Paradisus Punta Cana payment

[maridr2012]

Oh you're Dominican?  So am I!  haha..great minds think alike.  I also wanted to have my wedding there for that very same reason.  My family all live in NYC (Washington Heights, that's where I'm from too, now I live in NJ) and I refused to have a NYC wedding as it would be ridiculously expensive with my huge family (11 uncles & aunts, each has 3-4 kids, can you imagine all those people?!).  And, my FI's is Italian-American so I thought it'd be a nice way to share my culture with my in-laws.    I totally agree with you on the whole beach starfish theme.  It's like, ok..we get it...we're at the beach, enough with the starfish beach theme, lol!  I did end up caving in and am adding just a few elements of beach theme for my wedding though.  Since we're getting married on the beach gazebo overlooking the water, I felt it was only appropriate. I didn't go overboard though.  My Save the Dates were a really pretty postcard with a palm tree in the background.  My invitations were really elegant - they had an embossed palm tree on a cream heavy paper.  My escort cards are sand dollars, and the escort card table will have a few starfishes on it.  My cake table will have some seashells on it, and the OOT bags which are doubling as favors are nice large canvas beachbags - but I didn't go to the extent of putting beachy stuff in it or stickering it with starfish etc, lol.  But thats about as beachy I got.  I didn't go overkill with it for the same reasons as you. ; )

 

 

Originally Posted by SpecialK 

Just to clarify, I like the Gabi Restaurant in PPR. I know there is one in Paradisus Punta Cana as well. I have not done a site visit, A coworker had her wedding there and when I saw her pics I thought to myself "THIS is my place" . The typical destination weddings on the beach with starfish and such are not really my style. I want to have a wedding in DR because that is where my family is from and of course cheaper than having a wedding here in NY but I still wanted something luxurious. I've been lurking on this site and the GABI at PPR is the only reception location I have seen that fits my vision...talk about champagne taste with a beer budget haha! I'm new to all this but I think if I choose a really pretty location I wont have to spend as much on decor to dress it up.

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by maridr2012 

 

 

Lastly, regarding privatizing your event..yes it will be expensive to privatize a restaurant.  We considered also privatizing the Gabi Club...until we learned that in addition to the $9k fee, they will itemize EVERYTHING.  I mean everything. You can't do a package when you privatize a space; they don't allow it.  So, they will charge you for every chair, hors doeuvre, linen, drink, bow, flower, etc etc the list goes on and on...per person.  Again, get ready for some big #s to add up if you choose to go that route.  

 

I got conflicting information from my WC. I asked specifically about the $9,000 fee for privatizing and she said because I chose the Aqua Package- it was actually $3,500 to privatize the restaurant and not the full $9k. The more expensive package you choose, the less the privatization fee is. I think if I had more people coming I would totally do it- but we have so few guests its just not worth it. Although I think its gorgeous as well. I also asked if we could use the Gabi terrace without paying the fee and they said no- the fee applies inside and outside the restaurant. That sucks! I wish I could use it. I find the options limiting if you are unwilling to spend extra money. 

 

I didn't know brides in PPC could use PPR facilities. Had I known I might have chosen PPC to save our guests money because I'm tired of people complaining lol. But when they do- I tell them to check Expedia or to look at a Sandals resort- by contrast Sandals is waaaaay more money and Expedia had the rooms at PPR at $449 per person per night. That's definitely not what we are paying. And I have a travel agent so people can pay as they go. 

[TishaJules]

Originally Posted by maridr2012 

 

Hey ladies.  The average cost of floral centerpieces is over $100.  There are a few that they sent to me separately in a pdf that were like $60 or so, but I really didn't like them.  I can't find that email its archived somewhere but I'm sure if you ask them to send it to you they would.  I remember I picked one floral centerpiece and it was $180.  I almost fell out of my chair.  The one I ended up selecting it $105 + 16% tax (its #168 in the Centerpiece album).  I settled on that one because I really wanted actual flowers and I liked the mix of roses and hydrangeas especially since my bouquet as well as my bridesmaid's bouquets are all roses.  The orchids were just too expensive and everything else I either didn't like or was too costly.  Like I said, roses seem to be one of the more budget-friendly options but yet still beautiful and don't look cheap.  I have 7 tables that I need centerpieces for...so the costs add up quickly.  My FI and I will be sitting at a sweetheart table, and in an effort to save a few bucks, we are NOT doing a centerpiece for our table.  Instead, we are renting 2 vases from them (at $15 + tax each), and taking 2 of the bridesmaid's flowers after the reception entrance and putting them in the vases.  That, along with a few candle tealights and votives that I'm bringing myself, as well as our filled sand ceremony vase, will be our table decor. They really charge you for everything.  They're charging me $25 + tax for the sweetheart table, another $29 for the escort card table, $18 for the gift envelope holder (the little mailbox guests can put their cards with gift - usually cash/check in).  It adds up quickly ladies..so be prepared.  

 

The tough thing with the flowers is you have to pick the centerpiece you're interested in and then ask them for a quote.  It'd be so much easier if they provided a cost for each one ahead of time so that way you can filter out what's in your price range.  I pointed this out to them and they said they have to get quotes each time because the prices changed based on the season, and because alot of the flowers they need to import it so it can vary from one month to another based on commodities.  WHATEVS.  

