"New Resort Opening May 1 2011" NOW LARIMAR ~ PUNTA CANA

[kitvb28]

I thought I would try to share some insight and help answer questions I can, and then hopefully someone will be able to help me answer a couple questions.

• As for the 3 business day rule, that is the Counties rule for legal weddings down there.  But I will say when I looked at other resorts they all had a 3 days rule also, so I think it is common.  I’m sure the biggest reason is so they get a couple more nights at the hotel out of you.  Also remember that there are 2-3 WC for both the NOW & Secerts resort and each resort can have up to 3 weddings per day.  I think the reason for the 3 day rule is so that they have enough time to dedicate the attention they need to for each wedding.
• Acutie – I agree with you that you don’t want to have to spend additional money so close to the wedding and also when you weren’t told this before.  When you sent in your deposit did you mark off the days you were planning on being there?  If so I would present that and the email documentation to the AM Resort GM.  Remember that the people that work as the WC at the NOW resort are just taking orders from the Corporate office.  I’m sure everything will work out fine and they will be able to take care of everything.  Here is the contact information I found 

 

AMResorts 7 Campus Boulevard Newtown Square, PA 19073 [email protected] (610) 359-8130

• WC meeting – I believe this meeting will be a couple hours as you will need to go through basically the excel spreadsheet you filled out.  Most likely they will not look at it until you get down there or a couple weeks before the wedding.  You will probably walk around the property to the areas where you are having your wedding and then go over set-up for everything.  Also you will go over meals, seating, decorations, timing, and anything else you need while you are down there. 
• Skygirl – of course you can come watch my wedding.  We are getting married on Sat. 10/6, 4pm at the Fountain.  Our colors are coral and turquoise, what about yours?  I will check the photo’s I have on my camera as I might have a couple pictures of the Ecilpse.  I was down there in Dec and had my sister take a ton of pictures of the property b/c my fiancé wasn’t there and I wanted to show him all the parts of the resort.

A couple questions I have, hopefully someone can help with:

1. Photography – I understand a lot of people are using a local vendor not the one the resort offers.  Who all are you using and what are their prices?  We are looking for photography for the whole day (getting ready, ceremony, and reception) along with all the RAW/high def. digital photo.   Also do you know what the additional fee is to bring an outside vendor in?  I thought I remember Cristina saying there was a fee if you didn’t use their photographer but I don’t remember the cost.
2. Welcome Dinner/Rehearsal – I’m wondering if any of you did or are planning a welcome dinner or rehersal with everyone?  We were talking about maybe doing a sunset boat cruise but since our numbers are a moving target it looks like it could get too pricey.  What are other people thinking about doing either on the resort or off?

Hope this helps a little bit, good luck!!!

[Mayrose]

 

July 21st, 2012 - Vizionme101 August 4, 2012 - Mayrose October 6, 2012 Kitvb28 October 8, 2012 - Skygirl October 19, 2012 - Kendall10-19-12 November 5, 2012 - MandyCross November 3, 2012 - SuzzMF

[Mayrose]

Val and Sarah, thank you for taking the time to post your reviews and share your pictures. you both look gorgeous.

 

About arriving 3 days before, to be honest I also thought it was only for legal weddings.

 

Acutie, I know you are stress, I would be too. But tomorrow is your night out. For tomorrow, forget about the wedding, and everything and just enjoy your night out. Don't let this ruin it. I am pretty sure everything will work out. I would definitely call the hotel directly on Monday if you didn't spoke to them today. Good luck!!

 

kitvb28, I am planning to use Huellas del caribe, this is their webpage www.hdcphoto.com. They list their prices on their page.

 

I would also like to do a rehearsal dinner but I am not sure if I want to pay for the dinner. For now, I am just planning for everyone to meet at the bar the night before the wedding. Just to hang out. Some of my friends and family want to go zip line. Going to see if I plan that. Other than that, don't know what else to do or plan for everyone. 

 

Good luck everyone with your planning

[vav11238]

 

I'm so sorry for everyone who has been having a really tough go of it lately. Here's to it getting better!!!

