BachataBride

Quote: Originally Posted by Jea10 That cliff is amazing! I cant wait to see your pics too! I requested more info from this resort today. How has your planning been coming along? It's going great! We haven't done a WHOLE lot yet! My dress is ordered Style 8439 , invites are sent (in March!), I just ordered my favors, cake topper & flutes 2 days ago Add to Cart , Add to Cart , Add to Cart . We still have to get our rings, documents translated, attendants gifts, FI wardrobe, shoes, lingerie, BD photos, and the list goes on!!! I haven't made any arrangements with the hotel yet except wedding date & time. I am going over wedding "stuff" with the TA next week (she's a DW specialist!!). So...still lots of stuff to do!! If you are looking at the RIU Bachata for your wedding, I will warn you that they do not have the beautiful white sandy beaches that Punta Cana has. I sacrificed the beach for the clifftop gazebo!! PLEASE let me know if you need anymore info!

Will you happen to be in Puerta Plata the middle of Jan. 2009??

Quote: Originally Posted by Mrs. Martin All RIU's state that 80% of all your guests must stay at the hotel (where the wedding is taking place) in order get married there. And for those guests that are not staying at the hotel, you must pay for a guest pass. Even your vendors need passes. Yours aren't expensive because the RIU that I'm getting married at is charging us $100 per guest pass (Yikes!). We're spending close to $700 on just passes The $35 (now $39 I think!) is if you are staying at one of the sister RIUs on the same complex - its just for dinner!! It's $100 for a day pass to the resort! So it is the same!!! What a bummer though!!

I am getting married at the RIU Bachata in Puerta Plata on January 22, 2009!!!

My mom is coming to visit in a few weeks & I am sending a bunch of things back to my home town with her. She is going to give a little bit to each of my guests (inc. my MOH) so that they can take it for me! I'm just hoping that I have everything in time!!! Another option is to ship things directly to your mom/MOH/BMs/etc. when you order things online! Good Luck!!

Quote: Originally Posted by k_8ie P.S. My FI is so relieved, I was totally ticking him off when I was changing my mind every two minutes! YAYAYAAYYAYAY! LOL My FI was the same way...at the end he said "I don't even care anymore...just pick one!!". I had "picked the one" about 3 times!! I went back to my first choice...and am so happy!! Funny thing is that I went back to my first choice of dress as well!! I guess it goes to show that you should always go with your first instinct!! Happy Planning!

WOW...its a gorgeous dress!! Very sexy!! Good for you to be able to pull it off!! lol As for the ivory with white...I think it would be ok. If you have his & yours you could just put them together to see what kind of a difference there is. I guess it depends on how ivory & how white!! Good Luck!

Dessy also has a destination line...with short dresses Wedding Dresses: The Dessy Group

Is anyone doing anything special to honor loved ones who have passed away? My step-father passed away 18mths ago & I would really like to acknowledge him in some way. I don't know then if that would open up a whole new can of worms...do you have to then acknowledge every loved one who we have lost in both of our families...what if we miss one that we are not close to? Any suggestions?? Thanks!

My mom & my MOH are both in my hometown. I took the opportunity on a long weekend visit to go dress shopping with them. Keep in mind I come from a VERY small town & there are not many options. I figured that I wouldn't find anything but I wanted to have the experience of going with them! It turned out I did find my dress!! And I got to share that with them!

OMG...I love this idea!!! I am definitely stealing this idea!!

I am changing my last name. I don't feel particularly attached to it...it is my fathers name & he is a bit of an ass! So I am kind of happy to be rid of it! Plus I like the way Amanda Merrigan sounds! I just feel bad for my mom...when her & my dad got divorced she kept his name because she didn't want to have a diff name than me...now I'm changing mine & she's stuck with my dad's!! She feels like she is to old to be messing around with her names now! I feel so bad!

