Paradisus Punta Cana (PPC) Brides POST HERE!!

[maridr2012]

We leave PPC 2 days after the wedding to honeymoon in another town a few hours away and won't be back home until Nov 17th. I'm sure I'll be tired and trying to catch up with work and life when I get back but I'll def post when I return with a review and some tips!

[johnm]

We had our ceremony at the gazebo with cocktail hour there as well. Definitely a great set up. In terms of beach and gazebo vicinity. We saw the beach ceremonies in a couple spots but the main spot seemed to be directly in front of the gazebo (and that is the spot I would push for if you want the beach). But if you prefer the gazebo, I would tell your husband that the gazebo has all the benefits of the beach except the sand in your feet. The view, the breeze, the palm trees, etc, etc. We preferred it actually because it was a better view (slightly elevated above the beach) and a bit more private plus it helped eliminate the beach gawkers in their speedos that will inevitably stand 10 yards away if you're on the beach.

 

The cocktail hour location is just next door and again is such a beautiful place. It's perfect. Here's a link to some of our photos that might help you get a feel for the gazebo and we had our reception poolside which turned out amazing - better than we thought.

 

I tried to put photos together in this slideshow that offered some perspective on event planning, places, etc...

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/morytko/sets/72157631098991090/show/

[LoriOlivia]

Has anyone done a "Love at first site" trip recently? We leave in 3 weeks.

What can I expect?  Will you get to see the various table linens?  Can anyone tell me about the show room? Any tips or advice?

 

Thanks in advance!

[maridr2012]

I did a love @ first site trip in December and honestly it didn't go as well as I'd hoped I think in large part because there was lack of communication at the resort itself. When I arrived nobody seemed to know I was there for that, apparently they thought I was just there for a regular vacation and just happened to want to meet with the on site WC. so I would say call the resort itself, just suck it up and pay the long distance call fee and speak with someone in the wedding dept on site to confirm ur appt. this prob sounds like I'm nit picking but for example we never received the bottle of champagne or basket of fruit until I asked for it and it was delivered on day 3-my last night there. I never got to see a show room setup or linens..we were given a tour of the resort and shown where they do ceremonies and receptions but at that point I'd already seen most of it anyway from looking myself. We were shown the different hotel room classes. I never saw the bridal suite. For the food tasting, Miguelinamade an appt for us at the Gabi, we had already selected our choices for what we wanted to eat. We show up for our appt and they were closed! That communication never got to them-and that was set up by Miguelinamade 2 days after we'd already arrived! I raised a big stink and after 30 min we were set up at Vento the restaurant in the Reserve area. The food tasting after that went well I suggest ask to try as much food as you can. We ended up selecting our reception options from the Vento menu, NOT the selections they give u for the meal options. I think they allowed me to to that only because they'd already messed up so much lol. Take ALOT of pics as its so much you'll forget what the spaces look like. Try to observe a few weddings while ur there I'm sure you'll see a few and try to be friendly with some of the wedding purples there so u can get 1st hand feedback on their experience before & after. Good luck!

[Jessica4LUXE]

Hi Ladies,

 

The Love at First Site trip is  a great value and I often recommend it to my clients. I would suggest making a list of important questions for your meeting in advance. That way, you can have a very productive visit. If you already have a contact at the hotel, send them your questions ahead of time, along with any particular colour schemes you are considering. This will help the on-site team prepare themselves for your meeting.

 

Here are some important questions to ask:

 

1) What are all private event location capacities and cut off times?

2) What reception locations allow platted meals? Many outdoor spaces require buffet set up.

3) Outside vendor policies? Does the resort have a preffered vendor list? 

4) What forms of payment does the hotel accept? When is payment for the wedding due?

 

Happy Planning!

[mariel12]

I also did the Love at First Sight just last month in July. I had the same experience as maridr2012. when we arrived our names were in the royal service list so we got upgraded there. and we did have the appt set w/ one of the WC who showed us around the resort gave us some info on the places as we visited them and explained to us where the buffet vs plated dinners, areas to have ceremony, reception, etc... we only got the champagne bottle when we called for it and never got the fruit place. but honestly i didnt really read the love at first sight thing that well so i wasnt even aware that we were supposed to have one upon arrival in the room. and since we were royal service there were other things (delish desserts & rum bottle & stocked minibar) already there upon arrival so we didnt miss the other things. also the butler would get us whatever else we wanted upon request. we did go as part of our vacationing and the main thing we wanted to see was the resort and the areas to have ceremony, reception and see how everything looked like. so overall no sweat. the one thing i wish i wouldve known about was the food tasting. looking back i wouldve loved to have tried everything personally before choosing a menu. but im sure it'll be fine and all will work out well! 

[SimplenSweet]

Hey ladies! I'm hoping for some info!

 

I am now considering changing my ceremony from the beach to the gazebo. I had my heart set on the beach, however the ceremony is at 12pm, and I'm afraid there will be swimsuit-clad gawkers all around. Neither my fiance nor I have that as being on the top of our wedding list lol.

 

If we do the ceremony and the cocktail at the gazeb (we have 50 guests) how do they set up both? Do they already have the cocktail set up when you get there for the ceremony?

 

Thanks!!

[SimplenSweet]

Hey Maridr,

 

Just wondering since you're doing your ceremony and cocktail hour (and have about the same amount of guests as me) do yoku know how your set-up will look? I don't know how/when they set up the cocktail hour... is it after the ceremony or is it already set up? I'm guessing you are doing the setup like the picture I attached to accomodate all your guests?

 

[maridr2012]

Hmmm I actually hadn't seen that particular setup but I'm glad you shared it because I was wondering how they would accommodate my guests at the gazebo. The setups that I've seen are with the cocktail setup in the open space, exactly where the chairs are in ur pic. So...now I'm really wondering where they'll do my cocktail hour? Maybe on the other side?

[SimplenSweet]

Hey there...

 

I KNOW I am really concerned about that as well. Right now, I'm debating between doing the ceremony between the beach and the gazebo. Here are my main concerns:

 

1. The beach is my first choice. HOWEVER, my ceremony is at 12pm, so there will be lots of speedo-clad gawkers I'm sure around, and I really don't want this. I'm trying to get my WC to confirm that I could have a more private beach setting further down the beach. I don't mind people walking on the shore behind us, but I don't want to be right up next to people out lounging on their beach chairs and beside the cabanas (which is how the beach appears right down from the gazebo) unless you move the ceremony later in the evening. I don't have that option anymore because we're doing the boat cruise for our reception.

 

2. If I do the gazebo (which is still nice) I want the seating to be more out in the garden (I have 50 guests and I don't want them all squashed in around the gazebo in front of the fence. So, in order to do that, I think I'm going to have to reconfigure my cocktail set-up. They reported that "the cocktail won't be in the way, we'll set it up behind the guests"... which is almost as bad...

 

I'm stuck!