The new Dreams Tulum thread! (Post all DT Qs&As here)

[SunBride]

I think I'm going to add a links section on the first page for a bunch of different links related to both the Mayan Riviera Area and to Dreams Tulum. So please send me any links you have.

I got this idea because I just came across this link on Elizabeth Medina's website (while looking for the link for dreamstulumbride's photos). This link is all the weddings that she has shot at Dreams Tulum. Two were just last month. (I couldn't help but notice that the set-up from the June 15th wedding looked similar to mine - the starfish on the chairs and similar flower arrangements on the aisle. Maybe somebody who was lurking on this forum!)

Elizabeth Medina Photography Dreams Tulum Weddings

UPDATE: Okay, I've started the links section (just with links to photos so far). It's on the last post of the first page: LINKS

[SunBride]

I just found a link to this DT wedding on tripadvisor

Destination wedding at Dreams Tulum resort - photos by Joseph Kohn

About a third of the way down the photos, I notice a pic of my newsletter! (which I shared with many of you on the old thread. See the "member contribution" section of this new thread for more info) The names and wedding date is on there and so it has to be Ellsbell who is a member of this forum. Hope she doesn't mind that i'm posting this link, but it's already posted on trip advisor anyways

Update Forgot to comment on the photos - Awesome! And what a beautiful bride. I LOVED her hair style!

[Lonna14]

SUNBRIDE:

First off...this new thread is absolutely amazing! You need to go into business seriously!!! I would be willing to pay a fee for access to your DT guide that you created for your friends and family if you are interested...it looks amazing!!!

Here is my info for my upcoming 2009 wedding at DT..please add my info to the list of future brides:

Username: Lonna14
Names: Lonna & Matthew
Date & Time: June 20, 2009 @ 6:00 p.m.
Number of guests: 50
Coordinator: Landy
Ceremony location: Beach
Reception location: Seaside Grill (if occupancy number is less than 70%) or, cocktail hour on pation and reception in ballroom.
Photographer: Resort
Special arrangements/activities: dancefloor/d.j.

Sunbride, some quick questions for all:

If anyone has booked and or stayed in the honeymoon suite for 7 days and 7 nites and received the "free" wedding package, but yet wanted all of the things included in the ultimate package...how did they expect you to pay for that? Itemized everything that wasn't in the free package, or give you the cashback towards your larger balance?

Also, when adding additional guests past 20, please correct me if I am wrong:

I will pay for each individuals..dinner $65, cocktails for the cocktail hour $12, cake price, champagne toast price, and hordervs price for a grand total per extra person??

Last question....in the package it says that food and beverage is included in the price for gold and silver menu..does this include alcoholic beverages..I assumed so, but want to double check

If anyone could answer these questions, it would be greatly appreciated. I am in the process of sorting all of this out with Landy, but would like to have some back up support as well.

Thanks so much
Lonna

[ERnurse]

Has anyone had a wedding in october or vacationed in riviera maya during that time? What's the weather like, is it still hurricane season? I really want to have my wedding in october of 2009, but a little afraid of having really bad weather!!

[SunBride]

Lonna14:

my newsletter - you can access my newsletter for free, go to the member contributions section on page 1 (I think it's post #7) and there is a link for the website "4shared" which is a document sharing website and you can download it there. I couldn't put it as an attachment because the file is too big (due to all the photos). I wouldn't ask for payment. All I hope is that after everyone's turn has come that they come back here to post their review and pictures. Everyone loves reading reviews and seeing photos, but that stuff doesn't fall from the sky (and although it only takes a few people to stick around after their wedding and answer everyone else's questions, each person can only post 1 review and 1 set of pictures, that's where we really need lots of people to contribute) so in my opinion the least people can do if they really benefited from BDW is post a review and pictures to help others out (or at least reduce people's worries, because people always feel better after reading great reviews!)

wedding package - you won't get a credit even if you qualify for the free package. Almost everyone qualifies for it (note: it's either a honeymoon suite for a week OR 5 rooms any category for I think 3 or 4 days. Seeing as most people have more than 10 guests, i.e. 5 rooms, pretty much everyone qualifies for the free package). If you choose the more expensive price, you don't get anything free I know, it sucks and is kinda unfair. So just calculate the separate price of all the upgrades you want and if it comes up to more than the cost of the ultimate package, then just go for that one.

extra guests - I didn't have more guests than included in my package, but from reading the book (and from discussing with other brides) I think you are right about paying all those extra costs for guests over 20 people. Don't forget for the dinner one, the 65$ is for the gold menu. If you want to cut costs you could go with the regular restaurant menu and then you just pay 20$ per person above 20 (as a service charge for having a group).

