MrsTrussell2B

Thanks everyone! This is what the hotel photographer sent me.

Ok I am admittedly NOT a picture person so we didn’t really set a budget for our pictures. Now as the wedding is getting closer I am realizing that how photographs may be a disaster for a few reasons: 1.No real budget so I just kinda told my FI that it will be between $1500 - $2000 (for pictures and video). 2. We are using the PPR photographer. I have only seen their work in the pictures on shutterfly. They sent me the packages to choose from but it doesn’t make sense to me. I am so unclear of what I am actually getting from them. I have went over and over the package and either im dense or it isn’t self-explanatory. I try to email questions and they TRY to answer but the language barrier doesn’t help 3. The video packages: After several emails (on the positive side they are very responsive and nice) they told me that the $450 video only include the bride before the ceremony, the ceremony and then the photo session after and will be edited to 20 -25 min. the $850 video will include all of the events on my wedding day but will be edited to 45 min. the video is very important to me because i want to show it at my AHR on Aug 2nd. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP. has anyone used the photographer at PPR or even PPC. What exactly did you get for the money? I even considered bringing my own photographer and videographer but at this late day and with that small budget I don’t see how i can.

The break did help! i was able to regroup and plan again. I tried the dress on for one of my friends last night and she said it fits perfect! :-) They only made me reach a minimum of 40. I thought it was 45 or 50 but oneday i emailed them and asked if i could still have it with only 37 people and she said I only needed to reach the 40 minimum.

Im excited, stressed, tired, overwhelm, happy, etc! Any word that you can think of that describes me. I leave on July 18th. Im on travel for work now for 4 days and Im sure you know that all i can think is that is 4 days that I cant do something for the wedding. But maybe thats a good thing because i was starting to stress myself out. I never thought I would be that type of bride because I thought oh destination wedding = easy. HA! but it has been a lot of fun planning and i cant imagine what i will do when it is all over. I picked up my dress last week and I cried because i dont think it fits right. I accused the lady of not taking it in. She said if she takes it in anymore i wont be able to sit down. I actually contemplated that then realized I had lost it. I guess the stress is getting to me and I am losing weight in all the wrong places but i dont see it and i still feel like my stomach wont budge! But anyway I picked the Beach BBQ. I chose choice #3 for the menu. SALADS: Classic Caesar salad with grilled sea scallops; Field green salad with grilled vegetables, feta cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette; BBQ chicken chopped salad ON THE GRILL: Baby pork ribs BBQ; Salmon medallions; Rib eye steak; Half lobsters DESSERT: Custard flan; Passion fruit mousse; Chocolate cake with mint essence. I wished i could have mixed and matched from all of the choices but Im pretty happy with this one. My wedding starts at 5, cocktail hour at 6 and reception 7 -10. I am so worried that people will get bored. Im not having a DJ (using an IPOD) I just couldnt justify the cost especially when I asked about when I asked about the playlist and i couldnt receive it. I have 37 guests. Any ideas on what i can do to entertain them from 7 - 10 or am I overanalyzing as usual.

Right Danielle! I keep looking for more post from PPR brides but i never see anyone new ones.

Update: So i went shopping yesterday (not for the BM jewelry) and something caught my eye. It was a journey necklace. (the one with 7 simulated diamond that increase in size) It is the perfect lenght and i picked up a simple stud to go with it. I really like it! ( l like the starfish too but i wanted a little more sparkle so im returning the starfish necklace and the earrings)

Quote: Originally Posted by kevsgirl I just found these on Kohl's online and really like them. They're a bit modern, but simple and clean lines. They're mother of pearl. They are also really really reasonably priced and IMO if you're BMs are so frivolous about letting you pay and knowing they might not even like what you pick, I'd go as cheap as possible (not sacrificing style, of course). Also, the chain is 18" already If they're wearing their hair up, I'd go for the earrings. If they're wearing their hair down I'd go for the necklace on its own and some plain stud earrings (whatever they have already that is silver). White mother of pearl earrings White mother of pearl necklace: Actually, come to think of it, since the dress is blue you could go with the blue coloured version instead (made of another really nice shell called Abalone). I was just thinking the white for mine. Those are really pretty. I dont know how they are wearing their hair. Oh no! another thing that i have to think about. :-)

Quote: Originally Posted by lucy106 Oh I really like your BM dresses, are they that color too? I love it. You have been more then accomodating to them. I really like the neckalce and agree the earrings are too much. Is a simple stud not enough bling? Thanks. Yes they are that color. I think a simple stud will work and i know i can get some that are inexpensive

OK this will be a little long because i am venting here! Thanks ladies! Im not offended by anyones comments at all. I am soooo not a jewelry person (I wear the same simple tiffany heart necklace and earrings everyday) Because of this I told the BMs that they could pick out their own jewelry. Well it is 30 days before my wedding and they still havent picked out anything so I got fed up and picked it out. I had considered the starfish necklace a long time ago when I saw the ones on this forum and thought the idea was so cute and would match the theme of my beach wedding. When i mentioned it to them they thought i had lost it! LOL. So I waited for them to pick something out and when they did not i ordered. They havent seen them but when i told them they were on the way they all gave me the same sarcastic "oh great." But it was in a joking manner and in the end all of them said that they would wear whatever I want them to wear. I guess Im just annoyed because not many brides say "Hey pick out your own dress AND your jewelry and I am going to buy the jewelry for you" Yes you read that right i told them to pick out their own dress too! Which they didnt do so in the end I had to pick that too! Which BTW they all went and tried on and i never saw the dresses on the BMs until a week ago (because we are in different states) and I dont like it on. So I am a little irritated with them. Im posting the dress so you guys can see it. I do think an 18in chain will look nice with it and I am looking for new earrings today and i will return the starfish necklace. If it wasnt for eveyone on this forum i dont know what i would do! :-)

I ordered the Wonder Wife t-shirt last month and I received it a few weeks ago. It is sooooo cute. I plan to wear it on the plane home.