 

The three day rule, I too, thought was purely for legal weddings. And because my step-daughter was on school break, we had planned on getting there earlier than was necessary. But I was told that they wanted to meet with me several days before the wedding to sort out the details. But I had already booked our travel and knew we were getting there a week before the wedding. Skygirl, I feel your pain. My step-daughter is similar to you. If she even looks at the sun, she's freckly and red. Which she is in all our pictures because it is hard to get a kid to NOT want to be in the pool. My advice - loads of bottles of really high sun screen, a wide brim hat and a nice cover-up. I didn't know the extent of my SDs inability to be in the sun (since I'm not from Scotland) so I was under prepared (my hubby is a man - lol).

 

If no one told you about the 3 day rule (and contact Pastor Rick just to be 100% sure), then the resort should be able to let it slide. As long as you have your official marriage certificate, should be ok. But that's just my opinion on the matter. I think it matters far more for the WC because they need to meet with the chefs, bakers, get flowers ordered and decorations planned. 

 

The meeting with the WC took us three and 1/2 hours but I asked to stop then. I was wiped by that point and asked to return the next day. It was just full on questions. And the next day I had appointments with Mannia and Blue Lagoon http://bluelagoonstudio.com/. Where we went over the final details.  

 

They don't work on Sundays officially. But we saw them there everyday of the week. Most nights well past midnight because there are weddings happening or being planned. Typically they shouldn't be there on Sundays because it is the only day off they have. And they need one, trust me, poor Cristina runs around like a mad woman getting everything sorted out.  

 

If any of you have any other questions where answers can't be found earlier in the forum drop me an email [email protected]. Other than that, I wish all of you lovely brides amazing weddings!!!

[Skygirl]

I just emailed you:

my color is Turqoise ALSO!!!!

Originally Posted by kitvb28 

I thought I would try to share some insight and help answer questions I can, and then hopefully someone will be able to help me answer a couple questions.

• As for the 3 business day rule, that is the Counties rule for legal weddings down there.  But I will say when I looked at other resorts they all had a 3 days rule also, so I think it is common.  I’m sure the biggest reason is so they get a couple more nights at the hotel out of you.  Also remember that there are 2-3 WC for both the NOW & Secerts resort and each resort can have up to 3 weddings per day.  I think the reason for the 3 day rule is so that they have enough time to dedicate the attention they need to for each wedding.
• Acutie – I agree with you that you don’t want to have to spend additional money so close to the wedding and also when you weren’t told this before.  When you sent in your deposit did you mark off the days you were planning on being there?  If so I would present that and the email documentation to the AM Resort GM.  Remember that the people that work as the WC at the NOW resort are just taking orders from the Corporate office.  I’m sure everything will work out fine and they will be able to take care of everything.  Here is the contact information I found 

 

AMResorts 7 Campus Boulevard Newtown Square, PA 19073 [email protected] (610) 359-8130

• WC meeting – I believe this meeting will be a couple hours as you will need to go through basically the excel spreadsheet you filled out.  Most likely they will not look at it until you get down there or a couple weeks before the wedding.  You will probably walk around the property to the areas where you are having your wedding and then go over set-up for everything.  Also you will go over meals, seating, decorations, timing, and anything else you need while you are down there. 
• Skygirl – of course you can come watch my wedding.  We are getting married on Sat. 10/6, 4pm at the Fountain.  Our colors are coral and turquoise, what about yours?  I will check the photo’s I have on my camera as I might have a couple pictures of the Ecilpse.  I was down there in Dec and had my sister take a ton of pictures of the property b/c my fiancé wasn’t there and I wanted to show him all the parts of the resort.

A couple questions I have, hopefully someone can help with:

1. Photography – I understand a lot of people are using a local vendor not the one the resort offers.  Who all are you using and what are their prices?  We are looking for photography for the whole day (getting ready, ceremony, and reception) along with all the RAW/high def. digital photo.   Also do you know what the additional fee is to bring an outside vendor in?  I thought I remember Cristina saying there was a fee if you didn’t use their photographer but I don’t remember the cost.
2. Welcome Dinner/Rehearsal – I’m wondering if any of you did or are planning a welcome dinner or rehersal with everyone?  We were talking about maybe doing a sunset boat cruise but since our numbers are a moving target it looks like it could get too pricey.  What are other people thinking about doing either on the resort or off?

