natalieblev

Hi ladies do any of you know if there are options on upgrading the reception dinner food? My FI thinks he wants lobster for everyone (and says this is where he would spend more money) but I really dont know if that is possible. Any of you asked about this?

Jellyfish is amazing. I didnt find out about it until after I had made my deposit at the resort. I reached out to Mayte who is the WC there to discuss a rehearsal dinner there and she is amazing!! She is so quick to respond, will find things for you, will do whatever you want. They have the most beautiful decorations to pick from and if you dont see what you like she will help you find it. And she is so kind. When I did the numbers, the Jellyfish was only going to be about 1000 more than what we are paying at the hotel yet that included lobster dinner, apps, cocktail hour, all the beautiful decorations (The basic one included at my hotel is a pinetree around a candle its horrible) everything. If you look up katya nova she has many, many weddings on her photography website that took place there.

We are having a DW at Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe. Our wedding package was 4000 for 40 people. Extras so far have been: DJ-~800 Bouquets- $30/each (we have six bridesmaids) Cocktail hour- 600 Extra hour of reception- 600 Pastor-350 (This is a preference rather than having the free quick ceremony done by the WC herself) Photography-2500 (have to use their photogs or pay an outside vendor fee of 1000) Then I am not sure if you are including everything in your budget- we did...so we have my dress cost, the rings, welcome bags and contents, gifts for bridal party, excursion budget etc. But above are the things from the actual day of. THere are MANY more options of upgrades there (colored napkins, tiffany chairs, fire show, cigar roller, more flowers/better centerpieces, etc) but so far those are all we have agreed to.

Sorry on my phone it just clicked me through! But trying to say honestly we are spending more than I thought having a DW wedding. But we did things like first class tickets and nicer room, plus wanting to get our guests fun and usable stuff for the welcome bags...but our budget adds in everything from postage to airport transfers. And we are still under our original budget...I just thought DW were cheaper!

That is pretty crazy! I could buy my first house on what some people spend in NY! But honestly including everything...and I mean everything- from bridal party gifts, resort package and any add ons

The bridal salon called and said my dress should be here by the end of this month! I am so nervous cause I havent tried it on since August of last year!! And it has been a rollercoaster of "did i pick too fancy of a dress" "should i have gottens omething more beachy" "Is it even me?!" it drove me crazy!! I hope i love it as much as i did that day!

I am like you although I have the bags, I just need to get what is going inside them!! So far we just have the beer steins, candle for the room and sunglasses. I have so much to get done in some many areas! haha As far as the ceremony script...at our resort the WC's conduct symbolic weddings...but I wanted a religious ceremony and so i hired a local missionary pastor who is of the same religion as me and he sent me two different scripts- one more traditional and one more contemporary. Both are beautiful! But that saved us having to write our own in order to include what we wanted. Maybe look into that if your resort doesnt offer what you are looking for.

The DJ package from the hotel has MC options if that is what you are going with. You can get the dj with or without.

Wow early congratulations on the baby!! They did the same thing to me with Bar H. I had a confirmed time of 4 pm for the wedding and was okay with that, but I worried that I would pay and then she would stick me in a ballroom after she got the money! Luckily, right after i paid (well okay two weeks later) she confirmed in writing to my TA that we would have the Bar H for the reception. I would worry slightly on your day just because they dont even have a good time available for the ceremony, which makes me think more weddings are happening that day and could be claiming Bar Higuey for their reception. But I would NOT pay for a confirmed wedding of 11am. Once they have your money, it doesnt matter anymore. Since you are still in the planning stages I would try to get another day so that once you do make your deposit you atleast are getting confirmation that you will have a ceremony at a normal time and it would help your chances to get the reception location as well. Also I have to remember that even though it is in writing that no other bride will get the reception location before me, they still say that they reserve the right to move it due to conventions, etc. So who knows! It seems like everyone who has had their wedding there in the last year has had nothing but great things to say about the running of things, so Im not going to stress.

Thanks Miss Jali...I emailed them and they said: "If you get the combine transfer you may have other passengers from other hotels that need to be dropped off or picked up during your ride. If you get the private transfer then it will go directly to the hotel." Sooo I never was asked if we wanted a combined or private....My TA just said the transfer through the hotel could be booked through her and that it was a 30 $ roundtrip fee for each guest. I dont know if she negotiated that or if that was what they presented her...I have no idea, but that was a flat rate for everyone. We also have looked into the company Tamara is using- and will be using that one for FI's immediate family which has eight plus an infant. It will come out to 10$ a person round trip. They have some really negative reviews so we have not booked it yet, but FI told me today that he thinks it will be fine and since it is only scheduling one trip rather than having everyone picked up by them (our guests are coming in at all times during that Saturday) it shouldnt be a problem.

Just wondering if any of you know- does the airport shuttle that you reserve through BBPD take you straight to the resort or is it a shared shuttle stopping at other resorts along the way?

