Dreams Riviera Cancun - Brides post here (new thread)

[BethAnne]

I am curious.. you said you had the reception at the seaside grill...did you have to pay extra to set that up.. or since its one of the resort all inclusive restaraunts, you just had everyone go there?

[lilly129]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethAnne I am curious.. you said you had the reception at the seaside grill...did you have to pay extra to set that up.. or since its one of the resort all inclusive restaraunts, you just had everyone go there?

You have two options really for your reception - you can choose a private reception or a non-private reception.
For a private reception - you pay per person for the food and drink (I think it's $32 plus tax but don't quote me on that - the contract is on my laptop). You have your own bar and buffet or waiter service. So the per person fee that you're paying is really to cover the cost of the set up, take down and extra staff needed for your event. You can choose to have your reception on the pool deck, the pool terrace, the beach and probably a few other locations. IF the resort is less than 60% occupancy (or bad weather), they will let your private reception move into the closed restaurant. Still costs per person and you still have your own wait staff/bartenders and you pick the menu. But there is no extra charge on top of the cost of a private event.

If you choose not to have a private reception, you can have your wedding dinner in one of the OPEN restaurants - along with other guests from the hotel. You'll have to talk to Ana about having tables reserved close to each other, or having a portion sectioned off - she would be able to put you in touch with the restaurant manager to do this.

You can also choose to have your dinner in the wine room between the italian restaurant and the french one - it fits 25 people and you have to buy bottles of upgraded (not included in the all inclusive package) wine in order to use the room.

Does that make sense?

[lorijfletcher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilly129 You have two options really for your reception - you can choose a private reception or a non-private reception. For a private reception - you pay per person for the food and drink (I think it's $32 plus tax but don't quote me on that - the contract is on my laptop). You have your own bar and buffet or waiter service. So the per person fee that you're paying is really to cover the cost of the set up, take down and extra staff needed for your event. You can choose to have your reception on the pool deck, the pool terrace, the beach and probably a few other locations. IF the resort is less than 60% occupancy (or bad weather), they will let your private reception move into the closed restaurant. Still costs per person and you still have your own wait staff/bartenders and you pick the menu. But there is no extra charge on top of the cost of a private event. If you choose not to have a private reception, you can have your wedding dinner in one of the OPEN restaurants - along with other guests from the hotel. You'll have to talk to Ana about having tables reserved close to each other, or having a portion sectioned off - she would be able to put you in touch with the restaurant manager to do this. You can also choose to have your dinner in the wine room between the italian restaurant and the french one - it fits 25 people and you have to buy bottles of upgraded (not included in the all inclusive package) wine in order to use the room. Does that make sense?

My understanding is that a semi-private reception is not really an option at all unless you have 20 (maybe 25) or less people. Ana will not reserve tables together for you, or rope off an area. It would be a first come first serve at the restaurant and you would just have to work around the other reservations that have been made.
I wanted to do the semi-private in one of the restaurants and had my TA talk with Ana about it and that is what she told us. If you have a smaller group, you are in luck and can do the semi-private reception. Otherwise you just have to wing it in one of the restauraunts, or do the private reception. We are having about 40 people so we are kind of forced to do the private reception. Seems like such a bummer since we are in an all inclusive resort!!

[kymkymkym]

Hi Ladies,

 

Does anyone know the actual size of the round tables? I would like to order Linens and need a rough idea of what I would need. Thanks!

[BethAnne]

Yes, that helps a ton! Thanks! I have a small group- about 10 or 12 so I'm excited that we can all just pick a restaraunt and go there, without having to have a formal type reception. =) I'm going to e-mail Ana now...

Kinda worried about the planning though! I know Ana is probly over worked, but it takes forever to get a reply and i worry if she'll ahve everything documented and ironed out when we get there...anyone else have this fear?

Former brides.. tell me how this worked out for you when you arrived!!

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilly129 You have two options really for your reception - you can choose a private reception or a non-private reception. For a private reception - you pay per person for the food and drink (I think it's $32 plus tax but don't quote me on that - the contract is on my laptop). You have your own bar and buffet or waiter service. So the per person fee that you're paying is really to cover the cost of the set up, take down and extra staff needed for your event. You can choose to have your reception on the pool deck, the pool terrace, the beach and probably a few other locations. IF the resort is less than 60% occupancy (or bad weather), they will let your private reception move into the closed restaurant. Still costs per person and you still have your own wait staff/bartenders and you pick the menu. But there is no extra charge on top of the cost of a private event.   If you choose not to have a private reception, you can have your wedding dinner in one of the OPEN restaurants - along with other guests from the hotel. You'll have to talk to Ana about having tables reserved close to each other, or having a portion sectioned off - she would be able to put you in touch with the restaurant manager to do this.   You can also choose to have your dinner in the wine room between the italian restaurant and the french one - it fits 25 people and you have to buy bottles of upgraded (not included in the all inclusive package) wine in order to use the room.   Does that make sense?

[allegraapple]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethAnne Yes, that helps a ton! Thanks! I have a small group- about 10 or 12 so I'm excited that we can all just pick a restaraunt and go there, without having to have a formal type reception. =) I'm going to e-mail Ana now... Kinda worried about the planning though! I know Ana is probly over worked, but it takes forever to get a reply and i worry if she'll ahve everything documented and ironed out when we get there...anyone else have this fear? Former brides.. tell me how this worked out for you when you arrived!!

BethAnne - I wouldn't get too stressed or worried. They do so many weddings that I'm sure Ana can make anything work for your intimate group. Just let her know what your preferences are for ceremony/reception locations. Unless a restaurant is closed or someone else has reserved it for a private party, I think anywhere at the resort will be able to accomodate your group. That's one advantage of keeping it small!!

[beachykeen]

I was planning on having the reception in one of the closed restaurants. We have around 40 people. Since they don't decide which restaturant to close until a few days before the wedding, I wonder if they would take in consideration which one I would like to have it in. We'll be there 2 days before the wedding and I would love to have it at the Seaside grill or El Patio. Anyone asked Ana this yet?

[beachykeen]

Also, does anyone know the prices at the spa? I tried emailing the resort but haven't heard anything back yet. I was wanting to get my bridesmaids a mani/pedi and maybe a massage the day of the wedding as their gift.

[beachykeen]

Wow! Beautiful pictures!

[lorijfletcher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachykeen I was planning on having the reception in one of the closed restaurants. We have around 40 people. Since they don't decide which restaturant to close until a few days before the wedding, I wonder if they would take in consideration which one I would like to have it in. We'll be there 2 days before the wedding and I would love to have it at the Seaside grill or El Patio. Anyone asked Ana this yet?

One of the last posts said that if the resort is less than 60% capacity, or if it rains, is the only way they let you use the closed restaurant. Have you already talked to Ana about this?? I don't really think using the closed restaurants is a "for sure" option. You better make sure!!