2013 Paradisus Palma Real

[SexyCebuana]

Ohhhh I thought we were talking about the beach gazebo! Sorry but thanks for the info you've been pretty awesome throughout this thread.

[MissyBee]

Is anyone doing a Welcome Cocktail Reception? I heard that it may be included if you book a certain number of rooms, but I am not sure.

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by SexyCebuana 

 

Ohhhh I thought we were talking about the beach gazebo! Sorry but thanks for the info you've been pretty awesome throughout this thread.

Thanks. I'm a planning nut- it shouldn't be, but my wedding is on my mind all the live long day so I visit this site a lot!

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by MissyBee 

 

Is anyone doing a Welcome Cocktail Reception? I heard that it may be included if you book a certain number of rooms, but I am not sure.

I haven't heard about it being included. Could be part of a promotion perhaps? The only promotion I know of is getting a free room for 3 nights for every 10 rooms booked. 

 

We thought about doing a welcome reception but our guests are all arriving at different points. We are flying in on Wednesday and some people are coming Thursday, with our wedding on Friday. We are just sticking to the rehearsal dinner- which I will just make a reservation for since it is an all inclusive! Why spend the extra money?

 

I think La Barcaza is cool though. If we have extra money left in the budget we may do one of the "booze cruises". For brides with a gap in between their ceremony and their reception- it is a perfect idea. I kind of wish I had a gap now but my wedding is at 5 and its an hour, with my cocktail reception starting at 7. We don't even have time for pics! So we have to do a first look which I was trying to avoid. I wanted him to see me for the first time down the aisle. But our photographer assured us that first looks an be so much fun- he said they are actually his favorite. 

 

Like I said- if budget allows, we will try to do a farewell reception the day after on La Barcaza. If we don't have the money, we will just make a reservation- most likely at the hibachi since it can facilitate a larger crowd.

[MissyBee]

yes, it was part of a promotion. our contract says:

 

1 hour comp cocktail party for all inclusive hotels with domestic drinks
(wedding group cocktail party applicable is the complimentary amenity included
in Wedding Romance Package. Only 1 complimentary cocktail party)

 

I was hoping to decipher what this actually means. Our wedding is on a Sat , so we were planning on doing this on Thurs and giving everyone Friday as a "free" day. I love the idea of an excursion on La Barcaza , but I dont think it is going to be in budget for us.

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by MissyBee 

 

yes, it was part of a promotion. our contract says:

 

1 hour comp cocktail party for all inclusive hotels with domestic drinks

(wedding group cocktail party applicable is the complimentary amenity included

in Wedding Romance Package. Only 1 complimentary cocktail party)

 

I was hoping to decipher what this actually means. Our wedding is on a Sat , so we were planning on doing this on Thurs and giving everyone Friday as a "free" day. I love the idea of an excursion on La Barcaza , but I dont think it is going to be in budget for us.

Oh that's cool- that must be the new promotion for 2012-2013. The last deal was the one free room for every ten. Thats the promotion we were offered. No free cocktail party.

 

Are most of your guests flying in on Wednesday? Well if its free forget La Barcaza! LOL nothing better than free. Thursday is a good choice because this way, if people go overboard on the drinking they will still have a day to recuperate before your wedding. Are you planning on having a rehearsal dinner for your bridal party on Friday? I think at least 1 activity a day with the couple and guests keeps everyone in the loop. It's such a big resort that if people aren't rooming close to each other, it might be hard to corral guests.

 

Are you planning on creating an itinerary for guests? Also, are you doing welcome bags? I'd like to do welcome bags with some fun goodies, a thank you note, and itineraries so people have an idea of our schedule. If you make an itinerary you could indicate that Friday is a free day for guests and make some activities optional for guests. But I'm sure everyone will want to mostly hang together. I'm hoping thats the case with our guests. I know some of my family doesn't travel often and has never been to DR so they will definitely be following me around haha.

 

There are some cool activities at the resort like shows and water sports. You can add them to the itinerary as options for people to get together and chill.

[SexyCebuana]

Can you get around this ridiculous $1000 fee for an outside photographer? HELP! it seems a it extreme, wasn't a fan of their TTD sessions either....

[OohItsVero]

Hello Ladies!