Quote: Originally Posted by rdz_sandra My coordinator hasn't been so great either. That's why I'm asking. My friend will be the photographer so I'm not sure about that one. My friend is doing the photography too...so I think we're just going to buy him something. And maybe we'll just give the WC one of our favors or something...unless she's really good & then maybe we'll tip (I can't really say a % bc there is no charge)...hmmm...with that being said, maybe we should def tip her!!

I was dead set on not staying with him the night before...my mom has booked single so I was just going to stay with her...but now I'm not sure. He is against it & thinks its silly...I am torn! I guess I'll decide when I get there!! It's not like we can really avoid each other all day anyway! Hmmm...now you have me really thinking!!

I think I am having both my mother & father walk me. They are seperated...and I am by far closer to my mom. I would rather just my mom walk me, but I don't want to be too harsh to my dad. If my step-father was alive (he passed away 18mths ago) I was going to have both him & my bio father walk me (since my step-father was the one who practically raised me). I guess you can do whatever you feel is right & what you want to do. Maybe you could walk by yourself...I don't think there is anything that says you cannot to that! Then you could have all your family (mom, bros, sons) say "we do" when they ask who is giving you away.

The RIU Complex in PC has 5 resorts..but the RIU Palace Macao is the only one that offers the "free" wedding. I have been in contact with someone who got married at the Macao recently if you would like me to ask her to contact you (just send me your email address). I looked into this resort, but decided on the RIU Bachata (PP complex) one - because it was cheaper & I would more than likely have more guests that could attend; and two - because of the amazing gazebo location! Good Luck!!

Thanks!! It's a great starting point!! I'm going to use #2 (it's the simplest!)

I suggest talking to a travel agent...they will have some great ideas for you! Especially the ones that deal primarily with wedding groups!! I am doing an AHR...well not really at home I guess. My FI & I are both from Newfoundland, bu t live in Ontario. We are doing our DW in January & then we are planning a small reception for the summer of 2009 in Newfoundland so that we can celebrate with our family & friends who couldn't make it to the actual wedding!! Good Luck!

Well...my MOH has been to the DR a few times and it is the only place she has been. She and her husband vowed that their next Carribean vacation would be anywhere but the DR since that is the only country they had been...but when I told her I was getting married in Puerta Plata she did not even give it a second thought...she said she would be by my side wherever I went...& so should your sister! This is your day/week!! She should be happy just to be with you on such a special day...no matter where it is!! The only thing that should be of concern is if she said it was a horrible resort!! Good luck!!

Absolutely beautiful!! I have to go through them again & save some of the ideas for my photographer!!

That is exactly what I was thinking of doing! I'm not sure if it will work because the gazebo is on the clifftop & is apparently very windy most times - and we might not be able to hear the music!! But I'll see. I know a friend of mine did a DW as well..and they had their first dance to the trio immediately after the ceremony. But that is what is so great about doing a DW...it is ultimately your decision!! You can do whatever YOU want!! Yay to that!!

Well...I am nowhere near expecting!! But I really want to name a little girl after me!! Hey...guys can do it!! I want Amanda Jayne...she can be AJ for short! And as for a boy..I have no idea! Haven't thought that far inadvance!

All I can say is WOW!!! I guess there is no accounting for taste!! LOL Thanks for the laughs!

I am not fair...but I always go in the tanning bed for a few sessions before I go south...I don't want to burn & ruin my entire trip!! Also, I think you should consider what type of dress you are wearing...if it's strapless then you should consider wearing tube tops & tube top bathing suits only. But definitely go for a few tanning sessions anyway!!

Quote: Originally Posted by saraece We are at a Riu and were only told after we booked that the 7 staying at the sister Riu would be charged $39 to attend the reception but my TA fought this and they waived the charge completely! And we picked the free wedding option! On another note we were also going to be charged $150 extra because our wedding is on a Sat., but my TA said "that will be my wedding present to you, I will pay that fee" How cool is that?? Hey Sara...didn't get through the whole thread so I didn't realize you had already posted about the RIU's!! That is pretty awesome of your TA!!! I finally talked to mine last night & everything is cool now! Thank God!! lol