Dreams Puerto Vallarta Brides 2012- 2014

[amysis]

Hey Ladies!  I'm so excited to see so many new messages (it's been awhile since I've hopped on here...too many wedding details that have needed attention!)

 

@KateG our weddings are just a week apart!  I'm so excited for you!  When do you leave the resort?  Would you be willing to give me a rundown after your big day?  And we are doing the Bonfire as our "rehearsal dinner".  I completely agree that it's pricey, but I didn't want to risk getting everyone together at a restaurant, and past brides at Dreams all say the bonfire is awesome.

 

@SLetendre I'll also give you an update on the weather this May

 

@Jenny2014 would you be willing to PM me the Photoshoots Vallarta info?

 

We are getting our details together and have pretty much everything under control other than the final guest count (common...people know by now if they're able to make the trip or not, but I still can't get commitments or declines from some people!) and a few details with the resort.  

 

Thought I'd let you ladies know (since I really struggled with this) that we are going to bring our own sound system (a portable Bose) and use a microphone app for both the ceremony and reception, which I am praying will be loud enough, but sounds great in my open back yard (and I live near an interstate, and we can still hear the system very well with the interstate background noise).  

 

Have you ladies given any thought into a dance floor?  I hate to spend so much money on one (we will be having our reception on the beach), but I'm not sure people will be too excited to dance on the sand.

[Jenny2014]

Originally Posted by Kate G 

 

Hi Brides! Nice to see a more recent Dreams PV thread made.

 

I am getting married there in two months (woohoo!), May 18th is our date. 

 

So I have a question and then also figured I'd share my experience in planning so far if it can be useful to anyone.

 

My question is, what are you guys planning to do as a welcome/rehearsal dinner? We decided the bonfire was more than we cared to spend, but I am nervous that trying to get our guests together and eat all in one place may be hard. Any suggestions? 

 

So my planning has gone pretty well..I started working with Eleane last May right after we got engaged and have been going full speed ahead ever since! I am using my own photographer and videographer from the U.S. (this is what is costing the most but I refuse to not have amazing photos and footage of the day, so to me it's worth it!) We just finally got about all of our RSVPs in and we are expecting 30 guests. I guess it's a decent turnout for a destination wedding, but it is kind of disappointing that 70+ invitees won't be there on the day We are just going to enjoy it though because when else have we had 30 of our friends and family go on vacation together?! 

 

I have been working with an outside vendor named Tamara (Details Vallarta) for the decor. She has been absolutely amazing and I feel like she's given us a fair price for everything (she's doing our flowers as well). The only thing I am making is a garland to hang around the gazebo for the ceremony, and I am bringing my own maracas that I'm ordering from here: http://www.amols.com/catalog/view?page=1&ss=Maracas%2C&t=Fiesta%2C. Also making the welcome bags.

We are using the mariachi band for cocktail hour (I downgraded from the Ultimate package to the Love package to accommodate for this) and are not using a DJ, just going to wing it on the iPod for the dancing. So we are pretty ready and getting excited as it grows closer each day! Good luck with the planning

 

Hi Kate!

 

Congrats!!!!! Your wedding is soooo close! I am so excited to see activity on this thread- I was worried there weren't any Dreams brides out there and I was going to be going it alone!

 

We are going to be doing the bonfire, so I can't help you there. Well, the intention is to do the bonfire... however, we are sitting down with my parents and FI's parents in the next two weeks to discuss the guest list, and we are already at 29 invites ourselves without the people they will probably want to add in. I am expecting roughly another 15-20 people from them, which pushes us to the even more expensive bonfire package, so we will see.

 

With 30 guests, I think you can put together a spot in the buffet for everyone- I remember from the email from Eleane that the buffet can accommodate about 50 people- maybe put together a dinner there?

 

I will be making my own decorations- just going to bring some fake flowers from home, some stones and immersible lights, and buy some clear vases/ big glasses while in PV for the tables. The prices top get decorations from the resort was just too much.

