Sunshine2680

It doesnt sound like it - but I know Dreams says the same thing I still think there's a way around it somehow - maybe some current brides who have just been married there can offer some advice My TA said if I were to book him in for a couple nights as a 'guest' of the wedding - then its fine. To me its worth the extra $ to have amazing pics

Thats reasonable - I know at a couple other resorts its $300! But just heard back from Jazmin and she said 'no outside vendors' whatsoever sigh - i dunno what to do I think Arrecife has some decent quality photos - but the packages bother me bigtime I can get 500+ photos for LESS than $3200 from another photographer! and i think Arrecife only gives about 180 soooo not fair

I thought about booking them into the resort as a 'guest' to the wedding - but the problem is - I can't book it under a false name right? And these hotels are probably very well aware of a lot of the photographers down in the Mayan. Anyone know a way around this? Or I can pay the fee- I dont mind either- because Im willing to do that to have amazing pictures - does anyone know what the fee is? I'm looking to book Ivan Luckie for my photographer - he's sooo amazing - doing TTD in the cenotes with him too!

Hi Ladies - I know I'm breaking the rules a bit here by not going back to past pages to look but I'm on a tight deadline- (have to decide about this resort by tomorrow) - and I'm just wanting to know if outside photographers are allowed If there's a fee - thats fine- I just want to know if this is an option Thanks so much!

So am I correct in reading that the outside vendor fee for photog is only $55?? I thought it was $300? or two nights at the hotel? I'm a lil curious about the flowers through the hotel...can you basically get whatever you want? Or would it be safe to go through an outside vendor like EW? I also want those lanterns/lanteens that apparently are offered by the resort - but i'm worried they dont have my colors - does anyone know what colors they offer? Great reviews and pics ladies! I'm getting excited again to have my wedding here - despite the negative reviews that have been posting on Trip Advisor.

Thats sooo great that they ended up being cheaper than Dreams. I wish that was the case for me - but coming from Canada - its a bit more expensive. Its such a quaint little resort ! I hope that's the one you end up with!

THanks! I agree Brenners...Cancun is great - but its like Vegas in the tropics - minus the slot machines..lol I like the feel of the Mayan better for a wedding I want to be different too - than all these cookie-cutter weddings the resort is putting through on a daily basis...hopefully i'll find the unique-ness I'm looking for!

Ironically ive stayed at the Riu Caribe 3 times - but this time we're heading to the Mayan instead. I'm not crazy about the crazyness of Cancun for my wedding thanks tho!

Great! Thanks!

ha ha - ya- they actually attached the separate documents for the ceremony locations - i was just too dumb to scroll down at first. LOL I think the ceremony sites are pretty decently priced but ya - i'll have to really sit down and price out a reception - im not too sure how the food and alcohol are incorporated with that Not sure how many guests - I would guess between 20 and 30 And do you know if they're ok with me bringing my own photographer? How does all the music/electronics work?

Ooooo Ceiba del Mar is sooo pretty! But unfortunately a bit too expensive for us. I dont want my guests paying anymore than about $1700 pp CAD. Barcelo Maya is nice too - I really liked the Palace - but didnt like the idea of all my guests being spread out between 5 different resorts if they didnt want to pay for the palace. I'm looking into Xcaret now - cuz i think thats one place that wont feel so assembly-line ish - even though it would be a bit more expensive for us Have fun with your planning also!

Nevermind - Graciela just forwarded some info to me - though Im a bit confused She's got prices for 'Mexicano Restaurant' - 'Banquet at Ponds' - 'La Laguna Restaurant' - 'Wine cellars' but I'm not sure if these prices include the ceremony also? Does anyone know? I'm looking for prices for ceremony sites AND reception too

Hi All! Just got engaged in January and planning a November 2012 wedding! Still way far off - but the planning has already begun! Had settled on a few resorts - Dreams Riviera, Dreams Puerto Aventuras, Dreams Tulum, Barcelo Maya, Bahia Principe Tulum/Akumal - but now retreating a bit as the more i find out about these resorts - the more I feel like a bride on an assembly line. Very confused at this point. Actually considering Xcaret as a venue - but I know its pricey. But maybe its worth it so that you're not passing another bride on the way to your ceremony! LOL

Hi there I'd like to get up to date prices for a wedding at Xcaret - if anyone has - can you please send to me also [email protected] thanks so much!

