EVKnowsitall

Yea I almost went to do a site visit for my resort but it was going to cost us $2,500 to go together and my fiance didn't want me to go alone. We figured we could put that $2,500 towards the wedding. It was a good thing I didn't go. The week I had planned to do the site visit, we were told my grandmother didn't have much time so instead, I used some of the money to visit her in Georgia. I was there for a week. When I came home, a month later she passed away. Everything happens for a reason. I was so glad I got to see her once more before she passed away. Caution to the wind! We almost chose the Majestic. My friend goes there every year. She told me I should do my wedding there and she absolutely loves it. Only reason I didn't was because the priest wasn't available and that was one of my non-negotiables.

Wow! What an amazing story. Both pics are awesome! Since its down the road, you should have no problem getting guests to head there to partake in your celebration- as I'm sure they will want to after the obstacles you have endured together. While saving money is a big reason for people to have destination weddings- even though yours is different, at the heart of it, your reasons are similar to some brides and grooms- the idea that you want to celebrate with the closest of friends and family-Congratulations on your engagement. You are going to have a phenomenal wedding. Hope your fiance recovers quickly from his injuries!

And that's exactly what I heard from the other bride. She said because they have this policy, they are aware people try to get around it by booking their photographer as a guest, but they did not want anyone taking pics- so she ended up with none. For that I'd rather pay the $1,000 fee! I mean, kudos to anyone who can get away with that trick- it is slightly cheaper- but not by much. When you book a room the guest has to stay a minimum of 3 nights- so you pay that price. If you subtract that from the $1,000 fee- you have saved maybe a few hundred- which is substantial- but not enough in my mind to deal with someone saying the person can't take the pics, tacking on the fee anyway, and being stuck paying both.

Woo hoo so close. I want to see pictures. I'm looking forward to my wedding but I feel the same way- I want money so I can LIVE again. We have to constantly turn down social invitations. We sold our Yankee and Jay Z tickets that we had purchased just to have some more money. I'm a teacher and with all the budget cuts they really can't pay us for after school work but whenever they can- I stay and work a little later. We take our lunches from home... the sacrifices we make! I want to be done paying for everything but we have quite some time before we reach that point.

You could also check out Dress Barn- haha I buy my work dresses there and get Calvin Klein dresses for $40. If you have a small bridal party, any store with off the rack dresses can work. Davids Bridal has cute dresses for under $100- but my bridesmaids don't like DB because we had a bad experience and now they never want to go back haha. If you are ever in NYC- There is a store called Cliquers on 34th and Herald Square. It looks like a sketchy basement store lol but they sell nice, cheap dresses. When I was a bridesmaid last minute I went there and got a dress for $65. While there, a bride planning her elopement went in to buy a white dress. She got it for $105 and it looked beautiful.

Yea- I don't know why I love the longer styles. I just think they look so flowy and ethereal- but I get away with it because our wedding is in the evening. Some of my girls wanted short styles, but when we found the long style with the short front- they fell in love and everyone won! HAHA I'm actually surprised my girls all agreed on the same dress. We tried on so many and couldn't agree and I thought "oh lord here we go" but when I found this dress they all loved it. I like Dessy dresses- but since I wanted a longer style, there weren't many with a light chiffon fabric that was breathable. We went with Bari Jay only because they had the color I wanted. Bari Jay has a TON of really cute short styles. Check out the site.

I haven't heard about it being included. Could be part of a promotion perhaps? The only promotion I know of is getting a free room for 3 nights for every 10 rooms booked. We thought about doing a welcome reception but our guests are all arriving at different points. We are flying in on Wednesday and some people are coming Thursday, with our wedding on Friday. We are just sticking to the rehearsal dinner- which I will just make a reservation for since it is an all inclusive! Why spend the extra money? I think La Barcaza is cool though. If we have extra money left in the budget we may do one of the "booze cruises". For brides with a gap in between their ceremony and their reception- it is a perfect idea. I kind of wish I had a gap now but my wedding is at 5 and its an hour, with my cocktail reception starting at 7. We don't even have time for pics! So we have to do a first look which I was trying to avoid. I wanted him to see me for the first time down the aisle. But our photographer assured us that first looks an be so much fun- he said they are actually his favorite. Like I said- if budget allows, we will try to do a farewell reception the day after on La Barcaza. If we don't have the money, we will just make a reservation- most likely at the hibachi since it can facilitate a larger crowd.

