nsimpson

Hola BDW ladies!!!  Ã´m enjoying my final days in the D.R. and can barely believe that It´s almost been a whole month since I´ve been here!!  Anyway, just wanted to drop a quick note in response to Pastor Rick´s abscence. He is currently out of town meeting up with his daughter (who is also a missionary but in Africa!) He was originally scheduled to do my wedding but then received word that there would be an opportunity to meet up with his daughter whom both him and his wife have not seen in quite some time. So, with my permission, he arranged to have his associate pastor (Ryan Vandelinde) do my wedding-- which was fine, and he did a great job too!  I think Pastor Rick is due back at the end of the month - so basically any day now.  I´ll post my review when I get back home but to give you a slight preview....  DLR was FANTASTIC, Yanna was lovely, the wedding was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and there was very little that I would have done differently!!

OMG Ladies!!! I feel like I've missed so much!! I've been running around like a mad woman trying to finish all of my mini projects! I leave Monday and won't be back until September the 27th so it will be a while before you get a review from me! Â Pink Petals, hope to see you down there!

Hi SChica, I chose the Dreams chain because like you I LOVE their hotels and standards! As far as Dreams Palm Beach a friend of mine got married their last year (on the same date as me) and it was beautiful but not what I was looking for: Gazeebo was right in the midst of everything (across from the main lobby, near the main buffet, right beside the residences) so just not private enough for me. Whereas, DLR has a VERY private gazeebo so you won't have everyone "taking part" in your wedding, only your guests! None of the restaurants at DPB allow for dancing, you would have to go into one of the reception hallls if you wanted to dance (not fond of that idea). DLR allows for dancing on the seaside grill patio. DPB only had one pool and DLR has 2 plus they're spread apart so you can get some privacy if you want. DPB is a smaller, more cozy property so you will always see your guests. I chose DLR since I'm travelling with a lot of people so I wanted to make sure that people didn't feel like they were always seeing everyone else everywhere they went! What I did really like more at DPB over DLR was the following: Newer resort so all of the rooms were SPECTACULAR Main buffet area was way nicer...no nesting birds in the roof!! Shopping area just outside of the resorts main entrance (nice little 10 min walk) You can walk the beach and check out other resort properties. Only thing beside DLR is the harbour Only 15-20 minutes from the airport. Unlike DLR outside of Nov-Apr you can't fly into the local airport (LRM) so you have to do the long drive (60-90 mins) to the resort from Punta Cana or Santo Domingo I've never been to Dreams Punta Cana but a co-worker of mine got married there in 2008 and he LOVED it! I remember him saying that the resort was HUGE and so he had to do a tonne of walking (not so good for accesiblility issues) despite having a trolly train on the property. Also he mentioned that the beds/rooms were dated. Other than that he and his wife were very pleased. Hope this helps some!

P Petals and Dana-- I feel your pain!! Can you imagine how I feel with the prospect of paying $10 pp with over 90 guests attending?!!! I'm not pleased at all! I booked back in November of last year so I really hope that she honours that pricing as well (since this will make a BIG difference to me!) Also, for those that are wondering how close the bar is, it's less than 25meters from the SSG. Literally, you leave the deck, turn right and walk about 30-40 paces and it's on your left hand side. I don't think that they'd actually prevent your guests from ordering there if they weren't preferred club... especially since it's soooooooo close to the SSG to begin with!

Thanks Dana, for the information. I was totally bumbed yesterday when I found out that since I'm going to have more than 60 guests that we will have to have a buffet as opposed to them serving us!! My fiancee doesn't see the big deal but me, friends and parents included are still in shock! It would be different if we were on the beach but we chose to have a more "formal" dinner and now we're being told that that can't happen. Oh well, it seems that everyday there is something new! Dana I was told that the tables would seat 8 but I have seen pictures of them seating 10 (very crowded) if you have an option, I'd go for the 8!

Dana and Pink P. I know you both had inquired about the cocktail hour and open bar for your reception; did either of you ever hear back from Tiara/Yanna about if you pay the $10/person if that also covers you for the cocktail hour + the evening reception? I'm also renting the SSG and today Yanna told me that I would have to pay the $10/person for the open bar. I have 93 guests confirmed so far so that would certainly drive up the cost of things for me!

Okay ladies, I'm bumping this up so that those of you who weren't on the list before you can add yourselves to the list and then watch the months peel away!! It's so amazing to look back and see all of the brides from the DLR thread who have gotten married over the past year. And for those of you who are thinking 2011 is so far away, think again!!! You'll be there before you know it!

Lizzy, I was just checking your pictures at the ceremony and realized that the chairs were not the folding ones but looked to be the standard ones from the SSG only covered. Are those the free ones? Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by dcairns I do have a question, did you have a dj? Or was that just for the cermony. I'm renting out the SSG, but am going back and forth for the DJ as others brought down a speaker. You can also consider getting a DJ up here to prepare some CDs for you in advance and then all the resort DJ would have to do is just play them and add his own flavour every now and then! (that's what I'm going to do). $250 for 4 hours is a pretty good deal I think, plus you don't have to worry about anyone setting up your speakers/equipment for you!

Lizzy Congrats on becoming a "Mrs" for real!!! LOL Your pics are stunning and you and the hubby look great!! Thanks for posting the review and letting us know that everything went just as expected...puuurfect! I really like the fact that you went ahead and requested the suite. I remember that Amy was automatically upgraded to the suite, simmply by requesting! They don't push it but it is in writing that if the suite is available you can have it! Annd you can have it for the duration of your trip! Something for us DLR brides-to-be to remember! Thanks again for the awesome review!

Hey Ladies, did you all read the BDW Forum update from the owner Tammy? http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...se-read-61849/ The forum will be down for one day (July 27) while they switch it over to a new, refreshed and better BDW site! There will be some changes to the look of things so give it a read.

Hi Katie: Welcome aboard and congratulations! This forum and thread are amazing and you'll get tonnes of help and support with everything you need! Good luck with getting your date (that's always the nail biting part of things!) As for asking repeat questions, I'm sure we all appreciate the effort (although I'm sure it's bound to happen one way or another...and that's okay too

Tammy, thank you for all that you've done and all that you continue to do. I look forward to your refreshed site!

Just wanted to come by here and let the other potential buyers know that you are an amazing bride to purchase from Got all my items safely and in perfect condition because they were so carefully packed! Everything was done very timely and opening my package really did make me feel like it was Christmas in July!! Thanks again and have a happy wedding! Thanks again

Okay, had to come back and comment on the pics...LOVE them!!! Yea HDC!!!! You were just stunning in your dress and DH looked good too!!! Especially love the pic of the two of you on the chess board (totally belongs in a magazine)!! Awesome stuff!