Dreams Riviera Cancun - Brides post here (new thread)

[EmilyT]

Originally Posted by loripanori 

 

How did you guys find the time/length of your reception?  We are scheduled to get married at 4, and have the reception from 6:30 - 9:30...  but 9:30 seems so early to be done!  I don't really want to add an extra hour, because I've already gone outside my budget in a few other places.  And I'm not sure I should extend the time between the ceremony and the reception to any longer, because I'm thinking we're already going to have a bit of time to kill there (we're not doing the official cocktail hour, but will have the mariachi trio and drinks at the beach bar I think).  Did you guys find that everything was finished too early?  What kind of timing did you all have between ceremony and dinner/reception?

Hey! I did my ceremony at 4:30.. cocktail 5:30 to 6:30 and reception 7-11. I cut back in other areas to extend the reception for one hour and IF you can find a way to do this i highly recommend it because it does go fast.. I remember not paying any  attention to time and then checking it and realizing we still had an hour left of just dancing and I was SO happy i made that decision or the party would have ended right then and everyone was having a good time. Anyway 9:30 is early BUT u can all go to the lobby bar afterwards and then desires which is where we went to continue hanging out and dancing.

[Vika Yakovleva]

Would you mind sending me over the form I have to fill out so that I can just send it to the resort who out having to wait for some one to get back to me in 3 weeks lol. My email is vika333@gmail.com. I would really appreciate it! Thank you!

Hi Vika, I went through this recently with Lorena.  Below is the info she sent me.  There is a form you need to fill out in advance, it contains info about you and your witnesses. You need 4 witnesses total.  This is the only critical form they need in advance (she asked to have it a month in advance, but maybe 3 weeks will still be ok).  If you want to have your parents names in the wedding documents, you also need copies of your birth certificates certified and translated into Spanish at the Mexican consulate in your country.  This wasn't possible for us, as the closest consulate is very far away from where we live (not within driving distance).  We were told that if you can't do this, you just need to have your passports and tourist card (which you get when you land in Mexico), and can still have a fully legal wedding that will be recognized in your country.  The only difference is there will be no parent information in your wedding documents.  I hope this helps!  The text in red below is what Lorena sent me:    

For the CIVIL Wedding you need:

·                    Copy of your birth certificate (just the couple) with the apostille and the translation into Spanish (this is optional, as long as you decide that the names of your parents appear in the legal paperworks, if is not important for you, you only need passport and tourist card)

·                    I need that you fill out the attached document with capital letters and send it to me as soon as possible.

·                    4 witnesses (arriving the same day as you)

·                    The blood test (applied in Mexico, in our first meeting)

        Passports and tourist card.  

[Vika Yakovleva]

Oh wow, your day is coming right up! Congrats! We might see each other, we arrive on the 22nd and get married on the 27th!!! My email is vika333@gmail

Hi again Vika, No, Lorena told me that if we didn't want/need to include our parents names, we didn't need our birth certificates at all.  All you need in that case is your passports & tourist cards, 4 witnesses (arriving the same day as you) & their passports, the blood tests (which they do when you get there), and the legal form that needs to be completed and sent to your wedding coordinator in advance.  If you send me your email address I can email you a copy of the legal form so you can start collecting the information that is needed for that.  I would double check these things with your wedding coordinator as well, but that was what I was told.  We're getting married on April 18th, so we haven't actually gone through the full process yet! [/quot

[Savs1027]

Originally Posted by loripanori 

 

 

Thanks Savs, this helps a lot.  I think I will talk to Lorena and see if we can shift everything a bit.  I previously asked her what time it would get dark, because of our reception starting at 6:30, and she told me the sunset would be around 6 and by 6:30 it would be "as dark as we want it", haha.  But I feel like this might be a bit off, we were in Mexico last year around the same time of year, and I don't remember it getting dark that early.  

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=923&month=4&year=2013&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1

 

Use this to see the sunset times. Anel advised me that the beach got darker about 30 minutes before the time listed which was pretty accurate. April 18th is after the time change so it's not going to get dark until 6:30ish. If it were me I'd start the ceremony at 5 or 5:30 and then you'll take pictures during sunset on the beach! Then you can push the reception back to 7-10 or 8-11!

