danasb788

Originally Posted by Kate G 

 

Hi everyone! I am brand new to these boards and am also having my wedding at Dreams PV next May (5/18/13). I have been reading through these threads the last month off and on and figured I better join in the fun. 

 

I am using Eleane as my wedding coordinator and so far have found her to be very prompt and helpful in her responses. My only issue has been with the DJ so far...I read on here about some of the not so good experiences people had using the Dreams DJ and sent Eleane an email expressing my concern. That was probably my only frustrating email with her because I don't feel that she really addressed my questions (maybe a language barrier?) so I decided to just not take any chances and hire a friend from San Francisco to do it. 

 

Other than that my only questions I've had in my mind lately have been:

 

1. Hair and makeup - I am a natural girl and don't want to look like a drag queen or that I have heavy caked on makeup. I also don't want my hair to be 'typical weddingish prom hair'...if that makes sense. Anyone have information they can give on the hair and makeup job they do there OR if there are alternative places around to get some trials done at? This part is so important!

2. The wedding officiant. We are doing a symbolic ceremony and having our legal stuff done in the States. I read on the Dreams website that many times the people they have perform the ceremony don't speak English. Can anyone attest to that? If they don't speak English I just feel like having a translator stand there would be distracting and take away from everything. Another alternative may be us asking a friend (who is an ordained minister) to do it, but is this allowed there?

3. And finally, other hotels nearby for guests to stay at if Dreams is too expensive for them. I want to give my guests options but I know, especially since it's in Mexico, that people want to be as close by as possible. Anyone have tips on that?

 

Thank you!

Hi Kate, congrats!  We got married there in March, so I can help to answer a few questions.  1st, we used DJ Staci (DJ Reventon??) I think?  She did a good job for us!  She can also perform your ceremony and she speaks English...she is American.  We had a legal ceremony performed by a judge and she spoke English....pretty much everyone there does.  2nd, the hair and makeup they did at the salon at Dreams was fantastic!  I also do not wear a lot of makeup and I have freckles so I was nervous about that...I have had my makeup done for other weddings and hated it since I always looked washed out.  Eduardo did my hair and makeup and I loved it!  My whole wedding party was pretty much like me...doesnt wear a lot of makeup and everyone looked beautiful!  Good luck with your planning! 

Dana

Hi everyone!  We just got home from our honey moon.  Our wedding at Dreams was absolutely PERFECT!  We wouldnt have changed a thing!  Fatima was also perfect...so on top of everything!  She is fantastic!  Here is our slideshow for anyone who is curious!

Hey everyone...our wedding is coming up in 9 days and last night I heard about the hold up of the Carvival cruise ship passangers where they robbed everyone on a bus in town on the way to an excursion...I was just wondering if anyone who had been there had run into any issues going into town or on any excursions?  My fiance and I were there 2 years ago, went into town many times, had no issues and loved it!  But now, some of our guests are getting nervous.  We were planning on doing a night out in town before the wedding as well as a zip lining excursion for everyone.  Any info or feedback would be helpful...thanks!

ps, mllek, your pictures were beautiful!  thanks for sharing!

thanks for the info on staci....we will see what happens...i am sorry she was not so good for your wedding.  i am beginnig to have doubts about her now too.  she is offering some sale on her services ending tonight, so i think we will do that to save a little money.  however, it seems a bit off.  we will see (fingers crossed).  did she actually talk to you guys before you went to figure out all your choices?  we leave in 2 weeks (well like 18 days) but nothing has happened so far.

jeigh02...i emailed Fatima to reserve seating for us on march 23 i think last week and she said she would take care of it...we would have been about 3-4 weeks out at that point. 

Originally Posted by mllek1986 

We booked ours a few months minimum in advance but I think even a week or two should be plenty for them. The sooner the better
 

 

Hi mllek1986, congrats!!  I tried to look at your pictures, but it says you need a password?  Also, how did you like DJ Staci?  We are using her too!
 

Originally Posted by mllek1986 

Our photographer was Cristheell, here is the link to my photobucket slideshow: http://s1107.photobucket.com/albums/h398/katherinecolin2012/Wedding%20Day/?albumview=slideshow

They quoted me at $1500 and they said that was the 2011 price.  They said that they would not promise that price for 2012 and that it may go up as well.  My wedding coordinator (from destinationweddings.com) said that prices are negotiable and that we should offer only half of what they are asking for.  Has anyone had any experience like this with them?  I am just not sure what to do??

Originally Posted by mllek1986 

I think it should still be around the $1,000. I was quoted $595 and then they said it went up so I made them honour that price (which is why I had to pay in full already)

 

I was just quoted $1499 USD for 2011 price.  They said they arent sure if the prices will be going up in 2012, so that they cannot lock in prices now.  That price was for every image taken on the CD.  Is that what you asked for too?  That price seems high to me!  Our wedding planned (using destinationweddings.com) said that prices with the photographers are usually negotiable.  Has anyone found that to be true?  She told me to offer about half of what they are asking for.............

Originally Posted by mllek1986 

I think it should still be around the $1,000. I was quoted $595 and then they said it went up so I made them honour that price (which is why I had to pay in full already)

 

Thank you!  I was given the name Lili as a contact....she is the Adventures Photos supervisor I guess?  I just emailed her to ask for pricing on a CD for all of the pictures...we will see how much it went up in the past 2 years lol. 

Originally Posted by mllek1986 

Hi Danasb788,

We are also having the ultimate package and purchasing the remainder of the photos. I paid for mine in full a few months back to secure the price I was quoted (it was the 2010 price which they honoured), I think right now all of the pictures are around $1000 but not 100% sure, you can ask Fatima and she will send you the info. I spoke to Cristheell and she said that she will be there starting at the spa getting ready and all the way to the end. You can email Cristheell or Eder (both great photographers at Dreams) to discuss all the details. You'll be very happy with them I'm sure.
 

