hermosahoops

If you are stressed about picking a resort, I'd recommend picking a travel agent first, and then work with them to choose a resort. I did all the research myself and then chose DLR before getting a TA, only to have them tell me that's 80% of what they do. A destination wedding TA will do the footwork for you so all you have to do is make the final decision.

LaRomanaBride - Feb 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS! Bridget - March 15, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS! jlcoon - April 13 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS! Jenne - April 21, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS! LaRomanaStacey - April 22, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS! Odarcka -April 26, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS! Amy - April 28, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS! Maybride2010 - May 3, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS! hjack - May 7, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS (date twins)! brbr.bo - May 7, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS (date twins)! Heather (dolphinluck) - CONGRATULATIONS KPEG - May 19 - CONGRATULATIONS fyniac - May 26, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS VallieR - May 29, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS Lesley - (LizzyJane) - July 6, 2010- CONGRATULATIONS! GEM - July 9, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS! Andrea (sunandsand) - July 14, 2010 - CONGRATULATIONS! Nadia (nsimpson)- Sept 3, 2010 Pink_Petals -Sept 10, 2010 Rikki (hermosaHoops) - Nov. 8, 2010 Nancy (NancM) - Nov. 16, 2010 uninspired1979(Alla)- November 27, 2010 taylorbabe - January 7, 2011 LastMinuteCouple - Jan 12, 2011 JoNewhams - March 3, 2011 Dana (dcairns) - April 11,2011 Â Â (Uninspired1979, I added you into the list as well)

Hi KittenHeart Could you put up a list of what you have left? Thanks!

I just got this from Yanna: 8.00+26% P/P - Hors d’ oeuvres AND US$10.00+26% Open Bar (Drinks) Sorry, but the private services are an extra service, and each one should be paying separate. I don't have the previous quote in writing anywhere, so it looks like I'm just going to be having the cocktails and not the food since $20 a head is too rich for my budget.

I wanted to have a private cocktail hour after my ceremony so I've been emailing with Yanna for a while trying to get some sort of a straight answer out of her. She kept sending me the Hors'd ouvres menu so I assumed the $8 per person covered the drinks as well. Today she emailed me this: About the cocktail hour Silver : US$8.00+26% P/P - Hors d’ oeuvres US$10.00+26% p/P- Open bar (private / in the same area) Please choose the options for the silver hors’d oeuvres list attached, Am I confused to think that this is part of the new pricing policy? Did the silver hors'd ourvres menu used to cover drinks? Unfortunately I can't find anywhere in my email that she said this, but that was the impression I had anyway...

Taylorbabe, I feel your pain! I keep emailing the hotel asking if I need to pay for the cocktail hour, how much it is, where we can have it, etc. and all I get back from the WC is "yes". Ummm, ok, that doesn't really help me... I keep telling myself it will all work out in the end, but knowing how much everything will cost up front would make it infinitely easier to plan for additional activities. If you ever get a solid answer on a private cocktail hour, please let me know or post it here! I'll do the same.

It is a great comfort to see other brides having small weddings and thinking about the reception. We are having 9 guests so we're going to opt for the semi-private dinner. I would like to have a bit of dancing after dinner though. At least first dance, father-daughter, etc. Any thoughts from the wonderful BDW ladies? I suppose we could just take over a bar, but I would like to make the special dances a bit more intimate. My FI's idea was to pony up the cash for a dance floor and DJ and then just tell all the random people we meet at the resort that at 9 pm we are "opening" our reception and to come dance with us. It could be fun, but it might be really weird too...

My confession: After insisting I wanted an intimate, destination wedding and making our brothers, sisters and parents pay $1000+ pp, now that everyone is booked I find myself longing for the 150 person wedding with all my friends and family. I fear that I've cheated myself out of a once in a lifetime experience to celebrate with my loved ones and that I'll be disappointed once our small wedding is over.

I am so happy I found this thread! I've been thinking about this as well, and reading all the advice on here has really helped solidify my decision. Even taking the financial aspect out of the process, the translating of documents, getting the consulate approval... It all seemed so unnecessary and complicated. Plus my FI was married before and he really didn't like the idea of having to show his divorce papers in order for us to be married. Why bring that into our wedding if we don't have to?! I hadn't thought about not doing vows or rings at the courthouse. That will make our ceremony much more special. Good idea!

Thanks dolfinluck and lizzyjayn. I wasn't wild about either menu and the idea of paying for the food seems silly since there are so few of us. I'll look more into the semi-private dining option. Question: Did you have to book this ahead of time, or did you work it out with Yanna/Tiera once you got to the resort? Also, I LOVED your idea of requesting the suite for pictures. I'm definitely going to try that! That's too bad about the mosquitoes. One of the major reasons I chose DLR was because of the lack of reviews mentioning mosquitoes.

