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We just received our pictures and they are RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING!! I am so freakin excited

Hello Again! For those that are having a Catholic wedding in the Chapel would you please consider sharing your program with me? I am so stumped for how I want to design it and what should be included. An example I could start with would be so helpful! Thank you

If you search for Gran Caribe Reviews...you will find brides that reviewed the Spa among everything else. Most brides seemed happy with the Spa. Most loved their makeup and were happy with their hair even though it may not have looked exactly like the picture they provided.

I blocked 20 rooms (10 at Hyatt and 10 at GC) but I had to go through my TA. I received a special rate for those booking through my TA as a result. Even once all of my rooms are booked (only two more to go!) my guests will still be able to take advantage of my rate given rooms are still available at the resort no matter the resort price up until a month out. I forgot to mention an important detail...I had to pay a deposit per room I blocked. That is why I got such a great rate. But once someone books they pay the deposit and what I paid goes back into my balance. Once all the rooms on the block are booked then we get a full refund (unless we decided to pay the deposits of some guests...which we did) I am getting my makeup done at the spa but bringing my own hairstylist. She will be there as a guest so no vendor fee. My bridesmaids and I have natural hair so I am sure they wouldn't be able to straighten it With a wedding package you do get free stuff like massages, dinner on beach, wedding night suite upgrade among other things which is kinda like a discount BUT no where near the other discounts resorts where offering.

I haven't been warned at all. Just informed that if I came in with outside flowers they would not help me set up. Which was a deal breaker for me because the last thing I want to be doing is setting up for my own wedding when it should be stress free :-/

To be honest I believe that is an idle warning but previous brides may be able to add more insight. From what I understand you can definitely bring in real flowers but they won't help you with them. But they aren't going to encourage you to go outside of them. Now I do know that they do have restrictions on decorative petals but I can't remember what it is, whether they can't be real or the can't be fake. There are a couple of brides on this forum that have successfully avoided the vendor fee but I think its a bit of a hassle.

When in May?

Every outside vendor will cost $350. The only way of getting around that is by either ordering and bring everything yourself from home (assuming all fake flowers) OR meeting your vendor offsite and picking up the flowers yourself. You can avoid the vendor fee but will have to decoration yourself as the resort's staff will not help with offsite flowers. We are just going to pay the fee.

Yes we were allowed to.

Quote: Originally Posted by macyhickman09 I'm still struggling with a photographer. I am kind of down to 3: Ivan Luckie, Juan Navarro, & Samuel Luna! Does anyone have any recommendations? It is such a huge decision! I am using Erick Rodriguez. I love his pictures and his personality. I was considering Sweet Fire Photography before him but his work is just as good for was less. Good luck. http://www.rockin-photography.com/

Quote: Originally Posted by sweetjess88 Hello ladies! Can anyone recommend a floral company? I have tried Maya Floral as well and their prices are way over my budget, im wondering if there are any other companies that do a great job but are less expensive and more helpful than Maya floral. Thank you and happy planning! =) Marvin will certainly work within your budget. Just let him know what your budget is and the type of look you are going for and ask him for recommendations. You could also have him do something simple like a pomander sitting on top of a vase and then order natural touch cascading lilies (bring with you) and have them put the lilies in the pomanders. This will save you so much money and still be beautiful and dramatic. Good luck.

Marvin will certainly work within your budget. Just let him know what your budget is and the type of look you are going for and ask him for recommendations. You could also have him do something simple like a pomander sitting on top of a vase and then order natural touch cascading lilies (bring with you) and have them put the lilies in the pomanders. This will save you so much money and still be beautiful and dramatic. Good luck.

Cinematographer: GallardoFilms Photographer: Rockin Photography (Erick Rodriguez)

I am having the saxophonist at the ceremony and we told him what songs we would like.

I know you aren't asking me but they way I look at it is that I am not really saving THAT much money overall doing it in Mexico. I have a fairly large group planning to attend and I am hosting an event each day. The great part is that I am spending just under what it would cost to have a nice wedding in the states (which would only last for 5 hours) to have several events over three days in paradise. It was all about the experiences vs. the cost savings to us. We wanted our wedding to be a celebration and time for our families to truly connect.

So far.... Date:May 24 2014 Cordinator & Travel Agent: LUXE Destination Ceremony: Chapel - 1pm Reception: The Royal ballroom - 6pm Cinematography: GallardoFilms Photography: Rockin Photography www.rockin-photography.com DJ: DJ Doremixx Completed items: STDs, wedding logos, website, wedding dress, tux, and bridal party attire Ready to start with the menu items but still haven't received the revised proposal from Real Resorts :-/

So far.... Date:May 24 2014 Cordinator & Travel Agent: LUXE Destination Ceremony: Chapel - 1pm Reception: The Royal ballroom - 6pm Cinematography: GallardoFilms Photography: Rockin Photography www.rockin-photography.com DJ: DJ Doremixx Completed items: STDs, wedding logos, website, wedding dress, tux, and bridal party attire Ready to start with the menu items but still haven't received the revised proposal from Real Resorts :-/