[LindseyM]

Originally Posted by Vika Yakovleva 

 

Thank you, I just emailed Georgina, fingers crossed to get a response sometime soon! I started to get really sad that I will have two separate wedding dates. One when I get the license and one my actual date. I don't think I want that.

I have heard terrible things about the legal ceremony.  You have to have blood tests, documentation translated, and then it takes like 6 months on top to get your marriage license and it comes in spanish, not English.  I would think very carefully before you decide to do that.

[LindseyM]

Originally Posted by Savs1027 

 

We had our legal ceremony here the Saturday before we left at our church and it didn't take away from our real wedding in Mexico at all. We invited just our parents and siblings and bestman and all had lunch and cake afterwards and it was perfect. We aren't going to celebrate that date and we dont even consider that our wedding.

 I'm really glad we did that before hand so we could semi-relax before the wedding in Mexico. I didn't want to waste 4 days getting blood work, going and getting paperwork done, etc. It was enough going to all the meetings with everyone. 

 

Everyone is different, but I'm really glad we did ours the way we did. I wouldn't change it at all.

We did that too...at the court house with just our parents and went out to eat after.  We also didn't exchange rings until Mexico, so it still felt like Mexico was our wedding.

[Vika Yakovleva]

Our parents live far away from us as do all of our close friends, I think this is why I started to get freaked out. When we sign out license, I want it to be I front if our families and not some rental/court provided witnesses.

We did that too...at the court house with just our parents and went out to eat after.  We also didn't exchange rings until Mexico, so it still felt like Mexico was our wedding.

[Dominique 161]

Originally Posted by Vika Yakovleva 

 

Our parents live far away from us as do all of our close friends, I think this is why I started to get freaked out. When we sign out license, I want it to be I front if our families and not some rental/court provided witnesses.

 

 

Vika..

I feel the same; I want one wedding day in front of my closest family and friends .

 

I’ve been to legal weddings in Thailand, France, Portugal and Jamaica and i know a couple that have had a legal ceremony in Mexico. All beautiful weddings, no horror stories!

 

All paper work and blood tests will done at the wedding meeting so you are not wasting your holiday time at meetings!

 

All you need to do is email your wedding planner the legal marriage form (Ive emailed it too you) copies of your birth certificates. and the names of your 4 witnesses. Its been really easy.

The only negetive i can think of is the extra cost.

 

Hope this helps

[loripanori]

Have there been any stories etc recently about receptions on the beach?  I've been trying to see if we can switch to the pool deck, but no dice, the only options I am getting are the pool terrace, beach and ballroom (which are the same three options I was given originally). We're probably going to stick with the pool terrace, but my fiance was saying that maybe it would be nice to be on the beach.  He wasn't a big fan of the pool terrace pictures because there's "so much concrete", haha.  I seem to remember hearing that the beach isn't great for the reception, because if it's windy there's blowing sand and harder to eat, etc.  Does anyone have an opinion or any info on this?  

[ShelliD]

Hi everyone!

My fiance and I just booked our wedding at Dreams for May 3, 2014...so excited! We went for a site visit and met with Claudia the beginning of March and fell in love with the resort We have decided on the Ultimate package and are anticipating 75-100 guests. Our wedding coordinator is Georgina.

A few questions:

1. Does anyone have recommendations for a travel agent? I live in the Washington, DC area but assume it doesn't matter where the travel agent is located since everything is done electronically these days.
2. We are having our reception on the Pool Deck but have been told that there will be another reception at the Pool Terrace at the same time. I'm worried that it will be chaotic, especially if we both have DJs. Previous brides, did this happen to you and what are your thoughts?
3. I received the email with all of the attachments (lighting, linens, DJ, flowers, etc.). In order to book the DJ and light up dance floor, do I have to go through Georgina or should I email the DJ directly?

I have been reading this forum for months now and have loved all of the photos, suggestions and input from everyone...such a great resource especially when planning a wedding long distance