Excellence Playa Mujeres Brides Post Here!

[MsBlissMpls]

I got all of the items in for my mugs! This is a photo with my (old) iPhone, so the quality is bad, but you can get the idea. Seriously LOVE these things. I already showed one of our guests, because I can't hide anything well, and she we really really excited about getting one... Ok. Now I'll be quite about the OOT stuff

 

Oh, we decided to put our names in green (to blend in with the design) instead of black because from what I've read on the OOT threads is that guests are less likely to really love the stuff (& use it again) if our names are plastered all over everything. I guess I'd feel the same way if someone gave me a gift with their names branded all over it.  We'll see what happens....

 

[Sharon99]

Your mugs came out great! I love the purple & green color combo. Damn it, I gotta find money in my budget to do mugs for our bags!

[LauraR597]

Your mugs look great!!

[Amanda Gardner]

Have you guys booked straight through excellence or with a travel agent? If travel agent who and would you recommend them?

[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??

[MsBlissMpls]

2012BeachBride Do you know how much it would cost for a room for 1 night for a photographer and an assistant? Thanks for the info!

 

Regarding a Travel Agent:

 

We have 16 guests plus us and I would totally recommend Nichole at http://www.destinationvacationtravel.com/

 

She has been doing destination wedding planning for many many years and I LOVE her. We are her first wedding at EPM and everything is going really smoothly.

 

All of our guests are booking directly with Nichole (so no one asks us about anything, which I love, because we have enough going on) and I love knowing that she can run multiple scenerios with each couple to see what flight and number of nights will work with everyone's budget & schedule. Nichole already told me that the two days that our guests are arriving (April 14-15, Sat-Sun) she is going to be in her office ready and waiting for any calls from our guests if they need help or guidance during their travels. She also said if there is any inconvienece, if we have the insurance plan, she does all of the paperwork and makes sure we are reimbursed for the littlest things (like lost luggage, delayed flights, etc). On top of that she checks every week and adjusts for the low price guarantee.

 

I feel really confident that everyone is taken care of because of Nichole & it is nice to have someone answer calls and questions RIGHT AWAY. She responds to everything really fast and calls me randomly to make sure I'm feeling good and relaxed about how things are going.

 

On top of that she is the one making sure everything goes smoothly between "what we want" and "Mexico response time". I have apsolutely NO worries and we are 56 days away from our big day - We did not pay anything for her to book our rooms etc, but we are paying a fee of $400 for her to coordinate our wedding details (invitation ideas, general sounding board, etc.) and communicate with the resort (worth it in my book, but some might not feel they need this additonal help)

 

Oh, and she is organizing our group excursion, which is awesome, so we don't have to organize it when we get to the resort and worry about everyone knowing what's happening.  

 

She is based out of Minnesota, so I am lucky enough that when we have our Pre-Mexico get together she will be there to answer questions and hand out everyone's travel documents. (I just mentioned that on her 2 days ago for March 10th, and she was SO excited to be invited to meet everyone)

 

I would highly recommend going wtih a TA, even if it's not Nichole. They take care of everything and it does not cost anything to have someone on your side incase things are not as smooth as you would have hoped.

 

Hope that helps!

 

 

 

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??

 

Originally Posted by Amanda Gardner 

Have you guys booked straight through excellence or with a travel agent? If travel agent who and would you recommend them?

 

[MsBlissMpls]

Thanks for the mug comments. It makes me smile!

[k032379]

I agree MsBlissMpls

 

Our travel agent is handling everything for us.  He allowed me to put his personal cell number on everything in case anyone had any issue and stated that he was never too busy no matter what time it was. sometimes we communicate at 1&2am. Crazy, but I am a night owl.

 

Plus, I thought since we are going to another country, its nice that he knows all of my party's info and someone always knows where are located during our stay.

 

I have not had to intervene in any way and he has a grest relationship with the resort.

 

Congrats everyone

 

K

[Amanda Gardner]

Who is your travel agent?

 

[Amanda Gardner]

Thanks for the information girls on the TA. I just feel like it would be better to have someone communicating with all my guest and the resort. We are expecting 20 people not alot but enough I don't want to be called about every little thing.

Just started planning wedding is March 23, 2013!!!