DREAMS PUERTO VALLARTA "thread"

[ashleydawn85]

Question- what kind of drinks are served at cocktail hour and at the wedding receptions? Is there a private bartender? Or do waiters come around and ask people what drinks they would like? Did anyone have a "signature" cocktail for their wedding? Or a round of tequila shots? Any feedback on this would be appreciated  

[kerrib]

They had giant cookies and this fondu style melted chocolate. It was nice and I didn't mind it not being traditional smores. I wouldn't worry about it.

Originally Posted by AliMcBaal 

KerriB -

Did you bring graham crackers / chocolate down to make s'mores or did you just use what Dreams provided to you at the bonfire?

I did the big lawn signs. Packed them on the bottom of the large suitcases. I left my sign holder there that I purchased with my sign from vistaprint. Ask Fatima if she still has it, you can use it.  I left ALLLL of my decorations there: 8 sets of 3 tall cylinder vases (each different size), 40 off white pillar candles (never lit) each different sizes, shells - white or champagne, green rocks (went in the vases with the candles), table number holders (shells with a tall wire number holder - champagne color). If anyone wants to use any of it, ask Fatima, I told her to let other brides use it because I wasn't lugging it back with me.

Originally Posted by mllek1986 

Kerrib - Did you buy the small or large lawn sign? did it fit in your luggage?

Went to the fiesta. It was really fun and the food was great! But, I would not incorporate it into your wedding. It isn't private or intimate feeling.

Originally Posted by b gardner 

Did anyone go to the mexican fiesta? how was it?

The fiesta is the same night as our wedding so we are thinking about possibly incorrporating that into our time line of things but only if its worth incorrporating. lol

input greatly appreciated.

 

See above!

I'd stick to the dinner and bonfire. We did that and it was so great!

Originally Posted by b gardner 

When you previously visited the resort, How was the fiesta? was the food good? were their lots of activities worth being there for?

Im contemplating doing dinner at oceana restaurant (just thier basic menu- eleane has said they will set up the tables for us) or im debating doing the mexican fiesta but i dont want to do the mexican fiesta for dinner if its cheesy and boring) after dinner we are doing a bonfire which im REALLY excited about.

Ours went longer than 4 hours but we were never charged they just allowed the rest of the resort guests to come in if they wanted after 10:30. No one really came in, so it wasn't a big deal. We left at 2 am and the bar was still open, but mind you we were in the sports bar.

Originally Posted by mllek1986 

Question for all you past brides:

For those of you who had a reception longer than the 4 hours, did you pay for the extra hours of bar service or did you just have people run to the nearest bar to get drinks after the 4 hours was up?

They hand make their margaritas. Ask for top shelf tequlia and tell them to make it a double other wise it is weak and too sweet (I'm not an alchy - all their drinks are weak, I guess it saves money). Also, the taste depended on what bar and what day it was. they were usually good but always tasted different.

Originally Posted by b gardner 

Does anyone know what kind of margarita's they make? One of my guests is asking if they are the premade ones out of the slushi machines or if they are blended at the resort like a good ol' fashion margarita? (haha)

Cocktail was an open bar, you can order anything. The bartender is private for you wedding and they have people walking around taking orders, too. If you order a signature drink, it isn't extra. However, a round of tequlia shots for the entire wedding is an extra charge just like getting a champagne toast for the entire wedding would be.

Originally Posted by ashleydawn85 

Question- what kind of drinks are served at cocktail hour and at the wedding receptions? Is there a private bartender? Or do waiters come around and ask people what drinks they would like? Did anyone have a "signature" cocktail for their wedding? Or a round of tequila shots? Any feedback on this would be appreciated  

 

[danasb788]

Question for all of the past Dreams brides.....did any of you get maracas for your reception?  Where did you get them from?  Did you have them personalized?

 

Also, would you recommend bringing our own decorations vs using Dreams' decorations they send as options?  Everything seems so expensive!

 

Thanks!!! 

 

[mllek1986]

Thanks for your help, your pictures are wonderful. Dazzling Details did an amazing job!!

The barracuda bar is fairly close to the Seaside beach where our reception will be so I didn't know if it was just a better idea to cut the $15 extra a person at the end of the night and have people go get their own drinks or just suck it up and pay for it. I think you're right though that we don't want people constantly gone getting drinks and this way they can't pick up any stragglers at the bar and bring them back haha. Yes I think I will just suck it up and pay... you only get one chance so do it right! Thanks again.
 

Originally Posted by ee2eg 

I believe we paid for the additional time. Our reception was held under a huge palapa (I think it's also used as one of the restaurants) on the far side of the resort and we did not want people leaving to get drinks. I think everyone- including the oldies drank! We also did not want to encourage wedding crashers. If you are on the other side, guests may not have to go as far though. This link takes you to some of our wedding pics. The last image is our wedding video trailer and it kind of shows the side we were on & the reception site.

