nmoreau

check with Petra Maurus, she sounded really nice, but not sure on her price. We are having a family friend perform our symbolic ceremony!

The Italian Buffet is not on the sheet that I received from the wedding coordinator. The Buffet pricing I received is if you did a private event and chose a buffet for your guests versus a sit down meal. The Italian Buffet is really good. It is the only air conditioned buffet area on the resort. The Riviera Buffet is in the Riviera section but i think it specializes in seafood and that was closed while we were there. The Italian Buffet is where we will have our reception, they have a side room that is open to the public area but it will hold a good size group as well. There are 2 sets of pillars that break that room off from the rest. Then you just go to the buffet with all the people attending the buffet that night (no reservations for this buffet). They had pizza, pasta made to order, salad, plated meals like chicken and pork with vegetables, desert was ice cream and the normal assortment of cakes, etc. We wished it had been open more the week we were there but it was great and if you don't want a completely private reception dinner, then this is the best option the resort has. I still need to get them scanned in and put on here or email, sorry I work is crazy, but I promise I will get to it ASAP. I did want to answer your question on the Italian Buffet quickly though.

Just got back on Saturday. I wouldn't say it was the most relaxing trip but it was worth it and I am glad we were able to go. We visited a several hotels to make sure Sandos was the right fit for us and our guests. The one thing I can say is that Sandos has the most customizable wedding package for the least amount of 'extra' fees and such. This is one of the main reasons why we decided to choose this resort.... Paola was very helpful while we were there and she answered all our questions. She gave me some documents on the menus for sit down dinners etc. I will try to get them scanned in and posted if people need them. I think Paola can accomidate most things for you, we just have to ask it of her. I know one thing I brought up with her is that they only have a red aisle runner and I wanted a sand colored one, she indicated people have asked for that so she was going to look into pricing that. So if that is something anyone else wants just ask and maybe the resort will purchase it for our use. I think the beach is the best by far in the area. There is nothing to the south of this resort so you can walk down the beach. Paola also is the group coordinator so she recommended I send her a list of the guests and she can help coordinate everyone to be near each other in the resort. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I will let you know what she said. I think we are all in good hands....

My FI and I decided we were not going to do an AHR at all. We told our parents and they had a different opinion. They both wanted to do something.... To make it worse they lives in separate states so that means 2, yes 2 AHR to avoid the family having to travel to separate states. How am I going to do this? Do we include this information in our main wedding invites? or do I send out separate AHR invites to each of the groups? I do not think that either even will be very fancy, more of a casual get together... but still there are 2! So any advice from brides that have been in this situation? Or anyone that has some great planning advice on this? Thanks for all your help!

He did a great job.... I love how unique it is!

They look great... thanks for sharing!

Thanks guys, that is what I was looking for.... All your sites are great! Showed some of them to the FI and he liked the tiki hut view on the WedQuarters site so that is the one we went with! I can't thank you guys enough for pointing me in the right direction! Cheers!

Just curious which wedding websites people are finding to be the best for destination weddings? Some of the "free" sites you can get thru certain places don't accomidate the needs of a destination wedding. Let me know which ones worked best for you.... Thank you!

I just wanted to tell everyone that I am headed to Sandos Playacar on Sept 12. I am planning to meet with the wedding coordinator one day we are there. If you have any specific questions that you haven't gotten answered, let me know and I can see what I can do. I will try to take some photos, as there are weddings 2 of the days we are there. Hope everyone's planning is going good! Natalie

both 3 and 2 are nice but I thought 3 was caught my eye just a bit more.

They look great... I love the art you added.... very nice.

These are great... very well put together! How exciting and what a relief.

I think you are on the right track, you just have to quick links and it will show you your posts and then you can read the responses... good luck with your planning!

My sister's friend was married at the Excellence resort and it looked great but it was adults only....which won't work for us.

It s a tough call but you know your guests the best. In my opinion if it is a day pass issue I would have the guest pay for choosing to stay elsewhere. If it is a resort reception, wedding package issue I think that is the reponsibilty of the bride and groom just as choosing a private reception with a per guest fee.

I liked 2 or 4.... 2 had the simply classic beauty look.

It looks like you had a great day! You looked gorgeous!

I am looking to change my location from Mexico to the Dominican Republic Punta Cana area. I have read reviews but just curious if there are hotels to avoid and which ones people would recommend. We will have children there so we need a resort that is family friendly...but still want a nice venue for the wedding. Let me know what you think, I will check out the reviews as well.

Thanks for the info, it is always good to have some options.... I can't wait to see how your final photos turn out!

Jillian's 30 day shred is a lot like the boot camp class I take at the gym. It is short and intense. I would recommend this video!

The little magent was a great idea! I love how it all turned out..... so creative.

I guess we were hoping to spend a total of $2000 for everything, realizing there may be more costs once we decided what prints they actually wanted for us and family.

I am having a hard time finding a photographer with a good portfolio that matches my budet. I am starting to think I won't find one and might have to change my strategy. Most are coming in around $3000 to $5000, has anyone found a photographer that will do pictures for around $1000 to $2000? Or am I just way off my mark on budgeting for this area? I feel like I have contacted A LOT and nothing seems to quite fit! Any advice is welcome!

3 weeks... you must be excited. I hope everything turns out exactly how you want it to!

It is so unique... I love that and it looked great on you! It has to be such a relief to find the dress, my search has only just begun! I can't wait for that you know you found it moment!