2013 Paradisus Palma Real

[angelnjewels]

Ugh Im sorry to hear everyone's stories.... i think most people including myself try to do a destination wedding to avoid stress, but needless to say, that certainly is not the case! Just an FYI if any other brides booked a room block through the hotel, make sure you release the unbooked rooms 45 days prior to wedding or when you know you have enough rooms booked. I had booked extra rooms and they said to me if i dont release them i would be responsible for the cost of 3 nights for the unbooked rooms! I dont think so!!! Another so it seems like the buffet place is the only option for rehearsal dinner? I guess I will do that and maybe have all my guests go to a bar after and dominate the area. Is anyone extending the reception an extra? Its only 3 hours with the package and it ends up being close to another grand to extend. I feel like we should for our guests. But my fiance, my mom and my MOH arent convinced we need- what are your thoughts???

Hi Erica, I agree we decided to have a destination wedding because of less stress and less money but things seem to add up... How much is to block rooms?? Did you do this through the Miami office? As far as adding an extra hour if it's I your budget... Do it!!! But if not there is always the lounge!! By the lobby there is a red lounge where they play great music, room for dancing and drinking. I believe it goes until 2am... You can take the party there

[erica12]

Thanks for the info! We ended up opting out of the extra hour because it would another grand for it and its kind of ridiuclous to pay for a open when the resort is all inclusive.

 

With the room block, you end up paying a 100 dollar deposit for each room you reserve then you get refunded the money with either the cost of the wedding, the wedding extras, or your rooming stay. You also get 3 complimentary nights if you book 10 or more rooms which was a huge help for us. For just the basic room, its 180 per person per night if there are two people in the room. In hindsight, I probably should have went through a travel agent who could have maybe gotten a better deal for my guests. So i kinda feel bad about that.

 

For those of you who have discussed the bridal suite, have you seen it? My bridesmaid (6) and I are getting our hair done at the spa so Im not sure if even its small its worth it.

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by angelnjewels 

 

 

Ev thank you!!! As I mentioned on a previous post I love this site... I have started to realize that PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS COMPLAIN!!!! I am inviting a whole bunch of people to the wedding... My mom and I continue it argue, I cry everyday and I fight with my fiancé often ,.... Things that never happened in the past are happening now... I

 

 

I finally heard from 4 bridesmaids so that is good... I am waiting for the rest to respond...

 

 

Who are you going to have as a MOH now??? That is totally not right!!!

 

I hear from my mom that I should just get married at city hall since it is hard for people to make it..l she old me to invite people who live in DR already because if not it will look UGLY on my part not to do so.... It is crazy because my fiancé and I are planning to pay for this ourselves... Ugh!!! DRAMA

 

 

 

Good luck and I hope things work out for you!!!

 

I am so sorry you are fighting and having to cry. My fiance actually pushed the most for the DW so him and I do not fight other than when I feel awful when people give me their sob stories about why they can't attend which makes me feel bad. I have a few tried and true attendees who cheer me up though- like my cousin who puts a picture of a beach or other tropical theme every month on instagram with a countdown and tags me saying "can't wait...4 more months until Punta Cana" and little things like that remind me why I wanted to have a DW in the first place. Or my Matron of honor sending me pics of shoes and bathing suits. HAHA. My MOH stepped down but I had a Matron of Honor as well so she has assumed all the responsibilities and thats ok with me. She is a better friend anyway. She told me "I am on call anything you need you ask for and I will make it happen". She visits me at my second job (bartender at night) and just sits at the bar to keep me company and talk. She has offered to lend me money if I fall short and I can pay her back (although I hope it oesnt come to this, its good to have the life line) and she is insisting on hosting a bridal shower for me even though she will have to pay for it. She also planned my bachelorette party. So she is on the ball and I'm lucky to have her help and friendship. The MOH who dropped says she is still coming but only wants to be a bridesmaid. 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by angelnjewels 

 

 

Hi Erica,

 

I agree we decided to have a destination wedding because of less stress and less money but things seem to add up...

