Dreams La Romana

[dcairns]

lol thanks Alla, i see what you mean now lol. Geez its huge!  You look beautiful by the way, and almost a twin to a cousin of mine! Can't wait to see more pics

[uninspired1979]

Taylorbabe- I had seen it online at fredlare.com, but we were lucky to enough to randomly just find it in a store in NYC. It was laying on the cake table the entire night, but I don't think anyone noticed it. When we took it took cut the cake everyone started cheering, they loved it. As you can see, we wanted to make the cake situation fun, the song we used was " sugar pie, honey bunch" went really well. dcairns- thanks so much, it was an emotional day, but by the time the wedding happened I couldn't stop smiling, I felt great. The truth of the matter is my best girlfriend came up and set up all my makeup for me on the bathroom vanity, than sent my maid of honor to me with 3 gin and tonics, which I found out much later later were mostly gin with a splash of tonic, lol. They really did take all the stress away. It is funny that you say I look like your cousin, I get that a lot, people saying that they know someone who looks like me, or they just saw me, but it wasn't me. I just hope all the copies of me out there are nice, lol. My hands are so tied without my computer, I had to be sneaky at work today in order to post that picture. I've been working on a Mac for so many years that I feel like a retard on hubbies PC. I promise to post pics soon. Also mu hubby read my reviews yesterday after I had posted them, and he wanted me to give credit where it was due. It turns out that Nancys husband had given him the advise about looking at the water to calm his nerves. NANCY if you see this tell Jason that Dave says thank you!

[uninspired1979]

It's me again- back with some additional information! The bathroom situation is strange in some locations. I totally forgot to ask about this, which is very strange for me since I suffer from an intestinal condition and am always nervous about restroom situations. It turned out that we had to leave the Oceana restaurant and walk down a short path to use the restaurant at the Mexican restaurant, but it wasn't such a big deal. The Italian and French restaurants both have restrooms inside. But the SSG restroom is actually right outside of the building and we noticed that it was also being used by the bar patrons in the area since it is the most accessible restroom for that area. Also for anyone considering staying in the Preferred section you do get some nice perks. I am not sure that it will be the same for everyone going forward, but when we checked in each room was given an envelope with coupons. The coupons were for the following, wine, spa services, & romantic private dinner. Also if you show your room card in the gift stores, you will have a Black card instead of a white one in the Preferred section, you will get a 10 percent discount. For you coffee drinkers out there, the Preferred club has the best coffee in the entire resort. At around 5pm when all the restaurants are closed to prepare for dinner service and the only other food available is pizza by the pool, we would head over to the Preferred club where there were always fresh hors devours and a waiter serving drinks. We used the coupons for the private "romantic" dinner. I booked 1 for us for the evening before we left, and 1 for my parents for their anniversary for the following day. They give you a choice of a few different locations, we chose the white gazebo. The problem we had was that it actually got cold that evening and we were dressed light, and also when the waiter turned the light on bugs started to swarm around us, lol. I'm not too bothered with bugs since I lived in the South for awhile, but hubby, a life long New Yorker, was too creeped out by them. We ate our entree and had the waiter bring our dessert up to the room for us, the waiter was a sweetheart and had no issues with that. Since my parents and my uncle were the last ones of our group left at the resort I ended up changing their dinner to a 4 person dinner, it was not an issue at all, the concierge was happy to set that up and they had a lovely time. I suggest having this dinner, though hubby didn't love the atmosphere, it was nice to have a quiet dinner together all be it semi romantic. At least we laughed a lot. We spent so much time with groups of people and felt obligated to at least have dinner with our group in the evenings, that it was nice just to have dinner together that 1 night and not feel sorry about it. Trust me that we loved being with our group, but at times it does get overwhelming.

[NancM]

Hi Ewa,

 

I know Alla already answered about the wi-fi situation (in the Preferred area only - which is another huge plus!) and computer situation, but I also thought I should let you know that the disc HDC provided is a DVD-R, so we just played it on the DVD player in our room (not sure if all rooms have them at the resort, or only Preferred rooms) and it worked beautifully.  We just watched the DVD, scrolling through the pictures and decided which ones to have them print and which ones we wanted for our Digital Photo Book (an extra that we chose on top of our package).  The other great thing about HDC is that you get to keep this DVD with the majority of the shots on it (ours had 397) and can do reprints of any that you don't have them print for you, when you get home.  If you look at the contract, there is a paragraph called "Your Rights to the Images", and it discusses your "Home Use Rights", which is perfect for making extra copies and reprints of any photo on the disc.  I've already used the copy of the contract to make copies and it's great!  As I've said over and over, you will not be disappointed if you book HDC.

