1elephant

adevnturelovers, here's the thread i was talking about: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/thread/29192/dreams-puerto-vallarta-thread

much more info in there.

i think you *could* fit 50 people into rendezvous, but that's only if there's no one else there.

i never received any kind of documentation and didn't sign anything until i got there, but that was almost 3 years ago already....so things have probably changed. i do remember worrying a lot b/c i had nothing in writing, but that was just another reason for me to print all of the emails and bring them w/ me.

welcome!

you should probably read through the dreams pv thread. yes, it's incredibly long, but the thread is invaluable. so many brides have had so many different ideas, and there is a lot of info about the bars in there as well.

good luck!

we had 2 groomsmen and 3bms. my sister walked w/ his brother, and his best friend walked w/ my two best friends.

we did the symbolic ceremony and it was not obvious to anyone. the same words were exchanged.

Originally Posted by gowiththeflow 

 

Hi ladies! It's been so quiet around here.  Merve, congrats! I'm glad everything worked out.

 

We sent our invites out last week - the second one we got back was a decline, but with NO NAME! so the hunt is on! It's really driving me nuts.

 

How is everyone's planning going?  I have been busy helping people book. FI's mom is driving me insane! She keeps asking for help, but then once I find stuff, she's like "oh I still have to talk to so and so" even though this back and forth has been going on for months!  We did get a TA to help avoid all this, but she kinda sucks, so once again it's on us!

we put numbers on ours so if they were sent back w/o a name, we would be able to figure it out. just a tip for the future/future brides.

Originally Posted by Dreams2011 

 

Louise Daly is the new WC and is from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I think she is going to be great. I resent an email that I urgently needed a response on (and had sent 2x before with no response) and she emailed me back within about 10 minutes, then called me on the phone. I had a whole list of questions that I had been waiting for months on answers and she responded within a week as she promised. I sent her sample pics of flowers arrangements and cake we hoped to have and she is taking care of getting it together. I think she'll be a breathe of fresh air on the wedding side of things there...hopefully she doesn't get too bogged down since they work longer hours than what many Canadians/Americans are used to (something she mentioned will take getting used to)...she did say however that she has an assistant so that's great!

good to hear!

Originally Posted by Cinnamon-Girl 

 

Hi everyone,

 

It's been a while since I posted since we decided that 2012 will be the year for our Dreams PV wedding (not 2011), so I figured I'd better take a break from thinking about it or I'll drive myself mad.  But....I just can't stay away! 

 

With the (not so) new format, I'm still having trouble finding reviews.  I know it says that they are to be posted under the vendor or site, but I don't see many there....and with this new system it's harder to compare sites since the reviews are in so many different places.

 

Any advice? no clue - i haven't checked for reviews b/c i'm well past that stage...

 

p.s. also....we're hoping to have a small group (20 or less)....do you think we could fit into the wedding gazebo for dinner? I don't want to be on the beach, and I'd prefer some coverage (ie. not the terrace ideally) but don't want the convention rooms and for our small group the restaurants would seem way too big.  What's the current status ("current" being relative of course!! there is no consistency except inconsistency!) of reserving the wine cellar of Portofino?

if memory serves, the gazebo is big enough for maybe 5 people....just large enough for the wedding party, if that....in the pics i've seen, the guests' chairs are always set up outside of the gazebo.

they change WCs like you change your clothes. it'll be fine. it's a really demanding job and from what i've heard, some of the WCs have been overwhelmed by the demands. i know that gaby (the WC when i was there) was a WC and had another job at dreams. i started out with someone different too.

just print all of your emails and bring them with you.

table number holders? i have no clue what they're called. i found some at pier one in the sale bin, but that was forever ago...never used them either - wound up using picture frames. try pier one, try walmart/target if rebeca doesn't have them. or ebay....

Originally Posted by Jan2011Bride 

 

Yes, thanks for the link to that forum...

 

Has anyone upgraded to the new 'Preferred Tower' and if so, what did your upgrade cost / night?

 

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Jan2011Bride 

 

Thanks for this info. I have gone through some of the recommended forum on Dreams PV (starting at the end...good tip), but some things I haven't found (however, haven't made it through all the pages...yet).

 

Has anyone used the photographer that comes with the Ultimate Wedding Package and if so, were you pleased with the photos taken? I believe that Adventure Photos ( http://www.adventurephotosmx.com/#/drepv-ps-3/ ) is the company that Dreams has come in to do the photography...is that still correct?

welcome and congrats! i'm pretty sure that answers to both of your questions have been answered in the dreams pv thread. i hate to sound obnoxious, but if you're not going to take the time to read the thread, do you really think all of the dreams pv brides are going to take the time to come here and answer the same questions again? i'd recommend reading it, using the search function, and then asking questions if you can't find the answers.

