2012 Majestic Elegance Brides - Moral Support!

Hey everyone!  I have spent the last 6 months on this website reading everyone's posts about the Dominican and the resorts there for weddings.  I have decided on the Majestic Elegance, and we set our date for October 27th, 2012.  I am just super nervous about this whole process because of everything involved with my guests traveling.  Plane tickets to the Dominican are RIDICULOUS right now and I'm worried that we won't have as many guests as I thought.  I'm also reading horror stories of brides getting all of these extra fees charged to them, and on top of it the resort website is saying that the ME has no bookings available for my dates, just the Colonial.

Other than that, I am getting married at the gazebo in the evening, and I am thinking of doing a private bar reception with a DJ and the buffet.  For alcohol, we are just going to get a bunch of bottles once we get into the country and bring them to the resort.  I'm sure the fee for that is much less than the cost pp for the open bar.  

I really wanted Phil Steingard for my photographer, but it turns out he won't be in the DR for my date   So I think we are going with PhotoSouvenir.  Has anyone used them??

If you have gotten married there already this year, please give me some details/tips/advice!  I need to be reassured that this was a good decision.  If you are getting married next year in 2012, feel free to express your thoughts and concerns!

Hi Everyone!
 

I am also getting married at the majestic elegance, punta cana on July 11, 2012. The invitations have gone out, we have about 38 guests confirmed and booked, I have my dress and the bridesmaids dresses, We are having a beach ceremony and a private reception at the wetbar. That is were I am in the planning process and here are some of my concerns:

-How is the hairdresser at the spa? How early do you have to book with them?

(my sister is a hair stylist and she is going to be doing my hair, I just was wondering for the rest of the bridal party)

-How is the resort photographer? Any issues? or sample pics to post?

-What would you suggest I bring with me or let the resort provide (ie.: decor, center pieces)

-I really wanted to do welcome bags, has anyone done these? was the resort willing to hand them out? or place them in the rooms?

I have about a million other questions, but I will start with those I'm coming down to the details and was looking for some advice from fellow brides.

Happy planning

I am getting married in 60 days...exactly at the Majestic Elegance. 

The website ALWAYS shows no availability for the ME, I think they rely mainly on Travel agents to book the rooms so you yourself can't do it online.  My days were all booked, but then my travel agent was able to book 20 rooms two weeks later, so dont stress about that!

I know ME is updating their princing for next year and adding additional costs, make sure you are in communication with your wedding coordinator.  When I hear of pricing changes I IMMEDIATELY contact my WC and she assures me that since I signed the contract before prices changed, then I am good to go.

I am not having my reception at the ME due to the high costs/tax and gratuities added.  A lot of ladies have their reception at the Jellyfish.  My FI and I are having our reception at La Barcaza, its going to be a special treat/last day surprise for my guests. 

Final fitting for my dress on JAnuary 9th, my BD shoot is on January 8th.  I still need to order my custom cake topper...I have a lot of loose ends to tie up...

We are doing OOT bags, we plan to hand them out at our welcome dinner.or since all of our guests are arriving at the same time, we might meet them in the lobby and have a meet and greet as soon as they arrive.

My photographer and videographer: Huellas De Caribe hdcphotos.com

TTD Photographer: Katya Nova (SOOOOO Excited about this)!!!

We booked the Jellyfish for June 24, 2012, but we are still working with our travel agent to book our resort and plane tickets.  The Majestic resorts are on the short list of possibilities, as well as Dreams Palm Beach and Melia Caribe Tropical.  It will all probably come down to availability and budget.  I'm trying not to stress but the longer it goes the harder it gets!!  During the whole process it seems as soon as I think I have it all figured out, something else comes up and it's back to square 1!

Congratulations and good luck with planning!  I try to log onto here once or twice a week to help out with brides questions because I was just in the same spot.  

Have you booked directly through the resort?  I know some guests saw the same thing when trying to look around via the majestic website, but in the end there was no one that had any issue getting a room.  

Rest assured---it is a beautiful resort and you will have many amazing photographs, probably no matter who you use!  The water is beautiful, the palm trees are GREEN!, and there are so many places to capture your moments....

