maridr2012

Typo. **unless he's willing to pay***

I had the same dilemma about a rehearsal dinner which my FIL's were going to pay per tradition. We have 60 guests attending but it would've been so osty to invite everyone to rehearsal dinner. I've heard traditionally the wedding party and their date, immediate family and dates, and out of towners are invited but at a DW everyone is from out of town! So we are only inviting immediate family plus their spouse/dateand wedding party plus their spouse/date to rehearsal dinner. For us that's 25 people and it workout well because our resort offers a semi-private rehearsal dinner for up to 20 people and it'd only be $15 pp for over that. Basically we get a reserved corner/area in 1 of the restaurants for 2 hrs with a customized menu. We get married on a Friday. So, we're having a 1 hour welcome cocktail party on Wednesday for all our guests with private bar and bartender, passed hors doeuvres (also a perk from our resort since we did a group deal that qualified us for this). Hopefully they have arrived by then, if not oh well nobody can say they were left out lol. Our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner is on Thursday so that way it avoids the whole awkwardness of leaving the uninvited guests behind since it's on a totally different day. We aren't doing the traditional morning after brunch thing for everyone. Again, just too costly. We'll see everyone the next morning at the restaurants/buffets. Check with your resort that they offer perks and complimentary things like the ones I've mentioned! Sometimes they don't tell you unless you ask. Good luck!

I agree with the others. He'll regret not going but in the meantime, I suggest make an itemized list of the budget to have a wedding at home in ur area, and include EVERYTHING u can think of. Then do the same for ur DW. present him with both budgets and tell him unleashes willing to pay for the size able difference just to have a wedding at home, then ur going with the DW. I think he will have change of heart very quickly!

Oh and 1 more thing I'm emailing my GAY best friend and his partner right now to let them know PPC is a "TAG" approved property so they can be sure to book their next vacation there and spread the word to the rest of their friends!!!

KelCT: By you even posting this...it absolutely comes across as you being prejudiced. I personally am super offended by your comment. What does it matter if there are gays at the resort during your stay? Why not just bother doing your research first if there will be a gay pride event in the area during your stay, and then decide if you want to stay there with your family & friends? Do you think they will be running around scaring babies? Pulling people's pants down? What gives?! Do you realize that not even 50 years ago certain people would've made the same type of IGNORANT comment as the one you just posted about African Americans, or other ethnic groups? My best friend - GAY - will be proudly walking down the aisle as part of our wedding party for my wedding. He is bringing a date, who is just as fabulous as he is, and they will join us in all the festivities, cherishing our special day with my family and other friends. Honestly...I shake my head every time I hear a comment or read something like this. Puh-leez.

Are you hiring Theresa or did she give you all these tips for free? I do have Miguelina's email: [email protected]. I personally met her during my visit, and booked my wedding directly thru her, but then got shifted to the Miami team. Just a few days ago I was "re-introduced" to her by the Miami team after we had our "power planning" call. But, yeah it's prob much easier to correspond with her directly about specifics.

Hi, I did ask them about the setup at gazebo for approx 60 people and the answer they gave me left me unsatisfied...they said I would be able to sort out those details once I arrive and to a walk-thru with the on-site coordinator a few days before the wedding. But...looking at the pic that CDC provided a link for on their FB page, I'm okay with that setup and figure that's prob what we'll go with. It's very interesting to hear that the Romance coordinators in Miami aren't even employees of Paradisus - and you know what? It makes sense...because often when I ask them questions I get a slightly different answer each time, or they'll tell me they need to check with the resort on a price for something. Ummm...shouldn't they have all that info at their hands? Isn't that the reason we work with them in the first place, to have a single point of contact for all our questions?! Frustrating. When I was there in December I met with Miguelina and she's really sweet and is very knowledgeable. I also am going to reach out to her for answers on some of my questions - it seems like she readily has answers available and doesnt try to upcharge every.single.thing.

Hi Dee. I am uber excited to see your review on your wedding, congrats on becoming a Mrs! I'm especially excited to see your review because I also am using RSE for the same reasons as you, and I'd been nervous that they wouldnt be a great DJ - but question, how were they on introductions/MC announcements? Did they do that for you? I also am using HDC photography & videography and am pretty confident they'll do a great job. I'm about 2 months away from my wedding...Yay!!

Mariel, if it doesn't fall within the dates specified for Entice Me, you won't get the promo rate. My dates on Nov 9th and I asked for it but they said no as it didn't fall within their dates.

