miwakostory

I went with an all-inclusive so that my guests did not have to worry about food and drinks once they arrived in Cabo. I had my wedding at the Riu Palace so I don't have any information on the places you mentioned above. However, when I planned my wedding, I worked with a travel agent and Delta Vacation. This way my guests were able to put down $150 deposit and did not have to have it paid off until 30 days prior to departure. This gave people time to pay on it in case they were not able to come up with it all at once.

I can't speak for the other two but I just had my wedding at the Riu Palace last week and it was beautiful!! I posted pics on a thread that I posted 30 minutes ago. Please take a look. I went past Dreams few times on my way to excursions and when we picked up few people on the way to the airport. One of the things I did not like about it was that it was 15 - 20 minutes away from the Riu (closer to the airport) which made it further way from the Marina, Arch, Lovers Beach, downtown...so 30 minutes away. You can't see the arch from Dreams...I got married on the beach and that is what I wanted in my background. So, you just have to weigh the things that you want and need and go from there.

I took my own everything!!! The WC did an excellent job meeting all of my requests and needs.

As I mentioned above, the Palace is kid friendly. They have two pools, one is the activity pool. At this pool, they play games and have contest all day long on a daily basis. They also have Riuland which is a day camp for kids. I spent time at both resorts and found that Santa Fe has more of a 20 - 30 year old crowd and their pool (by the beach) was more lively. However, they played the same games at both resorts. You do not pay for anything until you arrive.

They do not have those colors. I brought down my own chair sashes, table runners, cake topper, and cake decorations. I gave them to Jatziri (WC) and she took care of the decorations.

Mmisa, You do not pay until you get to the resort. The resort allows kids. I just returned last night and had 4 children at my wedding. There were children at the resort, just not as many as the Santa Fe. They also have Riuland which is a kids camp for children between 4 - 10.

Oh and for those of you having your wedding on the beach...I had mine on the side of the San Jose restaurant. They usually have it on the side of the spa/salon. I preferred this area better and there is a ramp you can walk down versus stairs and having to walk a distance in the sand...

Hello all, I just returned from Cabo and had an amazing time. I wanted to give you (soon to be brides) a summary of my experience. WC - Jatziri sucked at e-mails and I was very apprehensive, nervous, scared...well, let me tell you...she was great to work with once I arrived at the resort. I arrived on Tuesday at 1:30 and met her at 4:00. My wedding wasn't until Friday but I spoke to her in person every day leading up to my wedding day. I gave her all of my decorations, menus, ipod for music, etc...she took care of everything! She did not miss a beat. Welcome - I asked Jatziri to have a welcome sign for my guest since I had 25 people arriving all on one flight. They had a table set up with welcome drinks and sign. This was only up for an hour. Meet and Greet - I had my meet and greet at the piano bar. There is an area where we sectioned off on our own. I did not pay for a private event. The bar is located in same room so it was very convenient. I had a signature drink for the weekend so they (bartenders) made 25 - 30 drinks and had them ready for guests. Photographer and videographer - I paid for my photographer to fly down. I paid for an all-inclusive package for him. It was way cheaper than any of the photographers in Cabo. He shot my meet and greet, preparation for the wedding, the wedding, recpetion, photo shoot in between the wedding and reception...when he left Cabo, he had over 900 shots! Since we are from Indiana, this gave him an opportunity to shoot a beach scene which he had not done before. I got this idea from another bride. Far as video, I asked my sister to bring her camcorder and I bought the tape/discs. I asked one of my friend's husband to shoot the wedding ceremony. He shot the wedding ceremony and the reception! All for FREE!! Music - I had detailed playlists on my ipod and the the music guy was on point with all of my music. I had the following playlists...processional, bridemaid processional, Bride's entrance, Mr. & Mrs. Story (which they played as soon as they anounced us as Mr. & Mrs. Story). For the reception I had the following playlists...Dinner music, Dance music, entrance of bridal party. Again, the music man was on it. I did not pay for this service. For the reception (dancing), I had my ipod plugged up and had the dance playlist set up. The music man again watched over my music. I paid for the music and microphone service...did not spend money on a DJ. Flowers - AMAZING!!! I will try to post pictures. I never met Alina but I spoke with her for 2 months prior to the wedding. I forgot my "bling" ribbon for my bouquet and when my bouquet arrived, she had it on there. I ordered a huppah because I did not like the arch the Riu had and it was beautiful. I advise anyone who is getting married on the beach to spend extra $200 for a huppah from Alina. The arch that the Riu has is very ugly on picture but worse in person. I stayed for 4 days after my wedding and the flowers were still alive and pretty the day I left. They used some of them to decorate the room on our wedding night with the help of my husband. Minister - he had a great personality and worked with my program. I e-mailed my program to Jatziri couple weeks prior to my wedding day so the minister would have the program and knew the order of events. Reception dinner - I had it at the steakhouse. I read few brides who didn't like the idea of having it in a plce where other guests were, but I paid $500 for the Terrace which is located on ground level looking out to the beach/ocean. Resort guests who were there for dinner were upstairs. I chose menu 1 which included a choice of chicken or surf and turf. The night of my wedding, the surf and turf included filet mignon and shrimp. On my last day it included lobster. I did not receive one complaint about the food. It was excellent! The dinner was served with ceasar salad, rolls, mixed veggies (broccoli, squash, carrots) and a cold plate of shrimp, crab legs, smoked salmon, and mussels. Some people asked for extra and they were more than willing to give you as much as you wanted. Of course, this was all included with the all-inclusive plan so I did not have to pay per plate. Cake - I had a 3 tier cake with my own decorations. I gave those to Jatziri in our initial meeting and the cake looked exactly the way I visioned it to. I had a slice of the chocolate cake but did not get a chance to taste the yellow or strawberry. I heard my friends say that the cake was delicious. Dance floor - I paid extra ($500) to have the dance floor on the beach which is right off the terrace. I gae Jatziri paper lanterns to hang on the string lights that are connected to the palm trees. Initially she said it would cost $3 per lantern to hang but I just gave them to her in our initial meeting along with the other decorations and she did not charge me. Entertainment - I had fire dancers perform on the beach after dinner and dancing (at 10:40 - 20 minutes prior to the end time). I paid for 2 dancers ($200 each dancer for 20 minutes) and ended up with 3. The show was AMAZING!!! Again, the Steakhouse Terrace is right off the beach so they set up seating for us to enjoy the show. I splurged and paid for the 1:30 minutes of fireworks. Words cannot describe the fireworks. I still have people talking about it. It felt like the fireworks lasted for 5 minutes. That is how I ended the night. I read where some people did not want the restaurants but rather the pool areas. Remember, the pools are open until 6:00 and people are still hanging out at the pools even after 6. There aren't people in your actual designated area, but the chairs are still out there and people are out there. It is in an open area so people can stand over on the bridges or up top see everything going on. The steakhouse really offered a private setting because the restaurant was upstairs and the only people who could come down the stairs were the waiters and staff memebers. I hope this helps some of you... Miwako