Originally Posted by eHubbard 

Hey everyone!  I have spent the last 6 months on this website reading everyone's posts about the Dominican and the resorts there for weddings.  I have decided on the Majestic Elegance, and we set our date for October 27th, 2012.  I am just super nervous about this whole process because of everything involved with my guests traveling.  Plane tickets to the Dominican are RIDICULOUS right now and I'm worried that we won't have as many guests as I thought.  I'm also reading horror stories of brides getting all of these extra fees charged to them, and on top of it the resort website is saying that the ME has no bookings available for my dates, just the Colonial.

 

Other than that, I am getting married at the gazebo in the evening, and I am thinking of doing a private bar reception with a DJ and the buffet.  For alcohol, we are just going to get a bunch of bottles once we get into the country and bring them to the resort.  I'm sure the fee for that is much less than the cost pp for the open bar.  

 

I really wanted Phil Steingard for my photographer, but it turns out he won't be in the DR for my date   So I think we are going with PhotoSouvenir.  Has anyone used them??

 

If you have gotten married there already this year, please give me some details/tips/advice!  I need to be reassured that this was a good decision.  If you are getting married next year in 2012, feel free to express your thoughts and concerns!

Have you asked Phil about his nephew Michael?  Or Jamie Dimitry?  You WILL have availability for your hotel - October is a slower month so no worries.  Where are you flying out of and with what airline?

I had 6 guests and it was perfect.  The smaller the wedding, the more personal it will be.  This way you don't have to worry about "putting on a presentation" for your guests.  Weddings have become so huge and "entertaining" lately.  A destination wedding SHOULD be small and intimate!  You shouldn't HAVE to plan anything!

My planning:

homemade invites

welcome booklet

starfish ring "pillow"

sand pail for the flower girl

Michael Steingard

and NO MORE!  It was so relaxing and it was actually a vacation with friends and family instead of me trying to entertain them during the wedding.

Relax, have fun, and enjoy all the moments

Thanks for the reassurance about rooms!  I talked with my TA and we have blocked off 15 rooms just for peace of mind.  Still have no idea about plane tickets yet.  

khomac- Phil said his nephew is also booked for that day  But I have decided to go with PhotoSouvenir anyway.  I really love their pictures and they aren't too expensive.  I'm glad you had such a relaxing wedding experience

cnd29- How much is the Jellyfish going to cost you?  Do you just pay per person or do you rent out the whole restaurant?  Also, what is the transportation situation between the resort and the restaurant?  Now that I've looked at it, I am thinking about this as an option..

bride2012- how are your guests getting to the reception?  Is there a shuttle?  If the savings are that great I might just do the Jellyfish or La Barcaza.

Hey Ladies,

We are putting together our webinar schedule for BDW.  These webinars are great because not only can you get YOUR questions answered but also hear answers to questions from other brides that you may not have even though of

Webinars are a great way to not only hear directly from the wedding department but see the wedding packages that they offer, ceremony/reception pics, etc.

I try to only limit the webinars to once every 2 weeks so we of course can not do all resorts.

Please vote on which resorts you would like to have webinars on...you can choose more than 1.

Vote for your Resort Webinar HERE

The Jellyfish and La Barcaza offer shuttle options, our shuttle is included in the price of our reservation.  For La Barcaza you pay per person based on what food/beverage choices you choose, everything else is included.

38 Days til #JDAy

33 Days until we are in Punta Cana!!!!

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask
 

Originally Posted by eHubbard 

Thanks for the reassurance about rooms!  I talked with my TA and we have blocked off 15 rooms just for peace of mind.  Still have no idea about plane tickets yet.  

 

khomac- Phil said his nephew is also booked for that day  But I have decided to go with PhotoSouvenir anyway.  I really love their pictures and they aren't too expensive.  I'm glad you had such a relaxing wedding experience

 

cnd29- How much is the Jellyfish going to cost you?  Do you just pay per person or do you rent out the whole restaurant?  Also, what is the transportation situation between the resort and the restaurant?  Now that I've looked at it, I am thinking about this as an option..

 

bride2012- how are your guests getting to the reception?  Is there a shuttle?  If the savings are that great I might just do the Jellyfish or La Barcaza.

Hi I am also staying at ME the week of July 9! We are getting married at the jellyfish in the 14th. I also have questions about the hairdressers/makeup at the spa, I am hoping that someone had a good experience and can share advice..