Dreams Palm Beach 2013 Brides

[AngelaR]

Hi hillsi722,

I am also a 2013 Bride... our wedding date is January 5/13. I am working with Johanna as well. She seems to be getting back to me fairly quickly. I got word today though that the poolside reception that I wanted is booked. I emailed her back today asking what our options are. I am not sure I want a beach reception... the ballroom does look really nice when it's all done up, and then atleast we won't have to pay for the dancefloor or lights! (they are expensive)....

Do you know which wedding paclage and reception area you are going for??

I feel kind of lost in this whole process.... it's hard to communicate through only emails.

[IslandBarbie]

Hi Ladies! 

 

I just recently got engaged and was TOO THRILLED to find this site and this forum!!!  WHAT A LIFE SAVER!!!!  I am SERIOUSLY considering DPB for our wedding (top 3)...thinking of anywhere from March - July, 2013 based on prices for airfare and rates at the resort during that time.

 

My hesitation with March is Spring Break and how crowded it might be.  HOWEVER, I am in Education and March would be PERFECT because we will be on break as well and can spend a few more days there.

 

It seems as though many of you are 100 steps ahead of me so ANY and ALL guidance is much appreciated!  Until last night I didn't even think about packing up and bringing in decorations for my table! LOL...

 

SO, if I am hearing everyone right (from past brides and some of you) the GAZEBO for the ceremoney and the POOLSIDE reception is the way to go?  Thoughts? 

[ahealey]

Hey ladies,

 

I just got married at DPB on April 20 and it was the best decision I have ever made!!!! :-) Let me start by saying that me and my **husband** lol.....are travellers we have really been around the world, stayed in a lot of nice places and eaten at some of the best restaurants....and we were impressed.... 

 

We had the ceremony at the wedding gazebo and the reception inside in the main ballroom (we had 65 people). I asked a lot of questions and since it is all still fresh in my head  - I will gladly try to answer any questions. Awilda wa my WC and she was amazing - they really do take care of everything once you get there - so organized!!

 

I reccomedn the inside location depending on what time you have you reception. There were still people at the pool till around 7 and it was too hot for us to sit outside!! Plus - you get your privacy - I liked that a lot! We paid extra to keep the bartenders and private room until 12 - Good decision! We had the gold sit down dinner - the food was excellent! We used DJ Mannia - he was good...and HDC photogaphy were amazing!! I would def recommend them!

 

The resort was BEAUTIFUL!!! The staff were so nice, the rooms were really nice - we stayed in the honeymoon suite for 2 weeks - it was perfect and huge! The food was amazing - the buffet was huge, all the restaurants were excellent.....I honestly liked them all!...but french and mexican were my fav!

 

If anyone has any questions - feel free to ask - I'll answer as best as I can!

[IslandBarbie]

I am so glad to get to chat with someone who recently experienced a wedding at DREAMS!  I have MANY questions:

 

1) We want a symbolic ceremony - do we really need to be there 3 days before?

2) We want to do the ceremony in the gazebo and then a cocktail reception with finger foods INSTEAD OF a sit down dinner.  Is that an option? What are the additional costs for the "after wedding" happenings?

3) What does that bouquet included in the packages look like?  Do they upgrade and personalize or do you get to sit down and pick everything?

4) Did you get to go to the Disco?  If so, what was that like?

5) I really just want to get an idea of per person costs, so anything you can tell me would be wonderful!!!  I am expecting roughly 40-50 people.

[ahealey]

Hey - I will answer all the questions you want. This forum really helped me and I want to give back! :-)

 1. no - you do not need to be there 3 days before for a symbolic ceremony - in fact we didn't actually get officially married until we returned home.

 

2. We did the wedding gazebo and cocktail hour and then a sit down dinner. We paid for the extra hours to keep the party going until 12, you can pay extra for bottles of champagne for an after ceremony toast (honestly champagne is free at the lobby bar right next to the wedding gazebo – it was an extra cost we didn’t need). I don’t know about finger foods instead of a dinner but I am sure they will accommodate. The finger foods for our cocktail hour were amazing!

 

3. If you send me your email address I can send you all the info the resort sent me – although they will send it to you when your date gets closer! It includes all the options for centerpieces, bouquets, boutonnieres, table settings, etc. I emailed awilda the bouquet I liked and she pretty much replicated it. I LOVED it! I paid an additional 70 and I got cala lilies and beautiful greenery. They sit down with you 3 days before the wedding and show you binders of all your options. But again if you email her what you like they are really good at making it happen.

 

4. We went to the disco a few nights – I was pretty good. Depending on the night. Some nights they only play Latin/Caribbean music – and I can only dance to that for a short while….., but a lot of wedding parties go there instead of paying extra money to keep their reception going for longer. However for an all inclusive it was a really nice disco!

 

5. Email e and I will send you all my info. I have spreadsheets, I think we paid 60 $ per head…this included a lot though.

• Champagne for after ceremony toast
• Private cocktail hour with hot and cold hors d’oerves
• Gold sit down dinner 4 course
• Private room
• Dance until 12
• Cake

This also included our bouquet upgrades, roses for moms and dads, day passes for  DJ and photographer, table overlays, chair bows (white is free), wooden dance floor, candles and LED lights for under the tables….

 

Hope this helps

A

[LindsayOO]

Hey ladies..just wondering if there is the option of doing the reception at one of the restaurants like the See & Sea? I would like to have something covered but still open air if that makes sense...anybody have any ideas?? Or are the only options beach, poolside and ballroom? Thanks!

[LindsayOO]

Just to clarify...so you added up what the total cost of your wedding was and divided between the amount of people you had & thats what the cost ended up being per person?? That's alot better then I thought!! and that was including DJ Mannias fees?? Is alcohol included or do you have to pay a fee per hour per person?? I am noticing alot of resorts charge that....

[IslandBarbie]

my email is [email protected].  I really appreciate your insight.  I am STILL waiting on them to email me back so I can pay my deposit to lock down the March 9th date...UGH!  Any direct emails to folks to get the ball rolling would be greatly appreciated as well!

 

You are an absolute doll...thank you for your help!!!

[cinnagirl]

Does anyone have any prices yet for 2013? My TA has come back with $1530 for May 25-June 1, 2013, and that's for the deluxe tropical view room flying out of Toronto. Just wondering if this is a good price or not. I think it's a reasonable price for a vacation, as that's generally what my fiance and I pay per person for any trip we've been on. Did anyone get anything lower?

[spaterson]

Hey Ladies!

I just got back from my wedding on Sunday and have to say that you are all in for a treat! I'll gladly help answer any questions you may have as well as this site was a life saver for me.

Two big bits of a advice: relax and enjoy!!! I am a planner by nature so it was hard to not be hands on with everything and handeling it all by email. Trust me: the team down there is amazing and they made everything happened exactly to my wishes, no stress needed. The only other thing is that if I could do it all over again I would have my wedding at the beginning of our time there. We got there Monday, most guests arrived Tuesday and Wednesday, and the wedding was on Friday, we left Sunday. I spent the first part of trip getting anxious about the wedding! Then Saturday came, everything was done, and I got to truly enjoy the resort and all our friends. Don't get me wrong I had lots of fun leading up to the wedding but it wouldn've been nice to get there, have the wedding a day or two later, and then say 4-5 days of total relaxation!

 

Happy Planning!