Laura22610

Oh, one more thing I forgot to add...I also had maracas from Mishka and she shipped them to the resort. She ships her stuff from Mexico though. Those got there fine but Mishka keeps in contact with the wedding coordinator to let them know that she shipped them and when they are supposed to arrive and she ships them right to the wedding coordinator.

I got married there in February and we had 30 people. I had a ton of stuff to bring down...it filled 4 suitcases. I brought 2 and my parents brought 2 (I should have spread it out a little better though because all of those suitcases ended up being overweight). I had all of the receipts with me for everything. When we went through customs in Mexico, they put the bags through the x-ray machine and one of them had little notebooks in them - they asked me what they were and I told them and told them that they were for a wedding....that was it - they didn't even search the suitcase. My parents had no problem either. I think that as long as you have receipts for everything and tell them it is for a wedding - you will be okay. I think that somewhere on here, there is a whole thread about taking wedding stuff to Mexico and bringing it with you vs. shipping it.

I used Claudia for my wedding...she was great! The contact email I have for her is [email protected] And here is a slideshow of some of my pictures http://www.claudiaphoto.com/slideshows/claudia/february10/laura_don/ Hope that helps! Â

I totally agree with you! I always liked that the show was a little different from the books but I think they have gone too much away from the books this season. It really bothers me that they have made Calvin so mean - so opposite from the books. And the whole Sam thing is weird. I am not sure what to think about Lafayette and the other guy - that whole scene was weird too! And is Eric really kidnapping Sookie?? I also wish Claudine was more like she was in the books and not in that "fairy land" in the show. Â I think in the books, Andy's girlfriend's name was Halleigh and she was a teacher. Holly was in the books too and was a Wiccan, like she just told Sam in the show. I don't remember a psycho waitress in the books?? but it's been a while since I read them. Â Â

Congrats Cathy!!! You looked beautiful and that's so great that everything went so well for you!! That really stinks that she doesn't have to sashes that I left though. But, I am glad it worked out okay for you in the end Congrats again!! Â

Yes, Holly is the new waitress.

Pretty funny...they do look ALOT alike   Â

I definitely don't like that character for Calvin. I was researching online and that definitely is Calvin and they are making Crystal his daughter. I wonder why they are making them all meth addicts too? I really liked Calvin the way he was in the books. Â Oh, also...I was kind of excited to see Holly - it should be interesting to see what they do with her story! I won't say any more about that because I don't want to spoil things for anybody who hasn't gotten that far in the books

BethAnne, We went to El Patio when it was opening for the day (we did this a couple days before we wanted to have the Welcome Dinner) and asked to speak with the manager. I'm sorry but I don't remember his name. Ana told us also that it was not possible to seat all of our 28 guests together but when we went to El Patio, they agreed to do it with no problem...we just had one little section of the restaurant. We just had to be at the restaurant 30 min before it opened. Once we got there, the manager took me and my husband aside and asked us to choose just 2 entrees for our guests to pick from. However, they brought us out frozen margaritas, appetizers, whichever entree you picked, and then dessert. It was really fabulous Our guests had a great time too!!

I have read the books and part of me wants the show to be more like the books but I also really like that they are changing it up so that I don't know what's going to happen next! So, I can understand Fulton being a jerk and them "updating" his character. What I am confused about though, is the other guy. In the books, Calvin is Crystal's uncle and in the show, the other guy told Sam or Jason (I don't remember who) that he was Crystal's father. So, is that guy Calvin and they are changing his relationship to Crystal or is this a totally new character and we haven't met Calvin yet? Wow - sorry about the long winded question And just as a funny note...do any of you watch So you think you can dance? My husband thinks that Tyce DiOrio looks like Talbot and I agree - he really does! Ha!

