SusanMike2013

Hi Alyna, I was emailing with a Mother of the Bride from a recent wedding at Now.... they were not impressed with the pictures at all, here is her exact words: *** Second problem we had was with the photographer from the resort. We did not upgrade from what was offered in the package so that may have been our problem?? We are not really sure why are photos did not turn out well, but my guess was they wanted us to upgrade and when we didn't they didn't care?? You can only choose your 24 pictures from the ceremony, nothing before or after. We had a hard time finding 24 pictures from the ceremony, there were a lot of photos of our family taking photo (couldn't see their faces). The extra photos were $15.00 each! You don't actually get photos, you get a disk. The photo shopping of the photos were also bad! The bridesmaid dresses were royal blue but the pictures they showed us they were purple!! What happened there is any ones guess! We were very lucky to have so many of our family who took great photos so we had plenty to put together a great album. *** here are other issues she noted as well: ** There were a few problems I would like to share, the major problem we had was the weather, the resort does not have a outdoor back up plan for rainy weather. We had rain the two days before the wedding and the morning of the wedding it rained. We met with Mercy the wedding coordinator at 11:00 to make "our decision" on what we wanted to do. With rain threatening all day we have to choose to move all activities indoors which meant to have the wedding in a smelly dark meeting room and the reception in the French restaurant. We needed to make the decision by 11:45! Lets just say it was very stressful, but we decided to take a chance and have the reception on the beach, which worked out fine, no sun but still very nice. My daughter also had to sign a waiver stating if it rained before the wedding there would be no photographer, music or wine toast and no refund. Thank goodness it didn't rain! All in all the ceremony and reception were wonderful! Mercy did a great job to make my daughter's special day perfect! The resort is beautiful but don't expect consistent service! I would be happy to answer any other questions you have. I have attached a few pictures! *** Nothing too major to note besides the pictures.....can't help the weather and most resorts all have the rain waiver. If you are paying for your own photographer then at least you have a say in what you want for pictures. The before and after pictures are something I want, I am not chancing it and have booked a photographer to do the pictures. I did ask Mercy about upgrading the packages and she said yes.. so it shouldn't be a issue to change a package. (You have 6 months to cancel the wedding all together and get your deposit back) Hope this helps!

Thanks Jennifer8913, Those prices are a lot clearer than the pdf Mercy referred me to.... the pdf states 400 for the sound system but you have 350... so confusing. I am having all prices confirmed before I get there to avoid any surprise costs :-) I emailed Mercy again to get a more details, see what prices she give me .

Hi thesportsgal.... I stopped reading trip adviser, I was starting to freak out and even almost sent a email to my travel agent to see if it was possible switch resorts... A co worker has been going to this resort the past 3 years... She goes back every year. My sister has a client who is a travel agent and she couldn't say enough good things about the resort and the weddings there. The photographer I have booked said its a nice resort... not the nicest in Punta Cana but he said the wedding and everything will be great and it was a good pick! Even after three separate people in 3 different provinces telling me I had picked a great resort trip adviser was keeping me up at night. You can't please everyone... and we all know that bad experiences always are told more than good experiences. I have been down south multiple times and each time it was great. I have only once written a review on a resort (that resort also had bad reviews and I felt I needed to clear it up as it was a super nice resort for the money we paid). Its all what you make it :-) Stop reading and it will all work out. I am doing a symbolic wedding as well.. honestly the amount of paper work and cost was my decision for it. Byoksana, my photographer (Phil Steingard) told me about a pastor you can book who does a great job.. Pastor Rick York. He is from Chicago and I think he told me his price is 350. Phil said he does an excellent job to perform the ceremony to how you would like. Might be a option for you. Donna you will find a dress :-) Your colors are going to be beautiful together.. pictures are going to be so sharp! Mandie, that is a beautiful color ( i also had to google it) and will look so nice in pictures. My planning got put on the back burner... my twins started to nap at different times and every spare minute was trying to find a nanny for my return to work. I will really get down to it once I get a final number of guests, our 90 days with sunwing is up the end of Aug so I will start then to get get everything together. I have the location of the ceremony and reception picked out, and pretty much know what I want for the dinner. Things all have a way of working out :-) We will all have beautiful weddings.

