SunBride

Yes, that's exactly why I am asking these questions, I want to bring as little cash as possible. We are only bringing 400-500$ cash between us, and all the rest will go on visa and travellers cheques. We will still be leaving our valuables (money, laptop and wedding bands until the wedding) in the safe, I know it's not completely safe, but to me it's still better than bringing them with us (what would we do while swimming, etc? Plus I am really bad about forgetting my purse everywhere). We also got our rings insured, and rather than going for the free coverage with our house insurance, we are paying a few extra dollars per month (5$ for my e-ring and 1$ each for the wedding bands) to have them insured with no deductible in case the bands are stolen from the safe before the wedding. I'm not overly worried about this, but did want to take some precautions given what happened to you.

I got the answer I wanted from Sandra (finally, and only 28 hours before I leave). For the wedding stuff, your credit card will be charged mexican pesos. For the blood tests, it's cash only, no credit card or travellers cheques It sucks to have found this out so late because now I want to pay the wedding stuff in travellers cheques but I have no time left to order them (I ordered a small amount last week and it took a couple days) and I also need to get more US dollars, at least that I'll be able to do today.

Quote: Originally Posted by LisaG I paid my TA for my wedding package, so I can't answer that question for you. Although I did put our wedding pics on a credit card and it was charged in USD then there was an exchange rate charge added to it later after I got home. That's how they get you. Hum, weird, if you got an exchange rate charge added it sounds like they must have put the transaction through as mexican pesos, and then your credit card charged you to change it to USD. I keep trying to phone Sandra but no luck getting through to her. I can try asking her to do it in US, but I don't think it will be negotiable, I think it will be whatever way they normally do it is the way it has to be done. I leave thursday morning at 8am!

This may seem like a stupid question, but for the ladies who are already married, did you pay your wedding package by credit card, and if so did they charge you in american dollars or mexican pesos? The reason I ask is because they quote us prices in US$, but if they charge our card in mexican pesos I know that they probably don't use a very good exchange rate to do that and then the amount actually paid in US$ might be higher. When I paid for a tour on my last vacation, they quoted me 70$US, but then charged me in local money, and my card was charged the equivlanent of 77$ US which is a 10% difference, which is a lot when you are paying several hundred or a few thousand dollars for a wedding package. Also, can you pay for the blood test with travellers cheques or does it have to be cash? I really don't want to travel with more than a few hundred dollars cash. I've asked the coordinators twice and no response. They have answered some of my other questions in the past few days (confirmed that all you need is a passport for a civil wedding if you're not divorced, no certified birth certificate like the website FAQ says) so it seems like they are only answering the questions they think are important.

Quote: Originally Posted by Maura jen, you could always get the natural touch peonies... just a thought. since your wedding isnt until june 2009, you could order a sample and if you like them, order a bouquet of them or single stems and DIY I have 2 natural touch peonie/orchid bouquets that I'll be selling when my receptions are done in July.

You are never "cured" from malaria, once you get it it's in your system for life, although I don't think you get any more symptoms or illness after you've been treated, but just to say that it's always there. So I guess it's a pretty big deal. But yeah the risk is very rare. In terms of side effects, depending on the medication you take, some MUST BE TAKEN WITH FOOD otherwise you feel really ill to your stomach. When I had to take it when I was in Ghana, I would get so nauseous if I didn't eat a full meal when I took it.

Go here Wedding on the Net! to see a demo video from oscar video. There is only one available. Email the photographer at [email protected] and he will send you some samples of his photos. He sent me about 30 pics. Most of them were very good. If you have a wedding package that includes both, but you want to get a different photographer or videographer, I've heard people say that if they get an outside photographer, they have negotiated with Sandra to get more video time in place of the included photos. Don't forget the photo cd isn't included in the package, you have to pay approx 350$ extra or something like that for the cd with all the photos.

I personally stayed away from Barcelo because of the no outside photographer policy. Maybe you can get around this by flying one with you as your "guest" (some resorts won't even allow this though, if the "guest" looks like a professional photographer rather than an amateur then they might try to stop them or something. Ask the resort, tell them your good friend is a photographer and offered to do your photos for free). If you go with a resort that allows outside photographers, try Claudiaphoto, her prices are half of what you mentioned, and I've always been impressed with her photos. Dino Gomez on this forum also has some great photos on his website.

Quote: Originally Posted by can't wait! Wow! YOUR WEDDING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER! I am soo excited for you!!! Wish it was me ! Are you staying there for your honeymoon or are you going someplace else?? Good luck with everything. May all the stars and the moon align so that everything goes without a hitch! I'd love to hear all about it when you return. Have fun! Honeymoon? sadly the wedding trip is our honeymoon as I don't have enough time off work to leave for more than a week. Our families live really far from us, and we use up most of our yearly vacation visiting them in the summer and at Christmas. Don't worry, there will be an extremely lengthy review and a million photos and you'll even be able to see my video on the videographer's website (I assume, seeing as he has a ton there. Otherwise I'll try to upload it to youtube or something) I have to say that it does suck that it's been a few months since there was a DT bride on here. Would have been nice to read a really recent experience. The rest of you are so lucky becuase we have so many brides coming up.