 

Hi Dreams brides!  I have a question about photography.  We have the Dreams Ultimate package and it comes with the photographer from Vallarta Adventures and a 50 print book.  We think we would like to purchase the rights to all of the pictures after the wedding...like on a cd or something.  Has anyone done this?  How much did it cost?  Also, how long do you have the photographer for?  Are they  there the whole day getting ready through the reception?  Or do they come late/leave early?  Any info would be great!!

Thanks!

Dana

Thanks Kerri!  I will have to check them out.  Not even really sure what I want for decorations...maybe some simple flower center piece or maybe candles?? or both?  lol i have no idea.......
 

Originally Posted by kerrib 

I brought down my own maracas...silly I know but I thought it was worth it. I didn't want to spend my time down there scrambling around trying to get decorations and then maybe never even find what I had in mind. I got a good deal on "medium" sized maracas from this website http://www.amols.com/catalog/product/MX702 there were all different sizes and colors, but this was most affordable and it wound up looking really great at our wedding. They were only $1.65 for 2. We ordered a few extra just in case, and luckily we did, 2 handles were broken off in our suitcases, but we just glued them back on and you couldn't tell. We tied on little tags with that maraca saying. As for additional decor, I would not go crazy, it is so beautiful there that you don't need to go all out. I wanted candles galore and since Dreams was so expensive I bought a bunch from Ikea and some vases to put them in. It was a lot to travel with, so keep that in mind.

What were you thinking about for decor? Maybe that would help ppl give you insight on if you should bring stuff down or not.

 

Question for all of the past Dreams brides.....did any of you get maracas for your reception?  Where did you get them from?  Did you have them personalized?

Also, would you recommend bringing our own decorations vs using Dreams' decorations they send as options?  Everything seems so expensive!

Thanks!!! 

That's very helpful..thanks!  So I just want to make sure I understand...assuming the judge comes on time, he will conduct our ceremony in Spanish and then his translator will repeat in English and vice versa?  Did you guys write your own vows or did you use the standard (I assume they have standard ones?)

 

Originally Posted by Dreams2011 

We had a legal marriage this past January at Dreams PV. We arranged everything through Patricia Romo and a very sweet young lady picked us up at the hotel (arranged by Patricia) to take us for our pre nuptial class (video on the sanctity of marriage and family) as well as the blood tests. Everything went fine. The blood tests are done differently to how they are done in Canada (not sure about the USA), but it went fine. Everything was fresh out of the package and the girl taking our blood was gentle. The young lady who picked us up also did the translation for the judge.

 

The judge was 30-40 minutes late for our wedding. Apparently the original judge fell ill so this one had to come on short notice (and arrived in jeans and a plaid dress shirt.... needless to say my mother was not impressed, but my husband and I are frequent flyers to Mexico and are aware of their laid back style... a little dressier would have been nice however, but not a huge deal). Everything was a little behind from this point so if there is a way to proceed if the judge is late then do the legal stuff later then you may want to do that (however I like doing everything when it is suppose to be done so would have opted just to wait regardless). Plus if you have to take time out to do the legal stuff later you may not really save any time.

 

We had our ceremony at 3pm and I would strongly suggest having it earlier than later if you have lots of things you want to do (cocktail hour, bride/groom photos, group photos, 3 course meal, 1st dance, father/daughter etc dances, speeches, cake, bouquet toss, and time for dancing and socializing). Even starting at 3pm (well I guess 3:40ish since the judge was late) we felt rushed. I actually asked to start even earlier (2pm), but 3pm was the earliest the resort would allow (time to set up was the excuse).

 

Hope this helps.
 

 

That's not too bad at all...thanks!!
 

Originally Posted by mllek1986 

Hey,

I had the spa manager send me the price list for all the services, short hair styling is $49 and long is $59
 

 

For all the past Dreams brides... Does anyone know how much it costs for bridesmaids hair to be done at the Dreams salon? My girls are asking but I am not sure since my hair is included. Any info would be helpful! Thanks!!

You were able to get a copy of exactly what would be read during the ceremony by the judge from Patty?  We were also given her name.  Who are the judges team members?  I also heard stories of the judge being very late, so its interesting to know that the legal parts can be handled later?  (I should probably be asking Patty these questions, not you lol), but does this mean that if the judge does come on time and perform the ceremony, that it will only be in Spanish?

Originally Posted by b gardner 

I was wondering the exact same thing as danasb788.

we are going with the judge only, i requested the info from patty romo for what will be said, if you havent asked her already ( or whoever your working with that deals with the judge info and blood tests etc. ) i suggest doing so, i learned that its translated by one of their team members as the judge does not speak english, and if the judge were to be late which i have heard stories of, she told me the person from their team would preform the ceremony on time and then come find us for when the judge came so we could do the legal stuff. that was definitly a good to know as i heard some stories of the judge being 40 min. late.

i would appreciate any info on the "classes" and blood tests as well. and how it went with judge only as i hear more about ministers.

H everyone. Just curious if anyone had the legal ceremony performed by the judge. Just wanted to know how that went...the 'classes' blood tests etc. Also was it performed in English? Any feedback would be helpful!! Thanks!

Hi Girls!  I am Dana...my fiance Rob and I are getting married at Dreams on March 24, 2012!  I have a question for you guys...is anyone using or has anyone used the DJ supplied by Dreams recently?  We would like to have DJ music for our reception however, I have read past posts saying people have not liked him very much?  I asked Fatima for names of DJs in the area for choices, and all she said was that they use an in-house DJ for all of their parties and that he is very good.  Does anyone know anything about the guy?  Is he really any good, or would you recommend looking for an outside vendor for our music?