Hi All... I just got a reply from Mercy, her answers to my questions are in bold blue. Looks like no DJ is included... :-( 1. Does the Divine package include a DJ as stated in the following link: http://www.amresorts.com/media/QRG/qrg_nolpc.pdf • DJ for 2 hours during reception this document was last updated April 17 2012 There is conflicting information depending where you look on line which makes it difficult to select a package. No, the DJ service is not included. This service was included in the Divine Wedding Package for 2011, and for 2012 we change it for live music during the ceremony. Please see the correct information through the following link. http://www.amresorts.com/wedding_guides/nolpc-wedding-guide.pdf 2. Are you allowed to have music and dancing at the Castways restaurant or pool side if I chose to have my private reception at either of those locations? Yes!! Music is allowed in all private events. Please be advised that Castaways restaurant is no longer available among the locations for private events. The cost to reserve this location is US$5,000, and it is mandatory to send the payment in advance. 3. For our beach ceremony, is there a cd player there I can use? Or something I can use to play music as I walk down the aisle. Is there a fee associated with it? The wedding package includes a sound system during the ceremony. You can bring your own music on a CD or and IPod, and we provide the connection. 4. If I decide to stay with the Now to Eternity package, can I upgrade the private meal to the platinum menu rather than the silver and if so what is the extra cost? Sure!! You can upgrade the dinner package. The cost will be the price’s difference between both packages.

Mandie, ya for sure get that in writing.... I am doing everything if possible via email to have a paper trail of everything! We are getting married the same day.. arriving the same day .. so I assume our meeting with the wedding dept will be the same day (Monday I am thinking as that is when final payment is due). We will have to meet up that night to "compare" prices ;-) What I find confusing is that Castaways is still listed as a reception location but some brides are being told they can not have it without an extra cost (5000) I have the old pdf file is anyone wanted it to compare.

O nice.. the wedding pdf seems to be in the process of being updated.. The prices have changed for the packages.. but all the extras look the same. The sound system rental is 400 but someone has posted here 350... and the Divine package doesn't state the sound system is included as Mandie was told.. It does state the platinum menu on the Now site for the divine package: http://www.nowresorts.com/larimar/weddings.html all so confusing... I may just start taking screen shots of everything I see to add to my folder full of printed out emails I plan to take with me so there are no surprises :-)

WOW thanks sooo much Mandie!! Very helpful info!!

Ekk that does add up.... $400 sounds a lot better.... renting the equipment is the less expensive option. I could use that other 700+ on other items... Good idea Donna, normally weddings where I come from it is a friend or family member who is the MC anyhow.. and I was planning to ask my aunt to do that stuff. It is very easy to make a play list on the laptop or ipod and let it run.. hit pause when she announces the first few dances :-) This site is helping me so much to try and plan this wedding and figure out just how much it is all going to cost!

http://www.amresorts.com/wedding_guides/nolpc-wedding-guide.pdf All the prices are listed in that pdf :-) MUSIC Sound system for reception (3 hours - Includes 2 speakers, microphone, iPod console or laptop connection) $400 Violinist 1 hour set $400 Saxophonist 1 hour set $350 Jazz Trio 1 hour set $850 Piano & Singer (1 hour set) set $500 Trio 45 minute set $400 DJ per hour $350 Band 45 minute set $1,400 Piano & Sax (1 hour) $550 Perico Ripiao (1 hour) $350 Extra Hour of DJ Service from $100-$200 depending on service

Smikthk79: I have never been to the resort but a girl I work with goes every year and she just loves it. She said it is the perfect size resort, she takes her little boy also.. he wasn't even 1 the first time! She has nothing bad to say about the resort. Also my photographer told me it is a great size resort.. not too big and not too small. He also told me they do great weddings there and not to worry :-) thesportsgal: From what I can get.. there is very limited decorations included. The Divine packages has white chair covers... everything else is pretty much extra for a cost. You don't have to bring anything with you, but I am going to have my menu picked out (hopefully) before I go so I can have menu cards printed out... and I am not doing ceremony programs. You can have as much as you want or don't want :-) Donna: No worries, I tried to post the info the other bride gave me but it is being held for some reason.. maybe cause I cut and pasted in.. But the place she used was HDC .. and it was under 2000 ... I will try to PM you the info to see if that is allowed :-) Pictures were something that Mike (husband to be) really wanted to have done professionally. And I am glad, cause thinking on it I did as well. We want great pictures, and with our twins it will be hard to get good shots if we just had anyone in the group do them. I found my dress first day I looked thankfully! And Hubby's ring is bought and here.. bride maids are picking their own dresses.... I think I have the major stuff over with.. Mercy did email me back last night, they are very busy there. To have a outside vendor is 150 for the day. Dinner not included but you can include them as your guest.. So if you are doing the private dinner they can be in the 25 meals you get :-)

