KarenM

Danielle, you could check Michael's or Target if you still want to try to DIY. If you want a company to do them you could try wedding paper divas (they're having a sale that might help) menus Wedding Menus at Wedding Paper Divas programs Wedding Programs from Wedding Paper Divas Here's an Etsy seller that customizes yours (with her existing template) & sends you the pdf to print at home. She has a couple cute ones. Anuenue Ceremony Program DIY Digital by lzdezigns on Etsy menu Anuenue Menu DIY Digital by lzdezigns on Etsy Another seller that has her own templates (that she customizes) & you print them at home Printable wedding invitations by idoityourself on by idoityourself I saw this place while searching too but I didn't look around on the site. Wedding Programs and Wedding Program Templates Do you definitely want to have programs & menu cards? We didn't have either and no one missed them.

Very pretty!! I really like the graphic on the invite!

Just thought I'd refresh this thread. We ate at Le Kliff the week before our wedding and it was terrific!! They had a really good 3-course prix fixe meal for just under 300 pesos (under $30 US). And we walked around the property a bit as well. Gorgeous place to watch the sunset & would be a beautiful place to get married! Here are a few pics stairs going down to the ceremony site sunset at le kliff ceremony site (grassy knoll area). It's a pretty bad shot - sorry! And perhaps my favorite part about the restaurant - they have a "pet" coatimundi running around the property (in the racoon family). He's so super cute &, although he's pretty timid, will practically eat out of your hand if you give him treats.

pics of the rattan mat aisle runner

Thanks Allyson! I answered in blue next to each question. Quote: Originally Posted by allyson779 Karen...Your review was amazing!!! Thank you so much for all the info and pictures. Here comes some of my random questions for you (hope you don't mind and other past bride feel free to jump in....) For your private dinner at Portofino did you make reservations a head of time with Rebeca or with Portofino directly? Was it the same menu for dinner or was it a special menu? DH & his brother-in-law stopped by & asked the hostess at Portofino if there was a way to seat like 14 people together (they asked at like 4:30 or 5 for that same night and we came back at 7). One of the waiters (Victor, I think) said we could reserve the wine cellar, which has a table that seats 12 comfortably but could seat up to 14 I think, but we just had to pay for 1 or 2 bottles of wine. I don't think they were very expensive though. And in the booklet of coupons they include several for $10 off each bottle of wine (we didn't find these until the day before we left! oops) And it was the same menu. Really nothing different except we all were together and they were able to turn off the music in that room so we could hear each other. It was perfect, especially as a nice dinner before saying good-bye to our parents. Bonfire... Did you have to pay extra for the waiter or was that included in the fee? (I think Rebeca told me like $250 or $300 for the bonfire) The waiter is included in the price. So are the marshmallows (they give you tons!) and the chocolate dipping sauce. We brought graham crackers from home and when we went to Wal-Mart in PV earlier in the week we bought some Hershey bars. Ceremony.... was it really hard to walk on the sand/bamboo path? I am so worried I am going to fall on my face! Was it just a bamboo mat or was there something else underneath? Also did you use a microphone for your ceremony....I No, it really wasn't hard to walk on the mats, but I was barefoot. They're pretty thick actually and one is placed right after the next. My parents wore sandals & didn't have any trouble walking. I'll post another pic, but they're the same mats that are in front of the chairs at the bonfire (there's a pic of that in my review.) It was a little harder to walk on the pathway after coming down the stairs. It's made up of strips of wood & isn't totally even and my dress (which was all lace) kept catching on them. But it wasn't really a problem & I hardly noticed. We had the DJ for the ceremony music and we did have the microphone. Lucie (the minister) used it for the whole ceremony, then my brother & P's 2 sisters used it for their readings. We spoke our vows just to each other w/o the microphone, but we did do the exchange of rings speaking into the microphone. Cocktail Hour... OK so I am debating on even having the Mexican trio (even though it comes with the package)... How long did they play for- I think they said it comes with one set.. but how long is a set? Also did your cocktail hour last the whole hour or was it actually shorter... They played for about 45 minutes. The cocktail hour continued around 20 more minutes (& probably would have gone even longer) until we told one of the waiters we were ready for dinner. After the trio finished, the DJ just put on the music we gave him to play during dinner so if you provide a playlist or the music for the DJ I would make sure you have well over an hour of music. We had right around 1 hr of music & at the very end of dinner it started to repeat. Excursions... did you book everything before hand or did you do it through the company that provided the transfers when you got there? Do you remember roughly how much the fishing trip was? We didn't book anything ahead of time. We had Tukari as our transfer company (through Vacations4Less) and I met with Alejandro one morning to book the Los Veranos Canopy Tour. I think it was about $60 per person and it was totally worth it! One brother & sis-in-law booked a canopy tour in advance b/c they were able to use some of their credit card miles/points to pay for theirs. I don't know what company they booked it with but theirs was a more extreme version of the Los Veranos tour and they loved it. My other brother booked through Tukari for their 2 excursions (canopy tour & rock climbing). The fishing trip was actually booked by a good friend of P's as a wedding gift so I don't have the details (if you're interested though I'm sure I can find out). He chartered the boat with some well-known local fisherman months in advance and I think it was really expensive b/c it was just the 2 of them and the boat crew. But I know there are opportunities to book deep-sea fishing with the tour companies too. Thanks again for all your help..... what would I do without the forum ... =) You bet! Let me know if you need anything else!