I didn't use the wine cellar but we had ours in El Patio. We set it up with the El Patio manager when we got there and it was completely free! We had 28 people

Chair Bows: I bought chair sashes on ebay. Ana put them on the chairs for me and made the bows! CD: I put each full song on the CD and the technician played them at the appropriate times. I made a list of all of the songs and when I wanted them played. The technician did a great job!! Here is the link to where I posted the paper with all of my wedding info. The link to it is in post #2071. It is in the slideshow http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/thread/47576/dreams-riviera-cancun-brides-post-here-new-thread/2070

Quote: Originally Posted by cathyandchin Does anyone know if the dress code is enforced for children? My TA and I can't get a straight answer from anyone about this. Also, does anyone know how you pay Ana for the wedding?? p.s. Some friends of ours got to DRC today and sent us a text. It said word for word: DUDE! THIS PLACE ROCKS! IT'S THE BEST PLACE WE'VE EVER BEEN TO!! I started jumping up and down in the kitchen and got all misty eyed. We had to pay for the wedding BEFORE the wedding day. I paid by credit card. If you are paying by credit card, make sure you call your credit card company and tell them you will be using it in Mexico. Otherwise they will deny the charges! Also, we gave Ana the final count when we got there and met with her. That's so exciting that your friends love the resort...I was so happy when everyone told me that they loved it and some have even planned a trip back! Oh, and definitely ask Ana for those chair sashes if you need them!! I would be so happy if someone else could use them

Quote: Originally Posted by reaganlane Ok, so I've seen past brides on here say that they left their decor items with Ana. Does that mean we can use them? Think she still charges for the use of them? I'm so confussed! LOL! I also left chair sashes - I left about 75 of them - they are light blue I would really hope that they wouldn't charge you to use them!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by AlisonJimmy I am definitely doing the lights under the table! My fiance and I love the way it looks. I really like the lanterns but it becomes a lot of $$$. I am hoping once i get there Ana will maybe hook us up a little and throw a few in! Can't hurt to ask!

Quote: Originally Posted by *Rachel* I hate to say it but I don't really care about any of the dancers competing. Each week I get excited when they pick my favorite pro and I really only watch the pro. I still LOVE Twitch and Dominic and I'm sorry, but how am I suppose to NOT watch them? They kill their partners. I totally agree! It's such a let-down when Twitch is not on for the week. Love him - he is so good and has such a great personality! Allison also...she was my favorite her season. It does make it hard to get into the new people when you have the ones that you know and love dancing I felt really bad for Ashley last week. She was getting really good and it stinks to only have one girl left on the show.

Debbie Pelt looks just like I pictured her in my mind. I can see where she is a little more over the top in the show though. I can't imagine her poor conservative aunt - her role is anything but I am glad they are making Bill more unlikeable in the show. I didn't like Bill at all in the books but on the show, they had made him so nice! Definitely the nasty sex scene with Lorena and then the very end of the last show make him way less likeable! Move over Bill - bring on more Eric and Alcide I read all of the books about a year ago but I think that I should re-read them. I feel like there is a lot of stuff that I am forgetting!

Quote: Originally Posted by BethAnne This might be a weird question.. but i would like to know from previous brides, or future brides if you are aware... if dreams does really come through and provide the complimentary room for the groom the night before? I worry about this because i need somewhere to get ready without my fiance seeing me all day, and if we dont get another room.. i'll be forced to go to the other room where my mom and maid of honor are staying... talk about being rushed and cramped! I want some alone time to get ready.. and enough space... and not to have to share bathroom/mirror/counter space with a bunch of other women.. its my wedding day!! =( It says per availability.. but you know how that goes.. i'm trying to prepare for the "sorry mam, we dont have another room available" and then i freak out lol. We did not get the extra room the night before. It did make things difficult because I was expecting to get it and didn't make other arrangements. So, I made my husband go get ready in his friend's room (which he was really unhappy about) and then I got ready in our room. Ana said that the resort was at full capacity and there wasn't another room available.

Congratulations to your brother and SIL and congratulations to you on being a new aunt!! I am a NICU nurse and from the pictures and your reports, it looks like Carter is doing great! It sounds like he is a little fighter I love the pic of him holding his dad's hand! I also am sending lots of positive thoughts your way...

Quote: Originally Posted by aj42781 What kind of rooms is everyone booking?? I dont even see an option for a honeymoon suite..anyone have a pricing on it? I cant decide between a plunge pool or a jacuzzi...when i look at the jacuzzi it looks like there is no wall between rooms so doesnt seem to private...same with plunge pool but alteast plunge pool isnt an intimate as a jacuzzi whats everyone else doing I was just looking at the date you are getting married... my wedding was Feb 26th and some of our guests had plunge pools and the water was FREEZING!! We had the Preferred Club room with the balcony jacuzzi and we used it a few times! If you can get a room on an end, there is only one room bordering yours and the jacuzzi is on the opposite side. We had this and our room number was 2304.

