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Quote: Originally Posted by Jenn3878 hey girls....we are scheduled to go to Cancun on May 6th for our wedding on May 8th....but at this time I dont think we are going the #1 reason is that I am pregnant and a little scared to travel at this time with all that is going on? I am so completely heartbroken I cannot think straight. How is everyone else doing?? I feel so bad for you! I just feel like it's one thing after another with Mexico this year. First, I had people asking me about the drug cartels and violence. Now, I am apparently a swine flu expert. It is just so sad that so much planning and anticipation goes into this and then a pandemic breaks out. I spent all morning trying to find alternatives. I want a backup plan in case this doesn't clear out.

I am also very nervous about the swine flu and hate that everyone keeps emailing me like I know more than they do. Between the violence and now this, I really don't know what to do. It is so sad that we may have to start all over again with all the planning. I thought I found the perfect place for my wedding. What to do??

There are two golf courses that are included for all Dreams guests. They are actually really nice golf courses that are quite expensive to golf at so that is a big perk. My FI and most of the guys coming love to golf so they are thrilled. You do have to pay for cart rental, but that is only $35. Not bad for a round of golf on a course that usually charges upwards of $200. Here's the link to the golf info: Dreams Cancun Resorts & Spas: Golf As for the itinerary/brochure, I just started this so you'll have to forgive the state it's in. I attached my rough draft, which you can manipulate to fit your needs. It is a brochure style that will be folded in thirds with printing on both sides. I'd love to see what you come up with if yo uchange it around! Itinerary Brochure.doc

I saw one of those books on Kodakgallery too and it looked awesome! The girl who made it put a bunch of different pictures of her and her fiancee. She only put pictures on every other page and left a blank one for people to sign. I was thinking of doing that since my FI and I have been together since high school. i thought people would get a kick out of it. My friend recently attended a wedding where they used polaroid pictures for their guest book. Each person/couple took a polaroid of themselves and taped it into the book and wrote a message to the couple. She said it was adorable!

Quote: Originally Posted by PhillyBride09 Nice! I'm glad to hear you like the book and it's looks good :-) It sounds perfect for a guest book. Lisa, I wanted to ask you...Did you do a Pre-Wedding Brochure?? I am so lost :-( I really want to do one..but i get so overwhelmed when it comes to gathering all of the info for Cancun & Dreams. I thought if you made one, I could copy..LOL I am horrible . I was suppose to do all my Vista Print projects today and bailed on it. I got so overwhelmed..This Wedding has left me with little patience these days:-) I started making a brichure to put in the OOT bags. I would be happy to share it if you'd like.

Quote: Originally Posted by sunitam i sent my WC Cecilia about the Eternity honeymoon package too, and she said this: Dear Sunita: Yes you can have this honeymoon Packaged complementary, just please give me before all the room confirmation numbers, so I can send those to the reservations department in order to give you that complementary Package. they cant argue with something thats stated right on their dreams website. nice deal with the romantic dinner and the facial and massage! That's a little crazy! All I did was tell the WC that I had over 40 guests and she gave it to me. I do have 40 guests confirmed on my wedding contract though, so maybe that's why.

Here is the price list I got from Dreams. The lighted dance floor is included. List of Prices Weddings 2008-2009.xls

I booked DJ Mannia with the 30% discount yesterday...yeah!!

You probably get the least expensive cake for free. I definitely am not going to upgrade since three desserts are included. Why waste the money on something that will probably go to waste.

This may also be helpful. When I was looking for a photographer, I kept a spreadhseet of tha name, package info and prices. It is sometimes difficult to get a response so I thought it would be helpful for you girls to have the price list up front. I decided to go with Cancun Wedding Photography - Michael Marrus. photo prices.xls

