Paradisus Punta Cana (PPC) Brides POST HERE!!

[SimplenSweet]

 

 

 

 

 

[maridr2012]

If I understand correctly they have a more private beach area for Royal guests, maybe that's an option? Have you had your power planning call? I was supposed to hav it last week but it got postponed due to their phone system upgrade or something. It's now this Friday and I'll be firing away questions regarding this topic.

[johnm]

The Gazebo and beach area in front is actually right next to the Royal Service beach.

 

We were there and watched a few weddings on the beach. One group had groomsmen and guests just ask people that were sitting right by the ropes if they would mind moving during the ceremony. This was a later ceremony (4 or 6pm I think) so there was plenty of other open chairs for people to move to. That is one solution but if it's earlier in the day people may not have anywhere to move to as most of the chairs were occupied during the day.

 

I will say that to me the beach chair area is less of a problem than people on the beach itself. The people walking on the beach will watch from behind or next to the wedding ceremony and are more likely to be in photos or plain view whereas the people in lounge chairs are less noticeable.

 

It's all personal preference but if you really want the beach you might see about just making sure the staff and guests help by talking to guests sitting nearby about staying incognito and then talking to the photographer to be sure he stays aware of people in the background and moving to keep them out of the shot.

[SimplenSweet]

Hey guys... thanks for all the feedback. The resort basically told my WC that there weren't seperate areas of the beach and that it's the photographer who makes it look better. Bottom line is my fiance REALLY doesn't want any people around so we might even look to do the garden set up. I'm not asking my WC about it for a few days because I really bombarded her yesterday with emails and I feel bad about doing that. Since my finace does want total privacy, I think the only option is to do the garden or a terrace (no no no lol). I am definitely still having my cocktail at the gazebo. I like that the garden is also romantic... I think I'm stuck on the idea that "you are going to the DR you have to get married on the beach/have the beach or ocean in view, etc"  that I hear from people. I guess at the end of the day, I just need to do what my fiance and I want. I think it's most frustrating because I haven't been there to see how it would actually be, you know? Right now, my ceremony location is totally up in the air- anything could happen. Does anyone know if I can pick the spot once I get on site? (if I know exactly what I am using for the ceremony, flowers, alter, etc). I know that they don't have a wedding the day before my wedding so it shouldn't be a big deal for me to walk around and decide where we want the ceremony. If they don't let me do this, what If I picked out a location, and later got down there and decided I didn't like it? argh! haha

[maridr2012]

I was told that you need to pick your location ahead of time, because although they normally only do 1 wedding per day, they may do up to 2.  But...I have to defer back to what happens if there is a rain storm and you had your ceremony setup outdoors, they change your setting indoors, right?  And that's typically the morning of, a last minute thing.  So...I don't think its completely impossible.  With that said, the garden setting is very pretty.  The only thing is its literally right along one of the roads that the trolleys drive on.  Yes, it will be a bit more private because you dont have groups of people just standing there.  But just bare that in mind.  Also, my WC suggested to me that I NOT have my ceremony in 1 spot and the cocktail hour in another spot because for my size - 57, it becomes difficult logistically to move all those people from 1 spot to another.  if it were, say 10-20 people it'd be fine, everyone just walks over together or takes a trolley, no biggie.  But, with 50+ people, you may have some folks that start wandering off, or have to wait to take the next trolley, etc.

 

 

Originally Posted by SimplenSweet 

Hey guys... thanks for all the feedback. The resort basically told my WC that there weren't seperate areas of the beach and that it's the photographer who makes it look better. Bottom line is my fiance REALLY doesn't want any people around so we might even look to do the garden set up. I'm not asking my WC about it for a few days because I really bombarded her yesterday with emails and I feel bad about doing that. Since my finace does want total privacy, I think the only option is to do the garden or a terrace (no no no lol). I am definitely still having my cocktail at the gazebo. I like that the garden is also romantic... I think I'm stuck on the idea that "you are going to the DR you have to get married on the beach/have the beach or ocean in view, etc"  that I hear from people. I guess at the end of the day, I just need to do what my fiance and I want. I think it's most frustrating because I haven't been there to see how it would actually be, you know? Right now, my ceremony location is totally up in the air- anything could happen. Does anyone know if I can pick the spot once I get on site? (if I know exactly what I am using for the ceremony, flowers, alter, etc). I know that they don't have a wedding the day before my wedding so it shouldn't be a big deal for me to walk around and decide where we want the ceremony. If they don't let me do this, what If I picked out a location, and later got down there and decided I didn't like it? argh! haha

