Mixie23

Well, I went with Dreams Tulum. I prefer a smaller property so that my guests (especially since we have some less experienced travelers) didn't feel overwhelmed by the size. The Iberostars are beautiful, but just driving into the complex can be overwhelming. Dreams also has two sections, the Hacienda, which are the more standard rooms, and their newer suite-only Dreams section. I found that this gave my guests some choice, and about 1/2 are staying in the Hacienda and 1/2 are staying in the Dreams section. Everyone gets the same privileges, it all just depends on your budget and what youre looking for in a hotel room. Also, Dreams is really good about giving upgrades to the couple, and a lot to the families too. They have a kids club for when you need a little down time, and an adults only restaurant as well.

Denise - I asked this question too a couple days ago. I guess it all just depends on whether you are having a symbolic ceremony or a civil ceremony. I know on the first couple pages of the forum there is some information about programs, etc. We're still trying to figure out how to organize our civil ceremony for program purposes. I would hate to get them all printed and paid for only to get down there and be told we couldn't do it that way..... Sunbride (or anyone else who may know) how much fabric did you need for the sticks (the "gazebo" as they call it)? I know my mom purchased some white fabric (organza??) but I would like to also order some purple tulle or something to just add a little color. I don't want to order too much, or get down there and have it not be enough. Thanks!

I highly recommend Edventure Tours. Eddie and his wife Bonnie are originally from the States, and now live in Akumal and own a tour shop in Tulum (right outside the ruins). They have vans and all the tours are private, they take you to places where you can avoid the 200 pax bus loads of tourists, you pretty much have each place to yourself. Their website is "Edventure Tours, The best day of you vacation and they will customize your day. We started by being picked up by Bonnie at our hotel, went to Tulum, visited the ruins, then went to Dos Ojos cenote, Garden of Eden cenote (cliff jumping, but not really), and Akumal Bay to snorkel with the sea turtles (and sardines, and barracuda, and amazing other wildlife), we stopped at a local restaurant called La Vida Bonita (I think) in North Akumal, had an amazing lunch (additional charge obviously), and lastly visited Yal-ku lagoon, which is an amazing location that puts Xel-ha to shame. This place is surrounded by sculpture gardens, and has no one but residents who live in the private gated community there (and you, of course). There are other options as well, like Zip lining through the jungle, visiting monkeys, etc, I just included information about our day. They are so friendly, accommadating, reasonable ($$), and just fun to be around that we are still talking about it and recommending it to people almost three years later. We are getting married in June 2009 and you can bet we will be booking a trip with Eddie for either pre-wedding or post-wedding! Good luck!

I've searched around a bit, but haven't been able to find a "real" answer yet. Does anyone know if you can visit the florists shop that provides the flowers for the weddings at Dreams Tulum? I'm not wild about the things in the guide, and I know some people have been disappointed with the interpretation of the pictures they have brought with them so I was wondering if you could go to the shop and meet with them personally. Also, does anyone know how you find out what flowers are readily available in June in Mexico Everything I have found so far is for the US or the UK. I know orchids are ridiculous, so I have already ruled those out, but it would be nice to know what blooms are typically available and in what colors. Anyone have any advice on this one?

Usually your photographer might know the location of some ruins you may be able to use, I know I have seen Del Sol Photography's TTD section and some of their pictures are on ruins. I know Tulum is out, but I am not sure about other ruins. One really cool place is the Dos Ojos cenote, its beautiful, jungle, cave, cenote, all the things famous in the Riviera Maya. Also, Akumal Beach is beautiful for a TTD (and is public), as is Playa Secreto, up closer to Playa del Carmen - rumor has it they have shot a number of Corona commercials there. Another non-beach location you may want to check is Yal-Ku lagoon, there are amazing sculpture gardens and flowers, its absolutely beautiful there.

Yeah definetly keep me up to date, I know we are still waiting for a response from someone in the wedding department. Don't quote me on this, but I seem to remember my parents saying that it was $20 per person plus the private event fee ($750). Like I said, I am not positive, but for some reason that is sticking in my head. I will check with my mom to be sure! Quote: Originally Posted by Blkatz Wow-that is super cool! I hope that we can do that also! I wonder what they are going to charge you for that. I emailed Carlos who is the new concierge about it and I am waiting to hear back from him. I will keep you posted about it.

