Dreams Puerto Vallarta Brides 2012- 2014

Hello All,

I am planning on getting married at Dreams PV in September 2014. I know there is the huge Dreams PV thread, but I am looking for a bit more updated information. I am struggling going through and trying to find recent reviews from Dreams from 2012 onwards. I know I won't be changing my mind on my resort location, I just want to hear how recent brides have gone about their planning at Dreams, what packages they have gone with, wedding coordinator communication, etc.

Thanks so much!!

Jenny

Great idea, Jenny!  I'm getting married at Dreams in May, and I'd so appreciate more recent information.  So far, I've had a great experience with both Eleane and Fatima at the resort--they are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.  We are going with the Ultimate package, but we are trying to keep it pretty low key beyond that and aren't getting into outside vendors.

That's about all I have to report so far, but I will keep you posted throughout the rest of the process.  

I will be looking forward to seeing what your wedding looks like in May!

We'll be going with the Ultimate package as well- are you only having 20 people come?

We both agreed we like the Tiffany chairs better than the standard white chairs, so we will be upgrading to that. I will be getting a bridesmaid bouquet on top of the package (maybe two.... haven't decided whether or not to ask another friend of mine). We will probably do a bonfire as well (either as a welcoming event, or for our "rehearsal dinner"), and maybe the fire dancers for the reception.

We are going to go with an outside photographer- I just don't like only having 50 photo's. Yes, we can have all the photo's from friends and family, but I want some really good ones of us and the whole experience. FI thinks that 30 minute video of the ceremony will be enough and refuses to get a videographer- which, fine, I now agree was a bit much for me to suggest haha.

Definitely going to DIY the decorations (invites/OOT bags/programs/menus/etc.), find fake blue orchids because Eleane quoted me at $150-180 USD for 10 stems of blue orchids, which I found completely and totally ridiculous. I might look into a local florist for those- but we will see as it gets closer.

What was your budget/ how close are you to keeping within it?

As of right now, we have about 40 people that will be joining us in PV.  We still have a few stragglers that keep saying they may make the trip, but I'm guessing that if they haven't committed by now--2 months out--they won't actually be joining us.  As much as it pains me to pay $75 pp for the additional 20 people (don't get me wrong--$75pp is nothing for a wedding, but I hate paying it when we're at an all inclusive and we could all go eat at one of the resort restaurants for no additional cost!), we feel so blessed that these people are joining us for our special day.

We are also doing the bonfire the night before our wedding.  I still need to get in touch with Fatima about this, as I recently learned that the resort's Mexican fiestas are on Friday nights, and I hope that we'll be able to participate in that before the bonfire.

I'm DIYing as much as possible.  I'm planning on checking a suitcase with all the DIYs (decorations, OOT bags, programs, etc) and then using that same suitcase to pack my gown in for the flight home.  I'm also going to have all my BM's hold pomanders that we will be bringing down and then using as centerpieces (I know pomanders are debatable--people either love or hate 'em.  I like them, and I love that they can also serve as centerpieces.)  Because, like you said, the flowers at the resort are ridiculously expensive.  I thought about looking at outside florists, but I'm trying so hard to cut down on any extra "worry", that I didn't want to have to coordinate anything else on our wedding day.  I did read some good reviews of local florists on this forum.  I don't remember the names of the shops, but check around.

I had some communication with Adventure Photo via email, because like you, I'd like more than 50 photos.  But I haven't been able to get anyone to email me back in the past few weeks.  I guess I'll just have to be more persistent on that, but it's frustrating.

I hope that helps a little bit.  I'm easy going to a fault, and I really just want things to be as stress free as possible, thus I'm foregoing a lot of details. 

I haven't heard back from Adventure Vallatra in weeks either (well, at all!) I am considering going with Photoshoots Vallarta. They responded same day, with a video, package prices and a very cheerful attitude. When I asked for pictures tthey have taken at Dreams, I was sent a photobook & a link and password to an entire online collection. Seriously impressed me and the prices are fantastic. I'd look them up, send them an inquiry. Pierre was so fast and so efficent with his response. Really won be over- it will be a challenge for the resort photographer to sway me away from Photoshoots. I am thinking we are probably going to be up around 40 people as well. Sitting down in a couple of weeks with both sets of parents to discuss budget and the guest list.....

Hi Brides! Nice to see a more recent Dreams PV thread made.

I am getting married there in two months (woohoo!), May 18th is our date. 

So I have a question and then also figured I'd share my experience in planning so far if it can be useful to anyone.

My question is, what are you guys planning to do as a welcome/rehearsal dinner? We decided the bonfire was more than we cared to spend, but I am nervous that trying to get our guests together and eat all in one place may be hard. Any suggestions? 

So my planning has gone pretty well..I started working with Eleane last May right after we got engaged and have been going full speed ahead ever since! I am using my own photographer and videographer from the U.S. (this is what is costing the most but I refuse to not have amazing photos and footage of the day, so to me it's worth it!) We just finally got about all of our RSVPs in and we are expecting 30 guests. I guess it's a decent turnout for a destination wedding, but it is kind of disappointing that 70+ invitees won't be there on the day We are just going to enjoy it though because when else have we had 30 of our friends and family go on vacation together?! 

