Hotel Marina El Cid BRIDES

[JasmineClark]

Hello!!!!   

  If you are reading this, you are probably either a Marina El Cid bride,or are considering the Marina El Cid as an option.   I was debating between having our wedding at Now Jade (we have stayed there before) or the Marina El Cid (we walked by it while staying at the Now Jade last year) and we have officially decided on staying at the Marina El Cid. Our date is December 11th, 2012.   I have been desperately trying to find some information on the resort and the wedding packages that they have, but have not been too successful. I have emailed the wedding coordinators at the resort for some information and am awaiting their reply back.. but from what I have heard on threads for other resorts, it sometimes takes a while to hear back from them.   While trying to decide which resort to say "I Do" at, I tried finding info on the Marina El Cid here... but to no avail. There are a couple of threads and attempts at initiating a Marina El Cid thread, but none have come to fruition.    Thus, here is my attempt at providing information on the Marina El Cid. I will try to track my planning, and hopefully some other Marina El Cid brides will come out of the woodwork and will do the same.    Happy planning everyone! Congratulations on your engagement!    Who else out there is getting married at the Hotel Marina El Cid? Any 2012 or 2013 brides?  

[JasmineClark]

As I said, I will try to post information about the resort as I find it. I will not be posting attachments, etc. at this point because I do not have enough posts yet

  Here is some information about the resort (gathered from the Marina El Cid website):    

Located at Hotel Marina El Cid, our breathtaking wedding destination is nestled amid aromatic plants, turquoise waters, ancient Mayan culture, and world-renowned beaches. We provide a captivating setting for intimate gatherings and grand celebrations alike. Exchange vows on our private beach as the sun sets over the sparkling Caribbean. Host elegant candlelit dinners in our oceanfront restaurant. Treat the groomsmen to a round of golf or reward your bridal party with a morning at the luxurious El Cocay Spa. Hosting just one celebration at a time, we guarantee the exclusive attention of our planners and caterers. Discover true romance with a uniquely Mexican flair at this stylish Cancún wedding hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.elcid.com/weddings/Cancun.cfm

 

[bgildner]

Hi there!  I am getting married at the Marina El Cid on November 12, 2012.  I just sent in our 50% deposit on the wedding package.  As far as getting info, I have found it best if I email Deyanira (WC) in Spanish by using google translate because my fiance speaks Spanish as well.

 

I have gotten quite a few things from her so I will try to figure out how to attach them.  Any specific questions of things you would like to know?  I know of another bride doing her wedding there this spring and I am going to ask her to send pics and tell me about it after the wedding.

 

Bethany

[JasmineClark]

Hi there,

 

First off, congratulations on the fast-approaching wedding day!!!

 

I did get an email back from the weddings department at the resort, and they sent me photos... but that's it. I will post those here when I get a chance. I do have plans of making this thread very informative... but it's proving difficult lately to find the time to sit down and do that. So far, all I have is a date!!! 

 

We are thinking we will have about 30-40 people there. Do you know the pricing on having the dinner in the restaurant as opposed to outdoors? We are thinking about doing dinner in the restaurant (apparently there's one with 180 degree views of the ocean???) and then having the party outside, if that's possible.... we're hoping that will help keep the costs low...er. 

 

Where are you having your ceremony/reception? I was hoping to get married at a resort with a gazebo... but I did sacrifice that by going to the El Cid. I have walked along the beach at the El Cid before (I stayed next door at the Now Jade) and I have worries about doing a beach ceremony and having people walk by... so I think I am going to go with the jetty, although I hear it is quite windy out there. 

 

I am under the impression that they do 1 wedding only per day... is that right??? 

 

Thanks!!! I am so excited that there are two of us on this site!!! And our weddings are a month apart! 

 

Can't wait for it!!! 

 

Are you having a more intimate gathering of people, or a larger group?

 

 

[JasmineClark]

Here are some photos of the ceremony and reception sites

 

 

 

[JasmineClark]

 

