Julie Carson

I did a buffet for my 32 person wedding in August and it went well! So many brides talked about having so little reception time and I wanted time to dance. So we had a buffet and paid to extend if an hour as well. It was great. When you have a smaller than 40 they have you just pick a smaller amount of buffet items to have out. It was really good food! 

I had looked into the bonfire but couldn't afford it. Looks like fun though! We did a rehearsal dinner at SeaSide Grill the night before the wedding. They will quote you a really high price if you ask to arrange it ahead of time. But I just went during the day that I wanted and talked to the manager and he said it was fine but we need to come early, like 6:00. They sat us all in the same area and it was perfect. The bonfire looks cool though! 

August 14^th, 2012 Wedding Review

After months of reading the reviews on here and all the planning and excitement I can’t believe its over. Everything was amazing and I loved every moment.

5:00 wedding in gazebo

6:00 Cocktail hour barracuda bar

7:00- 11:00 Reception Banquet room on second floor above Portofino

We paid for the extra hour so that we wouldn’t feel rushed, and I was really happy we did, we needed it. I had read from many other brides that they felt rushed and it ended so soon. I definitely recommend it!

Dinner- We had 31 guests total. We did a buffet dinner because it was cheaper per person over 20 people and we were able to do more of a variety. The food was amazing all the guests were raving about how it was the best food of the trip.

Cake- The 20 person cake included was plenty of cake and it was so yummy.

Flowers-

 I told Jacki I liked orange and purple lilly’s and they came out perfect. The dreams of love package came with three giant flower decorations for the gazebo and they used them for the reception and it was perfect. I was stressed out about it not being enough flowers but it was plenty. I did get single flowers for my bridesmaids and they actually made little bouquets for them but I was a little disappointed. Most of the flowers were unopened, but it was a minor thing and I was still happy with them overall.

Music: Jacki provided music for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and we brought dinner/ reception music.

Reception Location-

This is what I stressed the most about over the last year, where to have the reception. El Patio is really gorgeous and I thought I might want to splurge and pay the extra cost once I saw it but it was too big for the size of group I had and the no ac was a huge factor. We went with the banquet room so that we would have the AC. It was great, we ate and danced all night comfortably. I would not change this choice for anything! There was a wedding on the beach the week we got there and they seemed to have a good time and the beach and danced too but it was just too hot for me. I know there aren’t a lot of pictures of the banquet room out there so I will post them when I can. The wedding on the beach we saw had a DJ and and it looked really cool with the lights on the dance floor. We almost added it but I had worked on a playlist for a long time and just went with it. It work out great and we had tons of fun dancing. We had a lot of fun with the limbo J

Decorations:

 I found chair sashes and table runners online for really cheap and brought them. Jacki put them out no problem for the ceremony and then brought them in for the reception. The tables had white table clothes and then a gold overlay and they put my purple table runners on top. I had expected the white/purple look and the gold was kinda of overpowering and I’m not a big gold fan….. Not a huge deal but I’m just mentioning it so you will know to ask if they are putting out table overlays and you might have a say.

Photos:

We had a family friend photographer take our pictures so we took a credit for the resort photographer. I would have been fine using the resort photographer though, everything for the wedding went so well I wouldn’t mind trusting the resort photographer. We took the pictures during the cocktail hour and it got dark on us pretty quickly. If you plan to take a lot of pictures and take your time I would consider having your wedding at 4:00 instead of 5:00.

Resort

The resort was wonderful. We choose it because of the adults/family pools options and because it was smaller. I wanted to be able to find everyone without problems and it was great.  I had read reviews on trip advisor that the place was swarming with kids and the beach was ridiculously small. Yes there were kids and yes the beach is small. But you can always find a quiet chair on the beach away from kids and the adult pool is great. The beach was enough for us and no one in my group complained about it.

Any advice I can give future brides is don’t worry. Jacki and her assistant Isabella are so wonderful! I’ll be happy to answer any questions anyone has. Pictures will be posted as soon as I get them! 

Ah! I can't believe it my day is almost here! We leave on Friday. Any last minute advice or questions ladies??

I was thinking about doing program fans like these http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog/easy-diy-wedding-programs-tutorial/ does anyone think it might be too windy or would they be good to have?

Thanks for the review sarah, your pictures are amazing. Congrats! I'm a little less than a month away. We leave on August 11th and the wedding is August 14th. Did you happen to check out the banquet room as an option? Its what we have been leaning towards for the ac and no extra fees. But if its really plain and boring I don't want it. I've read through pretty much this entire thread and a few have had it in there and really liked it but then others have said how plain the room was and its not even an option.   

