MrsPetti2Be

We are getting married at the Riu Palace Punta Cana next May. We are going with the most expensive package which is $2600 - this includes flowers, centerpieces, cake, photographer, hairdo, manicure, pedicure, massages, cake & champagne for the guests (50 or more), reception, flower petals for our flower girl, etc. Pretty much everything you need is included. We are doing a private reception in one of their restaurants with a DJ which is $800 extra. They are creating a 3 tier cake in any colour that I would like and I am bring sea shells for them to decorate the cake with...they are doing all of this for free. So pretty much we are getting our entire wedding for about $3100 and we have about 50 guests right now but we can go up to 100 guests and it will still be the same cost. The resort is also very reasonably priced, it is a 5 1/2 star resort and we will only be paying about $1500 per person.

Just a word of advice for anyone booking at the Riu Palace Punta Cana...make sure you get all the price info before you book. We have booked our wedding there for May 8th 2009 and we are now looking at the finer details of the ceremony and reception. They want $5000 for the beach reception (they say it costs this much for setting it up) and they want $5/person for a cake to feed 50 people...which we are already suppose to be getting in our wedding package. So just make sure you ask all of your pricing questions before you go so you have proof of what they quoted you.

This is what I read on the Riu wedding website..."For Civil weddings: The marriage certificate will be given to the couple five to six months after wedding´s day."

I have attached some pictures of a beach reception that the wedding coordinator has sent me from the Riu Palace Punta Cana. It looks beautiful but not worth $5000 lol. Attachment 1934 Reception.zip

Iberostar punta cana is a gorgeous resort. We just stayed there in March and that is actually where we got engaged! You will definitely love it, the people are great and the everything is so clean!

Wow!! That is such a big difference. This is one of my concerns but we cannot afford to travel down to firm up the contract so I am hoping that just keeping the emails and bringing them with me will do. I hope this doesn't happen, I am trying to think of all the possible extra charges that could come up so I get it cleared up now instead of when we are there. Anyone know of any of the little things they charge you for that you normally wouldn't think of?

WOW! Thanks, I was wondering what it would look like. It looks gorgeous...makes me want it even more!

The dreams punta cana looks like a nice resort and I believe it is cheaper than the Riu Palace. The Riu bambu also looked nice and is a lot cheaper than the Palace. I have also heard some good reviews about the Ocean Blue and I believe it is cheaper.

My fiance came up with a great idea on the weekend to save money on the reception...let me know what you guys think of this. He thinks we should do the dinner in the restaurant (which is free with our package) and then have the cake, drinks and dancing on the beach...which I would imagine would only cost $1000-$1500 to have them set up tables and give us a bartender for the evening. I am still awaiting a response from the resort as to whether they will do this or not.

thanks for the support!!

Hi Girls, Just needed to share my feelings with someone. I have been sad for the last few days and figure if I get them out it might help. I found out Thursday night that one of my girlfreind's (and bridesmaid) father died thursday morning. It was such a shock and I have just felt horrible since then. Although he was not in my family it is still bringing me down. Anyone have any tips on how to deal with it? Lisa

if you stay a different resort than the guests you wouldn't have to pay for them to attend you would have to have the wedding wherever they are staying...the rule of thumb for all Riu resorts is that the wedding must be held where 80% of the guests are staying. So you guys could do the Riu Palace and get that experience and the rest of the guests can stay at any 1 of the other 5 Riu properties (they are all right next to each other). And because you are at the Palace Punta Cana you can use all 5 of the resorts but they cannot use your resort.

Not too sure why not...they cannot seem to ever tell me whys. And that $5000 is just for the reception...that is on top of the wedding package ($2600).

So the saga with this reception continues...I just got an email stating that the minimum price for a beach reception is $5000 and you cannot have more than 50 guests. The sales coordinator at this resort cannot seem to get things straight! I am very tempted to change to a different resort...only problem is my fiance is dead set on this one. ughhh! Like what in the world could they give you at the reception that costs $5000?!?!?!

The other option is that you guys could stay at the palace and all your family can stay at another riu that is cheap like the Bambu (i think this is a 4 star). The only issue with that is you have to get married at the resort where 80% of the guests are staying...or you can get married at the palace punta cana and the guests not staying there have to pay like $100 each to attend the wedding and reception. Or you can check out the Riu Palace Macao...it is also very nice and a little cheaper but not as much as the bambu.

I will have to look into that resort! That sounds so much more reasonable that what we are currently looking at!! Thanks for the info.

WOW!! That sounds great! How many guests did you have?? At the Riu i don't qualify for a free package as we have too many guests.

