2014 Paradisus Palma Real

[Nycfashionista]

Hello Ladies,

 

I know that there is not much activity on this forum right now but I wanted to give an update for any future brides.

 

My husband and I just got married at PPR on March 22, 2014 and I have to say that it was the BEST decision we ever made. The staff at the resort is friendly, caring and willing to help at all times. My Wedding coordinator was Claribel who was Magnificent. We also worked with Mariella and Nuria who were amazing. They are always there when you need them. I had a few moments when i felt that i was going to have a panic attack and they were there.

 

Regarding the wedding our friends and family loved it. We had a beach BBQ welcome dinner on Friday and it was AMAZING. The day of the wedding was perfect. I have to say that nothing went wrong, everyone had a great time. I put my faith on them and they delivered. 

 

A full review will come but i just wanted to let all future brides know that this is the place to go for your destination wedding. JUST PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ana

So awesome to read your review! We are date twins! I am getting married there on March 22nd 2015! Congrats on wedding!

[ndiamar]

Hi Everyone,

I'm having my wedding at Huracan Cafe June 13, 2015. I'm having a hard time choosing a hotel for my guests to stay. 

 

I want to be sensitive to people's pockets, especially since I heard some people in my family expected us to pay for their rooms! (not happening). Ideally, I would like to stay at The Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real, but according to Bookit it's $171 a night which may be a bit steep for some of my guests. 

 

My 2nd option is Dreams Palm Beach, and that one is much cheaper at $142. However, I'm turned off by the fact that the beaches are not that great.

 

For those who stayed at Paradisus, how did you deal with this type of situation? Were you able to get decent group rates?

 

At this point I think I'm just going to stay where I want. If people can't afford it they can just rent a villa somewhere in Punta Cana and just go to the reception. Dealing with this is really turning me off the wedding

[MrandMrsBonitto2016]

@@ndiamar Don't feel turned off. It's a hard decision to make. However, no matter what you decide, the people who matter most will be there:) Have you tired NOW Larimar? It's priced fairly good and its a beautiful resort. Keep us posted.

Edited September 15, 2014 by MrandMrsBonitto2016

[flaca313]

How much is the fee to upgrade to the Gabi ballroom? Does anyone know?

[Dolce1125]

@@flaca313 did you get in touch with the romance department they will send you info? I just had my wedding there 11/7/14.. everyone had an amazing experience!

[flaca313]

@@Dolce1125 I did get in touch with them! I'm so happy you loved it! We're 99% sure we're going to be putting a deposit down at the end of this month to reserve 8/19/16 date. Did your guests stay at the Reserve or no? I wasn't sure which was the better option. Also, I'm SO scared of guests getting sick. We've been to Punta Cana twice and we've LOVED it there, but last year we went with family and a lot of them had stomach issues. I'd just be afraid to have that problem since we will most likely have over 100 people attend... did your guests all make out okay?? And do you have any pictures?! I"m so happy to hear from someone that got married there recently!!

Congratulations on your marriage!

[MrandMrsBonitto2016]

@@Dolce1125 Congrats on your wedding:) What was the experience like at Paradisus? If you don't mind sharing.

[Dolce1125]

@@flaca313 No guests stayed at the reserve, everyone stayed at PPR. Did you do the "Love at first site" package? highly recommended. Plus the money you spent staying there goes towards the wedding. I did the Taylor made package with 49 adults. I HIGHLY recommend getting the violinist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! even though he was a little pricey, almost $600. Everyone raved about him... he played with an electric violin with speakers, along with a mixer.. it made the ceremony very elegant. After the wedding, my guests and hotel guests couldn't stop taking about him!!!! (PS i thought i was getting someone with a wooden violin with a music stand and book) i wish i could show you the videos =(. 

 

Any way let me start from the beginning... It was raining cats and dogs the night before the wedding and overcasted for 3 days before the wedding. On the day of the wedding it was 100% chance of rain all day, however all day it was pretty much just very overcasted with clouds, no rain. 2 hours before the wedding while i was taking "getting ready pics' before the wedding. My wedding coordinator comes to my room and tells me to consider moving my wedding from Naos beach to indoors where I had my BBQ (i was supposed to have a welcome BBQ on the beach but there was heavy rain) Mariela (my wedding coordinator) explained to me once I start walking for the ceremony and it starts raining, she can move any equipment and she would have to marry us near Avenue bar in a 5 minute ceremony!!! LOL We looked on our phones to see the weather radar and a HUGE storm was literally miles of the coast of Punta cana.... she was urging us to make our decision soon because once our wedding gazebo went up it couldnt come down. 

 

Me and my husband decided to still have it on the beach and for all our guests to bring umbrellas lol. We had to sign a waiver saying that guests cannot hold the hotel responsible if they get wet in the rain or if other things happen.

 

Nonetheless it didn't rain, but my pastor didn't show up!!!! I hired Pastor Mark Lykins for a christain blessing. He had another wedding that was running 45 minutes late so he never made mine nor did he call the hotel to say he wasn't coming!!! So Mariela, my wedding coordinator made some phone calls and got another offciate to do my ceremony. He did a GREAT job, thank God!!! Mariela later told me he was included in the wedding package, it was considered a symbolic ceremony. 

 

So i had my wedding on the beach. Afterwards My husband and I took pictures on the beach, while guests enjoyed coctail hour in PLAZA COLONIAL across from avenue bar. We also rented a monkey for an hour to entertain guests. I also had the Dominican trio, they were cute but i wouldnt hire them again lol

 

Reception was at Market grill.... it turned out great. DJ was OK (abentos). I met with the company and told them what I wanted, however it seems like they didnt listen. For example  For the first dance I only wanted 1:30min of the song to be played then everyone to join us on the dance floor but they kept playing the song... which annoyed me a little. 

 

I had buffet #1, everyone seemed to like it. We also had crazy hour.. which wasnt an hour, more like half hour. I didnt mine that because everyone was having such a great time drinking and dancing so I didnt care. They were entertaining however.

 

I will post pics once I figure it out =)

 

@mrandmrbonitto2016 thank you.. hope you find this helpful

The First Look!!

The Tailor Made bouquet

cocktail hour with the monkey

My dress

If it wasn't for the havoc that was created with my pastor not showing up and the weather, I wouldve definately taken more pictures...

[Dolce1125]

Only 2 people got sick and it was towards the end of the trip. One person did leave the resort and she went to the caves, so it was possible she got sick there @@flaca313

[flaca313]

Only 2 people got sick and it was towards the end of the trip. One person did leave the resort and she went to the caves, so it was possible she got sick there @@flaca313

Dolce1125 Thank you VERY much for all of the information! You are a stunning bride We put the deposit down and we are set for 8/19/16. I'm very excited and can't wait!! We are doing the love at first site visit between 7/25 - 8/1 next year so it'll be a lot easier to picture and pick everything after that. We picked the Olympus Beach location just because of our guest list size. What made you pick Naos beach?? Thank you again!