I didn't want to do a registry because I too felt awkward about people paying for gifts on top of what they are spending to go to our DW. but then I was reminded that there are many guests that RSVPd no to the invite but still want to give us a gift, and although I've been living on my own for almost 10 yrs there are some things I still don't have and will eventually need in a few yrs like fine china when we buy a house and start hosting holidays. So...I registered and am glad I did! I've already started receiving gifts from people who can't attend the DW. And I truly am so lucky because my FIL's are paying for our honeymoon as our wedding gift thru 1 of their timeshares. I'm marrying into a wonderful family

Well I had my planning call today which went pretty well except for one thing: they tried to tell me I have to pay the $1200 external vendor fee because I'm using RSE instead of DJ Mannia. This really INFURIATED me because it was their own WC that told me several months ago they had added RSE as a preferred vendor due to all the complaints about DJ Mannia, I'd never even heard of RSE. They told me they will look into it but I should look for the email that the WC sent me saying RSE was a preferred vendor. I mean WTF?! I really don't have the time to go thru 12 months of email correspondence. And as luck may have it, the WC who I'd been working with is on an extended medical leave. Grrrreat. So I'm fighting them on this. Now I've got it inmy head I don't wan to use DJ Mannia nor am I willing to pay $1200 when I was told my DJ is their new preferred vendor!!!

Ladies, it doesnt matter if you give people even 3 YEARS of notice. You will have some that will jump thru hoops to attend, and others that will find every excuse in the book. I was hurt for a long time about people who I really care about and have bent over backwards supporting them in every life decision they make, and they have completely bailed and flaked out. I have 3 brothers - I'm the only girl, and we've all been very close. The only 1 that is coming to my wedding is the oldest, and funny enough, he's the one who I thought prob wouldnt be able to make it - he's got 4 kids, pays expensive child support and financially supports his kids even more than the court requires him to, plus he travels every 2 months to see them, and helps their mom out whenever she needs the $ - and he works 2 full time jobs to do this. When I told him 18 months ago our DW plans, he never said, "oh..maybe, we'll see...", Nothing of the sort. He looked me square in the eye and said, "I'll be there sis", but I still didn't believe it, until last night when I got an email from my travel agent asking if it was okay to add him into my group list and he had paid his room in full. I cried because I was so happy and surprised. My 2 other brothers on the other hand...never even called to say they can't make it. One I knew would be a bust because he's got several personal demons he needs to work out..but the other one...he was supposed to be a groomsman! He never even called my Fiancee to say, hey i cant make it. And him...I've been VERY supportive of his marriage, I am there for all his 4 kids bdays, holidays, etc. My point is...at some point you've gotta let it all go. Whoever comes, great. Whoever doesnt go and disappoints you..guess what...in the end you're better off without them there!

By the way...my power planning call is in 20 min...and I'm really nervous for some reason!!!

I didnt get to see the bridal suite when I visited, but I already booked it because I know I'll need it. I have 4 bridesmaids, plus both our moms, we're all getting hair and makeup done..so it was definitely needed. I have all our appts booked too, we pretty much have the suite for the entire day and are using all 3 stylists from about 9 am - 3pm. Plus, I figured my fiancee and his guys will want to get dressed together but now I'm hoping they don't use our room! Guys are super messy...so can you imagine 10 guys (thats the total in his party including our dads) getting all dressed in 1 room? YIKES. I don't want to come back to that after the night is over, haha. I'm hoping they go to his brother's room or something. CDC...I'm one of those that actually eats MORE when I'm nervous & anxious...so I'm going to try to force myself not to eat too much, lol. I booked a regular room for myself and am hoping I get upgraded to the Reserve. The Royal rooms are actually a higher class aka expensive than Reserve..but I didnt like their decor! Royal rooms are much closer to the beach, but frankly I wanted a bit of quiet and privacy around us during the week. I don't mind walking or taking the trolley to see everyone at the common areas!

By the way, when I was there in early Dec last yr the weather wasn't too hot at all, I actually kinda wished it would've been a bit warmer. The weather was about low 80's, it was never so hot that I was sweating or anything. But, CDC got married in April so her experience was obviously different. November is technically still hurricane season (which runs from June - Nov!), but my parents, who are from DR, have assured me the hurricanes and bad rainstorms typically are done and over with by early October. So, I'm hoping there won't be any bad rainstorms, or the weather won't be too hot and humid for my Nov. 9th wedding!

