khomac

Quote: Originally Posted by bsf&jpg I have a few... 1) I dont LOVE my wedd dress. I got it because my family liked it, and it was sord of cheap. But whenever I watch "say yes to the dress" and the brides get all teary because ITS THE ONE, I get bummed out because mine isn't. Man that sucks! If you can't afford a different one, I say get your hair done (trial run for your wedding day), get your makeup done (exactly how you'll do it for your wedding day), and then put it all together with the dress, shoes and jewellry. I've heard other brides say the same thing but when they put it all together, they felt AMAZING. Try it. I hope you change your mind! Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart OMG, I'm so sorry to hear this! Did you get sick down there? I know you didn't want an AHR but I'm sure it will satisfy a lot of the typical bridal moments you've been looking for. I hope that one goes off flawlessly Thanks Girl! I'm actually excited for an AHR now. The wedding day goes by so fast I think it's great to be able to do it again! I think I had food poisoning. Been to the DR many times (at resorts as well as at local's houses) and never got sick. It's been 8 months, so luckily the the angry/frustrated feelings of having it not go as planned are pretty much gone now. I can't let it affect my life. What's done is done and I can't waste time on the past. Plus, I'm excited for my future! Quote: Originally Posted by kerrij Kelly, the EXACT same thing happened with my brother at his DW in Dominican. He got food poisoning the night before . . . . in a few years, it will be a good story to tell, especially if you have the AHR and get to do all the special stuff. Sorry your day was spent in your room shitty, i know. Shitty (literally haha!) My whole wedding week was a screwy one, but like you said, it makes for good story telling! First our flight was cancelled and we left the following day (spent 24 hours in Toronto) so we were getting shorted by one day of the Majestic then I was sick on the wedding day and missed the bonding time between my husbands Dominican family and my Canadian family, the dinner and reception then I paid $400 for a beach reception when my guests only got to spend about 20 minutes there before the rain I was still sick the following day so I didn't get to enjoy the breakfast in bed or romantic dinner on the beach for just us two then it took 4 months to get our marriage certificate (delaying my husbands VISA to live with me here in Canada) then Haiti had the earthquake (which is where our VISA application was supposed to be sent So I "confess" that it doesn't even feel like I'm married and I hate it. Quoting akua420 - OH and I understand about nobody coming to your wedding. We are having my parents, muy FI's parents and tahts it. Ya, it sucks. I had mom, dad, brother, 1 BF, and my dads cousin & wife. But I can't expect anything else. I knew hardly no one would come but deep down I was crying. I just wanted them all there.

Quote: Originally Posted by *kellis* I thought that it might be hard for me after the wedding when I didn't have anything to do anymore. But it's not, I'm glad to have the stress lifted and to actually be married, it's a wonderful feeling, even if we do have to go back to work and "real life" now. However my confession is that the wedding did not go how it was supposed to. The ceremony was incredible and everyone had a great time and says it was a beautiful wedding but all I can think of is what didn't go right and the way that some people acted, including my "best friends" and even my mom not being there as much as I hoped she would. Plus for some reason it's like you get married and everyone disappears, trying to give you that "newlywed time". I didn't really expect to start my married life feeling deserted by friends. I love my husband and am so incredibly happy to be married, but I still need friends you know? I figured if anyone, you ladies would know what that's like. At least you got to enjoy your day. I was throwing up in the room during the dinner and reception. I missed everything except the 20 minute ceremony and pictures. So I know how you feel. I look at everyone's pictures of them toasting, cutting the cake, first dance, father daughter dance, partying on the beach with drinks in hand, sand between their toes, and palm trees in the background and I just cry. Weddings never go exactly as planned. Your friends definitely didn't desert you. They traveled to be there with you on your wedding day! I have 7 VERY close friends and only 1 came! What's done is done. I'll just have to plan an AHR (which I WASN'T going to do because I couldn't afford it) so that I can do it all over again!

A destination wedding is supposed to be less stressful. You can show up to the resort and plan things within 30 minutes. Personally, I wouldn't pay a fee, because I wanted it to be as laid back as possible. I didn't care about matching colours, table runners, centerpieces, etc. I just wanted my family with me. From reading so many people's posts here, I think there are TONS of people who would pay for this service because they really seem to be stressing about little things.