Not 100% Accurate. Real Resorts was not sold/acquired. The entered into a merger with Playa Hotels & Resorts (Playa) which is quite different. Playa entered a strategic partnership with Hyatt (which is also different) including the rebranding of THE Royal. Here is the official announcement sent out to Trade Partners. August 16, 2013 Dear Travel Industry Partners, It is with great pleasure that we announce the merger of Real Resorts with Playa Hotels & Resorts, a well-established owner and investor of all-inclusive resorts throughout Mexico and the Caribbean. Simultaneously Playa signed an agreement with Hyatt Hotels Corporation to exclusively flag and manage the new Hyatt-branded all-inclusive resorts in five Latin American and Caribbean countries as the final result of months of negotiations between Playa‟s CEO Mr. Bruce Wardinski, his great staff and us; this Hyatt - Playa Hotels agreement has created an excellent business opportunity to merge Real Resorts with Playa Hotels & Resorts to create a powerful ownership and management resort company with an exclusive focus on upscale and luxury all-inclusive growing trend. What does this mean for you, our valued travel industry partners? It means you will still receive the same great service and travel agent perks that you have come to expect and enjoy from Real Resorts in more properties where your guests will continue to enjoy the best all-inclusive lifetime experiences in the industry….except it will all get even better with the Hyatt renowned wonderful touches! We are very proud to announce that THE ROYAL Cancun was chosen as the first new Hyatt-branded Luxury all-inclusive, all adults resort to be rebranded next November, with the same passion and dedication to excellence in an ambience conducive to romance. The Barcelo Los Cabos also will be Hyatt branded in November as a family luxury all-inclusive. During the fall there will be improvements at the resorts to meet Hyatt brand standards in the back-of-the-house and decoration non-intrusive at all to our valued guests. Of course, all of your current and new bookings remain intact under the same terms, to enjoy our known passion to please guests´ experiences. THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen, the Gran Caribe Real Cancun and Gran Porto Real Playa del Carmen will remain branded as they are with the same great staff atmosphere and excellent „service from the heart.‟ We realize this is big news and a surprising change! But please be assured we are, as always, committed to keeping you informed every step of the way. Now we all at Real Resorts are extra motivated to keep on “Doing everything with love†to remain exceeding your valued clients´ expectations. As always, we ask you for your continued vital support and to keep working hand in hand with us as you always have. We will continue to strive to be the best that made all of us unique from other all-inclusive resorts. Remember you made a difference here in the Real Resorts family now happily expanded with the partnership with Playa Hotels and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts all-inclusive; let us continue together in this exciting venture. Thank you again and please help us to spread the Good News. Sincerely, Ing. Fernando García Zalvidea General Helper Real Resorts – Playa Resorts

I talked to Hyatt's press room and they confirmed that they have entered into a partnership with Playa. The partnership includes rebranding six of Playa's 13 properties. However, the part that is extremely confusing (which the person helping me could not explain) is that THE Royal Cancun is NOT one of Playa's properties. It is owned by Real Resorts. And Real Resorts has confirmed that they are NOT in partnership with Hyatt. I don't know what to make of this. http://www.hyattpressroom.com/hyatt/en/news_releases0/2013/Hyatt-Completes-Investment-in-the-All-Inclusive-Resort-Segment.html http://www.playaresorts.com/ourResorts.php

I talked to Hyatt's press room and they confirmed that they have entered into a partnership with Playa. The partnership includes rebranding six of Playa's 13 properties. However, the part that is extremely confusing (which the person helping me could not explain) is that THE Royal Cancun is NOT one of Playa's properties. It is owned by Real Resorts. And Real Resorts has confirmed that they are NOT in partnership with Hyatt. I don't know what to make of this. http://www.hyattpressroom.com/hyatt/en/news_releases0/2013/Hyatt-Completes-Investment-in-the-All-Inclusive-Resort-Segment.html http://www.playaresorts.com/ourResorts.php

Hello Ladies - I have been following the blog since I got engaged this past May and I can finally say that I booked my date!!! So very excited to start the actual planning! We have already negotiated the group rates at the Gran Caribe and The Royal and just awaiting the contract so we can get the ball rolling. Date: May 24, 2014 Location: Gran Caribe Chapel Time: 1pm | we really wanted 4pm but all the saturdays at 4 were booked up in April and May

Hello Ladies - I have been following the blog since I got engaged this past May and I can finally say that I booked my date!!! So very excited to start the actual planning! We have already negotiated the group rates at the Gran Caribe and The Royal and just awaiting the contract so we can get the ball rolling. Date: May 24, 2014 Location: Gran Caribe Chapel Time: 1pm | we really wanted 4pm but all the saturdays at 4 were booked up in April and May

Absolutely beautiful!!

Thank you very much for your perspective and insight! I have relayed a lot of this to my travel agent to see what she can work out. Very helpful!

I think I am just going to go with the Gran Caribe and have my wedding planner fly there with me to fight for me in the case that anything goes wrong. No use having everyone pay so much more. This nerve-racking but I hope it feels better once the decision is made!