Excellence Riviera Cancun Brides?

[victoriasalv]

Oh yeah true. And mine is in April. Well, better to lock it in... I would think she could adjust if they change!

 

Have you girls checked out centerpieces yet? I'm torn..

[JaimeCKL]

I am not that far into it. If it's not included I doubt I will do it. I am going way over budget and honestly, our reception is oceanside, that should be enough ambiance. I feel like flowers and all of that jazz is necessary when you are getting married in a hotel ballroom, but with the Ocean feet away and the sounds of the waves surrounding you, I doubt anyone will notice if I put out candles or not.

[kjb0528]

Yeah we basically only had one weekend in January that worked because we had to work around my sister's grad school schedule. Realized afterwards it was the high season. I think I'm only going to put a deposit down on rooms for the wedding party because I haven't gotten confirmation yet on who else may be coming and don't want to be out $100 per room.

 

I haven't thought about decorations yet either, but I still have a year. I'm just trying to get a sense of what decorations are included in the package. 

[TA Wendy]

Hi Ladies,

TA Wendy here from Wright Travel Agency.

I have just been reading the thread and thought I would chime in!

 

With regards to room rates, so many things are variables.. rates are dependent on when they were booked, (IE someone who locked in a group contract a year ago may have different pricing from someone booking today even if the date of the stay is the same for both).

Time of year can make a huge difference.. peak travel months can differ in price from the lower summer/fall time by a considerable amount and many couples take this into account when choosing their dates.

 

When you sign your group contract you are locking in those rates as well as the amenities being offered at the time you book.  A group contract ensures that you have the number of rooms you need and at the price being quoted.

My advice is to go through a Travel Agent rather than working on the rooms direct with the hotel.

Most of the couples I work with do elect to use a group contract and hold their rooms.

The risk you take in only booking a few at this time and hoping to add more as your guests materialize is that while it is likely that your group rate would remain the same as the months go along for new guests being added to the group numbers, there is no guarantee the rooms will still be available by the time you know you need them.

IE if you contract for 10 rooms, and then months from now realize that you will actually be needing more like 18 rooms, there is no guarantee that the resort will still have the rooms to give you if they are filled. You are only guaranteed the rooms that you have under group contract, and anything else is space the resort will be selling to the general public.. so no guarantee the rooms will be there to pull in.

I always advise couples to book the rooms they think they will need and maybe even an extra.. yes you do have to put up initial deposit on those rooms, but as long as we comply with the release dates laid out in the contract you can always let go of rooms that are not needed and you will not be penalized by cancel fees. Better to have them and let some go, than to wait, and need them and not be able to get extra rooms for your guests.

 

RE priced drops, and adjustments to your group rates.. if the resort themselves advertises a lower rate on their own website, then typically we can ask for a group rate adjustment and they will allow. But if a guest is seeing a price online with one of the online booking engines, it likely does not qualify for a price match and often does not actually include transfers, or taxes or other cost that would bring the rate back in line with your group price. If you do go with a contract for your group you would want to really encourage your guests to exclusively book via your group contract.

 

I hope that information helps! We at Wright Travel work often and extensively with the Excellence resorts properties and are one of their top agencies in the country. We can also often add some extras that other agencies are not able to offer. The Excellence resorts are a great choice! Please let us know if we can answer any questions for you!

TA Wendy

TA Wendy

[JenniferH114]

Our guests stayed anywhere from 3 - 6 nights. I can tell you that our guests who stayed for three nights in a "standard" room with roundtrip, non-stop airfare from Chicago paid $2300-2500 per couple.

[victoriasalv]

Hi Ladies, how is everyone's planning going? Getting quiet in here. I'm only 120-somethign days out so I'm getting antsy!

 

Our invites went out before the holidays, although we had sent save the dates so I pretty much have a good idea who is going. We have 40 booked!

 

I ordered my welcome bags now I'm just slowly trying to fill them. Debating on doing just one bag per room or if it's friends giving them each one (since they wouldn't be a couple). Trying to find gender neutral type items just in case.

 

My dress came in and I'll be going to try that on for the first time soon! Can't wait. My fiancé got his suit last month, a very light CK suit from Men's Warehouse. Since we're not having a bridal party figured he might as well get one he'll wear again. Now we're figuring out shoes, for he and I. I'll probably be barefoot or something flat for the ceremony (beach), but wanted something better for the reception. For him, we are stuck. He doesn't want to wear flip flops.

 

We had some guest get quotes the last couple weeks, prices have gone up a LOT since we originally booked. Although what more can we do then plan and tell people to put down a deposit months out... I feel bad but there's only so much you can do! So don't get too bummed if that happens to you. We are giving them all tons of notice!

 

Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Edited December 29, 2015 by victoriasalv

[kjb0528]

Hi Ladies! I just bought my dress yesterday. I'm super excited about it as I was starting to get discouraged trying on so many. http://www.sallyeagle.co.nz/index.php?view=c&a=29

[victoriasalv]

@@kjb0528 Stunning!! I love the back. Definitely perfect for that location, that's for sure. Doesn't it feel more "real" now?

[Moments That Matter]

Welcome to our forum community kjb0528, and Congrats on your upcoming dw and choosing your dress!!! I agree with with victoriasalv - your dressis Stunning!!! great choice

 

Hope the rest of your planning decisions go equally well.....enjoy your journey ahead!

Cheers from our incomparable Mayan Riviera!!! team MTM

 

[JaimeCKL]

@@victoriasalv Just getting a chance to reply now...the holidays were crazy chaotic!!! As far as shoes, I am doing barefoot for the beach and then fancy sandals for the reception, but our reception is at Las Olas and I envision a lot of beach time during the reception as well due to the proximity. Also, my fiancee is only 5'10 and I don't want to be taller than him in photos.

 

So excited for you for the dress. I bought one, got it in, hated it, returned it and got a new one that was the opposite of everything I wanted. I wanted lace and a keyhole back or at least lace detailing straps in the back and when I got it, it was all very itchy, heavy and uncomfortable so I went with a Sottero & Midgley chiffon gown. It will flow with the wind and will be comfy all night.

 

Our next to do is order the BM and MOH gowns and get our invitations done. I can not get over how expensive 40 damn invites are.