Twelve piece i just checked out your website and i love your work.

Quote: Originally Posted by Agape Gems I think the necklace is totally wearable again, not so sure about the earrings though. I have a starfish necklace that I wear layered with lots of other silver stuff. Thanks that means a lot coming from you since you design jewelry. I could live with them not wearing either piece again even though i hate the thought of wasting my money. I told them that if they absolutely hate them then to give them to their daughters.

Quote: Originally Posted by lscilley I think the necklace is so cute! Do you think the earrings are overkill? Im so tired of looking for jewlery that i want to keep this even if i dont LOVE it.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jacqueline I think they are cute! How long is the chain? Thanks! I knew the brides on the forum would like them. I guess my BMs get the concept but they probably think its a little out there. the chain is 16 inches. Their dress is strapless. So I tried it on this morning. I think they will definitely need 18 inches.

I received the jewelry that I ordered from Eves Addiction. It looks OK. I haven’t decided if I am going to return it or just exchange the necklace for a longer length. My BMs haven’t seen the jewelry but they HATE the idea of starfish jewelry and wonder will they ever be able to use it again. I plan to shop for my jewelry this weekend so I may see if I like anything else for them. Oh i also included my bouquet starfish in one of the pictures.

Im getting married at the Paradisus Palma Real on July 21st. So first i worked with kelly now i am working with Vivianna. I received my invoice about a week ago. I was surprised that it was correct! There are a few decisions that i still have to make and Vivianna said i have until a week before the wedding. I thought that Kelly told me that i pay when i get there but i honestly dont remember and i would have to go thru the emails. I do plan on taking every email with me so that they have to honor what they quoted. Who is the new WC? Was she Vivianna's assistant or someone brand new

They look so nice i ordered some for my OOT bag. I just received my proof and i love it!!!!!

Thanks ladies! your stories/suggestions really have me thinking. I think we will do a hybrid of a few of these suggestions. I definitely want to keep some of my money because i like independence. And I also am not willing to split his child support I would definitely have a problem with that.

This thread has a few options which are similar http://http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t17329 you have to go to the second page of the thread to see options that are similar to your picture

for the PPR or PPC brides or any brides that had their cocktail hour and reception on the beach at night what lighting did you use. I am considering tiki torches. My cocktail hour is from 6 - 7 and the reception is from 7 -10

I just received this email from Kelly: "Dear Palma Real Brides, It is with huge sadness that I write to inform you that I am leaving Paradisus Palma Real. This decision has not been taken lightly and I have thought long and hard about this change, but due to personal reasons I am returning to the UK. I know that many of you have placed your trust in me personally to manage your once-in-a-lifetime-event and so I apologize that I will not be here to continue this journey with you. My replacement arrives on Monday June 2nd 2008 and I will be here with her for 2 weeks going over each of your files explaining every detail that has already been planned – there is no need to resend anything, my handover to her will be thorough and precise. I will brief her fully on each one you and your decisions and plans so far and visions for your wedding. Her name is Viviana Lopez and she is currently the Romance Manager from Paradisus Punta Cana. She already has plenty of experience with weddings and events and has all the same contacts with the vendors as I do here in the area. She will be a fabulous replacement and the changeover will be seamless. Viviana and I will handle all weddings together from June 2nd up until June 15th 2008 which will be my last day in Palma Real. From June 16th Viviana will be the Romance Manager and Carolina Joa continues here alongside her as Romance Coordinator. Many of you feel like close friends as we have shared the experience and emotions of planning the most important day of your life, and so I am sad that I will not see that day finally come together… I wish you all the very best for the wedding and a life of love and happiness with your future husband. One last important tip: ENJOY the wedding day – take it all in, LOOK at your guests, walk SLOWLY down the isle, LISTEN to the music and SMELL the flowers. The day will go so fast, make sure you really live it. It has been a pleasure to know you all…" Now my concern is: Is Viviana going to run both Paradisus Hotels?

These are great! I have searched and searched for something to light up my tables. Im ordering these right now!

These oil lamp shells are so unique. Im probably not going to use this because I cant imagine how i would get these there due to the oil. They arent cheap but I would only need about 5. Here is the complete website New Romantic Beach Wedding Decorating Gifts Ideas & Shell Centerpieces

Quote: Originally Posted by S2BLennon OK so I am curious because I was researching and it says that the mosquitios carry malaria on DR- did this sway anyones reason to have a beach reception at night after the sun goes down? Did anyone feel like there were a lot of mosquitos out? great question! i hope you get an answer. when i 1st picked DR friends started sending me emails about the malaria. it freaked me out. but i definitely want my reception on the beach.

Im buying their weding jewelry (which we have not picked out ) and im going to book us all a massage at the spa the day of the wedding. But i have read that a lof of brides are just giving gift certificates for spa services. Is it wrong to book their time for them? I thought maybe we could do it in the morning to kill time and relax