SimplenSweet

Hey Denise- I used a company through expedia when I booked... Blue Travel or something? not sure..... also I was not aware of the $500 charge.. I'm sure everyone would have been talking about it if so but I never heard anything about that.

Hi ladies! I wanted to give a run-down of our wedding on 11/19! First of all- it was AWESOME. The major things that we planned for went off without a hitch! My guests are still talking about what a great wedding it was. I'll give my run-down, and if you have any additional questions, feel free to ask! We got married at the gazebo at 12pm... it was hot... I put a fan on everyone's seats, and I had parasols out for people to use and EVERYONE used the fans and the parasols.... so I'm glad I hauled them down. After the ceremony (which was conducted by Pastor York- he was GREAT!) we shuffled everyone off to the side as they set up the cocktail hour in the same place. After cocktail hour, we did photos on the beach (group) and then everyone went back to get ready for our reception on La Barcaza, while Brandon and I stayed to do our individual photo session with our photographer (whom we flew down for 3 night stay in exhange for our photo package- sooooo glad I did that!) We had a 2 hour "layover" between cocktail hour and reception (got picked up by bus at the lobby), which gave everyone plenty of time to go back and freshen up, change into more comfortable clothes/swimsuits, get their towels, etc.... the bus ride over was kinda bumpy but nobody seemed to mind. We did the reception on La Barcaza- it was simply WONDERFUL. We did it as a surprise so all the guests were shocked that we would be doing that. It was so unique and different. George was AWESOME and carried my grandfather in law on and off the boat in his arms (he is 90 years old and has history of falling). We ended up extending the boat tour to 5 hours because we were having so much fun!! The boat took us to a warm underwater spring, everyone got out, and were playing in the water, had footballs tossing around, etc. We did this while the sun was setting- just goregous. The meal was FANTASTIC- the cake from the PPC was awesome (we took it from the resort onto the boat with us), and the whole set-up on the boat was great. (I took my own centerpieces along- thankfully they made it through customs and everyone said how beautiful they were!) We danced, and laughed and had a big ball for the rest of the night. We ended up getting back to the PPC at about 11pm, and people actually kept the party going and were dancing in the lobby to the band. Honestly, the whole wedidng was great and I couldn't have imagined it any other way. November is an AWESOME time to go because we hit it right as the high season was starting... (half the time not-high season, half the time was) and the weather was great (warm and humid but nothing the ocean couldn't cool off) and the nights were beautiful and balmy. My husband and I got upgraded to the Reserve-which turned out to be very nice- quiet- hardly any kids while we were there. It was a nice place to stay as everyone else didn't upgrade, so we could go there to have our privacy if we needed. There were just a few negatives: 1. When my in-laws arrived their first night, there was no electricity at the resort. My MIL made a big stink to the WC and she "compensated" us by letting us have the rehearsal dinner at the Gabi Club. This turned out to be FABULOUS- so beautiful and we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. 2. The wedding gift bags were a NIGHTMARE. Half the guests got them, half of them didn't...and there was varying amounts of things in each bag...I don't know if stuff was stolen from them, or if my MIL just didn't place the right amount of things in everyone's bags...but honestly we didn't get it all remedied until the second to last day. (for instance, a few couples received 2 bags, while other people got none, etc.) even though a list was given to the receptionist area regarding how many went to what couple/person/group, etc. I don't know how I would have fixed this because half of my guests got there way before us and left the day after the wedding, so me just waiting to hand out bags when we got down there would have meant that they didn't have their bags until their trip was almost over... but it is something to keep in mind. They also charged me $3 a BAG to hand out through the front desk, and it wasn't done correctly so I was upset about this. 3. The day of the wedding, nobody came to pick me up until close to 12:30 for the ceremony. I later found out my guests sat in the hot sun for almost an hour waiting on me (I was ready to go at 11:30!!) and the ceremony should have started at 12pm. This was a pain in hind-sight, and I don't know what went wrong, honestly. But, also something to consider. I think if I had it to do over, I would have either pushed back the ceremony an hour, or gotten everyone up earlier! haha Overall, the wedding was a DREAM everything was pretty much fabulous, and most importantly everyone had a great time. Everyone is already talking about when the NEXT trip is!