 

How much is to block rooms?? Did you do this through the Miami office?

 

 

As far as adding an extra hour if it's I your budget... Do it!!! But if not there is always the lounge!! By the lobby there is a red lounge where they play great music, room for dancing and drinking. I believe it goes until 2am... You can take the party there

We thought about paying the extra hour- but we have decided to do exactly as you have suggested- after party in the club. We are having an AHR here and I just cannot spend the extra money on things when I can find a way around them for free. I also thought about renting the bridal suite but have decided against it- $300 that can be spent elsewhere. 

 

The block of rooms you can do through Miami- but I prefer to let them handle as little as possible because they cannot keep their communication straight. For example- my planning call was all set and then I get an email asking me to schedule one for a time I couldn't do and asking questions I already sent emails about like who my photographer is and who my DJ is etc. I used my own travel agent and although some of my guests complain she isn't always reachable- I think she is phenomenal. . She did the block of rooms for me. We paid $1500 to reserve 15 rooms. It's $50 a person with the assumption there are two in a room. As soon as all my guests paid their deposit, they rolled the money over to my room. I just put the $1500 as a hold to lock in the rooms and rates.

 

The sucky thing is we did a group air with American and got RT tickets for $500 a pop taxes included. I also paid a $1500 deposit for 15 seats but American will not give it back to me until 3 weeks from the date of departure-so that was $1500 we lost that I needed to put towards other things. Ultimately we get it back...but I kind of need it now lol. We did it because independently flights were coming up as $800 or more. 

[luza87]

Originally Posted by Rotha Penn 

 

Hi Ladies!

 

Thank you for sharing all of your information! I have my planning call tomorrow and I'm starting to freak out - 3 months until our wedding!

 

If anyone has finished pictures of their wedding, please email me at [email protected]. I've seen pictures here and there, but I'm just having a hard time envisioning some of it. We're having our ceremony at the garden gazebo and I haven't seen many pictures of it decorated to my style, so I'm rethinking if we should change locations.  A few of you have recommended Theresa, the wedding planner - what is her fee?  Thanks in advance! - Rotha

Hi, i am guessing your wedding is the week before mine since my planing call is next week. Wedding time is closing in, very excited!! I have actually been having the same doubts as you, my ceremony is at the garden gazebo and Lara from CC hasn't been too helpful with ideas on decorating the garden gazebo. Every time I ask she ends up giving me information about something else. Communicating through emails has become so stressful! I still prefer the garden vs the beach, I just can't imagine saying I DO while my feet are in the sand (I love my heels!), plus I heard the ceremony at the garden gazebo is more intimate than on the beach since the beach has more on-lookers. If you do find ideas on decorating it, please let me know!

[hessina85]

Yes I'm going to need help too but lve googled images of how others have decorated just to get an idea but still have yet to find something that catches my eye ill keep you posted when I do

[Rotha Penn]

Hi, i am guessing your wedding is the week before mine since my planing call is next week. Wedding time is closing in, very excited!! I have actually been having the same doubts as you, my ceremony is at the garden gazebo and Lara from CC hasn't been too helpful with ideas on decorating the garden gazebo. Every time I ask she ends up giving me information about something else. Communicating through emails has become so stressful! I still prefer the garden vs the beach, I just can't imagine saying I DO while my feet are in the sand (I love my heels!), plus I heard the ceremony at the garden gazebo is more intimate than on the beach since the beach has more on-lookers. If you do find ideas on decorating it, please let me know!

I had a good call with Bianca today and she sent me some helpful photos of the garden. I didn't like the gazebo, but like you I wanted to wear my heels. Also, I didn't like how the bride entered when using the gazebo. However, we can have a canopy setup in the garden, which makes me so happy since I think it so much more romantic because the gazebo was too high. I also have better photos of Olympic Terrace if anyone is interested. Is anyone planning to do a photo shoot outside of the resort? If so, where and how were you planning to get there? My photographer is from Canada, but is friends with Katya (he shot her wedding) so he can ask for places, but I have no idea how we'll get there. I have a meeting with Lara next week, any tips to keep costs down? Also, anyone upgrading their cake? Bianca doesn't recommend cakes/flavors that are US because DR chefs have a different palate so it will taste different, so bummed because I was looking forward to an amazing cake.

