Welcome to Paradise! We had the privilege of organizing another fabulous Destination Wedding at the brand new Dreams Flora!
Ideally situated in Cabeza de Toro in Punta Cana, the Flora officially opened for business in February of 2023. Our partners at AMResorts were kind enough to honor the original contract for the old Dreams which was sold last year, so our bride, groom and family snagged a brand-new property for their wedding, and their room block at an extremely great rate!
I am endlessly amazed at how successfully All-Inclusives can pull off the "big-event". While other brides are toiling over catering halls and flowers and photographers and tablecloths, these properties EXCEL in doing it all for celebrations, and the Flora did not disappoint.
Vangie Severino, the onsite Wedding Coordinator, worked with us for months prior to the wedding, using great planning templates that clearly laid out all the options, making easy work of both selection and managing the budget. The broad range of options include the venue itself (our Bride chose the Rooftop Terrace, but beach and garden options with gazebos and all the accoutrements are also available!), flowers and runners for the ceremony, and everything you'd expect with a 5-star reception from champagne waterfalls to DJs, bands, table arrangements, seating charts, fabulous food, decadent desserts...seemingly limitless options to make every Bride's special day unique and unforgettable.
The beauty of Dreams is that it is family-friendly, and kids are always welcome. With an included Rehearsal Dinner the night before, and both Welcome and Departure Cocktail Hours, this turned out to be weekend-long event.
There is plenty of entertainment, a kid's waterpark, numerous bars and a variety of restaurants, although guests should plan dining ahead because they can be "closed for an event" as we learned. We spoiled ourselves with Butler Swim-Out rooms and idled away the hours before and after the Wedding in the pool which invariably led to a swim-up bar.
The Ceremony was just unbelievable - facing the ocean, Palm Trees and sand for the ideal backdrop. Makeup and photos were planned and done to perfection, and the Bride was brought in on a golf-cart, so no room for makeup mishaps even in the Caribbean sun for the big day! They seriously thought of everything!
The Reception was a 5-hour fete, and we couldn't believe how quickly it seemed to be over, except when you are in an All Inclusive, the party never stops, so the heartier guests bar-crawled it into the wee hours of the night! We have planned weddings for many a satisfied Bride and their guests, and this special lady is also family, so we actually got to experience this one first-hand! .
I totally get why Destination Weddings are becoming the most popular choice for today's couples, young and old alike!