DREAMS PUERTO VALLARTA "thread"

[aprilmay]

I'm still lurking!  Currently re-reading this entire thread to pick up anything I might have missed before I ask any more dumb questions. 

 

I'm still stuck on the sound equipment.  It's hard to bring myself to pay $300 just to have speakers & a mic set up. I kinda want to just buy a Bose outdoor stereo and hook up my ipod with some playlists for the dinner & reception. (We're having the mexican trio for the appy hour). Just not sure if we'd need a mic for everyone to hear our vows.  There's only 35 guests and we're getting married at the gazebo so I'm wondering if everyone could get close enough to hear.

 

I'm only on page 42/115 so I still might get to it!

[gowiththeflow]

hey Aprilmay!  I feel you - it's really hard to get through this whole thread and then actually REMEMBER what you read!  I use the search function a lot.  Plus, sometimes prices and such have changed since your question was asked, you know?  But at the very least, you get an idea of what you are looking for, and most of the time, so much more!

 

Im undecided on the music as well. On one hand, I like the idea of using an iPod.  We would probably just give in and rent the equipment if we did that. But i still really would like a DJ. I just worry that people won't dance and it will be a waste! I love dancing, some of my BMs not so much. I actually told them all that part of their "job" description is to get the party started and people moving! I might be a bit bridezilla about the whole dancing thing!!

[miss_delerium]

 

 

Originally Posted by aprilmay 

 

I'm still stuck on the sound equipment.  It's hard to bring myself to pay $300 just to have speakers & a mic set up. I kinda want to just buy a Bose outdoor stereo and hook up my ipod with some playlists for the dinner & reception. (We're having the mexican trio for the appy hour). Just not sure if we'd need a mic for everyone to hear our vows.  There's only 35 guests and we're getting married at the gazebo so I'm wondering if everyone could get close enough to hear.

Yeah...I'm having this same debate. I don't want a DJ, but I don't know if we should just buy/bring some Bose speakers, or pay for their sound equipment. I'm worried about people hearing the ceremony if there's no mic due to wind/waves background noise (we're getting married at the gazebo too).

 

FI & I are kinda music snobs too, so there will be NO country music, NO YMCA, NO Chicken Dance (you get the picture), so I'm kinda worried that no one is even going to dance and then we will have wasted $300 for the sound equipment. Also there's only going to be about 20 people or so...so is it dumb to even have a "dance" with that little people??

 

FI suggested as it gets closer, we ask people for "requests" (with us having veto rights) to help make a playlist that people will like.

 

[khannan]

I am getting married at Dreams on May 9, 2011 and we also had our initial contact through Samantha.  I would email and not get a response for 2 weeks.  I recently asked that Rebeca take over planning for our wedding and she has been wonderful.  I have had many email conversations with her in the last 5 days.  She has sent me the menus for food selection.  I did not know that you could mix and match the menus to make up what you are going to have served for dinners, but you can.  She has been so helpful and responsive to my questions.  If you are thinking of making the switch, I say go for it.  You will not be sorry.     

 

Originally Posted by m1984 

Hey guys!

we are now officially booked at Dreams PV for May 24, 2011. I'm a little concerned though as my main contact has been Samantha, and she is the group coordinator and I know that Rebecca is the usual wedding coordinator. Should I be worried? Rebecca was CCed originally when I first put in the request, but I stopped emailing her since my initial email came from Samantha. Should I be communicating with Rebecca instead? I'm already a little worried since she said the gazebo can fit up to 80 ppl and I have read reviews where 50 is tight.....

Has anyone dealt with Samantha for planning their wedding?

[allyson779]

We are also total music snobs.  We decided to prepare a detailed play list and hire a DJ (which includes the sound system for both ceremony and reception).  I was a little bit worried after reading reviews from past brides about the DJ the resort provides so I decided to go out on my own and hired: DJ Ricardo from DJ Systems. I actually found out about him in the Cabo forum and saw all the rave reviews.  He is originally from PV and currently lives in Cabo, but is still willing to DJ events in PV area.  So far (knock on wood) he has been awesome to work with.  Here is their link if anyone is interested and I will also include his services in my review after our wedding.

http://djsystem.com.mx/index.php/home.html

 

Also, we're going to pay for everything using a credit card. You might want to check with your credit card company because the conversion fees differ from card to card and let them know you will be making a large purchase out of the country to see if the conversion fee (%) can be waived or capped.  (We did this with American Express)

 

Random question time....

So we are completely on the fence when it comes to having a videographer for our wedding...is it worth paying extra for the reception?

Past and Future Brides....are you or did you video tape the ceremony and the reception or just the ceremony?    Did you use the videographer provided by Dreams (through the wedding package) or outside vendor?  How did your video turn out?   

 

Thanks so much as always!

[1elephant]

 

Originally Posted by gowiththeflow 

Thanks Lauren! Yeah, it all depends what the exchange rate at the time is if we will be too upset. Ill make sure I ask Rebecca beforehand.  Lauren, do you remember if Dreams had supplies for centerpieces( I know they have votives and flowers and stuff) like silver beads or stones to put in the votives? I want an accent of silver in the centerpieces and flowers, so thinking ahead of what I need to bring.

 

This thread is so quiet lately! Anyone have news? Maybe all the brides that were so active before got married and are gone (well most!)