[lmazz729]

My daughter was married on the beach at 5:30 PM in January of this year, with the cocktail hour set up next to the gazebo. We all actually walked through the gazebo and out on the aisle runner set up on the sand. I know that there were gawkers, but not too many, because I saw them in some of the proofs. But really, everyone was so focused on the wedding itself, you really don't notice them. It's not like they were right in our faces. The WC does a really good job of keeping the people back.

The reception was set up down the beach in front of the Gabi on the sand.(Can you tell my daughter and son-in-law love the beach?) There was a back up plan in case of rain, which was the open terrace on the side of the lobby building. The decision was made the morning of the wedding and it turned out to be a gorgeous, sunny January day!!

Whatever you decide, the Romance Team does a fantastic job, and it will be the most fabulous wedding ever! I know that my daughter's wedding was perfect, and a day that she will remember all of her life.
 

[SimplenSweet]

Hey Maridr..

 

So you have been to the garden location? You went in December right? Was it very green? There are some pics that show November/December as not as green as months like May/June... what did you think of it? 

 

I was told that there are no other weddings the day before my wedding or the day of... so I wouldn't think itd be a big deal. 

 

Decisions decisions!

[maridr2012]

Yes I was there in December n saw it. It really is a lovely location very beautiful lush n green when I was there so I really wouldn't worry about that. I thought it was great but personally I felt like I'd rather have the ocean view although I didn't want a ceremony on the actual beach due to the gawkers in the pics plus I didn't want to walk in the sand with my gown. Lol how vain right?

[maridr2012]

The garden space is big they'll def be able to accommodate your guests comfortably. The only thing is your guests will more than likely need to all ake trolleys there unless they are rooming near the garden which if I recall correctly was near the Reserve area. Then for cocktail hour they'll need to hop back on a trolley or walk back to the cocktail location. My oncern -since we also considered the garden for my wedding-was I wanted to make everything as convenient as I could for my guests and keep everyone together. Also I figured we'd prob take a few shots along the ocean (I'm dreading that sand on my dress) and I wanted it to bright after the ceremony with everyone right there so I can get that outta the way n move on to relaxing n partying. Again I have almost 60 people so gazebo wedding and cocktail hour setup right there just seemed like the most convenient thing to do.

[SimplenSweet]

Thank you for the info! Very helpful... you have a point that it's nice to keep everyone together. I'm having right around 50 people so I know that will be a concern for me as well. I didn't realize that the resort was 96 acres?! I just read that. Holy cow. With doing the ceremony in the garden, it seems like the biggest thing is getting people to/from the cocktail hour. The good thing is all my wedding colors will "go" no matter what location I choose- I'm just doing sage green, light brown/goldish color, ivory and a light coral/peach.

 

Haha too funny about your dress! What kind of material is your gown? I can definitely see how you wouldn't want to get sand on something so nice. Mine is lace (with just a silk layer underneath) so sand would be pretty easy to shake out (heard it's hard to get it out of the organza and other "fluffy" layers). Have you decided on everything (bouquet, cake, etc etc)? I had my power planning meeting but I still wasn't sure about a lot of the items. I can say that I've narrowed things down usually between 2 items (for instance, I was chooseing between white rose bouquet for simplicity and colored lilies for tropical). Also, are you bringing/shipping boxes of items with you? I have been checking with my airline (American) and it looks like I can bring boxes or totes along with items. Most of my stuff I am taking is lightweight- but it's bulky and/or has more volume than weight. I'm just curious how others are bringing items (if at all!)

 

I feel confident in having the cocktail at the gazebo- that's a beautiful spot. I feel like the only way I'm going to feel comfortable that it will be private is to have it in the garden area. You are right- there's too many people on the beach just hanging around and it seems like a big risk to run- especially with my ceremony at noon.