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2011/07/11/puerto-vallarta-wedding-by-tara-swain-photography-the-dazzling-details/

 

You will LOVE Dreams. They took such great care of me & I know they will take care of you too. And I'll be sure to send happy thoughts your way because your wedding is on my birthday! Happy wedding planning!

 

[MissJuliaDana]

Dreams2011, thank you so much for your reply. I completely agree, and I do think I will move everything up a little. Ill just put something in the OOT bags that says the ceremony time has changed. I don't want to rush through a meal and whatnot. Quick question though, what did your guests do while yall were doing photos and such? If the ceremony is 2 hours before the cocktail hour, and what do the guests do while the wedding party is photographing? 

 

[Dreams2011]

Well they can relax, have a few drinks, socialize, enjoy the atmosphere... I wouldn't really worry about it, they will find something to occupy their time. Or you could move your cocktail hour up and break up your photo session (that's what we did). We had our bride/groom photos after the ceremony, then had cocktail hour, then had the group photos, then dinner. That way there is not as much 'down' time for the other guests. Also, some guests will enjoy watching your photo session. If you can breakup the photo sessions with moving your cocktail hour up (and want to of course) that would be my suggestion.
 

Originally Posted by MissJuliaDana 

Dreams2011, thank you so much for your reply. I completely agree, and I do think I will move everything up a little. Ill just put something in the OOT bags that says the ceremony time has changed. I don't want to rush through a meal and whatnot. Quick question though, what did your guests do while yall were doing photos and such? If the ceremony is 2 hours before the cocktail hour, and what do the guests do while the wedding party is photographing? 

 

 

[kerrib]

I brought down my own maracas...silly I know but I thought it was worth it. I didn't want to spend my time down there scrambling around trying to get decorations and then maybe never even find what I had in mind. I got a good deal on "medium" sized maracas from this website http://www.amols.com/catalog/product/MX702 there were all different sizes and colors, but this was most affordable and it wound up looking really great at our wedding. They were only $1.65 for 2. We ordered a few extra just in case, and luckily we did, 2 handles were broken off in our suitcases, but we just glued them back on and you couldn't tell. We tied on little tags with that maraca saying. As for additional decor, I would not go crazy, it is so beautiful there that you don't need to go all out. I wanted candles galore and since Dreams was so expensive I bought a bunch from Ikea and some vases to put them in. It was a lot to travel with, so keep that in mind.

What were you thinking about for decor? Maybe that would help ppl give you insight on if you should bring stuff down or not.

Originally Posted by danasb788 

Question for all of the past Dreams brides.....did any of you get maracas for your reception?  Where did you get them from?  Did you have them personalized?

 

Also, would you recommend bringing our own decorations vs using Dreams' decorations they send as options?  Everything seems so expensive!

 

Thanks!!! 

 

 

[b gardner]

Just wondering if the Dreams charges a fee for room service, it says 24 hour room service and i cant see anything stating extra fee's may apply but i was just looking at another resot and it said there would be an extra $10 for room service. Also wondering if there is a charge for using alcohol and other drinks that are stocked in the mini fridges? Again you would think not however i just seen a note on another resort stating that fee's apply on drinks from the mini fridge in room.

Wanted to clarify before my guest end up with extra fee's- this way i can prewarn them if there are extra fee's.

[SarahBen2011]

Dreams PV is free room service and the mini fridge is free / included as well!

[danasb788]

Thanks Kerri!  I will have to check them out.  Not even really sure what I want for decorations...maybe some simple flower center piece or maybe candles?? or both?  lol i have no idea.......
 

Originally Posted by kerrib 

I brought down my own maracas...silly I know but I thought it was worth it. I didn't want to spend my time down there scrambling around trying to get decorations and then maybe never even find what I had in mind. I got a good deal on "medium" sized maracas from this website http://www.amols.com/catalog/product/MX702 there were all different sizes and colors, but this was most affordable and it wound up looking really great at our wedding. They were only $1.65 for 2. We ordered a few extra just in case, and luckily we did, 2 handles were broken off in our suitcases, but we just glued them back on and you couldn't tell. We tied on little tags with that maraca saying. As for additional decor, I would not go crazy, it is so beautiful there that you don't need to go all out. I wanted candles galore and since Dreams was so expensive I bought a bunch from Ikea and some vases to put them in. It was a lot to travel with, so keep that in mind.

What were you thinking about for decor? Maybe that would help ppl give you insight on if you should bring stuff down or not.