Married or going to be married at Grand Palladium Punta Cana?

[melste]

Hi elektrokitty, Your wedding sounds Great. Thank you sooo much for your information and advice I would love it if you could send me some photos [email protected] i just wanted to make sure that I would have a dinner reception and a party and some of the reviews I have read say carolina wont allow partys for groups with under 20 guests ( I have 17 adults and 3 children) I have also been looking into hireing DJ Mannia. Do you know if you can have a party in another location of the Grand Palladium other than the beach as I was hoping that I could have my party at the Punta Cana reception I know it would not be private.

[elektrokitty]

Originally Posted by canadiandawn 

 

Hi Elektrokitty,

 

Thanks for all your helpful info.  I've been asked time and time again how the planning is going and really - there's nothing for me to do!  Knowing that Carolina takes care of everything just makes me feel even better about it.

Would you mind sending me pics of your wedding?  I'd love to see them   My email is [email protected]

Also, just to confirm, we want to do a beach party afterwards as well.  If we had 20 people, would it be $540.00 ($300 plus $12 per person)?  Or was the $300 just for the DJ and not the party?

 

Thanks,

 

Dawn

 

Hello Dawn

 

I have sent some of my photos to the email provided.  For the beach party I was told in an email the following: "The private beach party apply for groups with more than 25 guest".  I had 29 guests attend.   I don't know how lenient they are with that number and if for the year 2013 there are any changes.  Ask the coordinator.

The beach party with open bar for 3 hours is: $15 US  (Price went up in 2012 from $12 to $15 US per person).  So if you did have 20 people, it would be:  20 * $15 = $300 US.   The DJ is $300US for 3 hours and it is optional.  I included a DJ to avoid the hassle of taking my own speakers and having a guest of mine be in charge of DJ'ing. 

Also for groups with more than 14 guests a set menu is required (1 app, 1 main, 1 dessert).  They make exceptions for kids, allergies and vegetarian guests.  13 of my guests were vegetarian, so what we did was order 2 main (Beef medallion for the meat-eaters and the Salmon fillet for the vegetarians).  You can see in the photo I sent you the 2 meal options.  There was an extra charge of $5US per plate for this change/addition.   I hope this helps, any more questions feel free to ask. 

 

Good luck,

 

Cc

[elektrokitty]

Originally Posted by elektrokitty 

 

Hello

 

I got married at the GP Punta Cana in June 2012.  As far as the planning, most you will do once you meet with Carolina or her assistant (Kenia).  You are handed a book which includes: bouquet, boutonniere, chair sash (various colours to choose from), cake (vanilla, chocolate), and extra services (horse & carriage, musical trio, clothes steam, DJ, live music, open bar).  You will also choose your dinner menu (1 appetizer, 1 main course, 1 dessert), and music.

 

My wedding was as such:

• Silver Renewal of Vows Package 2012
• 3pm: Ceremony @ Oceanview Gazebo (highly recommend the gazebo).  When I initially booked the wedding I specified that I wanted the ceremony at the Oceanview Gazebo. Ceremony lasted about 20 minutes. We had a symbolic wedding performed by Carolina, and we had a sand ceremony included.

• 3:30 - 6pm:  Photo session with Caribbean Emotions (recommend this company to cover your photography.  Michael and Pascal are great!.).  Also booked a Trash the Dress session the day after the wedding (highly recommend).
• 6pm-8:30pm:  Dinner reception at Sumptuori.  Venue and whether it's private vs non-private dinner comes at a cost and depends on the number of people in your party. 
• 9pm-12pm:  We included a Private Beach Party and hired the resort DJ for $300 for 3 hours and Open Bar @ $12pp for 3 hours. This was an extra service and needed to be booked prior to arrival since it was dependent on availability.  We took our own music on an ipod and CD and handed it to the DJ.

 

Just a heads up, you will often see in your emails "Will confirm upon arrival".  Nothing is set in stone, your ceremony time may change, dinner venue (ours was changed, but we were happy with the result).