Final Bump, leaving a week from tomorrow! If anyone already has a wedding photographer and only wants TTD photos she'd probably do that for you for a much lower cost than full day wedding photos, and I would only ask a very small contribution towards her travel arrangements.

just added Krystalrenee and bumping in case there are any new brides (I think there might be but I'm a bit confused as there are so many of us already)

I'll try to take some pictures of the ballroom when I am there NEXT WEEK!!!! Juan Alfredo (videographer) wrote me back and said 330$ for one hour of video and an extra 160$ for each additional hour. He also said he would send me a copy 2 weeks ago but I haven't received it yet. Yesterday I went ahead and booked Paul from PlayaWeddings. I've looked at several of his videos on his website and I find they are awesome Playa Weddings - Videography in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya Sure, I am paying double the price of having oscar, but at least I feel like I'm guaranteed a good quality video. I am paying 800$ for 2 hours and am getting a highlights video done to music, plus full length video with good sound (he uses a lapel microphone on the groom).

I loved your review. I'm expecting mine to be about the same length (when I went to the Punta Cana Princess in November I wrote a review that was a 7 page long word document and that was just a vacation not my wedding!). I find it so helpful to read about all the little issues rather than just reading a one page review that gives an overview without getting into details. I'm sure all the EDR brides will appreciate it a lot. I also think your overall conclusion is very fair, by saying that brides who booked shouldn't worry too much (although be prepared for a few difficulties) but that those who haven't booked may want to consider elsewhere (since there are so many resorts to choose from, why choose a difficult one if you don't have to?)

for the people who had a civil ceremony, did you get your birth certificates notorized before getting married? The wedding information booklet says that you only have to do this if you are previously divorced. But the new info posted on the Dreams Tulum website simply says you need a notorized birth certificate (does not say for divorce only). I'm pretty sure I don't need it but it would be nice to have it confirmed since I leave in 2 weeks!

wow, you americans are so lucky, airfare is so so much cheaper! I pay a lot more than that to fly only 1/4 of the way across teh country (yes, within canada) to see my family, and they are both major cities/airports (like the 5th and 9th largest cities in canada or something like that). We probably pay more like 1000$ to cancun and 500-600$ would be an amazing price, you pay half that!

if you don't have all the info to put in the form, it's not a problem, just write that in the form and then re-send it later when you have the info, that's what I did. As for having trouble confirming day and time, just call them! It's so much easier! That's what I did. My emails had asked something like "do you have April 1st at approx 4pm?" and they replied "yes we have April 1st at 5pm" and I was a bit disappointed that 4pm wasn't available, but when I called I found out it was, they were just suggesting 5pm would be better because it's closer to sunset (whereas I personally thought it was worse because not enough time for photos). They could have answered something like "yes, we have 4pm or 5pm available" to be clear, but no, they just said 5pm. All this to say that calling is definitely better, you get an answer right away, and you don't have to worry about availability changing between emails.

I'd be interested in this info too, I definitely want to check out a cenote or two while I'm there

The general consensus is that you can no longer have a private party in a restaurant (they don't want to inconvenience other guests by this anymore) however I wouldn't be surprised if they make an exception, what with the convention center be so new and this being a new policy. Definitely ask them. I've never heard anyone mention an outside wedding coordinator, would not be a bad idea at all if you want all your details just right, personally I've barely been getting any response from the coordinators about my questions about whether they can order the bouquet I want, and decorating the gazebo/pergola, etc. I'm getting annoyed as my wedding is in 3 weeks! Lastly, the one question I can answer you with 100% certainty, yes, you can bring an outside photographer and they don't charge you a thing. Now as for confirming the first two questions, I suggest you call the coordinators, that way you get an answer right away (I called them to confirm my wedding day and time right before I booked since they didn't answer my emails fast enough). Once you've talked to them on the phone, email them to have a confirmation in writing.

My top 3 choices were Paradisus RM, Bahia Principe and Dreams Tulum. I ended up eliminating the Paradisus for exactly the reason you are explaining, their fees were ridiculous! Upgrading their "symbolic" wedding package to a civil ceremony (legal) was going to cost I think 700$ or 900$!!! It was one thing after another with them. I finally chose Dreams Tulum (several small factors had me chose them other than Bahia Principe) and they have a free wedding package that is legal and that includes all the basics. Dreams Cancun was actually my first choice but it was a couple hundred dollars more per person that the other three choices above which was why I didn't go for it. I didn't want to ask our families to pay that much.

there was some at the resort I went to in Punta Cana on my last vacation, and they were AMAZING! We spent the whole week on the bed and almost didn't even touch a lounger chair. I swore I would never go on another vacation to a resort that didn't have them. El Dorado seaside has some too if I remember correctly.

