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CCin Thanks for all the info!! Can't wait to see the final product!!

Hey Everyone! Just wanted to put it out there that I'm visiting Dreams Palm Beach the first week in May. I'm trying to decide on a resort so I'm visiting a couple different properties. Right now I'm working on all the questions I have for them so if anyone would like me to ask specific questions for them or take some pictures feel free to PM me. I'm open to help and suggestions!! Since I'm in the beginning stages right now!! Thanks in advance! Happy Planning!!

Hi Everyone!! Congratulations on your dates!! I fly down to Punta Cana the first week in May to check out some hotels and hopefully book one, and be a May 2012 bride too!! The contenders are....Dreams, Majestic Elegance and Excellence? Any pointers or tips to get the best rate? Would anyone mind sharing with me the rate they were quoted? Feel free to PM me! Happy planning everyone!!

Hi everyone, Just wondering if anyone has had any problems transferring their marriage license to the United States after being married in the Dominican Republic. I was hoping to be married in a Catholic ceremony in Punta Cana and have everything translated to English to then have our marriage be legal in the United States. I'm really not a fan of getting married before we go down, so then people were telling me I should maybe get married again in the states after our ceremony in Punta Cana. Any thoughts? Has anyone run into problems with the United States not recognizing a marriage in Punta Cana? I need some guidance here!! Are there any steps I'm missing? lol Thanks ahead of time!!

Sandy I would definitely ask your WC to set up the hair appointments for you. I think that should something she could easily take care of. I know I would feel a lot better if I knew that was taken care of a head of time. I'm sure you know, but everyone says make sure you take a couple pictures down with you because everyone says the women in the salon speak little to no english! Best wishes on your wedding day!!

Hi Ashmagoo, yes there are extra fees for a private ceremony and a dance floor. I think a dance floor starts at 500 for 25 ppl. If you go on the dreams website they have a listing of all of the extra costs. if you want to PM me your email I can email you the PDF file I have on extra costs. Hope that helps best of luck planning!!

Hi DeeBrideToBe, So your TA quoted you a price for hotel and flight already? That's amazing!! Our TA said that flights don't get posted til 9 mths before the travel date!! Wow maybe I will contact your TA because that would really help with my decision! Thanks a lot!!

I got it! very helpful!! thanks so much!!!

Thanks so much! I thought I was a loser for not knowing all these abbreviations!!

Hi girls! So glad to find you guys!! would anyone mine sending me all this info about pricing? Some pictures would be great too!! Just PM me and I'll give you my email. I am looking to have my wedding May 2012. I just can't make a decision on a location or resort. So worried about the expense on my guests. I really wanted Bahamas but they seem to lack all -inclusives so now I'm back to Punta Cana. Never been to Punta Cana so this is a big leap of faith! Best of luck to everyone! Happy planning!!!

Hey AcutieRN, I was looking at the NOW resort in punta cana. I'm just scared to commit without any reviews to go off of. Have you been to Punta cana? Do you know anything about the NOW resorts? Thanks!! Best of luck it looks amazing!!!

Great review!! Thanks for all the info! Your wedding was beautiful!!

Shelly is Dreams charging you a fee for having an outside photographer? How long do you have him if you don't mind me asking?

Hi Melissa!! OMG this site is so overwhelming at first. I try to go on every second I get. I also started making notes and spreadsheets to keep track of all the information! Best of luck! Happy planning!!!

Yeah I realize I'm putting a lot of faith in my TA. I have read on some of the threads that I a lot of the hotels will find someone to translate the marriage certificate for you in the Dominican...for a fee of course!! lol I hope that is all it will take and everything will be recognized in the US. Is there something else you know that I don't???

Hope you have a great trip Mandys...please let us know how is goes and what you think of everything!! Some pictures would be great!!!

