Paradisus Punta Cana (PPC) Brides POST HERE!!

[lmazz729]

Absolutely! What can possibly be more important than marrying the love of your life in a gorgeous tropical Paradise?
 

[LoriOlivia]

Hi Guys,

We just got back from our "Love at first site" trip and I am soooo glad we went.  It's so much easier to visualize things now that we have seen it for ourselves.  Everyone there was insanely nice to us.

 

SimplenSweet I took more pics of the Gazebo for you but I can't find your email for the life of me!

Let me know where to send them too if you are interested.

 

I think we want our cocktail hour there.

Not too much foot traffic in front of the Gazebo (just a few royal service guest getting to their rooms).  But this is the road for all the golf carts/etc. I'm sure it will fit 50 people, although the sides do slope down sharply at some point.  You might get some nosey people on the beach looking, but because the Gazebo is up on a hill, they'd have to get very brazen to take a peak.

 

I had my heart set on getting married on the beach right in front of the Gazebo until I saw a wedding there during our trip.  The hotel was empty when we went (10-15% capacity max).  But it was terrible how many horribly selfish people in bathing suits lingered right next to the ceremony.  I wanted to scream at them!

I think it would be worse if there were more people at the hotel.

Anyone who has been there in January know how crowded it was?

 

We met with Jennifer and Elizabeth (Miguelena was on vacation) and they were so helpful.  AT first I was pissed I had to use their house photographer but we met with them too and were relieved!  No one was trying to up-sell us on anything.  Even Lara, who is the decorator was super-honest telling us what items were a "waste of money" and what not to bother with.

[SimplenSweet]

Hi Lori! My email is [email protected]

 

Sounds like you had a wonderful trip- so exciting!! I can't wait to see pics

[lmazz729]

LoriOlivia,

 

My daughter's wedding was this past January, the week following New Years. The resort was at full capacity. Her wedding was on the beach in front of the gazebo. As you know, it is right on the corner by the Royal Service beach. The people on that beach do not come over and watch.

The wedding party walked through the gazebo and down the steps onto the aisle runner, and towards the water. There were 12 in the wedding party, including the bride and groom, and 25 guests. The canopy was set up 100 feet or so down on the beach. All the usual lounge chairs, palm tree umbrellas and tables were pushed over at least 25 feet to the side of the ceremony site. I know that there were a slight few gawkers, because a couple ended up in the wedding pictures (although Rodrigo from HDC was extremely careful it was sometimes impossible to avoid them) but they were by the water in the back of the canopy. The WCs do a great job of keeping people away, and when there are lots of people on the resort it is less likely that everyone will notice a wedding down at one end.

The cocktail hour was on the side of the gazebo and it was wonderfully done.

Are you doing a civil ceremony?

[LoriOlivia]

Hi lmazz729! 

 

That sounds very different then what I saw.  

You are right no one from Royal service gawked although the purple towels were all over the chairs which I assume would be in Photos

However, on the other side of the ceremony there was almost no space between the wedding chairs and the regular beach.

People were sitting/standing right there and it was as if they were in the ceremony!

Not sure if you can see this photo of the set up below.

 

Did the staff actually move the lounge chairs for you and ask people to leave?  That was not the case for the wedding I witnessed.

 

 

 

file://localhost/Users/loriolivia/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Originals/2012/Sep%206,%202012/IMG_0779.JPG

[LoriOlivia]

Hi lmazz729! 

 

That sounds very different then what I saw.  

You are right no one from Royal service gawked although the purple towels were all over the chairs which I assume would be in Photos

However, on the other side of the ceremony there was almost no space between the wedding chairs and the regular beach.

People were sitting/standing right there and it was as if they were in the ceremony!

Not sure if you can see this photo of the set up below.

 

Did the staff actually move the lounge chairs for you and ask people to leave?  That was not the case for the wedding I witnessed.

 

We are having a symbolic ceremony?

 

 

 

file://localhost/Users/loriolivia/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Originals/2012/Sep%206,%202012/IMG_0779.JPG

[LoriOlivia]

Hi lmazz729! 

 

That sounds very different then what I saw.  

You are right no one from Royal service gawked although the purple towels were all over the chairs which I assume would be in Photos

However, on the other side of the ceremony there was almost no space between the wedding chairs and the regular beach.

People were sitting/standing right there and it was as if they were in the ceremony!

 

Did the staff actually move the lounge chairs for you and ask people to leave?  That was not the case for the wedding I witnessed.

 

We are having a symbolic ceremony?

[LoriOlivia]

Hi lmazz729! 

 

That sounds very different then what I saw.  

You are right no one from Royal service gawked although the purple towels were all over the chairs which I assume would be in Photos

However, on the other side of the ceremony there was almost no space between the wedding chairs and the regular beach.

People were sitting/standing right there and it was as if they were in the ceremony!

 

Did the staff actually move the lounge chairs for you and ask people to leave?  That was not the case for the wedding I witnessed.

 

We are having a symbolic ceremony?

[SimplenSweet]

LoriOlivia,

 

Thanks again for the pictures you sent me- so sweet of you! I am actually feeling a LOT less anxious about the whole ordeal... knowing that I have the gazebo (for either the cocktail or the ceremony) puts me at ease (believing that they can fit 50 guests in there!) It is nice to know that once you get down there that they will be taking care of me and my group- glad to hear they treated you guys well.

 

How did the sandy area beside of the gazebo look? Did it appear crowded? I was told I could use that area if I booked the gazebo but I could also go out in front of the gazebo on the beach as well. The cocktail hour is not as important to me for being private as the ceremony is. I've also considered the Nova Terrace for the cocktail (as my guests will be going to that area of the hotel to be picked up for La Barcaza anyways). Did you get a chance to see that area? I think I just wanted it to be more "beachy" looking even though that area does look very nice.

 

How was the weather? Hot and humid? I hear that in November the temps go down as well as the humidity- you should be good with your January wedding! I only have 61 days to go- and 59 days before we leave for the trip- I can't believe it.

[LoriOlivia]

SimplenSweet

You can probably see the sandy area by the beach in my photos.  It's where that wedding was set up.

When there's no wedding, that structure (and obviously the chairs) are completely removed and it's an empty roped off pathway between the Royal service and regular beach.  In front of the Gazebo is the street so not sure how that would work

 

If the resort is full I'd imagine there would be a lot of people right around that area at noon-1pm.  But I'm guessing you want pictures on the beach ?

 

The Nova Terrace is really nice and we will likely have our welcome reception there the night before.  It's right off the main bar in the main lobby but somewhat private.

I would say it depends how formal you want your wedding to be.

We are doing the whole simple barefoot in the sand thing.  But if you think your guests will be more dressed up.... not wanting to get all sandy.  The Nova Terrace would be great.

I you decide to do the Nova Terrace I'd talk to them about have the golf cart tram  (they just refer to it as transportation) waiting to take people there.

You'd probably have to make several trips.  Its is walkable-- would take about 10-15minutes, but 1.) not in heels because the ground is all uneven stones 2.) not when its really hot outside

 

Its was stinkin' hot when we where there and super humid.  I have no idea how anyone could get married in the summer there.  From what I read in January the temps go down to the low 80's during the day which is fine by me.   Either way, we are coming from the Northeast so warm weather will be appreciated in January!