I have been working with an outside vendor named Tamara (Details Vallarta) for the decor. She has been absolutely amazing and I feel like she's given us a fair price for everything (she's doing our flowers as well). The only thing I am making is a garland to hang around the gazebo for the ceremony, and I am bringing my own maracas that I'm ordering from here: http://www.amols.com/catalog/view?page=1&ss=Maracas%2C&t=Fiesta%2C. Also making the welcome bags.

We are using the mariachi band for cocktail hour (I downgraded from the Ultimate package to the Love package to accommodate for this) and are not using a DJ, just going to wing it on the iPod for the dancing. So we are pretty ready and getting excited as it grows closer each day! Good luck with the planning

Hi ladies! We are getting married June 21st at Dreams PV and couldn't be more excited.

So far the wedding planning process has been as easy as could be expected. Fatima has just been amazing, really, she has always responded promptly to every email I've sent. For those of you having trouble getting ahold of Aventura photography, I just sent up a follow-up email saying I hadn't heard from them in (x) amount of weeks, and ever since then they've been very prompt with me. We did the package for $999 which includes the full day of shooting and 100 pictures. Honestly, I would have liked more pictures, but as crunch time approaches, apathy is setting in and I just want decisions to be made.

We're not dealing with outside vendors at all. All of the resort vendors received pretty good reviews on this site, so we're basically trusting them. Plus, you know, the apathy I mentioned above.

The pricing has been what I've expected so far...no terribly expensive but not a bargain. The most impressive thing so far was that the florist isn't charging us extra for hydrangeas, which I thought was pretty decent of them. I agree that $75 per person at an all-inclusive was not thrilling for me (really $85 with the extra cake and sparkling wine), but since we're only having 40ish guests total, it's not really that big of a deal.

We did a lot of things DIY- invitations, centerpieces, OOT bags, and instead of bridesmaid's bouquets, my mom is making fans for the bridesmaids to carry that will be decorated with flowers and ribbon and stuff.

For the rehearsal/welcome dinner, we're doing the bonfire like pretty much everyone else. Since the restaurants don't take reservations, I thought it would be too stressful to try and get all 40+ guests in the same restaurant at the same time. For the day after activity, we're taking everyone ziplining. Unfortunately canopy tours, which we've decided to go with, only allows 15 people per tour, so I think we're going to have to separate people into two groups since it seems like most people want to go.
 

Hi Ladies!

As of today we are officially tying the knot at Dreams PV May 19th 2014, I'm so excited! Kate G would you might letting me know how the weather turns out for you guys after your wedding this May? I've found mixed reviews on how the weather is during May in PV, I'm hoping the rainy season doesn't start that early! (although I'm sure anything will be better than what the weather will be here in Edmonton during May)

I thought I remembered reading in one of the emails from Fatima that they will accommodate a reservation in one of the restaurants for a rehearsal dinner for up to 30 people. But maybe you guys are having too many people attend to take advantage of that option? The bonfire sounds like a lot of fun as well though!

Can't wait to hear how your guys' weddings go this year!

Hey ladies, congratulations to you all on your engagement! The Dreams PV is an excellent choice. I find that generally when we contact a Dreams wedding coordinator for our clients' weddings, they always get back to us ASAP and are always very informative.

@Kate G - You can always check with your wedding coordinator and see if they can make reservations for your party at one of the restaurants so everyone can get together in one place, either for dinnero r lunch... but becareful not to call it a "rehearsal" dinner, some resorts will charge you extra for rehearsal dinners.

@amysis - 40 for your guest list is perfect! I actually went to a destination wedding with 41 people and it was perfect.

@Jenny2014 and @SLetendre - May 2014 package rates aren't out yet but nice to see you on top of the game and booking your wedding date already! You ladies should also check out www.destinationornot.com - we usually pair up with them for our wedding shows, and everyone who comes to visit our booth are always AMAZED that the flowers aren't real! But they definitely LOOK and FEEL real.

Good luck and happy planning ladies!

-Jill Tran

Originally Posted by SLetendre 

 

Hi Ladies!

 

As of today we are officially tying the knot at Dreams PV May 19th 2014, I'm so excited! Kate G would you might letting me know how the weather turns out for you guys after your wedding this May? I've found mixed reviews on how the weather is during May in PV, I'm hoping the rainy season doesn't start that early! (although I'm sure anything will be better than what the weather will be here in Edmonton during May)

 

I thought I remembered reading in one of the emails from Fatima that they will accommodate a reservation in one of the restaurants for a rehearsal dinner for up to 30 people. But maybe you guys are having too many people attend to take advantage of that option? The bonfire sounds like a lot of fun as well though!

 

Can't wait to hear how your guys' weddings go this year!

Yeah I hear the rainy season starts in June and if there is any rain in May it is just a light sprinkling that doesn't really last long. So fingers crossed it all is okay! And we are only having 26 guests so sounds like we should be able to make the reservation!