Hi Everyone, I am trying to decide where to have my wedding! I have been engaged for a year but just can't make the commitment! haha I have considered Bahamas, Jamaica and now Punta Cana. I really was liking ME but also think Colonial is nice too. Then my travel agent suggested Dreams. I don't think I will be getting married til 2012 at this rate. Any suggestions to help with the BIGGEST decision of picking the resort? Reading this thread about rooms booking fast is really scaring me. I also feel like Majestic has a lot of extra charges for an all-inclusive? MandyB LOVE your pictures!! You wedding looked amazing!! Congrats! Thanks everyone! This thread is great!

Thanks Mrs Weiss!!

I have heard a lot of good things about Ochos Rios! We stayed at the RIU in Montego Bay when we were in Jamaica and it was not what we had in mind for a wedding. haha It was HUGE and such a party place. I really wish our TA had sent us to Negril or Ochos Rios but what can you do. haha So we have a new TA and they recommended Punta Cana. From the little investigating I've done it doesn't seem too hard to get married there. Is there anything in particular you can think of that turned you off? Just want to make sure I'm not missing something. My biggest concern was the staff not speaking enough English. I know what you mean with the pressure. I just want to pick the nicest resort, in the nicest location, with a good price point! Is that too much to ask? Like I said we haven't decided on a location so I might change my mind 5 more times before I commit! lol Like everyone else I have changed my date like three or four times lol I really wanted April 7th because that is the date we got engaged! But I was worried that prices would be too high with that being Easter weekend. Then I tried for the other April dates like you Sdamian. I think I'm now going to go with May but I won't worry too much about the dates. You can't make everyone happy. 4/20 is better than 4/13 in my book haha Plus your fiancé should always remember your wedding date if it's 4/20 lol Best of luck to everyone!! ~Stacy

Hey Laura! Congrats on having a confirmed date! Where in Jamaica are you getting married? We looked into Jamaica but haven't made a decision yet. We are now hooked on Bahamas or Punta Cana. It's so scary to think I might book my wedding somewhere I have never been! lol But like you I knew right away I didn't want a big wedding, a small wedding on a tropical island IS my fairy tale! lol Although most of my family aren't thrilled with the idea. I can't wait for some flight prices to come out because I think that would really help me make my decision btw Bahamas or punta cana. I really want to keep the prices as low as I can. Best of luck with the rest of your planning!! ~Stacy

Question... is anyone considering getting married on the terrace at the RIU Paradise Island? I am a little concerned because with my research I see that the beach ceremony entails you walking down a mountain of stairs!! I really wanted a gazebo wedding but they don't have a gazebo at the RIU paradise island. So I was wondering if the terrace in a good backup plan? HELP!!

Thanks to both of you for getting back to me! You are both right, my fiancé keeps telling me the same thing. Don't worry about the guests so much, just fall in love with a property and then try to find the best price from there. There is only so much you can do and the people who really want to be there for you will! So I guess I just have to learn to hope for the best! It's just so hard to pick something without ever seeing it in person. I've gone on expedia and other travel website and you hear such mixed reviews. Like people were complaining that Punta Cana had a lot of mosquito and the beaches were full of seaweed. But I know you have to take those comments with a grain of salt. I feel reassured to have found to lilboltz10. It's nice to hear from a past bride experiences. I also read your journal! That was amazing!! Thanks again for the help! Best of luck WellJen!!

WOW I spent 3 days trying to figure this out! lol I thought we had to pay money or something to see the attachements. Thanks so much for this thread! This website is so addicting! Happy planning everyone!

Thanks so much for sharing all of that! You did an amazing job! I can only hope to be that together!! Just beautiful!

Thank you so much for the response. I was almost 90% sure I was going to go with RIU Palace Paradise Island. Then our travel agent said look at Dreams Punta Cana....and BOOM everything changed! lol I fell in love. I'm just scared to take a leap of faith I guess. Dreams looks too good to be true. The brochures have amazing picutres! That price is amazing too!! When did you get married? Do you have any helpful tips to lock in a good price for our guests? That really is my main concern! Thank you so much for your input I greatly appreciate it!!