meganator22

Does anyone have a map of the resort that they included in theri welcome book/brochure? THe one on teh website is interactive and so I can't use it as a map because it doesn't show the actual locations/landmarks at the hotel

http://www.resortsmaps.com/popup.html?maps/map-NowJadeRivieraCancun-RivMaya.jpg

Does this one work?

Does anyone have a map of the resort that they included in theri welcome book/brochure? THe one on teh website is interactive and so I can't use it as a map because it doesn't show the actual locations/landmarks at the hotel

I gave you the wrong link. Oops! I'll figure out how to save to and paste it here

Vanessa - yea to sending out invites! I loved that part as well. I'm not sending out another round. I was thinking about doing an evite a week or so before to tell them about the casual happy hour we want to do the night before our wedding.

 

 

Dina - as for the vows my other half isn't too big about writing his own vows. I was thinking about putting together a nice short one that both of us can say, but want some prompts from the minister. Do you think they would help incorporate that as well?

 

Also do they seam wedding dresses and suits at the resort?

 

Gannoham - I know time is going to fly by!! We aren't planning any for sure events for people. It's more like I know I want to go snorkeling so I will tell people and whoever wants to come can. I didn't want to be the "cruise director" for the whole week. I know my group is just ready to all hang out on the beach. I have heard there are vendors at the resort that can help you.

 

Past brides were the vendors helpful to get you out snorkeling, or other off site excursions?

There are people there all the time that just help you with excursions...there's also the tiki where you get yout towels at that sell snorkeling, diving, fishing and other things. I would definitely try and talk your way down with them because right down the beach, there are vendors that sell it for wayyyy cheaper. If you go to puerto morelos, which is a 45 min walk down the beach, there's lots of places that'll take you out snorkeling as well. The people at the resort are very helpful and have soooo many different excusions.

I am so happy to hear this ... I love to eat, LOL! I will try not to indulge TOO much until after the wedding, though What were your favourite restaurants, @@meganator22? And do you know what time the disco stays open until?

Hahaha I am the same way. I am not sure I went 2 hours without eating there. Embarrassing but we even put paninis in our bags and walked the beach for a couple hours haha I want to say the disco was open until 2ish...maybe later. There's live entertainment In the lobby too...that's where most everyone hung out until they were done. The band is awesome! So much energy! And they have different themed nights. One night is Mexican night and they had a donkey and Mexican vendors and stuff there too. Oh my word I want to be back there now haha we had a blast at night time...and during the day and every second hahaha everyone ranted and raved about paramour...we didn't eat there though because we have a 2 year old and wanted to eat dinner with him. The sushi was super good and had a Mexican flair to it...one had plantains and cream cheese...mmmmm but I suggest if you do go there order 2 meals...you get a lot of courses but the sushi is small. The hibachi...which is attached to the Japanese restaurant I thought was wonderful too. The buffet, we ate there the most...great selection!! HUGE selection actually. During lunch they had some sort of design your own thing, whether it be burgers, fajitas, stir fry, etc. Breakfast they had pick your own omelette thing there and crepes. Fresh daily juice...like actual real juice which was impressive to me...fruit...basically everything! The blue water grill was decent but not my favorite...the seagulls try to attack your food out there too!

thanks ladies!

 

can anyone tell me if the plain white gazebo decor is included in eternity package? i've read different things on this forum and im so confused now!

We had just the your moments package since we just had 6 people and it was included....it's 200 for each different colors...I think all of the packages come with the white.

My invitations are being mailed out today! It's officially official! So exciting!

Wedding Invitations.jpg photo.JPG

Can anyone recommend a travel agent that has worked with Now Sapphire in the past? I was thinking about getting a few quotes here shortly. Thanks!

Apple vacations were wonderful. They even help you out on the resort, if you need them too. They also offer the direct ride to the resort instead of dropping people off on the way which was great! The rates were really good as well!

I am working with tripcentral.ca

 

Thanks for the welcome cokcktail reception tip, Dina! We were thinking 8pm, so people could spend the day in the pool and meet us after dinner (or before), but maybe 4:30 / 5pm works better so people can meet up pre-dinner.