 

My husband and I got married last year in June (JOP) and no matter how much I try to avoid it - we are having a wedding My girlfriend got married last yr 12/11 in Paradisus Punta Cana. I loved it! BUT - I was not impressed with certain restaurants and some of the rooms had problems (if you were not in a renovated room - plumbing would be an issue). She told me she got a vip pkg which gave her access to restaurants not everyone had. My BF is starting her event planning business and I get to be her first customer. I told her the islands I would want to have the wedding at and she found the Paradisus line, I picked PPR. So far, customer service has been excellent! Im going to book my date this week and order my save the dates. My husband's friends opened their own travel agency from home recently, so I will give folks the option of using them or finding their own if they choose.

 

I am going to pick the CHIC package. We have narrowed down our list down to 26 invites. My GF sent me her invoice and pricing of extras which gives me a good idea of expenses that will be incurred. At her wedding, she spent money on LED lights and it made her reception look like a million bucks! I am also going to call Theresa, so she can help me continue to cut corners. I have enjoyed reading the abundance of information....

[DP1andDP2]

Originally Posted by SexyCebuana 

 

Can you get around this ridiculous $1000 fee for an outside photographer? HELP! it seems a it extreme, wasn't a fan of their TTD sessions either....

If you find a way around the $1000 fee for outside photographers, please let me know. Another option that I know of is bringing a photographer from overseas who is staying at the hotel. The fee is waived if the photographer is a guest. I hope this helps. My FI and I are considering the option to bring a photographer from the U.S.

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by SexyCebuana 

 

Can you get around this ridiculous $1000 fee for an outside photographer? HELP! it seems a it extreme, wasn't a fan of their TTD sessions either....

 

Well you will get conflicting information on this site because some brides say you can get around it and others will say you can't. I guess every experience is different. I wasn't a fan of their TTD at all but I have seen some nice event photos- but not enough to convince me they were the right photographer for us.

 

I say do your HW and pretend the fee doesn't exist. Find a few photographers you love and see what the terms are. If it fits in your budget- go with one you love. I found a few in DR that I really liked, they just weren't available on my date. It really depends on what are the things you care most about on your day and for every couple its different. Photography was a very big deal for us. So we didn't cut corners there.

 

As far as the fee goes- here's the deal- and my info is both straight from the resort and 2 photographers including my own-

 

The fee is because the resort has an exclusive agreement contract with Arrecife to use them. That was a poor decision if you ask me. I have no clue why they would enter into an agreement that iron clad but whatever. If a couple is interested in using an outside vendor- they must pay a $1,000 fee to "break" the exclusivity agreement. When I explained this in the PPC thread, one of the brides said her WC told her the fee was charged to the photographer and not the couple. Are you kidding me? Of course the couple ends up paying it because the photographer is going to put it back on the couple. Why would they pay the fee? So that WC is living in a bubble. She had the nerve to tell the bride "the fee is assessed to the photographer for him to shoot your day. The couple doesn't pay the fee." And in fact- that goes against what my WC told me. 

 

You also have to pay for a day pass for your photographer to access the resort so its actually $1,100 and not $1,000. Balderdash! The fee is really designed to pigeonhole you into using Arrecife because before they instated this craziness- brides were constantly bringing in outside photographers and Arrecife was not doing any business. To discourage brides they created this fee. Majestic has one too- theirs is $300. But $300 is an easy pill to swallow, $1,000? Not so much.

 

Brides try to get around the fee by booking a room for their photographer and saying the photographer is a friend who is taking pictures. That might work if your photographer plans on taking iphone pictures, but the minute she/he whips out a professional camera- the gig is up. And I spoke with another bride who said she tried this "trick" and she ended up having to have the photographer put the camera away and there is minimal coverage of her day. I'm sorry- but at that point, I'd just pay the fee. 

 

So here's the real question- do you like Arrecife enough to make them your photographer and save yourself the $1,100 fee?- If yes, will you truly be happy with the photos? Don't book them unless you absolutely love them! My friends have horror stories about their wedding photos (Different photographers, not Arrecife). My friends is still waiting for her photos 3 years after her wedding- and it was because she went with a friend to save money. She said she regrets it and wished she had picked the photographer she wanted- but they were trying to save money.

 

In my humble opinion- photography lasts after everything else is gone. So skimp on the invitations and make them, make your own centerpieces, downgrade to a cheaper package, invite fewer guests, cut out souvenirs (that end up in the garbage or as a dust collector) skimp on the DJ if you have to- BUT NOT THE PHOTOGRAPHY!

 

We are currently using the Aqua package but we may downgrade to the Chill Out Chic.