Things to Do in Punta Cana - Punta Cana Attractions - TripAdvisor

Quote: Originally Posted by BrideMichele Hey Kelly, have you done any of the excursions? If so, do you have any recommendations? Depends on what you like to do. Personally, I'm not one for sitting in the sun on the beach all day. I'd much rather explore the city. Monster Truck Safari (with Sunquest - Outback Safari with WestJet) LOVED EVERYTHING about it. I loved seeing the country side, the beautiful mountains, the amazing kids, seeing how people live, the houses, tasting the fresh off the vine fruit - did I mention I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!? Santo Domingo Didn't do it, but keep in mind it is a long day as the bus ride itself is about 3 hours each way. Talk to Phil about that one. I think he knows a cab driver who can maybe bring you guys? I'd much rather explore this one my own and not with a group as I might want to stay longer "here" or not go "there". Marinarium (with westjet and Caribbean Festival with Sunquest) Catamaran ride - boring with westjet as the tourists didn't take part very much, but the staff are energetic and fun to watch. Caribbean Festival - better staff entertainment and better looking (the Dominican me? ugh! beautiful! Snorkeling - Marinarium saw a lot more fish and coral - Caribbean Festival - not so much Drinks - great with both Saona Island excursion (not with westjet or sunquest) Food - OMG AMAZING - steak, fish, chicken, pasta, Paella, salad, pasta salad, rice, fruit Catamaran - Entertainment with this company was cheezy. Not much tourist participation (maybe it was just our lazy tourists?) Island - relaxing, beautiful, never crowded Natural Pool - boring - saw starfish (cool but felt bad for the starfish as they were probably dead) Speedboat ride - totally fun HA! Pat Ranch Nothing to write home about. My parents did this one, and had a nice time. Nothing fancy. Horses seemed well kept but just thin. Tour companies (sunquest, westjet, etc) offer the same excursions but each company will take you to different "spots" (on the island, in the ocean, on the land)

Hola Tour Excursions Excursions provided by Hola Tours - Westjet Vacations Full Day Excursions Santo Domingo – $79 – Explore the first city of the new world . . . visit many historic monuments; Santa Maria cathedral and the amazing Colonial Zone. Saoña Island– $99 – feel the wind in your hair as you experience sailing by catamaran on the Caribbean Sea’s clear aquamarine waters. Return journey by speed boat and swim in the natural swimming pool in the middle of the ocean! A beautiful day of relaxation and scenery. Outback Safari – $85 – Experience the real Dominican Republic! Taste home grown organic coffee and chocolate, meet the people, visit a typical home, see local schools, and villages. Cool down at the secluded Macao beach and try boogie boarding! Dominican Jeep Safari – $99 – Drive your own convertible jeep through the lush country side. Visit a local house, discover the sugar cane fields, sample coffee, and enjoy horseback riding on the beach. Tropical Storm – $89 – Spend an exciting day on board a catamaran, cruising along the coast of Bavaro. Snorkel with tropical fish and corals; swim in a natural pool and try the biggest inflatable slide of the Caribbean! Higuey LaRomana – $85 – Visit the city of Higuey’s impressive cathedral, drive through the sugar cane fields, discover Altos de Chavon – an artist village, and cruise on a paddle boat on the beautiful Chavon River. Half Day Excursions Marinarium – $89 – Experience the unique opportunity of swimming with shark and stingrays! Snorkel on the coral reef, swim in the natural pool, dance meringue with the upbeat crew on the glass-bottom catamaran, and taste the amazing Coco Loco! Reef Explorer – $89 – go at your own pace . . . From this floating island, enjoy snorkelling on the reef, admire the nurse sharks, hold a ray in your arms, take a kayak tour, get a relaxing massage, and sunbathe on the floating mats! Relaxation guaranteed! Outback Safari ½ day – $68 – Escape the resort area for an unforgettable morning of discoveries through the Dominican Republic’s country side! Visit a typical home, coffee and chocolate plantations, a local artisan and boogie board at the Macao beach. Crazy Wheels – $63, $89 – Attention strong sensation lovers! Drive your own four-wheeler through the breathtaking country side! Our path leads you to Macao beach for a refreshing swim in the crystal blue waters! Dolphin Island – $120, $75 – Make your dream come true! Swim and interact with dolphins and/or sea lions in their natural environment off the coast of Bavaro. Get ready for the kiss of a lifetime! Manati Park – $30 – Visit the wonderful landscape of gardens overflowing with animals, orchids, and tropical plants! Anjoy the variety of entertainment: dolphin, sea lion, horse, and parrot shows! For $95 instead of $30 you can swim with the dolphins, entrance fee included. Tropical Storm Sunset – $109 – Relax on a sail catamaran while cruising along the coastline! Snorkle on the coral reefs, watch the sunset in the natural pool and have a lobster dinner at the Jellyfish Restaurant! Gone Fishing – $105 – Enjoy the thrill of catching a blue marlin, white marlin, Dorado, or mahi-mahi! Get your cameras ready as your friends will not believe you without proof! Pat Ranch – $50, $75 – Ride your horse along the turquoise waters of Macao beach! 1 and 2 hour packages available Zip Lines – $89 – Experience the purely exhilarating feeling of flying high above the Dominican Republic’s green mountain side! Ten different lines are awaiting the most adventurous ones! Helidosa – $89, $219 – Discover paradise from a different perspective! Fly over the Clearwater and white sandy beaches of Punta Cana. This tour will leave you breathless!

