Barcelo Puerto Vallarta – Quiet, quaint and good family fun

Written By: Jaime Valdes-Riench, owner of Travel & Events with Style

Image credits to:  Jorge from With Style Designs
Resort link: Barcelo Puerto Vallarta

Another trip, another FAM to open us up to new locations and resorts.  This last trip was to Puerto Vallarta and we stayed at the Barcelo Puerto Vallarta.

The Barcelo Puerto Vallarta is definitely a resort that will fit well with some and not others.  For us, as a family it was wonderful! We had the time of our lives and I would definitely recommend it to others.

The Barcelo is a little off the beating path from the other resorts.  It is one of the furthest resort South of the strip and a good 45mins from the aiport and downtown.  This makes for a great hideaway, but not for those who would rather be right in the city to walk and talk to the locals.

Personally, I love that we where far and away.  It was a perfect location for a retreat.  The kids program there was lacking if you wanted to drop them off at the kids club, but if you didn’t mind staying with the family then you really would love every minute.

We had the privilege of staying in the Presidential Suite.  Was it worth paying the upgrade? YES!  The deck was absolutely amazing as it wrapped around 3 sides of the ocean front building.  No disappointment there at all.  OK, maybe one.. we had to go home after the week and wanted to stay forever.

The cuisine had a lot of variety.  We tried the room service and they where attentive and the food was hot and cold as it should be.  No complaints.  I found the food very decedent and I think we may have eating our weight in avocados and papaya.  That alone would be an extra star rating in my heart.

As most resorts, there was a themed night every night and the entertainment was great.  Our stay landed on Carnival and the entertainment that night was outstanding! We where very happy over all with that.  Everything was off at the resort outside at 10pm.  To be honest, it wasn't bad.  You simply  just had to choose a place in doors to continue and it the kids sleep great.  There was not a night club on the property though and with the exception on a shack down the beach, there really wasn't anything near by either.

For wedding locations, it was quite nice, though I am not sure if I would recommend a beach ceremony in the month of March.  The tide is high that time of year, but I have heard it boasts long beaches as it get closer to the summer months. 

 The courtyard and deck around the pool where great locations to consider however for a wedding reception and the garden for a ceremony.  Both great alternatives and most (with the exception of the garden), looks out to the beautiful ocean.  One item to note for couples:  this resort does not allow wish lanterns.  If that is important to you, then this may not be the place for you.

If I had to rate it, I would give it is a solid 4.5 Stars.  There where a few items lacking, but it made up for it with the service and price.  Yes, the price, it was amazing! Great deal for sure.

Hard Rock Resorts; Weddings Packages Designed by Colin Cowie

Time to rock your wedding planning to make your destination wedding incredible
Written By: Jaime Valdes-Riench, owner of Travel & Events with Style
Image credits to:  Hard Rock Resorts

Last week Tiffany and I and the privilege of attending the Hard Rock All Inclusive Resorts launch for the Colin Cowie Collection of their wedding décor themes.  We had the honour of meeting Mr. Cowie himself and listened to the information session on the new resorts and exquisite wedding packages.

Hard Rock is a brand as a company we can identify with.  It is full of fun, over the top inclusions, and there is a focus to detail everywhere you look.  From adults to kids, it covers all the important bases.  Premium service is a must with us, and that is what they stand for all wrapped up in a great experience.  The more destination wedding we book and coordinate, the more we see the need for resorts such as these.  It is a brand that when we came home, we where excited to start sharing with our clients.

As a gift to us for attending, the Hard Rock Resorts gave us 2 free wedding packages*  that we could give away to whomever we choose! (*speak to us on the details and inclusions) Now if you have spoken to us, you know we love giving away anything we can to our clients.  So no draws, no hoops to jump through, just first come, first to receive this free wedding package! That’s it! It’s yours, just book.

We do want to clarify a few items with you on these packages.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of knowing Colin Cowie’s work, you then most likely have seen it and have not realized.  He has designed and executed décor for award shows such as the Oscars, and celebrity weddings and events (Oprah is one of his clients).  His work is outstanding and sets the precedence for what we project is the “next big thing”.  What he has done is taken the time to design 8 different wedding décor themes.  The inclusion of the themes start from ceremony site, to different table layout options, to exquisite cakes.  What they are giving away is a package to the total of $3000.00 to anyone who books with us before April 2013 for travel before December 2014. The location they are offering this at is:  Hard Rock Cancun, Hard Rock Vallarta and Hard Rock Riviera Maya (current was Aventura Palace)

What does this mean? Are you looking for a destination wedding for the winter of 2014? Are you looking to have your wedding at one of those area’s in Mexico?  Well, then it may be time to email or call us!  How do you get started?  We price the travel for your group, you book the travel for your group at one of these resorts before April 2013 and we will give you the free wedding package that has the value of up to $3,000.00 for free.  (Please contact us for all the details of the package). 