When my parents did a site visit last year they talked to Sandy about having the rehearsal dinner/welcome party on the beach as a private event. Since my dad and the guys are going fishing that Friday, they were going to incorporate any fish they caught into the dinner. At the time, Dreams had agreed to do a beach bbq with grills on the beach, etc, cooking the fish (supplemented of course, just in case, hahaha) and also having a grill of chicken and steak, and then buffett of side dishes. We are awaiting a response from Landy if this will still be possible... Good luck! Quote: Originally Posted by Blkatz So as the date gets closer and closer I find myself with more and more questions and it is annoying! So my first question is, most of my guests are coming down on Thursday-how did everyone plan dinner? I mean-I am guessing that you can't have dinner with more than 2 other couples right? Does everyone just do their own things? The other question is, so far we have 30 confirmed guests and I wanted to do the wine cellar at portofino but I am getting worried because we have more than 25-what did everyone else do for the rehearsal/welcome dinner? The last question(i have too much time on my hands) is, future husband and a bunch of his friends are going fishing both Thursday and Friday-if they catch something can the resort make it for us? I wonder how that works Sorry for all the questions-hopefully someone will know some of the answers

I'm not sure when your wedding was at Dreams Tulum, but they have a limit of 2-3 weddings per day depending on when you booked. If you booked back in 2008 before the closure, it is 3 weddings, if you booked after the re-opening it is only two weddings. They are also at different times and different places, based on what I have been reading on the Dreams Tulum forum, it hasn't presented a problem. Quote: Originally Posted by courtney I just had my wedding at the Grand sunset princess and loved it. I had my choices down to that and Dreams Tulum. Both were around the same price. My deciding factor was that Sunset only has a max of 2 weddings per day where as Dreams has up to 5. The wedding more then exceeeded my expectations. I would highly recomend it.

We chose Dreams Tulum for a number of reasons. First of all, my FI has a 6 yr old daughter that obviously will be a part of the ceremony, so the hotel needed to accept children. Second, I wanted a resort that would be budget friendly for our guests, and Dreams offers a Hacienda section (perfectly fine, standard rooms) and the more luxe suites-only Dreams section. Third, we didn't want a very large resort, as most of the people coming are not very travel savvy, we didn't want anyone feeling lost, especially with people staying in different sections of the hotel. The beach is supposed to be beautiful, plus there are two pools, and lots of other activities included in the AI package. Lastly, I have had my heart set on Del Sol Photography for years now, and the Karisma resorts (El Dorado, Azul, etc) do not allow outside vendors (unless you are willing to pay a huge surcharge AND because of this many vendors will not work on their property). I would suggest looking at the Paradisus Riviera Maya too. I have stayed many times in the area, if you post more specifically what you're looking for/what's important to you, myself and the other DW brides may be able to give you a little more help and direction.

Hey ladies, I downloaded the text of the civil ceremony since my FI and I are having a legal ceremony in Mexico, but does anyone have a template for how they changed it to include their own opening addresses, vows, etc? I would like to have fan programs printed up, but I am having a hard time trying to figure out where I would fit in the judge's part. We have a couple books with ideas and have found some things we want to go with, but like I said, I am trying to figure out where the official part would go. Thanks!

All the pictures and positive reviews are so reassuring! Congratulations!!! On another note, as some of you know, we have been having issues with my FH's family and their attending our wedding. They had never mentioned to us the possibility of not being able to attend ($ reasons) when we first started discussing this, and so therefore we went ahead with the planning process. Turns out, there never was any possibility of them being able to afford it. So now, in addition to his best man (twin brother) dropping out a few months ago (at least BEFORE we bought his families plane tickets) his parents have now dropped out too (and we are possibly out the airfare). As of this moment, his sister (a bridesmaid) and her daughter (our flower girl) are still coming, but given the fact that everyone else has dropped, I won't be suprised if she does too. I am really trying to focus on how beautiful everyones weddings have been, and on the fact that they will be with us in NY for our AHR, but it is seriously stressful to my FI and I, and has been causing some "disagreements." I have offered that we pay for his parents, but he refuses.... what can you do? Anyway, keep the positive stuff coming! It's helping me look forward to our beautiful wedding!