 

Since we have such a large group of people coming with us, I have a feeling that we are going to show up at a restaurant and meet up with a bunch of people randomly. Most likely, those people are going to want to all eat together. Did you ever have more than 12 people? And did they push tables together for you?

 

Also, are there any late night snack places open? I am thinking there will probably be a few disco nights and we will likely want to grab a bite before heading to bed.

 

 

We always ordered room service if it was super late, and you can get that all the time. it was very convenient, there is so much food there though, it's crazy! During the entertainment they set out snacks as well. They also have a cafe/coffee place there that has the best paninis ever, in between the times the restaurants aren't opened. I think I might have gained 10 lbs from eating so much there lol

@@meganator22 did you post a review of your wedding on the site? If so can you send me the link to it.

I have no yet, our internet is so slow in the middle of nowhere, and id like to include pictures and stuff, so I am going to wait until we get to Ohio (where my husbands job is right now and fast internet haha) to send it over. Itll probably be done next week...I'll definitely send it over

Hi ladies!!

 

can anyone email me the 2014 wedding planning pdf (the one that anel/ramon sends when you book your date)?

 

I booked back in 2013 for my october 2014 wedding and i want to confirm that the menu choices haven't changed. I'm getting ready to get my invites/ rsvps designed and need to include thier meal choice. we're doing the eternity package/ menu if anyone has any info.. id appreciate it!

 

PM me and I'll send you my email so you can forward it.

 

thank you!!

I think I might have that and more in the pictures section of my profile, hopefully it's still there.

I will try to remain positive , but I'm a professional wedding planner here in the states so managing my expectations is difficult (I can admit that!) but I have my wedding designed to a tee and there are alot of things I need to know if they offer at the local resort like blue curacao liquer or if they can dye roses horizon blue becuase I want to have a signature drink and a specific flower arrangement...and of course I want to know these things before I arrive at the resort , I don't want to arrive there and find out a few days before my wedding that they can't do something. Oh well I will keep emailng and calling them daily until I get an answer, you would think that if a bride is spending $35k in room bookings alone I would get better service.

 

The ladies that were married recently, did you keep your planning fairly simple or did you have alot of details?

I completely understand your frustration and I hope you can get all of your answers shortly!! Can't wait to see pics of your wedding, sounds like it's going to be incredible

Does anyone know if Ramon is still there? I know they have a new guy named Juan but Anel never answered if Ramon was still with the resort. My wedding is 1 month away and I don't want to deal with a new person

Ramon was there the last week of January, when we were there. I dealt with Anel the whole time and then Ramon at the very end..they all communicate VERY well with each other and it Seems, from talking to Ramon randomly, that you have to have a lot of wedding coordinating experience before they consider you to work there. So I imagine Juan also knows what he's doing...and since he's new, he will probably go wayyyyy overboard haha just a thought I know you're nervous, but I promise you that they all know what they're doing and wonderful at it. I'm shocked that they have 2-3 weddings a day and pay so much detail to each one. I was sooo nervous before but the communication when you get there is like night and day from the email communication. I hardly filled out that wedding planner thing, which I was scared about...when you get there they make sure it's EXACTLY how you want, every detail. They'll even suggest things that'll go together more. I was shocked that they weren't trying to up sell everything! I was thinking of getting bows on the gold chairs and he's like "I think the chairs themselves will look better" he could've made more money but instead did what he thought would look best, he did this with a lot of things and it made me feel so much better.

With all this discussion about bond fires and lanterns...it makes me wonder what their policy on real candles are? Can we have real candles or should I be looking for flameless?

Zulily looks like they are having a sale today on them...starts at 9am...I saw the preview for them and had to share

With all this discussion about bond fires and lanterns...it makes me wonder what their policy on real candles are? Can we have real candles or should I be looking for flameless?

I am not sure. Keep in mind it can be windy (but still gorgeous) there...at least when we went it was...and I've heard from lots of others, it was the same way. I'd maybe bring the flame less ones just in case or just stick with them?

