SusanMike2013

Thanks ajhutch! Hoping to head there this week to see what they have :-)

Ohhh awesome .. than you very much! I am only doing ten bags ( so far)... One per room so that would much better than the little packages! I never thought to buy at Costco...

Any Canadian Brides find a good site for advil and pepto etc?? I am having a hard time locating one that isn't too expensive.....

I have the Carnival Terrace book for our reception... Sorry Mandie :-( Can any past brides comment on if we need the sound system for this location or would bringing a docking station ourself be ok?

Hi Mandie, We are also just renting the equipement.... I have 18 guests. For 3 hours ( dinner in that time frame) I can't spend that much money on a DJ... when it is to be over at 9/10pm. The group can then go to club on the resort if they want to continue to party :-) I guess it depends on where you are having your reception if the speakers from Walmart will work... it may not be loud enough. But I am going to see how loud my dock for the satelite radio goes.. it has an ipod hook up on it... could save 350 dollars!

PM me if these are stll available :-)

This is a long shot but I am looking to purchase 2 Alfred Angelo Style 6662 Flower girls dresses. Size 2.. I can even make a 3 work. I left it too late and now I am stuck with paying $600 and there is no guarantee they will be here in time for my wedding. https://www.alfredangelo.com/collections/productdisplay.aspx?ProductId=14dbaa11-b334-421c-be9f-4a03c0291f58&CategoryId=76793ebf-607f-4683-82b6-d880a00a2197 Thanks

Hi Mandie, When I first booked I had Mercy.. then I was passed to Lusica ( i think thats her name) Very nice girl, I have my meal and all locations confirmed. I don't think there is anything we need.... I let everything slide when I went back to work that I am behind on a lot of things! Our deadline was in Aug I believe.. final payment was due December 28th. Right now we have a small group of 16 with a few more saying they may go.. but the prices are way higher than the group rate we got (like 1000 more per person). So hard to say if we will get more or not.... This is my 4th time down south and the first time I am getting twinrix. I am getting for my twins so just as well to get it myself. I never though about Dukoral, but now that you mentioned it it woundn't hurt to have! The twins are too young for it though..

Hi Donna, I think it is about 25 - 30 dollars each way. All Canadian travel has transportation included and there is a bus that picks you up. The bus can either be a open top (omg we are going to die type) or a nice motor coach bus. Anytime I have been in the DR it was both.... My friend always takes a cab as the bus doesn't have seat beats, so it is safer to take a cab with her son.

Just a update to everyone... the tax in the D.R increased to 28% Jan 1 2013 I just got a email from my W.C with confirmation of everything and I noticed the prices had increased, when I asked why she was prompt in replying to tell me about the tax increase. also I am renting the sound system and wasn't aware of the 18% tax added... all the pdfs i got said that DJ services were taxes extra,,, Not a huge deal but will be if you have a lot of extra's. :-)

Hi Mandie, We are getting married on the same day and back in Sept I found out who my WC was and she gave me all the info to make my selections...

I am also interested in pictures of the Carnival terrace as that is where I am having our reception. So far we are a small group on under 20....

Ya for your wedding it would be better to do a package :-) So many decisions to make and different prices.. i really had to sit down and do a bunch of different situations/calculations to see what works best for us.

Right now I am looking at 16 adults.. maybe less/more but for budget I am using 20 Adults We are getting the complimentary wedding package as we have the Preferred Club Ocean view room booked. I do have confirmation that there is a sound system included for ceremony all packages ( I have this in a email ) as I want certain songs as the girls and I walk down the aisle. -This package includes a wedding ceremony for 10 people so I have to add on a cost for chairs, wine and cake for 10 extra .. -I am also adding on a private dinner (885 +tax Platinum ) and the sound system (350). total cost taxes included in $1760.. That saves me $989 when comparing to the Now to Eternity package w/sound system... There so so many extras that I would not use ( Photos, Hair/makeup in the higher packages that it seems better for me to do it this way and save the money. I am not getting married til the evening so cocktail hour would be a waste for a small group, we are doing most of our pictures before the wedding.. after the ceremony it will be group shots anyhow so why pay for drinks ( which we can free get anyhow) and food when we are going directly to a big dinner... It makes sense for us to do it this way.. it may not work for all brides though. It depends on what you want and how many guests you have :-) Now when I get there I may add little things.. but nothing to equal $1000 and that I would have in the higher packages.