Hi Arlene! Congrats on your daughter's upcoming wedding! And how nice of you to help her plan! I'll recommend Dreams Puerto Vallarta since we were just married there over Memorial Day weekend. You can read my review (in my siggy), but we had a fabulous time and it was everything we had hoped for & more. Dreams is definitely family-friendly and is all-inclusive -- two criteria we were also looking for when we researched potential locations. We had 3 nieces & nephews under age 7 and a friend of ours brought their infant daughter. The hotel is a good size without being a mega-resort, the food is delicious, it has its own private beach and is only about 10 minutes South of downtown PV, a beautiful culturally-rich city. Many of our guests (including both sets of parents) had never been to an all-inclusive before and everyone was blown away by the service, food, drinks & location. For us, Dreams was absolutely perfect! And although we were married on the beach, they have a lovely gazebo for ceremonies as well. Autumn (username autjo) was married there and she has a great review & pics of the gazebo. Our reception was outside at one of the pool terraces & was private. Here's the Dreams PV thread (it's really long, but there is a ton of helpful info there). http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...-thread-29192/ Best of luck to your daughter & family and let me know if you have any questions!

Those are all great Aisha!! and thanks! I love the one at the top of this page with the starfish as tie-backs, and the one you like best is really cool! Love all the petals on the aisle!

Thanks Aisha! I love your inspiration bouquets - especially the last 2! Definitely bring your inspiration pics with you; it'll really help give the wedding coordinator/florist a clear idea of what you'd like.

Hi Angela. Thanks! Yeah, they're aqua capiz shell curtains I bought at shopwildthings.com. I think they're real (they feel real & were more $$ than the faux ones I've seen), but I'm not totally sure.

Susanna, those are so cute! Love the design!

Thanks so much, Allyson!! I'm so glad my review helps! I know reading other people's made me feel soooo much better too! It really is the perfect place! And you'll be there for the baby sea turtles!! So jealous! Quote: Originally Posted by allyson779 Karen... Reading through your review confirms that we made the best decision to have our wedding at dreams!!!! Thank you so much for an amazing review with great tips, ideas, and of course tons of pics. Speaking of pics... wow everything looked amazing and perfect! You were glowing from start to finish.. (and probably still glowing) Ya know, we really were in the perfect place! Great culture & a beautiful city with beautiful friendly people, beaches, and an all-inclusive resort so people didn't have to worry about $ when they got there. I wouldn't change a thing about it! It's definitely tropical and the hotel has been there a long time so the grounds around it are really lush (it used to be called the Camino Real before Dreams bought it). Plus being backed by the Sierra Madre mountains & jungle helps with the tropical ambiance. We had a travel agent (Teresa Stauring at Vacations4Less.com) and she was able to negotiate a really good rate for us. Plus we booked in 2009 so the rates, I'm sure, have gone up. And keep in mind that May is considered off-season (though I think August is too). We originally looked into a January wedding but it was going to be a lot more expensive for our guests so we changed the date. But, for the Deluxe room in the older tower it was $106 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, and the Jr Suite in the Preferred tower was $142 per person per night (also dbl occupancy). Really not bad considering that includes ALL of your food & drinks (alcoholic & non), non-motorized water sports, towels whenever you need them, etc, etc. Quote: Originally Posted by conosur I loved it..it looks you were in a terrific place. I went to a wedding in playa del carmen but It looks PV is 100% a lot better!! the scenery is more tropical looking..I am just curious how much was per room?

Congratulations Cara! So glad everything worked out & you had such a wonderful wedding! Your pics are gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!

I would keep them the same. Dark purple & silver were my brother & sis-in-law's colors and it's a gorgeous combo!! Because your wedding is in December in Idaho and then the AHR in Seattle in January, the tropical colors thing doesn't seem to apply (someone mentioned it). I think it'll be a nice way to have a continuation of your Idaho wedding - using some of the decor at the Seattle reception. And saving $ is always a bonus! Good luck deciding!

Yep, #2!! I also like #3, but since it doesn't fit right it's hard to tell. I really like the asymmetrical neckline w/ one strap on dress 2 though & it looks great on you!

Quote: Originally Posted by MDLady Awesome pictures!!!!! Just read your review MD - I'm so sorry that the Hyatt so completely screwed up for your wedding! I can't even believe how laissez faire they seemed and that they just totally dropped the ball! Just unacceptable. Was there anyone you could talk to, to get some kind of credit or discount on any of it? You might've mentioned it in the review & I apologize if I missed it! If nothing else, your honest review will definitely help steer future brides away from the Hyatt, which is good. They don't deserve the business!