Originally Posted by aprilmay 

 

Thanks Karen, you had some good points in there.  And you mentioned something that I haven't heard much about on this thread: ceremony/vows.

 

We're doing a symbolic but I'm wondering what script they read and if you can bring your own.  Did your minister (or whatever) speak english well? I know one of the brides had a ceremony where they were giggling because the person was trying to replace the word "god" with something non-religious.  I'd rather bring my own script for them to read.

 

Also, does anyone have a recent cocktail/appetizer menu they could post here or send me?  I think it'd be easier to get it here than email Rebeca again!

i think that was me. idk what the lady's name was, but it was downright hysterical. i'm actually glad that we didn't bring a script - we've spend the last 2+ years talking about it!

i think karen makes a good point - rebeca may be slow at getting back to you now, but everything will fall into place in due time. it's not an "at-home" wedding - you can't control every aspect from however many miles away. if that's what you want, then maybe a destination wedding isn't the right choice.

i didn't work with rebeca, but was definitely frustrated at many points. in one email, i flat out said that i was getting frustrated with the lack of communication.

i always got answers when i put the questions in a list like

1.

2.

gaby (the old wc) would usually respond to all of the questions. personally, i think the only thing that REALLY needs to be decided is the flowers, just to make sure that the florist has them. i had a rehearsal - it was 5 minutes long, just to show us where we'd stand.

my only other advice is to demand rather than ask. sounds harsh and obnoxious, but saying "i want to meet at 5 on friday for a quick rehearsal" will get you a lot farther than "do you think we can?". then be super sweet in person.

Originally Posted by krawles 

 

Hi everyone,

 

This question is for any Dreams PV brides who have already had their wedding there:

 

I am in the middle of choosing my wedding dinner at Dreams PV and was wondering if any of you had any recommendations on something that you loved or disliked?

 

Any advice would be great!

 

Kara

try searching this thread. it's been discussed 34098702980243 times. at length.

allyson, your pictures are lovely! i like looking at the decor - they have so much more available now!

Originally Posted by allyson779 

 

Totally sucks about the wine cellar!

 

Rebeca emailed me the following nightly activities a few weeks ago :

 

MONDAY – CASINO NIGHT

TUESDAY – PIRATES NIGHT WITH DINNER

WEDNESDAY – MANAGERS COCKTAIL & SHOW

THURSDAY – PARIS AT NIGHT – SHOW

FRIDAY – MEXICAN FIESTA & DINNER

SATURDAY – ROCK ‘N ROLL NIGHT

SUNDAY – COMEDY SHOW

 

this was posted less than a month ago - page 121.  and yes, they put a daily newsletter under your door.

we didn't have an mc either - we just asked one of the groomsmen to do it. since it was so informal and casual, i don't even think he had to announce anything. everyone just watched us get up to have our first/father - daughter/mother - son dances, and when people wanted to make speeches, they just got on the mike. totally unnecessary, imoho.

when did you book? do you have an older contract?

Originally Posted by aprilmay 

 

With the cocktail/appy hour, is there a full bar set up with bartender?  Does he stay for the dinner/reception?  Or is it just waiters after the hour?  I really want the bar there the whole night....

we had 2 waiters and a bartender for most of the night. at the end there was one waiter and one bartender.

Originally Posted by aprilmay 

 

Interesting, might be worth it though.....

 

Past brides (or presently more-planned brides than me): are the tables on the pool terrace round tables of 8 or 10?

i had 8. there was definitely room for 10, but there are a lot of glasses/favors/plates on the table.

 

Originally Posted by tlc9b 

 

Thanks so much for the food advice. Filet Mignon was not on our menu options but I may ask what the charge is for that. There is only one steak option and it comes with chicken in a black pepper sauce. My fiance really just wants steak and no chicken so I may see if there is a way to do this. The risotto sounds delicious also!

the chicken and steak entree was really good. i'm sure that if you ask rebecca, she'd be able to get one plate of just steak for your FI.

