2011 Iberostar Brides

[Hannah5611]

I hope someone can help me understand how this is all going to work....I have been in contact with my coordinator, Mayra....we are getting the DREAM package and she is telling me we have a 4 hour private dinner, but no reception???  Does anyone know exactly what is included in the DREAM package??  I am struggling with the language barrier....

[Hanna20]

Hi Hannah,

 

The 4 hour private dinner IS your reception (they just don't call it that). So during that 4 hours you can have speeches, cake cutting, dancing  etc just like you would at any other reception. I think that when they say "reception" the are referring to a "cocktail reception" which would take place after the ceremony but before the dinner..... I am not 100% sure exactly what is included in the dream package but this is how I understood it when I was reviewing the package options.
 

Originally Posted by Hannah5611 

I hope someone can help me understand how this is all going to work....I have been in contact with my coordinator, Mayra....we are getting the DREAM package and she is telling me we have a 4 hour private dinner, but no reception???  Does anyone know exactly what is included in the DREAM package??  I am struggling with the language barrier....

[Hannah5611]

That is how I understood it too....but when I originally booked they sent me the pics of the shopping center and convention center....so I thought that was included too - so as far as you know, do we just stay in the restaurant where we eat for the full 4 hours?  (IF we dont pay extra)

 

also - does anyone have any good sites for goodies for welcome bags??  I would love to hear ideas about thank you gifts/welcome bags....We are supposed to be taking every on a private charter catamaran the day after the wedding as our thank you, but the one I want is over $4000 and that exceeds my thank you gift budget...haha

[Hanna20]

Hi again,

 

I don't really know much about the shopping centre/convention centre. From the very beginning they told me that if we wanted a private dinner/reception then there is only one restaurant that we can rent for that. Which resort are you at again? I think you had said either the Maya or Lindo but I'm not sure.... anyway you would have a different restaurant then because the one we are using is only available for the Beach and Del Mar resorts. To answer your question, yes you do stay in the restaurant for the whole 4 hours. Karla had sent me a photo a while back of the restaurant and it was all set up for a private reception. There were round tables that surround a dance floor area, just like a reception at home would have. Not sure if this helps you or just confuses you more

 

As for welcome bags I think you would be better off just looking around in your local stores for the various items rather than trying to order pre-made ones online. If you do a search on the forum for welcome bag ideas I am sure there will be lots of results that come up and that you can use for inspiration.

[Hannah5611]

Thanks for all your help

[radiochic10]

Hi!   We are finding fabulous things for the welcome bags at the "5 or below" store-which is like the dollar store, but things can get up to $5.  My FI was totally against the idea of welcome bags (because we're doing a few favors at the reception) but when I took him in there, he kept picking things out & got into it. lol.  We have lanyards for people to wear around their necks to hold the room keys, first aid kits, candles-and we are going back this week to look for more goodies.  I am looking into getting the actual bags themselves at the Christmas Tree Shop-which other brides on here have said they found great bags/fillers for super cheap.  I'll keep ya posted.

 

If you're getting married at the Del Mar like we are, the private reception is at Don Alfredo, but you can have any menu you want-you don't need to stick to Italian.  They will also say you can pick one meal-they'll work with you on that as well-you just have to ask.  We have the dream package & it's awesome.  I am psyched because it gives me less to stress about.  If you're getting married on the beach, it'll include all flowers around your arch too, but in general you get: his & hers massage, 4 hr. private reception with open bar, 1 hr. champagne reception with cold appetizers, wedding cake, 1 hr welcome cocktail party, brides test hair style & actual one the day of the wedding, plus mani & pedi, wine & fruit basket when you check in, preferential room assignment, presidential suite the night of the wedding with champagne & chocolate covered strawberries waiting, breakfast in bed the next morning, private dinner on the beach with your own chef & waiter the night after the wedding, his & hers robes, flowers for the bride & groom, all court/legal fees, hmmm-that's all I can remember off the top of my head, but it's awesome.  I am really happy we got that package because so much of the costs are included instead of having us get nickeled & dimed to death later! Hope that helps!

[jennyapple]

Hey girls!

Thank you so much for all your tips! It is so nice to read about all of your quickly approaching weddings! I am JUST starting to plan our destination wedding, and I love Iberostar resorts- so I am definitely leaning towards booking with them.  You have answered so many of my questions already through your postings, but I still have a few.  How long in advance did you girls book your wedding? We want to book for 2011...is that a pipe dream? lol  

Also, since my guests would be paying a lot for this trip, I want to make sure they will have a good time. Do you girls know if there are any late night beach bars or pools open at the resort(s)?  I remember when I went to an Iberostar a while back, there wasn't much going on at night....I'd love it if there was a place to gather for those last few drinks and laughs AFTER the reception is over.

Radiochic10- I love your postings- they are so detailed and helpful, THANK YOU!!  Oh, how much is the "mac daddy" package- (aka- Dreams Civil Package)? I couldn't find the price online. 

 

Good luck beautiful brides!

[Hannah5611]

 

 

Originally Posted by radiochic10 

 

Hi!   We are finding fabulous things for the welcome bags at the "5 or below" store-which is like the dollar store, but things can get up to $5.  My FI was totally against the idea of welcome bags (because we're doing a few favors at the reception) but when I took him in there, he kept picking things out & got into it. lol.  We have lanyards for people to wear around their necks to hold the room keys, first aid kits, candles-and we are going back this week to look for more goodies.  I am looking into getting the actual bags themselves at the Christmas Tree Shop-which other brides on here have said they found great bags/fillers for super cheap.  I'll keep ya posted.

