Excellence Playa Mujeres Brides Post Here!

[Sharon99]

I agree the TA is the way to go! That way no one has to bother you! I still get people calling about stupid things but I just direct them to the TA. Also, you can get a great group rate. I think the minimum is a 10 room block. Not sure if that is TA specific but me & my guests could not find a cheaper rate. We also had to put a deposit down on the rooms BUT if they were not booked by a certain date you would get the money back. If they did book, that money would go to your room or you would get it back.

 

The only downside I can say about my TA is that I have not heard from her AT ALL. Unless I email with a question(she gets right back to me)...not sure if that is a good or bad thing. FI says who cares but I thought I would at least get an email occasionally with a headcount so far etc especially since I have more guests booked then what we thought  $$$$$$ for her.... 

Which reminds me I have to email her to get a list of my guests who has booked. 

 

Good luck & happy planning. You will find this site is completely addictive!!

 

[May12]

Welcome!

I would definitely go with a TA! Our almost final guest count is 30. Dealing with all of the guest and coordinating when they'll be there, any events we want to do and just plain keeping track of them is MUCH easier with a travel agent. PLUS they usually are less expensive than the resort with "perks" for booking with them....discounts, room upgrades, etc. We are with Laura Sangster. She is based out of Atlanta (we're in NJ) but we found her because of a recommendation from Yamina, our first wedding coordinator at EPM. She has been working with EPM for years now and knows the resort well...AND Nayeli our new wedding coordinator! With all of the changes we've had with wedding coordinators over the last 2 years, I'm glad our travel agent is telling us we're in good hands! We at first did not go with a block of rooms, and Laura was still able to get a better rate than booking through the resort directly.  When rates at the resort started to go up(and before the majority of our guests booked) we decided to go with the block of rooms to "secure" the price. It was a $500 deposit on our part as long as they booked and gave their $150 deposit within 2 weeks. It was a little hectic getting everyone to put their deposit down within 2 weeks after that(my friends are procrastinators), but it all worked out and Laura keep us in the loop sometimes several times a day to make sure we knew what was going on...she's very patient and flexible! She booked out trip to Cancun/Excellence last Sept and literally was emailing us and called the resort to make sure we liked it and they were treating us well! How nice is that! We are going to Zoetry for our honeymoon and she's booking and working with that hotel for us as well as providing other accommodations and transfers for our guests who want to stay in Cancun longer but not the entire time at EPM.  If you are interested in getting more info from her here's her info... laura@caribbeanjourney.com or  866-236-1924

 

Good luck and happy planning!

Sheryl   

Originally Posted by 2012BeachBride 

Hi Ladies!

 

I have been reading this forum and there is just so much helpful info on here for brides to be!  My FI and I are getting married November 17, 2012 at EPM and seriously you girls are my source to the most updated resort info.  We have been planning the wedding since July-ish and I just want to contribute any info I have so far to you girls. 

 

With regard to photography, we were told there is that $500 vendor fee per day that a vendor is present; however, with the exception of whether the vendor/photographer is staying at the resort.  (Then it would only be what $261 for a room for one person and the photographer can eat and relax/enjoy the resort while she is not working.)  We are actually going w this option to have our photographer stay at EPM for 2 nights so she can shoot most of the wedding day and our TTD shoot the morning after, before check-out.  Her name is Daniela Garza and from the reviews I've heard, we are very excited to have her shoot our wedding. 

 

As of now, we do not have a TA and I'm starting to wonder if we should.  We don't plan on doing a group booking and instead are directing our guests to book themselves (to avoid us having to front all the money & risk ppl not coming etc).  We are inviting 60 people & are realistically expecting around 20, and no more than 30.  I feel like if the group isnt too large then there is no need for a TA.  But IDK, what are some reasons that brides chose to use a TA??

 

[May12]

Hello Ladies!

Not sure if I missed an answer to this in all of our postings, but I remember someone asking about tipping... I too am LOST on this subject and want to make sure we are tipping appropriately without doing it unnecessarily... What are you all planning on doing??  

Thanks!!

Sheryl

 

PS. FYI.. I asked Nayeli about payment and here is our correspondence on that- (we are also using Moments that Matter as our photographer as they are based out of the resort) Her answers are in RED and GREEN....

