nattiegams325

Can anyone share their wedding video if they went with the resort videographer? I'm having trouble finding the company who does it and examples/reviews. I know Adventure Photos with Anel does photog but not sure for videog.

@@pddcmc We will probably do both OOT bags and favors. With our guests coming from so far for us, I think it's worth it to do both for them. OOT bags will be more informal, favors I know I'm going to have maracas to shake at the first kiss and the guests can take them home and maybe we'll do something else too, like mini bottles of tequila or something. Haven't gotten that far yet. I'm trying to pick out my dress

@@Sarahop81 We visited Riu Palace Riviera Maya in February and it was very, very run down. It looked great in pictures and I was so disappointed when we saw it in person. It is right on the beach and you can see the island of Cozumel from the beach. We didn't visit Riu Palace Mexico because the renovations have all the rooms bright purple and I agree with you, the hotel had to have a Mexican flare and RPM didn't seem worth the visit. Hope I don't offend anyone who had their weddings here, just my opinion!

@@hpfannes Hey girl! Congrats on starting to plan and I totally get how you're feeling. Until I locked down our date, that's how I was too! First, I've never been to Mexico in the summer, but from what I have heard, it is very hot in June/July but you will find lower rates than in the peak months (Jan-March/April). I think you will be able to find an AI resort in that budget. Depending on where you're flying from and the length of the stay, I would start with a travel agent to get some recommendations for that price point. Do lots of research on resorts, read the reviews on here of the wedding departments as well as places like TripAdvisor to see people's reviews and pictures. You may want to look at reviews from the summertime to see what people say. For example I've heard people say they had trouble with jellyfish at my hotel, but when we were there in Feb, there were no issues whatsoever, so depending on the time of year, you may have different issues. Adults only resorts typically are more expensive. Also think about distance from the airport. The Barcelo complex is 1.5 hours from the airport but since there are 5 hotels, there are 5 different price points and this may be a good one to look at. We didn't want one so far from the airport. We are waiting for Apple Vacations to release their charter rates from Chicago as they are usually cheaper so we don't have any travel arrangements booked. Many hotels offer discounted rates if you are able to make it down to see the resort in person. That's what we did. One of the hotels looked beautiful online but in person, I wanted to run out of there as fast as possible. Look at prices this year in June/July to hotels you're thinking about to give you a good idea for rates. Check out Expedia, cheap caribbean, apple, funjet, etc. The prices will most likely be comparable to next year!

Thanks, this will be handy in 9 months

I'm having trouble with this. Initially my parents agreed to my fiance and I's wish for a small(er) wedding, now they're insisting we invite extended family. I'm very close to my immediate family but it has caused some stress

My wedding is next Feb and we are waiting to send STDs until we do engagement pics (which is in 5 days omg I need to figure out my second outfit ). Everyone who is going to be invited knows about the wedding (family obv but for friends my fiance and I sent a quick facebook message with the basic details so they could start planning early!). Our engagement pics will be on the STD (at least one of them) so by the time we get those back and get STDs ordered and sent, we're hoping by the beginning of July. Invites will be in the fall.

Dreams Riviera Cancun, we will wait on an actual honeymoon since we're spending 10 days in Mexico. We're thinking Europe the year after :-)

@@Shelleyq We are planning on maybe...50ish?! But no idea. Haha my fiance and I wanted a small wedding but my mom is insisting we invite extended family and so it might be more than we had originally planned for! And yes I will pass along the platinum menu once I get it! @@pddcmc Hmmm I guess I should email them again for the menu. If we send out invites in the early fall we should include the entree choices in the invite. Thanks!

@@Shelleyq I've been trying to get lots of ideas from other brides...I don't want to do too much, just things I know people would actually use. I think maybe a face or lip sunscreen might be nice because most people just bring regular sunscreen and my sister was dying last time we were in Mexico because she forgot lip balm with SPF! Definitely an itinerary, welcome letter, something personalized, not sure if we'll do the bag, a hat, T shirt, but probably leaning toward the personalized bag or hat. The resort has games by the pool (board games, books) but playing cards might be nice since there isn't TOO much entertainment during the day. Probably a little medicine pack too. What are you thinking? @@pddcmc Not yet, when I emailed Claudia a few weeks ago about changing my cocktail hour time, she said someone would contact me approx 3 months beforehand. Are you ladies doing a legal or symbolic ceremony? We had scheduled a legal ceremony, but after a lot of research, it seems it's better to do a symbolic one and get married at home. We wouldn't tell anyone, just me and the fiance would know :-) But we'd celebrate our anni on the day we get "married" at DRC. I don't think getting married in a courthouse would feel like a marriage anyways! @@smileitseb We'll probably just rent stuff from DRC. I don't want to deal with shipping stuff down and I have heard customs can give brides-to-be a hard time when they see so many extras being brought into the country.

@@Shelleyq Mine is 2/23!!! See you there!! Does anyone have the premium dinner menu? I have emailed twice and they sent me the same thing but it didn't include the premium menu!! Also, for the plated options, do you have to ask guests what they want in advance? Just wondering for when we do invites in the late summer/early fall.

