vav11238

Ok, I'm going to try and post pictures again. But these were ones sent to me by Claribel.

MJKH thanks for the brunch idea. I'm trying to find a way to do it and include my step-daughter. If we do something at night, at a bar, then we'd rather it just be for adults which excludes her. We also live in London, UK, so planning anything outside like a bbq is dicey. But finding a nice venue for brunch could work. Brilliant!

Just spoke to the fiance about this and we've decided to do it within three months of the wedding but not right after. I cannot plan the wedding and the AHR at the same time. Nor do I want to throw myself right back into party planning when we return. I think within three months is a respectable time frame.

This is soooooo appreciated! I've been waiting for just married brides to come on back and write lengthy reviews. I'm slowly approaching panic mode now that I'm less than 80 days away. Once you're back home and comfortable can you let us all know: 1) how you got the decorations sorted? Did you bring your own? Or work with Innovart? And if so, was it handled before or while you were there? 2) where did you decide to have your reception? I'm having the same amount as you and though I've decided on doing the reception on the beach, I'm now thinking that having it at a restaurant where everyone can order what they'd like may be better. 3) did you do anything different like sky floating lanterns? and was it allowed. Did you hire the DJ or use your iPod? 4) and, if you did OTT bags - what did you put in them? What were raved items versus passed on? 5) did you or your guests leave the resort to do anything extra? interesting bars? clubs? 6) and how late is everything open at the resort? 7) most important 'how was the food?' As you can see, I can go on but will leave it there. Every and anything else you want to tell us, please add it on. Oh, and cannot wait to see pictures.

This is soooooo appreciated katusha! I've been waiting for you and Moni to come on back and write lengthy reviews. I'm slowly approaching panic mode now that I'm less than 80 days away. If you're comfortable can you let us all know: 1) how you got the decorations sorted? Did you bring your own? Or work with Innovart? And if so, was it handled before or while you were there? 2) where did you decide to have your reception? I'm having the same amount as you and though I've decided on doing the reception on the beach, I'm now thinking that having it at a restaurant where everyone can order what they'd like may be better. 3) did you do anything different like sky floating lanterns? and was it allowed. Did you hire the DJ or use your iPod? 4) and, if you did OTT bags - what did you put in them? What were used versus passed on? 5) did you or your guests leave the resort to do anything extra? interesting bars? clubs? 6) and how late is everything open at the resort? As you can see, I can go on but will leave it there. Every and anything else you want to tell us, please add it on. Oh, and pictures - if you'd like to share.

I've given the mister the choice and my close friend will be singing it. However, he is super stumped on it. My songstress friend suggested 'Lovely Day' by Bill Whiters (got his name wrong I think). But am still looking for other options.

Like everyone else - LOVE this list! But I have another thing to add - is anyone doing mini-bags for kids? I've currently have 10 kids coming of varying ages and am wondering if I should try to do a little bag for them. And if so, do I do one for each kid? My adult bags are for couples but kids are different. As of now I've got: small water guns heathy enjoyable snacks constructable airplanes beach balls coloring books & crayons I'd love more ideas and what to put them in. Was going to do bucket and shovel but may be to hard to get to DR. Open to suggestions!

Here are some pictures that another bride recently sent me: IMG-20111115-00158.jpg - FOUNTAIN CEREMONY IMG-20111115-00163.jpg - BEACH RECEPTION IMG-20111115-00161.jpg - BEACH RECEPTION IMG-20111115-00156.jpg - FOUNTAIN CEREMONY IMG-20111112-00153.jpg - BEACH CEREMONY

I was told by wedding planners in the UK to do in your home country. Get everything translated into spanish and not to depend on the idea that you'd be able to do once overseas. That is the advice I would offer. After pricing it, my fiance and I, decided to get married in the UK first and only have out marriage certificate translated into spanish as opposed to several documents. Food for thought...

Hi ya guys! Will be getting married at NOW Larimar on Feb 20, 2011 and thought for all of you who have questions, there's loads of information to wade through at the other forum: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/71007/new-resort-opening-may-1-2011-now-larimar-punta-cana There are loads of pictures there and links to pictures. I know it's a lot to go through but well worth it. Crack open a bottle of wine and have a good read. Also, there are three women who are having there weddings now and will be returning to write reviews and post more pictures. I'd like to say one major thing, Claribel isn't great to answer questions because she doesn't focus on weddings until you're two/three months away from yours. My suggestion is to sit and to think of all your questions if you're several months away, then send them all together. Doing it bit by bit will drive you mad. At least that is what I did back in May when I started planning. It took her nearly 3 weeks for me to get answers which actually came from the wedding planner at Secrets who was helping her out. Once I officially booked, I asked a few more and she got right back to me but made it clear that my day wouldn't be on her radar until December. Accepting this will help save you loads of stress. In the meantime, hire a TA, sort out invitations (I ordered mine off Wedding Diva's and loved them but there's a great passport invitation designer who's info you can get at the link above too), register, create your site, look for dresses...and collect pics of everything you want to send to Claribel and her team the closer you get to the wedding. I've contacted their decorators and photographer and they aren't great at returning emails either. So prepare yourself. Hope this was all helpful.

Question? What other events have you planned for your guests? I'm currently trying to get back into planning mode and want to find other events for them since I've heard that it gets a bit boring at night if you don't want to get involved in the activities. Besides that have a WONDERFUL WEDDING!!!! May everything go off without a hitch. Can't wait to see the pics. All the best!!