 

Originally Posted by tlc9b 

 

We are trying to pick our cocktail hour canape, appetizer, dinner and dessert menu now. Does anyone have any recommendations or suggestions for what to pick? I have read through the forum and it sounds like the poblano cream soup is one that everyone likes but I haven't read much about any other menu items. If you all have heard of a canape, appetizer, dinner or cake flavor that is really good please let me know!

i know i mentioned the food in my review and my menu is in my planning thread. both links are in my siggy.

as long as it hasn't changed, most of the fiesta is near the main pool. i believe there was a little on the beach, but that might have been a different night. either way, it was far enough away from las palmas.

we handed them out when we saw our guests. there was one group that i didn't see before the wedding, so i had my mom deliver it. IMO, i think it's a nice way to personally thank people for coming. fyi, dreams won't tell you what room number people are in, but they will connect you so you can ask them yourself.

Originally Posted by aprilmay 

 

Has anyone been able to switch things out of their package in exchange for something else?  I don't want the make-up application but would love another centerpiece or something else like that.

i tried to switch the massage for something else, but they said no. i can see transferring the massage/hair/makeup to someone else, but maybe not letting you switch for another service...worth asking, though!

 

Originally Posted by simplnsweet 

 

 

Sorry to have to bring this up but I am curious if any of the brides to be? Allyson779 or Gowiththeflow know about the service cap of 4 hours.  Did Rebeca mention this to you?

 

 

we had the ultimate package too - 4 hrs plus cocktail hour. we were supposed to end at 10:30, but the dj and the waiters stayed till 11. then we changed and went to rendezvous, and then to the sports bar.

it's a real wall. i'm not a climber, so it looked impossible to me, but dh and all of his friends did it daily. they don't climb regularly, but i think a few of them made it to the top. i think you have to seek out the activities coordinator on a daily basis and tell him you're interested. that was a big reason we chose dreams pv instead of cancun, which was a gazillion times closer to home.

in my slideshow, the pics taken on the rocks are part of that wall. it's toward the end of the slideshow b/c they were the ttd pics. the last two pics are of one of our friends climbing up. the tide comes all the way in to the cove and the water is COLD at 7am in february, but if you talk to the dude, he'll tell you what time is good.

 

Originally Posted by gowiththeflow 

Thanks Lauren! Yeah, it all depends what the exchange rate at the time is if we will be too upset. Ill make sure I ask Rebecca beforehand.  Lauren, do you remember if Dreams had supplies for centerpieces( I know they have votives and flowers and stuff) like silver beads or stones to put in the votives? I want an accent of silver in the centerpieces and flowers, so thinking ahead of what I need to bring.

 

This thread is so quiet lately! Anyone have news? Maybe all the brides that were so active before got married and are gone (well most!)

 

there was virtually nothing there when i was there, and i left my stuff there - never to be seen again...i knew what i wanted, so i brought everything, but i also had the baggage room and family members to help me...i'm sure they have some stuff now, but i'd ask rebeca to be VERY specific - ask for pictures - so you know what is available.
Quote:

Originally Posted by allyson779 

We are also total music snobs.  We decided to prepare a detailed play list and hire a DJ (which includes the sound system for both ceremony and reception).  I was a little bit worried after reading reviews from past brides about the DJ the resort provides so I decided to go out on my own and hired: DJ Ricardo from DJ Systems. I actually found out about him in the Cabo forum and saw all the rave reviews.  He is originally from PV and currently lives in Cabo, but is still willing to DJ events in PV area.  So far (knock on wood) he has been awesome to work with.  Here is their link if anyone is interested and I will also include his services in my review after our wedding.

http://djsystem.com.mx/index.php/home.html

 

Also, we're going to pay for everything using a credit card. You might want to check with your credit card company because the conversion fees differ from card to card and let them know you will be making a large purchase out of the country to see if the conversion fee (%) can be waived or capped.  (We did this with American Express)

 

Random question time....

So we are completely on the fence when it comes to having a videographer for our wedding...is it worth paying extra for the reception?

Past and Future Brides....are you or did you video tape the ceremony and the reception or just the ceremony?    Did you use the videographer provided by Dreams (through the wedding package) or outside vendor?  How did your video turn out?   

 

Thanks so much as always!

i think that's a personal decision - will you ever watch it? dh and i knew we wouldn't, so it would have been a waste for us. we watched the ceremony video once, and that was enough for about 10 years. ours was the one that came in our package. it's ok - i wouldn't use the same guy if i had to pay for it, but idk if he's still there, if the quality of paid work would be different, etc.

 

my photographer, on the other hand - his pictures are worth more than any video i could have gotten. maybe if you have a fabulous photographer, it could help your decision...? good luck!

danielle, we paid in pesos on a cc, but i don't remember the exact numbers. i do know that i wasn't terribly upset by the rate/conversion charge.

 

you could call concierge or your wc and ask if it's possible to charge in dollars...