@@Melissa Erling after looking over the wedding book and a spreadsheet of wedding costs from one of the brides on BDW, it looks like Now Sapphire charges you $10 per chair for the upgrade. Hope that helps!

 

Happy Planning,

Kristen.

 

@@meganator22 I am so sad to hear that they won't allow bond fires I have always thought I would have one at our wedding for guests to step away and enjoy some s'mores. I guess we will have to save that for our San Diego at home reception.

Ugghhhh I know I wanted one too! I wanted to do those lanterns also for my mom and grandma who both passed away but they said it's against that part of the beaches rules apparently. It's probably some sort of liability for them. Random lol but they do have an amazing fire show there, on the beach...get there early and get good seats because it is phenomenal!! Fire made me think of that hahaha

Does anyone know if they will do a bonfire on the beach for the welcome reception or if that's an option at the resort at all?

I would love to do something like that but I really don't hear back from Anel ever so even if I ask I won't hear back. If someone has already researched this information please let me know!

 

Thanks

 

One more question for the girls who have already gotten married or are withing 45 days of the wedding. once you fill out your planning form and send to Anel does she actually finally respond to you because of the close date to you rwedding? Or do you have to call to set up time to walk through the planning form? Or do you not review the planning form until you get to the resort for your wedding?

No they will not let you, I inquired about this as well!

And surprisingly when you are there they go over everything with you even more...and finalize everything. You talk with Ramon or Anel for as long as you want and they go into lots of details. It's a complete different ball game when you are actually there! They treat you like royalty and go wayyyy overboard with details. I'd imagine you can call but when you get there I PROMISE everything will be taken care of plus wayyy more. You'll be pleasantly surprised!

@@meganator22 thanks so much for the advice! I seem to want to do everything now but I need to just focus on my diet and knowing what I want so when the time comes I will be ready

Haha that's exactly how I was too!! I hate waiting to the last minute to do stuff and also am the most indecisive person ever. I changed my mind 6895 times about everything! It'll all get done and will be beautiful, I promise. I wish I worried less

Here's another question for you guys I was wondering how far in advance did you book for rooms? My travel agent said that prices will go down as the year goes on, so not to book so soon, maybe in 5 months. Is that how you did it?

I wish I would have known that...and it is very true that the closer you book the cheaper it goes down I think, my inlAws booked about 6 months prior to the wedding and it was way cheaper than what we got it for. We booked a year in advanced....next vacation I will definitely book closer to. As far as the gift bags, I didn't have those so I can't offer you help there, I'm sorry :/

Brides that have already gotten married at Now Sapphire-

 

Regarding flowers...I just got the 50 page attachment call "Wedding Book for Now Sapphire" with the email confirmation of our date and location. It has the wedding packages, menu options, floral options, ect. Did you get to pick the colors of your flowers or did you actually have to pick one of the photos for your flowers? I just had a vision in my head of what my flowers would look like and those pictures don't really fit it. Please advise

When you get there, they set you up with a meeting with either Ramon or Anel and you go over every little detail, they'll show you pictures too...they have A LOT of stuff....he asks you what colors you want and will help you pick...you get to pick your colors of everything, including your flowers. I had a massive bouquet of peach, pink and cream roses. It was very nice and they didn't skimp on the roses at all. All of the flowers turned out soooo pretty.

No mam! They did it without us even knowing! You're talking about the couple pouring the sand into the bottle together right? Every ceremony that was there, that we saw that week had one....I assume they do it for everyone...and you keep the bottle

I get married the 25th!

 

does anyone know if they provide the sand ceremony or do we have to bring sand/vases with us??

They provide it

@@meganator22 So happy to hear that everything worked out even though it rained! That is one of my biggest worries. I keep tell my bridesmaids that there will be tears if it rains but I will get over it I can't wait to read your full review and see the pictures from your wedding!

