Sunandsand

Nicole, I will let Arnaud know about the referral when I next email him, which should be in the next couple of days. He's been so good about holding July 9th for me while I go back and forth about my choices. Now I'm just waiting from Tiara to confirm that date is still available and it looks like I'm getting married!

I'm using HDCphoto too. Nicole, you should tell him you referred both lizzyjane and myself. Lizzyjane, I'm emailing you everything Tiera sent me.

Darn, we were originally supposed to arrive on the 6th and get married on the 9th. Now it may change to the following week. I was waiting on confirmation from family overseas before booking and I missed my TAs booking deadline and the prices went up $80 per ticket today. I am SOOOO bummed. I'm just waiting on some other quotes but will probably book in the next couple of days.

We were supposed to fly there on the 6th ... darn, I could have watched your wedding from a far (no stalking, I promise). Just waiting to see now if it will be the 6th or 13th for arrival. I want to do a beach wedding and then a reception at the seaside grill. Tiera sent me a few emails with photos of cakes and flowers so if you (or anyone else on this forum) wants me to email them or post them, let me know.

Hi all, I've just finished creating my Boarding Pass STD's thanks to the wonderful templates I found here. I just put a few ideas together and I'm so happy. Now I just have to print them but I thought it would be easier to go to a printer rather than try to print them myself. Anyone know of an inexpensive printer in Toronto?

Hey Lizzyjayne, What is you're wedding date? We originally wanted it to be July 9, 2010 but I may have to change it to the following week to accomodate guests from overseas.

Latinalocany (another bride on this forum) posted her photos: pro wedding pics pictures from parties photos on webshots Meanwhile, I still haven't heard back from Severine --- not cool --- so I'm probably going to go with Nicole8's photographer. His prices are a lot more reasonable and he got back to me right away. I just hate the feeling that Severine is ignoring my emails. If you don't want to come to La Romana, just say so. Don't leave me hanging!

Ooh, Nicole8, His photos look great. I've emailed him so at least if the other photographer doesn't come through I have a back up. I'm actually going to book the entire day with the photographer and my gift to all my guests (about 25) will be to give each family alone time with the photographer to take nice portraits that they can keep forever.

That's a good point. What I may do is book my initial 12 people so I can get the discount (my immediate family, parents, brothers, etc.) and then everyone else can decide when they want to book. I'm just waiting on Severine from photosouvenir to see if they can make it to La Romana to shoot the wedding. I think they may be avoiding my emails because they can probably find work in Punta Cana and it may not be worth the drive to La Romana (even though I agreed to pay their $200 travel fee). Fingers are crossed because I really like their work.

Yikes, My fiance has been suggesting we put off booking our trip but our prices are $1218 including tax (and that's without factoring in the group discount) so maybe we should book! This is all just such a gamble!

Here's an email I got from "Takeoffeh.com" --- apparently they send out info on the travel industry "There Will Be Deals The travel Industry is rife with speculation about the marriage of two of Canada’s largest packaged vacation operators – Signature and Sunwing. The overall consensus is it will keep prices low this winter. The union of Signature Vacations and the Sunwing Travel Group appears to have been a bit of a shotgun wedding. Signature has been bleeding red ink – to the tune of $20-million so far this year – while privately held Sunwing claims profitability despite offering what many observers have seen as unsustainably low pricing. Sunwing has grown by leaps and bounds in the past five years, accelerating from $30-million in revenue to $660-million in 2008. Adding Signature’s revenues to the pot, Sunwing will likely see sales of about $1-billion this year. As Brent Jang reported in The Globe and Mail, the merger will likely put some heat on industry leader Transat, which has been critical in the past of Sunwing’s low-ball pricing. If Transat hoped for more rationality in the marketplace this year, it will likely be disappointed by comments in the Globe from Sunwing COO Stephen Hunter. “"The consumer will benefit with better pricing and improved product lines in the next six to 12 months," he said."People don’t want to stay at a dump. They want a nice hotel, but they don’t want to pay a lot. There will be deals." Get out the sunscreen folks." On that note, my TA got me a great deal with every 12th person free for DLR and a great discount too. I've done some comparison shopping and his is the best. PM me if you're still looking for flights out of Toronto.

Yeah, I wonder what the TA does when that happens? Do they have to get you another flight for the same price? FYI, I'm price shopping my trip right now and will let you ladies know if I find an agent that does a good deal. Right now I've found one that is giving us every 12th person free, which is not bad. We calculated it out that it would be $100 off the listed prices. It's a good start!

That totally sucks. I think Signature also has Dreams LR on their roster so it might be worth researching stuff through them. I don't understand how airlines can do that to people!

