HELP! Should I change the hotel?

[MrsTrussell2B]

We were orginially going to get married in Jamaica but I couldnt find a hotel that fit the concept I wanted. But when I found the Paradisus Palma Real I immediately said "Thats it!" The Chill Out Chic Reception just seem to fit our styles so well. Well I have sent a save the date email and also posted info on our wedding website. Many of my guest have hinted that the hotel is expensive (400-800 per night) and they are right! But now they want to stay somewhere else or use their time shares. I found out from kelly that non-resident guests are an additional $120pp and there may be a limit to the number of non-resident guests (she didnt tell me this part but I know that is the rule at many hotels). So should I just change the entire wedding to a less expensive hotel? Please help me I am stressed out!

[DanielleNDerek]

I'm getting married at the Palma Real. Did you consider the Paradisus Punta Cana? It looked really nice too. And the new resort EdenH looks awesome, i think it's a lot cheaper than pr. The PR is expensive, but it was one of the few places that me and Derek both could agree on. Plus the people who we really wanted there, were going to be there regardless of the price. We are only having about 30 ppl.

 

How many guests are you expecting to have? Are you planning on paying for their day pass? If anyone stays outside the PPR, I wasn't going to pay for the day pass.

[starchild]

Gosh that's tough since you already sent everything out. So I'm guessing your guests don't know about the day pass fee? I don't think you should spring that on them now so if you go with this place you'll have to pay that for them.

 

If you move the wedding to another resort, they'll still be flying in to the same place, right? So that's not a huge deal but you need to find out asap. I don't know if any resorts don't have the day fee there, but look around asap. Good luck!

[MrsTrussell2B]

DanielleNDerek

I am sending out 150 invitations BUT i was only expecting 50 people. but Im not sure now since the hotel is so expensive. Kellys email mentiond that the resort doesnt have day passes. So i got the impression that the 120pp would be billed along with our other wedding/reception fees.

[MrsTrussell2B]

Starchild

I just sent the info out around the 7th of Jan (I know not a lot of time but we didnt want to wait) So the guests didnt know about the 120 fee but since its only the 16th and most of them havent made arrangements yet (i think only one couple has made travel arrangements and thankfully they are staying at the PPR)> So i think if i tell the about the fee now that is enough notice but since its isnt a day pass i have no idea how i could pass the cost to them so i feel obligated to pay it.

A little off the subject but im new to this. What is the "karma" I see in everyones profile.

[DanielleNDerek]

How many of your guests are planning to stay outside of the PPR? All of mine are staying at the PPR, I'm hoping anyone who books late gets a room at the PR too. Derek's sis got married in Riviera Maya a few years ago and it was really great for everyone to be together on vacation. I want both of our families to enjoy a vacation together and get to know one another, I would probably switch if most of them weren't going to stay at the PR. But I envisioned my wedding as a week long vacation with family. Is that something you were concerned about?

 

I don't see how they could just bill you for all the people like that, that's crazy! Maybe you should talk to Kelly. Let her know that you can't afford to pay for everyone's day pass and if that's the case, you'll have to switch resorts.

 

I switched resorts from Dreams to PPR, it happens. I know I was freakn out when I did it but now i realize it was the best for us.

 

You have to decide what is important to you and your fi. These decisions are tough, I know!

[starchild]

Some people feel outside guests should never have to pay the day pass. My feeling on the day pass is that they should know from the start that you stay at "x" hotel with us there is no fee, you make your own arrangements there is a day pass fee. In your case, the hotel you are at is pretty pricey so the odds of everyone staying there are slim, I would only pay that much to attend the wedding of my brother or someone really close to me.

 

Luckily I didn't have this issue since I didn't have a resort wedding, but I really think you have to suck it up and pay for it at this point. Sorry (

 

I still don't get karma 100% but here is some info

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t784

[MrsTrussell2B]

Im not sure how many of the guests are going to stay outside the hotel. Most people have only expressed their concern but act as if they are going to go but maybe just not for as long as they would have normally. If its only a few guests I dont mind paying it but if it is a majority of the guests this will be an issue (plus Im unsure of how many non-resident guests can attend the wedding, for example at RIU 80% of the guests have to stay at the hotel)

[ErinB]

I'm not getting married in DR but did have a similar problem.

 

Our original resort in Jamaica had to be changed. Luckily no one had made arrangements yet. We kept the same date so the flight info, etc. was the same. I just sent out an e-mail stating that we had changed the resort only, no explanation as to why, and told them basically that the new place would be even better and offered even more with their all-inclusive package. No one had a problem with it.

[MrsTrussell2B]

Im just worried that if I change the hotel people will still try to book other hotels (people using timeshares or people who just really need a cheap room). So i feel like i cant please everyone so I might as well stay with what i have. I think we are going to pay SOME of the non-guest fee but not all of it.