Miss Jali I was looking at dresses this morning on preownedwedding dresses I thought of you a did a search for the allure....there are quite a few for sale and even some that have never been worn! http://www.preownedweddingdresses.com/used-wedding-dresses?v=2 They are sold for much cheaper than buying at the store. I WISH i would have found this site before i purchased mine at the salon haha! Oh well! It is also a great site for TTD!

Hmm that is so weird! Maybe because it is a Saturday! Who knows, but I cannot believe they would even have times set up that early for a wedding. I would say no way and see if Friday worked better maybe? If you will be there for more than the weekend. If my wedding was at 11 my guests would be drunk by 2 and ready for bed by dinnertime haha.

Thanks so much Tamara and missjali for the info and responses! I didnt realize you couldnt have a dinner reservation every night you are there! That kind of sucks!! Candacey I am assuming she wont give you a time because you are deciding to have a civil ceremony rather than symbolic. If you dont mind getting married at the courthouse before you go (or even after you come home) I would suggest getting a symbolic ceremony. You dont have to deal with the paper work, waiting to know what time works for the judge, not knowing your wedding time, and having a wedding at 11am!! Noone would know the difference either as you still have a ceremony just how you want it. But obviously that is up to you! Just thought i would let you know in case it helped!

I want to get going on my pre travel info to be mailed to guests that are coming. Few questions to all: Do men have to wear pants and closed toe shoes to the dinner restaurants? I know most girls will wear dresses, but for those that may want to wear nice shorts or a nice top with jeans and heels is that acceptable as well? Were there any items you forgot to bring that you couldn't find or was up charged buying at the hotel? Do we need bug spray? Was the transfer from the airport through the hotels company just to bbpd or dropped off other guests along the way to other hotels? How did you guys describe your wedding day dress code? I don't want people in jean shorts obviously but not black ties either. Thanks in advance!

Thanks so much Tamara! I really appreciate it. Looks very useful!

So does anyone have any sites that are good for ring bearer outfits? Also my nieces are no longer able to come so I'm wondering is it okay to still have a ring bearer but no flower girls?

That's awesome! Congratulations! I have a serious etsy problem so I'll probably see ya on there! Ha!

Do you of you ladies know if the market close by has coffee I could buy for favors? So smaller packages that would be fitting for a gift?

I am pretty sure what you are talking about is the beach gazebo located in the middle of the resort by the pool area overlooking the beach, right? If so then that is a location choice for staying at BBPD. The barcelo bavaro beach is just the adults only area of the resort. Hope that helps!

They dont mind if you bring your own fake flowers...they just wont allow you to use any outside florists for real ones. You can find real touch flowers at Michaels and Hobby Lobby! For dinner seating and guest book from my knowledge you need to diy. Bring your own guestbook or gb alternative and also if you want a seating chart or table tags/numbers youll have to bring that as well. Hope that helps some!

Beautiful dress! Love the textured material!

Love the flowy back! Very pretty!

Oh my goodness I feel so computer challenged reading what you guys accomplish with vistaprint. I have NO IDEA how to make my own image and then upload it. MK I tried picmonkey and I have NO IDEA how you used a photo editor to make those gorgeous luggage tag and key tip holders. I knew I was tech-challenged but my goodness!!!! OH well!!

I love this thread! It is so awesome to see everyone's finds! Here are some of my etsy orders! I got my invites from Wide Eyes Design. These aren't my exact invites, but her work is awesome and she designs exactly how you want. I also was able to get postcard RSVP's which saved on paper waste! http://www.etsy.com/shop/WideEyesDesign?ref=seller_info I ordered my garters from Something New Designs. She does the prettiest garters, especially for a more rustic, vintage wedding. They are all handmade! I got this one but with blue lace and it comes in the sweetest little box too. http://www.etsy.com/shop/somethingnewdesigns?ref=seller_info I ordered personalized cups for Factory 21. They were so easy to work with...design for free and ship so fast. My FI has been to a few DW and says that cups are a great thing to have! These are our actual cups designed by my FI! For our welcome bags I ordered small jar candles from my favorite candle store in Colorado Springs. My parents live there and my mom has gotten me these candles for Christmas and they are AMAZING! My super hero power is a serious heightened sense of smell, which is usually not a good thing haha! So I thought it would be nice to have a candle for your room while on vacation or to bring it home for later. She allowed us to do a free personalized label as well and she had perfect tropical scents for the occasion. (mimosa, margarita, monkey farts ) And I ordered a cake topper from garden 4 Arts which has the sweetest clay toppers I have ever seen! She is doing it in our wedding colors (peach, green, gray). The girl will be the same but the guy will be a pterodactyl. Somehow over the last 15 years my Fi got the nickname travadactyl and he calls me babalasauras. So I thought it would be a sweet surprise for him. I'm planning to order my jewelry and bridesmaid robes this coming week. I also found the sweetest nightgowns for the wedding week that I am trying to talk myself out of ordering haha! I need EA! Etsy Anonymous!!