Photo information from a Bride that got married at Ocean Blue: /snip HDC photography did our pro pics, and I totally recommend them. We got their biggest package, which included 6 hours of photography, a dvd compilation, 100 page photo book, 300 4x6 photos, 30 8x10 photos and 5 12x16 photos, and all rights to make more photo copies. I think the package cost $1550, and we had the dvd and photos in hand before we left the island. (Such a relief having that all taken care of!) (My husband's cousin, also a wedding photographer, was there for the wedding and she said that none only did our photographer have better equipment, if she'd done that package for us, it would have cost at least $4500.) snip/

Hi Donna ! Congrats! You will be leading the way for the rest of us as you are getting married first in this thread :-) I have read that all private functions are only for 3 or 4 hours... so no matter where you have it there will be a charge to go longer depending on when you start ... I read most brides just go to the club after it all. I hate reading all the information and not knowing what is right and wrong... For the photographer, I am not sure if Phil's nephew has lower prices, but his work is also amazing, he is Michael Steingard and you may want to also check out Jamie Dimitry. http://michaelsteingard.com/ http://www.jamiedimitry.com/ They are all great photographers, besides the great pictures they don't charge you a travel fee if they are already going to be there. Huge Bonus! Jamie just did a wedding in Punta Cana that a friend of mine attended and she said the pictures were just amazing, I haven't seen them but I trust her. DJ Mannia was also at the same wedding and my friend said it was an awesome time .. and they only had a small group. . When I looked at photographers ( professional ones.. not just people with a good camera who think they are a professional photographer) .. most wanted starting at $3500 plus you pay all their travel expenses.. So not in our budget! :-) I was a bit surprised that Phil was priced as low as he was.. especially for his work and the time he spends with you. 12 hours the day of the wedding ... then another 3 or 4 for trash the dress :-) Then 15 hours is dedicated to pictures once he gets back... and you can get upwards to 2000 pictures... I have the resort picture prices if you didn't have it also if you just wanted to go with them. I know I was emailing another bride who used an outside photographer that was based in Punta Cana and she was very pleased with her pictures and said it was a decent price. I will look for that email and post the info :-) In the end we are all going to have amazing weddings.. I am not going to worry about things I have no control over :-)

Its on the main site.. http://nowresorts.com/larimar/weddings.html Your Moments "This package is complimentary when booking a Preferred Club Deluxe Partial Ocean View or higher for 7 nights or more or reserving 5 rooms at any category for minimum 3 nights. The complimentary Your Moments package is not combinable with other promotions, exchangeable for cash or other services." I don't think I have seen those pictures yet... The fountain is a beautiful set up... and I read you can get a walk way added.. but it is $$$ Oh I am sure we will see each other... I heard the resort is just the right size. My sister is planning a 80's girls night out for me before the wedding.. so if you don't see us you may hear us.. :-) My invitations arrived yesterday I so should start addressing them ... fun times!

