Paradisus Punta Cana (PPC) Brides POST HERE!!

[Janinej9]

I would think that if you have already put down a deposit, prior to January 1, 2012, that this policy would not apply to you. I am curious as to whether this $1000 is for a year as previously mentioned. This is frustrating as I booked my wedding at PPC in October and am also using HDC. I have deposits down for both. Please keep us posted on any news.
 

Originally Posted by Janet1480 

Have you already booked with PPC? If so, they cant all of a sudden charge you. Your date and wedding is booked and if you chose the services of another vendor that is just simply too bad for Arecife. Also, I highly recommend you talk to your coordinator. They cant force you to use Arrecife because they are the preferred vendor of the resort. This is a very personal decision and an important one, your photographs are all you will have left of your wedding day and perhaps Arrecife style and photography is not to your liking and perhaps you are not satisfied with their packages. If they are going to charge $1000.00 they better be prepared to be REALLY flexible with their packages or a lot of brides will be walking away from having their weddings at PPC. And also, I dont think its up to Arrecife to dictate what the charges will be if you dont book with them. I would be livid and fighting this battle to the nines.

Good Luck!
 

 

 

Originally Posted by cdc150 

Looks that this email I got this morning from Arrecife Photography....  I'm about to flip out:

 

would like to inform you that we have no objection if you decide to use the services of Photo-souvenir, but from day January 1st 2012 we start charging a Fee of $ 1,000.00 to anyone who uses the services of external photographers while we were official company at the resort.

 

 

 

[ayansi08]

HI!

 

I actually got in touch with her via email. I'm using a TA she had recommended, so I was able to track her down!
 

Originally Posted by trivera5521 

Thanks a bunch Ayansi08! I just emailed her, although I didnt have the opportunity to work with her...she is praised all over this forum!!! How did you find her?

 

 

 

[ayansi08]

It really depends on the size of your wedding. Like I mentioned before, I had MAJOR issues getting assigned to a planner after she was let go. So my fiancee and I were more than happy to pay to have her! Just email her, and try to set up a call. She is so worth it!!! And I'm sure can give you some advice regarding the issues you are currently having.

 

Honestly, I was a bit worried before she told me her rate just because I figured I would use Miguelina since she already came included with the package. But after talking with Theresa, and she told me her rate, I don't think it's high at all, and total worth it.
 

Originally Posted by maridr2012 

Ayansi08:  Is Theresa's fee as wedding planner high?  I also had the pleasure of working with her shortly before she was let go, and she was wonderful.  Unfortunately, by the time I actually paid my deposit and locked in my date, she was already gone.  I may very well reach out to her.  I already booked PPC for my November 2012 wedding, and all of the posts on here are starting to really concern me.  

 

I definitely DONT want to use Arrecife.  I dont like the style of their photography...I've seen so many of their photos on blogs and they leave me un-impressed.  I'm leaning towards HDC...so I need to get on the ball very quickly about finding out for sure what all these penalties and extra fees are.  PPC is very expensive and even though I'm having about 80 people for my wedding, they weren't willing to provide a group rate unless I signed a contract...which I'm not willing to take on that financial responsibility.  Its ridiculous that they are now trying to find ways to upcharge bridal couples now for not using their preferred photographer..which sorry to be blunt...SUCKS A$$.

 

 

 

[SarahNBobby]

Upon speaking to Lauren, she said that this is true, but, like my DJ, you get around the outside vendor fee by making them a guest of your wedding.  Paying for a room for them for a night is a heck of alot cheaper and maybe they'll throw something in for free for having a free night at an all inclusive resort.

Have you tried calling them?  I've been calling all morning and it just keeps coming up busy???

[lmazz729]

Hi SarahNBobby and all other Ladies;

 

     This is my first post but I have been following this thread for months. I stumbled on it when investigating Arrecife for my daughter's wedding on January 7th. Yes, a week ago. She had been extremely busy finishing her coursework for college graduation, working part-time and doing a part-time internship. I helped with much of the research and planning, but the final decisions were made by her and her fiance(now husband).

She ended up using HDC photo, and the pictures are amazing! I will try and upload some.

     I attempted to submit this on Wednesday, after writing a very long post, but it never went through. I am going to try and get it through now to see if it was the length that was the problem.

