Paradisus Punta Cana (PPC) Brides POST HERE!!

[shortnsweet]

Did anyone use the officiant provided by the resort for a symbolic ceremony? I've heard that sometimes it's the wedding planner, but I'd like a man to do it.

[kissta]

Thank you keedon2011 for your advice! After talking to our Romance Planner and hearing your experience, I am feeling much better about the space by the pool! Thanks again!

[kissta]

Hello Ladies! So I just had my planning call last week and thought I may let you guys know some details!
I had been using their Excel spreadsheet to price everything out ... turns out that spreadsheet is no longer valid. Each vendor is able to charge what they would like, except every vendor collects their fee from the resort (not including photography), so all payments go to the resort. My fiancé found this frustrating as the resort does not negotiate, but outside vendors do!

The resort's DJ is now RS Entertainment and not DJ Mannia.

The call was a lot quicker than I thought it would be, as I guess we will really hammer out the details when the on-site person at the resort contacts us (which I believe is a month out). The call was basically for extras, such as spa visits, etc. as I have already been invoices from Lara regarding decor.

Right now we are just focusing on our welcome bags. We are including flip flops (got them at Old Navy's $1 sale), packets of advil and tylenol, tums, wet ones wipes, deck of cards, map of events, door hangers (saying they were up late at our wedding!), sunscreen ... does anyone have any other ideas that are inexpensive and travel well?

Anyone have experience with the in-house photography? So far, Taimir has provided great customer service to us, just wondering how people liked their photos?

Have a wonderful day!

[kissta]

Hello Ladies! So I just had my planning call last week and thought I may let you guys know some details!
I had been using their Excel spreadsheet to price everything out ... turns out that spreadsheet is no longer valid. Each vendor is able to charge what they would like, except every vendor collects their fee from the resort (not including photography), so all payments go to the resort. My fiancé found this frustrating as the resort does not negotiate, but outside vendors do!

The resort's DJ is now RS Entertainment and not DJ Mannia.

The call was a lot quicker than I thought it would be, as I guess we will really hammer out the details when the on-site person at the resort contacts us (which I believe is a month out). The call was basically for extras, such as spa visits, etc. as I have already been invoices from Lara regarding decor.

Right now we are just focusing on our welcome bags. We are including flip flops (got them at Old Navy's $1 sale), packets of advil and tylenol, tums, wet ones wipes, deck of cards, map of events, door hangers (saying they were up late at our wedding!), sunscreen ... does anyone have any other ideas that are inexpensive and travel well?

Anyone have experience with the in-house photography? So far, Taimir has provided great customer service to us, just wondering how people liked their photos?

Have a wonderful day!

[shortnsweet]

Online reviews keep mentioning outdated rooms and the long check in process. Anyone experience this? Unless you are reserve or royal service you apparently have to wait to check in. Then, for royal service, your butler's main responsibility is to sell you a timeshare. People are writing that if you don't want it, then they don't help you the rest of your visit.

[TishaJules]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortnsweet 

Online reviews keep mentioning outdated rooms and the long check in process. Anyone experience this? Unless you are reserve or royal service you apparently have to wait to check in. Then, for royal service, your butler's main responsibility is to sell you a timeshare. People are writing that if you don't want it, then they don't help you the rest of your visit.

 

I know that my planner was there for 3 weddings a few months ago AND Shelli from Destination Weddings was there last October and both RAVED about the upgrades that have been done to the hotel. I see alot of pics, and watch alot of wedding videos and on this blog, talk to different brides that had different experiences..but none that you mentioned. I'm booked in the reserve with close to 25 rooms booked - so I was told I would have not wait but a desk would be set up since most of my guest will arrive on the same day. I'm not sure about the Royal service at all, but I did read that there is not a private butler, but a butler per floor (or something along those lines.) I wish I could be more of a help to you... :-( I thank goodness that I don't go through the Miami office because they were useless to me and made my planning more difficult in the beginning. At least using my planner - I get honest feedback about how things work, and what I should avoid, or go for. Good Luck my luv!

[shortnsweet]

Originally Posted by TishaJules 

 

 

I know that my planner was there for 3 weddings a few months ago AND Shelli from Destination Weddings was there last October and both RAVED about the upgrades that have been done to the hotel. I see alot of pics, and watch alot of wedding videos and on this blog, talk to different brides that had different experiences..but none that you mentioned. I'm booked in the reserve with close to 25 rooms booked - so I was told I would have not wait but a desk would be set up since most of my guest will arrive on the same day. I'm not sure about the Royal service at all, but I did read that there is not a private butler, but a butler per floor (or something along those lines.)I wish I could be more of a help to you... :-( I thank goodness that I don't go through the Miami office because they were useless to me and made my planning more difficult in the beginning. At least using my planner - I get honest feedback about how things work, and what I should avoid, or go for. Good Luck my luv!

 

You have no idea how much I needed to hear what you said! The only upgrades I heard about were the bikes. Soooooo where are you seeing these new pics????

 

I haven't hired a separate planner, but thanks to this board I learned early on not to work with the Miami office.

[Katie83]

Does anyone know if we can light those wishing lanterns on the beach in the Dominican Republic?

[TishaJules]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie83 

Does anyone know if we can light those wishing lanterns on the beach in the Dominican Republic?

 

Hi Katie...If those are the lanterns that go up in the air and fly away...NOPE. I wanted to do the same thing but they have rules because it can dirty the beach, and get in the water and hurt the fish and wildlife.

[kissta]

Originally Posted by shortnsweet 

 

 

You have no idea how much I needed to hear what you said! The only upgrades I heard about were the bikes. Soooooo where are you seeing these new pics????

 

I haven't hired a separate planner, but thanks to this board I learned early on not to work with the Miami office.

My travel agent just got back from PPC and she said it looked great and most of the rooms have been renovated! May I ask what bikes you are talking about? Is this to get around the resort?

A lot of ladies on this board have mentioned how poor the service has been through the Miami office, but I haven't experienced this. They promptly return my emails and telephone calls (and I have been contacting them over a year out from my wedding date).

Perhaps for a bride who is not on this blog, they may find some problems. The Miami Romance Team just goes through a little list of wants and do not wants, but since I ask all my questions on this board, I feel well prepared and bring things up to the team that they do not mention. If you do all the research yourself (like I have been doing for over a year), you might find yourself being pleased with the service you get through the Miami office. It would have been nice to have a destination wedding planner, but I opted not to go through with one because I wasn't sure how much of my budget that service would have consumed!

If you choose to go through Miami, do all your research, like you are now, and I think you'd be fine with them.

I have been dealing with Jessica and she's really nice and organized.

Happy planning!!