Hi Ladies, just wondering, has anyone used the house band at Dreams? When my parents did the site visit Landy had said that they were very good, but I haven't seen them mentioned at all on here so that leads me to wonder. My mom is being pretty insistent that we have live music at the reception at DT, especially since a band back in NY for our home reception is like 10K!!! Has anyone used the band or heard the band? I don't want to agree to this and have it be a disaster!

Try again... 4shared.com - document sharing - download Passport to Paradise.doc

Good idea SunBride, I didn't know you could do that! Anyway, for those who are interested.... <a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/79436500/31366b4e/Passport_to_Paradise.html" target=_blank>Passport to Paradise.doc</a>

Ok, so the file was to big. I will go ahead and PM it to you. If anyone else is in the planning phase and wants to see what I put together to go out with Save The Dates (but easily modified to be a Welcome Packet) just let me know and I will PM it to you as well! Hope you find it helpful!

Hi Lindz - I will try to attach the packet that we sent out with our Save The Dates. You can easily modify it to be a Welcome Packet by removing the information about travel and inserting information about activities and stuff that the hotel offers. We just had them printed at Kinko's into booklets and they came out great! I hope this helps! (We also had a cover page with a picture of Tulum on it, but I can't find that document.) Nicole Quote: Originally Posted by Lindz I was wondering if anyone had suggestions or a template for their welcome packet? I am sooo not good at computers and thought I better get started on mine. I saw one on here a long time ago but can't seem to find it anymore. Thanks!!!

Hi Ladies Just wanted to wish everyone a safe and prosperus New Year! You have all been a tremendous help this past year with planning a DW at Dreams Tulum, especially during the "tough" times! Here's to a fabulous 2009 with no more bumpy roads on the way to being a Mrs!

The new set up looks great, thanks SunBride! I am so excited that it sounds like things have been "back to normal" for the November brides, it definetely makes it a little less stressful on this end (well, at least with regards to that part, haha).

Thanks guys, I guess its just good to know that I am not being crazy here. Hopefully we will be able to work something out with them because the stress is totally getting to my FI.

I just thought I would reach out and see if anyone has any advice on dealing with families. My FI's family is having financial trouble. While my FI originally said that he wanted the DW regardless of whether his family could come or not (we are also having a reception back in NY that they could attend), now that they are beginning to complain about the financial strain (mind you they waited until after everything was booked) he is beginning to change his mind. We have already decided to pay for their airfare so that they can attend, and we have worked out with our TA for them to have a payment plan, and only come from Friday - Monday (the wedding is on Saturday). As it is my family is paying for both the DW and the reception in NY completely, his family never even offered to help. Last night, his brother called and backed out of being his best man, saying that there is no way they could financially afford it, even if we paid for their air. I have suggested many many times that perhaps just his best man come, and not his wife and their daughter, even though obviously we would love it if they could all come. Neither my FI or his brother are willing to do this. Now what do I do? I have decided to set up a meeting with my future BIL and hope to persuade him to come to the wedding for my FI's sake. If we only had to pay his airfare and not for three tickets, we could even pay the majority of his hotel costs too. I hate to say it, but I feel like they are being ridiculous, this is his twin brother. Any suggestions or am I just being an "oversensitive, been through so much already with the DT mess" bride

Username - Mixie23 Names - Nicole and Wayne Date & Time - June 27, 2009, 6pm Wedding package - Ultimate Type of ceremony - legal Coordinator - Landy Number of guests - 30-40 Ceremony location - Beach Reception location - El Patio Photographer - Vincent of Del Sol Photography Videographer - None Special arrangements / activities - Welcome Dinner on Friday evening on the beach.

Thanks for posint that! I went ahead and updated our webpage with the good news! YAY! I am so happy that this mess is finally over, and I am sure you 08 brides are happy too!

Does anyone know why this announcement isn't posted on Dreams Tulum website yet?

2 quick things.... Talked to my TA today who ran into an AMstar rep at a convention. According to the rep, the hotel will most likely not fully re-open until December, but they are considering a partial opening earlier while they fix the "environmental concerns". The message on the website still says November 15, but who knows. Also, I was wondering, has anyone posted what is going on in the Paradisus forum so that the brides know what everyone is dealing with? Maybe we'll reach someone who can be understanding!

Hey- I am getting married at Dreams Tulum too (I hope). The website has been great for getting info from other brides, but try Noticaribe too (search for it using Google and then click translate this page) to up to date news in the Tulum/Riviera Maya area.