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OMG! Those pictures are abolsutely STUNNING! Keepsakes for generation after generation. Truly amazing!!! YOu are so gorgeous and your DH is so handsome and the setting for your DW and the TTD shoot are just indescribeable!!!

They look great! My bags were similar, but I paid $0.79 per bag and used the iron-on transfers to get our logo on them. Just another option if $4.50/bag is a little high for any of you ladies. (I was on a TIGHT budget ... yet still went over-budget by a LOT).

I voted for #4. I like it best but also b/c you said FH liked 2 colors. I agree with some of the other ladies that the first two will easily become noticeably scratched. Have you considered showing him your options and letting him choose? I wanted Tom's to be a surprise, but in the end am glad that I showed him the catalog of Irish bands, b/c he picked a totally different one than my top three -- and he LOVES his ring!!

Quote: Originally Posted by PrecisePlans Anyone bring back any dominican hair products. They are suppose to be the best! I'm a junkie!!! OMG, I didn't know their hair products were some of the best. I wish I did though, b/c I would have broughht some home. I had my hair done at the salon on our wedding day and they did an absolutely AMAZING job ... and my hair stayed in place with no problem all day and night -- and without the flaky build-up you sometimes get from using a lot of hairspray and product.

That is hilarious! Good for both of you for being good sports about doing it different ways. It's definitely a sstory (and pics) you will always look back on!

How exciting! CONGRATS LADIES!!!! Love you both!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Jennyjenn Hi Tammy I wonder if you could tell me if you were at the Palma Real or the Paradisus- and whether it was cost effective and worth it for your guests. Thanks JENN!! Our wedding was at Paradisus Punta Cana (we were there Wed-Mon) and then we moved to Paradisus Palma Real for our honeymoon (Mon-Sun). Definitely the right two decisions. PPC was PERFECT for a fun group of wedding guests (we had 40 people age 4-80) and everyone had the time of their life. PPR was much more luxurious and quiet. Very little nightlife. Better for a honeymoon than a large group IMHO.

We had our ceremony at PPC and it's right next to the Bavaro Princess. that's where our photographers stayed. Hopefully my photog will see this thread and give you some feedback from their stay. I do know they said they were harrassed/ogled by the male employees a lot.

There are no "private" areas on the beach at any of the Punta Cana resorts as far as I know. I would ask to see pics of some ceremony set-ups, but every wedding I saw on the beach had boobs and banana hammocks standing around. Even at the gazebo for our ceremony we had both of the above -- but at least because of the gazebo they weren't too close-up -- and our photogs were good not to get them in any pics.. lol.

I never saw any of the faceless dolls ... :-( Anyway, just wanted to share what we brought home. 2 boxes of Cohiba cigars (we asked for Dominican but got Cuban, so who's complaining? :-) Bottles of Brugal Rum (and I just found a local liquor store here that carries it!) ARTWORK! Some amazing Taino artwork ... we got a huge piece for over the bed or couch and two smaller pieces to use as accents. Vanilla. Amazing homemade vanilla. Very affordable too! Larimar. I bought a necklace, earrings, bracelet and ring (all silver w/ larimar) along with a regular shell necklace and 2 anklets during our Saona Island trip -- all for $25 (the haggling really does work!) Mamajuana ... be careful packing it if you don't get the pre-made mixes with liquid in it. The herbs and bark are considered agriculture and can't be brought back into the US. Luckily I wrapped everything and had it stuck in our luggage so it wasn't spotted suring Customs. I wish I had remembered the COFFEE!!! I don't drink it but it would have been great for gifts! :-( We haggled for everything and were very pleased with what we got. Quote: Originally Posted by twinkletoes Found this on a website this morning, and just thought I'd share with all my fellow DR brides-to-be:~) MAMAJUANA - Also known as Dominican "Viagra" (this medicinal drink contains rum, wine, honey & mixed herbs) COFFEE - The best is called "Santo Dominigo" (3rd best in the world after Brazil & Colombia) LARIMAR - Dominican Republic's national gemstone (the only place in the world where this blue stone is found) FACELESS DOLL - Ceramic doll usually made from red clay (these dolls depict Dominican country life) "151" RUM - Known locally as Dominican "Gasoline" (clear white rum containing 75.5% alcohol) CIGARS - Brand names like Cohiba & Arturo Fuente (the DR is the leading manufacturer of Hand Rolled cigars)

