Cassondra2009

Thanks for all of the great suggestions! I will email the WC.

Originally I thought I would be okay with the ceremony in Spanish with an English translation...but then I went to my friends wedding a couple of weeks ago and was thinking that it could take away from the moment. For those of you who did have a Spanish ceremony, what are your thoughts?

And just to clarify: If the ceremony is just a symbolic ceremony, can the whole thing can be in English?

Oh thats good to hear. The El Patio in the DR had enchiladas, fajitas and a couple of other choices...but not very many.

It's not so much the heat that I'm worried about...my grandmother and my dad can't walk very well on sand. Otherwise I would def want the beach!

Hi! Are there any ceremony locations other than the beach or the chapel? We have about 75 guests and were trying to avoid the beach bc of older guests. Thanks!

I think you should use the boarding passes and show your guests how fun and creative you can be. As long as you love them I think you should go for it!

I love #1

Hi! Welcome to the forum! I went to the Sunscape last April for vacation, so if you have any questions about the resort I'll be happy to answer them for you. Happy Planning!

Welcome and happy planning!

Hi and welcome to the forum! I've been researching for months and still don't know...so I prob wont be much help. Just wanted to say hello and happy planning!

Welcome to the forum! I'm not from the UK but London is my favorite city!

Hi! What did you think of the food at El Patio? My FI and I went to the Sunscape Resort in the DR and the restaurants are all the same...but I wasn't a huge fan of El Patio. I'm thinking that Mexican food in Mexico is prob better than the DR!

Hi! I've just started looking into Dreams Tulum and any info that anyone has would be extremely helpful. I never have enough points to open attachments, so please email any info to [email protected]. The info that everyone has posted has been really helpful. Thanks!

I think if you can avoid hurricane season it would definitely be worth it. I just looked at a website that said the majority of hurricanes were at the end of Sept.

Mexico: Cancun - Peak of the season - Climatology of Caribbean Hurricanes - 1851-2006

thanks for posting! beautiful pics!

6 Months to a Year Before Your Destination Wedding

___ Decide on a wedding budget

___ Find your wedding style

___ Announce your engagement

___ Choose a wedding date

___ Choose a wedding location

___ Research the location, including using online resources, renting books from the library, purchasing books, talking to the local tourist bureau, and talking to friends and family who have been there. Ask resorts for "package deal information", special honeymoon/destination wedding offers, and other informative literature.

___ Look into marriage license requirements, and confirm them with the local tourist board

___ Find a local wedding coordinator – resorts often have someone on staff or you may be able to find someone through the tourist bureau.

___ Put together a wedding guest list

___ Send "Save the Date" cards

___ Follow up with guests by phone to get a general head count

___ If you want a traditional wedding dress, find it now

___ Start considering the groom's attire

___ Start considering the wedding party's attire

___ Obtain necessary legal documents, including, if necessary, passports, divorce certificates, visas, identification, birth certificates, notarized declarations of never having been married.

___ Consider your Bridal Beauty

4 to 6 Months Before Your Destination Wedding

___ Work with your wedding coordinator to find a wedding florist, musicians, wedding photographer and wedding officiant. You may also want to find a hairstylist, makeup artist, and/or nail salon.

___ Decide on your wedding menu

___ Finalize wedding ceremony and reception details, arrange for signed contracts to be sent to you.

___ Order wedding invitations

___ Register for wedding gifts

___ Buy wedding rings. Consider having your wedding rings engraved.

___ Buy your plane tickets

___ Negotiate discounts with airlines and hotels

___ Create and distribute a wedding website or newsletter to share travel and wedding information

___ Finalize the groom's attire

___ Write and order your wedding invitations

2 to 4 Months Before Your Destination Wedding

___ Mail your wedding invitations

___ Begin choosing or writing your wedding vows

___ Shop for shoes and other accessories

___ Make sure all of the wedding party and other essential people have made their travel arrangements

___ Finalize the bridal party attire

1 to 2 Months Before Your Destination Wedding

___ Order wedding favors and gifts

___ Have your final dress fitting

___ Shop for vacation wear, including swimsuit(s), a rehearsal dinner outfit, sun protection

2 Weeks Before Your Destination Wedding

___ Confirm all details with hotel, chef or caterer, florist, photographer, officiant, musicians and/or DJ, and others involved in the wedding

___ Arrange guest seating, if necessary

___ Assemble favors and/or welcome bags

Upon Arrival

___ Apply for a marriage license

___ Meet with your wedding coordinator

___ Meet with your officiant

___ Visit the ceremony site

___ Distribute welcome bags to guests' rooms

___ Go over last minute details

___ Relax!

Your Wedding Day

___ Do your best to relax, enjoy yourselves, focus on each other, and have fun with your friends and family.

This one has some more details...hopefully this helps!