 

Nancy 

 

Originally Posted by MissTaken 

Hey,

 

When you say that you get to review the disc of your photos does that would be mean you need access to a computer? I know they probably have an Internet caffee but I'm just wondering if its just better to bring a laptop with us.

Also would anyone know if there is internet in all the rooms and if its included or do you have to pay daily for it?

 

Thanks alot

Ewa

Hi Pam,

 

I know Dana already posted HDC's package prices (and, as she said, not sure if the prices have changed), but I thought I should reiterate that HDC is not the resort photographer.  They are located in Punta Cana and you book them separately.  They have a website (hdcphoto.com) and that is how we originally got in touch with them.  We sent them an email and Arnaud got back to us almost immediately and sent us their price lists.  From there, we just asked whether or not they were available for our wedding day, and filled out the contract (20% of the payment is required at the time of booking with HDC, the remainder at the time the pics are delivered).  My husband paid all of it through Paypal (both in Canada and the D.R. - he just contacted Paypal ahead of time to advise that he would be doing so during our time away).  It was all very easy.  I was sure that they would charge extra for having to come in from Punta Cana, but they don't, or it is included in their package prices perhaps.  It is only the resort that charges for them to be there the day of your ceremony.  No other hidden fees with them. 

 

My only suggestion and advice for any Canadian brides, if you do opt for a Digital Photo Book, it will take an additional 3 weeks or so for it to arrive at your home, so when you come back to Canada, be sure to fill out a Customs Declaration (whether you fly into Canada directly or land in the U.S. and cross the land border), so that you are not charged duties and taxes on something that you could have brought back with you as part of your personal exemption.  It will be listed as "goods to follow" - as long as you've not gone over your personal exemption, that is; which, really, at an all inclusive resort, unless you start buying jewelry or expensive items, you probably won't go over that allowance!   

 

Nancy  
 

Originally Posted by chanelo 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissTaken 

Hey,

 

When you say that you get to review the disc of your photos does that would be mean you need access to a computer? I know they probably have an Internet caffee but I'm just wondering if its just better to bring a laptop with us.

Also would anyone know if there is internet in all the rooms and if its included or do you have to pay daily for it?

 

Thanks alot

Ewa

Hi Ewa,

 

There is no internet access in the rooms (or at least there wasnt when I was there in March!) The internet cafe is good though.

 

I have heard a lot of you ladies talking about HDC photographers - and if Nancy's photos ar anything to go by I would definitely like to use them! My question is: are HDC the hotel photographers or do you book them seperately? we have photography included in the ultimate package. if this is not HDC can someone post the package prices for HDC?

 

Thanks in advance! 

Pam 

Hi Dana,

 

With our "free" wedding package, the cake only came with the 1 tier, so we ended up ordering the 2nd tier.  That way, we could have one chocolate and one vanilla so that our boys would have cake that each of them liked!  Also, I thought the 2 tiers looked really pretty and the cost was not much at all ($30 USD).  Plus, we fed so many people with it the day after the ceremony, because nobody could eat it the night of the wedding.  The SSG kept it in their refrigerator for us, we went there at lunch the following day, and they brought it to us at the Preferred Pool bar and the staff there served it to anyone who came up and wanted some!  It was great to be able to share it with people who, just the day before, had cheered and clapped as you walked by with your wedding dress on and who wished you congratulations and kind words before and after the wedding. Well worth it...

 

Nancy
 

Originally Posted by dcairns 

Hey Alla,

 

Great Review!  For the wedding cake, did you order more? I have 48 people coming at this point and wondering if I should order more. Let me know.

Hi Alla,

 

Great review and love the picture of you and Dave cutting the cake...your dress was so pretty and you looked like you were having a GREAT time!  Glad everything worked out for you both, and for all of your guests. 