I called Sunquest and they gave me a quote for my group. I have about 40 adults and 6 children so far so I did get a discounted rate but if you have a general number of guests they can quote you so that you have an idea of the costs. I tried looking online but no one has pricing for May 2009 yet...we are also looking at leaving out of the United States as it is soo much cheaper (just taxes alone you save $200/person). We live like 5 minutes from Detroit, Michigan...but the pricing from the states for May doesn't come out until May or June 2008. If you are waiting to find pricing online for 2009 you will probably have to wait until July or August as that is when the travel companies publish their rates in their books. If you would like to call sunquest directly their number is 1-877-485-6060. Just so you can compare for us to leave out of Toronto we were quoted from them $1380/adult +$339 in taxes and $1060/child +$339 in taxes...and then depending on how many people were coming 1 in every 16 goes for free, only pays taxes. For us to leave out of Detroit this year would cost un $1055/adult + about $100 in taxes and 1 in every 21 goes for free (only taxes) and they were offering in May every 22nd person also goes free...so you can see how much cheaper it is.

Thanks for all the feedback...it is really helpful. What is the Ipod option, because I would rather bring my ipod than pay $300 for a DJ that I will provide all the music to anyway. I am getting frustrated with the resort we chose as they can't seem to answer any of my questions. We were looking at the dreams resort but we read some questionable reviews on it...but it seems like a lot of people are going there so we may change our minds. Does the $2600 include the beach reception? Because our $2600 includes a restaurant reception with food and drinks for 2 hours but I wanted to have music so we are forced into a private reception.

Just wondering if anyone else is planning a beach reception in the Dominican. We want to have a DJ and so we are forced to have a private reception and our two options are either the steak house (which is only partially closed off) or the beach. I was really interested in the beach reception but then we got the cost and now I am really struggling to decide if it is reasonable. We are getting married at the Riu Palace Punta Cana next May and they are quoting us $80/person with at least 50 adult guest attending (so at least $4000). We will already be paying $2600 for the wedding package which includes a free reception at the steak house if you don't want a DJ or a private reception. I am curious what other resorts in Punta Cana are charging for private receptions as I am considering changing resorts if they are much cheaper. I feel that $80/person is a lot for a buffet that us and our guests are already paying for. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

We are planning our wedding for next May at the Riu Palace Punta Cana. The resort looks beautiful and they have a great set up for the wedding ceremony. I was in Punta Cana in March and we went and looked at this resort and it is just amazing...and you cannot go wrong with Punta Cana beaches. The only thing that I have found with this resort is that it is difficult to get answers from the wedding people. And the other thing is that it is getting pricey if you want to have a private reception. We want to have a DJ play at our reception so we are forced to have a private reception...which is either at the steak house for an extra $500 or on the beach for $80/person with at least 50 adults attending (so at least an extra $4000). As far as the resort trip advisor has some great info on it...most people like the resort. There are a few complaints about a mildew smell in the rooms, which I am trying to get info from the resort about this as it was said by at least 5 people. Apparently the beds are firm...for some people this is uncomfortable (according to the complaints). But from what we have seen at other resorts and comments from some travel agents, this is one of the best resorts for the money. I have been doing a ton of research on this property as I cannot find many people who have had their weddings here so if you have any questions let me know.

I am in the same boat as you trying to book something for $1200/person. I talked to sears travel and they quoted me $1900/person + $339 in taxes for the Riu Palace Punta Cana in may 2009. I then called Sunquest vacations directly and they quoted me for the exact same thing $1380/person + $339 in taxes...so my advice is to call the travel company directly to get your price and then go to the travel agent with the quote and they will normally price match. If you would like to contact Sunquest directly their number is 1-877-485-6060. Also, if you can leave from the US you can get a much better deal...the taxes in the states are quite a lot less...about $120 is the US vs $339 in Canada. Some of the resorts will also give free trips if you have a certain number of people booking...all you pay is the taxes. For us, if we went to the Riu Palace every 17th person only pays $339 (taxes).

Hi All!! I am a new bride to be and trying to decide on a resort in Punta Cana for our wedding in May 2009. We need something that allows children and that is economical for our family. We have been looking at the Riu Palace Punta Cana but I cannot seem to find many people that have been married there. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!! Lisa

Hi Everyone!!! My name is Lisa and I just got engaged on March 11. I am getting married May 7, 2009 at the Riu Palace Punta Cana in Dominican Republic. I cannot seem to find anyone the has gotten married here so if you or someone you know has please let me know how it is. Lisa