Timeline for Planning the Best Destination Weddings

12 Months or more

* Create a wedding binder. Keep all ideas, swatches, photos, correspondence, etc. and keep it in an easily accessible place.

* Set a budget and stick to it.

* Consider purchasing wedding insurance to protect your wedding budget.

* Compile a reasonable guest list. Don’t over invite assuming guests won’t come because of travel. Invite anyone you want to have present (budget permitting) and allow the guest to decide if they can or want to travel.

* If you are getting married outside of the country, consider hiring a destination wedding planner or consultant who specializes in destination wedding locations and weddings abroad.

11 Months prior

* Set up a profile of the type of destination wedding your want

* Research, research, research locations before you book. Note distance from airport to hotel, weather, seasons and time of year (consider hurricanes) amenities, etc.

* Settle on a wedding date.

* Send save the date cards. (optional).

* Verify marriage residency requirements.

* Research travel and accommodation options for guests

* Consider visiting the destination location to be sure this is THE spot for you.

10 months prior

* Make destination wedding planning trip, if necessary

* Set up meetings with any stateside wedding professional who may be traveling to your wedding locale.

9 Months prior

* Start putting together any legal documents required to marry at the destination wedding location.

* Make travel arrangements to the destination wedding site, if possible.

* Book the lodging accommodations for wedding attendants. You are responsible to foot the bill for at least 2 nights lodging for wedding attendants.

* Complete itinerary for tours or any other extra curricular activities for guests, if applicable

* Make your own travel arrangements for the wedding.

8 Months prior

* Register for gifts.

* Determine style, formality and colors of wedding.

* Consider style of stationery, invitations.

7 Months prior

* Select your destination wedding dress keeping the location, weather and location style in mind.

* Choose and order bridesmaids wedding dresses.

* Order groom and groomsmen attire.

* Shop for wedding rings.

6 Months prior

* Make final selections on wedding cake baker, florists and décor, and transportation if necessary.

* Work on ceremony details and buy any necessary items.

* Finalize menu and wedding cake order.

5 Months prior

* Purchase fiancé’s gift (optional)

* Order wedding favors (optional)

* Buy gifts for wedding attendants and parents.

4 Months prior

* Finish addressing wedding invitations and mail.

3 Months prior

* Update your budget

* Review contracts again and familiarize yourself with arrival times, etc.

2 Months prior

* Start creating seating charts. Yes, it is hard but it must be done.

* Call guests who have not yet responded

1 Month prior

* Release any unnecessary rooms

* Finalize all wedding day itineraries

* Confirm travel arrangements with the hotel/resort

3 Weeks prior

* Send out emails to wedding providers who have been contracted to finalize the details.

3 Days prior

* Arrive at wedding destination

* Meet with banquet manager

* Go over details

* Bridal beauty - manicure, pedicure – no change in facial products at this time. Any change in cleansers or makeup should be done at least one month prior to the wedding.

The day of

* Relax, say “I DO†and live happily ever after!

This one doesn't have too many details...but it's the only one I've found so far!

Congrats! I was looking into the DR but now I'm thinking Mexico...but I will probably change my mind 100 more times before I actually stick to one place. I have been to the Sunscape in the DR and it was great! The service was great and we had an excellent time.

Do either of you know if the ceremony has to be in Spanish in the DR? That's why I started looking into Mexico...but hopefully that's just a rumor or something!

AMAZING!!! I love them all!

Thanks! What I was hoping for was a private reception at an indoor location...bummer. I agree with you about bugs and wind. I went to a restaurant in the DR during a wedding dinner (it was a blocked off section of tables) and I could hear all of their speeches and everything. So I think I'm trying to stay away from having the reception in an a la carte... But maybe the Gran Bahia has a much better set up...let me know when you get back!

I voted for #3 with #1 at a close second. Almost a tie.