Thanks. I'm a planning nut- it shouldn't be, but my wedding is on my mind all the live long day so I visit this site a lot!

LOL You know what my problem is- I stick to just the threads I'm involved in- like Show Us Your Dress and my Resort- but my resort thread doesn't post much activity so I've started to venture into other territories and I am finding awesome ideas. Like the guestbook option- I love the fingerprint idea. We have a few peacock touched to our wedding so I think I will get a peacock and have my guests use their fingerprints to make the peacocks feathers. I haven't sent my invites I'm really slacking on that. I sent my Save the Dates 11 months before my wedding. I want to order these handmade invites from a girl named Ana DeRoux- but they doin't come cheap. But they are gorgeous and personalized. They take 4-6 weeks to produce so guests won't have them until Thanksgiving, giving them 7 months. But when we sent the Save The Dates- we sent our travel agents business card and a few people booked. Most people are waiting until after tax season to pay for their tickets thought. Thanks for the congrats! Lol we actually will make a year engaged in November. We wanted to have a year engagement but didn't want to wed in the fall/winter because I am still working (teacher- way too busy) so we waited until summertime and will be engaged for 1 year and some months before we get married. Little longer than usual but who's counting (me) How far along are you in your planning?

Definitely agree with you! We sucked it up and paid the fee. Photos are too important to us to compromise on the quality. I say cut corners somewhere else if you can. Save all your emails! I created a separate email account just for the wedding so that I would have record of prices we were quoted on. They have to honor it. An email is considered an informal contract.

I like coral that was the color I initially wanted. I wanted to have each girl wear a progressively darker shade so it looked like sunset. We axed the idea bc while I loved it and thought it was beachy, we are instead getting married in church. Plus my fiancé chose a blue suit donut didn't match. Nice flowy dress!

That's a cute idea. I was going to do something similar when we sent out our invitations. We were going to include an insert with questions and then share them during the reception, or string them together as decorations near the table that has our pictures and guestbook. I have seen it done before at a wedding and thought it added a nice personal touch.

It was listed in the attachment they sent me as a possibility for a location and I also spoke to the wedding coordinator about it. Before I knew we were going with the church I considered the gazebo. The gazebo is small and I'm not sure how many people it can facilitate. Seems like it is better suited for more intimate weddings. I think the couple fits inside and the guests sit on the sides. It's in the garden.

Slick* not sick haha I'm sure she's fine

That trick doesn't work. If you say the photographer is a "guest" and they see the person photographing you, they will smack you with the fee. A bride who tried that posted in one of the forums that they said he had to put the camera away. I was prepared to try it but she said they watched over her wedding like a hawk and anyone who took out a camera they questions. She ended up with very few pictures. Not worth the risk if you ask me. Either roll with Arrecife or pay the fee and you won't have to worry about it. I tried a few tricks with my WC and she was sick- she kept saying "as long as you are aware any outside photography will incur a $1,000 fee." I think maybe too many people have used this trick in the past and they are privy to it now. It sucks- its a shitty policy. I almost didn't have my wedding at Paradisus because of it.

Finally someone who loves bling like I do! LOL I agree the price is not so bad.

If I saw something this breathtaking it definitely would have thrown a wrench in our plans. Initially we thought Mexico but we moved it to DR. This is the nicest resort I have seen in Mexico. I saw pics of other weddings here and it looks lovely! You can't go wrong!

HAHA same here 11 months before. We are trying to order our invites so we can send those out ASAP since they have more detailed info

Don't be worried. I paid the same way for Paradisus Palma Real- its fine. All places require a copy of your license. I just check my bank frequently and my bank has fraud protection anyway. Fear not- it will be fine!

Ooooops I"m blind- you're getting married next year lol. Well in that case! I'm getting married in Paradisus Palma Real and we are indeed paying the $1,000 fee to use a photographer of our choice. It is a ridiculous and unfair fee but as principle- you're right- you shouldnt be forced to use their photographer. The photographer's website is outdated but their FB has some decent shots. Also another PPR bride posted a review with a few pics from Arrecife and hers came out nice. We have Phil Steingard as our photographer.

You're getting married tomorrow!!!! LOL I was going to respond to you but I saw your date!

Have you ever written a review about your wedding? I'm getting married at PPR and there are so few reviews on this forum.

Congrats! Enjoy your weddingmoon!!!!!!!

These are amazing! Makes me feel better about rain!

No problem. I love to help if I can. Usually I'm the one in need of help! I hope more brides join this thread...its kind of quiet here!