 

We're just going with the sound system as well, and bringing our iPod. Save a couple hundred bucks, why not.

 

Congrats again! Close friends of ours are getting married on May 18th of next year! Excited to follow your plans and see your beautiful pictures!

[Jenny2014]

Originally Posted by aschackart 

 

Hi ladies! We are getting married June 21st at Dreams PV and couldn't be more excited.

 

So far the wedding planning process has been as easy as could be expected. Fatima has just been amazing, really, she has always responded promptly to every email I've sent. For those of you having trouble getting ahold of Aventura photography, I just sent up a follow-up email saying I hadn't heard from them in (x) amount of weeks, and ever since then they've been very prompt with me. We did the package for $999 which includes the full day of shooting and 100 pictures. Honestly, I would have liked more pictures, but as crunch time approaches, apathy is setting in and I just want decisions to be made.

 

We're not dealing with outside vendors at all. All of the resort vendors received pretty good reviews on this site, so we're basically trusting them. Plus, you know, the apathy I mentioned above.

 

The pricing has been what I've expected so far...no terribly expensive but not a bargain. The most impressive thing so far was that the florist isn't charging us extra for hydrangeas, which I thought was pretty decent of them. I agree that $75 per person at an all-inclusive was not thrilling for me (really $85 with the extra cake and sparkling wine), but since we're only having 40ish guests total, it's not really that big of a deal.

 

We did a lot of things DIY- invitations, centerpieces, OOT bags, and instead of bridesmaid's bouquets, my mom is making fans for the bridesmaids to carry that will be decorated with flowers and ribbon and stuff.

 

For the rehearsal/welcome dinner, we're doing the bonfire like pretty much everyone else. Since the restaurants don't take reservations, I thought it would be too stressful to try and get all 40+ guests in the same restaurant at the same time. For the day after activity, we're taking everyone ziplining. Unfortunately canopy tours, which we've decided to go with, only allows 15 people per tour, so I think we're going to have to separate people into two groups since it seems like most people want to go.

 

I am doing a lot of DIY projects myself. As I am only having two bridesmaids, I am just going to order a couple more bouquets for them, just basic white roses, to keep the costs down. I am on the hunt to find a florist in PV who will give me a quote for blue orchid's though. The resort quoted me at $150-$180 for 12 stems of orchids, which I find absolutely ridiculous. I know orchids are expensive, but that is a bit much. I am okay with spending $100 for 12 stems, as I don't want that many orchids, but enough as I am basing my colours off of the orchid. And the real touch flowers I have seen just don't capture the vibrant blues and purples.

 

If any of you know of a florist who is giving quotes, let me know! I would just want to pick the flowers up while in PV and give them to the resort to add into the bouquet.

 

 

That is so amazing that you are doing the bonfire and ziplining for your guests! I wish my budget would allow for us to do something like that for our guests, but as we are staying for two weeks, that eats up any extra cash we would have to do something like that for our guests. Makes me feel like a bad bride, to see all the wonderful things you all are doing for your guests! So touching!

 

Can't wait to see how your planning is coming along! Congrats!!!!

[Jenny2014]

Originally Posted by SLetendre 

 

Hi Ladies!

 

As of today we are officially tying the knot at Dreams PV May 19th 2014, I'm so excited! Kate G would you might letting me know how the weather turns out for you guys after your wedding this May? I've found mixed reviews on how the weather is during May in PV, I'm hoping the rainy season doesn't start that early! (although I'm sure anything will be better than what the weather will be here in Edmonton during May)

 

I thought I remembered reading in one of the emails from Fatima that they will accommodate a reservation in one of the restaurants for a rehearsal dinner for up to 30 people. But maybe you guys are having too many people attend to take advantage of that option? The bonfire sounds like a lot of fun as well though!

 

Can't wait to hear how your guys' weddings go this year!

 

Welcome welcome fellow 2014 bride!

 

MY FI and I were in PV during the worst of the rainy season (September) and honestly, it was perfectly fine. It rained for about 20 minutes the first day, around 7 pm.

