Dominican Ally

I'm sure you have plenty of time to shop around and make your decisions This forum is so helpful with it's reviews/posts! I panicked when I contacted them last week, and they were already booked for 3 days out of my wedding week (April 2013) ....I may have taken some more time to consider it had it not been for that, as I was seriously looking at HDC as well.

Yes I love some of their photo slideshows on YouTube! I may have them do one for us as well. I think they only charge $50 or $100 for the photo slideshow if I'm not mistaken... We booked the Royal package (500 edited pics on cd)- which is coverage of getting ready, ceremony, cocktail hour, photo session after and then we will just collect our guests pictures from the reception, as I didn't want to spend the extra to extend coverage into the reception. I really like their pictures, reviews on this forum, pricing, and they have been great to deal with thus far - so I'm feeling good about our choice!

I booked Caribbean Emotions. I liked their packages and prices (as I wanted just a media package...all photos on CD (edited) so that I can print them at my leisure at home. I also have an Uncle who used to do wedding photography making our coffee table/photobook as a gift, and can help out with a photo slideshow afterwards as well.

Still thinking of you Katie! How is your FI doing this week? Fingers crossed, and prayers sent your way for good news

I was unable to start planning right after getting engaged, as I was ill at the time - but it seems now that I am feeling better, I feel like I missed out on so much time to be excited about getting married/planning/etc. I think I'm making up for lost time right now, but now that I have the travel/hotel/wedding package/photographer booked - I can take a little break I'm sure you'll get another surge of motivation closer to the date! Happy planning!

I think the same will happen to me. Although right now, I seem to be in "wedding mode" and can't stop obsessing about things. I am hoping that since I've started many things this far out, that at some point over the next 14 months I will be able to take a break from all of this wedding stuff, especially to enjoy the summer Who am I kidding though? With this forum, I don't think I will ever run out of things to research/consider/plan for. It's addictive! lol

I'm still torn on what I'm going to include. This thread has been very helpfull though! I feel like I have to wait a little while until I have a better head count. Right now I am expecting anywhere from 25-50, but that is a huge difference. Ultimately, I have a budget in mind, so if we get more people, there could be a little less in the bags. So far I've created a few vistaprint items to put in the bag: 1) Photoshare card (free offer vistaprint) 2) A welcome letter printed on oversized postcard with envelope (also free from Vistaprint) 3) I've created the insert for the room key/tip money holder with free business cards from Vistaprint....and will order lanyards/waterproof badge holders later once I have numbers Things I want: 1) Absolutely - tote bags. Thinking of trying to find either plain tan, white, or even black ones from a dollar store, or cheap online, and personalizing them with our wedding logo via iron on transfer 2) Another must - Travel mugs. I was originally going to do personalized ones, but I think if we get the bubba keg mugs they will get used far more during the stay, as well as at home afterwards. They are a little more pricey, but these are important to me as they are the "main" gift in the bags, so I will sacrifice other items to get these. 3) Hand sanitizer, and pepto/immodium/advil etc. as part of a survival kit. I think that should be enough, as I don't think I'll manage anything else within budget, but we'll see as we go along.

Hi Janet, Congrats on getting your date! I bet you are on cloud nine - it's such a relief to have your date comfirmed and travel booked I agree that the resort photographer seems very pricey. Some great, and reasonably priced photographers that lots of brides on here have used, are Caribbean Emotions, and HDC photography. They both have a range of packages, and both offer a package that is media only which is very reasonable and you get all of your edited pics on CD (about 500). You will find tons of reviews for both on this site. You can also find Caribbean Emotions on facebook, and likely HDC as well. There are lots of brides giving their reviews, and sharing pictures on the Ocean Blue/Sands Beach and Golf Resort Brides. If you type that into the search bar, it should come up for you. I just booked Caribbean Emotions yesterday! Happy Planning

Hello Ladies! Just thought I'd pass along, that I received a GREAT email with tons of freebies from Vistaprint.CA this morning. Let me know if you want me to forward it to you - PM me your email address Alicia

Hello Fellow Ocean Blue Ladies! Do any of you need some vistaprint promo emails? They are Canadian, but might work for the US as well. I just received a fantastic one today, with a ton of free items (25 I think). The freebies include 100 postcards, 50 oversized postcards (great for save the dates!), rubber stamp, hat, mug, tote bag, notebook, sticky note, letterhead, banner, poster, lawn signs, business cards, return address labels, magnets (save the date magnets!), mousepad, keychain, 1 sheet of stickers.... Just let me know if you are interested, and PM me your email address - I can forward it on to you. Alicia

Congrats! Getting the date confirmed and the deposit in, is a huge relief!

