Iamalldiva

Welcome back!!!! I cant wait to hear / see all about it...

Do you still have lanyards??? I'm interested but only need 30-35. Let me know if that works...

I'm interested, but only need 30.

I understand about you not liking the cake the resort is making, I feel the same way about my resort. I think if it's in your budget and you dont have travel/shipping worries, go for it!!!

CONGRATS Amanda!!!! Tomorrow is your BIG day... Enjoy! Can't wait to hear all about it and see pic )

@ablj209 - I’m sooooo excited for you!!! I can’t believe the wedding is so close. I'm hoping all is as beautiful as you dreamed and I’m patiently waiting for your review and pictures. I’m sure I’ll have a ton of questions… And the countdown continues for me 246 days!

I'm planning on traveling with the m&m's and keeping them in my carry on. WIll probably do 1 or 2 5lb bags. My reception is inside (not on the beach) - so hopefully I won't have melting issues...

I'm going with HDC Photo. I heard rave reviews and their work is AMAZING. In addition, I friend of mine was recently married in DR and used them. He and his wife were BEYOND happy. http://www.hdcphoto.com/ The other options I reviewed and were runner ups: http://caribbeanemotions.com/english/ http://weddings.jorgeallocco.com And the Riu Palace P.C. house photographer is: http://www.antillanafoto.com/ENG/index.html Good luck with selecting a photographer!

Thanks Natalie7... Just tried to order and they're out of stock again... BUMMER!!!

Glad the honored the price!!! It was such a great buy... Yep, they were out of chocolate (. My colors are chocolate, canary & white.

Thanks for sharing, I will def look into the tables at the lobby bar, but not sure how that would work for 60 guests?!?! My FI and I are still on the fence about the open bar. It will soley depend on if we're nder budget close to the wedding. @ $10-$20 per person, that's an addition fee of $600-$1200, so we'll have to see... Yes, all the add-on's (ceremony and reception) is DEF were they are making tons of $$$$. I've spent more in add-on's than the actual cost of my $2350 caprice wedding package. I'dlvoe to swap pics ) GREAT idea!!!

Jen, Thanks for the CONGRATS!!! The same to you and your FI... Yes, I have booked my ceremony dare and got group rates. Since I'm doing a medium size party (60 people), I opted to use a travel agent here in Maryland and she handled the room bookings and negotiations with the Riu Palace P.C. I didn’t want to have to deal with questions and/or booking travel for folks... It's totally up to you and your budget on what you wish to forgo and what you are willing to pay extra for. There are so many extra add on's which drove the increase in my budget so I weighed the pros and cons of what was most important for us. Things I did to keep my cost low: ~ Stayed with the house minister, it's free in the package. At first I was looking into an outside minister but the fee was $300 + $200 resort fee for the day pass. ~ Purchased my bridesmaid bouquets, Mom's corsages, and mest man/dad's boutonnières on my own from a silk touch florist instead of purchasing from the resort. Approx $200 savings! ~ Purchased my own satin chair sashes (approx $60) instead of paying the $200-$300 fee for the upgraded decoration package. ~ I'm purchasing my own cake topper and table decorations and not doing any upgrades to the cake. Areas I decided to splurge and pay for add-on’s: ~ My group is a live party group so we decided on the private reception (approx $600) and the DJ (approx $400). ~ Using an outside photographer instead of the house photographer. Cost will be approx $1000 - $1200 + $200 resort fee for the day pass - BUT the pics will be the only tangible item I have (besides the wonderful memories) so this is an area I didn't want to skimp on. Things we're on the fence about: ~ Doing a private happy hour (approx $10-20 per person) only to keep the wedding guests all together and not bored while the wedding party is taking pics. ~ A fellow BD user who recently got married in Oct added on a private bar to the reception (not sure of cost) as she stated that the nearest bar where guest could get drinks wasn't to close. These will be last minute decisions based on if we are under budget closer to the wedding. Just as a reminder, the prices mentioned are for 2011. There will be an increase for 2012. In 2010, the resort fee for a day pass was $100 in 2011 it's $200. Again, let me know if you have additional questions! I'm more than happy to assist if I can ) ~Q

Hi Jen - I too am getting married at Riu Palace Punta Cana in Oct 2011. My wedding count is currently at 60 (hoping it doesn’t, grow to much more!) I'm doing the Caprice package which covers 40 and paying the additional per person fee. The wedding coordinators (Magnolia & Maria) there are great and are more than happy to answer in questions via email. It may take a few days to get back to you but they ALWAYS respond. Through my contact with them, and emails with others on this site: ~ The semi-private reception is held at one of the restaurants (steakhouse or buffet place). I am actually doing a private reception for an additional fee. ~ The dance floor is set up at the restaurant. If you send me your email via PM, I can email you the set up... ~ If you do a private reception, than the hired DJ can take your iPod and move your playlist to his laptop and play the music from there. I believe if you are not doing a private reception, then the music is just the music being played for the entire restaurant. I think you can do a private reception without a guest limit but there is a fee. User FutureMrsTO got married there this past October and ablj209 is getting married there in the next 2-3 months - BOTH have been valuable resources in my planning. Search for them and their posts will be very useful. Feel free to ask any additional questions and I will be more than happy to answer! ~Q

I just called their customer service line at 877-835-5617 and got a live person. To bad they're out of stock in chocolate! What a great prince...

