Now Amber Resort in Puerto Vallarta Brides

[Kyliewylie]

Can anyone offer any input on the dj from the hotel? We are not sure what to do about our music and whether we should:

a) use the dj from the resort

b ) hire an outside dj (and if so, does anyone have any recommendations of soemone they have used?)

c) just plug an ipod into the sound system we are renting from the Now Amber

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated from brides or guests who have been to the Now Amber!

Edited November 9, 2014 by Kyliewylie

[cassiamiller]

Hello,

 

We just made a playlist on our iPhone and plugged it into the sound system. It worked out fine plus we didn't have to spend money on a DJ. There are some neat DJ apps too for making playlists that you could check out.

We ended up having our reception in the foyer of the banquet hall area. It is really nice with tile floor and floor to ceiling windows. We had 50 guests and everyone fit nicely. The best part is there is AIR CONDITIONING!

Hello,

 

We just made a playlist on our iPhone and plugged it into the sound system. It worked out fine plus we didn't have to spend money on a DJ. There are some neat DJ apps too for making playlists that you could check out.

We ended up having our reception in the foyer of the banquet hall area. It is really nice with tile floor and floor to ceiling windows. We had 50 guests and everyone fit nicely. The best part is there is AIR CONDITIONING!

Hello,We just made a playlist on our iPhone and plugged it into the sound system. It worked out fine plus we didn't have to spend money on a DJ. There are some neat DJ apps too for making playlists that you could check out.We ended up having our reception in the foyer of the banquet hall area. It is really nice with tile floor and floor to ceiling windows. We had 50 guests and everyone fit nicely. The best part is there is AIR CONDITIONING!

[Cadavenport429]

@@Kyliewylie

 

Hi,

 

We actually hired the in-house DJ, since we didn't want to be bothered with setting up equipment or not having someone to MC for certain parts. We sent him whatever particular songs we wanted (or any that we absolutely didn't want) in advance. He was great, actually, and also took requests from some of our guests! Since we rented the sound system for the ceremony, we ended up getting a deal on the sound system for the day + the DJ for the cocktail hour/reception. We originally had our reception set up for the La Vista Terrace but there were storm clouds moving in that day and it was unbearably hot and humid, so we moved it inside the buffet restaurant. This was great, as the entire walls were glass (similar to @cassiamiller), but guests could walk out onto the covered terrace for fresh air. 

 

Good luck and congratulations!!!

[calgarybride2015]

Really? How many bridesmaids do you have? I was quotes like $75 or maybe it was $65 for hair?

 

 

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Hope your wedding was fantastic yesterday! Let us know how it went

 

 

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[kimmyd2]

Hi just wondering if anyone knows the price for a day pass to this resort, were going to a wedding in feb and staying at a different resort but would like to visit friends here for the day

Thank you

[cassiamiller]

Hi just wondering if anyone knows the price for a day pass to this resort, were going to a wedding in feb and staying at a different resort but would like to visit friends here for the day

Thank you

If I remember correctly, I think between $100-$150 CAD for a day pass.

[kimmyd2]

If I remember correctly, I think between $100-$150 CAD for a day pass.

thanks for the reply!  I finally heard back from the now amber concierge and they said it is only $65 for the day which is all we need not the whole day and night, which is probably more like 150 as you mentioned.  

[Melimel]

Hi ladies

I originally had my wedding booked at Dreams PV and with all the changes I have moved to the Now Amber - we had no choice. Our wedding is late April 2014. 

 

I was on a work trip in November and managed to switch the wedding the day we left so I ended up booking a room for night at Now Amber since we were close by. 

 

The beach locations / gazebo are not as great as Dreams PV would have been, but something I will have to get over. I am having ceremony at the Gazebo overlooking the beach but have some requests to make the area more private (remove the loungers on beach in front,use the grass area with the palapas beside the gazebo for the cocktail hour for more privacy. We are having the reception at the La Vista Terrace as it is more private and less noisy. 

 

Since I was there I have photos of ALL these areas, if you want to provide me with an email I could send you some (I did a detailed review for someone I knew who was also looking at this resort). 

 

I am starting from scratch with the planning since I had everything done at Dreams PV, hoping to have everything firmed up by mid February, we currently have 50 guests but a few still looking to book. 

Hello! I am getting married at the Now Oct 9.2015 and I would love to see the pictures you took! Can you please email them to me? m.gonzaoregel@@gmail.com  Thanks!

[Melimel]

I just got home last weekend from our wedding at the Now Amber. I haven't had a chance to do up a full on review but I certainly will shortly. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask!

 

I will try to summarize as much as I can for the time being and will let everyone know once I post a full review! We had our ceremony at the Gazebo, in my opinion that is the best location to have it. I saw others on the beach and it wasn't quite as intimate because the beach is so big. Also you do get a few people wandering in the background, at least the Gazebo is set up slightly from the beach so while we had a few people in the background of our photos I never felt like they were close enough to be watching us. Also to mention about the gazebo was most people get there by walking through the hotel lobby and then through the pool area, when we arrived we noticed there was a stone path that lead to beside the hotel, I asked if we could enter from there and Fatima said of course. Mind you the trek to get there is fabulous, you have to walk down the super steep driveyway at the hotels entrance and then walk along the side of the hotel (picture garbage bags and old See-Doos) so that part isnt very glamourous, but it meant you entered the ceremony from the side which is much more private, rather than walking beside the very busy pool to get there. It's worth taking a look at it when you get there because Fatima wasn't suggesting it as an option.