Did you get all of your flowers from Sach Nah or just the center pieces? THanks! 

Its been quiet on here for awhile. Anyone making any exciting plans? I'm working on a welcome packet and oot bags. What types of things are you ladies thinking of bring? I'm struggling with grooms outfits. Happy planning! 

Thanks Allie!! I'm happy everything went so well. I would love to see pictures! 

Neonfudge... I feel you on the reception worries. For a long time I read through here at all the reviews trying to nail down my choice for the reception. But everyone says that you will get there and see the choices see what the weather is like in the evenings and make your choice. I've finally just decided to wait until I get there. Some say its too windy on the beach during the evening others say its not a problem at all. People say that its easy to dance in the sand but I don't know how crazy I am about that. I'e heard that the banquet room is really pretty then I hear that its boring.... so I'm just going to wait as hard as it is. 

My FH also thinks OOT bags are unnecessary but I'm doing them too So far I'm putting in them a brochure with little bios and pictures of all the guests, information about wedding times, a catamaran ride, and trip to the ruins. I found a cute little spanish/english guide http://www.single-serving.com/Spanish/phrase_booklet.php that i'm going to include, a deck of cards, I'm searching for a cocktail drink book to put in there for people, and then maybe a drink coozie, a recovery kit something with too much food, too much sun, too much booze theme to it.

If you look for OOT bag threads on best destination wedding you will find sooo many pictures and ideas

Happy Wedding Planning!

Julie  

I'm getting married august 14th and I'm leaving the 18th so I will see you there! 

 Best wishes Sharon! I'm sure everything will go wonderful. I look forward to seeing pictures and reading your review! I would love pictures of the reception site options if can take them. Have a great time! 

Anyone considering doing pictures before the ceremony? I don't like the idea of everyone seeing me before the ceremony but I really would like the reception have plenty of time for speeches and dances and really party. I was thinking about skipping the cocktail hour like mentioned before and using that reception time.  I would want grab a few sunset pictures of course but do the bulk of them prior to the ceremony.

Hi Girls! Your Amazing!

I’m going to see if I change my time to 4:00 that’s a really good idea. As much as I want to just pick the location and relax about it I’m just going to let it go and wait until I get there.

Your right about center pieces I don’t want to spend money on them. I didn’t know they would reuse flowers without a fee I would love that. We signed up for the middle package not the most expensive. I think I may still bring table runners.

My oot bags are going to have cute little hangover kits, a cocktail book, a little Spanish/English guide that I found online, a who is who document of the guests with little descriptions, and then a suggested agenda. Maybe a cup or towel or tshirt or something else too.

 I’m nervous about getting there and having 30 people try and coordinate activities together. So here is my agenda that I am working on…any feedback??

Here is the dress I got http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Soft-Chiffon-A-Line-Gown-with-Ruffled-Skirt-9PK3218_Bridal-Gowns-Shop-By-Size-Plus-Sizes from a girl on craig list that got a different dress and its new with tags. I’m so excited.

Alison your pictures are BEAUTIFUL congratulations!

Thank you both so much I’m feeling pretty good about things but I’m sure you will from me again J

Enjoy married life!

Julie 

Hi Girls, 

 You are wonderful! Thank you so much for returning here and answering questions post wedding. I plan to do the same. Here are things I have settled am I missing anything? Any changes you make?

August 14th Wedding- Hoping for no rain! 

5:00 Wedding 

Cocktail Hour I'm going to keep the cocktail hour, Jacki discounted it a little for me when I said it was too expensive it'll be nice for them to do something while we take pictures

Reception- Going to decide the location officially when I get there, but we are leaning towards the room on the second floor because August is hot and it will have AC, and we want to dance comfortably I just hope it will be pretty enough. Any advice on this?? Wish there were more pictures out there of this room, I would really like the EL Patio and every once in awhile you read on here someone got it without the $750 charge.......

Center pieces- I've been trying to figure this out, to rent vases or not, just live without, convince my Fiance to spend extra money on flowers when we get there..... any
advice?

Buffet Dinner- To save time for dancing and give people more choices on food than one item. 

Wedding Cake- Tell her I only want the cake sized for 20 people don't want to pay the $5 per person more, our buffet also has a dessert with it. 

