Someone talk me back into the RIU...or should I switch?

Just so you know, the Riu isn't really a swimmable beach either- you have to walk about 10 minutes towards downtown to be able to swim. At Dreams, you can walk about 20 minutes to the Hilton to swim. The water in Cabo isn't really blue- it's more blue/gray. If you want really blue water for your pics, Cabo isn't really the place to go.

I'm biased because I was a Dreams bride, but I've just heard too many problems with the Riu to be able to recommend it. Although I don't think Dreams would really suit your needs either. What about Dreams Cancun, or Riu Ocho Rios?

My ceremony and reception are going to be at the Imperial Suite at the Fiesta Americana (I think). Still working out the details, but I'm 99% sure that's where we'll be. We are definitely 100% staying at the Riu Palace though!

I did a vow renewal and not a wedding, but the hotel we stayed at was Pueblo Bonito Rose and it is a swimmable beach, that is why I chose it. However, our ceremony was at a separate place, Pedregal Beach. It is a private neighborhood that our WC was able to get us into. There were no hotel guests or other people in the background. There were the 8 of us, WC, Officiant, guitarist, 2 photographers/2 videographer.

I am not sure how the Rose does their wedding packages or what they offer, but I do know it is a swimable beach. My WC was from WEddings in Paradise and my WC was Leoan.

Hope that helps

My guests and I stayed at Dreams and then we were married at the Fiesta Americana Imperial Suite...my guests loved the idea of going off site for the day for the wedding.

I don't believe either riu or dreams have any ceremony or reception area that is private. That is why we chose to marry elsewhere...

Go with your gut though...

Ashley this is some info in Punta Cana area. The Bavaro Beach is where a lot of resorts are located the beach is a white sand beach with crystal blue water, very beautiful beaches. You have to look at each resorts to see if it's swimmable because i do know that some resorts have calmer waters. it has something to do with how close they are to the gulf i think, something like that. Mine is supposed to be swimmable. Most of the resort i looked into (Paradisus Palma Real, Iberostar, Paradisus Punta Cana, Dreams, and Melia Tropical Caribe) all had places for private receptions and gazebos. Dreams PC had a very pretty terrace with a beautiful view, i was going to book there but the WC was really hard to get a hold of so i backed out but that's when they were just transitioning from Sunscape to Dreams. But i do think i saw a post recently about some girls having a hard time getting hold of the WC there, you should look at that post and maybe pm a few of the girls to see if the problems were resolved.

I didn't do a site visit so i'm only going by pics for locations and talking to other brides on here, tripadvisor, and Debbie's dominican travels. My parents did stay at the Melia about 4 yrs ago and loved it there. Said the food was good, the beach was one of the nicest if not the nicest they have been to (they do travel a lot), and the resort was beautiful.

It sounds like some the girls dont' think cabo meets some of your requirements. I know that Riviera Maya, MX is a really pretty area too. I went to a wedding at the Aventura Spa Palace (adults only) it was very nice, there was a beach that had a lagoon instead of an ocean but it was really pretty. the lagoon was made so people could swim in the ocean otherwise it may be too rough. I have pics from our trip as well as from the wedding there if you want to see. I stayed at the Bahia Principe there too and they had large rocks placed in the ocean so people could swim in it too. I know theres a Dreams (Dreams Tulum) in that area i'm sure some girls on here could give you info on there and I think Moon Palace is nearby too, there were quite a few girls that got married there recently.

If you can do a site visit for the area you narrow it down too than i would. I think it would really help put your mind at ease. If i could of done one, i definately would of.

I'm sorry this is so long, i'm just trying to help. Please don't make yourself sick with worry, you can definately find a place you are comfortable with that your guests will love.

I thought that Paola Flores was the WC, am I wrong?

I say, go with your instinct.

If you are nervous about getting married there, then don't do it.

I also read that review and cannot beleive that ANY resort would cancel somebody's wedding AND charge them for NOT even using a judge. That is beyond ridiculous.

I stayed at Riu Bachata (in DR) last year and the service was HORRIBLE. Granted, I have stayed at another Riu and the service was fine there but I wouldn't get married there. The thing is, while the resort ay be nice, the bottom line is that if the WC can't do her job or is going to be a colossal b* about things, then it may be best to have your wedding elsewhere.

Now, if you've had nothing but great rapport with her and she has told you UP FRONT what she's charging you, not cancelling your wedding, etc, then go for it. But don't ignore the voice in the back of your head altogether. Just make sure you go over each and everything with her beforehand.

Definitely follow your instinct, you're going to have a beautiful wedding and you want to have a good feeling about it from the very beginning.

I totally understand your need to be talked into staying at the RIU. I really wanted to be there. Every picture I have ever seen of the hotel has taken my breath away.

In the end I realized that I had started to STRESS about my stress free wedding before it had even begun. So my gut told me to get out of the whole thing and try something else. Any where in CABO is going to be beautiful and you will have a great time no matter where you stay!!

I will say that once I hooked up with an outside cordinator, and I told her all the problems that I had encountered, she told me that most of her business comes from brides who are unhappy with the RIU. But again that is just the wedding part; the hotel is still a beautiful place to stay.

I have stayed there before and it was awesome, I had no issues, at all. Everything from the food, to the workers, to our room was great.

HOWEVER I'm not sure how the wedding stuff goes at that resort, so that might be different. Sorry, not much help but I did want you to know I had a great experience there while on vaca.