Quote: Originally Posted by mummergirl the flyer menu we were discussing is for a private dinner for just the couple. it has nothing to do with your wedding reception dinner. i don't think you *have to* do a buffet when you have over 40 guests ... i thought the buffet wasn't an option *unless* you had over 40. at any rate, with 75 people you will probably want to do a buffet, because otherwise you are only allowed one entree selection to be served to everyone, rather than your guests having some options. i'm hoping they'll let us have the buffet even though we don't quite have the required 40 people (emailed claudia, waiting on response). I was told that if I had over 40 people for a reception on the beach, I had to have the buffet. I think it actually works out better because you get 3 selections from each course, which allows people a choice. I don't like the idea of only offering one option for dinner. Although my mom did make a good point...if people don't like dinner, they can grab something after since it's all inclusive:)

Hi ladies! I just got a list of cake pics and prices from Dreams so thought I would share. Cake Prices.doc

Quote: Originally Posted by mummergirl ok so just to make sure i'm clear on this, there is NO COST for a private dinner with the flyer menu if you qualify for the dreams eternity honeymoon package, (which i should): "This package is complimentary when booking a Honeymoon Suite category or higher for a minimum of 7 nights or if 5 rooms are reserved for a minimum of 3 nights at any room category.") I believe that the flyer menu is free if you qualify for it, but I am unclear as to what qualifies you. Before Gaby left, she told me that i qualified if I had 40 or more guests. Now Cecilia told me that I qualified if I have 10 or more rooms booked. I qualify either way, but I guess you'll have to check with your WC to see what she says. I just think it's very strange how different people are told different things. That's why I love this forum!!

Thanks for the help Jill! So here are the menus for the private dinners. There are three classes. The flyer menu is the one included in the additional package but you can pay the difference and choose off any menu. Enjoy! FLYER DREAMS MENU.ppt FLYER GOLDEN MENU.ppt FLYER PLATINIUM MENU.ppt

I don't know how to upload, or maybe I just don't have enough points. The private dinners range between $200 to $280, but if you have 10 or more rooms booked for your wedding party, you get a free additional package (Eternity Honeymoon Package) that includes the private dinner for two, a salt scrub or mini facial, two 25 minute tension relief massages, fresh flowers and fruit basket upon arrival and a champagne breakfast in bed the day after arrival. I wanted to choose of the platinum menu though since my FI is a picky eater, so I am paying the difference. It's $200 for the standard and $280 for the platinum so I will pay the .80. I thought it was worth it...nice, romantic surprise after we're married. You can have the dinner set up on the pier or at one of the two tiki huts on the grounds. The WC sent me some pics too and it looks really nice!

Quote: Originally Posted by mummergirl why don't you post those menus and pricing as an attachment so you don't have to PM it to *everyone* LOL! we are greedy lil buggers, aren't we? every time we see or hear of something new, we all HAVE TO HAVE IT! LMAO i made my wedding hair appt (and one for my mom at the same time), and i've emailed to set the appt for our couple's massage for the day *after* the wedding ... i figured we'd NEED it then after all that partying ... i was sure to ask for late afternoon (3pm), LOL! also trying to find out from claudia if she'll let us do the buffet with 33 people (you're supposed to have 40). it's too hard to pick one thing for everyone when there are so many allergies, vegetarians, and just plain picky eaters. hopefully she'll let us so there's at least a choice to be had! i'll let you ladies know what she says. I don't have enough points to post

So I decided to surprise my hubby to be with a private dinner for two a coupel days after we get married. I am having it set up in the hut by the lighthouse and just got the menus the other day. If anyone wants to see them, let me know.

Quote: Originally Posted by TA Jill Hey Everyone, Just wanted to let you know that I discussed the discount Mannia is offering for BDW brides with Claudia and she said they would honor it on new bookings. Just thought I'd let everyone know in case they were considering hiring him. Jill That is great news! Any little bit helps when you are dishing out all this money.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cancunbride2009 Hi ladies, We are having our dinner and dance on the beach and I am wondering how dark it is there at night? We are just trying to figure out if we will need extra lighting. I know they offer lighting for under the tables, but it is a little pricey, so we are wondering if we can do without. We are leaving on Sunday for Dreams, I am getting soo excited!! I am also getting married on the beach and was wondering that as well. I talked to another bride on the forum who had her reception on the beach and she said that the DJ supplied most of the lighting which worked out wonderfully. I was going to skip the DJ, but after talking to her, I now think that it may be cheaper to have the DJ than to pay to rent the sound system and for extra lighting...just a thought.

