We’re switching it up for this bridal review! What’s different? This review is on a wedding venue called Acre Baja, not an all-inclusive resort. Although Breezy Brides mostly caters to destination wedding resorts and planning, there are plenty of brides out there that switch things up and decide on a venue instead.
We couldn’t be more excited. Anything and everything we see from Acre Baja has been nothing short of stunning, beautiful and top notch. Dana’s experience proved to be just that as well. Let’s take a deeper look.
Deciding Their Wedding Options
When asking Dana why she chose a destination wedding she said, “We wanted a smaller wedding but felt badly about not inviting children or extended family; choosing a destination wedding solved this problem for us!”
This is such a great point. Some brides truly want an intimate and small wedding, but don’t like the idea of making people feel like they aren’t included by not getting an invite. A destination wedding is a great option to solve this dilemma. And Dana still had 101 guests come for their wedding!
The Venue – Acre Baja
“Tucked in the foothills of San Jose del Cabo. 25 acres of sheer creativity that began as a restaurant and bar, and has now evolved to provide travelers with an alternative vacation experience like no other.
Acre event space such as the esoteric mango orchard and the rooftop with its sensational jungle view have appeared throughout the property over the years, followed by glamping treehouses and as of late 2019, rammed earth sustainable Villas.
Think of Acre as a playground for all – a lush Secret Garden of palms, relaxed new experiences and an unwavering essence of free spirit.”
Dana’s reason for choosing Acre Baja – “We chose to get married at Acre Baja because it’s absolutely stunning, the food is amazing, and the staff is friendly – what more could you ask for!?”
Seriously, what a unique and stunning location. Check out their Instagram and website for more.
Naomi’s Review of Acre Baja’s Amenities:
Service: 10/10
Pool: 10/10
Food: 10/10
Note: In previous reviews we’ve also included the beach and spa, but Acre Baja doesn’t have either of these. In fact, Acre Baja is inland so there is no beach nearby.
Naomi’s favorite part of Acre Baja? The menu (food and cocktails) and the pool area.
When you see 10/10 for all amenities it’s worth noting. Clearly Acre Baja exceeded their expectations, which is the dream for any bride. Careful research can also be helpful. Don’t hesitate to do a deep dive on the venue’s website, social media pages, and review sites like Yelp or Google Review.
The Wedding Planning
When planning her destination wedding, Dana did have an on-site coordinator. Shout out to Jessica at Cabo Wedding Services who Dana highly recommends.
Dana did not end up using a travel agent. For her, she said it didn’t seem to be a problem. They had a room block at Hotel El Ganzo with Jesse’s help, and their guests were able to book through their link to receive their discounted rate!
Where they ran into issues were their grandparents and older guests who aren’t as accustomed to booking international travel themselves. Dana stated her grandma did have quite a few questions for her mom (she didn’t want to reach out to Dana and stress her out), but it all worked out perfectly!
Not sure if you should be using a travel agent for your destination wedding? Check out our post “Everything You Need to Know About Travel Agents for Your Destination Wedding.”
All-Inclusive vs. A Venue
Since this wasn’t an all-inclusive wedding, there were some differences in planning as well. First of all, Acre Baja doesn’t offer “wedding packages” that you typically see with a destination wedding. Instead, they paid for venue fees, food and beverages. This is more typical of a traditional wedding cost layout.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll pay more. Yes, destination wedding packages can be a one stop shop, but sometimes it still adds up to more than you expected. That’s especially the case if you have a large number of guests that you need to pay extra for because your package only covers a certain number.
Pay close attention to those packages and what exactly is included in them. Make sure you get a list of added costs well ahead of time so you can decide on those must-have items early.
There were also some similarities to Dana’s wedding and a destination wedding. When asked what her biggest challenge was she said, “Not having total control – you’re often choosing things based on photos or recommendations, and it can be difficult for a Type A person!”
When planning a wedding from afar you’ll have to relinquish control on some things, regardless if the wedding is at a venue or an all-inclusive resort. This can be a hard pill to swallow for some brides, but leaning on your travel agent, wedding coordinator, and vendors does help. As long as they know exactly what you want in your wedding they should be catering to exactly that.
What do you think of this review? Although an all-inclusive wedding may be what you’re going for, don’t completely write off an option like this. You may be surprised at how comparable the planning and costs are.
We would be remiss not to mention everyone involved in Dana’s wedding planning. Shout out to all the vendors below in putting this gorgeous wedding together.
Vendors
Photographer: Ana & Jerome Photography
Wedding Planner: Cabo Wedding Services
Hotel: El Ganzo
Stationary & Menus: Bells + Whistles
Flowers & Rentals: Let It Bloom
HMU: Cabo Makeup
Wedding dress: Wtoo by Watters
Bride’s shoes: Elyse Walker
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Stone Cold Fox & Aritzia
Did you have a destination wedding and would like to be featured in our Destination Wedding Reviews? Or do you have a request for a resort you’d like to see reviewed? Comment below or contact me here!