Hope this helps a little bit, good luck!!!

 

[Skygirl]

Ladies:

My future brother in law is the photographer in USA, since he is in the wedding, i can not use him. I want him to enjoy himself. So im hiring HDC for ceremony,formals and bride getting ready. But i do want a nice shot of cutting the cake, dance etc...so ill have my brother in law do it...

BUT, if anyone is interested, he may be able to do TTD or some type of photo shoot while he is there for some fee...so let me know if anyone is interested, Oct 9-13...

[sarahgn4t]

I used Milan from HDC and I was very pleased with him and his services. There were a few pics that my husbands eyes were closed and they fixed it. My hair was blowing in the wind and he fixed it. There was light shining on my husband and dad in pictures from the dance floor that made them looked bruised and they fixed it. So I think as a company they are amazing. I want to say if you go with the largest package they offer ($1550? around there) you get everything. I had pics of getting ready ceremony reception tons of pics on the beach etc. This package included 6 hours of photography, all of your digital proofs, some kind of album (I have not received it yet) but should get it by next week. A dvd slideshow of all my favorite picks (200 pics I think) also you get 350+ pictures printed by them. I didn't know which ones I should pick because it is very overwhelming but since you get all of the digital pictures it didn't really matter. I picked about ten pics that I loved and got a ton of copies to give to all my family. I also printed one of everyone 50 times so that I could make sure everyone got a copy of that. So don't stress too much. I think this package was well worth every penny. My aunt is a photographer too and she took a million pics but she said the package was very reasonable and that you get a lot for your $.

 

If I had to do it all over again I may change the videographer and hire someone from HDC. Maybe there needs to be two videographers to capture everything from different angles. I wasn't a huge fan of our video (included in the divine package and we paid extra to have him stay through reception). I am in contact with the videographer now to see if we can edit anything to make changes to it. I will let you know how that goes.

 

I forget who asked but it is $150 for each person that walks onto the property with outside vendors. Make sure to ask whomever you hire how many people are coming with them so you are prepared to pay that additional cost.

 

As far as the 3 day rule. Don't quote me but google it. I want to say that only applies to legal ceremonies and that may have changed in the last few years. I will try to find out where I saw that information.

 

When I met with Cristina it only took me about an hour to sit down with her and go over everything. I was pretty easy and just picked from what they offered. As far as rehearsal dinner goes......I was able to rent out the terrace at Capers for 46 people with a pre set menu but I did not pay anything for it? Not sure if there is something in the package that shows it is included but I would try and see if they will do something like that for free for everyone. We also looked at doing a boat cruise and even considered Jelly Fish for our rehearsal (food is amazing there) but when she gave us Capers we decided free was better. I am not sure if because the terrace at Capers is the only restaurant that has a divided space and that is why we were able to use that? No idea. But I would try for that. It was amazing!

 

[sarahgn4t]

If anyone has any questions please email me directly [email protected]

 

It is hard to keep checking and figure out what questions have been answered and what help you may need still!

I will say that I was so so stressed beforehand not having a wedding planner until the week before the wedding and nothing being confirmed from Claribel's mess but everything went perfect and they can make anything happen!!

 

Please let me know what you need and I will make sure to put you at ease!

Best of luck to all of you!

 

[Skygirl]

does anyone knows what flower choices are actually are part of the divine package?i saw pictures online on their site so as the cake options, but i was wondering which ones were part of our packages?anyone has any idea?tnx

[sarahgn4t]

Skygirl I am kind of confused at your question? The wedding guide shows what flower bouquets are included in the divine package. The cake options I think are the same for every package. We went with a basic cake and added real flowers. I think we paid $5 a flower on the cake. We only got the cake for 25 people and it was plenty for 46 people. I made my own bouquet and so I was able to get two smaller bouquets for my bridesmaids for the swap of my bouquet. Let me know if I answered that incorrectly I am kind of confused on what you are asking! )