Thanks Carbaholic - you calmed me down a bit. I know there's always going to be little things about every resort out there that will annoy or irritate. I guess when I started reading those reviews on Trip Advisor - it was just a whole bunch of negative all at once. One of my other major concerns is the fact that DRC among many other resorts I'm sure...are hosting 3-4 weddings/day - and this really bothers me. I realize that having a destination wedding is THE thing to do and its clearly becoming more popular by the day - but the last thing I want is to feel like a bride on an assembly line. I know there's really no getting away from this - its just deflating a little when you want your day to be just about you...and for the most part I know it will be...I hope Thanks again for your input - its truly appreciated

HI ladies - just got finished reading some of those negative reviews for that last week in March - and am a bit discouraged about using this resort for my wedding. Not so much for the food - I have a feeling that was just due to a bad batch of something. But some of the other complains with regards to the no door on the bathrooms as well as the massive battle for chairs at the pool/beach. I will probably be having some couples coming with younger children and the bathroom situation is kind of concerning. Even if there weren't children - I still find it odd that there's no door on the bathroom - or maybe i read this wrong? Maybe its not with all the suites? The towel game seems to be very discouraging also - apparently if you're not there at 5/6am to put your town down you're SOL! There's been comments about very little entertainment in the evenings too. Also - apparently the ceilings/floors are very thin and there's been complaints of excessive noise when someone moves a chair. I know these concerns are non-wedding related - but I want my guests to be comfortable and happy at the resort. Picking this resort is mostly for our benefit wedding-wise but i also want to pick a resort that all my guests should be happy at too. We're really not those snoooty traveler types that expect everything to be perfect.But I'm sure you all know the stress of picking a resort just for you and your hunny is a lot different than picking a resort for 20+ of your closest family and friends. Any who can offer some input would be great!

Ya- I'm actually journalling pretty good this week - so we'll see what happens. The 'friend' arrived today- lol - so hopefully ill lose a fair bit once she's gone..ha ha thanks!!

Well - my co-worker said it is my cycle thats the issue - (I'm due in a couple days) - but i didnt' think anyone would retain THAT much with all those workouts I'm pretty good with measuring - I even bought a scale to measure my chicken breasts as I was mis-measuring before I've been eating a fair bit of quinoa too and I have trouble figuring out the points for that too

Hi All - I'm hoping someone can give me some insight as to what the problem is. Last week I stuck to my points - hit my target everyday - AND also had 9 workouts between Mon and Friday. All cardio - no weights..and I DIDN'T LOSE A SINGLE POUND!?!?! I am so upset and deflated and I just don't understand why this happened. Ive worked out less in a week and have lost 3lbs - so I dont know what the issue is. The only things I didn't do that should have done was journal and drink water (other than the gym) Any ideas?

No prob!

Here is a site that sells the faux capiz curtains - pretty good price too http://www.shopwildthings.com/fauxcapiz.html

Very good points Matt! Does this work the same way for a gazebo? Like the one at Dreams Riviera Cancun perhaps? My colors will most likely be a dark eggplant purple and a bright lime green Some photo examples would be great!

Ohhh - soooo sorry -this actually wasn't my wedding - lol this was just an album i came across when researching the photographer! I just loved the decor so much i had to share! lol

Hope this works http://delsolphotography.com/blog/content/galleries/?gal=70

I agree! I still haven't decided if I'll use the gazebo or the beach but I was going to bring in Deco or EW for those nice lanterns and maybe some comfy benches for the reception on the pool deck - but I can live without the benches if the resort offers the lanterns. I had no idea they offered the lanters!! It doesn't say anything about it in the brochure! But now I'm a bit worried if they'll have my colors or not