We did the Saona Island excursion, and LOVED it! Sent our group the day we did our TTD pics and they had a ball. Tom and I went during our honeymoon and it was one of the highlights of the trip for us. We also went to Steve's Corner Bar in Bavaro twice (once in the afternoon and once in the evening after dinner). No problems either time -- it's owned by a German and local Europeans and Canadians can be found there ... but also DR locals and some prostitutes, but none bothered us and we made friends with the bartenders and we re welcomed by everyone. The taxi stand was literally right across the street from the bar. We walked down the beach and ate off-resort at Jellyfish twice -- the food was unbelieveably AMAZING -- and haggled with the beach vendors at some of the strings of huts (little "shopping malls") just off the beach. There was also a local bar attached to the huts right on the beach where they have lots of excursions offered. Aside from Saona Island, which we booked through the resort upon arrival ... we only did the snorkeling included w/ our resort and it was well worth it for a first-time snorkeler! We also walked into Bavaro for some of our TTD pics, but didn't stay long b/c we didn't feel wholly comfortable there.

You can walk to Steve's from PPC! Wish I was going to be there! Go to Debbie's Dominican Republic Travel Pages - 1,000's of Resort Reviews, Tour, Scuba and Wedding Information and search their Meet-Ups thread on the forum. The locals and those visiting do a meet-up monthly so hopefully it's when you are there!!!

OMG that is sssooo friggin' cool! I love that kind of stuff -- especially when it's happening to someone you know. I've never heard of it before, but I'm not an MTV watcher ... but damn I hope they pick you!!!!

Love them! Thanks for sharing! I am always amazed at the quality of these pics and how beautiful all you BDW ladies are!!! We have one hot forum!!!

Love the pics! They did a fabulous job -- and you both look phenomenal! Love the beach set-up as well!!!

Wow -- Viviana wasn't there very long. She never emailed me an inoice, but I recommend getting one before you go. Anyway, you have to pay the invoice BEFORE the wedding. I think that's good b/c there are no surprises afterwards. Now, while Viviana was my WC via emails and upon arrival, another gal handled everything the day of the wedding and for the reception. I don't remember her name but she was very nice. And although it does seem unorganized, everything came together spectacularly for us.

AWESOME!!!!! *and CONGRATS!* Love the pics!! I can't believe you are married! It seems like yesterday when we first met on BDW and were starting the planning process!!!

Rainy season doesn't really start until May. Our wedding was April 19 and we had showers the morning of -- but no rain. It rained only 1 day in Punta Cana while we were there for our DW and HM ... and it was the day we took the Saona Island excursion, so we never even saw a drop! When it did sprinkle, it was quick showers and the sun was back out.

CONGRATS!!! You will LOVE Punta Cana!!!! We had the time of our lives!!!!

Ugh! Yep, it's been SCORCHNG here for the last week. I'm working today and it's days like this that just exhaust me. Getting in and out of the car on sales calls all day ... plus it takes a LOT of ice to keep wine cool in the trunk of my car when it's this hot!!!

WOW! Those pictures ARE amazing! The colors, the moments captured ... everything!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Wow! Amazing! The colors blow me away! I love them all!

Lots to do! I'll post a longer/better answer when I have more time (at work now) but we went off resort and stayed busy on-resort too! Loved every second of it -- 2 weeks worth!

Nope, I still have it. Just getting ready to post a thread with anything I have available ... so let me know if you are still interested. It's beautiful!

Thanks ladies! I'm not super-thrilled with the TTD pics, but I LOVE our wedding pics. I think it's just that it was overcast on the day of our TTD pics so the sky isn't blue and even the water doesn't look as crazy blue as it really was. But there are still a few great ones to choose from.