Another bride on here (Mandie) was told while speaking with a WC via telephone that yes it was included with the Divine package... it was not in writing. When I inquired via email I was told it was not included and that was the deal breaker for me to not select the divine package... My wedding plans have been on hold since I returned to work from mat leave.. I feel so far behind after reading all the new posts :-(

for me .. yes it is still cheaper if I have over 25 people... :-) Reason being is that the packages are still only for 25 people so you still have to pay the rate per person after 25 either way... With the spread sheet that I got from another bride ( I will get mine from Mercy when I give her my final options) gives me a final price of 1832.60 taxes in. This includes: Comp. Your moments packages ( 10 guests included) vendor fee for one person 15 extra chairs 15 extra for wine and cake Platinum dinner package sound system for reception if I have less 25 people it will be less...... :-) Hope this helps you

Thanks so much.... Right now it looks to be the way to go with what I want for a lot less than a package price:-)

Another bride asked me a good question.... Is alcohol included in the dinner options? It states "drinks included" but then you also have a private bar option... I would assume it would be included, just wondering if anyone knew for sure. I sent another email to Mercy to ask.. maybe a while to reply though which I completely understand :-) Ya 26% is outrageous... but nothing I can do about it I guess. The plus is it is not charged on a wedding package .. but is on anything you add. So depending on number of guests it may be better to do a package... Right now with my calculations I am saving $1000 by doing a "free" wedding compared to the middle package, and adding what i want which isn't much! Provided i stay at 25 or under guests :-) Another question.. what do you tip the wedding dept? Do you tip everyone separately, or give one big tip and hope they do as you ask to spread it out? I would like to tip the servers at our wedding and Mercy.. and who ever else is involved during the day. Any previous brides do this?

Hi all.... I got a reply from Mercy and yes my calculations were right!! YAY!! She replied at 4 in the morning to my emails... and always so nice! Poor woman must be run off her feet... There are no taxes on the packages as it already includes them, but taxes on anything extra. If I chose to do the "free" wedding and add on the plat menu, it is 885 plus 26% tax for 25 ppl. I have to sit down and redo my calculations with what I really want and see what works best for us and what the best option is to save some money! :-)

Oh awesome.. same travel dates as my group from Newfoundland! we will meet up at some point I am sure! Jennifer, I think that if you do a private dinner in a restaurant dancing is allowed but there is like a $5000 charge to have a restaurant private .... but if you are just booking space in a restaurant then there is no dancing as they just have a section roped off for you. Yes, from what I read there is enough room for dancing pool side. I guess it depends on the number of guests though. I sent out my invites back in June after I booked the travel, I have a 90 day hold on seats/rooms with Sunwing Vacations. Gave everyone who wanted the group pricing enough time to get everything together.

What is confusing to me is Mercy keeps referring me to the link with the pdf for extra costs.... I have emailed her and gave her my break downs, to have it confirmed yes that is right or no it is wrong and here is the right calculations. She did tell me the vendor cost was 150.... I have too many emails now! Once I get that email from her to tell me how to "build" my own I will share :-) Now when I paid my deposit I paid for the middle package, then asked if I could change to the divine package as I wanted that menu.. maybe that is why I didn't get the spreadsheet? If I got the Divine package I wouldn't add anything to it though.. I wouldn't use half of it. Hrmm I wonder if I could give the hair appointment to my sister... LOL ya it will all work out :-) I just thought I had my head wrapped around it all and then I read all your posts... and I was like WTF! I just don't want to waste money on the divine package where I don't want half of the options it gives.... I want a basic wedding, nice private cocktail hour for my guests for when I am having pictures done....then a nice dinner and dance. And I guess I really don't need a cocktail hour... its a resort, all is included anyhow but it would be nice to have my guests already in the area where dinner will be so no one shows up late.. hahha Donna, your getting married in January so you can let us all know what we need and don't need :-) Chrisdeluca, what date is your wedding? your travel dates? We are there from the 20th to the 27th

The pdf states 120 for a "day pass" maybe they charge more for a "vendor" I am hoping I did my math right.. but 26% tax on food and drink is a lot. If they do not charge that on the packages then I have to really rethink this whole thing! AT this point I am starting to rethink the whole wedding.... so confusing