 

We had our reception on the La Vista Terrace, again this isn't an option that is disclosed but I heard about it on these forums and inquired and they said yes it's an option. Again in my opinion this is the best spot, but I am probably biased . I saw weddings on the pool deck and its so out in the open that it didn't seem very private. The beach was quite nice as well but a bit windy while we were there. The Terrace is nice because it is surrounded by trees and plants so you feel like your seperated from everywhere else. Although be warned, it is quite close to the lobby and you can in fact hear and see everything happening on the Terrace from the Lobby. But I didn't care! The food was awesome at the wedding, we had forgotten to request additional meals for our photographers but Fatima was able to whip up two more meals for us and didn't charge us which I really appreciated (This was a welcome suprise since I was starting to get the nickle and diming feeling by the time the wedding finally rolled around). After the reception ended we went to the music lounge to continue the party until 1:00 and then headed to bed.

 

Some tips/thoughts on the day:

We had not paid for the speakers for the ceremony, but I would highly recommend it. There actually ended up being speakers at the ceremony, I'm not sure why, perhaps just a mistake.... but I was glad they were there. The waves are quite noisy, we only had a group of 25 people but I think it was still necessary.

Make sure you understand what is included in your contract. I had been emailing Fatima and asking her when our music could go until and she kept telling me 11, however when we got there she kindly reminded me that our package only went until 10 but you COULD have music til 11 if you paid for it. So we compromised and cut the cocktail hour down to a half hour and had to fork out $250 to extend our reception for a half hour to get to 11:00. I was less than thrilled, so just make sure you know what you are getting.

All of my flowers turned out beautifully, as did my hair and makeup which I had done at the salon as part of my wedding package. Included in the package was a couples massage and to be honest, that alone made the upgraded package worthwhile. You get access to their hydrotheraphy pools for an hour and it was fantastic, super relaxing! Because of the package we selected I had access to the Bridal Suite for the afternoon. There was lots of room in there for my Bridesmaids to get ready and for us to get dressed, but be aware you can't leave anything in there to be picked up the next day, so make sure you arrange for someone to stop by 20 minutes before the wedding to take all your stuff up to a room.

We brought some of our own decorations and were told the reception area would be set up at 3:30 for us to put out our decorations. I had my dad setting the stuff up before the ceremony at 5:00, well needless to say at 4:30 the tables still weren't up... Not sure I have a solution for this problem, maybe just bank on having someone set your stuff up between the ceremony and the reception?

We paid for the bonfire on the beach, and in my opinion it was totally worth it. We had 25 people and we just paid for the base package which included food for 20, that was plenty for us we didn't bother paying the additional cost for the extra five people. They supplied marshmellows and melted chocolate and cookies. We brought down chocolate bars and graham crackers for people to make smores and it was awesome. You had your own waitstaff for two hours and they lay out bamboo mats around the chairs for you to walk on. We did it from 8-10 which was the latest we could have it, and in my opinion I wouldnt recommend having it any earlier. For the first half hour we were thinking we are nuts why did we do this, it is still so hot outside and we are sitting around a fire?! But once the sun went down it was much nicer. ALthough this of course will change during the year if the sun sets earlier you might want to start it earlier.

We paid for photography through PhotoShoots Vallarta, our photographer was Eva, she was awesome and we have lots of great photos. We used the in house photographers for the hour that was incluyded in our package to take some group/family photos.

 

I can't think of anything else to highlight, but if you have any questions let me know!

I will try to help out as best I can, I just got home from my wedding at the Now Amber. We did not pay for the dancefloor and had no problems. Our reception was on the La Vista Terrace not on the pool deck, but I don't think it would matter. We had the tables set up so that it made a very clear dancing area so that wasn't a problem. So I wouldn't worry about the dancefloor being an issue.

 

I had my ceremony at the gazebo, I wore wedge sandals so I didn't even think about the issue of your heels getting caught. I know my mother in law wore heels so it must have been okay. Looking back at my pictures now that you ask the wooden planks appear to be very close together so I don't think it would be an issue.

 

We brought some of our own decorations in for the reception. Table numbers, guest book, escort cards and some pictures. I had my dad set stuff up because I didn't even want to know how much they were going to charge to do that. We brought maracas and had them sitting on the chairs at the ceremony, I just had my husband do that part since they were at the ceremony location first. Not a big deal for us. We paid for the additional "gauzes" for the Gazebo, they look nice but if I could do things over again I would not pay for them. They were expensive and I didn't even notice them during the actual ceremony, infact they were constantly in our wedding parties faces haha!

 

Also for your previous post about the Bridal Suite, I do think it is only available for those getting their hair and makeup done at the hotel, but you could always email the spa and ask. They might allow you to rent it (for a fee of course!) if you aren't having your stuff done there. The woman I was talking to at the spa was Lisbeth, she was extremely helpful and always got back to me quickly [email protected]

 

If anyone is interested in photos just send me your email and I will send you some!

Hi Christina,

 

I have lots of photos from our recent wedding, if you want you can send me your email address and I would be more then happy to send you some! We have lots from our wedding photographer but some good ones from our personal camera that show the resort layout.

 

Stacey

Hello Stacey!

I am getting married in Oct and I would love to see your pictures! All the ones I find on trip adviser ect.  are of the hotel and beach but not a wedding! My email is m.gonzaoregel@@gmail.com

 

Thanks You, Melissa

[Chawrela]

Hi everyone!

 

Wow this thread is AMAZING! Thank you!!

 

Question for everyone: if I were to book my group for Now Amber but have ceremony and reception off site, will the hotel still accommodate special things for guests such as a welcome party, etc. the bonfire sounds amazing too would love to hear prices for it! Has anyone done something similar with holding the events offsite?

 

Thanks in advance!

Chelsea