Music- Going to skip the DJ, I'm working on play list. Going to do the speaker rental with IPOD hook up, a computer would hook instead of an IPOD too right? You would think its the same plug. 

Working on OOT Bags for guests and suggested itinerary, who is who little guide for guests, hangover kit, small gift,

 Ruins- should I look for an official tour just taxi vans there? Xplor, Maybe a Cenote Snorkel

Looking to do a catamaran tour for my guests http://www.paradisecatamarans.com/current_category.0/Product.14/tours_add.html?t_product=14 maybe this company, or suggestions? 

At the end of the night I would love to set off Sky Lanterns  http://www.skywishlanterns.com/ I am afraid to ask and be told no I think I might just bring them and by the time they stop us it would be too late? I'm not sure though I don't want to get into trouble. 

Wedding Dress- I found one I love at davids bridal then went online and googled Craiglist then the style number and found the same dress on like 4 different craiglists for sale and working on getting one for half the price. Super excited. 

What am I missing?? Advice?? Thanks everyone!! 

Thanks! I think we might keep it in, I'm not sure. I already changed to a buffet dinner to save time so hopefully that will be enough. I loved reading your review, thank you so much! 

So without a cocktail hour, will your guests just go to the reception while you take pictures? Do you think will go ok?

I didn't know that was an option! I think that is really good idea! Especially since the extra costs per person for cocktail hour I would love to get rid of. 

Welcome back! I can't wait to hear all about everything! 

I would love to see the flower guide too and any other resources people have! [email protected] 

Hi girls! Hope all is well. I've chimed in a few times on this thread and just start having it update me every time there is a new entry. Little about me... We're getting married August 14th we have 20people booked right now and estimate another 10 to 15 people so we'll be about 35 guests booked. We booked the dreams of love package. I just talked to Jacki and we're going to change our dinner to a buffet. We don't like the idea of only one food item and I'm a little nervous about having enough time for speeches, dances, and everything if we had the 5 course meal. I've read so many times that most people pick the reception site once they get there but we are leaning towards the room on the second floor with window views that has AC. We want everyone to be comfortable and to be able to dance. Which leads me to another issue... to get a DJ or not. We would like someone to be the MC transition between speeches, dances, etc but I don't like the idea of 220 an hour for it. So I think we are going to find a family member to do it and then bring iPod for dancing music. I've got to start working on the playlists! 

Another issue I'm dealing with is flowers. They are super expensive! Anyone have ideas to deal with this? Center pieces are another issue.. I think I'm going to make them but not sure what will be easy to pack. Any other decorations people are brining? 

Anyone find a trick to getting room upgrades? I've read from a few brides here and there that they were able to get room upgrades but not exactly sure how. 

OOT Bags anyone? Working on these too! Anyone doing anything fun? 

How about tours? Suggestions? 

Whew! Lots of planning! I thought I picked destination to lessen the planning but it seems like there is just as much. 

Happy Planning! Love to hear anyones thoughts on these things. 

Julie 

Terra your wedding was so beautiful!! Thank you for sharing your email I may have some questions in a few months. My wedding is in August. Are you going to do a full review and more pictures? We would love it! 

Hi girls I haven't been on in awhile. Hope the planning is going well for everyone. I'm really want to start gift bags for my guests and programs and all that stuff but I need to wait out and see how our numbers are turning out. I'm worried about the weather too but I was in Puerto Vallarta last summer before we left the forecast said rain and thunder on the forecast for everyday. Then when we got there yea it did rain but usually only in the evenings for a few no more than a few hours. It was kind of cool actually and did ruin the trip.

Do you guys know if it rains if they offer the El Patio for free? Or do you have to pay the 750? 

Hey eveyone! I spent some time reading back in this thread and wow it goes back far and has good information. I really like the prep this girl did for her wedding. http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/58636/badriannes-adriannes-planning-thread-super-long-and-pic-heavy#post_1281016

Hi Everyone! I'm not much help on the legal part we are going to skip that do the legal part back at home afterwards. I'm also going to use the resort photographer with the pictures included in the dreams of love package. I hope it goes well! I'm not sure about decorations.....kpelecha the ultimate includes quite a bit doesn't it? Are you doing any kind of gifts for your guests? Another great source I have found is the facebook page for dreams puerto aventuras. Its updated daily and I was able to get the tour desk for the resort off there too. I've been email with them with activity suggestions. I'd like to make a suggested schedule for my guests of different tours and things to do and people can join in on the ones together they like. I want to keep organizing and coordinating once we get there to a minimum.