Destination Unknown
Are you planning a destination wedding but having a hard time selecting a location due to language barriers, and finding someone who understands the ins and outs of the South Asian culture and customs?
This year, the Must Be Kismet team had the chance to partake in the “Ishq Rocks” experience at the Hard Rock Hotel in Cancun, and we enjoyed every second of it!
Upon our arrival, we were welcomed with South Asian inspired mocktails, cocktails, appetizers, and a private VIP check in just for our group. This check in process is great for anyone travelling with large wedding groups. We didn’t have to wait in line, and the best part was they had everything ready to go for us.
Once we finished our check in, we were given time to explore and refresh before our welcome event. Our rooms were AMAZING. We walked into a view of the ocean and a welcome letter accompanied by sweets and treats! Our welcome event took place on the Breeze Terrace. This event set the tone for the week. We danced the night away and were entertained with water instruments, dancers, and a DJ – totally customized. The great thing about this hotel is that they cater to every cuisine – including Indian food! They specialize in International, American, Mexican, Asian, Italian, and Seafood – all of which can be done on different nights so that your events are completely different.
During the rest of our week, we enjoyed the festivities of a Sangeet, a South Asian Reception, and a catamaran boat cruise – all 100% customizable. We were impressed to see what the hotel could actually do. Everything from the LED floor to dhol players was presented to us. It was great to see that everything we could have done at home could easily be done here, except on a beach in paradise!
Now, getting down into the nitty gritty details of the hotel and what to expect if you are hosting a wedding here. What we found was that the hotel was totally accommodating. Compared to other hotels, Hard Rock Hotel Cancun is already affiliated with many vendors that specialize in South Asian customs. Before coming here, our biggest concern was, “how do they even know what customs we follow, and are they even going to understand what is what?”.
We were given the opportunity to sit in a session that gave us a complete overview of what the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels can provide for South Asian weddings and what they specialize in. Here is what we found:
- They work with accountable vendors who specialize in everything South Asian. They even have horses available for Baraats! The vendors on board actually have experience with South Asian weddings. Given that the hotel works with them on a daily basis, you have them to back you up.
- They are well-equipped for pre-events. They have in-house mehndi artists, as well as their own hair and makeup teams. They also have a Pundit in the city to conduct ceremonies that prepares all items needed.
- They have entertainment packages available that include things such as dhol players, DJs, and dancers.
- There is food 24/7. We ordered room service every night, even at 2 AM!
- They have the Limitless All-Inclusive program. This means is that you can add on an unlimited number of activities and experience on the resort – spa, excursions, etc.
The other great aspect about working with the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels to plan your wedding is that you get to work with someone based out of Miami. You don’t have to worry about language barriers because as soon as you book, you are assigned to a coordinator from the US that acts as your liaison. They will work with you to plan everything from your locations, to your décor, to your menu and everything in between. You are also welcome to come for a “Sound Check” before your wedding. This is your opportunity to personally check out the hotel and take a look at your different venue and vendor options for all aspects of your wedding. You are entitled to special rates – and the best part is, if you hit a certain amount of nights booked with your group, the cost of your Sound Check is reduced from your final wedding balance!
Overall, what we learned from this experience was that Ishq Rocks truly cares about your overall experience. We always had something to do, and each event was unique. Not every brand invests in themselves the way Ishq Rocks has, and that became evident based on the training and events they provided for us. We had an amazing week and will definitely be recommending clients to the Ishq Rocks experience.
Happy Planning!