Thanks ladies. So helpful!!!! As always

I'd like to add my request here as well. I hadn't considered the Bavaro Princess but the prices are going down now and it looks beautiful. Can someone please email me photos and price lists. Please [email protected] Thank you kindly

Thanks ladies. I actually called the consulate to see if Dominican customs would allow wedding cake to be brought in to the country and they had no idea and also could not tell me where to ask. Oh well. At least I know they'll be more helpful with the legal stuff. How close to my departure date should I get all the paperwork done? I know some paperwork expires after time.

Hey Annette, These are great. You mentioned in an earlier post that you'd be willing to share the template? I would love to have it.

Are you paying for flights and then extra for the sessions?

Hey Amygirl, These are photos from another bride using the resort photog. pro wedding pics pictures from parties photos on webshots I want to use photosouvenir from Punta Cana. Punta Cana Destination wedding photography. He said he will charge an extra $200 to come to DLR but his photos are worth it I think. Plus, as a gift to my guests, I might set up a photo for each family / couple with the photog. If they all come at the same time, it won't take long and they'll get a beautiful gift that they'll actually keep. Also, I might have to do the TTD session the morning of the wedding because I can't have him come 2 days in a row and pay $200 on each day. A little less convenient but the photos are great. Nicole, I'm hoping the whole Sunwing threat from the snarky TA was just her trying to justify why she couldn't match any prices I got online.

Hey Amygirl, I have the menu and will email to you. My date is early July. I am waiting before I actually book because a few TAs have told me prices will drop a bit. I will probably book in October. A rep at Flight Centre said I should be good to book as late as January so that gives my guests some time. They have DLR on their roster too. So it looks like I have some choices. (I think). I am also looking to find a TA that does deals for groups (every 10th person free, etc.) Fingers are crossed. Next I wanna look for a photog. I'm not too keen on the resort photographer so I may hire the people from Photo Souvenir in Punta Cana. They have said it will cost an extra $200 to drive to DLR but it is worth it because their photos are great.

Hey Ladies, This thread was so helpful. I'm looking into Dreams La Romana through Sunwing too. Just a heads up. I was at the Bridal Show this weekend and a "snooty" Destination wedding planner told me she thinks Sunwing may go under within the next year and that they always drop groups. Not sure if the company's in trouble or if she was just trying to get my business because her prices for the same hotel were WAY more than I saw on Travelocity. I actually emailed her the next day to see if she could match the price and this is what she wrote back: "We are not going to be able to price match with online companies as we specialize in service. We are wedding planners and online is just a machine. " I thought that was hillarious. PM me if you want to know the company. (Not sure if I can post it, although I still have the email. Signature also has Dreams La Romana on their roster so I'm doing some research. Right now the price from Toronto (incl. tax) is $1267. I'm trying to see if I can get a discount if we do a group. Please let me know if you've found it for less. Thanks P.S. I have already heard from Tiara about the prices so hopefully she's getting better at responding. AND the photos all look great.

Hey ladies, What were the legal requirements for marrying in DR? I know you need your documents - passports, marriage licence, etc. before you get there, but if you're having a legal ceremony there, what happens after the wedding? Is the document that your officiant signs the only legal document that you need? Also, I read somewhere that you have to be in DR for 4 days before getting married. Does anyone know if this is true?

Congrats. I'll probably be a Punta Cana bride too but have yet to decide on a resort. Just spoke to an agent at the FlightCentre and he said prices will come down in January (I'm getting married in July) so I should wait until then to book unless I'm really particular about a resort. Hoping for the Gran Bahia Principe ... Let me know if you come across any issues with Punta Cana. And of course, good luck!

I should also let you all know that from the research that I've been doing, I have found some of the following prices just with Travelocity. (All prices are from Toronto, including taxes, and hotels are in Punta Cana) Iberostar Bavaro (4.5*) $1504 Iberostar Dominica (4*) 1324 Grand Palladium Punta Cana (4*) 1334 Blau Natura Park (4*) 1518 Riu Naiboa (3*) 1518 Occidental Grand Punta Cana (4*) 1359 --- this is with Air Transat If anyone has even better prices for a 4* or more in either Dominican or Cuba, please, please let me know. Thank you so much

Wow, thanks everyone. It's amazing how friendly and kind everyone is here. Too bad the real world isn't always the same, lol. I'm going to be doing some extra research and I think I may start another thread where we can all put our heads together and come up with an extensive budget that everyone can refer to. Look out for it and please add your 2 cents. Thanks again and congrats to all of you as well.