Maridr! So happy for you- it will be great!! Sounds like it's all working out well.... CDC150, do they also have irons? My fiance was just going to pack his linen shirts and pants but I'm sure they will be a wrinkle nightmare once we get down there! thank you for the feedback- very helpful!

A few random questions for those who have been to the PPC: 1. Do they have hair dryers in the rooms? 2. Do you need a converter for the outlets? (in order to use straightners, hair dryers, etc.) 3. Does snorkling include any additional fee? A bunch of my family would like to go, and don't know if they should bring their own equipment, or if that is already included in the all-inclusive price? thank you guys!! Jenna

GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU LADIES!!!! So exciting! Can't wait to see pics and reviews

Hi Lori! No problem! I will be scouring the area for you! I hope it's done by November... November could mean March in the eyes of the Dominican!

Hey girl! We are having the gazebo for the ceremony, and the cocktail beside of it in a sandy area... and for the reception I am surprising my guests and taking them on La Barcaza (the wedding boat!) I am so excited... nobody knows it is coming!

we will have the same anniversary!!! i'm 11.19.12!

i didn't want to use them because you also couldn't choose your photographer! so if you're going for a certain "look" for your pics, you have no idea who you are going to get. it's a big gamble... and for me the choice was clear for me to bring my own photographer

Hi Jenny! welcome!! I am actually flying in my own photographer for 3 days. I used the internet to run an add for photography services "in exchange" for giving them a 3 day vacation. I am flying my photographer down with everything included for $1200 for 3 nights...and in exchange she is willing to photographs the whole day, a trash the dress session, rights to all the photos, etc. My point is, it can be done as photographers from the US are interested in doing a destination wedding for their portfolio! My photographer was starting her own business so this was a huge draw for her. The way I look at it, I could have paid $800 to a DR photographer who would give me maybe 75 photographs, and 6 hours of their time...with basically not a lot to show for it. I am getting a whole photography package (usually my photographer charges $2400 base price for a wedding) for $1200..plus she gets a nice vaca! Because I listed her as a "friend", and am paying for her cocktail hour, I was not charged anything by PPC to use her I'm a happy girl!.

Hey can accomodate an IPOD or CD and they have speakers... no DJ

The price for La Barcaza is $60 a person for 4 hours, for the mixed grill (chicken, beef and veggie kabobs), $65 for seafood grill, and $70 a person for seafood and mixed grill. you also get banana flambe, tostados, etc. You can pay $10 a head for appetizers that look yummy, or $15 for apps plus this lobster dipping sauce plus shrimp. It's open bar (only have rum) and beer. If you want other liquor or wine I think you have to bring it with you, which you can do. They will decorate for you for pretty minimal charge, or charged $100 for you to bring your own decorations that they wiill set up. I've heard nothing but good things from them! I'm so excited about our trip!

Hi Mariel- glad you found our online community! Well, I can only speak for myself but I decided not to book through a travel agent because the PPC is pretty rigid on theiir booking rules and I really had no idea how many people would end up coming down. I would look into seeing if the PPC is willing to give you incentives for booking through a travel agent (and getting a group contract- which is key!). They had been running a special where you get free rooms for every guest that books or something..... I decided NOT to go through a travel agent (most people saved on average $250 per head by booking through external sites or the hotel) instead of what the TA was quoting me. However, I see that it would make it easier if something went wrong- but I also found for me that the rate through the TA also wouldn't have turned out well as we have some people going really early, and leaving early, and some coming late and staying late through the week, etc. All in all, I would say I am happy with my decision. I am trying to get the Miami coordinator to give me a cocktail welcome hour (I am booking 25 rooms) even though I didn't do a group contract...we'll see how that goes!

