Moon Palace 2008 & 2009 Brides - POST HERE!

[drtracy]

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Originally Posted by BeachBride6-6-09 We are our welcome dinner at the Barracuda(sp?) resturaunt on the 5th, we wanted Arrecifes but it was already taken. Does anyone have any reviews of the Barracuda? Per our wedding package we get live music, and it seems that we got the mariachi band and that is the music during the ceremony?? I am also interested in my guest throwing the flower petals during our exit, can the resort supply this or do we have to bring our own? Oh also, I am a little nervous bringing our OOT bags and table center pieces in customs, since I have no receipts for anything, did anyone run into any problems with this, or does anyone have any suggestions.

We ate at Barracuda our first night there, it was pretty good, randomly I have a pic from inside the restaurant...



The nice thing about it is the gorgeous view! The service was great as well.

They do have the flower petals.

I would recommend trying to run some receipts off the computer. Or just printing some old random ones. Customs liked the fact that I had them but they didn't seem to analyze them, just said okay thanks. They did make me open it and kind of crowded around to look at the stuff.

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Originally Posted by nibsmom Okay, so a question about receptions... We are hoping to have our reception from 5 to 9. We figured from 5 to 7 we'd have food out - we are just going to do a two hour cocktail reception. From 7 to 9, we are going to do dancing, the cake, and whatever else. How do they charge those last two hours? Does anyone know? Is it still 400 dollars an hour like a cocktail reception? Or is there a different cost for just having a bar, and then the cost of the DJ??

I'm not 100% sure on this b/c we had enough rooms for it to be a private function. The DJ cost was separate from everything else though. And, be specific as to when you want him, if everything is in the same area they will set everything up ahead of time and the DJ will be there from the beginning. Make sure to tell your WC the specific times that you want him to be there.

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Originally Posted by TinaM2b Hi Tracy, Your review is great! I was wondering who that guy was in some of your photos yesterday.... it was the best bartender in the world!! LOL You have been answering so many of my questions but your review brought up a few more! If you had to do it over, would you pay extra for the IPOD Sound System? That is one thing my FI is not really happy about! We are bringing our BOSE docking station and he thinks he just wants to use that. We were quoted $410 for our 5:00 - 10:00 reception/dance. That is the basic rental for 4 hours plus one additional hour. What did you mean by the dinner started with music not on the IPOD? Do they provide the dinner music? What photo package did you get? Did you have a photographer into the reception / cake cutting time? Thanks again for your wonderful reviews and all the answers you have given us!

Thanks, yes if you can find Francisco, he was a joy. It was great every time I was near the bar and he'd yell, "Tracy, Tracy, how is your day!"

I would definitely use the iPod sound system again, however, I don't know how well the docking system works (as far as how loud). If you think it will be loud enough then recruit someone to work the system for you. It was nice not having to worry about it.
They did provide dinner music for us for 30 minutes. It was really nice, very mellow jazz but it was popular songs (imagine a Micheal Jackson song turned into jazz, very weird but cool)
We got the photo package that came with the Superior Wedding package. Which is 36 pictures and a photobook. They only did the ceremony then a shoot on the beach afterwards. My only regret is not having someone do the reception, but with all of our friends pictures we have about 500 from the reception alone so it should be okay. We also got the CD negatives for $150 extra no matter what you do make sure to get this!

Hope that helps everyone!

[Camie78]

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Originally Posted by BeachBride6-6-09 Hi everyone, I have only posted on here a few times, but I have kept up on everyones posts. My name is Jami, and I am getting married at Moon Palace on June 6th at 5pm, despite all the Swine flu drama. Our wedding coordinator is Claudia and other than a couple weeks of no responses she has been amazing. Everything is coming together but I still feel like there is so much to do in such little time! We are our welcome dinner at the Barracuda(sp?) resturaunt on the 5th, we wanted Arrecifes but it was already taken. Does anyone have any reviews of the Barracuda? We are then having a private reception on the Terrace Venado, with the BBQ buffet per my moms choice. And we have Ceclia Dumas booked for our TTD pictures. The only real thing that I am nervous about, at this moment, is the music. Per our wedding package we get live music, and it seems that we got the mariachi band and that is the music during the ceremony?? I am not sure how this is going to work, has anyone had this before and if so how did it go?? I am also interested in my guest throwing the flower petals during our exit, can the resort supply this or do we have to bring our own? Oh also, I am a little nervous bringing our OOT bags and table center pieces in customs, since I have no receipts for anything, did anyone run into any problems with this, or does anyone have any suggestions. Other than that I am welcomed to any previous brides suggestions on anything. Sorry for the amount of questions, I guess it is just last minute anxiety!!!

