Starfish

We are heading off to Paradisus in less than a week and I still don't know what I am doing with my hair!?!?!?!?!? I was worried about using the hairdressers there at the resort without having time to do trial runs etc. but now after many failed attempts to get "the look" myself, I think it will probably be best to have a professional do it. Has any Paradisus brides used the salon at the resort? How was it?? any photos?? I have medium length hair and am hoping to have it curly and just a bit of it up at the front. thanks for any help!!! Sarah

Hi everyone, We are having a very small wedding (approximately 10-12 people including us) and are getting married at Paradisus Punta Cana. I don't think any of the reception packages are really right for us (as there will be so few of us) but we want to do something for our guest (and for ourselves) that is more than just having a dinner at one of the hotel's restaraunts. We are thinking that it would be nice to have a sunset dinner cruise on a private boat (we are getting married at 6:00 PM so it would have to be in the evening), but I can't seem to find any information on hiring a boat and crew for this type of event. Idealy it would include a meal and some music. Has anyone come across any information on such an activity? PLEASE!!!! I have googled and and yahooed myself to the point of sheer Fraustration!!! ~Sarah

Good day everyone, I know that there was a thread created already for this topic but I've found that its been buried and isn't active much anymore. Sarah and I are back to the drawing board with our photographer. Unfortunately the one which we had booked has been taken captive by a family commitment. My question is: Which photographer are you all using for your Dominican Republic wedding? If you would be so kind as to PM us any and all information that you're willing to share it would be tremendously appreciated. Thank you all! Myles & Sarah

Congratulations Tammy and Steve! We've been wondering why we hadn't heard back from her. . .now we know! haha Welcome Jackson!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by foxytv Congrats Myles & Sarah! I'll have a thorough review posted before your big day! And I haven't forgotten about you! As soon as I get a minute, I will send you all the PPC info that you asked for in your PM! My apologies for the delay, but please bear with me! :-) No worries! Get it over as soon as you're able and thank you to everyone! I think we've selected our photographer as well. The lovely Ms. Robin DePaula boasts a rather impressive website and an attractive DW special right now. Even better yet, she's available when we need her! Now. . .on to invitations/STD's! and then after spending massive amounts of money and having a mild heart attack . . . . Myles

Well, we've finalized our plans and paid our deposit (FINALLY!). We're officially spending three nights (four days) at Paradisus Punta Cana where we will be married on May 26, 2008 and then we're buggering off to Excellence Punta Cana where we've booked the Honeymoon Club Suite for a week. And now the rest of the wedding planning goodness comes into play. We've booked our resorts, put down our deposits, now just to decide on invitations, STD's, receptions, flowers, ceremony locations, rings, dresses, suits, photographer, gifts, OOT bags, flights, menus, guests, headache medication/elephant tranquilizers (thats for me once I become to overwhelmed haha) and pretty much anything else we can possibly think of. I have to admit the WORST part of planning a DW is the fact that whilst I can sit here, close my eyes and just imagine Sarah and I lounging around on the beautiful beach. I unfortunately have to open my eyes and find myself sitting in my terribly uncomfortable chair in my cold office (I don't think they believe in heat here) at work. . . 8 months away from that beach! But oh well. . .as the great Leonardo Da Vinci once said: "I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end." Take care everyone and please keep the good advice coming!! Cheers ~Myles

Quote: Originally Posted by mexicomelissa (I just renewed my passport before we got married so there's no way in hell I'm paying that $65 until the damn thing expires LOL money sucking bastards!!). Isn't that the truth! Thanks again for the help. That was exactly what I was needing. Cheers! Sarah

Quote: Originally Posted by mexicomelissa As long as you have your certificate with the apostille seal on it from the DR you don't need to do anything in Canada (except maybe get it translated but even that's not necessary as far as I know!) In regards to name changes...what a PITA! For your DL you just need to bring in your marriage certificate (it doesnt need to be the one with the seal, just the one you get the day you get married - if you get one), your old DL and I think another form of ID. Same with your health card. For your SIN card you need your certificate, photo ID and your birth certificate. It's actually pretty easy, more just a PITA in the way that you have to go to so many different places to get all your different forms of ID. For your bills and stuff you just have to call and change your name....some of them will ask you to fax your marriage certificate but most don't. Good luck with everything & if you need any more help don't be afraid to ask! Thank you kindly! If you don't mind me asking what sort of fees were connected with those events? And do they all have to be done in person? My fiance and I live in England. . .so going to the SIN office in Canada may be difficult! lol Sarah

Hello fellow Canadians! I really don't know how many from Ontario use this forum but I have seen a few around so I hope you're able to help. I'm curious to know about the legal side of getting married. Specifically, Myles and I are getting married in the Dominican Republic and are having a legal ceremony with a local judge. After this we're told we will be given a marriage certificate that is legal worldwide. Do we still need to go through the Canadian Registration process? If so, do you have any websites or information on this? Secondly, what needs to be done in order to do all of the official name change things? I believe in Canada it's called "assuming your partners name" which is what I want to do (so as to not have to "elect" and change my birth certificate). Lastly, if you have gone through all of this could you please give us an idea of what all of the legal fees were? Thank you kindly! Sarah

Quote: Originally Posted by vale Where abouts in England are you living? We're in Kent about 30 minutes south of London by train... (and God, will it EVER stop Raining?!?!?!?!?!?!?)

