Dreams Riviera Cancun - Brides post here (new thread)

[AmberDragon]

Question for past brides.  How many chairs are in each row for the ceremony?  By the looks of some of the pictures, it appears to be about 4 chairs on each side of the aisle, so 8 in a row.  Is that correct?  I'm about to buy supplies to make starfish aisle holders and trying to figure out how many to make.  I'm assuming it can vary depending on the amount of guests.  Thanks!

[Wedding2014]

Amber dragon do you plan on bringing you starfish for the aisle back or leaving it there! My theme is beach with blues and shells and starfish and ten I wouldn't have to bring my own!

[pddcmc]

@@AmberDragon - That is what I have assumed as well, while trying to purchase decor. I don't have a WC yet (still too early)...maybe if you have one, you could ask them?

 

 

 

 

 

Also, for those bringing things, are you having a friend/family memeber set your stuff up, or are you paying the resort's set-up fee?

Edited June 20, 2014 by pddcmc

[prisp]

Does anyone know the difference between the pool deck and the pool terrace? This whole time I thought they were the same thing.......we are booked for the pool terrace but which one is better? We are expecting about 60 guests.

deck is better. But pool deck will still be beautiful bc there are lots of lights around the pool that reflect off the water it will still be private...we saw a reception while we were there and it still looked pretty. 

Question for past brides.  How many chairs are in each row for the ceremony?  By the looks of some of the pictures, it appears to be about 4 chairs on each side of the aisle, so 8 in a row.  Is that correct?  I'm about to buy supplies to make starfish aisle holders and trying to figure out how many to make.  I'm assuming it can vary depending on the amount of guests.  Thanks!

5 each side---10 per row. 

I just got an email from Claudia introducing herself and sending some things to start planning the wedding with them!  How exciting!!!  

 

I started thinking about packing and what to bring.  Out of the brides who have already gone down there.  How is the shampoo, conditioner and body wash they give you?  I think I read somewhere that they give you all those.  I think I also read something about washcloths.  You do get them too right?

 

I was reading the Mexico consulate page and it looks like we can bring in $500 of goods/gifts if traveling by air.  

 

http://www.sat.gob.mx/informacion_fiscal/normatividad/formas_fiscales/Documents/A30_ingles.pdf

 

 

In this list of prohibited items, I didn't see anything about starfish or shells, just turtle stuff is a no no.  

 

http://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/reinounido/index.php/visas/79#7

 

The pool deck is wood and nicer from what I hear.  The pool terrace is concrete.  It's a matter of preference for what is better.  I think brides favor the pool deck.  The location is different too, but I forget where they are in regards to each other.  

 

girl bring anything and everything you want and are ok with carrying . I had 5 suitcases plus our attire. Cash is the only thing you have to report...10k and over. I took sea shells and star fish and no one said a thing. 

 

yeah they have wash cloths and towels. My husband used the shampoo, body wash, sunscreen etc and he liked it...they even have a mending kit for sewing, q-tips, sponges etc. 

[AmberDragon]

Amber dragon do you plan on bringing you starfish for the aisle back or leaving it there! My theme is beach with blues and shells and starfish and ten I wouldn't have to bring my own!

 

 

I will be bringing them back unless any guests want them.  I might keep one as a keep sake.  I'm thinking about making 8 or 10 of them. I've heard that the stuff you leave usually gets thrown out.  

@@AmberDragon - That is what I have assumed as well, while trying to purchase decor. I don't have a WC yet (still too early)...maybe if you have one, you could ask them?

 

 

 

 

 

Also, for those bringing things, are you having a friend/family memeber set your stuff up, or are you paying the resort's set-up fee?

 

I am just going to pay the $100 fee.  I have a lot to set up and don't want to burden anyone with tying sashes and all that stuff.

deck is better. But pool deck will still be beautiful bc there are lots of lights around the pool that reflect off the water it will still be private...we saw a reception while we were there and it still looked pretty. 

5 each side---10 per row. 

 

girl bring anything and everything you want and are ok with carrying . I had 5 suitcases plus our attire. Cash is the only thing you have to report...10k and over. I took sea shells and star fish and no one said a thing. 

 

yeah they have wash cloths and towels. My husband used the shampoo, body wash, sunscreen etc and he liked it...they even have a mending kit for sewing, q-tips, sponges etc. 

 

 

Thanks prisp!  

[edeaton]

Did you sale this stuff yet?

[Yscampbell]

Hi, I'm new to the site and just set our wedding date for June 14, 2015. I haven't spoken with the WC yet but I'm looking forward to getting going.

 

I have a few questions:

1. Did you bring additional decorations? If so do you believe it was necessary? If you didn't take additional decor do you regret it?

2. Did you purchase decor from the local area?

3. What package did you get and what's the per person cost over 20 persons?

4. Also what's the cost of bringing an outside vendor for pictures and dj?

 

Thank you so much for your help. Happy planning!!

[prisp]

Hi, I'm new to the site and just set our wedding date for June 14, 2015. I haven't spoken with the WC yet but I'm looking forward to getting going.

 

I have a few questions:

1. Did you bring additional decorations? If so do you believe it was necessary? If you didn't take additional decor do you regret it?

2. Did you purchase decor from the local area?

3. What package did you get and what's the per person cost over 20 persons?

4. Also what's the cost of bringing an outside vendor for pictures and dj?

 

Thank you so much for your help. Happy planning!!

1.    Did you bring additional decorations? Yes.

If so do you believe it was necessary? This is personal preference, but bringing my own things made my wedding more personal and unique. My guests noticed the little things I brought and keep talking about it.

