SUPER NEWBIE!

DominicanLeila · December 23, 2011

Hello-

I just got engaged a week ago and don't even know where to start until I get my "destination wedding planner" I ordered on Amazon LOLZ. Here's what I know for sure we want to get married in Punta Cana, we are inviting 60-70 people and think at least 40 will come. I don't want to get married on the sand. The date will most likely be in Jan or Feb 2013 but I hear there are better deals in Nov-Dec time frame. My guests are mostly coming from California, the east coast and some family from Santo Domingo. Any advice any of you can give me would be appreciated =)

For the DJ-We have a professional DJ friend I would just need to make sure I can get him the equipment he would need.

Photographer- I would need to get one. One of my guest is a photographer but I would like her to enjoy the party not be working she may take 'extras" though.

Venue: Don't know how to pick one there are so many great ones. We have emailed some to get some pricing and options.

Travel agent- I emailed wright I rather have everything arranged but I am also good at coordinating so we will see what the best pricing is.

That's all I have so far O and we are planning an engagement party next month...ugh! already stressing out bride...bride wow! I'm going to be a bride!!!

~Dominican Leila

LonaJ · December 30, 2011

Congrats on your engagement and welcome to the site! The beginning process is absolutely the most stressful! I've just started planning my wedding too and I'm already wanting to pull my hair out! lol! I'm a noobie too so here is the little advice I can give you.... as far as picking a venue just try to figure out what things are important for you to have and determine your budget and find out which hotels offer those things within your budget. I decided to go with Dreams because I really wanted to have a private reception, cocktail hour and an outside photographer and their receptions and cocktail hour are really affordable and there is no vendor fees for photographers. A lot of the hotels do have sound equipment that can be rented the day of the wedding so you should be fine with getting your friend the equipment he needs unless its turntables or something. If you decide not to use your friend for your photographer then you will be able to find plenty of information on photographers on this forum, but some of the popular ones are Photo Phil, HDC, Photosouvenir, caribbean emotions, Katya Nova and Julia Eskin. Some photographers that I've found that I liked that aren't mentioned on her too much are Karina Jensen and Cineart Photography. I've decided to go with Katya Nova she is AMAZING! I'm still deciding whether or not to use a travel agent myself but it seems like it will be less complicated that way. Hope this helped in some way lol Happy Planning!

DominicanLeila · December 31, 2011

Thank you soo much! I am actually considering making Dreams my venue but I also like Majestic colonial. Once I have all my questions answered from the resorts I will sit the fiance down and make a decision. I can't wait once the place is booked everything else will fall into place. I think once I have a place I will start looking at photographers thanks for all the recommendations.

Originally Posted by LonaJ

Congrats on your engagement and welcome to the site! The beginning process is absolutely the most stressful! I've just started planning my wedding too and I'm already wanting to pull my hair out! lol! I'm a noobie too so here is the little advice I can give you.... as far as picking a venue just try to figure out what things are important for you to have and determine your budget and find out which hotels offer those things within your budget. I decided to go with Dreams because I really wanted to have a private reception, cocktail hour and an outside photographer and their receptions and cocktail hour are really affordable and there is no vendor fees for photographers. A lot of the hotels do have sound equipment that can be rented the day of the wedding so you should be fine with getting your friend the equipment he needs unless its turntables or something. If you decide not to use your friend for your photographer then you will be able to find plenty of information on photographers on this forum, but some of the popular ones are Photo Phil, HDC, Photosouvenir, caribbean emotions, Katya Nova and Julia Eskin. Some photographers that I've found that I liked that aren't mentioned on her too much are Karina Jensen and Cineart Photography. I've decided to go with Katya Nova she is AMAZING! I'm still deciding whether or not to use a travel agent myself but it seems like it will be less complicated that way. Hope this helped in some way lol Happy Planning!