 

there was virtually nothing there when i was there, and i left my stuff there - never to be seen again...i knew what i wanted, so i brought everything, but i also had the baggage room and family members to help me...i'm sure they have some stuff now, but i'd ask rebeca to be VERY specific - ask for pictures - so you know what is available.
Quote:

Originally Posted by allyson779 

We are also total music snobs.  We decided to prepare a detailed play list and hire a DJ (which includes the sound system for both ceremony and reception).  I was a little bit worried after reading reviews from past brides about the DJ the resort provides so I decided to go out on my own and hired: DJ Ricardo from DJ Systems. I actually found out about him in the Cabo forum and saw all the rave reviews.  He is originally from PV and currently lives in Cabo, but is still willing to DJ events in PV area.  So far (knock on wood) he has been awesome to work with.  Here is their link if anyone is interested and I will also include his services in my review after our wedding.

http://djsystem.com.mx/index.php/home.html

 

Also, we're going to pay for everything using a credit card. You might want to check with your credit card company because the conversion fees differ from card to card and let them know you will be making a large purchase out of the country to see if the conversion fee (%) can be waived or capped.  (We did this with American Express)

 

Random question time....

So we are completely on the fence when it comes to having a videographer for our wedding...is it worth paying extra for the reception?

Past and Future Brides....are you or did you video tape the ceremony and the reception or just the ceremony?    Did you use the videographer provided by Dreams (through the wedding package) or outside vendor?  How did your video turn out?   

 

Thanks so much as always!

i think that's a personal decision - will you ever watch it? dh and i knew we wouldn't, so it would have been a waste for us. we watched the ceremony video once, and that was enough for about 10 years. ours was the one that came in our package. it's ok - i wouldn't use the same guy if i had to pay for it, but idk if he's still there, if the quality of paid work would be different, etc.

 

my photographer, on the other hand - his pictures are worth more than any video i could have gotten. maybe if you have a fabulous photographer, it could help your decision...? good luck!

 

[autjo]

Hi Girls!

 

gowiththeflow ~ If you have something specific in mind for your deco, I wouldn't chance it with Dreams supplies. Figure out stuff that is easy to put in luggage and just bring it with you. Also, if you want it back make sure you have someone in your group in charge of picking it up. I asked some of my girlfriends to gather all of my deco afterwards and then had Rebeca in charge to get it back to me.... I only ended up with half of the stuff I brought. Sux, but I have a feeling that is just how it goes.

 

Allyson ~ We just used the videographer for the ceremony that was included in the package. It was really nice to watch the video a couple nights after the big event and we used it at our AHR. IMO O probably wouldn't pay for the reception because people just end up too drunk and I didn't want that on video. The only thing I wish that I had video of is when we jumped in the pool.

[gowiththeflow]

Thanks everyone for the decoration tips.  I have a feeling I will bring most of it.  She did email a few centepiece pics, so I know the vases I want are available.  I will definitely get pics of anything specific.  I hate to pay, but oh well. Im more worried about the silver stones I want in them.  That will be pretty heavy to bring down!!

 

Allyson - I can't wait to hear how the dj was. DO you remember his charge? And is Dreams making you pay a vendor fee? What photag are you using?

 

I personally think the included videographer will be enough for us for the ceremony.  I wouldn't pay extra, but I figure it will be nice to show anyone who can't come and want to see it. 

 

So my latest worry is our engagement pics.  We got them done in the end of June in Playa del Carmen.  The contract says he has til the 25th(2 days) to get them to us.  I emailed him twice just to find out progress and the responses did not make me feel better.  He has good reviews on this website, so fingers crossed!  I just really want the pics! Now Im getting worried that they are super ugly and that is why it is taking so long. 

[simplnsweet]

Past Brides...we were just told by Rebecca that with our package-Love, (2nd one), we are only going to have 4 hours of drink service. After that it would be extra or else our guest would have to go to the bar to get their own drinks. Eg have our service at 4 till 4:30, then service would be from 4:30 -8:30 after that????Lauren, Autumn did you have a problem with this?

[allyson779]

 

Originally Posted by gowiththeflow 

Thanks everyone for the decoration tips.  I have a feeling I will bring most of it.  She did email a few centepiece pics, so I know the vases I want are available.  I will definitely get pics of anything specific.  I hate to pay, but oh well. Im more worried about the silver stones I want in them.  That will be pretty heavy to bring down!!

 

Allyson - I can't wait to hear how the dj was. DO you remember his charge? And is Dreams making you pay a vendor fee? What photag are you using?

 

I personally think the included videographer will be enough for us for the ceremony.  I wouldn't pay extra, but I figure it will be nice to show anyone who can't come and want to see it. 

 

So my latest worry is our engagement pics.  We got them done in the end of June in Playa del Carmen.  The contract says he has til the 25th(2 days) to get them to us.  I emailed him twice just to find out progress and the responses did not make me feel better.  He has good reviews on this website, so fingers crossed!  I just really want the pics! Now Im getting worried that they are super ugly and that is why it is taking so long. 

I am using Mishka as my planner and she included the DJ in her total fee. (I don't think the DJ was very expensive).  You might want to just email directly for pricing..he is very responsive from the few emails we exchanged. 

We lucked out with regards to the vendor fee and did not have to pay it.  We signed our contract last year  under the old contract.

Yea totally agree with you about the videographer I think we will just use the one with the package and not pay extra.

Good luck with the photos...sure they will turn out great.