I ordered my wedding invites from them and LOVED IT! Got loads of compliments too. I would highly recommend them to anyone. Especially since, lots of people doing destination weddings seem to go on the passport or plane ticket trend. I decided to do a classic invitation and Wedding Paper diva did it right!

When buying the floating lanterns (and Moni I'm waiting to hear what is said on your account since you're wedding is before mine if it's a do or don't) but know that there are ones that are biodegratible and have no metal wiring. Which means, that they can land on the water and be washed away with out any hassle. This is incredibly important because I'm sure, if NOW has to clean the water after them they simply won't allow it. I found a place that sold them and they are more expensive then the ones you may find everywhere else. I've got to search my massive (and overly full) wedding folder then I'll forward it on to you guys.

If you're planning on doing OTT bags, I'd say to put an itinery for the time everyone is going to be there and simply put an earlier wedding time. I'm hoping I can do a drink thing before the ceremony to ensure people get there on time. That and my BMs will be making sure everyone comes down on time.

I ask Claribel but she didn't understand. She thought I meant pool lanterns when I said floating. Perhaps 'sky laterns' will be clearer for her to understand. I too want them...

Ah, Eva, I remember thinking that same thing too..... Kidding aside, best of luck! You've time really, loads of time to chose. Personally, I'd hold off and try to take a trip out there to see the locations that you haven't stayed at before choosing. It will give you piece of mind.

How goes everything ladies? Let me tell you, it is incredibly hard to plan a wedding from the UK, for a host of guests that live in the US who have to go to DR. This decision was crazy!!!! But my invitations are almost all done and ready to be sent out!!! I'm so hoping that this will light a fire under everyones ass and they'll start reserving rooms. I'm tired of the 'I can't wait emails' then speak to my TA and nothing... Ok, now that I've vented...thanks for listening ;-) Skygirl and Eva1Love - Larimar charges for kids 2 and up if you're heading there during peak season, so big holidays and short school vacations - that sort of thing. Not in the summer (I think) though. I'm getting married over winter break and our guests kids are being charged for their kids. They had an introductory special where kids went free but as of 2012, I've heard that the special isn't on anymore. You can work out with your TA some incentives though. So I think if I get 30 rooms booked they may drop that charge or something...I've got to find my contract to be sure.

After being super busy for the last two weeks moving house, I'm glad to be back!!!!! And yup, Skygirl, you can hire whomever you'd like and pay the price to allow the vendor in (which isn't the same price as allowing guests that aren't staying there into the resort) but I'm not sure of the cost off the top of my head. After seeing the videographer, I may want to do that too. The fountain wedding looks amazing! And I'm beginning to lean toward the idea of that rather than the beach. (Ah, but I really wanted to get married on a beach...just not with over-sized men in speedos.)

Ah, makes more sense then. LOL!

Thanks Sarah! I also sent complaints to AM resorts and have yet to hear anything back. I was told by my travel agent that as a guest of NOW Larimar, you can go to any other AM resorts for free. So, you could eat at Secrets, Dreams or Zoetry in DR and I've been reading on many of these where there's no complaints about the food. Luckily the Secrets is right next door, so couples without kids could go there easily. I've read from another bride that having the wedding in the middle of the resort also draws a lot of onlookers, but at least they're clothed. Am trying to decide what to do about this. I'm not a fan of all the beach activity that was happening during the ceremony in those pictures.

Been on here a while and have yet to hear of Curacao. This thread speaks purely to Punta Cana. I've chosen NOW Larimar which is under the same resort umbrella as Dreams. I'm sure you're even will be amazing if you have it there. When I was choosing, I read a lot on Dreams and followed the thread. My suggestion would be to go where you can be sure that other brides had amazing events with a staff that was attentive. Good luck!!!

I'd recommend not giving till May 1st for a wedding in May. My only reason being that it becomes difficult to plan. If you have 20 guests coming, you may decide to do a welcome party on a boat and something else but if 50 are coming you'll want to make other arrangements because the expenditre of money becomes a concern. And I think you'll be stressed if people can decide so last minute. Especially if the resort gets booked and then they're calling about other arrangements. I've spoken to a couple of other brides and they've made sense out of giving people three months - no more. But if you want to give it more time then do to April 1st - five months is more than enough time and, I think, will not make you insanely stressed. But this is just my opinion, of course.

Yea, I've decided to change it a bit. I'm sending out the invites early September with an RSVP of November 1st, giving guests two months. Afraid that if I leave it until December people will just keep putting off making the hard decision. Especially since people aren't looking at it logically. I have a cousin who emailed me to tell me that 8 people in her family were coming - 4 kids. REALLY?!? Airplane tickets are crazy and two of her daughters are old enough to be considered adults - not kids. I see that as highly unlikely (esp since she just came back from a wedding in jamaica). I'm hoping with RSVPs people will sit down and look at the prices, then make a rational decision. Then I can plan on what I'm going to do during the wedding weekend. My guests will have loads more fun if there's just 30 over 60 because we'll be able to pay for loads more. Ah, decisions...decisions!

Oops...hit post accidentally. As I was saying...We've been estimating 60 coming so at $8 a head, that's pretty steep but we'll see. I will check with NOW and see if they have a special set-up with transport.

Yea, actually the last time I spoke to the WC at NOW she suggested Kukua. It's weird since there's very little written about it here, I just decided on Jellyfish. Well, that and the short walk distance. Winnie - To get to Kukua you enter through the Bavaro resorts. It's between that and the Magestic - on the map that's section 2. Whereas NOW is in section 4 (or 5) I think. $8 a person for transport is a bit steep when we think of all that is already going in to the night, combined with the fact that