Hi SimplenSweet. My dress is made of silk taffeta. It's really light weight, and the train wont be very long so I'm hoping it'll be ok. It's not terribly fluffy - it does have some ruffles but no crenoline or anything underneath it. I think I would die if it did, I can barely wear pantyhose because I find them so uncomfortable, much less a big poofy dress, lol! I did decide on a cake - I liked #9 of their Wedding Cake album. I'm going with the white rose bouquet for my flowers since I felt colorful flowers would be overkill with my dress and plus its one of their basic bouquets which is included in my package - why spend the extra $ if I already like it, you know? My bridesmaids will get a bouquet with some color. My colors are lime green and watermelon pink, a few touches of orange and tans as a neutral. I'm undecided still if I'm shipping boxes or I'm giving my bridesmaids each a box to bring down with them. I don't know how many boxes exactly I'd be bringing - I've been super behind on putting together all my items. It'll mostly be stuff like the OOT bag stuffers, tealight candles, candleholders, my raffia fan programs, and a few other decorative items. I know it saves $$ to bring as much as possible but with you but honestly I don't want to deal with lugging around a bunch of extra luggage, having to pay for that extra baggage on the flight (we're not flying first class), etc. We also are honeymooning in the DR for a full week after our wedding about 2 hrs away from Punta Cana and I didn't want to drag all that stuff with me. So...hopefully there won't be too much too ship back after the wedding. I'd rather have the peace of mind that it ships to & from and not have to carry it all with me. I was told though by the WC that I should use a company called CPS they refer clients to. When I contacted their Miami office they said I'd have to work with their DR office but they would be the liasion and facilitate it esp since I don't want to call DR and pay long distance fees. CPS Miami told me if I am going to ship things, I need to ship it at least a full month before the wedding as things get stuck in customs. Everyone I've talked to has told me NOT to use Fedex, DHL etc as there isnt anyone to claim your boxes in DR should it get stuck in customs which apparently happens frequently. But, with CPS apparently its safer since they have a DR person there to claim it? Also, the CPS Miami lady told me to make sure I take price tix off everything I'm shipping b/c DR will try tax you if they see alot of $$ on your items. And, she also said to try to spread out what i have amongst several boxes, mixing it up in each. All little tips so I won't get taxed.

The garden space is big they'll def be able to accommodate your guests comfortably. The only thing is your guests will more than likely need to all ake trolleys there unless they are rooming near the garden which if I recall correctly was near the Reserve area. Then for cocktail hour they'll need to hop back on a trolley or walk back to the cocktail location. My oncern -since we also considered the garden for my wedding-was I wanted to make everything as convenient as I could for my guests and keep everyone together. Also I figured we'd prob take a few shots along the ocean (I'm dreading that sand on my dress) and I wanted it to bright after the ceremony with everyone right there so I can get that outta the way n move on to relaxing n partying. Again I have almost 60 people so gazebo wedding and cocktail hour setup right there just seemed like the most convenient thing to do.

Yes I was there in December n saw it. It really is a lovely location very beautiful lush n green when I was there so I really wouldn't worry about that. I thought it was great but personally I felt like I'd rather have the ocean view although I didn't want a ceremony on the actual beach due to the gawkers in the pics plus I didn't want to walk in the sand with my gown. Lol how vain right?

I was told that you need to pick your location ahead of time, because although they normally only do 1 wedding per day, they may do up to 2. But...I have to defer back to what happens if there is a rain storm and you had your ceremony setup outdoors, they change your setting indoors, right? And that's typically the morning of, a last minute thing. So...I don't think its completely impossible. With that said, the garden setting is very pretty. The only thing is its literally right along one of the roads that the trolleys drive on. Yes, it will be a bit more private because you dont have groups of people just standing there. But just bare that in mind. Also, my WC suggested to me that I NOT have my ceremony in 1 spot and the cocktail hour in another spot because for my size - 57, it becomes difficult logistically to move all those people from 1 spot to another. if it were, say 10-20 people it'd be fine, everyone just walks over together or takes a trolley, no biggie. But, with 50+ people, you may have some folks that start wandering off, or have to wait to take the next trolley, etc.

If I understand correctly they have a more private beach area for Royal guests, maybe that's an option? Have you had your power planning call? I was supposed to hav it last week but it got postponed due to their phone system upgrade or something. It's now this Friday and I'll be firing away questions regarding this topic.

NurseBrooke: ha! I think alot of us thought it'd be less stressful, nope we were all wrong! But at the end of it all you'll be glad u did a DW. I'm finally starting to get past the stressful parts because of guests and am getting more excited about our DW!

Hmmm I actually hadn't seen that particular setup but I'm glad you shared it because I was wondering how they would accommodate my guests at the gazebo. The setups that I've seen are with the cocktail setup in the open space, exactly where the chairs are in ur pic. So...now I'm really wondering where they'll do my cocktail hour? Maybe on the other side?