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear about how the Hyatt handled (or failed to) the whole wedding! I can't believe they messed up such an integral part of your wedding - the chuppah. Thank goodness for the rabbi!! It sounds like he really saved the day! You looked beautiful, though, and when all is said & done, you're married! And in a gorgeous location! I'm sure your review will help lots of future Aruba brides so thank you for your honest review!

Thanks Nicole! You are going to LOVE Jen! She's so super friendly & puts you at ease immediately! I went with the package that's like $425 or something like that. It didn't include a book, but I made one on shutterfly & it was great (black leather cover with cut-out window, size 8x8"). Biggest piece of advice - get your make up done by Oksana!! Although it's pricey, it seriously makes all the difference in the photos. Some girls like to bring someone with them, but I went alone & it was totally fine. I don't have a car so I rented a zipcar for the day & told FI I was going dress shopping for a legal-day dress & other errands (which I did do so it wasn't a total lie ). I know you'll probably be nervous, but Jen will put you at ease & after your first couple shots you will love the experience! I brought a bunch of outfits & accessories with me. We laid everything out on the bed before starting & Jen told me what she thought would look best and with what background (she has several areas to shoot within the room & on the stairs). I didn't end up using any of the necklaces or jewelry I brought (just wore a pair of earrings) & only used 1 pair of shoes. I did use one of DH's shirts for some of the pics so you might want to bring a prop/tie/shirt that is special/significant to your hubby-to-be. The only thing I wish I would've done was to do some topless/partially covered nude shots like she has in the boudoir gallery. Neither of us suggested it (& I wasn't really thinking at the time - it goes by in kind of a blur) but I wish I would've had the presence of mind to think of it. So, I guess that's piece of advice #2 - go through the pics on her site & write down/email Jen any of the poses you love. But, all in all I loved the whole experience and was super happy with the outcome. Let me know if you have any more questions!

Hi guys! Rebecca, I found the thread You're too nice! Anyway, there's another thread about chuppah/canopy decorations so I thought I'd post it for you here. I added ours at the end. http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...on-pics-56553/ And in case anyone feels like tackling a DIY project, you could make them yourself. Here's a bunch on Ebay that have 2 holes pre-drilled. I think you could just string them on fishing line & tie a knot after each hole to make them stay where you want them. I don't think it'd be too difficult, just time-consuming. capiz shells 2 holes items - Get great deals on Collectibles, Crafts items on eBay.com!

We're married! Thought I would post pics of how the chuppah turned out. I absolutely loved it!

Great! Ya know, I almost didn't include those pics. When we decided to book a Dreams Suite, they said they couldn't guarantee which tower we would be in. We kept hoping it'd be in the new (Preferred) tower but figured it'd be nice either way. So when we were given the new tower we were super excited. I took a bunch of pics & figured someone on here might like to see what they look like since the Dreams website doesn't really show much of those suites. If you use a travel agent I would just ask that they include that you're the bride & groom and request the Preferred tower. Anyway, glad to help out and I would 1000% recommend Dreams for you & your guests. Just the private beach alone makes it worth it and it's only a 8-10 min cab ride (50 pesos ~ $5) to downtown so it's not a deterrent to going into town. Quote: Originally Posted by Tye Great review!!! We are getting married in Las Caletas next May and are considering staying at Dreams PV. Your review was soo helpful! Especially the pictures of the suite. I can't tell you how long I spent looking for pictures of the suite online today! Thank you!!

We chose a Saturday b/c it was Memorial Day weekend (3-day weekend in US) & we were trying to consider my school & our family's work schedules. It worked out well b/c people had Monday off and could hang around on Sunday instead of leaving right away. But while were there, there were weddings on Monday night & Tuesday night so I really think it's just personal preference & what works best for you/your group.

OK girls, I'll play. I went to Jen at Jenerations in March and could not have been happier! She is amazingly talented and lots of girls on BDW have used her, all with equally wonderful experiences. I think every woman should do this for herself! It's a bonus that you get to give your hubby the book! at the bottom of the page you can click on galleries - boudoir Beautiful and Affordable Photography here are a few fav's

Mags, I saw them and LOVE them!! Amber is so super talented & you guys are adorable! I have to admit, I'm a little jealous - we were RIGHT THERE and didn't get pics with the arches. dumb

Magalie they're wonderful!! Such great shots & you looked beautiful! We were in the same general area 2 weeks later! (started up a bit from Guadalupe Square in the residential area) And we shared the same minister!! Love it!

Just thought I'd report back. We used the shoe station & people really liked it! By the time I walked down the aisle it was full. Here's ours in action I left all of it with the wedding coordinator at Dreams PV for future use.