Dreams Riviera Cancun - Brides post here (new thread)

[saymyname74]

Quote:

Originally Posted by reaganlane Hey Mindylcarter! I also will have a small group coming with me and don't see the need in paying for a packag at an all-inclusive resort. What package are you going with? My TA asked Ana about the resturant ordeal, and she said since we are having our pics taken after the wedding, someone could go put in a reservation and we would possibly all get to sit together...no guarentee though. Since your wedding is a little before mine, maybe you can fill me in on everything! Also, another question for brides with small parties...are you getting the microphone package and what do u do about music as you walk down the isle? Just not have any?

I am doing the microphone system because i want my guests to hear the ceremony. I was wondering about what music they play when you walk down the isle also. I think with the sound system you get a ipod dock to plug your ipod into therefore you can play what you like.

[Ashlynn039]

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Originally Posted by samnicolerangel Let me start by introducing myself! My name is Samantha and my fiance is Joseph!!! We go by "Sam & Joe" here in Houston, TX!!! We have been great friends for 13 years and it became much more 4 years ago!!! Now here we are ENGAGED and planning to get MARRIED on June 11, 2011 at Dreams Riviera Cancun!!! We are sooo excited!!! I am currently working with a Kim Mallory of Destination Weddings.com and we both had the same trouble contacting Ana. I think she has all of our best interests in mind...but, she seems to be terribly overworked! I'm being patient and plan on getting everything situated during a site visit 6-9 months before my wedding. It seems to be easier to do it all in person! One thing I know I do need advice on is ROOM RATES for my guests!!! I have read so many different things...and I am not sure who to talk to? Ana? Group Department? Etc.? They have a WINTER PROMOTION and I asked Ana if she could do that rate and she replied that if we wanted to we would have to book online, but that she could not guarantee that rate!!! PLEASE ADVISE!!! Thanks in advance!!!

HI Sam! Welcome to the forum As far as roomrates go, we are using a travel agent and she got us good rates that way. And supposedly Ana has somebody in training to help her out. So maybe we'll all start hearing back more swiftly!

[mindylcarter]

I will certainly post a review when i get back...i was hoping ana could arrange semi-private seating for us at one of the restaurants ahead of time instead of us just taking a chance on getting to sit together - I have been to other all-inclusives where they will not allow you to pull tables together when you have a large group, which just infuriated us.

[samnicolerangel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilly129 Sam - Welcome to the forum! I'm in Houston as well! I'm Casey - my fiance is Ron we're getting married on September 18, 2010. I agree with you - I hadn't originally planned on a site visit but the slow communication made me nervous so we booked a site visit in May. For room rates - I went with a travel agent. The rates the group department sent me were not great. As a matter of fact, the group rate was higher then if my guests just went on the website and booked. Also, my understanding was to do a group rate you have to put a deposit down on all those rooms...and once your guests booked them all then you get your deposit back. Made me a little nervous. My TA is amazing, she's found really great prices for all my guests so far (we have about 30 peopled booked and I haven't even sent out the invitations yet!) What part of Houston are you in? I'm in the Heights.

Thanks for the advice!!! I'm waiting to hear back from my TA and hoping she can work her magic!!! If not, I was an event coordinator for several years...and I have no problem speaking with upper management...sometimes that's what you have to do. You learn that when working with hotels all the time for conferences, etc. I want to try to keep this as affordable as possible since my guests are going to another country just to attend our wedding!

We'll see...I'll keep you informed.

We actually live in Meyerland and are moving at the end of April for me to be closer to work. Looking in the Heights and Memorial area.

Is your TA here in Houston? I would have really liked to work with someone local. My TA has been difficult to get a hold of at times.

[Megan24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by samnicolerangel Thanks for the advice!!! I'm waiting to hear back from my TA and hoping she can work her magic!!! If not, I was an event coordinator for several years...and I have no problem speaking with upper management...sometimes that's what you have to do. You learn that when working with hotels all the time for conferences, etc. I want to try to keep this as affordable as possible since my guests are going to another country just to attend our wedding! We'll see...I'll keep you informed. We actually live in Meyerland and are moving at the end of April for me to be closer to work. Looking in the Heights and Memorial area. Is your TA here in Houston? I would have really liked to work with someone local. My TA has been difficult to get a hold of at times.

