graceandthomas

Thank you for all of your info! Do you have any idea if this is true for all Dreams resorts?! Also, where was your reception held?

Hi Girls! I have a couple questions about DT. I apologize in advance if they've already been asked, but I promise I did my best to go through old posts first! 1. Is it possible to have a FREE reception?! This is an all inclusive resort, so I would hope we can just make reservations at one of the restaurants for our group of probably around 30, and have a not-so-private reception. Everything I'm reading on here indicates a per person charge for a private dinner... are/have any of you doing a completely free reception? (I guess this is a Dreams Resorts in general question, we are also consdering Riviera Cancun.) 2. My TA mentioned a gazebo on a hill... she said it's more private, not directly on the beach, and over looks the ocean. However, I haven't seen this mentioned on anyones reviews or on any of he lists of ceremony locations on these forums. Anyone know anything about this location?! ... I reallly hope it exists! And if pictures are floating around somewhere I'd love to know where! Thanks SO much for any information!! Grace

Burnison, So I'm calling a local TA tomorrow and scheduling a time to meet with them, but if you or anyone has a good recommendation of one that would be stellar!! I know DeAngelis2be mentioned she had a good one as well. So hopefully I'll make some progress on saving the date here soon! Your postcard/engagement photo idea is awesome! I'm not that far in my thinking about STD (since I don't have one ha ha) or official invites, but I think the message in a bottle idea is really cute. However I'm not sure how I'd send them... For my OOT bags I want to get beach bags in our colors and throwing in beach related stuff. I've seen personalized sunscreen and bottled water that I think is cute, also I'll probably do beach towels, starfish bottle openers (really cute!), and I'll probably thrown in a few postcards, perhaps a map of Jamaica, and of course a welcome letter.... and anything else I think of/find along the way! Most of the things I've found online I think I can make myself one way or another. I also like the idea of putting in a blank CD with a postmarked envelope and asking computer-savvy guests to send me pictures they take of the wedding... is that a bad thing to ask?! I just want all the pictures I can get! I love your idea of beach toys for the kids, brilliant! I really have no idea about how many kids we will have coming but I just might steal the idea if we have a few. Maybe I just don't know OOT bag etiquette but are you making a bag for each guest or each family/couple? I'm not sure about making menus... I should email the WC at Suites and see what the options are as far as receptions go. Honestly, my FI and I are so laid back that we really wouldn't mind just making reservations in one of the restaurants and have the receptions there. I know it won't be as private but it seems so much more economical! Also I've heard resort guests often don't eat until later and if my reservation is say 6:30, we may be just about the only ones in the place anyway. But I wouldn't mind if we were able to choose a few items off the main menu and make our own menus to make it a little more personal. Do you know what the options for receptions are? In terms of private or in a restaurant and if there is a guest limit in making reservations for the restaurant? Also to hold your date you just had to send scanned copies of your ID and card... no deposit required?? That would make choosing a date realllly easy if I knew I wouldn't loose a deposit if I did have to move it!

Burnison09: Get ready for a longish one, girl! Date: As of today, I'm thinking maybe the Thursday the 14th? Here's our date dilemma: Our graduation from THE Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes! is on Sunday the 10th. We both really would love to make it happen the following week... mainly so our employers can just push our official start date as "full-timers" back a couple of weeks and not deal with taking vacation time when we have none! Also, for our honeymoon we are looking to take a European cruise. Unfortunately, many cruise lines haven't posted their June 2012 sailings yet, which makes things difficult in terms of choosing a date that gives us plenty of time in Jamaica but allows us to leave a day or two after the ceremony to catch a plane to Europe. All of this is why we don't have a date booked! I'm fairly certain a Thursday wedding would work out well because based on this year's cruise itineraries, most embark on a Saturday or Sunday, so I would have a day to recover and relax (maybe? depending on flight times...) and then head for the cruise on Saturday. I REALLY just need the cruise lines to get it together and inform me of their sailing dates and my life would be much easier! Also, I should probably hurry up and get with a TA, they may know more than me... As for DIY stuff, yes!! I hope to make STDs and any other "paper" items I want to use. Also, I want to make some crafty OOT bags. What are you planning on making?! I'd love to hear your ideas. When you booked your date, did you also have to book your entire stay? If not, maybe I can get my date settled and figure out the coming and going later?! I'm so nervous about getting a date worked out! I've poured through so many reviews and done entirely too much research, so I know Iberostar is the only place I want this wedding to be held! I'm just concerned all the dates that work are going to be gone! Ahhhh!!! And I agree, I'd love to be able to plan with you... It would be so fun and encouraging to have someone to go through this with!! Happy planning and thanks for your help!! Grace

Burnison09- Congrats on booking your date!! The 15th was actually one of the dates we were considering, but no worries, we don't have our heart set on any one in particular... mainly just some day during the week of the 11th through the 16th. Now I am incredibly nervous since 2012 dates are already flying off the shelf! I'm going to have to have a serious chat with the TA and figure things out. Do you plan on visiting before your date? DeAngelis2be- Is Beach Bums primarily a DW agent? Do you know if the Grand has any ceremony locations not directly on the beach? Also does anyone have a pictures or know where I can find pictures of a terrace ceremony? I really don't want to be ON the beach, but would love a beach view from the ceremony location. Thanks!! Grace

Hi girls!! I'm brand new this website and to planning as I just got engaged on December 14th! My FI and I are planning a DW and after my somewhat obsessive (okay, very obsessive) searching I think Iberostar Rose Hall Suites is at the top of our list. I have a few questions and any input you all can give would be great! First of all, how far in advance did you begin contact with the planner? I'm looking at a June 2012 date so I realize I'm probably a little premature in my efforts but I really have no idea of DW time lines. Did any of you go visit the resort before booking your wedding? I'm VERY nervous about booking sight unseen. If you did, is it worth doing? Also, I've read that some resorts offer some sort of reimbursement if you visit and tour the resort for your wedding and choose to book there. Anyone know if that is the case with Iberostar? I'm sure I will have many more questions for you ladies but I won't overload you tonight! Thanks in advance for any info you can provide and I'm so excited to get planning! Grace