I emailed Mercy again last night just as a follow up.....fingers crossed on a reply. I referenced these two links to find out which one was correct... http://www.amresorts.com/wedding_guides/nolpc-wedding-guide.pdf http://www.amresorts.com/media/QRG/qrg_nolpc.pdf - this one that states last modified on April 17 2012 and states a DJ is included... We have booked Phil Steingard from Ontario... I am so excited :-) http://www.steingardstudios.com/ I thought for sure he would be booked but luck was on my side! I was on the phone with him for over an hour last night planning everything out... he is like a wedding planner as well. He spends a lot of time in DR shooting weddings so he knows A LOT of the in and outs of it all... I also read that the 24 pictures you get in the package is just ok.. nothing special. I never though about bring my ipod dock.... even got a satellite radio dock that I could use. Hrmm something to thing about. I did hear great things about DJ Mannia also.. lighted dance floor.. props ..and awesome music. But think they are approx. $900. From what I found you do get a private reception with The Now to Eternity and Divine packages • The Now to Eternity & Divine Wedding Packages includes: • Use of banquet rooms and facilities. • Hors d’oeuvres and cocktails for one hour (for 25 guests staying in the hotel), either the Silver or Golden dinner Menu (for 25 guests staying in the hotel) And yes you can get Castaways: RECEPTION LOCATIONS • Castaways - Max 200 guests • Beach - Max 500 Guests • Pool Side - Max 100 Guests (buffet style only) • Ballroom - Max 1000 guests ( can be divided into 8 sections) I want pool side but not sure I want buffet... and not sure I can have a dance in that location. The beach is also another option... Our twins will be 18 months old at the time so I don't plan on taking them to the disco haha, so we want the private dinner/dance :-) Our ceremony is at 6pm on the beach, where we eat and dance is not something I am going to stress over.. We are going to make it fun where ever it is. Once I get the info on what package includes what I can then make final decisions on what I really want for the extras. It may be cheaper to go with the "free" wedding and add on what I want. We are traveling April 20 to the 27th. I do have most of my guests travel ling April 22 to 29 though from Newfoundland. Wedding is April 24th at 6pm on the beach Trash the Dress session is April 26 at the Majestic Elegance...

:-) Vista Print did my invites and they are very simple.. and were not expensive. They have really cute save the date cards as well. Once I get everything picked out I am going to order the menu cards to match the invites as well .. and thank you cards! I dealt/deal with Mercy.. But Mandie has another woman..."Christine" But I just read in another thread that "Christina" is gone on family leave.... not sure if they are the same person or not. Also when I was trying to book my wedding my travel rep was trying to get a hold of someone there and they had a family emer. they had to leave for.... So with being short a person or two I am sure they are pretty busy! I am a bit confused over the packages myself... I read on one site the DJ was included in the Divine package.. but it is not on the main site .. in another post on this site I was told they no longer offer the DJ in any package... I really like the menu on the divine package but I do not plan on using all that it offers..So I am torn. I am hiring an outside photographer... I prefer to do my own hair and make up.,etc.. Now if I have to rent the sound system or hire a DJ... the price is really adding up. ( I have heard there is a DJ in Punta Cana who is amazing.. I am going to check out his prices) I do not like hidden costs and have read they appear out of no where and add up pretty quickly! I am the type I like to know cut and dry what I am getting and what the price is. I am trying to keep costs down as well... I want a nice wedding but nothing that is going to cost me the price of my first car! haha So once Mercy emails me back I will try to get that info from her.. her last email told me the package I paid a deposit for didn't include a private dinner.. but I paid for the Now to Eternity package which does... Ahh I am just going to let it be :-) It will all work out in the end. What dates are you traveling?

Congrats!! I didn't bother with save the dates... sent a email out to family and friends when we started the planning process... I am going to send my invites out this week though....if Canada Post ever delivers them.... I have been waiting over a week to get a reply from Mercy...you may just want to ask your travel rep to call the resort to secure your date. That's what we did as getting a reply was not happening.. they are super busy this time of the year. I have heard from other travel reps (other than the one I am using) that Now Larimar is excellent for weddings and not to worry :-) Also I just found out co workers have been to that resort the past 2 years and they have nothing but good things to say about the staff and the resort.

Thanks ... I have been waiting on a reply from Mercy for some time now... I will just wait and see :-) Worse case if I don't find out I bring back up cd's and load the ipod up with good dance songs!

Thanks Mandie, if I get any info I will pass it along as well. I want to get everything in order before my mat leave ends and I am back to work..... I think I did figure out the pictures in the Divine package "Photo Package (24 full color photographs and upgraded wedding album)". Not a whole lot... I also posted in another forum to see if any past brides can give us any info.

Hi to all the past brides of Now Larimar... I am wondering if someone can clarify what each package includes as I am finding conflicting info http://www.amresorts.com/media/QRG/qrg_nolpc.pdf this site states a DJ in the Divine package.. and a different menu option "Platinum dinner wedding reception for up to 25 guests". It also states in this pdf that it was last updated April 17 2012 so maybe it is new? And then there is this site: http://www.amresorts.com/wedding_guides/nolpc-wedding-guide.pdf that states "Upgrade to Divine dinner wedding reception (for up to 25 guests)" and no mention of a DJ.... and the first site states to view the second site...very confusing... The main site does now have the 2013 prices listed with the Divine package stating a platinum dinner .. but no mention of DJ still.... Any help will be appreciated

Hi Mandie... did you get any info on the packages where the two sites have conflicting info... ( or anyone?) I am going to upgrade to the Divine package if it includes the DJ for sure... I am waiting to hear from Mercy as I think they may have my info messed up. I put the deposit down for the middle package and then she told me it didn't include a private dinner... Hoping it was just a mistake.