We got engaged June 2011, and won't be getting married until April 2013. I was ill, and could not start wedding planning or set a date until I was feeling better, and back to work - so now I am full steam ahead! It feels great to finally be planning the day I've been waiting for

I'm from the Kingston, ON area - and we are planning our wedding at the Ocean Blue, Punta Cana for April 11, 2013. I am so grateful to this site for all of the tips and support - and wish you all Happy Planning! Alicia

Hi Natalie! Congrats on the engagement, and having your date set! I am from Kingston too! (well...work in Kingston, recently moved out of town to Howe Island) I had trouble finding a good agent in town too - so I actually used one that was mentioned by a few on this forum. She is up in the Barrie area I think - but she has been fantastic, and these days everything can be done over the phone/internet anyways. She specializes in wedding groups, and doesn't charge a fee (which I found many do). She is handling all of my travel, while I am going to deal with the hotel for my wedding package myself. She has been super quick to respond, always has answers, and got us great pricing! PM me your email address if you would like more info! This forum is amazing for support - and with us being so close maybe we can even do coffee sometime to chit chat about wedding details Happy planning!

Hello Ladies! So - we've had our date held with the hotel for the past few weeks, and we were waiting to put our deposit in until we had travel booked. I sent the deposit in yesterday, and received our official confirmation today! yay! I know Ada said that our date was held anyways, but something about having an actual document with everything written out, makes me breathe easier Anyhow - She also sent me the "additional services" (extra decor, flowers, sound system, etc.) for 2013. The prices for most things have went up a little from the 2012 pricing I received a few months ago, but Ada did tell me that the additional services were subject to change for 2013. One thing I do like though, is many of the extras now include taxes with the price listed, which makes it a little more clear when budgeting. I figured some of you may want this new pricing so if you PM me your email addresses I will forward it on to you. I'll attach it here as well, for those of you who can open attachments. Happy Planning! Alicia ADDITIONAL_SERVICES_2013[2].pdf

There isn't a link - they are actually emails from vistaprint that you have to click on to link you to the site for the applicable deals. If you PM me your email, I can forward you some of the recent emails I've received. These are for vistaprint.CA

Emives - one question about HDC. What package did you go with? I'm considering the Royal package, which is just 3 hours coverage....but I don't want much of that to be used up on me getting ready. I would rather just have most of the 3 hours be focused on the ceremony, coctail hour, photo session after, and maybe a bit of the reception.

Emives - I love the La Brasa Terrace set up! Do you think it will accomodate up to 50 people? I think we are going to be at least 35 right now - but it's looking like even more! Eep! When I first started planning, I didn't expect any more than 20. Now that I've booked our date/secured our travel it seems that people are jumping on board left and right I'm excited, but I just hope they all put their deposits in within the first 90 days (which is the deadline for the pricing we secured) so that I can have a good idea of total number, so I can start OOT bags! April 11, 2013 can't come fast enough for me right now! How is everyone else doing with their planning?

I can PM you the ones I have - I used them as recently as last week, and just got a new one with some freebies, some 80/90 percent off with free shipping and 50% off graphic upload.

Congrats on setting your date! Mine is April 11 - Ocean Blue! I hope the next 14 months go by quickly, as I can't wait!

Katie! Fantastic news that your FI came home today! Just proof of the power of positivity! It is truly amazing that one day after surgery he is home, and sounding very much like he is in great spirits. Wishing him a continued speedy recovery, and my fingers are crossed for you to get the news you are hoping for. I have been completely addicted to designing a logo today. I'm still not sure if I will go with one of my own creations, or choose a stock one from a designer. I've honestly just been happy to have this boost of ambition to do things wedding related, and I'm going with it! I am convinced that my FI thinks I am crazy after I bombarded him with my logos this evening. He can't imagine why I would want to spend so much time on a logo, nor does he even understand why we need it. He's too cute...and such a man! LOL! I do have to say, that it makes my life easier to basically be able to do whatever I want. He is super happy that I am paying attention to all of the little details - and I am happy that I don't have to run every little thing by him. I must admit, that I do like his input though, and he is very good at letting me know that I'm doing a great job with everything. I'm not sure on a name for a new thread. Probably something simple with the keyword "illness". Maybe something as simple as "Planning your wedding, while dealing with illness", or "Illness while wedding planning - support thread". I'm really not sure - totally open to your ideas! I should really get off of the computer and get some sleep - it is too easy to end up staying up far too late wrapped up in this forum - but it is so addictive. I love collecting ideas, and sharing information Alicia

What email address do you use? Do you communicate with Ada or Yinette? I've emailed Ada about 5 or 6 times over the past 4 weeks and always get a reply the same day. Hang in there! You must be getting very excited for your big day

Thanks Katie! I think maybe we should start a thread. You are better with words than I am - and your story is more inspiring, so perhaps you should start it I will absolutely contribute! Hopefully if there are others searching for such a thread, they come across ours, and we can all support each other! I love the way that you are looking at the whole situation, it has given me new energy, and I've even designed (or started designing), our wedding logo today! We can use a new thread to keep each other posted, and reach out to others dealing with illness and trying to plan a wedding. Alicia