JenKen11082010

Hey ladies! I just spent the last few hours reading this ENTIRE thread and I'm sure I still missed some details but it was very informative and so helpful! So here is my deal. I currently have a date reserved at Dreams Riviera Cancun for 11/08/2010. I love the resort and location but HATE the wedding gazebo and HATE that the recent reviews make it seem like children own the place. We do not want to get married right in the sand and our none of our guests will bring children so we are really looking for an adults only. I have spent A TON of time researching every single adult only in this area and I love EPM but I have a big problem. My parents insist on attending our wedding by way of a cruise. The cruise stops in Cozumel - which means my parents will need to take the ferry to Playa Del Carmen and then a taxi north to Playa Mujeres (which I think will take over an hour). My parents have never traveled outside of the US and I worry about their ability to manage this. I keep trying to convince my mom just to fly in and stay for a few days but she feels like if she is going to spend this much money she wants a full 7 days vacation and has always wanted to go on a cruise. Dreams Riviera Cancun is only about 20 minutes from PDC and will be much easier for them to get to but I really prefer EPM - the wedding gazebo seems much nicer and I love that its adult only. Any insight would be so appreciated! I'm just not sure if I can expect my parents to be able to handle this and if not maybe we should plan our wedding in cozumel or Playa Del Carmen to make life easier on them. I'm torn because I've searched and searched for the perfect resort in those areas and just cant find one I absolutely love. One more question. We have traveled a lot (all over the US, Mexico twice, Honduras, Belize, Grand Cayman, etc) but have always booked our trips online - on our own. I have never used a TA and have NO IDEA how they work, where to find one, etc. Is it best to find a TA in your town to be able to meet in person, can you find one online and how much do you typically pay for their service? Can they save you money? Anyone planning everything on your own and think a TA isn't necessary? Again, any information would be great. I am also interested in the save the date letter mentioned a few pages ago and I'm hoping someone can email it to me [email protected] since I dont have enough points yet. We would like to have 20 or so guests and would likely go with the Love Package. I'm upset that I've spent so much time emailing the wedding coordinator at Dreams and I've finally begun to understand their packages and costs and now I've gone and changed my mind...UGGHHH!!!

Thanks for all the information everyone, it makes life so much easier to be able to talk to other people who are planning the same thing as me : ) I think I will also scan my credit card info and email it to Ana and we will send out our STD's in about a month (hopefully) - my family will need plenty of time to plan. Another question for everyone. We are having a small wedding (20 or so) and are trying to stick to a budget so we chose the basic wedding package and then we'll pay for all the extras that we want. From my emails with Ana, I believe a private dinner reception will be about $60/guest. My question is, do any of you know of any other reception options? I've read about the buffet option (but I heard that it's for > 40 guests only) and the semi-private receptions-would that take place in one of the restaurants? Have any of you noticed that the prices on the DRC site have gone up in the last few days? We haven't booked our room yet just to be certain this is the resort we want. I was surprised to see the prices go up but I guess they are the # 1 hotel now! Thanks again : )

Thanks for the information. Did you just scan a blank check or did you actually fill it out? I'm asking because she did not specify who to make the check payable to or any other details. Thanks : ) Have any of you looked at the wedding site at Dreams Cancun? I love the wedding gazebo at that resort but prefer the overall resort Dreams Riviera Cancun to the one in Cancun. I dont want to have the ceremony in the sand, I'm looking for a bit more formal ceremony but I am not a huge fan of their wedding gazebo. The recent pics posted here made me appreciate it a little more but I am still not thrilled about it. We are going to invite around 20 guests (haven't announced anything yet) and I'm not sure if many people will be able to afford the trip. Have any of you sent out save the dates or invites yet and how soon should those be sent prior to the ceremony to allow guests time to plan?

Thanks for posting the pics of the reception sites!!! That was super helpful-especially since I am not planning on a site visit! I have planned my wedding for 11/08/2010 and have reserved that date with Ana but I'm a bit confused as to how I can send my deposit...she said something about emailing it to her and the billing dept...anyone have more information? Ana seems very nice but I'm sure she is super busy. I'm new to this site and have a ton of questions! Thanks in advance to anyone with more info about sending a deposit.

Hey, thanks for the warm welcome everyone! This site definitely has a lot of useful information and I'm glad to have found it. I have looked at Dreams Cancun and LOVE the wedding gazebo in comparison to the one at Dreams Riviera Cancun! However, I prefer the solitude and overall feel of the resort in Puerto Morelos. Maybe we should stay a few nights in Cancun for the wedding and then go south for our honeymoon? I have spent months researching all the different resorts and my favorites are excellence, dreams, secrets, and the Royal resorts. We would really like to be at an adult only (we'll only have about 20 guests and none with children), a newer resort and on an amazing beach and snorkeling if possible. I'm in love with Secrets Maroma but cannot believe how spendy it is compared to Dreams! I need to start making up my mind...

I have been using this site as a guest for quite a while but I figured I should create and account since I'm on so often. 1. Names are Jen and Ken 2. Wedding date is 11/08/2010 (out of convenience for my parents who will be on a cruise that stops nearby on that date) 3. So far we have this date reserved at Dreams Riviera Cancun. The only 2 things I would change about this hotel is that 1. I wish it was adult only and 2. I wish it had a better gazebo area for the ceremony. I want to get married with the ocean as the background but I really dont want to get married right on the sand because I want a more formal ceremony- heels for me and a tux for him! This resort is beautiful and I love all things about it but I'm waiting to send my deposit until I'm sure that these 2 things aren't a deal breaker for us. I've been looking at other resorts in the riviera maya and I really love the Secrets resorts because they are adults only and have great wedding locations but they are so much more $$$ Decisions, decisions....ugghhh!!