2013 Paradisus Palma Real

[angelnjewels]

Hey Ev , That is awesome I voted for you! What a good experience! I hope you guys win.

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by angelnjewels 

 

Hey Ev ,

That is awesome I voted for you! What a good experience! I hope you guys win.

Thanks Angel lol we appreciate it.

 

It's not a biggie because we are proceeding full speed ahead with or destination wedding. We are already in too deep lol. We also just attended a formal engagement party for a friend at a catering hall last night- mind you it was an engagement party! And she was in a full white trumpet style dress, there was a 5 tiered gorgeous cake, centerpieces, DJ- the works. And this wasn't even their wedding! 

 

But the pasta appetizer came back cold, the steak was overdone, the DJ was irritating, the drinks were weak, some guests were cemented in their chairs- my fiance turned to me and said "and this is what we would be able to afford so the same way we aren't too pleased with the food or service, this is what our guests would think about our wedding if we did it in NY. I don't regret our decision to go away" and it was in the back of my mind all night. There was nothing wrong with the celebration- but it was typical, run of the mill, same issues you always face at catering halls. Granted- it was just her engagement party- but the budget she spent on it, was the budget my fiance and I had for a NY wedding.

 

I feel like I'm looking at my wedding in a whole new light now lol 

[angelnjewels]

Ev, I agree. I have also been to weddings and parties and have had the same experience. the food, entertainment, decor and money $$$$ We have been to weddings and out of all we only like one catering hall in Brooklyn. Looking at it with all of thethings we want its gonna be over 60-70k. Thinking about how much we would spend on a wedding here for four hours is way out of our budget and minds. :eek: The experience of having your wedding at another country and making it a vacation is an amazing experience for you and your guests. At first I did not like the idea but now it's more about saving money, having a spectacular wedding/ vacation/ honeymoon and time with the most important people in your lives. Your wedding will be unforgettable for you and your husband and guests... I am so excited. I feel like I dream about the wedding and my dress!!!

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by angelnjewels 

 

Ev,

I agree. I have also been to weddings and parties and have had the same experience. the food, entertainment, decor and money $$$$

We have been to weddings and out of all we only like one catering hall in Brooklyn. Looking at it with all of thethings we want its gonna be over 60-70k. Thinking about how much we would spend on a wedding here for four hours is way out of our budget and minds.

The experience of having your wedding at another country and making it a vacation is an amazing experience for you and your guests. At first I did not like the idea but now it's more about saving money, having a spectacular wedding/ vacation/ honeymoon and time with the most important people in your lives.

Your wedding will be unforgettable for you and your husband and guests...

I am so excited. I feel like I dream about the wedding and my dress!!!

 

Precisely. When it comes down to it- we simply can't afford a stateside wedding even if we want to! LOL We could spend the same budget we are spending for our wedding in DR but in NY it would be a cheap, cutting corners type of wedding. In order to achieve the caliber of wedding we are having in DR in NY we would have to spend closer to $50,000.

 

Destination allllll the way.

 

Yay! I'm so excited for us haha 

[evbaez]

Hi Ev, Im interested in having my ceremony at a church and having the cocktail and reception at the resort. How are you coordinating the church ceremony?

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by evbaez 

 

Hi Ev, Im interested in having my ceremony at a church and having the cocktail and reception at the resort. How are you coordinating the church ceremony?

Hey EV

 

We picked our date around the availability of the church. When I initially booked- I gave Lauren the sales agent two possible dates and told her upfront we wanted a church ceremony. She came back with a time that the priest was available and thats the date we chose. It took a little bit for her to respond because the church is a little slow to respond. 

 

If you have not settled on a date yet- let your planning coordinator know a few dates that would work and ask on which date the priest is available. If you already have a date and invites of save the dates are already out, then let them know right away you are interested in a church ceremony and keep your fingers crossed!

 

I hope you are able to book the church! I have pics of it on the inside and outside. It's about $1,100 between the church fee and government taxes to get married in the church. But it is only 10 minutes from the resort, will guarantee privacy, gives guest variety in location, and the ceremony is 45 min-1 hr long, which was a big deal for me.

 

There's a bit of paperwork involved with booking the church- but not a reason to shy away. You have to have completed all your sacraments (my fiance and I did them together 3 years ago) and show the certificate, you need to complete Pre-Cana classes which my fiance and I started- and actually enjoyed, and then you also need your regular parish priest to write a letter granting permission for you to marry outside the U.S. I was a little intimidated at first, but unwavering in my decision to have a church ceremony. 

 

I tried contacting the church on my own and they didn't respond. Then Paradisus sent me info for the church and there was a letter from the priest asking that all plans be made through the resort. So they won't respond if you call or email directly. You have to let the wedding coordinators handle it.

 

Good Luck! 

[evbaez]

Thank you so much for this information.

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by evbaez 

 

Thank you so much for this information.

 

No problem. I love to help if I can. Usually I'm the one in need of help! I hope more brides join this thread...its kind of quiet here! 

[SexyCebuana]

Originally Posted by Suzhen 

 

Hi girls!

We just confirmed our wedding date at the paradisus Palma real for may 19 2013. We are leaning toward garden gazebo ceremony and beach reception. I wanted to find out what you all plan to do for your cocktail hour in terms of location? Also is anyone doing a rehearsal dinner? If so are you doing private and where? I would love to hear the details of your selections, I am a bit overwhelmed by all the selections...

Thx!

Suzanne

hey Suzhen,

I thought that the palma real didn't have the gazebo as an option for the ceremony which is why i was considering the paradisus punta cana..i'd much rather get married at the palma real so if they can make this happen i'm totally gonna go with the palma real! 

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by SexyCebuana 

 

hey Suzhen,

I thought that the palma real didn't have the gazebo as an option for the ceremony which is why i was considering the paradisus punta cana..i'd much rather get married at the palma real so if they can make this happen i'm totally gonna go with the palma real! 

It was listed in the attachment they sent me as a possibility for a location and I also spoke to the wedding coordinator about it. Before I knew we were going with the church I considered the gazebo. The gazebo is small and I'm not sure how many people it can facilitate. Seems like it is better suited for more intimate weddings. I think the couple fits inside and the guests sit on the sides.

 

It's in the garden.