 

I showed Jay what you and Dave wrote...he said Dave is very welcome.  He knew it had helped him calm down and, he said, he didn't want to see me ahead of when the boys were walking me down the aisle, so this way he wouldn't get a peek in before "our song" started! 

 

Again, it was nice to have met with you both and to sit down and have a couple of drinks, to share stories and offer you whatever advice we could think of.
 

Originally Posted by uninspired1979 

Taylorbabe- I had seen it online at fredlare.com, but we were lucky to enough to randomly just find it in a store in NYC. It was laying on the cake table the entire night, but I don't think anyone noticed it. When we took it took cut the cake everyone started cheering, they loved it. As you can see, we wanted to make the cake situation fun, the song we used was " sugar pie, honey bunch" went really well.
dcairns- thanks so much, it was an emotional day, but by the time the wedding happened I couldn't stop smiling, I felt great. The truth of the matter is my best girlfriend came up and set up all my makeup for me on the bathroom vanity, than sent my maid of honor to me with 3 gin and tonics, which I found out much later later were mostly gin with a splash of tonic, lol. They really did take all the stress away.
It is funny that you say I look like your cousin, I get that a lot, people saying that they know someone who looks like me, or they just saw me, but it wasn't me. I just hope all the copies of me out there are nice, lol.
My hands are so tied without my computer, I had to be sneaky at work today in order to post that picture. I've been working on a Mac for so many years that I feel like a retard on hubbies PC. I promise to post pics soon.
Also mu hubby read my reviews yesterday after I had posted them, and he wanted me to give credit where it was due. It turns out that Nancys husband had given him the advise about looking at the water to calm his nerves.
NANCY if you see this tell Jason that Dave says thank you!

[chanelo]

Thanks Nancy! I will contact Arnaud directly... think i'm gonna do a TTD session the next day too - we dont have anything like this in Ireland and I think people will be stunned by the photos! thanks again

[uninspired1979]

Hey Girls; Finally here are some of the pics taken by the resort photographer; Hope you enjoy.

[NancM]

Hi Pam,

 

Good luck with everything...Arnaud is wonderful.  IF you can do the TTD, do it, for sure!  I wish we would have done that, but we hadn't planned on it, and, by the time we thought of possibly doing it, we just said forget it. 

 

After seeing their work though, I was sorry we didn't book a shoot.  We are considering going back to DLR for our anniversary, so maybe a TTD session would be a great 1 yr anniversary present to ourselves! 

Best of luck with all of your planning!

 

Nancy 
 

Originally Posted by chanelo 

Thanks Nancy! I will contact Arnaud directly... think i'm gonna do a TTD session the next day too - we dont have anything like this in Ireland and I think people will be stunned by the photos! thanks again

[dcairns]

oh Allah you look wonderful. Very exciting, will be married 4 months from today!!! thanks for sharing.

[chanelo]

That would be a great idea Nancy! and how romantic to wear your wedding dress again on your first anniversary! just noticed Alla's photos above too - they are beautiful!

[hermosahoops]

It has been a month since the wedding so I figure I should probably post my review already! I couldn’t have had such a great wedding without all the support and encouragement from the wonderful people on this forum, and I cannot thank you enough!

 

The Resort

 

In a word; wow. Dreams La Romana is amazing. The entire facility is gorgeous. From the winding paths through the grounds, to the pink flamingos by the restaurants, it was like being in a movie. All of our guests  were so impressed by the level of cleanliness and the attention to detail applied to everything. The employees were incredibly nice and friendly and spoke fantastic English. With such a high guest turnover, I don’t know how they manage to make each person feel special and memorable, but somehow they do!

 

We had 10 guests for our wedding. My husband and I were upgraded to the Preferred Club and placed in building 7. Everyone else was placed in building 5, except for my parents who upgraded to a suite and were in building 2. All three of these buildings were the newer style and were very nice. A few guests had complaints about their rooms; two double beds instead of a king, funky smell, etc. I called down to the front desk and they were promptly moved to other rooms.

 

I don’t know if I would have paid the extra money for the Preferred Club, but I am SO glad we were upgraded. It was noticeable quieter on that side of the resort, and the preferred pool was a lovely place to relax without the sounds of the rest of the resort reaching you. Plus it was nice to be able to pop into the club for a drink, snack, or to speak with the concierge in there, where there was generally no line.