Beverages - not sure, somebody else would be better to confirm

ERnurse:

Yes, October is hurricane season. Officially, hurricane season is from June 1 - December 1, although from what I know hurricanes in June, July and November are pretty rare, the peak months are August - October. You may want to consider delaying one month, it will make a big difference hurricane wise. That being said, it's not like there are major hurricanes hitting every week. Many people travel (and get married) during peak hurricane months. You'll have to decide if you want to risk it or not. I personally wouldn't, but that's just my personal opinion. Also keep in mind what your guests will think (if you really want lots of guests, you don't want to be upset because people don't come due to the risk of hurricanes)

[Callie]

Username: Callie
Names (optional, first names only) -Callie and Paul
Date & Time- Dec 15th, 2008 3pm
Number of guests-35-40
Coordinator: Landy
Ceremony location: beach
Reception location: somewhere outside
Photographer: whoever comes with ultimate package
Videographer: "
Review (link): N/A
Photos (link): N/A
Video (link): N/A
Special arrangements / activities: having a bonfire after welcome dinner and going to coqui coqui spa with the ladies

[niels408]

Username: Niels408
Names (optional, first names only) -Laura & Josh
Date & Time- Dec. 7th, 2008 4pm
Number of guests-not sure-thinking 30 (thanks to economy now!)
Coordinator: Been talking with Landy
Ceremony location: Beach
Reception location: El Patio or area around Activity pool
Photographer: Pending
Videographer: just going to use the resort one
Review (link): N/A
Photos (link): N/A
Video (link): N/A
Special arrangements / activities: We are buying a tour of Ruins for all the guests..we had set up a night at Mezzanine, but that's now pending due to issues down there, boys are going golfing in Playa Del Carmen, & ladies are enjoying a spa day!
Ceremony: symbolic

[SBlake]

Username: Sblake
Names (optional, first names only): Sarah
Date & Time: January 17th, 2009 at 3:00
Wedding package: Free w/ additions(flowers, food, etc)
Wedding extras (and cost charged)
Type of ceremony: Legal
Coordinator: Landy now, was Sandra
Number of guests: 38 booked, 200+ invited
Ceremony location: Beach
Reception location: El Patio
Photographer: Craig Wolfrom from Idaho
Videographer: none
Website: SarahBlakeandScottOpper.weddingwindow.com
Photos (link)
Video (link)
Special arrangements / activities (i.e. welcome dinner, special set-up, anything that's not the norm): We're having a rehersal dinner. The rest depends on how many people actually come. At this point, we're thinking of doing a sunset cruise the Thursday before our wedding or at least do a welcome dinner/gathering. Maybe a bonfire.

[chandrathebride]

Originally Posted by ERnurse

Has anyone had a wedding in october or vacationed in riviera maya during that time? What's the weather like, is it still hurricane season? I really want to have my wedding in october of 2009, but a little afraid of having really bad weather!!

I originally had my date confirmed at DT for mid October. But the more we talked to travel agents and people in the know, we more we decided that we would rather be safe than sorry. So then we moved it to mid November (11/21)--this way we were out of hurricane season (we were told by November we were in the clear) but before high season when prices rocketed--which was key for us.

[SunBride]

Originally Posted by chandrathebride

I originally had my date confirmed at DT for mid October. But the more we talked to travel agents and people in the know, we more we decided that we would rather be safe than sorry. So then we moved it to mid November (11/21)--this way we were out of hurricane season (we were told by November we were in the clear) but before high season when prices rocketed--which was key for us.

Yes, November is a very cheap time to travel, I think pretty much the cheapest of the year, well maybe Sept & Oct are cheapest due to hurricane risk. Although some people think summer is the slowes (because who wants to go somewhere hot when it's hot back home) there are still lots of people who take advantage of school vacation to go then, so summer isn't super busy but not super slow either. Fall however is very slow and then things pick up mid december.