2. Did you purchase decor from the local area? Nope, tourist prices are way too high for me even in large amounts. I bought everything off Amazon for way cheap.

3. What package did you get and what's the per person cost over 20 persons? Ultimate, $65/per person above the 20 included in the package. Plus $7 for cake per person above the 20. These prices include the 16% tax and 15% service for 2014.

4. Also what's the cost of bringing an outside vendor for pictures and dj? $150 per person. Some outside photographers require an assistant, so you would pay $300 for both. 

[prisp]

I'm posting questions I've gotten and my answers. Hopefully they will help other brides. I know this forum helped me a lot. 

 

QUESTION: Your review says you went back and forth a lot with the coordinator and vendors....was this in regard to decorations? The information I've received from DRC so far regarding table settings and everything isn't very clear to me and I was hoping you could help me understand some things (regarding centerpieces etc). Thanks so much!

ANSWER: I went back and forth about everything. Decorations, flowers, Chandelier etc. So this is how it worked for me. I sent her my Pinterest pictures and asked her, I want this amount of these and she would get me a quote. They have vendor partnerships that bring in everything. We are not allowed to contract vendors because they use the ones they have agreements with. So once I agree on the price, style, color, she adds it to the budget planner and voila, it just shows up the day of the wedding. I sent her my ideas and she made them come true after I approve the price, colors, etc. They even threw a few extras in there as a gift. But you won’t really know till you show up. Trust them; they will make everything look beautiful.

 

You can back out of pretty much anything up until like 1-2months before your wedding I think.  I changed my mind a lot. All deadlines are on your contract. For example, there is a certain timeframe to finalize your food and flowers.  

 

My recommendation is DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK. If you think of it and consider it reasonable to ask, do so. They will most likely allow anything. Like the menu tasting is not something I read of other brides doing, but when I asked they said yes and scheduled it. It made it easier selecting a menu after tasting the food. It's hard to know if you like it from the descriptions. 

 

QUESTION: Who did your photography?

 

I used Hideki Falcon he has his own business Button up photography. http://www.buttonupmx.com/

He was really nice and easy to work with. The only thing I would recommend if you work with him is to be adamant on the turn-around time for your pictures. It took him 10 weeks to give me the pictures. The contract said approximately 6-8 weeks. So I thought 10 weeks was too long, but I've heard other photographers take longer so it varies. I didn’t complain because I didn’t want to rush him so he would do a good job editing. And he did! We love our pictures.

QUESTION: Did they charge a set-up fee?

ANSWER: yes it’s 100 plus tax for everything. I think that’s reasonable considering the amount of stuff I took down. It's not worth it if you only have like 5 things.  

 

QUESTION: I'm having a cocktail hour on beach... Did you have to pay any extra for chairs tables etc on beach what was free?

 

ANSWER: cocktail hour on the beach sounds beautiful! The cocktails only include the high tables with plain white covers. All other items cost to rent. Ask them for the "budget planner" sheet. It has all the pricing. 

Food wise, the tempura shrimp with the dip that comes with it was a big hit for us. 

 

QUESTIONS: When did you schedule your rehearsal dinner( before you got there ?) 

 

ANSWER: We reserved our rehearsal dinner about 1-2 months in advance, can’t remember exactly. Claudia told us what time was available at our place of selection (el patio) on Friday and she booked it for us. 

 

QUESTION: Where did you get the sparklers ? Such a great idea!! Everything looked gorgeous!

 

ANSWER: I asked Claudia for the sparklers (another custom request), she got them from a vendor...they were $85 for 50 large sparklers.

 

CONCERN: The initial communication with the resort has been pretty frustrating with the delayed and very short responses. 

 

ADVICE: They won’t really make your event planning and communication a priority until like 4-5 months before the event. Our wedding was in March and she began communicating promptly around the end of October/November. 

[FUTURE MDB]

Hello DRC brides!

        I just got back from our wedding at DRC that took place on June 6th. I could write a long review, but it all comes down to the fact that everything was amazing and just as I pictured it! 

 

We had our ceremony on North Beach at 4pm ( much more private) 

We had our cocktail hour at the Palm Deck which is right next to the Pool Deck from 5-6

We had our reception on the Pool Deck (right in front of the ocean) from 6-11 (we wanted a longer reception!)

 

Ayahamint was my coordinator, she was awesome and kept me in my budget!

Linda was great!

 

Music:

Our DJ kept the party going and played everything we wanted, right on time, beautifully orchestrated! The trio was great, but I felt like they finished too early!

 

Food:

We had the Caribbean buffet, everyone thought it was amazing! We changed up the cocktail hour food to more of a mexican theme with shrimp cocktails, tacos etc.

 

Open Bar:

The open bar was amazing, my guests really enjoyed it and our waiters were the best! 

 

Advice: For those ladies on a budget, I traveled with a lot of my things and it saved me a ton! I won't budge on the sparklers or the DJ

So...

       On the cake, i took my own flowers and cake topper and didn't have to pay for extra decoration

       I went with the small centerpieces and they looked just perfect although i was told they would look too small

       I also went with the bouquet with my package and just chose my colors, saved there!

 

Everything everything was perfect I wish you all the luck in the world and any questions I can answer I am so happy to do so!

 

Below is the link to the wedding blog my photographer did for us ( I used anel for some pictures on the beach a few days before the wedding as it came with my package) I flew my own photographer down to take our pictures (did not pay a fee because she was part of my wedding party)

 

http://blog.britnicolephotography.com/dreams-riviera-cancun-destination-photographer-hugo-monica/