Catalonia Riviera Maya

[Meyer2010]

Well, I was glad we had the white tent because it was a little wet most of the morning and then the sun came out full force as I was walking down the aisle. It saved our guests and the kids from the rain and the heat. Not to mention you are only down there for 30 min. at the most! We had them hang flowers on the tent which made it look more tropical.

The other nice thing is they moved all of our flowers and chair sashes to the buffet for us and when we were finished getting our pictures done and had a few drinks at the PCO bar we walked to the buffet and they had it decorated so beautifully free of charge. We also got married on a Wednesday which was "Mexican" night in the buffet. There were mariachi players that came over to our tables and played for about 20 min. Since CAT was an AI resort we weren't ready to pay $40/pp for a private reception. We were so glad we had our reception in the buffet that way our guests could enjoy a huge variety of food and free drinks! It was perfect and I wouldn't change a thing!!

 

Good Luck!

[josietoms]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meyer2010 Well, I was glad we had the white tent because it was a little wet most of the morning and then the sun came out full force as I was walking down the aisle. It saved our guests and the kids from the rain and the heat. Not to mention you are only down there for 30 min. at the most! We had them hang flowers on the tent which made it look more tropical. The other nice thing is they moved all of our flowers and chair sashes to the buffet for us and when we were finished getting our pictures done and had a few drinks at the PCO bar we walked to the buffet and they had it decorated so beautifully free of charge. We also got married on a Wednesday which was "Mexican" night in the buffet. There were mariachi players that came over to our tables and played for about 20 min. Since CAT was an AI resort we weren't ready to pay $40/pp for a private reception. We were so glad we had our reception in the buffet that way our guests could enjoy a huge variety of food and free drinks! It was perfect and I wouldn't change a thing!! Good Luck!

At the moment i am unsure whether we want to pay for the private reception or stick with the one included in the package as we only have 18 of us going. But I have looked back through the previous posts and couldnt see if anyone had their reception in one of the main restaurants - and i now see that you have and it sounds as though you had just as good a time as those that paid the extra. Have you any photos of what the set up looked like as i think this will really help me make up my mind or know of where i can see any? Thanks for all your positive comments.

[gowiththeflow]

I realized it probably sounded like I was bashing other people's ceremonies with the tent! I hope no one took it that way. I actually think it looks I nice in photos, it's just not what I have always pictured. The problem is I have seen all these other resorts with gazebos or just a wooden pole structure with flowers and tulle, and now I really like it. And even if the ceremony is only 30 minutes, it really is the most important part (to mee) so I want it to be what we want, you know? Hopefully once we visit, Ill be sold!

 

Although with our first 90 degree day here yesterday, and being outside and melting, Im starting to think the tent might not be a bad idea!

[rodent]

I felt the same way about the white tent. It was on my Cons list while picking a resort. I also pictured a gazeebo or an arch.

 

But, it ended up being something I was really happy with. Our guests needed that shade. Open shade is also great for photography. It kept them from having harsh sun on their face & squinty eyes in pictures. I can't remember is mike & I were under the tent, too.

 

During the ceremony, the guests will be under nice shade, but looking out onto a beautiful ocean. Having the ceremony at a lagoon instead of right on the beach was also really nice. I think it made it less windy & not as loud.

 

Overall, the ceremony location was just so nice & I ended up really happy to have the tent.

[josietoms]

Strange question alert!!!!! Does anyone remember if you have a key to your room of whether it is a swipe card entrance on the door? We have one guest who is being a bit difficult over things and this in the only question they have raised that I can't answer......

[rodent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by josietoms Strange question alert!!!!! Does anyone remember if you have a key to your room of whether it is a swipe card entrance on the door? We have one guest who is being a bit difficult over things and this in the only question they have raised that I can't answer......

swipe card

some employees can get into the rooms & people do get robbed. I gave everyone luggage locks with a combination that we set to all be the same (so no one lost a key or forgot their code and couldn't get their stuff). These are much safer than the hotel safes.

While we were checking out someone's hotel safe had just been robbed.

[josietoms]

Thanks Morgan.

 

Thats not good - but then it can happen anywhere - i went to Morocco a few years ago and this was a real problem in the luxury hotels.

[L&C In Love]

Well I think after much deliberation I have decided to go with the Renewal of the Vows at the Cat. The legal requirements in Mexico and the lack of hearing back from Elena has just made me want to go the easier route!

 

Also I really want to have the ceremony personalized and in English and having the legal ceremony meant I really wouldn't get that.

 

Meyer2010, I know that you went this route as well. How was your experience with this whole process? Did the minister you had perform the ceremony work out well? Did they make "real like" so others didn't know it wasn't actaully a legal ceremony?

 

Also I think you said the Cat didn't require you to have the marriage cert at the resort so you didn't have to have the legal marriage done before? Did you stay for a honeymoon as well? I think some resorts want to see a marriage cert to give you a honeymoon package. I was going to go somewhere else for our honeymoon, so that is why I am a little worried as I would want to get legally married after Mexico.

[Kplanta]

Hey L&C In Love,

 

I noticed you are from Edmonton. I am in the final stages of trying to finalize a group quote from our travel agent, and I am now being told that Nolitours is the only tour operator in Canada that is offering the CAT, and that they are only offering the Yucatan side to Canada.

I was wondering of you have booked your group, and on what side of the hotel? I am also wondering if we book on the Yucatan side, can we upgrade to the suites on the Rivieria side if we call the hotel directly?

I am worried that the rooms on the Yucatan side might not be as nice, and that we will not be able to book a suite for ousleves!

Have you run in to this issue? What do you guys think I should do? Just book on the Yucatan side? I would really like to have a suite for oursleves though, because it is our wedding and I would like the nicer room. Plus all the girls will be getting ready in the room on the day of the wedding, and it would be nice to have more space.

 

Kristen

[rodent]

are there not suites on the yucatan side? If not, I'm pretty sure you could upgrade when you got there. They had signs at the front desk with upgrade prices & many of our guests upgraded to suites when they checked in. Actually most of our guests stayed in suites and we stayed in a regular room, but they did give us a larger room.

 

One of our guests upgraded to ocean front on arrival & they put them in yucatan. So I don't see why you can't check in at yucatan & be put in RM.