Just wanted to see how you were doing. I think all you can do is to reassure him that you love him, need him, respect him and appreciate him. Find anything you can to compliment him on or thank him for. Even if it's something like bringing in the groceries. He needs to feel important, like he matters. He obviously loves you. I think it's important for you to try to understand what he's going through. Don't yell/nag/criticize him. His problems have nothing to do with you so don't take it personally. Be there for him. Be patient, kind and respectful.

Quote: Originally Posted by surprise_its_taken OK, question for you ladies. I'm wearing a 36J size bra these days, and I ended up buying a strapless gown (easy to do considering most of them are freaking strapless! WTH? ). I actually really like the look of my dress without straps so I don't really want to add them, but I need better support for the girls. There is some plastic boning in there already, but I know from previous experience that it loses its shape when it's warm and supporting that kind of weight. I have a corset that I tried with it, but it comes up too high in the back, its heavy (aka hot!) and makes sitting down an uncomfortable experience. I've looked around but strapless anything in that size is hard to find. Has anyone found a good strapless bra for larger chested ladies? Sorry, I can't help Hopefully someone can point you in the right direction?

Awesome Ali! I'm so happy that the rain didn't affect your mood. It really is hard to have a "bad" time there. I'm so glad you had Phil on your day as well. He really steps up and takes care of business! Was that your picture he posted in the facebook group?

Quote: Originally Posted by BachataBride Here is mine...it's not for Punta Cana...but you should be might be able to work with it. I bought (and then returned! ) a large paper cutter from Staples. Then I used the binding machine at work to make the booklets. I just printed them on regular cardstock! Good luck!! Bachata! That's fabulous!

Turns out clairehoyos was spamming the forums and didn't actually marry a Dominican! HA! So much for that friendship!

I'm a little biased because my husband is Dominican I say do it! You won't be carrying any valuables on you anyway if you're doing a photoshoot. When you're with a local who speaks the language and has many friends in the area, you can rest assured that you'll be fine. They'll probably bring you to some AMAZING locations and I think it'll look great with you and your husband all dressed up with the true Dominican in the background. Go for it, and be sure to post lots of pics!

Quote: Originally Posted by clairehoyos Our recently wedding in Gran Bahia Principe Bavaro resort was memorable and beautiful and our wedding was so much more than we expected! The WC was great... Congrats! When was your wedding? What part of the Dominican is your husband from? Will you be moving there or him to Canada?

Oh man, I'm so sorry Lisa. Take all the time you need to grieve and remember that she loves you and is very proud of you. She will be watching your wedding and smiling. As for planning, everyone is different. Personally, the little details wouldn't matter to me as much (place cards, decorations, etc). These destination weddings are truly beautiful in their own way with all the vibrant greens of the grass and trees, and the bright blue sky, and colourful flowers. I say make up your packing list and leave it at that. Family is really all that matters, and as long as you have your friends and family there with you, the little minor things won't matter. Someone said to me "will this matter in 5 years from now?" If the answer is no, then don't worry about it. One thing I'm really happy I did was have a charm with my grandmothers picture on it, tied to my bouquet. Others simply have a photo of their loved ones on a table or on a chair at the wedding. Check out this thread for other ways to pay tribute to your Aunt. http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...8/memory-9065/ Take care Lisa and enjoy every moment of your wedding week vacation!

you can't change your dates? Did you try both Air Canada and WestJet? You may have to do a connection, but surely you can find something no?

There's already a thread about this http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...ditions-47740/

Okay ladies, so we've passed the deadline for the Biggest Loser BDW Competition. http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...son-9-a-57378/ I was too late so I'm in the non-competing category. To see all the participants, I believe it's on page 19. If you need someone to be accountable too, join this challenge! I need to lose 100lbs eventually and I need to start somewhere. I've never talked much about my weight loss attempts, mostly because every time I try to lose, I fail. I'm so tired of telling people "I'm going to do it", and then they keep asking how it's coming, and I realize I gave it up. Even now as I write, I'm hesitant on sending it out because this means that I have to actually follow through and I'm afraid of failing once again. If you're in the same boat and want to finally make that commitment, let me know! I'll call you and check in, and also report my stories as well! I don't know why, but I've never felt so scared before about doing this! I think it's just the fear of what people will think of me if I fail yet AGAIN for the 8th time in a row

she's probably telling you it's $50 for each person making it $100 total. But I thought there was word going around that it's $300 to bring DJ Mannia onto the Majestic Resort? Did they change it again?