Hi All, Congrats SarahLovesChris :-) I am slowly putting together our wedding website: http://HarnumMason.ourwedding.com I included the prices we have from Sunwing, but the rooms are VERY limited... I am hoping that we can get enough preferred rooms for all my guests but we will have to wait and see. Also, the wedding dates are VERY limited at the resort.. but if you can, it is best to call them (our travel agent took care of all of that for us) as it is easier to see what is available and get it held right away instead of going back and forth through email. Mandie... Don't worry :-) Its your wedding and you do what ever you want! I put on our invitations "symbolic wedding" .. I am telling my guests its not legal ( if they are brave enough to ask such a thing) and if they do not agree with it then they can voice their opinions to someone else. Its my wedding and we are having it how we want :-) If they decide not to go cause it is not legal then they really shouldn't of been invited in the first place :-) I can be mean at times .. haha We are going to legally get married in our home by a JOP with just us and the witnesses needed. I am only wearing my dress once and will be celebrating April 24th as our anniversary.

Hi all... I finally have my confirmation after a number of issues... - first I had to call VISA to have them un block my card for them to charge the deposit... so that caused a snag.. Then once my card was charged I was told it would still not work.. after seeing the charge on my card and calling VISA to double confirm... Thankfully my travel agent has been out of this world and took care of ALL of the getting the date booked for us.. she made a number of calls to the resort and got it all fixed up :-) ( for anyone booking a trip in Nova Scotia.. I would HIGHLY recommend my travel agent) She did say it was easy to get ahold of Mercy and that these little snags can happen and it was good that Mercy was easily accessible via telephone as some resorts make it impossible to get in touch with the wedding dept. So that's a good sign going forward! We are getting married April 24th at 6pm. Travel April 20th to 27th from Halifax. I haven't had any decisions on anything yet... I was told 2 month before the wedding is when those decisions will take place. All I know it will be a beach wedding and the dinner/dance I guess depends on how many guests I end up with. (private for sure though) From here on I am going to "try" and not stress over the little stuff :-)

Hi abbeyRN88 :-) Congrats! Did it take long to get everything done? I have got a email from Mercy stating my date was confirmed but they have yet to charge my cc.... Just wondering if I should order my invites...I don't want to order them and then have a issue

O thats a great group! We are finding more ppl are backing out now :-( Poor hubby has no one going from his friends or family...( we gave everyone a 2 year heads up) If you want a legal wedding you have to be there 3 business days prior to the wedding.. so the 23 may not work for you.. might be something to look into... The symbolic is no additional cost from what I understand..it is listed in all 3 of the wedding packages, the wedding co ord. there performs the wedding... or even someone in your group if you wish... The two legal you pay for is either a "Catholic" wedding or a legal wedding..... Yes I got my dress :-) Well its ordered....and got hubby's ring (I am fighting to not have one...haha I love my engagement ring too much to put anything with it). I have 3 confirmed bridemaids... but I may add a fourth... And colors... haha no idea.. I told the girls to pick what ever they wanted. I suggested colbolt blue ( the color of my shoes) but left it up to them. For colors in the wedding.. I could care less about that sort of thing... I am hoping to keep the wedding very low cost so paying extra for color decorations is not something I am looking at just yet... See how many ppl go and what package I need. I am using TPI travel and have to say my travel agent is beyond amazing (she is the third agent I spoke with in trying to get this wedding planning started). We are going with Sunwing.... I would of liked to be with Air Canada so everyone would be on the same filght from NS and NL but the prices were so much more and wanted deposits by end of May... It exciting and fustrating at the same time... but once we get there it will all work out. My best friend got married in Mexico a few years ago, the day of the wedding was so stress free. I decided that day I would be having a dest. wedding .. haha I was single at the time!

O... also when I open the link you posted it stated "Now Jade Riviera Cancun" as it did previously for me.. :-( It will work out for us both I am sure! If not ....a glass of wine solves everything :-)