I just popped them in the mail now along with invitations and luggage tags. I know, it's insanely late to be sending invitations (my wedding is 21 days away!) but I wasn't about to send the invites before we knew when and where it was going to be, and since we booked (Jan 7th of this year!) I've been crazy busy with all the other wedding stuff. I really wanted them done and sent (both the invites and the newsletter) a few weeks ago, but it had to wait until now. Ideally, I think you should share them with your guests about 1-3 months before leaving. there is lots of usefull info, and they may want to do some shopping (i.e for the "things to pack" page) or research (for the "things to do" page) based on the info you provide. Oh yeah, I put the newsletter in a report cover, a cheapy thing with no binding, to help protect it!

EDIT APRIL 11 2008: I just posted instructions on how to download the file from a file sharing website, I thought I'd add the instructions here so that somebody who finds this post doesn't have to go forward another 15 pages on this thread to get the instructions INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOWNLOADING SUNBRIDE'S NEWSLETTER Everyone can access the newsletter here: 4shared - free file sharing and storage - share folder - My 4shared So now no need for anyone to PM me asking for it (I've gotten a gazillion requests). Just go to that link and click on the document, then click download, then a new page will open and you have to wait a few seconds (it says "loading file info, please wait"), and then click download file (middle of the page, under where it says "no virus detected"). If you have problems, please PM me rather than filling up our beautiful Dreams tulum thread with Qs&As about downloading the file. It's a microsoft word file. I also added some other dreams tulum wedding documents that most people already have but I figured why not add them just in case

NEWSLETTER Okay girls, I created a newsletter to give my guests. You may notice it's half in french and half english. I've saved a copy with all the personal info deleted, so if anyone wants a copy I can send you that one and you can just add your own personal info, but it will be 75% done for you! PM me for a copy - please don't post here asking for one (I can't attach it here because it's a publisher document) I also used the dreams tulum map (I emailed them to get a copy) and made it more legible because even the pdf copy they sent me was really blurry. I added large numbers and I re-typed all the locations at the bottom. I'm attaching this one, it's a word document. Map of Resort.doc

My FH got food poisoning from Milestones in Whistler BC. He had non-stop vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours and was so weak I had to practically carry him to the cab to go to the hospital. At the hospital they put him on an IV for fluids (everytime he would drink he would puke, so he was extremely dehydrated) which helped a lot. Here is the advice we were given: Drink gatorate and eat only starchy foods for 2 days: white bread with nothing on it, soup crackers, white rice Slowly start to introduce soup broth, applesauce, diluted apple juice, and canned fruits. Slowly start to introduce other normal foods (like day 3-4) but not meats. Wait a good several days (4-5) before eating any meat at all. He kinda rushed this schedule my eating spaghetti with meat sause 3 days later and felt like hell for 2 days after that. When we went to see another doctor about the fact that it had been 6 days and he was still feeling crappy, the doctor said he re-introduced normal foods too quickly. After being seriously ill, your stomach remains very sensitive for the following week, so re-introducing normal foods too quickly will upset your stomach and the diarrhea and vomiting will start all over again. We were really worried about him in the initial 24 hours since it was non-stop (litterally, like he was throwing up every 15 minute and diarrhea in between), but when we called the nurse's help line for info they said to just sit tight, that the human body can withstand a lot of puking/diarrhea and you won't die or anything. They said your body can withstand it for about 2 days as long as you are drinking even just a little bit to try to have a bit of hydration (the more you can drink the better, although in his case it just made him throw-up). They said not to take immodium to stop the diarrhea, your body needs to get the bad stuff out. Only use immodium if, for example, you have to be somewhere where no washroom will be available (I think your wedding ceremony would also be a reasonable reason!).

Quote: Originally Posted by Callie We were planning on having mini bachelor/bachelorette parties on the resort before the wedding- which of the resort bars would be the best for this? My sister just informed me she wants to do a bachelorette there too! I live away from my family and old friends so they don't have a chance to do one at home for me. My sister is a bit concerned about being able to do it at the resort - she wants to do some of the typical silly bachelorette stuff and don't know if there would be a bar that's appropriate, for example I would think the disco, but if he disco is completely dead it wouldn't be much fun, there would have to be at least a small crowd. We don't want to go into playa del carmen because we'd have to take two cabs and it's just too expensive from Dreams Tulum. I don't know if there is a bar off the resort that is closer?