When you book with a tour company, you will meet with your representative the following day at the resort to go over the excursions that are available. Every tour company does things slightly different. Same basic idea, but different locations in the water, on the beach, around the cities, different homes etc. You don't need to book these in advance (unless you are doing a large group maybe?), and you pay for them once you arrive. Prices will vary slightly with different tour companies. I stayed at the Majestic, and booked with westjet vacations (or Hola Tours) Here is the list that they provide. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Full Day Excursions Santo Domingo – $79 – Explore the first city of the new world . . . visit many historic monuments; Santa Maria cathedral and the amazing Colonial Zone. Saoña – $99 – feel the wind in your hair as you experience sailing by catamaran on the Caribbean Sea’s clear aquamarine waters. Return journey by speed boat and swim in the natural swimming pool in the middle of the ocean! A beautiful day of relaxation and scenery. Outback Safari – $85 – Experience the real Dominican Republic! Taste home grown organic coffee and chocolate, meet the people, visit a typical home, see local schools, and villages. Cool down at the secluded Macao beach and try boogie boarding! Dominican Jeep Safari – $99 – Drive your own convertible jeep through the lush country side. Visit a local house, discover the sugar cane fields, sample coffee, and enjoy horseback riding on the beach. Tropical Storm – $89 – Spend an exciting day on board a catamaran, cruising along the coast of Bavaro. Snorkel with tropical fish and corals; swim in a natural pool and try the biggest inflatable slide of the Caribbean! Higuey LaRomana – $85 – Visit the city of Higuey’s impressive cathedral, drive through the sugar cane fields, discover Altos de Chavon – an artist village, and cruise on a paddle boat on the beautiful Chavon River. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Half Day Excursions Marinarium – $89 – Experience the unique opportunity of swimming with shark and stingrays! Snorkel on the coral reef, swim in the natural pool, dance meringue with the upbeat crew on the glass-bottom catamaran, and taste the amazing Coco Loco! Reef Explorer – $89 – go at your own pace . . . From this floating island, enjoy snorkelling on the reef, admire the nurse sharks, hold a ray in your arms, take a kayak tour, get a relaxing massage, and sunbathe on the floating mats! Relaxation guaranteed! Outback Safari ½ day – $68 – Escape the resort area for an unforgettable morning of discoveries through the Dominican Republic’s country side! Visit a typical home, coffee and chocolate plantations, a local artisan and boogie board at the Macao beach. Crazy Wheels – $63, $89 – Attention strong sensation lovers! Drive your own four-wheeler through the breathtaking country side! Our path leads you to Macao beach for a refreshing swim in the crystal blue waters! Dolphin Island – $120, $75 – Make your dream come true! Swim and interact with dolphins and/or sea lions in their natural environment off the coast of Bavaro. Get ready for the kiss of a lifetime! Manati Park – $30 – Visit the wonderful landscape of gardens overflowing with animals, orchids, and tropical plants! Anjoy the variety of entertainment: dolphin, sea lion, horse, and parrot shows! For $95 instead of $30 you can swim with the dolphins, entrance fee included. Tropical Storm Sunset – $109 – Relax on a sail catamaran while cruising along the coastline! Snorkle on the coral reefs, watch the sunset in the natural pool and have a lobster dinner at the Jellyfish Restaurant! Gone Fishing – $105 – Enjoy the thrill of catching a blue marlin, white marlin, Dorado, or mahi-mahi! Get your cameras ready as your friends will not believe you without proof! Pat Ranch – $50, $75 – Ride your horse along the turquoise waters of Macao beach! 1 and 2 hour packages available Zip Lines – $89 – Experience the purely exhilarating feeling of flying high above the Dominican Republic’s green mountain side! Ten different lines are awaiting the most adventurous ones! Helidosa – $89, $219 – Discover paradise from a different perspective! Fly over the Clearwater and white sandy beaches of Punta Cana. This tour will leave you breathless!

Glad I can help! It was so much fun making them and giving them to everyone Copy away!

Charm from David's Bridal with my Grandmothers photo

You can get Phil or Michael Steingard for $1500 - $2000! Depends on the package you want. If pics aren't that important to you, then you can get (I think) 50 pics for $500.

You can bring sand as long as there is no soil in it. If you're buying it, pretty sure there's no soil. Crystal, the majestic provides the flower petals for the flower girl (or they did for mine. The sprinkled a few in the Gazebo as well, and if you ask, they can do the tables for dinner if need be.

That's exactly what I did too. I didn't do it all in one day though. I would order things whenever a good email came along, sometimes using the same email multiple times. My shipping was usually $5.90 for 3-5 items, and my orders usually came within 7 business days. Just depends on what your ordering. If it's a custom upload it seemed to take a bit longer for printing.

Quote: Originally Posted by brandynd And oh heck yes, best for last. You all have photos on the beach and in the sunshine, but how many of you have photos directly after a blizzard. That's waht I thought. You know you're jealous . HA Brandy! You're a cutie! You looked fantastic on your day! The winter background makes for beautiful pictures too!