@ FutureMrsTo - Thanks so much for the information… Great review and beautiful wedding!!! I'm sooooo excited about my upcoming nuptials. Your review has made me extremely HAPPY that the Mr.-To-Be and I selected Riu Palace ) Thanks again for answering all the questions...

GREAT news!!! Glad to hear your dad is doing better and he & your mom will be able to make the wedding! Now your perfect day has just been made better!

Hi All, I've done a search and unable to find any reviews on minister Jose Luis Sanchez. He is the minister that the Riu Palace Punta Cana uses for their wedding ceremonies. I was looking for any feedback on how he officiated your wedding. Also, wanted to know if he did both English and Spanish speaking ceremonies. This information would help me to decided if I want to use the house minister for free or use an outside vendor. Any information you can share would be greatly appreciated! ~ Q

@ FutureMrsTO - I'm patiently waiting your review! ) Can't wait until I read it!

Hi Amanda, I’m so sorry to hear of your father’s diagnosis and wish the best to him and your family… In regards to what you should do – only you can decide! I would say do what you and your fiancé TRULY want to do – after all, it is your wedding… Now, having said that – I think your going to hear grips or feel some sort of way with whatever decision you make. If you decide to cancel your DW and get married in your hometown, you may harbor a little resentment. If you continue with your current plans and do the DW you may hear grips from your parents and family. Option 1 – You could do a legal ceremony in your home time, only tell and have your parents present and continue with your destination wedding. Doing this allows your parents to be present for your wedding and doesn’t tarnish the idea for your traveling guests, as they would not know. Option 2 – If this is the wish of you and your fiancé, I say go for it. As all of us are aware in planning a DW, not everyone will be able to make it. And especially your parents should understand. Option 3 – I would only consider this if there is no cancellation fees or cost associated with this. You also have to think about people that have already booked their travel and consider if they will loose any deposits paid. Again, is this really what you and your fiancé wish to do? I only bring that up again as you point out the weather in Ontario in April and it being just the opposite of what you’ve been planning. I’m sorry you are put in this predicament and have to go through this. I wish you the best of luck in your decision. Again, I hope your father continues to get his strength and I wish him a speedy recovery!  ~Q

@ bklyngl79 - See the below:  ~ Bouquets: I'm doing real touch bouquets from Wed Ideas. I have selected the natural touch small callas bouquet. http://store.fastcommerce.com/Wedideas/pick-the-color-natural-touch-small-callas-bouquet-ff80818126933cef0126e86cbdc13c3d-p.html  ~ Sashes: I've selected my sashes from Wedding Linens Direct. http://www.weddinglinensdirect.com/8xorsapa.html  I still need to select a DJ & photographer - next on my list!    Â

@Dominicana06 - Glad everything went as plan for you! OMG, reading you feedback has totally gotten me even more excited. Can wait to read your full review and see pics. Â PS - Luving the profile pic )

@ CampbellSoup - GREAT job! Would you mind posting your template? I would really love to use third pass with the globe...

@bklyngl79 - I too am doing the Caprice package. I really didn't ask about the cake tiers but if I'm not mistaken, I think 1 tier comes with the package and 2+ tiers are extra. After re-reading the package, it actually doesn't specify # of tiers; it just says enough cake for # of people. Â I too am like you, wanting to discuss EXACTLY what I want, if it can be done and how much EXTRA it will be so that I can have an estimated budget. I really don't know how ppl just do all this when they arrive 3 days before. I have added a few add-ons BUT would not have been able to financially afford them if I would have been sprung the price of them 3 days before (i.e. - private reception, fire dancers, etc). Â It has also allowed me to modify things and do some things on my end not go thru Riu - for example, I have 6 bridesmaids, I'm not willing to pay $50 per bridesmaid bouquet, so I have found real touch bouquets for $30 each. A savings of $120. They also wanted to charge a fee for each chair sash (that wasn't a standard color) - I was able to find mine 10 for $5.90. Â So as I think of things, I just send Maria an email and try to get the info. I also am saving all my emails with price quotes so that if there are ever any discrepancies, I can just forward my email back. Â Hey - where are you in VA, I'm in MD???

@ablj209 - I'm at 49 booked (47 + my fiancé & myself). Hoping it doesn't go that much higher! ) But if it does the more the merrier... @sheskrafty23 - the cost is $10 per person above the package limit. The additional fee covers the champagne and cake. Also, just found out that Riu Palace offers fire dancers for entertainment. Cost is $300… In case anyone is interested!

@ ablj209 - Have you heard about any discounts offered for the wedding packages, cocktail hour, private reception, or bride/groom room if 10 or 20 plus rooms are booked for a wedding? @ Dominicana06 - CONGRATS on your August 6th wedding… I would love to see pics and hear details!!! Feel us in - I'm sure it was beautiful!!!