Deposits and Payments:

When are deposits and payments due to you, and what is the method of payment that you require. Will the florist, DJ and Photographer be through you as well?

Yes, you are going to pay for everything with us, you can pay at your check out and you can pay with cash, credit card (American Express, Master Card or Visa) and traveler checks

Fantastic! Will you be providing us with an invoice or detailed estimate before the wedding?

Absolutely, I will be sending you a planner with all your choices and charges so you can have a better idea on your budget.

 

 P.P.S. The mugs are awesome!

[lciz]

Thanks for bringing this up again!! I have been asking forever about the tipping, I am so confused as to how to tally up all of the tips and what to tip.

Here is my original post- any feedback would be GREATLY appreciated!!

 

Hi Ladies,

 

I have a question for you... Are you going to tip the Wedding Coordinator? Also, the waitstaff and bartender at the reception? If so that will mean we tip:

The Photographer

All of the Waitstaff

The Bartenders

The DJ (if you have one)

The Wedding Coordinator

 

Am I missing anyone? Do you girls have a percentage you are tipping them? I would love the feedback, I am starting to feel like I will be tipping everyone and I am just watching my costs skyrocket!

 

Thanks a bunch!

 

 

AND YES- AWESOME MUGS!! Love them

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by May12 

Hello Ladies!

Not sure if I missed an answer to this in all of our postings, but I remember someone asking about tipping... I too am LOST on this subject and want to make sure we are tipping appropriately without doing it unnecessarily... What are you all planning on doing??  

Thanks!!

Sheryl

 

PS. FYI.. I asked Nayeli about payment and here is our correspondence on that- (we are also using Moments that Matter as our photographer as they are based out of the resort) Her answers are in RED and GREEN....

Deposits and Payments:

When are deposits and payments due to you, and what is the method of payment that you require. Will the florist, DJ and Photographer be through you as well?

Yes, you are going to pay for everything with us, you can pay at your check out and you can pay with cash, credit card (American Express, Master Card or Visa) and traveler checks

Fantastic! Will you be providing us with an invoice or detailed estimate before the wedding?

Absolutely, I will be sending you a planner with all your choices and charges so you can have a better idea on your budget.

 

 P.P.S. The mugs are awesome!

 

[LauraR597]

We chose not to use a TA for our 30-40 guests because the few travel agents I spoke with quoted ridiculously expensive prices as compared to booking on your own with the resort or some internet sites like expedia. We haven't had too much trouble and encouraged our guest to use one if they felt more comfortable. We have 32 guests booked and no one has had any problems so far. I, however, did not want my guests to pay an extra $300-$400 just for using a travel agent I chose. After speaking to a few TAs, I just gave up. Sounds like the ladies on here had better luck than I did, though.

[May12]

To Tip or not to Tip.... this is giving me a headache!

I found some info on other forums online an on this site, but the consensus is this....If they go above and beyond, tip. If "services" is outlined in the invoice, they already charged you for a tip. Anything I've read on Martha Stewart or the knot is really for "local" weddings with a million different vendors for things, all with high expectations for tipping....and outrageous in my book!

Some of the comments from actual vendors in Mexico, do not expect a tip at all! One Photographer said that he never expects it and is paid quite well but the most someone ever gave him was $50. No one seems to be tipping the florist or DJ unless they are fantastic and going above and beyond. The musicians range from no tip to $25. Everyone seems to agree that the waitstaff should be tipped about $20 each, but depends how many people are there waiting on you. The wedding coordinator is ranging from nothing to $150, with $50 or $100 being average. One idea was to have thank you cards filled out with $ in them and hand them out only if you feel they deserved the tip. Someone got a gift for the wedding coordinator and her family as well as cash. What I'm understanding, unfortunately, is that a lot of people seem to be very confused on this AI destination wedding tipping situation!

 

I'm thinking of this:  

Nayeli- I'll give her a thank you card and more than likely, she'll get a tip...probably $100 or more depending on how things come out...and how much tequila I've had!

For everyone else, I think I'll be handing out pesos. I don't want to carry a ton of US $ around and Pesos may be easier for them...

Waitstaff/bartenders-depends how many there are and how they do but $200ish Pesos each

Mariachi Trio-$300-400 pesos-If we see them!