I was so upset about Alex too. He was light years ahead of everyone else IMO! I think he will come back next year too - he definitely deserves another shot. Mia is a terrible judge. Half of the stuff she says doesn't even make sense. I'm glad she apologized to Adechike. Those were really mean comments she made while critiquing him, not to mention it must have been hard for him to do that dance with a new partner and take over Alex's parts! He's not my favorite but I didn't think he was as bad as they made him out to be. And I loved that Cat called the judges out on their comments about Adechike! She's great

Quote: Originally Posted by BethAnne Ok- I need to vent. This whole communication business with Ana is NOT going well and im very frustrated. I have a small group of around 12 and i was told we could have our dinner in the wine room after our ceremony if we spent 60$ minumum in upgraded wine. I thought, sure! its beautfiul and were only out 60 bucks on good wine to have a nice reception without paying extra per person. This is exactly what her email said. Today i get an e-mail stating "oh beth anne, just want to make sure you understand that its 60$ minimun per couple, and it goes according to how many guests you have- example if you have 10 guests.. you would have to spend at least 300$ minimum on upgraded wine to use the room" This is BOGUS!! I'm so mad. I just feel like something is doomed to fail in the end because the communication is so crappy. Of course because of small group we can have it in one of the restaraunts (semi-private) for no extra charge, but its not a guarantee, and we wont know this info till the day we arrive in cancun. talk about stressing for the next 6 months?? geez. =( I had the same kind of issues while planning my wedding. I know it's hard to imagine now, but everything will work out in the end!! The resort is so beautiful and everyone there is so nice!! For example, while communicating with Ana prior to arriving in Mexico, I had asked her if it would be possible to have a welcome dinner (not private) in one of the restaurants. She told me that it could not be done and that we would have to just "show up" at one of the restaurants when it opened and maybe we could be seated together. I freaked about that for at least a month before I left for my wedding. Once we got there, we spoke with the restaurant manager at El Patio and it was no problem. We made a set menu with them and they even brought out some stuff like appetizers, frozen margaritas and these great desserts that I wasn't expecting. Everyone had a blast. Our group was 28 people and the resort was at full capacity. So, I would think with 12 people, that you would be able to work something out!!

Quote: Originally Posted by sunkisseddreams ME too!! Kinda sad as i requested the pool deck a while ago.... Does anyone have picture of El Patio and or Portofino? I had my welcome dinner at El Patio. It is really pretty in there and I think that it would be a GREAT place for a reception! I don't have any pictures of Portofino (if I remember correctly, it was modern decor in there) but I have pictures from my welcome dinner... Laura & Don

I also like Jessica...what I was wondering is how they will make her fit into the whole Bill saga. I do like that the show is different from the books...it keeps it even more interesting. I was so upset when Lafayette was killed in the book - he's a great part of the show. The books made me laugh with the fashion...I think even for the time the books were written, the fashion was horrible I think that Pam wore like turtleneck sweaters or something like that. Can you picture the Pam on the show in a turtleneck sweater - ha!

I really liked this episode (minus the nasty head spin)! I wasn't sure after the first show how I was going to like this season but it is getting very good! I loved Alcide in the books so I was definitely excited to see him. And I think that they cast Franklin Mott perfectly. He's a little younger than what I pictured in the books but his look is exactly what I pictured. I agree that the Terry/Arlene side story is annoying and I am still trying to figure out exactly how Jessica fits in to everything. Oh, and I am waiting for more Eric too!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by drbrainfreeze Did anyone notice Nigel and his snide comments towards Travis this week. Yeah, his dance was kinda contemporary and not very Jazz. But when he was talking about Tasty Oreo's Jazz coreography, he made it a point to thank Tyce for a "real" Jazz routine. They panned to Tyce and Travis was sitting nex to him with a frown. He (Travis) said something but you couldn't tell what. I think he was pissed. Ha! Tasty Oreo - that's funny! I noticed Travis saying something too and he did look mad. I don't like when they say stuff about the choreographers - they should keep their comments strictly for the dancers. After all, the dancers are the ones being judged in the competition. I think that the judges comments overall this season have been very nit-picky and not so constructive.