HELPPPP - Destination Wedding in Punta Cana :)

Hi everyone

I need all the help I can get - I am looking to get married in Punta Cana in either July or August of 2013. I know I am late in planning. Can anyone recommend any hotels? Did you book through a travel agent? What should I look for and/or information I should ask? I am feeling really overwhelmed looking and just dont know what place to decide on. I am really not looking to spend a fourtune. I plan on staying for a week in a half to two weeks (so we can have our honeymoon there as well). I would say my total would be $7,000-$8,000. I know I am cutting it close but I really just dont know where to begin. I have a range of 15-30 people coming (most likely). I cant see anymore than 30!

I been to Punta Cana two years ago and stayed at NH Real Arena (which is now called Now Lamier - I believe), I really liked it there but I am afraid since they changed there now they are not really reliable and I am afraid to book with them. Any brides getting married here?

Thanks in advance for any help you can assist with. I really appericate it.

Originally Posted by jennifer11203 

 

Hi everyone

 

I need all the help I can get - I am looking to get married in Punta Cana in either July or August of 2013. I know I am late in planning. Can anyone recommend any hotels? Did you book through a travel agent? What should I look for and/or information I should ask? I am feeling really overwhelmed looking and just dont know what place to decide on. I am really not looking to spend a fourtune. I plan on staying for a week in a half to two weeks (so we can have our honeymoon there as well). I would say my total would be $7,000-$8,000. I know I am cutting it close but I really just dont know where to begin. I have a range of 15-30 people coming (most likely). I cant see anymore than 30!

 

I been to Punta Cana two years ago and stayed at NH Real Arena (which is now called Now Lamier - I believe), I really liked it there but I am afraid since they changed there now they are not really reliable and I am afraid to book with them. Any brides getting married here?

 

Thanks in advance for any help you can assist with. I really appericate it.

 

 

I'm getting married at the Esmerelda in Punta Cana next May. The way that i came to  my decision is that i looked up resorts on travel websites and looked what the offered and how were the reviews. The last think you want to do is chose a hotel that your guests don't like. From there, i contacted all the wedding planners at the resorts and asked for their wedding packages, what is included and all the extras. Tell them what you are looking for and see if they are willing to work with you, ex private reception or a reception in one of the restaurants, dj etc, from my experience some resorts wouldn't let you change anything to the wedding package and the extras were crazy expensive. Once you have a round abut idea what the wedding  will cost you, narrow your hotel listing. Once you have a narrowed down selection contact a TA (travel agent)and see what kind of pricing/packages she can get you. I actually used 3 different TA's, i don't know if many people would recommend this but i definitely would as i have no experience in destination weddings  and by the question that they asked me and the information that they provided me i could tell who had the most experience.  When they provide me with pricing i was able to then decide which resort i wanted as some of the resorts were way too expensive and i didn't feel  comfortable asking my guests. And in the end i went wit h the TA that was able to provide me the best price and  there was quiet a difference in price from one TA to another for the same resort.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions

Originally Posted by sosodj 

 

I'm getting married at the Esmerelda in Punta Cana next May. The way that i came to  my decision is that i looked up resorts on travel websites and looked what the offered and how were the reviews. The last think you want to do is chose a hotel that your guests don't like. From there, i contacted all the wedding planners at the resorts and asked for their wedding packages, what is included and all the extras. Tell them what you are looking for and see if they are willing to work with you, ex private reception or a reception in one of the restaurants, dj etc, from my experience some resorts wouldn't let you change anything to the wedding package and the extras were crazy expensive. Once you have a round abut idea what the wedding  will cost you, narrow your hotel listing. Once you have a narrowed down selection contact a TA (travel agent)and see what kind of pricing/packages she can get you. I actually used 3 different TA's, i don't know if many people would recommend this but i definitely would as i have no experience in destination weddings  and by the question that they asked me and the information that they provided me i could tell who had the most experience.  When they provide me with pricing i was able to then decide which resort i wanted as some of the resorts were way too expensive and i didn't feel  comfortable asking my guests. And in the end i went wit h the TA that was able to provide me the best price and  there was quiet a difference in price from one TA to another for the same resort.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions

Thank you so much for your help. Your information was really helpful!! I'm going to start doing more research and see if I can find something. Fingers crossed!!! I need to have something booked by AUGUST!! AHHH lol

When you chose your destination wedding did you also stay longer for your honeymoon and if so how many days??

Thanks

Originally Posted by jennifer11203 

 

 

Thank you so much for your help. Your information was really helpful!! I'm going to start doing more research and see if I can find something. Fingers crossed!!! I need to have something booked by AUGUST!! AHHH lol

 

When you chose your destination wedding did you also stay longer for your honeymoon and if so how many days??

 

Thanks

I told my travel agent to book us for two weeks only because i know that the first week will be so hectic with wedding stuff that i know by the end of it we will be exhausted. My travel agent said that she would look in to changing hotels to a much swankier one as the airfare will already be paid for so she said that i probably wouldn't cost much, but either way, even if i stay at the same hotel i really don't mind.

I don't think that you will have an issue getting a hotel for August. I think the first step is email all the hotels that you are interested in and get the wedding packages and that way you can narrow it down. Do you have a travel agent?

Originally Posted by sosodj 

 

I told my travel agent to book us for two weeks only because i know that the first week will be so hectic with wedding stuff that i know by the end of it we will be exhausted. My travel agent said that she would look in to changing hotels to a much swankier one as the airfare will already be paid for so she said that i probably wouldn't cost much, but either way, even if i stay at the same hotel i really don't mind.

I don't think that you will have an issue getting a hotel for August. I think the first step is email all the hotels that you are interested in and get the wedding packages and that way you can narrow it down. Do you have a travel agent?

Hey sosodj,

Thanks for your advice. I dont have a travel agent but I am looking into getting one. I am really leaning toward Majestic Elegance but I am still waiting for them to email me the wedding packages which is taking forever (at least it seems). I really wanted to stay for two weeks but my FH says thats too long and we will get bored which i can kinda understand.

Thanks for all the help.