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by Rotha Penn 

 

 

I had a good call with Bianca today and she sent me some helpful photos of the garden. I didn't like the gazebo, but like you I wanted to wear my heels. Also, I didn't like how the bride entered when using the gazebo. However, we can have a canopy setup in the garden, which makes me so happy since I think it so much more romantic because the gazebo was too high.

 

I also have better photos of Olympic Terrace if anyone is interested.

 

Is anyone planning to do a photo shoot outside of the resort? If so, where and how were you planning to get there? My photographer is from Canada, but is friends with Katya (he shot her wedding) so he can ask for places, but I have no idea how we'll get there.

 

I have a meeting with Lara next week, any tips to keep costs down?

 

Also, anyone upgrading their cake? Bianca doesn't recommend cakes/flavors that are US because DR chefs have a different palate so it will taste different, so bummed because I was looking forward to an amazing cake.

 

I hear the cake is amazing so don't be too bummed. Dominican cakes are delicious! I want to upgrade my cake. We are most likely adding a second tier. My sister is a professional baker and she is going to spruce it up for us so we are just requesting a regular round, two tier with buttercream. I originally wanted fondant but its more money and won't hold the decorations my sister wants to add although she is going to have to be very careful once you mess up buttercream there is no going back lol.

 

Those garden pictures look beautiful. We opted for a traditional Catholic wedding so we are getting married at the local church with our reception on the beach- I wanted Olympus Terrace for the reception but there is another wedding the same day and they requested it first. 

 

I am having my TTD at Majestic- the original hotel we wanted to wed in. Part of me feels a tinge of regret I didn't choose that hotel- they have an onsite chapel for Catholic weddings, the room rates cost less, and the outside vendor fees are cheaper. My photographer- Phil Steingard, also from Canada, has connections there and is well received, so he prefers to do my TTD there to get a variety of pics and also because he knows where to get the best shots. We will just take a cab I suppose- hear it isn't too far. I love Katya Nova btw! We wanted to go with her but she will not be in DR for our wedding date. We were so disappointed because I think she takes brides to Sanctuary Cap Cana- another resort we looked into. We didn't choose Sanctuary because they didn't have a an all inclusive package and although it is gorgeous to look at they are just developing their wedding packages.

 

I think its great to go offsite to take pics, you get a nice variety of shots.

[darleneg2b]

Originally Posted by Rotha Penn 

 

 

I had a good call with Bianca today and she sent me some helpful photos of the garden. I didn't like the gazebo, but like you I wanted to wear my heels. Also, I didn't like how the bride entered when using the gazebo. However, we can have a canopy setup in the garden, which makes me so happy since I think it so much more romantic because the gazebo was too high.

 

I also have better photos of Olympic Terrace if anyone is interested.

 

Is anyone planning to do a photo shoot outside of the resort? If so, where and how were you planning to get there? My photographer is from Canada, but is friends with Katya (he shot her wedding) so he can ask for places, but I have no idea how we'll get there.

 

I have a meeting with Lara next week, any tips to keep costs down?

 

Also, anyone upgrading their cake? Bianca doesn't recommend cakes/flavors that are US because DR chefs have a different palate so it will taste different, so bummed because I was looking forward to an amazing cake.

Hi Rotha,

 

I would love some additional photos of the Olympus Terrace... that is where we're having our reception and I'm having a difficult time envisioning it. My email address is [email protected]

 

Thank you so much!

Darlene 

[Demetrice Smith]

I am working with Theresa. Inbox me if you would like additional information about her rates. ([email protected]). So far, I am very pleased with her. 

[Katie83]

I found an invitation design on ETSY that I love and now on the hunt for appropriate paper to use and an online or good printing company to go through! All suggestions are appreciated;)