 

If you're getting married at the Del Mar like we are, the private reception is at Don Alfredo, but you can have any menu you want-you don't need to stick to Italian.  They will also say you can pick one meal-they'll work with you on that as well-you just have to ask.  We have the dream package & it's awesome.  I am psyched because it gives me less to stress about.  If you're getting married on the beach, it'll include all flowers around your arch too, but in general you get: his & hers massage, 4 hr. private reception with open bar, 1 hr. champagne reception with cold appetizers, wedding cake, 1 hr welcome cocktail party, brides test hair style & actual one the day of the wedding, plus mani & pedi, wine & fruit basket when you check in, preferential room assignment, presidential suite the night of the wedding with champagne & chocolate covered strawberries waiting, breakfast in bed the next morning, private dinner on the beach with your own chef & waiter the night after the wedding, his & hers robes, flowers for the bride & groom, all court/legal fees, hmmm-that's all I can remember off the top of my head, but it's awesome.  I am really happy we got that package because so much of the costs are included instead of having us get nickeled & dimed to death later! Hope that helps!

 

I am getting married at the Lindo...but I have the same package...when is your date again???  I am trying to get as much done as I can now, but the resort wont let me get any of the final details (ie time, and exact locations and menu) until Feb because that is 3 months prior to my wedding...I am just a little overwhelmed ..I have my wedding and 6 of my closest friends weddings all in the next 10 months...so I have my stuff to worry about, as well as 6 other showers, bacholertte parties ect..

 

but anyways (thanks for that vent session...lol)...I know it will all work out, I just wish I knew more details - I am just having a hard time understanding what you do after dinner - a lot of what I read said people went to the shopping center or convention center, which is what I was originally told, now they are saying we just stay in the restaurant for the 4 hrs...either way, I have to keep reminding myself it will be great!  ps - what is your plan for hauling the gift bags down there and getting them to your guests??

[radiochic10]

Hi all!  We're getting married on Valentine's Day!  It's comin up so quickly.  Went to the grocery store today & they had V-Day stuff everywhere!!!  Made it so much more real

 

Jenny-Welcome!  You have PLENTY of time to plan for a 2011 wedding.  We only just set our date back in June of this yr for 2/14/2011, so it shouldn't be a problem!  Just pick a date as soon as you can (especially if it's a Saturday) and you should be fine.  The Mac Daddy package (love that my nick-name has caught on) is $4850.  That is the 2010 price, which we get to pay because when we booked, they hadn't come out with 2011 pricing yet.  Truthfully-they still may not have, so if ya get on that asap, you may get lucky too!  I know that's a bit pricey when so many other resorts give you free shit, but that includes SO much...if you wanna PM me here, I'll scan the whole list for you.  The other great thing about the Iberostar vs. other resorts is that YOUR wedding is the ONLY wedding that they'll have that day.  That was the biggest selling point in my book.  We looked at tons of places-including Aruba-and some hotels book up to 3 weddings a day.  I don't know about you, but sharing the white with other brides wasn't what I had in mind for my wedding.   Anyway, whatever you decide, I think you'll be happy.  I went to the Iberostar Paraiso Beach (same as Del Mar) with my sister back in 2004 & I remember saying it would be such a cool place to get married.  That was years before I met my FI and I can't believe we're getting married in the place I dreamed about years ago!!!

 

Hanna-my dear-no stress allowed with the reception!  I have no idea what in the world anyone is talking about with the shopping center...maybe it was a misunderstanding & they were saying while you get pics taken after the ceremony, others can go shop while they wait for the cocktail/champagne hour & then reception.  My wedding is at 4:30, then they want to do pictures and start the champagne hour on the terrace of the reception at 6.  Then the actual reception will begin at 7.  So-since everyone says the ceremony is about 15 minutes tops=that leaves over an hour for the people who don't want to hang out watching us take photos.  Maybe that's where the shopping suggestion takes place?  All I know is it's like an American wedding & reception in that you eat dinner in the same local as the reception & then dance/have cake/do toasts...make sense?

 

One word of warning to all ladies who are dreaming of making a late entrance to walk down the aisle.  You'll be walking to your groom with what I'd call a crap shoot of an officiant waiting to pronounce you husband & wife.  I read a story from a bride on this site that said she was running late, maybe 15 minutes-as many brides do-and the judge LEFT.  They are not like officials here...they don't wait-period.  The WC said they get there 5 minutes before the ceremony, do the wedding & are gone immediately after.  They're really respected in Mexico & don't ever show up for the rehearsal either, so forget that.  They're like royalty-or they think they are, so don't be late!  That bride's WC ended up somehow finding a judge to step in, but he had NEVER done a wedding & didn't speak a lick of English, so the WC had to translate......yikes.

 

As for all of the things we're giving to our guests, I was told we can ship it to the hotel & that's what we'll do at least with our favors!  Not sure about the welcome bags yet.

[jennyapple]

Thanks so much for your help! Wow- Valentine's Day will be here befor you know it- that's such a nice time to get married! I was wondering if you wouldn't mind just filling me in on your reception details- how long will it be? did you hire a dj or does one come with the package?  Where is the reception located?  What is the menu? etc.  

Any info you can share would be so great!!!