Dreams Cancun - Questions for those married here!

[KB&JC]

Thank you Thank you!

[clgriffi7]

Ladies - What are you doing for music for your reception?  If we get enough people to book I would like to have a DJ as I really want this reception to be fun.  I have no problem with using the hotel recommended DJ.  I am about 11 months out from my wedding and I am not sure when I need to make the call as to whether I will have the DJ.

 

A few months ago - before I had reserved my date and when I was stalking this thread - I thought I read that a bride had gotten a discounted price on the DJ and dance floor when the DJ had a deal posted on their website.  Has anyone gotten a better price than what is posted in the wedding planning document?

 

Thanks in advance.

[jana297]

Not sure about the deals on the website. I know that the resort uses DJ Mannia and I hear he is worth every single penny. His prices are listed in the pdf Dreams Wedding Planning document on the Dreams website. 11 months out!!! Exciting!! I am still 15 1/2 months out. Seems like forever but sure helps to have all this time to plan and pay for everything.

 

Question for all you brides? Does Dreams use keycards for the rooms or keys? Anyone know?

[meldal101010]

The extra hour is a rip off...It cost us $600 for ONE extra hour (covering 26 people) There was no negotiating it down either.

 

Originally Posted by clgriffi7 

Rachel -
Hopefully someone else can give you a definitive answer, but my assumption was that the cost for an extra hour at the reception would be based on 1) the DJ and 2) the per person price of the open bar for an hour.  Online (in the info pack with the packages and upgrades) it says "Includes 3 hours International Open Bar" under the Recption section, but then under that it says "Additional Hour International Open Bar $15/person/hour".  With the 11% tax and 15% gratuity, that is $19.15 per person.

 

At this point I think I would love to have a 4th hour as well - but I don't think my fiance would go for an extra $20/pp.  Maybe you can negotiate a lower price per person.  I understand why they need to charge because the servers will have to stay longer, but $20/pp seems like a lot.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel&Chris2011 

Sorry one more question regarding the ballroom. Cecilia told me that if we wanted to extend the 3 hours reception it would cost more. Did she charge you more? Our ceremony is at 4:30-5:30 then 630-730 is apps&cocktails and reception starts at 7:30... which would end at 10:30. but we want to go to atleast 12. I have no problem paying the dj more for the extra hours but more just for the room is crazy! 
 

 

[meldal101010]

Keycards...
 

Originally Posted by jana297 

Not sure about the deals on the website. I know that the resort uses DJ Mannia and I hear he is worth every single penny. His prices are listed in the pdf Dreams Wedding Planning document on the Dreams website. 11 months out!!! Exciting!! I am still 15 1/2 months out. Seems like forever but sure helps to have all this time to plan and pay for everything.

 

Question for all you brides? Does Dreams use keycards for the rooms or keys? Anyone know?

[clgriffi7]

I guess $600 doesn't sound that horrible to me if all of the guests would stick around and really dance (though it would be +>$300 for an extra hour for the DJ).  What do you think about adding an extra hour?

 

Currently, my wedding will be at 5pm, cocktail hour (might make this just cocktails from the bar if too many people attend) from 6-7pm, reception from 7-10pm. Would it be worth it to extend the reception to 11pm?  I assume the meal will take from 7-8pm, leaving after 8pm for dancing.

 

Thanks in advance for your opinions. (though I know any answer is partially dependent on how many people and what mix - family vs friends - attend)

 

Originally Posted by meldal101010 

The extra hour is a rip off...It cost us $600 for ONE extra hour (covering 26 people) There was no negotiating it down either.

 

[meldal101010]

We didn't have a DJ...we had the soundsystem. So for the DJ it'd probably be a bit more.

[KB&JC]

I think I am going to have an extra hour! Three hours just doesnt seem like long enough to party!!!

[jana297]

I agree!!

[wilsoml2]

 

For our wedding, dinner actually took about 1.5 hours so we only had 1.5 hours of dancing. You should take into consideration how long it takes for everyone to sit down and get drinks, etc. Plus it is a 3 course meal which takes longer than you'd expect. I definitely wish we would've had an extra hour to dance, but we had a lot of dancers in the crowd. It depends on your group!

Originally Posted by clgriffi7 

I guess $600 doesn't sound that horrible to me if all of the guests would stick around and really dance (though it would be +>$300 for an extra hour for the DJ).  What do you think about adding an extra hour?

 

Currently, my wedding will be at 5pm, cocktail hour (might make this just cocktails from the bar if too many people attend) from 6-7pm, reception from 7-10pm. Would it be worth it to extend the reception to 11pm?  I assume the meal will take from 7-8pm, leaving after 8pm for dancing.

 

Thanks in advance for your opinions. (though I know any answer is partially dependent on how many people and what mix - family vs friends - attend)

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by meldal101010 

The extra hour is a rip off...It cost us $600 for ONE extra hour (covering 26 people) There was no negotiating it down either.