As far as decorations, I bought:

-raffia fans (huge hit with guests)

-sand ceremony kit

-centerpieces for dinner which we also used for beach party (vase, orchids, submersible lights and clear beads)

-sandal luggage tags favours

-on Esty I found these adorable sugar starfish boutonnieres ($5.50 each)

-instead of a traditional guest book, we took a signature picture frame

-rose petals

-Bride and Groom signs

-Love sign for the cake table

 

I would suggest you ask her to send you the "Options for the set menu" and "Wedding Services" files.  If you want more information or photos,  I'd be willing to forward them to you.  Like it's been said before, don't stress because the wedding coordinators will take care of everything.

 

Good luck. 

 

CORRECTION:  Sorry the Open Bar for 3 hours is $15US not $12US (price went up).   Also, my dinner reception took place at the Asian restaurant Bamboo, not Sumptuori.

[elektrokitty]

Originally Posted by melste 

 

Hi elektrokitty, Your wedding sounds Great. Thank you sooo much for your information and advice I would love it if you could send me some photos [email protected] i just wanted to make sure that I would have a dinner reception and a party and some of the reviews I have read say carolina wont allow partys for groups with under 20 guests ( I have 17 adults and 3 children) I have also been looking into hireing DJ Mannia. Do you know if you can have a party in another location of the Grand Palladium other than the beach as I was hoping that I could have my party at the Punta Cana reception I know it would not be private.

 

Hello

 

I have sent you some of my photos to the email above.  I had 29 guests (1 infant, 1 teenager).  When I inquired about the beach party, the coordinator emailed me stating the following: "The private beach part apply for groups with more than 25 guest."  Not sure how flexible they are with that number as I fell within the limit.  

I did look into DJ Mannia, but it was $800US.  Keep in mind that to bring an outside vendor a fee is required at most resorts.  For my June 2012 wedding at the Palladium there was no such fee yet.  Ask the coordinator if there is a vendor fee for the year 2013.  There is however a Day Pass you must purchase for any visitor.  At the time of my wedding it was $60US per person.  I had a videographer and photographer cover my wedding, so I had to purchase 2 day passes for them ($120US total).

Party in another location?  From the extra services file that I was sent the only option was the beach for a party.  Unless, you have more than 40 guests and 'rent' out a restaurant from 6:30pm until midnight, which costs $1000US.  Perhaps this may change in the new year, I'd suggest you ask Carolina about that.  

 

Good luck

 

CC

[Shaina]

Without a doubt, check out Jorge Allocco! He took the most fantastic photos and his is so reasonably priced.  He is in constant contact with you and will make you feel so at ease.  http://www.jorgeallocco.com/

You will NOT be disappointed! If you are interested, I can send you some photos from our wedding.
 

[jenmheadrick]

Hi elektrokitty!

Congratulations on your wedding!

Sounds like everything was perfect. I do have a question for you. I read previous threads on here and they said when having the private beach party not to pay the extra for the open bar for $12pp. They said that a bar was close enough for people to get drinks. Is this true? or would you recommend paying the extra. They also had said that they paid the extra and barely had any service and people were getting their own drinks anyways.

Thanks!

[elektrokitty]

Hi Jenmheadrick

 

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  

To have or not to have an open bar?  Its very subjective.  My beach party was beside the POP (People of Palladium) beach hut, just behind the Parrilla Steakhouse restaurant.   The closest bar was the Punta Cana lobby which was 2mins away.   I had read mixed reviews on the open bar as well, but in the end my now hubby and I decided it would be best to have the open bar right on the beach.  We thought...guests are paying 1K + for travel + gifts, so the least we could do is have the bar.  The cost is $15US per person.   Our barman/bartender was very energetic and we had no shortage of drinks.

 

Hope this helps.

[jenmheadrick]

Perfect, thanks for the info. I think we will pay the extra for the open bar. It does start to add up since we do have 50 people booked. I'm glad I have an opinion of someone who has done it.

Jen

[KLD78GDO78]

HI!!

we are getting married on Jan.30th 2013 at Grand Palladium.

[jenmheadrick]

Hi Elektrokitty,

In you post you had stated:

 Venue and whether it's private vs non-private dinner comes at a cost and depends on the number of people in your party

I was told that if its non-private dinner that it is included in the wedding package. Is this going to be a extra cost when we get there?

Thanks

Jen