee or anything (but you would have to do the set up yourself). Lea 710-- I sent my entire invite out super early (like 8 months in advance) and didn't do a save the date. The way my package is with the TA is that I need final deposits by June so I felt like I'd have to send out the invites in like March/April but save the dates in Dec/Jan seemed too close so I just did it all in January.

no worries scottsteph! my fiancé is a lawyer, i'm in law school, and combined we are pretty OCD about all of these contractual details we just have a tight budget and are trying to make things work! and now just about everyone is coming so we're going to have a way bigger wedding than we had planned for. when is your wedding going to be??

I actually have it in writing that for 2013 photographers and videographers are the only vendors that are allowed to just purchase the day pass and not pay an outside vendor fee! I was pretty careful on this because it impacted how much I was able to budget towards my photographer altogether. I do believe that other vendors, however, have the higher fee associated w/them.

You should get a group contract and then if you have 75 room nights (which I think you would), you get unlimited private receptions (up to 3 hours/day). You have to pay for music/upgrades/decorations/etc. but the basics are included

Totally! Asking guests to pay so much to come is really tough. Our package is $571 for 3 nights (including transportation to/from the resort-airport) but still, it is a lot. I really debated going somewhere cheaper like the Royal PDC but Playacar palace is the only one I had personally been to and I just felt more comfy doing a place that I knew I'd like!!! If only I knew then what I know now I definitely would have personally visited a ton more places (I only saw Coz. palace, moon palace, playacar palace, and el dorado royale). Randomly though at a jewelry shop I talked to a woman who goes to playa every summer and always stays at Grand Sunset and she's been all over so I bet its stunning

We used a TA and got a group rate based on one of their sales (35% or 40% off that they do periodically). We definitely had to push and kept showing the prices we were getting on expedia, etc. because we didn't think it was fair to make our guests go through our TA so we could get freebies and they would have to just pay more! Since my fiancé and I are going down a week early our room counts as 7 of the room nights! A lot of family are coming down early too so it made it really easy to reach the room nights.