Hello ladies, I just got back from Cabo last night and had my wedding last Friday. I actually flew a photographer in and I did not have to pay a vendor charge. I counted him as a wedding guest. I paid for his trip and that was it. That came out cheaper than any photographer in Cabo. He shot our meet and greet and the entire wedding day including me getting dressed, getting my make up, wedding, reception, after party...

That was my first option. I love that idea!! You must post pictures after your wedding!

My FI and the groomsmen are all going barefoot for the ceremony. My FI and one of the groomsmen are wearing Ralph Lauren Polo sneakers in khaki/white. He is also bringing down a pair of light brown dress shoes.

The leather chucks sound really cute!!

I looked all over for the VS Bride robe and finally bought one off of another bride. I saw that the robes were back in last weekend when I went in the store. They still didn't have much of a selection on their "bride" wall.

This is my dress too! I love this dress!

Jatziri finally responded. The dry cleaner is off site and the cost is around $125.

I, too bought personalized hangers for my BM's. I also booked massages for all of them on the morning of the wedding and personalized silk robes to wear as we get ready for the wedding.

Jen, I have basic information I can e-mail you if you like, I am getting married in 11 days at Riu Palace so I may have most of the answers you are looking for. I had a different WC but she is no longer there. I am now dealing with Jatziri and she has provided poor customer service. However, the florist has been so wonderful to work with. Miwako

Do any of you know if there is a dry cleaner on site or nearby where you can have your dress cleaned after TTD session?

I tried to send you information to the e-mail you have listed but it bounced back as undeliverable. Miwako

Hello all, I will be arriving in Cabo two weeks from today and very excited. Far as Jatziri, she has basically stopped responding to my e-mails. I sent her an e-mail two weeks ago which she responded to over the past weekend. She does not follow up well. The service I have been receiving since the last WC left has been horrible. I am not sure if Jatziri is overhwelmed but I am going to see if I can find someone else to contact. Kary, she finally replied to me regarding the lanterns for the reception. She said they charge $3 per lantern to hang! That's ridiculous!! I will keep you all posted on any new information I receive over the next two weks. Miwako

Can you pleae also send it to [email protected]. Thank you!

By the way, pleae tell all of your guests to book ASAP. The resort is already booked/sold out for the weekend of my wedding (April 13th). There are few people who are trying to book at the last minute, but will have to find another resort. I am also waiting to hear back if my guests who do not stay on the resort due to it being booked have to pay the fee to come on site for the wedding. Just thought I share in case some of you have friends/family who are waiting until the last minute to book.