Added ours and took off those that have already happened! July 2010 Tie & Mike July 30, 2010 - Occidental Grand Punta Cana August 2010 Jeanette & Julio - undecided Punta Cana, (PPC or PPR) Aug 2010 Linda & Robin: August 3, 2010 - Paradisus Punta Cana Lisa & Todd: August 6, 2010 - Excellence Punta Cana Jess & Eamon: August 7, 2010- Melia Caribe Tropical Denise & Julio: August 7, 2010- Punta Cana- Melia Caribe Tropical Michelle & Eli: August 11, 2010- Excellence Punta Cana Ashley and Eric: August 31, 2010- Paradisus Palma Real September 2010 Nadia & Serge: September3, 2010- Dreams La Romana Jennifer & Elvin: September 4, 2010- Dream Palm Beach Bianca & Cosmin: September 10, 2010 - Dreams La Romana Diana & Eddy: September 3, 2010- Majestic Colonial Nikki & Jason: September 16, 2010- Grand Palladium Punta Cana October 2010 Glenny & Anthony - October 9th, 2010 - Gran Bahia Principe Punta Cana Kim & Anibal - October 9th, 2010 Riu Palace Punta Cana Tee & CJ - October 10, 2010 - nh-Royal Beach Punta Cana Autumn & Dominic - Oct 16th, 2010 - Dreams Punta Cana Michele & Andrew - Oct 19th, 2010 - Majestic Colonial Luciel & Emil - Oct 23th, 2010 - Catalonia Royal Bavaro Sarah & Erik - October 23rd, 2010 - Melia Caribe Tropical Angi & Tony - October 24th, 2010 - Paradisus Punta Cana Monica & Brandon - Oct 29, 2010 - Excellence Resort Punta Cana Ulonda & John - October 29, 2010 - Moon Palace Casino, Golf & Spa Resort November 2010 John & Rikki - November 8, 2010 - Dreams La Romana Dana & Mike - November 16, 2010 - Grand Palladium Bavaro Tiffani & Merlin- November 21, 2010 Paradisus Palma Real Taniya& Kendell- November 1, 2010 Dreams Palm Beach Michele & Jon - November 22, 2010 Majestic Elegance Carol and Matt - November 19, 2010 - Dreams Punta Cana December 2010 Eliana (username) and Miguel - December 1, 2010 - Dreams Punta Cana Atrott (Username) - December 6, 2010 Excellence Punta Cana Coley88 (Username) - December 11, 2010 - Paradisus Punta Cana Nicole & Keith - Dec. 11th 2010 - Majestic Elegance January 2011 Marian & Manav - January 8, 2011 - Melia Caribe Tropical Katie & Tim - January 10, 2011 - Majestic Colonial Katey & Brian: January 11th 2011 Melia Caribe Tropical Punta Cana Ashlee & Daniel - January 12, 2011 - Paradisus Punta Cana Lisa & Dave - January 13, 2011 - Majestic Colonial - Punta Cana Laura & Dustin - January 14, 2011 - Melia Caribe Tropical - Punta Cana jerzeegirl (username) - Jan 17, 2011 - Majestic ?? Shawana & Scott - January 24, 2011 - Gran Bahia Principe -Punta Cana Pam & Cem - January 27, 2011 - Majestic Colonial - Punta Cana Kasia & Rob - January 29, 2011 - Majestic Colonial - Punta Cana BeachBrideSoon - January 31, 2011 - Majestic Colonial - Punta Cana Shannon and Chris - January 2011 - Punta Cana, undecided - Iberostar, Excellence or Dreams February 2011 Renée & Paul - February 3, 2011 - Majestic Colonial, Punta Cana Nathalie & Maurice - February 18, 2011 - Catalonia Royal Bavaro Diana & Manny - Feb 19 2011 - Gran Bahía Príncipe Bávaro. Sherri & Ryan - February 21, 2011 - Dreams Punta Cana Jenn & Kraig - February 25, 2011 - Majestic Elegance Amanda & Jason - February 26, 2011 - Riu Palace Punta Cana March 2011 Chris & Wendy, March 5, 2011, Majestic Elegance, Punta Cana Sonya & Serge - March 14, 2011 - Ocean Sands, Punta Cana Khalia & Questle - March 14, 2011 - Excellence Punta Cana April 2011 Isabel & Francis April 5, 2011 - Grand Palladium Palace Andi & Jed - April 8, 2011 - Iberostar Bavaro Pierre & Shannon - April 12, 2011 - Grand Palladium Bavaro, Punta Cana Cindy & Chole April 14, 2011- Dream Punta Cana Ashley & Johnathon April 15, 2011- Barcelo Punta Cana Ryan & Chantelle April 21, 2011 - Majestic Colonial, Punta Cana Paul & Lindsay - April 28, 2011 - Grand Palladium Bavaro Colin & Kayla - April 28, 2011 - Gran Bahia Principe -Punta Cana Tracy & Keith-APril 29, 2011- Grand Palladium Punta Cana Natalie & Kyle - April 30, 2011- Grand Palladium Palace Jamie & Mark- April 30, 2011- Majestic Elegance Punta Cana May 2011 Sandy & Aaron - May 4, 2011 - Dreams Palm Beach Vanessa & Noel - May 6, 2011 - Paradisus Palma Real Naeemah-Anne & Claudy -May 6th 2011 -Paradisus Punta Cana Eugene & Jennifer - May 7, 2011- Dreams La Romana Jodi & Darryl - May 11, 2011 - Dreams Palm Beach Michaela & Stew - May 21, 2011 - Gran Bahia Punta Cana Theresa & Johan - May 22, 2011 - Paradisus Palma Real Ryan & Stephanie - May 30, 2011 - Majestic Colonial June 2011 Flore and Marek-June 11, 2011-Paradisus Palma Real Shannon & John- June 16, 2011- Iberostar Bavaro Qubi & Rukiya - June 18, 2011 - Dreams Palm Beach, Punta Cana Jim & Laura - June 21, 2011 - Dreams Punta Cana, Punta Cana Eric & Anna - June 25, 2011 - Paradisus Palma Real, Punta Cana July 2011 Ashley1316- July 8, 2011- Bahia or Majestic July 2011/ 2012 Yvonne and Andrew- last week of july 2011/ 2012 (money dependant), dreams la romana October 2011 Quiyana & Damien - October 15, 2011 - Riu Palace, Punta Cana December 2011 Robyn & Ky - December 2, 2011 - Majestic Colonial