 

Then, it rained at around 4 pm on our anniversary, again, for about 20 minutes (we were up in the mountains, so it might not have even rained at the resort!). Otherwise, it rained overnight and into the early morning and was beautiful during the day. Hence why we aren't really worried about having our wedding there in September next year. We were there during that exact time and saw the weather. Of course, FI has now jinxed it and said we won't have beautiful weather and it will rain, so I could be completely wrong. However, you are right, even some rainy weather is better than anything we get out here! Your in Mexico, it's amazing!

 

I to am excited to see how our fellow Dreams brides weddings go this year!

 

Congrats!!!!!

[Jenny2014]

Ohh! I forgot to ask you brides- are any of you getting the bag of rose petals?

 

If not, are you bringing your own? Are we able to bring fake ones or does the resort not allow it?
 

[amysis]

Hi Jenny, I thought about rose petals for a second, but I figured they'd just blow away (real or fake).  I'm sure Eleane or whoever your point of contact is at the resort will be more than happy to give you info on the rose petals and answer your questions.  

 

I will say, throughout the entire planning process, the wedding coordinators at Dreams have been amazing.  I send Fatima several emails a week, and she usually gets back to me in just a few hours.  We'll see how the onsite stuff goes, but so far, I'm extremely happy with the team at Dreams.

[Kate G]

Originally Posted by Jenny2014 

 

 

Hi Kate!

 

Congrats!!!!! Your wedding is soooo close! I am so excited to see activity on this thread- I was worried there weren't any Dreams brides out there and I was going to be going it alone!

 

We are going to be doing the bonfire, so I can't help you there. Well, the intention is to do the bonfire... however, we are sitting down with my parents and FI's parents in the next two weeks to discuss the guest list, and we are already at 29 invites ourselves without the people they will probably want to add in. I am expecting roughly another 15-20 people from them, which pushes us to the even more expensive bonfire package, so we will see.

 

With 30 guests, I think you can put together a spot in the buffet for everyone- I remember from the email from Eleane that the buffet can accommodate about 50 people- maybe put together a dinner there?

 

I will be making my own decorations- just going to bring some fake flowers from home, some stones and immersible lights, and buy some clear vases/ big glasses while in PV for the tables. The prices top get decorations from the resort was just too much.

 

We're just going with the sound system as well, and bringing our iPod. Save a couple hundred bucks, why not.

 

Congrats again! Close friends of ours are getting married on May 18th of next year! Excited to follow your plans and see your beautiful pictures!

Thanks Jenny!! I appreciate your suggestions  

[aschackart]

If you find out the answer to this (about whether the resort allows you to bring your own) let us know! I found some really cheap online (like $2 a bag), so if they do allow you to bring your own, it might be worth it.

 

Also, I don't know if the other brides on here have seen the ceremony script that Dreams provides. Obviously, this is an intensely personal decision, but for us, we've decided to rewrite the script because it was a little too traditional for us- with sayings like a woman's greatest attributes are her beauty and intuition, and a man's greatest attributes are strength and courage. Again, not for us, and I thought I would put it out here in case anyone felt similarly.
 

[aild]

Jenny, thanks for creating this thread! So much better than searching through the other super long Dreams thread. We're getting married at Dreams PV on 10/04/13.. six months! Since youve been there during the rainy season, can you tell me how hot and humid it is both during the day and in the evening and night? My fiance is pretty worried about sweating and whatnot during the ceremony if he wears a suit jacket. Will it be really hot at around 5pm? What time did it usually start to rain when you were there? October is towards the end if the rainy season, but with our luck, it'll rain on our Las Palmas reception. Anything you can tell me about the weather during September/October would be appreciated. -Aileen

[aild]

Where did you find the petals for $2/bag? We told Fatima we'd be getting the real petals to line the aisle at $25/bag because I hadnt even thought of using silk petals! Totally worth it to bring your own if they allow it.