Dreams Puerto Aventuras Brides - POST HERE!

[ChelseyB]

thanks for all this info. i'm going to copy your lead and do the same on all of this!

[LindsayR]

Ashley- I love your decorations! Those table numbers are adorable!! My colors are turquoise and lime green...I think I might have to get those table runners as well! So cute!!! Thanks for the info!! I'm sure you wedding will be AMAZING- can wait to see all the pics! Congrats!!

[Lovesnick]

Thanks for all of the ideas ladies! Ashley your stuff looks super cute, seems like blue is a popular destination color scheme! All the stuff you picked out looks great, you will have to let us all know how it turned out! Did Jacki tell you all what types of tables there are? ie how do you know sizes, etc of things to get?

[Maggie Shannon]

Hello All!

 

I am a first-timer on here and I want to thank you all for your posts already. I was feeling so confused and overwhelmed about everything and I feel like this site is my life saver! I am having my wedding 11/3/2013 and I was beginning to feel overwhelmed with all of the what-ifs and how things work. I have not put my deposit down quite yet on this location, we are just waiting to build up some more funds so that we can get as much of the cost off our plates at one time, the only drawback to this is not being able to talk to the wedding coordinator yet to start making plans. A little about our wedding:

 

We have a 12 person bridal party

We will have somewhere around 50 people attending, maybe more

We are going to stay at the resort from 10/30/2013-11/8/2013

The bridemaids will be wearing blush or light yellow colored dresses (I can't decide on one yet)

The Groomsman will be wearing seersucker pants/ maybe vests with white shirts (for those of you who don't know what it is they are the linen suits they wear at the Kentucky Derby with thin light blue and white stripes)

 

 

From reading what you all have said I think I am going to stay away from paying for centerpieces/mariachi/ DJ

 

I do have a few questions I would really appriciate help with.

 

What package should I use?

What did everyone do about bridesmaids boquets?

What level of room/suite did everyone use?

How much is it to have an extra hour for reception?

What is the price/ person with the banquet?

How mcuh of a discount did you get for booking your group?

Is there any hidden ways to save money on the wedding without having to sacrfice quality?

 

Any additional information would be most helpful and greatly appriciated!

[ChelseyB]

hi Maggie,

i'm still  learning also but i can tell you what i have learned. I"m gettign married on 5/4/13.  I am going with the silver package because it really does include so much that you will need that i feel like most of the important stuff is taken care of.    Jackie, the wedding coordinator will send you the wedding package info which lists out individual prices for things like adding extra bouquets and so forth.  the resort's top floor is called "preferred club" and you get extra perks if you stay up there.     A large amount of our guests have booked those rooms, but they did sell out at some point. 

 

i believe an extra hour at the reception is $18 a head.

 

the price per person at the banquet is about $38 a head.  (besides the 20 included with the package)

 

i'm doing a buffet and not a sit down dinner, because i read the sit down dinner lasts too long and you end up needing to extend your reception for the dancing and such. 

 

i did not end up doing a group booking with the travel agent i was using.  she was able to get a small individual discounts for our guests and also we were able to get our room for free becasue we had enough guests book.  if we had chosen to block out rooms and do the group booking, i think the guests discounts would have been larger but we would have had to guess how many rooms to block and which room level they wanted, which seemed difficult to us.  (FYI we are sending out 250 invitations and already have 50 people booked to come with us to mexico).

 

 

hope that helps!   let me know if you learn anything i don't know yet.

chelsey

[Timothea]

Hello DREPA brides!  I am getting married at the resort on May 13, 2013.  I am very glad for this forum, and see lots of great information!  I will be having about 30 people for the wedding and I am looking so forward to it.  Once I read through all the posts I will surely have some questions so I will be back!

If there are any brides in Ontario looking for a travel agent I can definitely recommend mine, just contact me.  The selection process was tough but I am really glad we found this resort.  Everything looks great.

[Candi16]

Oh man, I am so happy I found this thread!!!

 

My FI and are days away from booking our May 2014 DW at Dreams PA and I am curious about the resort staff's hair and makeup team.  We're pretty sure we're going to book the Gold Pacakge (I'm sure the Silver would suffice but my FI is pretty insistent on the Gold!) which includes the hair/makeup service so I was hoping for any feedback on the pros, cons, other suggestions and definitely am hoping for pictures!

 

I've had my hair and makeup done without trials when I've stood in friends' wedding and I've never had a problem until this past October which is why I'm now having anxiety!

 

Is it best to do a trial and if so did they charge?  How soon do I make an appointment for me and my girls?  Is it not worth it and I figure out a plan B??

 

I plan on reading all of the posts on here looking for other helpful hints and tips so thank you to all who already posted such wonderful feedback to help us newbies!!

[MichelleTC]

Hi Candi!

 

It looks like I will be getting married at DPA a few weeks before you, our date is April 23, 2014 - So Exciting!!

 

I am a little nervous about the hair and makeup as well, I will definitely be booking a trial before the wedding.

 

We chose the gold package as well, but I am going to try to change a few things about it. For example, I read that a few people have added extra time to their reception (which most people said they needed) in place of their cocktail hour - if you need a drink in between the ceremony and recpetion there are many bars to get one.. I may look into that.

 

My biggest concern is finding a photographer. Pictures are so important to me, I have no idea who to choose for this. The resort photographer, an outside photographer or if I should bring someone along from home.

Anyone have suggestions?

[LindsayR]

Originally Posted by MichelleTC 

 

Hi Candi!

 

It looks like I will be getting married at DPA a few weeks before you, our date is April 23, 2014 - So Exciting!!

 

I am a little nervous about the hair and makeup as well, I will definitely be booking a trial before the wedding.

 

We chose the gold package as well, but I am going to try to change a few things about it. For example, I read that a few people have added extra time to their reception (which most people said they needed) in place of their cocktail hour - if you need a drink in between the ceremony and recpetion there are many bars to get one.. I may look into that.

 

My biggest concern is finding a photographer. Pictures are so important to me, I have no idea who to choose for this. The resort photographer, an outside photographer or if I should bring someone along from home.

Anyone have suggestions?

Hi Candi!

 

Congrats!! I'm getting married at DPA in June and visited the resort last year. I looove it there. When I was down there I saw four weddings. I was told that all the brides used the hair and makeup from the resort and they all looked fabulous. Also, I have booked an outside photographer for the wedding. If you are looking for a photographer please look into Gonzalo Nunez. He takes amazing photos and is VERY reasonably priced! He also is extremely nice and gets back to you in emails very quickly! Good luck with your wedding planning!!!

[jrack]

Originally Posted by Lovesnick 

 

Thanks for all of the ideas ladies! Ashley your stuff looks super cute, seems like blue is a popular destination color scheme! All the stuff you picked out looks great, you will have to let us all know how it turned out! Did Jacki tell you all what types of tables there are? ie how do you know sizes, etc of things to get?

I would also love some sizing info and on what is included (and what types of extra decorations brides will have to bring).