grrr i haven't got this spread sheet either... if someone can pass it along to me as well. PM me and I will give you my email as I can't view attachments as I haven't posted enough. I did one out myself using the info in the pdf..... but I didn't include the extra chairs..They charge you for extra chairs.,.. dear lord... Below is what I calculated for 25 guests excluding tax: "Free" Your Moments - $1700 I didn't add much.. no flowers or anything.. I am a plain type of girl anyhow and flower I could care less about :-) added: - plat menu $885 "The Platinum Dinner Package is $885 + tax for up to 25 guests. Prices include drink services. Additional guests can be added for $40 per person + tax. Sit down dinner is available for 100 guests maximum" ***Donna this should cost you 1285 with drinks included... for 35 people.... the drink upgrades will add it to be more though. - plat cocktail hour $250 - cake and sparkling wine $165 (extra 15 guest) - sound system $400 so another 15 chairs even at say 12 a piece is a extra $180.... so $1880? Now to Eternity - $2799 This is with keeping the silver menu... I would prefer the plat menu but to save cost i didn't add it in. ( mercy told me I could upgrade to it for the price diff of $255) - add sound system $400 I wouldn't use the photo's or hair service Breakfast in bed.. well they have room service included anyhow... Room upgrade.. we booked the preferred ocean view anyhow.. Massage... well I have neck issues and have to go to a spec. every 5 weeks so I might not even be medical allowed to use this service... but for the upgraded cost I would book them for us home and save a ton :-) Divine - 3399 - added sound system I don't want their music at the ceremony as I have songs already picked out Dinner on the beach would be super nice but we will have 18 month old twins with us. My family is not getting there til two days after us so I would prefer to spend extra time with them. I don't want a video... Where did you see $3 per extra chair? I see the below in the pdf, not that it makes sense by any means... Tiffany Chair (white, brown, gold, or platinum) $15 each Folding Chair $12 each If I have calculated any of this wrong someone please let me know:-) Maybe once I get the spread sheet it will be different. I am using the info provided here: http://www.amresorts.com/wedding_guides/nolpc-wedding-guide.pdf it states: "If you would prefer to customize your wedding instead of choosing a wedding package, or would like to add other services, we offer a variety of options to make your wedding perfect. " And that is where I got the prices... somehow I missed the extra chairs.... **** Customized Wedding Packages have the option to add at additional cost: ✦ Private event in any of the banquet rooms ✦ A private dinner with Silver, Gold or Platinum menu ✦ Hors d’oeuvres and cocktail hour ✦ All drinks and food services have a 26% of legal taxes - Wonder if this is on top of the packages prices as well, does anyone know? ***

The photographer I have booked is spending the day with me.. he gave me an approx time of 11am to 11pm.... My wedding isn't til 6... we are doing a lot of the pictures before the wedding. The guys getting dressed first and all that.. easy for the guys to get dressed..get pictures .. and then get undressed and go about their day :-) Then he is getting pictures of all the girls getting ready.. once we are done then the guys can quickly get back into their wedding clothes and then we can get pictures without having to rush off to a dinner. I like this idea better as we are not going to be rushed after the ceremony for pictures .... that was we can enjoy the supper and dancing as you only get the private room for 3 hours. Makes it a little more relaxed... although this would not work for someone who did not want to see their husband before the wedding. The vendor fee I was given was 150.. although the pdf states 120.... Also was told that his meal would be extra or I could include him as a guest. If your photographers are staying at the resort... I wouldn't even bother to let the resort know. Say a friend is taking your pictures :-) I am rethinking the divine package for the reason of them not allowing you to sub in other things.. I am not using the photographer or the hair salon... The more I look at the packages, I am better to go with the "free" packages and adding everything in I want, it will save us over $1000....

Kids stay free? We didn't get that promotion.... are you booking directly with the resort? My twins stay free but that is because they are under 2 I picked this place BEFORE I knew of anyone that had been there before. I know Sarah ( coworker) went every year but I couldn't remember what resort. I originally had the Hard Rock selected.... but they would not allow a group booking. So I had to go back and start the process over, at the time I read a lot of great reviews and the jacuzzi in each room was a plus. Some of my guests have never been south before so I wanted to give them more than just a basic room, and I wanted a smaller resort but lots of options.... The Hard Rock had every option but it is a huge resort so it worked out better in the end. I also have since learned the water and beach is much better at Now Larimar :-) To ease your mind... Go look at the "bad" reviews for the Majestic Elegance... that resort is beautiful and very expensive but you will still find ppl complaining of food, bad rooms..etc.. Anyone I spoke with that has been there never had a bad thing to say about it.. but there are people out there who didn't like it and will never be back. I don't expect the staff to speak perfect English.. I know that the service will be different as that is their way. They live a relaxed lifestyle and I try to as well when on vacation. The food.. well food is hit or miss anywhere you go. .. Weather is no ones issue.. If I don't have a remote that works... I will go to the beach and not take the time when I get home from my busy life to complain about a remote! haha I laugh at some of these reviews... there was one I actually sent to friends it was that laughable... Complaining because of the shampoo provided and they didn't get a shampoo upgrade.. seriously bring your own!