Hey girl I am from the Dallas Fort Worth area. Good luck planning. My best advice is good a travel agent that you love and that will talk to you when you need it. Believe it is harder then I thought planning this wedding and a good Travel agent is key if you want to have one!!

[Boo]

On a completely separate note, I was reading Mishka's blog, who is fabulous by the way and she mentioned two weddings that happened back to back at DRC

 

Mishka Designs' Blog: A Tale of Two Maracas....

 

Happy planning!

[*JillD*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by samnicolerangel Let me start by introducing myself! My name is Samantha and my fiance is Joseph!!! We go by "Sam & Joe" here in Houston, TX!!! We have been great friends for 13 years and it became much more 4 years ago!!! Now here we are ENGAGED and planning to get MARRIED on June 11, 2011 at Dreams Riviera Cancun!!! We are sooo excited!!! I am currently working with a Kim Mallory of Destination Weddings.com and we both had the same trouble contacting Ana. I think she has all of our best interests in mind...but, she seems to be terribly overworked! I'm being patient and plan on getting everything situated during a site visit 6-9 months before my wedding. It seems to be easier to do it all in person! One thing I know I do need advice on is ROOM RATES for my guests!!! I have read so many different things...and I am not sure who to talk to? Ana? Group Department? Etc.? They have a WINTER PROMOTION and I asked Ana if she could do that rate and she replied that if we wanted to we would have to book online, but that she could not guarantee that rate!!! PLEASE ADVISE!!! Thanks in advance!!!

Your travel agent should be able to provide you with rates. A lot of times the rates on the hotels website are higher than what is available through tour operators. You also get extra perks when you setup a group booking, which your travel agent should also be able to help you with. Good luck!

[lilly129]

Quote:

Originally Posted by samnicolerangel Thanks for the advice!!! I'm waiting to hear back from my TA and hoping she can work her magic!!! If not, I was an event coordinator for several years...and I have no problem speaking with upper management...sometimes that's what you have to do. You learn that when working with hotels all the time for conferences, etc. I want to try to keep this as affordable as possible since my guests are going to another country just to attend our wedding! We'll see...I'll keep you informed. We actually live in Meyerland and are moving at the end of April for me to be closer to work. Looking in the Heights and Memorial area. Is your TA here in Houston? I would have really liked to work with someone local. My TA has been difficult to get a hold of at times.

My TA is actually through Berman Travel - she's located in upstate NY which works well because the majority of our guests are in the eastern time zone. Berman travel does it so thier agents only work on one wedding at a time ...so Heather's been amazing and she answers my emails at all hours of the night, calls me back at 9pm when I'm having a mini panic attack...so no issues at all.

We felt the same way - wanted to find a place that was affordable for our guests...I noticed last year when I booked my wedding they were having crazy sales in July and August so we picked September since it's the shoulder season and we think our guests should get some deals. With Berman travel they'll do one price match for you - so we booked months ago but if the resort posts a sale in July, Heather will rebook us and all our guests at that lower price. She only does it once but I thought it was fantastic. I have no idea if other travel agents do that because she was the first one I talked to.

We moved to the Heights about a year and a half ago, we were in the Galleria before that and then Boston before that! Memorial and the Heights are both great areas!

[Laura22610]

Hi Everyone! Sorry I have been MIA since my wedding. I got back March 6th and I have been super busy getting unpacked, going back to work, getting my house cleaned, etc. Back to the real world Sooo, my wedding was completely perfect. I LOVED the resort and so did all of our guests!! If you guys have any questions for me, let me know and I will be happy to answer. I am in the process of writing a review...I am almost done...just trying to find some pictures to include I think that everyone will be extremely happy with their decision. This is a fantastic resort and I can't imagine my wedding being any better than it was

[Laura22610]

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Originally Posted by carinagirl Hi Everyone - I am back from the most fanatastic wedding at Dreams. I don't have much time to write about it in detail, so I thought I would share with you the pictures from the resort photgraphers who were fabulous. We had our own photographers too, but I really loved the pictures the resort photgraphers took. The videographer was great too! I didn't even think I cared about a video, but they did such an amazing job and I cherish it. One more important thing I must mention. Ana was the best! She works very hard and she went above and beyond to make it the most special day. More on that later. But remember, with a destination wedding, you may not be able to finalize a lot of details until you get there. But once you are there, she will sit with you and take care of it. Ana was terrific! Enjoy the slideshow... Ari & Carina

Carina...your pictures are beautiful!! It was nice meeting you!