It ‘s time to rock destination weddings.  It’s time that guests come back not just with the best memory of your wedding, but also the best memory of an unforgettable trip and experience.  Just be warned, your guests may not want to go anywhere else after this trip.  Hard Rock was designed not just for adults, but also has incredible kid programs.  It covers your group from A – Z (mixed with a little Ozzy). 

Please enjoy some images from our night at the Hard Rock Café in Toronto:

 

Travel Tuesday - NOW Jade

text by: Tiffany Check (lead wedding planner and travel agent at Travel & Events With Style)
Infomation and images provided by: AM Resorts

It is the time of year again.  That time of year where couples are looking for the best spots to host their destination wedding in the tropics.  We are going to try to give you some of our top spots that are the makings for a fabulous destination wedding in Central America or the Caribbean.

My pick today is: NOW Jade in the Mayan Riviera, Mexico: 

The Now Jade Resort is an all-inclusive resort located 12 miles from the Cancun International Airport, and just minutes from the quaint fishing town of Puerto Morelos. Offering white beaches and crystal clear waters, this resort is alongside the sparkling sea with the world’s second largest coral reef.

Now Jade features 550 spacious, modern suites. Each suite has a mini bar refreshed daily with soft drinks, bottled water and beer. As well as offers 24-hour room service. Enjoy one of their amazing ocean viewjacuzzi suits. Guests may choose from any of the 5 premier specialty themed restaurants, as well as a buffet, a bistro and a cafe, all without reservations. There are 6 bars and lounges that serve unlimited international and domestic top shelf spirits.

 Explorer’s Club - This fully supervised children’s program entertains kids ages 3-12 with different daily programs based on science, nature and exploration. Activities include: Sandcastle competitions

 Guests enjoy Unlimited-Luxury® service including: Full breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks each day • Theme parties and entertainment • Unlimited natural fruit juices and soft drinks • • Live nightly entertainment • No restaurant reservations required • No wristbands required • Expansive, sugar-white beach and crystal-clear waters • Expansive swimming pools including an adults-only • Teens activities • Explorer’s Club • Fitness Center • Complimentary greens fees at Playa Paraiso Golf Club • All taxes and gratuities.

Now Jade Riviera brings you the pure pleasures of Unlimited-Luxury.

Here are some wedding locations we suggest for your ceremony:

The Beach

The Seaside ceremony

Pergola Ceremony

Fountain Ceremony Location

Check out one of the weddings we had at NOW Jade this past March 2012 that was featured in Style Me Pretty.  Also, stay tuned because we also have a stunning wedding that will be featured in It's Love Magazine in March 2013 that Tiffany Check planned (Kayla and Branton)!

Krista and NathanNOW Jade, Mayan Rivieraplanner: Jaime from Travel & Events with Style

Las Vegas Destination Wedding you say?

Are people still doing that?
text by Jaime Valdes-Riench

We are asking all the time if Vegas is still in the cards for destination weddings, and my answer is YES! But unless you want a drive thru wedding you may want to raise the stakes and give it a little sizzle to make it more than a typical Vegas wedding.

Our couple Jennifer and David did just that.  They had a reasonable budget and added extras where needed.  Their wedding didn't break the bank.  The location was in the MGM Grand Chapel with the real funs was the reception and after party.

The couple chose to have their reception in one of the Terrace Suites at the MGM Grand.  There was no limit on how late anyone could stay, but with noise ordnance laws they did have to release the DJ after 11pm.  Now did that stop the fun?  Not in the least! We arranged for them to have group area with a tab at Tabu in the MGM Grand as well.  So those who wanted to call it a night after the reception could and those who wanted to dance all night also could.  It was the time of their lives.

Now what was the icing on the wedding cake you ask?  They brought Sugar and Soul Photography along to be their photographer.  She also brought them the next day for a day after shoot in the Neon Boneyard.  The pictures are simply stunning!  Please read our feature in Weddings and Winnipeg Magazine this month in their destination weddings issue!  You will not be disappointed!

 A Good, Good Night - Weddings in Winnipeg