Hotels vs. All-Inclusive Resorts in Playa for brides doing off-site weddings---need advice!

[brownsugarbride]

Originally Posted by Yazmin De La Mora 

 

 

Excellent advice as usual, Yazmin!

[brownsugarbride]

Originally Posted by LukyJ 

 

Hi Brownsugarbride, I think I'm going through the exact same things you are! My wedding will be in 2014 so I can't give feedback but can give you the rationale for my choices. Off-site wedding and reception: I thought working with the resorts seemed too restrictive and it seemed they are best for weddings of about 30 or smaller. I think I'll have closer to 100 guests. In that case at the resorts you end up paying extra for all those guests, plus extra fees if I wanted to do anything out of the normal package. I also hope all my guests will stay at the same hotel so I can spend more time with them, but don't want to force them. Now that I've started I don't know that it will be cheaper to go off-site, I think it might be the same or a little more, but it's definitely what I prefer. Plus if people stay at the resort the rest time, I like the idea of bringing everyone off-site for an evening so my actual wedding feels more special. All-Inclusive resort: I still want to stay at one and think the prices will be about the same. My main point in a destination wedding is getting to spend a vacation with my friends and family to celebrate. I like the idea of an all-inclusive because I think it's going to maximize the amount of time I see everyone if we are all eating in the same restaurants, at the same bars and beach/pool. I'm thinking of doing a welcome event at the hotel so people from different circles can meet each other and then hang out throughout the week. I think if we are at a non All-Inclusive people would be heading in more different directions for eating and during the day and to pool/beach their own in the smaller groups of friends and family which travel together. My hope is that an all-inclusive makes it easier for everyone to mingle and hang out all week. I have nothing confirmed but leaning toward Grand Coral as well. My wedding will be at the end of April so we may be going through a lot of the same steps at the same time!

 

Luky-It sounds like we are getting married around the same time and strongly considering the same place!  Bridal twins!  In any case, we are definitely on the same page. I love the idea of spending time with everyone and then taking them off the resort for something special. I had hoped to take them on an excursion, but that's just not in the budget. Hopefully I can make up for it by having a really unique wedding with some special surprises.  

[weddingsinplaya]

Originally Posted by brownsugarbride 

 

 

Luky-It sounds like we are getting married around the same time and strongly considering the same place!  Bridal twins!  In any case, we are definitely on the same page. I love the idea of spending time with everyone and then taking them off the resort for something special. I had hoped to take them on an excursion, but that's just not in the budget. Hopefully I can make up for it by having a really unique wedding with some special surprises.  

Hola!

 

A great option for an inexpensive excursion/experience for your guests is to take them to Akumal for a day. You can hang out at Half Moon Bay and snorkel with beautiful sea turtles. It's just 20 minutes from downtown Playa. Depending on the number of people, you can rent a van or bus or take taxis. Once there, there is a convenience store for drinks and snacks and a nice open air restaurant. Renting snorkel equipment for the day is about $15 for mask, snorkel and flippers and your guests can take turns going in so they can share.

The turtles aren't far out or deep, it's an amazing experience!

 

~ weddingsinplaya

 

 

 

[brownsugarbride]

I love this idea! Even if it doesn't fit into my budget, I'm sure that a few of us could go here and hang out with the turtles for the day!

Originally Posted by weddingsinplaya 

Hola!

 

A great option for an inexpensive excursion/experience for your guests is to take them to Akumal for a day. You can hang out at Half Moon Bay and snorkel with beautiful sea turtles. It's just 20 minutes from downtown Playa. Depending on the number of people, you can rent a van or bus or take taxis. Once there, there is a convenience store for drinks and snacks and a nice open air restaurant. Renting snorkel equipment for the day is about $15 for mask, snorkel and flippers and your guests can take turns going in so they can share.
The turtles aren't far out or deep, it's an amazing experience!

 

~ weddingsinplaya

 

 

 

[TheDivineMissC]

Hi there!