Thanks Dcairns! As always you are the woman with the answers. It wouldn't be awful for us to have to eat at one of the ala-cart restaurants. We could do a private cocktail hour somewhere, and then do our semi-private dinner. I do wonder about dancing though. I'd like to do the traditional dances (father daughter, first dance, mother groom, etc.) but don't want it to be ackward since there are so few of us. I'll have to think on that one a bit more or if any one else has suggestions, I'd love the help!

We are having a really small wedding (11 people total) and renting out a space for a reception seems excessive. Do any of you know anything about having dinner on the pier or possibly in a wine cellar?

Hi, I am having an 11 person wedding (including my FI and I) and I was wondering if anyone had suggestions or tips on where to hold the reception. We are doing the free package, so we don't have a reception dinner included. I'm getting the impression that the Sea Side Grill might be too big for our little party, but I don't see any other locations reviewed on this forum. My WC at the hotel isn't being much help either... Do any of you know anything about the Portofino Wine Cellar? I think maybe that would be a better size for us, but I have no idea on whether we'd have to book the whole thing, or if we just reserve dinner? Any suggestions on dancing would be greatly appreciated as well. I don't want it to be awkward with just 11 of us, but I would like a first dance, as well as a father-daughter, mother-groom dance. Thanks!

Here you go! Comments for Can www.inweddingdress.com be trusted?

That should be inweddingdress.com . Sorry their header overwrote my link!

Have any of you tried Unique Wedding Dresses,Unusual Wedding Dresses,Inexpensive Wedding Dresses There is a dress I love on there, but the site gets really mixed reviews on other forums. I'd love to know if a BDW bride ordered from them.

Are any of you doing the symbolic ceremony instead of the legal ceremony? My TA said it would be a lot cheaper and less hassle, but I wanted to see if anyone has actually gone through the process with the hotel. I'd rather my family didn't know this wasn't the "real" wedding.

Thanks for the responses on having an earlier ceremony! I'll make sure the talk to the WC about moving it forward.

Thanks for the nice welcome messages! It has been really informative reading other girls' stories on this forum.

I haven't seen many November dates on here and I was wondering if you knew something I didn't... I'm hoping to do my wedding in November at DLR, but I can't get Tiara at the resort to email me any information. Could one of you please send me any information you have on DLR's pricing and policies? Also, were people able to get around the 3 day residency requirement? I tried searching through the thread, but didn't see any definitive answers. Thanks! [email protected]

I am planning a wedding in November and I contacted DPC for more information. The WC sent me back a info sheet that stated: Quote: Please be also advised that only evening hours are usually available due to governmental duties of the judge. Our resort only performs weddings at 6, 7 or 8 PM. Have any of you encountered these time restrictions? I don't mind an evening wedding, but I'd rather not be married in the dark...

Hi! I'm very new to this forum, so please be patient with me if I do something out of protocol. We're planning our wedding in Punta Cana that same week as yours but we don't have a date locked down yet. I'd be interested in the photographer's information, but I'm not exactly sure what you are offering. If you could provide me with some more details I'd greatly appreciate the help! Thanks! [email protected]

Hello! I am newly engaged and SO excited to be getting married. My fiance, John, and I are hoping to do a small wedding in the Dominican Republic on November 20, 2010. With only 12 people total coming, I hope it shouldn't be too much of a hassle to organize things, but I feel i'm tempting fate by even saying that.... Any suggestions or tips people have on the DR would be greatly appreciated! Best, Rikki