Dreams Punta Cana Brides

[Davine]

Wow it looks so beautiful.  How many people did you have at your wedding.  I have 45 coming and would like to use the Portofino but am worried that it might be to small.  Do you think it would fit 4 tables of 10 and a smaller head table?

[Melissa727]

Ok ladies...HELP! My wedding two weeks away at Dreams and my mom is driving me nuts! My mom is a worry wart and an all around negative person. Its bad enough im dragging her to a tropical local which she hates but then she sees the reviews online and it becomes 10 times worse. She has actually told me she is counting down the days until she gets back from the resort. Please past and present brides if anyone can ease my mind and my mother's about any of the following things it would greatly be appreciated. Ok here are the questions I have: How was the spa for hair and make up? Were you able to get the appointment times you wanted? Did/does anyone have Jennifer Castro as a wedding coordinator and what has your experience been with her? Has/is anyone experiencing issued getting items for OOT bags into Punta Cana in your luggage? For those of you who have been to the resort, what was your honest opinion of the resort? I mean room condition, food, service, etc. Has/is anyone not having/had a reception and just had dinner at one of the restaurants after the wedding? Or has anyone booked a reservation at one of the restaurants for over 10 people? We only have 13 people including us so instead of a full blown reception we would rather just have dinner at one of the restaurants but I keep seeing that they don't take reservations. Any helpful hints for making this as stress free as possible would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[angieinthesun11]

Past brides and upcoming brides - what is the deal with the bar service for the reception? We have purchased the ultimate wedding package and it includes dinner for up to 20 guests (we will pay the difference for the rest). I received a bar menu and it las $160 /an hour for 20people and $8.per person per hour - are alcoholic drinks included with the dinner or not?? I assumed that they were. I emailed our coordinator and am awaiting her reply but thought  would reach out to you ladies. Also - did any of you past brides have wine or champagne? This wasn't listed on the bar menu and I love the bubbly!!

 

[ska2m]

Hey Mel!

 

I'll be seeing you around as i will be there too and getting married on the 5th!!! =)

 

Tell your mom to stop being a worry wart. it is not worth it nor will it help any situation. Just go with the flow. Yes, things may go wrong, but in the end, mostly you and your groom will notice and no one else. either way, your guests will have a fabulous time.

 

As for your concerns below. The spa is great, i have been there and also have spoken to many past brides who only have raved about it. Just bring pictures with you if you are concerned and also your products if you are concerned they won't have it. Other than that, they are professionals and have done hair/makeup for like 20 brides per week! so they are definitely experienced. I don't know abut getting exact dates/times, but i know they don't take reservations less than 2 weeks in advance. so i will know Saturday if my reservations were accepted for the dates/times i requested. I'm sure they will be able to accommodate.

 

As for your WC, just come prepared, have everything written out of how you want things, especially if they happen to switch WC on you if Jennifer gets sick or something. Have a checklist to make sure you and your WC go over it and you know you haven't left anything out.

 

I have read that you won't really have a problem with OOT bags, so we'll see. I'm not concerned at all, the airport is owned by the resorts, so they know most vacationers are brides coming in with items for their guests. It will most likely be strict when you leave DR and try to bring things back.

 

I visited the resort earlier this year and i loved it. everything was what i wanted and the food was great. The main reason i chose to get married here. I wasn't going to pick a resort sight unseen.

 

They do not take reservations, but you will be able to get seating, you may just have to wait for a while. But you will be fine. Especially since your group is small.

 

Hope this helps! See you on DR in less than two weeks!! =)
 

Originally Posted by Melissa727 

Ok ladies...HELP! My wedding two weeks away at Dreams and my mom is driving me nuts! My mom is a worry wart and an all around negative person. Its bad enough im dragging her to a tropical local which she hates but then she sees the reviews online and it becomes 10 times worse. She has actually told me she is counting down the days until she gets back from the resort.
Please past and present brides if anyone can ease my mind and my mother's about any of the following things it would greatly be appreciated. Ok here are the questions I have:
How was the spa for hair and make up? Were you able to get the appointment times you wanted?
Did/does anyone have Jennifer Castro as a wedding coordinator and what has your experience been with her?
Has/is anyone experiencing issued getting items for OOT bags into Punta Cana in your luggage?
For those of you who have been to the resort, what was your honest opinion of the resort? I mean room condition, food, service, etc.
Has/is anyone not having/had a reception and just had dinner at one of the restaurants after the wedding? Or has anyone booked a reservation at one of the restaurants for over 10 people? We only have 13 people including us so instead of a full blown reception we would rather just have dinner at one of the restaurants but I keep seeing that they don't take reservations.
Any helpful hints for making this as stress free as possible would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[ska2m]

the whole bar thing can be confusing. If you are going with the Ultimate wedding package, on the bottom of the menu states that the gold bar is included for 1 hour in the cost of the reception. If you want more than an hour, then you pay the $8 per person per hour (or dependng on which package you choose Gold, Silve Platinum). so yes, $160 per hour for 20 people with Gold. If you want bubbly, i am buying like 12 bottles and i was quoted at $17 per bottle. Wine is $20 per bottle, which i thought was rare that it was more expensive than Champagne, but whatever. 
 