 

Just to give you another idea, my fiance and I are getting married this coming October in Playa.  There is a group of non-inclusive hotels, Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen, that we are using as our accommodations.  There are 4 different hotel choices within the group, and all all within 2 blocks of each other at different price points.  Because we are off-season, the rates are incredibly great, and it's a 4 star hotel on Trip Advisor.  All the 4 hotels use the same beach club, at one of the properties, El Taj, so your guests will all be hanging out together.  These condo hotels have 1 to 3 bedroom options, all with full kitchens.  We're getting a penthouse with a big BBQ and jacuzzi, so we can host a wedding rehearsal/reception up there the night prior and have a grill out with all our friends.  The associated reception venue is Wicky's Beach Club, which is just 2 blocks down the street from the hotels.  They have great food reviews.  Ceremony is on the beach, and then reception is right there at the beach club.  There's a coordinator, Linda Burchett, through Wicky's that handles both the accommodations and the wedding for you.

 

We didn't want to do an all-inclusive as we felt they may be very expensive for some of our guests.  We also wanted them to feel free to explore the town of Playa and not feel like they were spending unused money if they ate out on the town.

 

We also liked being in town and having it walkable, so people didn't have to rent cars.

 

Unfortunately we weren't able to do a site inspection before booking, so we're just rolling the dice, but so far we feel really happy with our decision.  I will make sure to do an update following our wedding with reviews of all the vendors and venues we chose.

 

Congratulations and best wishes!

[Moments That Matter]

Great ideas!! being based in Playa del Carmen, we certainly agree that it's a lovely place to explore and spend quality time in! also Akumal beach is a wonderful place near by to swim with the turtles, as suggested.......makes wonderful Mayan memories for everyone......Enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

Saludos! team MTM

[MISSUN04]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo2dWgtA-wA

 

Had a wedding at El Taj. My husband and I wanted a unique and creative wedding, something different. We found that having our wedding at an all inclusive would limit using our imagination. Most all inclusives operate like a machine. If you don't like planning, or creating your own wedding, this might be the solution for you. All inclusives can be affordable and easy. If you have your own ideas in mind, be prepared to spend hundreds to thousands in vendor fees to get what you want. You are pretty limited with choices for decor, food, djs, videographers, photographers by staying at an All Inclusive. Most AI's charge 300.00 per outside vendor. We opted to have most of our guests stay at the Royal All Inclusive next door to the El Taj that way they had the luxuries and the affordability of the all inclusive and we could have our dream wedding at the El Taj. Check out our lvideo above. We had our wedding in July 2013. If you are looking for an amazing wedding planner, contact Linda Burchett at the El Taj. We told her what we wanted and she made it come true. 

[brownsugarbride]

Had a wedding at El Taj. My husband and I wanted a unique and creative wedding, something different. We found that having our wedding at an all inclusive would limit using our imagination. Most all inclusives operate like a machine. If you don't like planning, or creating your own wedding, this might be the solution for you. All inclusives can be affordable and easy. If you have your own ideas in mind, be prepared to spend hundreds to thousands in vendor fees to get what you want. You are pretty limited with choices for decor, food, djs, videographers, photographers by staying at an All Inclusive. Most AI's charge 300.00 per outside vendor. We opted to have most of our guests stay at the Royal All Inclusive next door to the El Taj that way they had the luxuries and the affordability of the all inclusive and we could have our dream wedding at the El Taj. Check out our lvideo above. We had our wedding in July 2013. If you are looking for an amazing wedding planner, contact Linda Burchett at the El Taj. We told her what we wanted and she made it come true. 

Your wedding looks fabulous!

[brownsugarbride]

Thanks to everyone for your great advice and input.  Just to give everyone an update on what I decided:

 

I will definitely be getting married off-resort, as I feel that is the best option for being able to have the flexibility and privacy that is important to me and my FH.  We will be getting married at the Blue Venado Beach Club, and I am SO excited!  We have also decided to book rooms for our guests at the Now Jade.  It is about 30-35 minutes away, but I wanted my guests to have a quality, reasonably priced resort with lots of amenities.  I'm excited that we will be able to bus them in for a special, private event.  It makes it feel a little exclusive! 

[0713root]

Hi,

 

I just saw your post.  I am planning my wedding for May 2014 and have pricing info. for both Grand Coral and Kool.  And I'm also doing a Catholic ceremony.

 

If you have any questions- just PM- or send me an email at [email protected]

 

I know that planning from a distance (and doing a non-inclusive option) can be stressful- so more than willing to help out!

 

Jessica