Rehearsal Dinners @ Dreams Los Cabos

[Ana]

We had everyone meet us at the lobby bar first at 7:30pm I think, and then we all walked over to El Patio. I think we had to wait about 15min for them to set up our tables and area. I had given them a heads up though. In the afternoon, as we were heading back up to our rooms to get ready I stopped by and just told them that we were going to have a big group of people. They couldn't take it as a reservation but they did make a note of it and tried not to seat people in that area before we arrived.

[TammyWright]

just my take on the private vs. non private dinner option.

 

i go to dreams every year with a big group (this year is about 30+) and i usually have a private event as well as just meet with groups for dinner.

 

yes, you can have your group go to a restaurant and have dinner together but:

1. there is no guarantee that the restaurant will be able to sit you together

2. if they can sit you together, it can be a very long wait

 

you may get lucky and the hotel may not be that full, or the restaurants may not be that full when you walk up but this is really rare.

 

if you are ok with possibly waiting a while and/or sitting apart you might want to take the chance.

 

for me personally, if i were to go an event, i want my guests to feel like i am making a special effort to make their trip memorable.

 

i would feel horrible if i planned an event and my guests showed up ready to be seated and for dinner and they had to wait even 15 minutes to get seated...i have families with kids and sometimes those extra minutes can mean alot.

 

ana, i think got a little lucky with her situation and i would not bet on it happening often.

[*Lo*]

Great info. I think I'd like to have a 'rehearsal' type dinner with our small wedding party and immediate family the evening before. It would be for about 15 people so I wasn't sure if they would want to set up a private event for a group that small. I don't mind paying the $29 pp though to ensure that we can all sit together etc.

[bnpear]

Our wedding at Dreams Los Cabos was on Friday, November 27th. Our wedding group was small (19 people total). We held our reheasal dinner the day before (Thanksgiving). We wanted to do something really special for our guests since a lot of them would be meeting for the first time and because we knew about the expenses they had to incur to attend the wedding. So we held a private "reheasal lunch" at Portofino's (before it opened for dinner) and had the entire restaurant to ourselves. They set up a beautiful italian buffet in the back patio of the restaurant with white linens/red overlays and white chair covers with red sashes. We also had a private bar area/bartender. We paid $20/pp.

[krebsler]

Thanks for the info Tammy! I just got back from a wedding in Puerta Vallarta and their rehearsal dinner was not private or reserved. We waiting over an hour for dinner and they still could not accommodate for our group of 20. We were all tired from traveling and extremely hungry. Right there and then, my FI and I made the executive decision that a private event is well worth the extra money. We do not want our guests to feel under appreciated. Not to mention, the extra couple hundred dollars is worth the peace of mind you will get for having everything organized and planned. Your guests' first impression is priceless if you ask me!

[Melissa14]

I'm getting married on 7/27/13 at Dreams in Cabo. Although, this thread was very helpful I just can't decide what to do for the rehearsal dinner. I can't get past the paying for food at an all inclusive resort.

[grice930]

just my take on the private vs. non private dinner option. Our guestlist would include 11 people. and, we are not too particular about having suh a private area, we were thinking of going to the restaurant and pay the waiter and whoever else that would assist us a generous tip. Does this sound like a good idea? Also, which restaurant do you recommend for seafood/sushi? And which restaurant do you reccomend my friends, who are Jewish that eat kosher ,can eat? i go to dreams every year with a big group (this year is about 30+) and i usually have a private event as well as just meet with groups for dinner. yes, you can have your group go to a restaurant and have dinner together but: 1. there is no guarantee that the restaurant will be able to sit you together 2. if they can sit you together, it can be a very long wait you may get lucky and the hotel may not be that full, or the restaurants may not be that full when you walk up but this is really rare. if you are ok with possibly waiting a while and/or sitting apart you might want to take the chance. for me personally, if i were to go an event, i want my guests to feel like i am making a special effort to make their trip memorable. i would feel horrible if i planned an event and my guests showed up ready to be seated and for dinner and they had to wait even 15 minutes to get seated...i have families with kids and sometimes those extra minutes can mean alot. ana, i think got a little lucky with her situation and i would not bet on it happening often.