Hello all, Myles here. I'm hoping that someone can help set a clear and decisive timeline for the STD/RSVP/Invitation process. I am a little confused. . .we are sending out our STD's within the next couple of weeks. With the STD's will be a small note that says please RSVP online or via email by X. It will also instruct them to call our TA at the same time as RSVP'ing with us in order to book their room. Keeping in mind our wedding is May 26, 2008 and the resort is going to require a head count anywhere from 30-60 days before the date. . . Question 1.) How long should we give them to RSVP/Book their room by? (this is the date stated on the Save The Date note) Question 2.) How far after this should we send out our official invitations? Question 3.) Do we send another RSVP with our invitations? One that we will want them to mail back? (We're in the U.K. . .guests in Canada. . thumbs down to shipping costs!) or is the official invite just a formality at this point and a separate RSVP card isn't necessary? If another RSVP card should be included here what return date should we put on it? I think that's it. Thank you everyone! Myles

Thank you everyone. It's Myles here. I've been telling Sarah the same things as all of you. It's about us, it's our day and frankly, anyone who wants to stand in the way of that can just go "kick rocks" I believe is what the saying above was Anyways, I know she's having a hard time with all of this as it's mostly her mother and older sister who want us to go clear across the world to have our wedding in our home town. We don't want to do this for every reason under the sun! Sarah is feeling much better about all of this now (so she tells me anyway!) I think she just needed to know that others were feeling the same way and that at the end of the day family will be family and if they want to be at our DW. . .they'll be there. . . if not, they're going to miss one beautiful party! It's our day and we've put a lot of planning into it and we're having it the way we want so that we are the ones that when it's all said and done are left smiling on the beach. Thanks again everyone. Myles & Sarah

Thank you, This really does make me feel better, or start to feel better at least. As I read through the other posts in this thread I see that a lot of brides are going or have gone through this themselves. I guess it was bound to happen, I just hope everything works out without leaving permenant damage between me and my family or grudges that last a life time ~Sarah P.S. Thank god our hotel is all inclusive, I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time at the bar.

first let me say that I love planning our wedding with my fiance.... really love it, I was starting to wonder what all the fuss was about, when people say how stressful it all is.... then the phone calls started from my family. I am really trying hard not to let the guilt over making people spend so much on "my" big day, not get to me, but it is taking it's toll and I would love to hear how other DW brides have handled this. Basically when I first told them I was planning a destination wedding they seemed excited, but now all I get are calls telling me how they can't afford it and that I should look into doing it somewhere else (aka going home where they all are) and the keep sending me ridiculous prices they obtained for flights (which of course they are ridiculous, it is too early to get deals on flights!!!! which I keep telling them) and now are going as far as trying to do research on their own to "find me a cheaper place to get married"..... AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! We have put so much work into this and no one seems to appreciate that. We are trying to get the best deals for everyone, and are not bullying ANYone of our guest into coming... but this is my FAMILY!!! I am not asking for them to help out with ANY of the cost of the wedding, we are doing it all ourselves, I just want them to put forth the effort of making it to the ceremony, or flat out tell me they aren't coming rather than trying to RE-PLAN the wedding we have worked so hard on!!!! Thank God for Myles, he has really been supportive through this, but I am really stating to feel like an evil selfish person for ever expecting people to spend so much just to come and see me get married. Please!!! If any of you have had similiar experiences with your family, how did you handle it? Thanks ~Sarah

So we think we have decided on the garden venue (no canopy) for the ceremony. Does anyone know how secluded this area is?? I also like the first picture but it is off of the lobby, so does that mean your wedding is in full view of the guest walking around the lobby?? Also I would like to have a nice entrance, and walking through the lobby in my gown waiting to go down the aisle is not exactly what I am picturing. Basically we would like the ceremony to be somewhere private, away from prying eyes and not beside a path with people walking to the beach and back during the ceremony. Has anyone had there wedding there or been there for a viewing?? If you have any information regarding how secluded the different venues are it would be Greatly appreciated!! ~Sarah