Majestic Elegance- September 2011 confirmed- now what?

[xweetgal]

Hi everybody:

 

I just finish booking Majestic Elegance for my wedding to September 2011, I'm so excited and so nervous at the same time.  Nervous because I don't know what to expect.  Are there any brides-to-be o people who got married at Majestic Elegance and advise me what to do next after you book? Anything I need to look forward or not to look forward to?  What is better just have the symbolic ceremony and get the semi-private dinner at any of the restaurant for up to 60 guests?  Or buy a private reception package that has both food and dance?  There are other extras and I have no clue what good be a good deal?  Are there any TA that I can use based in NY that my guests can use to do their travel arrangements?  Who do you recommend to take pics and videos in Punta Cana? 

 

Thank you.

[islandbride8]

My fiance and I are having a civil ceremony @ Majestic Elegance on June 29, 2011.  (SUPER EXCITED!)  My WC is Stephany and she is amazing. I email her at least once a day with all my questions and she is sooo good about getting back to me and making me relaxed.  We are having our ceremony @ the gazebo ( I heard the beach ceremonies tend to draw a large- uninvited- crowd). We are doing the included dinner at Asadito. The semi-private dinner can only be held at one of 2 restaurants (Asadito- steak, or the Sea & See).  I can email you the set menu's for Asadito and the Sea & See for the included dinners.  I'm not using a travel agent.  I've found that for group deals everyone would have to be on the exact same flights and booked for the same days at the hotel.  I don't want to force travel arrangements on anyone, so I've suggested they look at Apple/Expedia ect for the best deal.  The extra's seem soo expensive. I'm not sure what your budget is, so I would just weigh what I want with what I can afford.  We are not paying that much money for food and drinks @ an all inclusive. I believe I will add the ceremony decoration package for $348. It includes chair sashes, isle runner, and vases with flowers to line the isle (then they move these to the dinner tables).  What I'm working on right now is getting our passports.  You have to have a lot of paperwork (single status affidavit) and it all has to be sent to the Dominican to be translated ($125 for bride, $125 for groom).  The website www.wedo.com.do will help you with the paperwork.  If you have the money, check out PhotoPhil for your photography.  He lives in Canada and charges $1,000 plus travel arrangements.  I could never afford this, but his website is AMAZING!  The resort has a photographer/videographer that they exclusively use.  They charge $300 to bring in an outside vendor.  My cousin is a photographer for Hot Topic in LA and she will be taking our photos (undercover of course b/c I'm not paying $300 for my cousing to take our pics).  We will probably use their videographer (charges $350 for the ceremony only).  The symbolic ceremony is $500 cheaper than the legal ceremony (but you have to present your marraige certificate to do the symbolic) so you could save some money to splurge on extras!  I hope you're having as much fun planning this as I am!  Also check out http://picasaweb.google.com/weddingbymajesticresorts for some wedding pics!  Happy Planning and feel free to contact me anytime!  

 

Sarah

[email protected]

[xweetgal]

Thanks for the information... Yes we are having a blast and the WC at Majestic are so quick in answering questions... We are still decided the dinner and in the list of extras I thought i saw that a vendor pass was $90 no $300... Also during my research I have find that in Punta Cana there are a lot of good photographers so we are looking into this, we might just record the ceremony with personal camcorder...thanks for the information about wedo.com.do but after so much consideration we are just going to make it official here and do symbolic wedding over there, like you that money we save we are going to put it towards 2 hours private party in one of the places we can choose to have it.  we are getting married here but we are not going to have a celebration so we decided to pay for those hours and includes the sound system, national drinks open bar and the place for me and my guests...  so will see how this goes only 10 months to go i just can believe it...

[islandbride8]

I copied and pasted this from the ME wedding FAQ page:

 

Does Majestic Resorts offer a Photography Service?
Yes they are called Tropical Pictures and you may view their website and make arrangements with them at
www.tropicalpictures.com.do, [email protected] . Conversely if you chose a local photographer
other than Tropical Pictures a $300 entrance fee will apply to this outside vendor per day. 

 

[Spazdoodles]

My FI and I stayed at the ME's sister resort (Majestic Colonial) last year and loved it! I'm sure you will enjoy it, it's a beautiful resort!

[misslyndajean]

I'm looking at majestic colonial and majestic elegance for a November 2011 wedding.  They both look so great.  How do you choose?!  Any major differences?

[islandbride8]

My fiance and I are getting married June 29, 2011 at ME.  We chose this resort instead of the Colonial because of the Elegance Club.  We like the idea of the seclusion, but didn't want to do an adults only resort b/c of some of our guests with children.  The ME was opened in 2008 so it's newer.  Other than that I really don't think there are many differences.  They do not share privlages at restaurants (except maybe the main buffets) but guests of both resorts can attend a wedding at either one without having to buy a day pass.  Hope this helps!

[ebli23]

Great info!  Didn't know there were only 2 restaurants to choose for the semi private dinner.  Still trying to decide on semi private dinner at restaurant, private dinner or other options.