 

[lmazz729]

Hi SarahNBobby and all Ladies;

 

     This is my first post, but I have been following this thread for months. I came across it when researching information about Arrecife. I am the mother of the bride, and my daughter was married at PPC last Saturday, January 7th. We chose HDC Photo, and the pictures are spectacular! We had Rodrigo as the photographer and he was professional and very nice. The CD of all the photos was ready on Tuesday before we left.

     I tried to post a very long review on Wednesday, but had trouble getting the post submitted. I am trying again.

[johnm]

I've been reading through quite a few posts on this site recently. Thank you to all of you for the help. I'm the groom and I've been put in charge of pretty much all the planning. We've already booked PPC and will be getting married on June 7, 2012. We're still working out all our details but do have the gazebo reserved. I will certainly share anything worthwhile. We're picking our photographer right now too so I'm concerned about the potential for increased fees/costs. 

[lmazz729]

JohnM

 

I do not have any information about the outside vendor fees for 2012, as all our plans were finalized last November. I had several unsatisfactory e-mail messages from Lauren( and my daughter was less than impressed during the planning call) because she never gave any advice or made any suggestions. If you can get around the costs, I would highly recommend HDC photo as they are very reasonably priced and the pictures are outstanding. Perhaps you can book a room for the photographer as a guest to get around the costs, as was previously suggested.

[lmazz729]

Okay, I'm going to try this again... My daughter was married at PPC on Saturday January 7th. I wanted to let you all know the pros and cons so that you can make plans and be prepared.

As everyone has said - this is a huge resort! The trolleys run about every 5 minutes, but very often go the entire circuit, rather than getting you where you want to go. After day 2 I opted to walk places because it was more direct. All the maps I was able to find beforehand did not have the legend. We got the general layout, but no specifics. I will attempt to upload the map we got at check-in, somebody please help me with this!

   Since this is a Carribbean resort, everything is slow. Check-in, service calls for problems with the rooms, transportation from one place to another, etc. Be prepared. Also, of the 38 guests and wedding party members, probably 20 had some problem with their room. Reservations were not correct or the room itself had an issue. Unless everyone has an International plan on their cell phone, it is also hard to keep track of everyone, especially if they all come in on different days.

We arrived on Tuesday, and has guests arriving until Friday. Most of the guests were checked in by Thursday, so we planned a dinner at the seafood restaurant "Luna". We did not arrange this ahead of time, as Lauren said that any reservation for over 20 people would be an extra $15 per person charge over the 20. The restaurant reservation desk in the lobby booked the reservation and arranged a "set" menu, which a few people ignored and ordered off the menu. We had our own area and own wait staff. The food was excellent, and the service was outstanding.

[cdc150]

Lmazz, I'm confused.... you just went to the lobby to book a reservation for all 38 people to avoid the $15? I would love to do some sort of "rehearsal" dinner but don't want to pay the resort any more money since they are charging so much already. 

 

Also, what was wrong with the rooms?  I keep hearing there are room problems, but you would think at this point they would be fixed? 

 

How was the wedding itself?

 

Any other insight would be appreciated! 
 

Originally Posted by lmazz729 

Okay, I'm going to try this again... My daughter was married at PPC on Saturday January 7th. I wanted to let you all know the pros and cons so that you can make plans and be prepared.

As everyone has said - this is a huge resort! The trolleys run about every 5 minutes, but very often go the entire circuit, rather than getting you where you want to go. After day 2 I opted to walk places because it was more direct. All the maps I was able to find beforehand did not have the legend. We got the general layout, but no specifics. I will attempt to upload the map we got at check-in, somebody please help me with this!

   Since this is a Carribbean resort, everything is slow. Check-in, service calls for problems with the rooms, transportation from one place to another, etc. Be prepared. Also, of the 38 guests and wedding party members, probably 20 had some problem with their room. Reservations were not correct or the room itself had an issue. Unless everyone has an International plan on their cell phone, it is also hard to keep track of everyone, especially if they all come in on different days.

We arrived on Tuesday, and has guests arriving until Friday. Most of the guests were checked in by Thursday, so we planned a dinner at the seafood restaurant "Luna". We did not arrange this ahead of time, as Lauren said that any reservation for over 20 people would be an extra $15 per person charge over the 20. The restaurant reservation desk in the lobby booked the reservation and arranged a "set" menu, which a few people ignored and ordered off the menu. We had our own area and own wait staff. The food was excellent, and the service was outstanding.