Thank you. I promise...it's beautiful no matter what! It rained for some other girls weddings as well when we were down there and I saw it and it was sooo gorgeous!! I didn't think it was going to be anywhere near as pretty as a beach wedding because that's what I had my heart set on but I can promise you...it was just as gorgeous...not to mention everyone in the main bar cheered! It was awesome

Hi Ladies! Is it possible to hire a good outside photographer for around $2000? Any recommendations would be great! TIA

Nico Zapata is GREAT....and way under that he's so super sweet and meets with you before as well. Once I get my computer up and running I'll show you the pics as well

We just got back not too long ago. I'll have a review up with lots of pictures and details

As soon as we get the pictures from the photographer back. I just want to say that I am soooo jealous of the ones who are going still...it goes by so so fast. When you get there everything is taken care of. Ramon is wonderful and so is Anel!! They go above and beyond for everyone's weddings and really know what they are doing. Don't stress! They'll do it all but 1000 times better! It was super windy and rainy on our wedding day and I had planned on getting married outside....they set up in this area kind of inside/outside. It was just as beautiful, I thought...and surprisingly I wasn't upset at all! If anyone has questions, you can ask me too! You ladies, who haven't gone yet are sooooo lucky that it's not over yet haha

Hi Megan,

 

We had 17 people at our wedding, there were 12 chairs in total and it didn't look strange. I have seen pictures online with two chairs and that also looked great.

 

I found it very hard to fill out the planning form because there was a lot I had not decided on. I left a lot blank on the form and Ramon went over everything the day of our meeting. He answered all of our questions and gave some great advice. In this meeting he also went over all of the decorations that we brought and how we wanted them used for decorations. They were exactly as I wanted them.

Try not to stress the small things. The Now Sapphire does many weddings every week - they really know what they are doing.

 

Britt1125: Maybe I can help answer some questions not answered by Ramon or Anel.

What were your questions about the food?

When is your wedding?

You are amazing, Dina. We only have 3 guests coming. :/ I too feel like there's so much I have no idea what I want and how I want it. Thank you so much...I am not stressed at all any more because you and other brides have all said everything gets taken care of. I'm putting jn my trust to them thank you again

Hi all! Less than 6 weeks for me now! So curious if anyone knows the layout for the symbolic ceremony? Trying order my wedding programs and I just realized I have NO idea how it's supposed to be layed out and therefore I can't get them ordered until then! Any info I would appreciate, thank you!!!

Hey! When is your wedding date? Mine is 1/23. We both are getting married around the same date I think!

Also, when you get there, will they go over the decorations and how you want it? and will they show you the options they have there? thanks

Has anyone had a small wedding with only a few people? we were expecting wayyyy more then just his parents and a friend, but turns out that everyone bailed, which I guess is understandable. I am filling out this form now and am kind of down as how silly a few chairs will look. 

I'm getting married Jan 20, 2014 at Dreams Puerto Aventuras..and we're currently hunting down a hotel for the honeymoon afterwards. any thoughts?

Just wanted to let you all know that living social is having pay 10 dollars to get 50 dollars worth for vista print...that's a pretty good deal I think. If any of you needed T-shirts, cards, coozies, or anything for your oot bags or whatever

What's all of your ladies grooms and groomsmen wearing? You guys doing any unique cake toppers, decorations? How is that all coming along? What kind of shoes do you all plan on wearing? Hair up, hair down? Lol clearly I'm full of questions. Hahaha I'm excited for all of us...ad getting anxious

Our wedding is going to be on the smaller side as well. We will be lucky if we get 15 haha I wish more people could come, but our families aren't big at all. Small things add up so fast, oh my goodnes! Makeup, hair, flowers, sound, decorations, small details. I also am feeling stressed out staying within budget because all of these things adding up are getting crazy expensive...and then I forget we still have to pay our trip there off and I get even more stressed hahaha everything will be perfect though. I feel like I am a lot less stressed with doing it this way than if we had a local wedding...I kind of feel like nothing can ruin just being on vacation lol I agree with the bonfire on the beach...that is so our style too! I'm hoping we can get the photographer that we had planned on to come down with us, because like you said it's basically the same exact price but you get more if the photographer is with you a lot. That is what's making me the most nervous! Pictures are what's more important to me than anything. I need a money tree is what it comes down to