Hey ladies- thanks for your feedback. I am doing a very casual, sand under your feet wedding as well, so I guess I will just keep everything over by the gazebo for now. Hearing everyone's feedback makes it easier. I will plan on doing the ceremony at the gazebo, and will use the sandy area beside of the gazebo for the cocktail hour. my wedding is Nov 19th- which is just after hurricane season BUT it's thanksgiving week so I'm scared that there will be a ton of people there as well. I think you guys are right that there will never be a total elimination of the gawkers, but if it can be reduced then that is just fabulous. I would love pictures on the beach... but they willl be probably more around 2-3pm... we plan to do the cocktail hour (and Brandon and I will enjoy this then instead of pics) and then after the cocktail hour, take everyone down to the water for a group shot or two...then we break the news that we're going to be going on La Barcaza and our guests will have about an hour and a half to get back to their rooms/change/ and get back down to the lobby. Maybe I will ask about the tram coming to pick up people from the beach at about 2:15 to take them back to their rooms (do you think they do this?) Lamazz, do you have any photos from the cocktail hour on the sandy part beside of the gazebo?

LoriOlivia, Thanks again for the pictures you sent me- so sweet of you! I am actually feeling a LOT less anxious about the whole ordeal... knowing that I have the gazebo (for either the cocktail or the ceremony) puts me at ease (believing that they can fit 50 guests in there!) It is nice to know that once you get down there that they will be taking care of me and my group- glad to hear they treated you guys well. How did the sandy area beside of the gazebo look? Did it appear crowded? I was told I could use that area if I booked the gazebo but I could also go out in front of the gazebo on the beach as well. The cocktail hour is not as important to me for being private as the ceremony is. I've also considered the Nova Terrace for the cocktail (as my guests will be going to that area of the hotel to be picked up for La Barcaza anyways). Did you get a chance to see that area? I think I just wanted it to be more "beachy" looking even though that area does look very nice. How was the weather? Hot and humid? I hear that in November the temps go down as well as the humidity- you should be good with your January wedding! I only have 61 days to go- and 59 days before we leave for the trip- I can't believe it.

Hi Lori! My email is [email protected] Sounds like you had a wonderful trip- so exciting!! I can't wait to see pics

Hi Lamazz, thanks again for your feedback and encouragement. I am truly looking forward to just going and doing the whole thing! I guess I can only plan but so much- honestly the day of the wedding and everything set up is I think more for my guests than for myself- I will just be on cloud 9 so anything that happens will be okay with me- just oblivious! haha

Hi Lamazz! I have 50 guests total... do you think they will all fit in the gazebo location? I've seen some other photos and it looks like a lot of guests are squeezed in there, haha! I guess our parents/grandparents can sit inside the gazebo IF NECESSARY but boy would my fiance be steamed they are letting me use the sandy area for the cocktail, or I could just use the beach out front. My fiance is more concerned about privacy during the ceremony (since it is at 12pm- the busy part of the day!) and is less worried about the privacy during cocktail hour. I think the gazebo is the way to go during the busyness of the day? What apps did you all choose? I am going with the smoked salmon, deviled eggs, cheese pies, avocado and shrimps, and nachos and guac. I am only doing the ceremony and cocktail at the PPC as I'm taking my guests on La Barcaza as a surprise for the reception dinner! I am so excitedd to get down there and just do everything haha... enough with this waiting around stuff!

https://picasaweb.google.com/romancebyparadisuspuntacana/CeremonyUpgraded#5534573279319139554 this is how i will have the ceremony set up in the garden gazebo area (nobody sitting inside the fence! lol) my finace was having a cow about putting some people in the fence and some people outside the fence....he doesn't like the separation haha

https://picasaweb.google.com/romancebyparadisuspuntacana/COCKTAILVENUES#5495467527616594562 here is the link for the picture of where I'm going to set up my cocktail hour. It is the sandy part beside of the gazebo.

Hey Ladies, I have an update to share and I'm quite happy! Given all the locations that they would provide, I decided to seek out my own setting. If you check out the picture I attached, you can see a sandy area of the beach that looks secluded right beside of the gazebo. I've planned to have the gazebo ceremony with all guests seated in the grass area (nobody inside of the fence area of the gazebo) and I will have the sandy area directly beside the gazebo for the cocktail hour.... this way I think I can kinda get both of what I want- the sand and the gazebo- just reversed order than what I thought I would have, haha.