Barracuda is the steakhouse on the Sunrise side and was our favorite restaurant. The steaks were very good for 'resort steak.' The meat at Arrifeces is of lower quality so you came out ahead with Barracuda in my opinion.

We had no issues getting through customs and we had 6 bags. The great thing about the Cancun airport is that they have free bag carts. They are a little dirty but they are free so bring some hand sanitizer and you will be good to go.

[nibsmom]

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Originally Posted by TinaM2b On the paperwork we have, it states $400 per table of 10 and $60.00 per table for additional hours.

Hm...okay you're right, I should have looked at my contract. You're so smart!

Mine has a clause that says "Private Group Functions are available without surcharge in meeting rooms and outdoor venues, except for beach when using inclusive Hotel menus."

I wonder if that means there is a different charge for the last two hours, because I'm not going to be serving food. A question to ask my WC, I guess!!

[Eureaka]

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Originally Posted by nibsmom Okay, so a question about receptions... We are hoping to have our reception from 5 to 9. We figured from 5 to 7 we'd have food out - we are just going to do a two hour cocktail reception. From 7 to 9, we are going to do dancing, the cake, and whatever else. How do they charge those last two hours? Does anyone know? Is it still 400 dollars an hour like a cocktail reception? Or is there a different cost for just having a bar, and then the cost of the DJ??

Are you telling your WC ahead of time that you would like the 2 hours? We had another couple drop out so we are going to be right around the 15 mark. I was thinking of a 2 hour cocktail hour (since like you I read that there is a good amount of food) and then just making a reservation at one of the restaurants as a "just in case". I was hoping to not pay anything extra though for the cocktail hour since we will have the 30 rooms needed. Also, because we are having a formal AHR - which is stressing me out! - I don't think I'm booking anything after that....

[nibsmom]

Eureaka, yes, I did just email my WC today and told her that I wanted to have two hours of cocktail reception then two hours of dancing, etc. I asked her about cost, so I'll post back when I hear from her about what she says!! I know that I'll get one hour of the cocktail reception free because I have ten rooms booked.

 

I think we've decided to nix the AHRs - neither of us wanted to deal with that stress!

[kmac]

Hey! I am trying to figure out the details for my July 24th wedding. Oh boy, so many random things come up. My project today is the music. Has anyone used the DJ? I really want a DJ so, they can keep the party going and announce the new couple, begin the 1st dance, etc. I have not seen anything listed on the thread. I know a lot of people have brought the iPods, but I am so bad with music. I just want someone to handle to the whole thing.

[Eureaka]

kmac - I know what you mean! As things get closer I keep thinking of stuff to do.

 

I'm not planning on using the DJ there. We are having an AHR and will be having one there. My FI is picky with the music so he will have some input in this area. I am the complete opposite b/c I can listen to pretty much anything! Another suggestion is to google wedding play lists to get some ideas. I got a "Destination Weddings for Dummy's" book (haha!) when I first thought of this whole DW idea and they give suggestions for some destination-type songs in there.

[nibsmom]

Hey all,

 

I got a reply back from my WC regarding reception costs. We have a total head count of 26. 4 of those are children under 4 years of age.

 

For a plated or buffet dinner, she quoted me a price of 1200 for the first two hours and 360 for the second two hours. That includes either the buffet or plated dinner, round tables, white linens, drinks, china, silver, etc.

 

She told me that having a cocktail reception would be 600 for the first hour, and 300 for every hour after that - which would put us at 1500, pretty much the same price. However, we're supposed to get the first hour for free - which would make it 900 I guess. I'm wondering if I go this route if they keep bringing food out each hour, or if the food stops after the first hour. Seems a steep price to pay if they don't bring food out each hour!!

 

She also mentioned that I only get tall cocktail tables for the cocktail reception, no sitting areas. She seemed to really be pushing me towards the buffet...I'm not really sure what I'll do.

 

Eureaka, I got that book too, LOL. Also, I got The Knot Book of Wedding Vows and Traditions, and that has some awesome music selections in it as well. We've been using that book for finding ceremony music.

[nibsmom]

Hey kmac, I am planning on using the ipod system, so I can't help you with the DJ advice! But, if you're looking for prices, I have a document from my WC I can send you. If you want it, PM me your email address!

[doblauvelt]

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Originally Posted by nibsmom I'm wondering if I go this route if they keep bringing food out each hour, or if the food stops after the first hour. Seems a steep price to pay if they don't bring food out each hour!!

I certainly hope they keep bringing out the food, you're right that's pretty pricey for a one hour cocktail reception.

i have a question, does the ipod speaker system come with a microphone? or is that seperate? i'm hoping to have one of the groomsmen announce the cutting of the cake, etc.