Chill Bride

You ladies are all so organized and ahead of the game. We haven't officially set the date but it will likely be Sept 4th. We are going on site visit tonight to Tulum, MX and will decide on a venue and finalize date at that point. I have all these ideas in my head but haven't been able to get anything going until we have a venue. I am going dress shopping on 2/20 so hopefully the dress I buy will arrive before the wedding!! Our deadline to send out STDs is end of the month. I have been to the caribbean twice in October and once in June and although it did rain in October it was usually for a half hour and would clear up. Nothing like rain where I am from....it was actually really fun. I am kinda worried about the heat for our guests, but I guess it's better than doing it in July or August.

P&P is pimping her coordinator all over this forum. She must be amazing or you have some vested interest in her. I have emailed Akiin twice now about having my wedding there. They didn't respond. I don't know if it's because I don't speak spanish or what but there are SEVERAL other places in Tulum that aren't Dreams to have your wedding. I am going down on Sat to check out 6 places and I had a few more that sound good but I had to start eliminating at some point. I will write a report when I get back. Mil Amores sounds really nice, but so do a lot of the other ones.

Can you share your list of questions as well? Mine are very basic like food, how many guests can stay there, ceremony location, reception location, alcohol, costs, etc...

I knew when deciding to do a DW that I would have to pay for my mom for everything for her to attend so that was budgeted in as just an expense for the wedding. We also decided to pay for 3 nights stay (non-A/I) for immediate family (around 9 people) and flight for FI's sis as well. Since it is 14 months away can you save up a little more in that time to pay for these people to come. To me it was SO important to have a DW, I budgeted paying for family to attend in. Is there something you can cut back on? A few hundred dollars more would buy one of their flights. I guess you have to sit down with your mom and see how realistic it is that they will be able to save and decide from there how important it is for you to do the DW. My bf and I cancelled our cable right around when we started planning for the wedding. That is $50/month X 14 months =$700 that should pay for most of someone's trip.

AllyCatta, I sent you a private message. Just click on unread messages at the top.

Hi AllyCatta, Wondering if you had seen my questions. Also, do you speak spanish? I saw their site was in spanish and emailed them a few days ago and have not heard back. I know it's Tulum time though. I would love to hear your feedback on your wedding and the planning process. Thanks!

Thanks for all the recommendations. Where are you getting married PhotoBride? We are hoping to get married in late August and are checking out 8 venues in Tulum when we are there in 3 weeks. 65 guests is a lot for a destination wedding! We are inviting 100 people but to be honest I hope only 40 or so come. I definitely want something unique as well. I know Ana y Jose do a lot of weddings but I know a lot for the area compared to all the A/Is is not much, but still I feel like they are still been there done that. I am not sure we or our guests can afford Milamores so I think that is most likely out but all the rest of the hotels are an option. Any feedback on the ones you have seen would be great. I will use your advice and contanct Malissa. Malissa, expect an email this weekend. Thanks!

Also, do you have pictures? I saw you were also considering La Zebra which I am as well. What made the decision for you? I actually haven't seen or heard much about weddings at Akiin on the internet so your experience is greatly appreciated.

I DO!!! I am going on a scouting trip to Tulum in 3 weeks and Aki'in is one of the places we are checking out. How did it go? Do you have a coordinator recommendation? Were there other venues you considered and liked? Why did you pick Akiin? Does Om do weddings as well? I will take any advice you have for the area as there are few Tulum brides on here that aren't doing Dreams or the other A/Is

Woodsylou, I need to move to the UK...that is amazing! Ibiza! Yes we call our hen nights, bachelorette parties in the US.

I am really debating when to get married in the Riviera Maya. We have been dating 7 years and were in engaged in September but postponed planning until now so really the earliest I think we can get married is July so we have enough time to tell guests and get everything planned. Ideally we would like to marry in the summer because we have a few friends in business school and the flower girl is in school too, BUT it is supposed to be super hot and humid during that time which has me rethinking my August time frame. We could postpone it into September so it's a little cooler but I know the chances of hurricane increase during that time which doesn't scare me too much or we could wait until end of Nov/Dec for hurricane season to end and the weather to get a little less hot, but I have to say I don't want to wait. I know there is no rush, but I can't wait for our life to truly start together and I am sure a lot of you can sympathize. So, after that novel, when are you getting married? How did you select the date? Any July/August brides, and was the heat completely unbearable? I don't want to be sweating on my wedding day and I don't want the guests to be too uncomfortable.

Sorry I am not going to Dreams Tulum. But it looks like there is a lot of info on this site. I am looking at smaller hotels in Tulum and can only find 1 or 2 or no wedding reviews on people that have gotten married at these hotels so the site visit will be invaluable.

I am looking to get married in either Tulum (more proable) or Akumal in August 2010. We are doing a site visit beginning of Feb. I would like to contact some coordinators before then to maybe meet them there and also for them to give suggestions on venue. Any recommendations for that area? Other advice for a site visit? Venues? I feel so green at all of this. We are looking at having the wedding at either a small independent hotel or a villa that we rent out for the week.

Wow....thanks for the responses!!! I can see this forum is going to be very helpful! I have been to Anguilla (for a day trip) and it is absolutely amazing. I think that far of a flight and then the ferry ride over would be a bit much for our guests. We should go for our honeymoon though! In Tulum, I am looking at all the hotels/cabanas including cesiak, la luna, ana y jose, zamas, and la zebra. If you insight into any of them let me know. I am a little concerned about power if we are doing lots of dancing.

Thanks for the welcome. I have heard Akumal is a great place to get married. What makes the two towns different? I know some like Tulum and some like Akumal.

Hi All, I got engaged about a month ago and have been dreaming about my destination wedding on a beautiful tropical beach for years. Anyone interested in sharing a suggestion for a place to get married that has the following elements: 1. Ceremony on beach or with clear beach view 2. No resorts, looking for something unique 3. Close -ish to west coast. Looking at Hawaii and Tulum, Mexico mainly. 4. Lots of dancing late into the night 5. Private location 6. Maybe a house or hotel, the whole party can rent out. 7. Will have 30-50 guests, probably closer to 30. 8. Keep the drinks flowing We are basically looking for something unique and not too commercial where our whole party can drink and dance the night away either on the beach or at a restaurant right on it. Ceremony would be on the beach with not too many people around. I have been to Negril, Jamaica; Barbados; and St. Martin. Something like the beauty and chillness of the independent hotels in Negril would be perfect.