Wedding Locations The Beach - The warm, white sandy beaches light up the stars and the Caribbean. Wear gala attire for your special event of a lifetime. The Jetty - A romantic setting at the front end of the jetty, surrounded by turquoise Caribbean waters. Arrecife - How about saying “I do†aboard a catamaran, near the reef, while admiring the beautiful coastline? Banquet Menus  Premium Menu #1 Cream of Scallops -- Perfumed with vermouth. Turkey Breast Portobello -- Stuffed with Portobello mushrooms and ricotta cheese, with a green apples sauce (served with spring rolls stuffed with vegetables) Exotic Bavaroise with 3 flavors Premium Menu #2 Spinach Salad -- With feta cheese and croutons with Mediterranean dressing. Caribbean Shrimp -- With a delicate citric sauce, served with wild rice and rain of vegetables. Tiramisu -- With coffee sauce. Elite Menu #1 Caesar Salad -- With Shrimp Skewer. Cream of Spinaches -- With Garlic Croutons. Chicken Dolce Vita -- Stuffed with Parma ham and Swiss cheese with a Rose Sauce, perfumed with basil. Accompanied by pear potato and vegetables. Cheese Cake -- With blueberry sauce. Elite Menu #2 Mediterranean Salad -- With shrimp, sweet red pepper, fine lettuces, tomato, and mushrooms with vinaigrette dressing. Minestrone Soup -- With fresh linguini. Fish Roll -- Stuffed with cream cheese, shrimp, and asparagus, with a red sweet pepper sauce and white wine with rice and vegetables. Chocolate Dome -- With hazelnut sauce. Elite Menu #3 Capresse Salad -- With olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Smoked Oyster Cream Soup -- Perfumed with Chablis. Beef Tournedos -- Showered with Marssala wine sauce, served with potatoes seasoned with rosemary and spinaches with cream. Wild Berry Tart Elite Menu #4 Rolls of Smoked Salmon -- Stuffed with cream cheese and avocado. Clarified Beef Broth -- Perfumed with cherry and beef tortellini. Pork Solomillo -- Stuffed with vegetables and goat cheese, served with an exotic herb sauce with a garnish of vegetables and potato. Tropical Fruit Parfait Elite Menu #5 Terrine of Shrimp -- With champagne dressing. Crawfish Bisque -- With choux. Beef Filet -- Showered with Danish blue cheese sauce, accompanied with potato stuffed with cream cheese and covered with wonton pasta. Cheese and Chocolate Symphony Wedding Packages  El Cid Romance Wedding Package Beautiful bridal bouquet Groom's boutonnière Legal paperwork handling Justice of the Peace or Minister Wedding organization and personalization by our Wedding Coordinator Preferential room location in the category reserved Marriage certificate (in Spanish) Glass of house champagne for all guests for toasting (4 bottles max) Savory wedding cake for 10 guests Witnesses if required Fruit basket in room Bottle of house champagne in room Late check-out for the bride and groom (based on availability) Price for the Romance Wedding Package: $800  Make the Event of Your Life Happen for Free  This package is complimentary when reserving five or more Platinum Rooms for a minimum of three nights.  El Cid Premium Wedding Package Beautiful bridal bouquet Groom's boutonnière Bridesmaid corsage (2) Best man boutonnière (2) Legal paperwork handling Justice of the Peace or Minister Wedding organization and personalization by our Wedding Coordinator Preferential room location in the category reserved Marriage certificate (in Spanish) Glass of house champagne for all guests for toasting Flower centerpiece for dinner table Fruit basket in room Bottle of house champagne in room Rose petals Dinner reservations for the wedding reception A sumptuous 3-course dinner from the Premium Menu for 10 people 4 hours of international drinks during dinner (house brands) for 10 people. Savory wedding cake (size according to the number of guests) CD player available. Music not provided. Witnesses if required Late check-out for the bride and groom (based on availability) Price for the El Cid Premium Wedding Package: $1,300 Price for the banquet: $70.00 per guest  Make the Event of Your Life Happen for Free  Your wedding banquet is our gift to you when your guests stay for a minimum of three nights, in 10 or more Platinum Rooms.  El Cid Elite Wedding Package Beautiful bridal bouquet Groom's boutonnière Bridesmaid corsage (2) Best man boutonnière (2) Legal paperwork handling Justice of the Peace or Minister Wedding organization and personalization by our Wedding Coordinator Preferential room location in the category reserved Marriage certificate (in Spanish) Glass of house champagne for all guests for toasting Floral centerpiece for dinner table Fruit basket in room Bottle of house champagne in room Rose petals Romantic candlelight dinner on the beach for the bride and the groom A sumptuous 4-course dinner from the Elite Menu for 10 people 4 hours of international drinks during dinner (house brands) for 10 people Room upgrade for the bride and the groom Savory wedding cake (size according to the number of guests) Tropical beach cabana massage for two Tropical manicure for the bride Tropical pedicure for the bride CD player with a variety of music Witnesses if required Late check-out for the bride and groom (based on availability) Price for the El Cid Elite Wedding Package: $1,750 Price for the banquet: $80 per guest  Make the Event of Your Life Happen for Free  Your wedding banquet is our gift to you when your guests stay for a minimum of three nights, in 10 or more Platinum Rooms.