Guitarist-$150-200 Pesos-if we have one

DJ, Photographer and Florist-probably nothing unless they really go above and beyond.

We may end up tacking on an extra hour or so with the reception so if that's the case then we will tip the DJ and a bit more for the bartender.

Hair and make-up stylist- 20%

Nails/Spa services-15-20%

 

I really don't want to be "cheap" and generally I am EXTREMELY generous, but I really believe that they are already being paid for a service, and above and beyond will warrant something as a token of appreciation.

 

Here are the links for the forums I was looking at...

 

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...or-gift-48794/
http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...iquette-26560/
http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...vendors-37452/

 

Any thoughts?? PLEASE tell me if I'm making sense or if I'm way off! Again, I want to be reasonable and not blow my budget on tips just for the sake of tipping! I'm sure my bridesmaids would rather have coach coin purses!

 

 

[May12]

Oh No!  I would have totally gone the route you did if everyone wanted to charge me! Our TA is free and just gets a kickback for what she books. How many people are you having, Laura? Where are you having the reception? I'll be there a couple of weeks after you and it sounds like we have a similar guest count!

Can't wait to hear how everything turned out for everyone!!!

 

Originally Posted by LauraR597 

We chose not to use a TA for our 30-40 guests because the few travel agents I spoke with quoted ridiculously expensive prices as compared to booking on your own with the resort or some internet sites like expedia. We haven't had too much trouble and encouraged our guest to use one if they felt more comfortable. We have 32 guests booked and no one has had any problems so far. I, however, did not want my guests to pay an extra $300-$400 just for using a travel agent I chose. After speaking to a few TAs, I just gave up. Sounds like the ladies on here had better luck than I did, though.

 

[MsBlissMpls]

Wow. I agree with May12. I would have been very scared off of using a TA if they were charging that much. You are probably really lucky & you are super smart for making the choice you did. Better off without that TA! I can't even believe someone would try to charge that much extra off of the online prices. My TA did a price reduction when I found my exact flight & room less expensive online than the vendor that she was planning to use (which she said rarely happens). On top of that if the price goes down, she automatically adjusts it down for each guest.

 

Sorry to hear about that expierence.

 

I'm getting married just shortly before your date. Hopefully I can be very on top of things and get some reviews, tips, and unprofessional photos up soon after the big day!

 

I was kind of hoping that current brides would be posting and sharing their photos Maybe they did not find this website?

 

I'm already working on my planning journal. So hopefully that will be ready shortly after our trip as well.

 

Originally Posted by LauraR597 

We chose not to use a TA for our 30-40 guests because the few travel agents I spoke with quoted ridiculously expensive prices as compared to booking on your own with the resort or some internet sites like expedia. We haven't had too much trouble and encouraged our guest to use one if they felt more comfortable. We have 32 guests booked and no one has had any problems so far. I, however, did not want my guests to pay an extra $300-$400 just for using a travel agent I chose. After speaking to a few TAs, I just gave up. Sounds like the ladies on here had better luck than I did, though.

 

[Jass7]

Thanks ladies! I'm super excited, but I'm getting super inpatient to hear back from Nayeli. I need to confirm date and time, so that we can book our honeymoon. It's been over 48 hours so I'll try to stay more patient. Where is everyone having their ceremony? And reception? And I would love to se your dresses!

[May12]

Did you book your room at Excellence yet? When I was going through this they could only give me a tentative time until we booked. When are you getting married??

We're having the ceremony at the gazebo, Cocktail hour at X-Lounge and the reception at the CECO (Convention Center) Terrace. This way if we want to make noise and extend the DJ we can!

Sorry...no dress pics with me in it yet...still waiting on the 1st fitting...but I am going simple yet elegant wearing Nicole Miller "Veronique". It's a stretch jacquard fabric with a cool pattern on it and VERY comfortable! I found a necklace in Mexico last time we were there that is silver with different sized shapes and cuts of Mother of pearl...it's a total statement piece...might actually upstage the dress!

How bout you??    

 

Originally Posted by Jass7 

Thanks ladies! I'm super excited, but I'm getting super inpatient to hear back from Nayeli. I need to confirm date and time, so that we can book our honeymoon. It's been over 48 hours so I'll try to stay more patient.
Where is everyone having their ceremony? And reception?
And I would love to se your dresses!