Since there are more of us everyday maybe it'll be good to have our own thread to share ideas and keep us updated to make sure we're all getting the same info from wedding coordinators!! Looking forward to hearing from you ladies! Feb 23, 2015 here

@@smileitseb @@Pablou Same here, we keep saying anywhere from 40-60 people will come lol

I stayed there for 4 nights at that rate for my visit in February but they never said anything about reimbursement. I'll have to ask my coordinator! Thanks! North beach is right next to the rentals, like kayaks and stuff. There are lots of palpapas and loungers on the beach around it and when I watched a wedding (yes I was one of those people haha) there were lots of people watching with me. It's very close to the hotel. These are north beach ceremonies: http://www.juanphotos.com/blog/weddings/dreams-riviera-cancun-destination-wedding-lindsay-frank-puerto-morelos-q-roo-mexico/ http://www.juanphotos.com/blog/weddings/wedding-lori-jason-dreams-riviera-cancun/ South beach is more private. No chairs around it and a bit of a walk from the hotel. I saw one wedding at the north and one wedding at the south. I actually can't find any pics of south beach ceremonies so I assume north beach is more popular.

Dreams Riviera Cancun is definitely not a party hotel. You're better off staying at a hotel in Cancun or Playa del Carmen if you're looking for nightlife. The fact that DRC isn't a party hotel is actually one of the things I liked most about it :-) So I wouldn't recommend it if that's what you're looking for! Good luck planning and congrats!

I ended up visiting Dreams Riviera Cancun, Barcelo Palace, and Riu Palace Riviera Maya and decided to go with Dreams. I didn't go to Iberostar because I didn't like the ceremony or reception options at the Lindo or Maya and I can't ask my guests to pay the Grand's rates, though the Grand is absolutely beautiful.

That's a good point. I was wondering why I kept seeing these amazing reasonable prices for people going to pretty expensive hotels, now I realize it's because they're from Canada! Most of us are coming from Chicago. Thanks to everyone for their input, this has been so helpful!

Thanks Tammy, so what you're recommending is to book the group rate and then have people book air on their own?

Hi Summer! We were at DRC last month for my site visit. We ate dinner at Seaside Grille and Oceana and I prefer Oceana's menu because the beef in Mexico has a strange texture in my family's opinion. You're on the ocean, go with fish for sure!! The fish was delicious. For the app the crab cakes were uhhhhmazing :-) As far as outside photog/videog, I was told as long as he stays 3 days they waive the $300 fee. I would ask your wedding coordinator to confirm this but that's what they just said in their webinar this past Saturday as well as through an email to me previously.

My date is confirmed at Dreams Riviera Cancun which means my next obstacle is figuring out when to book! We are leaning towards a travel agent (I've been working with Wendy from Wright Travel Agency) to get the group perks, but I'd rather wait until air+hotel packages are posted. Past brides- when you booked, if you did the group rate, how far in advance? I know the hotel can lower in price and they'll adjust it, but the downside is that once you do the air rate, you're locked in to that. VS everyone booking individually, no group perks plus I'm stressing over if the hotel overbooks or sells out. Advice?

Hi! The ultimate package includes the Mexican trio for 45 minutes during the cocktail hour. If you want it to be more casual, you might want to consider the package right under Ultimate. I have the PDFs with all the inclusions if you want me to email them to you! You have to book the wedding through the hotel. David Carillo is the contact person for wedding reservations and he takes care of booking the package, date, times of events (ceremony/cocktail hour if having/and reception), and locations. For ceremony locations, you will always have gawkers in bathing suits. Unless you get married in a church or a very private location, destination weddings are not private. Regardless of your location, people will pull up a chair and watch (from a distance), but the wedding staff does their best to keep people out of pictures. The gazebo is on the pool deck. They move the chairs back but there are people out there at least until 6-6:30 pm. The north and south beach locations are the other ceremony locations. I never considered having mine on the beach so I'm not 100% sure on which is preferred. We watched a ceremony on the North beach which seemed more crowded than the south? But don't quote me on that. Time: Keep in mind sunset time (in Feb, it's between 5-6pm), and you want to make sure you have sunlight for pictures! It starts to get cool(er) by 3 or 4. Reception can be on the pool deck (wooden next to sand closer to beach), the pool terrace (concrete where people enter the infinity pool), the beach, ballroom, or one of the restaurants for a fee. I'm having mine at the Seaside Grille for an extra $1,000 USD, I know to have it at the Mexican specialty restaurant (El Patio), it is $6,000 USD. Pool terrace/deck, ballroom, and beach are included in package. Cocktail hour can be at those places too or one of the bars or around the jacuzzi. After 11pm they have a disco/bar on site where the wedding coordinator told me most people go. Let me know if you want me to send you what they sent me on inclusions! Happy planning! Natalie

I actually listened to to the Dreams Riviera Cancun webinar this past Saturday through this forum and got to ask the wedding coordinator directly! For the legal ceremony 4 witnesses (can be anyone, including parents, as long as they're over 18) have to be there 4 business days prior, along with the bride and groom, or the hotel can provide them. One less question to stress over haha :-)

My fiancé and I will be arriving 4 business days prior to our legal ceremony, but what about witnesses? I was told we need 4 but read in a few places that 1) they 4 cannot be the bride and groom's parents and 2) the hotel can provide witnesses for you. Info on this? Wanted to know for booking/planning!

I'm interested to hear their response as I'm dealing with something similar. Keep us posted!

Dreams Riviera Cancun Feb 2015!!