Quote: Originally Posted by bbpacco Mc, did you ask her for the sound technician for ceremony or reception? I got photographer traded for sound at my ceremony, it would be suck if they don't provide technician and one of my guest need to operate that thing!! I guess my question wasn't specific enough. I didn't even think about the ceremony! That would definitely stink if someone attending the wedding had to run it for that.

Quote: Originally Posted by sunitam hey thanks for posting your trades! thats awesome that you got what you wanted! I had told gaby the same thing- if i have way more ppl over the 20, i want 15 ppl covered in exchange for cocktail hour but she never really acknowledged that, lol. is ure wc claudia or cecilia? cecilia tried to tell me that i would not get a sound technician with the $180/hour sound system and i got pissed and sent her the emails that gaby had sent to me before she got canned, stating that i would and i told her she couldnt change things ppl already had agreed with gaby. after 3 angry emails from me, she backed off and said ok, lol. so my advice to everyone is to keep your old emails from gaby and show them to cecilia if she tries to change things on u. im glad i did! Cecilia is my wedding coordinator. She also told me that I would not get a sound technician with the sound system and that someone in my party had to operate it. I am not sure what we are going to do though. Since I am havign my reception on the beach, it may be worth it to spring for the couple hundred extra dollars since the DJ provides lighting. I am sure that Dreams will end up charging me an arm and a leg for that. How many people are you having? So far, we are up to 48 and counting.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cassondra2009 Did you email DJ Mannia? I emailed him a few days ago but I havent heard back. I also emailed Claudia, but its no surprise that she hasnt gotten back to me yet. I emailed DJ Mannia on Friday and heard back on Sunday. Cecilia is my wedding coordinator (she took over for Gaby) and she has been pretty good about responding. Patience is definitely a virtue with a destination wedding...too bad I am not very patient:)

Quote: Originally Posted by SIMBASIM Just to clear up the whole DJ Mannia thing. I was told you can book DJ Mannia but you have to do it through dreams. You cannot book them on your own. Basically you get to request what DJ you want. They will charge you whatever price they charge for a DJ. So I would not expect to get 30% off. This is likely something they do if booked directly. If I am not mistaken, if you email DJ Mannia he will tell you to contact the wedding coordinator to book him for a dreams wedding.This is why I opted for the sound system and cancelled the DJ. I just thought it was way too much money to entertain 30 guests. I contacted DJ Mannia this week and he told me that I had to book through my wedding coordinator. However, I did email Dreams to alert them of his offer and to ask if I would get that discount. Cecilia told me that she would check with him, so I will keep you all posted.

Quote: Originally Posted by sunitam hey! can you please tell me what kind of trades they gave you?? they are so unfair with giving us all different trades and telling us different things! if you could share your email, I'd really really appreciate it!! thanks! sunita Sure! Below are the trades I was offered: 1. Photographer for Gazebo Decorations 2. The Mexican Trio during cocktail hour for the sound system for the ceremony 3. Make up for a Manicure 4. Cocktail hour for 15 more people for dinner I felt like these trades were unfair because the cost of what was originally included in the package was more than the trade they offered me in every case. So I did a cost analysis where I showed the three columns: original cost, the cost of what they gave me for a swap and the difference. Collectively, the trades they offered me were worth over $1k less than the original offerings. I was able to use that to negotiate extending my reception for an extra hour at no additional cost. For example: Original Swap Variance Mexican Trio Sound System for Ceremony $560 $180 $380 Hope this helps! If you need me to send you the price lists, send me your email. I don't have enough points to post.

Quote: Originally Posted by bbpacco I will only have 16 people including ourselves, and am getting the ultimate package, will they give me any credit for 4 people?? Does anyone know?? thank you~ I would definitely try to have them give you a credit or include some more upgrades in your package. Sometimes you really have to make a case and fight your point, but if you are persistent, I have found that they usually accomodate your requests.