 

 

From the Marina El Cid Website: http://www.elcid.com/weddings/Cancun.cfm

[bgildner]

Hi Jasmine,

 

I'm glad we got to connect through email.  If there are any other El Cid brides out there - join this thread!

 

I just found out that we cannot have a dance in the restaurant   We were hoping to do the dinner and dance inside the El Marina restaurant (this is the one with the ocean views).  I think this is the wedding day schedule we will do:

 

4:00 ceremony

4:30 champagne toast

4:30-5:30 cocktail hour at El Scaramanga Beach bar ($20 per person)

5:30-7:30 or longer? dinner at El Marina (the only drawback is that this restaurant looks kind of far away on the resort map)

7:30-10pm dance and cocktails on the beach?

 

I don't really know costs for having the private dinner at the restaurant (I think $40/person instead of $80 you pay for outside), but then I have not checked on the cost of just a dance outside.  Maybe we will just end up doing all of it outside, which I heard is $80 per person over 10 ppl.

 

We invited over 200 people but are only expecting 40ish.

 

What are your thoughts on my schedule?  Any other questions?  I am wondering when all of this will be confirmed.  Deyanira told me we just need to know the total number of guests 2 weeks before the wedding.

[JasmineClark]

Hi Bethany!!!

 

I'm glad that we were able to connect too! The El Marina is the restaurant that we are planning on having our dinner at too. We haven't figured out a schedule for ours yet, but we were thinking about skipping cocktail hour. We decided we will just let the guests do what they please for about an hour... if they all go to the lounge or whatever they please... and then have dinner at the El Marina (for the view). We were planning on doing the party on the beach.

 

I like your schedule though!!! Are you guys planning on doing photos during the cocktail hour? Are you using your own photographer? I will email Deyanira about the costs of the dinner and the options available, as well as the cost of the beach party.

 

Where are you guys traveling from?
 

I live in BC Canada and we have our group flying using a group quote our TA got for us. We initially had about 150 people on our guest list, but once we saw the cost per person for the dinner/reception, we decided to pull back a bit on our invites. We ended up inviting about 80 people and we anticipate about 40 people to come.

 

Have you bought your dress yet? I am still looking... planning on looking for one in about a month. I am still trying to decide on colours too... Have you decided on colours or a theme? So many little things that actually seem to influence quite a bit!!! 

 

Nice hearing from you

[bgildner]

Hi Jasmine!

 

We are traveling from Los Angeles, California, but have a lot of guests coming from Minnesota and Mexico as well.  We are using a travel agent as well and going through Delta Vacations.  I think we will try to book the photographer to start photos around 3pm so my fiance and I can do a first look and take some photos then.  Then we will do a bunch during the cocktail hour as well - but hopefully not miss the whole thing!

 

After looking at that map I sent you I am actually considering El Alcazar for the reception and El Marina for the Groom's Dinner instead - it seems like it is the farthest restaurant from the hotel.  If you do the dinner in a restaurant and then the party on the beach, how much time will you give for dinner and how will you tell everyone to wrap it up and get out to the beach?

 

I bought my dress a few weeks ago, it is full length, lace and V neck in front and back.  It won't come in until August!  The length was special ordered, because I am quite short.

 

For colors, I am doing light green, light yellow, and burnt orange.  It was actually very easy for me to decide on these!  I sent out my Save the Dates about 1.5 months ago - they looked like passports and I made them myself.  What are you going to do for Invitations?

 

Have your guests started booking?

 

Bethany

 

[JasmineClark]

 

Hi!!! Sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I have been busy, first with guests booking, and then with life! 

 

Well, I am going to email the wedding coordinator today to work out pricing so Jeff and I can make our final decision about how we are going to coordinate the entire day. 

 

I am going to go look at dresses next month. I am looking at a couple right now, and I think I am going with lace as well, but I am thinking strapless and form-fitting. 

 

I think I have decided on colours as well. We are going to do antique gold, blush pink, and seafoam... I want to go for a vintage-y romantic feel. The majority of our guests have paid their deposit for the trip and final payment is due on May 24th. It is a HUGE stress relief now that people have partially committed to the wedding so I have a better idea of numbers. So far, 31 people (including ourselves) have paid their deposit, and we have a few more couples who are waiting until closer to the date to see if they can make it. As for invitations... after we talked to the TA she said we needed people to book ASAP... so we seriously had no time at all for save-the-dates or invites. I still want to send out invites though, seeing as it is part of the wedding planning process so we are going to send some out very very very soon!!!! 

 

Do you have the WC's email? I'd like to email her right away to get more information so we can commit to some more concrete plans regarding the dinner and dance.

 

Have you guys planned anything else since your last message?

 

Jasmine