 

Regarding the decor in the packages, I selected the Aqua package b/c we felt we would get the most out of it - with top shelf liquor, h'ors doeuvres, etc.  I selected the Fantasy decor because I loved the simplicity and classic beautiful look of it.  They will allow you to pick a different package's decor, but only if it's a cheaper package.  For example, you can select the Aqua and decorate it with Fantasy like I did because the Fantasy pkg is cheaper, but you can keep all the things the Aqua pkg brings - chairs, bar selection, etc.  Or,  you can do Chill pkg with Fantasy decor.  BUT, you CANNOT pick Fantasy package with Aqua decor, b/c the Aqua pkg is more expensive.  Its kinda silly.

 

And, also beware that if you choose to customize your decorations alot, e.g. do colored linens other than whats already included in your package OR as I've described above, you will be charged extra.  The calculator sheet they gave me indicated it would be $150 to add color/linen to your decoration.  YIKES. Not sure if that was per table, or what, but still..YIKES.  So if you really want to customize your event with different linen colors, you may be better off bringing your own linens but also know they will charge you for setting it up, or you better have great bridesmaids that will set this up for you on the day of your event.

 

Lastly, regarding privatizing your event..yes it will be expensive to privatize a restaurant.  We considered also privatizing the Gabi Club...until we learned that in addition to the $9k fee, they will itemize EVERYTHING.  I mean everything. You can't do a package when you privatize a space; they don't allow it.  So, they will charge you for every chair, hors doeuvre, linen, drink, bow, flower, etc etc the list goes on and on...per person.  Again, get ready for some big #s to add up if you choose to go that route.  

Mari, I am so happy that I found you on this site.  Without your help, I would be totally lost, and raped in cost.  You have been such a great help.  And I appreciate your willingness to share everything so that our planning will be alot easier.   As I said before, I have also picked the Aqua package because of everything the package offers.  But, I didn't want everything to be in Aqua color, because then I would be forced to have my bridesmaids more geared towards that color.  So, with the decor of the Fantasy package....what changes? Just the colors of the everything?

 

Another question if I may, how many guests are you having so far and where did you choose to have your wedding? I don't think I want my wedding outside, but I seen picks of the Hallroom and I think I really like that.  I want a floor for dancing because I'm thinking about hiring a DJ for the reception.

[TishaJules]

Originally Posted by maridr2012 

 

Oh you're Dominican?  So am I!  haha..great minds think alike.  I also wanted to have my wedding there for that very same reason.  My family all live in NYC (Washington Heights, that's where I'm from too, now I live in NJ) and I refused to have a NYC wedding as it would be ridiculously expensive with my huge family (11 uncles & aunts, each has 3-4 kids, can you imagine all those people?!).  And, my FI's is Italian-American so I thought it'd be a nice way to share my culture with my in-laws.    I totally agree with you on the whole beach starfish theme.  It's like, ok..we get it...we're at the beach, enough with the starfish beach theme, lol!  I did end up caving in and am adding just a few elements of beach theme for my wedding though.  Since we're getting married on the beach gazebo overlooking the water, I felt it was only appropriate. I didn't go overboard though.  My Save the Dates were a really pretty postcard with a palm tree in the background.  My invitations were really elegant - they had an embossed palm tree on a cream heavy paper.  My escort cards are sand dollars, and the escort card table will have a few starfishes on it.  My cake table will have some seashells on it, and the OOT bags which are doubling as favors are nice large canvas beachbags - but I didn't go to the extent of putting beachy stuff in it or stickering it with starfish etc, lol.  But thats about as beachy I got.  I didn't go overkill with it for the same reasons as you. ; )

 

 

 

It may be a stupid question...but what is a OOT bag? LOL.

[MissyBee]

it is an out of town bag, or a welcome bag for your guests.
 

[TishaJules]

Originally Posted by MissyBee 

 

it is an out of town bag, or a welcome bag for your guests.

 

Thank you. I would of never guessed.  I guess that's somehthing else I need to look up and see what's customary to put in these things.  So much to do, so much to learn!

[angelnjewels]

Hi ladies, My fiancé is a bit skeptical about using our ID's and faxing copies of our credit card. We asked the Miami office if there was another alternative and they said we could mail a check payable to Ask Me About.... Now he's skeptical again. He is confused at why we are not mailoing the check to paradisus. But i can understand him. This is all new to us. I just wanted to ask if you have had an experience with this and if you recommend it and if you have any advice about payment. thanks Angel

[TishaJules]

Originally Posted by angelnjewels 

 

Hi ladies,

My fiancé is a bit skeptical about using our ID's and faxing copies of our credit card. We asked the Miami office if there was another alternative and they said we could mail a check payable to Ask Me About.... Now he's skeptical again. He is confused at why we are not mailoing the check to paradisus. But i can understand him. This is all new to us. I just wanted to ask if you have had an experience with this and if you recommend it and if you have any advice about payment.

thanks

Angel

We were a bit skeptical as well. You are paying ASK ME because they are your wedding planners that are contracted by the Paradisus. I sent them my information after much going back and forth and everything has been fine. They are always available and I recieved my invoice promptly. 

I read maybe 100's of posts about other brides being concerned about the same thing, and it's truly safe.  No different than purchasing something online.:-)  Have your fiance talk to the planners and read some of the posts from other people that used the service.

[scoyle90]

I was so afraid of doing this too. I told them I was not comfortable faxing copies of my license and cc to them. I sent them the numbers for my debit card through a fax with a cover letter and asked for a receipt. My wedding is about 3 weeks away and I've already made my final payment.

Keep in mind any and allI "extras" you add on, which are all your flowers and updating colors and things, they require you send a bankers check. I sent mine certified.

 

Hope everything works out!