Originally Posted by angieinthesun11 

Past brides and upcoming brides - what is the deal with the bar service for the reception? We have purchased the ultimate wedding package and it includes dinner for up to 20 guests (we will pay the difference for the rest). I received a bar menu and it las $160 /an hour for 20people and $8.per person per hour - are alcoholic drinks included with the dinner or not?? I assumed that they were. I emailed our coordinator and am awaiting her reply but thought  would reach out to you ladies. Also - did any of you past brides have wine or champagne? This wasn't listed on the bar menu and I love the bubbly!!

 

 

[Melissa727]

Ok so I finally heard back from one of the coordinators, Carolina, regarding last minute info they needed from me. I was just informed that my previous wedding coordinator, Jennifer Castro, no longer works there. Great to find that out 1 week before I leave! I really am nervous about things getting messed up the communication from Dreams has been absolutely awful and I really hope I made the right decision choosing this resort. Guess it's too late to do anything about it now!

[pfeiffla]

Melissa727-

I'm sorry to hear of your mom 'situation'.  That can be really frustrating.  I don't know if this is much help, but we are getting married there Nov. 15 and I have asked similar questions.  I heard that the spa does a great job for hair and makeup, just take a picture for an exampe of what you would like your hair to look like.  I heard that even if you don't like it, they'll do it over, no problem!  I emailed the spa to set my appointments and had no problems.  I have a different WC, but I've heard they all do a great job.  I also posed the question about the OOT bag items, and the responses I received were that it wasn't an issue, because they really only check bags when re-entering the US, but to maybe take receipts along to prove your purchases and maybe don't put all OOT stuff in same bag, then they won't think you're going to re-sell it there!  As far as restaurants go, I heard some of them you need to get there early because the food is so good!  Maybe your coordinator can pull some strings for you?!  Last thought...just remember that this is your day and no one has the right to take that away from you!  So, I would try my best to seperate myself from all negativity.  Unfortunately, I know first hand what you are talking about and that's why my Mother-In-Law is not coming!  Good Luck to you and best wishes
 

Originally Posted by Melissa727 

Ok ladies...HELP! My wedding two weeks away at Dreams and my mom is driving me nuts! My mom is a worry wart and an all around negative person. Its bad enough im dragging her to a tropical local which she hates but then she sees the reviews online and it becomes 10 times worse. She has actually told me she is counting down the days until she gets back from the resort.
Please past and present brides if anyone can ease my mind and my mother's about any of the following things it would greatly be appreciated. Ok here are the questions I have:
How was the spa for hair and make up? Were you able to get the appointment times you wanted?
Did/does anyone have Jennifer Castro as a wedding coordinator and what has your experience been with her?
Has/is anyone experiencing issued getting items for OOT bags into Punta Cana in your luggage?
For those of you who have been to the resort, what was your honest opinion of the resort? I mean room condition, food, service, etc.
Has/is anyone not having/had a reception and just had dinner at one of the restaurants after the wedding? Or has anyone booked a reservation at one of the restaurants for over 10 people? We only have 13 people including us so instead of a full blown reception we would rather just have dinner at one of the restaurants but I keep seeing that they don't take reservations.
Any helpful hints for making this as stress free as possible would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[pfeiffla]

Melissa727-

Carolina is my WC is she is great!  She is excellent with communication and on top of things; Don't worry! 

 

Originally Posted by Melissa727 

Ok so I finally heard back from one of the coordinators, Carolina, regarding last minute info they needed from me. I was just informed that my previous wedding coordinator, Jennifer Castro, no longer works there. Great to find that out 1 week before I leave! I really am nervous about things getting messed up the communication from Dreams has been absolutely awful and I really hope I made the right decision choosing this resort. Guess it's too late to do anything about it now!

 

[Raq87]

Hi Pfeiffla! I'm getting married on November 16th! When do you guys arrive?

Also, how did your make your spa appointments? Do you have the email address? I'm worried because I haven't made appointments yet......

Originally Posted by pfeiffla 

Melissa727-

I'm sorry to hear of your mom 'situation'.  That can be really frustrating.  I don't know if this is much help, but we are getting married there Nov. 15 and I have asked similar questions.  I heard that the spa does a great job for hair and makeup, just take a picture for an exampe of what you would like your hair to look like.  I heard that even if you don't like it, they'll do it over, no problem!  I emailed the spa to set my appointments and had no problems.  I have a different WC, but I've heard they all do a great job.  I also posed the question about the OOT bag items, and the responses I received were that it wasn't an issue, because they really only check bags when re-entering the US, but to maybe take receipts along to prove your purchases and maybe don't put all OOT stuff in same bag, then they won't think you're going to re-sell it there!  As far as restaurants go, I heard some of them you need to get there early because the food is so good!  Maybe your coordinator can pull some strings for you?!  Last thought...just remember that this is your day and no one has the right to take that away from you!  So, I would try my best to seperate myself from all negativity.  Unfortunately, I know first hand what you are talking about and that's why my Mother-In-Law is not coming!  Good Luck to you and best wishes  

 

 

[bsnursecole]

Hey Melissa-

I am getting married at Dreams November 3, 2011. I have had Carolina from the start of my planning and she is GREAT! Don't worry she will take care of you. She is very on top of it and communicates well.

 

Anadda