DREAMS PUERTO VALLARTA "thread"

[autjo]

For the wedding and reception I budgeted a $20-50 tip for the following (to be on the safe side):

WC

DJ

Photog

Officiant

Bartender

Waiters

Hair/Makeup

 

Since the wedding really isn't part of the AI, I think tips are probably a good idea. I'm going to ask one of the un-bridesmaids and her husband to be in charge of the envelopes for everyone except the WC and photog. If Rebeca can't accept a tip I'm going to bring a gift (wine, bath & body gift basket).

 

As for the rest of the trip we'll bring a bunch of $ bills or even grab some pesos at the airport. I've been to a bunch of AIs and although tipping "is included" you always get better service if you are friendly with your staff and recognize their hard work. But it is Mexico and you will find the snotty waiters who expect a tip before serving you, I always say forget them and go to someone else!

[KarenM]

We're also planning on bringing a bunch of singles (same as Jessica) for tipping housekeeping, bartenders, wait-staff, spa (if I get my hair done there), while we're there.

 

And, like you, autjo I'm also planning on tipping all of the same people: officiant, dj, bar & wait-staff, photog -- although that's so expensive already I feel like she might laugh at my measly little tip

 

I definitely want to do something for Rebeca too since she's the wedding coordinator & thought about some nice body lotions/scrubs or something.

All this extra little stuff to worry about!

[J&MWedding]

Oh, that makes me feel better! Autumn - that sounds about right.

That price range sounds good. Our officiant is our friend, and we are just getting him a groomsmen gift, so that's taken care of.

So it's just Rebeca, Paulina, DJ, Waiter, Bartender - not too bad then.

I would LOVE to bring a bottle of wine for Paulina! My friend is the winemaker at Justin Winery in Paso Robles and I could get a majoy hook up! I've just never been a fan of flying with liquid like that.....I guess I could pick something up if I go out shopping anywhere. I like the idea of flowers too for her. she really has been really helpful.

[Jess]

you are supposed to tip your photographer after all the money you are spending with them I haven't heard that.

[ashey063009]

Hey Girls! Just wanted to poke in and say hey. I see the topic is tipping-- just a heads up. DH and I ended up tipping about $300 around the resort to bartenders / servers and tour bus drivers over the two weeks we were there. All $1 cuc bills (approx. $1 us) for the most part, but it still adds up.

 

Also-- Jess, I wouldn't think to tip the photog above and beyond current price (especially if you brought them with you and are paying a tidy sum already) Our resort photog offered us a free TTD-- that went AWESOME-- so we ended up tipping him $100 for spending the (extremely hot) afternoon with us for free.

 

As for Rebeca, it might be worth while to ask a few of the Dreams Brides that have been married there... maybe Lauren could give you some insight into it? I would imagine that gifts are just as sweet an appreciated-- but money is always the best option.

 

Anyhoo-- just wanted to poke in. Hope all is well in Dreams PV world.

 

xoxoxoxo

[autjo]

So here's my opinion on that. Take it for what it is worth!

 

Photog tipping etiquette varies pretty drastically. From what I can tell, it is not expected or mandatory. The option that I really like is a thank you card along with an offer to write a recommendation or be used as a reference. Or if your photog is from your home town a dinner invite when you pick up your pics is also an option. But if your photog doesn't own the company and does and outstanding job or does own the company and gives you free stuff, a tip would be appropriate. Also, its a good idea to wait until you get your photos before you tip or offer a recommendation... you've already paid in full for their services so no need to feel bad about waiting.

[J&MWedding]

I just had to send a shout out for Rebeca! She rocks I have to say. I emailed her questions last night and she responded by this morning. She is so efficient and straight forward in her responses too! I love it! My kind of planner!

 

FYI - if anyone else is making their own table runners, she said the diameter of the round tables is 2.5 mts would cover the diameter and sides of the table - thought I would share!

[smith3576]

We are not planning on tipping our photog as she owns her company, it's not cheap! and we are paying for her meals. I like the card/rec idea (and waiting until you get the pictures). We are definitely planning on bringing some money for tipping generally and recommended our guests consider it also (on our wedding website). We have read that pesos are appreciated so we plan to get pesos for that.

 

We are also having friends as the officiant and DJ, so they are getting gifts and we plan to do something similar for Rebecca as others have mentioned in lieu of money.

 

In terms of the wedding, how much have people tipped the waitstaff/barstaff at the reception (cocktail hour and sit down dinner)? I'm really not sure how much is appropriate. We have a small wedding, about 40 people, and the reception/cocktail hour will last 5 hours.

[1elephant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashey063009 Hey Girls! Just wanted to poke in and say hey. I see the topic is tipping-- just a heads up. DH and I ended up tipping about $300 around the resort to bartenders / servers and tour bus drivers over the two weeks we were there. All $1 cuc bills (approx. $1 us) for the most part, but it still adds up. Also-- Jess, I wouldn't think to tip the photog above and beyond current price (especially if you brought them with you and are paying a tidy sum already) Our resort photog offered us a free TTD-- that went AWESOME-- so we ended up tipping him $100 for spending the (extremely hot) afternoon with us for free. As for Rebeca, it might be worth while to ask a few of the Dreams Brides that have been married there... maybe Lauren could give you some insight into it? I would imagine that gifts are just as sweet an appreciated-- but money is always the best option. Anyhoo-- just wanted to poke in. Hope all is well in Dreams PV world. xoxoxoxo

ok i'm a HORRIBLE person. we didn't tip any bartenders that night - totally didn't even think about it, mostly b/c we didn't know what the situation was going to be, but also b/c we were preoccupied and i didn't exactly have my purse with me. i was also WASTED by tipping time and actually asked my parents to slip the dj a $20 b/c he stayed for an extra 30 minutes. i don't feel bad, though, because over the course of 2 weeks, we spent $200 in singles tipping the same people over and over - in addition to the 26 other adult guests tipping the same, if not more.
i don't remember what we tipped the hair/nails/makeup people, maybe $10-$20?
we sent gaby flowers b/c we didn't think that $ was appropriate, though it probably would have been more appreciated. she provided a free service; we didn't feel comfortable judging what to tip on top of that, but did spend $50 on flowers. we were not permitted to give her alcohol of any kind.
as for our photographer, we didn't tip him. we gave him a RAVING review (check out his site Vancouver documentary wedding photographer Rick Collins. Wedding and portrait photography in Vancouver, Victoria, British Columbia and worldwide. for the review) and got him a lot of business since. my BIL is using him in oct. and random people email us all the time for a recommendation. i think that's the best tip we can give him!

[subzero]

Just to add my two cents as well - we ended up spending about $400 on tips for the 9 days were were at Dreams.

 

A lot of that went to the bartenders, but we also tipped our waiters generously at dinner (they always let our party of 20-25 sit together which we know was a lot of work).

 

We tipped Rebeca $50, the fire dancers $100 and the reception bartenders $100. The fire dancers and bartenders got more because they had to split the tips. We forgot to tip the wedding assistant (Erica) who drove us around for the legal stuff and took care of the paperwork. I feel kind of bad about that because she was great.

 

But, I would add a reminder that tipping is considered to be "above and beyond" so you should feel free to use your own discretion. We were so happy with everything that Rebeca did (along with everyone else, for that matter) so we felt like giving them a generous tip was appropriate. Rebeca did seem a little surprised by the tip but she did accept it (wouldn't you?).