2014 Grand Palladium Punta Cana bride needing feedback

[Meandhim]

@@1BeachBride I didn't even know you could have a beach buffet! That's something to keep in mind! I also like your idea of doing your own hair and makeup! I think I will be doing that. Just a short time now and you will be able to enjoy the results of all your planning so exciting!! I just booked my date so I am just starting my planning...eeeek!

 

Just a quick thought on your 30min ceremony... I know that 15 mins seems like such a short time especially when you spend a year or more planning for it...but I recently attended my first destination wedding this past December and I just wanted to share my thoughts as guest's point of view for your consideration.

 

If you are having your wedding on the beach your guests are going to be in full sun for the better part of 30 to 45 mins....keep in mind the guests are sitting long before the bride gets there. The heat is very different when you are lying there in your bikini and able to take a dip in the ocean compared to be there sitting fully clothed not able to move around trying to pay attention...it's HARD! The most that they will remember about the ceremony is how hot and sweaty they were if it goes on too long! My friends wedding was a 15 ceremony and we were all in full sun, sitting very close together...it was really stinking hot! By the 10min mark, even though it was very lovely ceremony, me and everyone else were glad it was almost over. I don't think I would of remembered anything past the 15mins anyways, I would of been concentrating on not passing out at someone's wedding!

 

I'm not saying you should change you plans of a 30min ceremony, this is your day and everyone does say it goes by so fast! but consider your guests and maybe provide water or shade of some sort...a fan perhaps...something so that they can be be relieved from the heat long enough to pay attention to all of the wonderful things you have planned.

 

 

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[1BeachBride]

@@Meandhim It seems like a long way off but the time will fly by so quickly and before you know it, it will be your big day.

 

Thanks for the feedback about the ceremony time! I also went to a destination wedding this past May in Mexico. I was the photographer so I was hot & moving around but focused on the pics, and the heat didn't really bother me too much. However, you're viewpoint as a seated guest is helpful. I did consider our guests and bought paddle fans in my wedding colors that will be on each guest's chair. The breeze will be hot air but it should help a little and the pictures will be bright and colorful.

 

Upon second consideration, 30 minutes is a long time to be sitting in the tropical sun.  I can definitely condense some of the extra stuff to make it shorter. I still want a religious reading which my best friend will do. And the sand ceremony as we both have children and are blending our families. (I have sand in our wedding colors too.) 

 

I looked online last night to try to find information about the beach buffet a few ladies mentioned but I couldn't find one single thing about it!  And I have been corresponding with Carolina on a regular basis the entire time I've been planning. She never mentioned this buffet option. I'm thinking it may be something they no longer do. I will be calling her today to inquire about it so I'll keep you posted.

 

I wonder how the guests were for the beach buffet option. Everything is outside in the heat. I imagine they are quite hot and sticky by the end of the night...Maybe the semiprivate reception in a restaurant isn't so bad. At least you are in shade.

 

Ugghhh! Everytime I think I know what I want, I change my mind. It's difficult to make these decisions from afar.

[Meandhim]

I haven't even really started and I've already changed my mind a million times! I did see that you could have a beach dinner but I don't think it was buffet and it was something like 35 dollars a person... I will have a look for that info for you.... What are you doing for you bouquet... I'm not hot on any of the ones in the package...

 

 

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Edited April 24, 2014 by Meandhim

[jaj1230]

Im getting ready to head down for our May 3 wedding. We are living on Tuesday, so we have just a few more days to get everything together.

- These OOT bags became such a headache. I never reazlied how difficult it would be to pack all the stuff to take with us!!!

 

Anyway, I am still not happy about having to do one meal for all our guests for a private reception, but i wanted it in a restaurant rather then the beach. I wish there was a way to do the buffet option in the restaurant or something.

 

One thing you girls should be aware of, I made appointments for my bridal party for hair/make up and was told they would need a 50% deposit... and that all services would be on the same bill. This means i am getting stuck with the $800+ tab for hair and make up for everyone!!! If i would have known i would have just told all the girls to book separatly!

 

Still nervous and anxious how things will pan out. i hope it all goes smoothly!

[1BeachBride]

@@Meandhim I feel the same way... but since the ceremony is so short, I was going to carry it anyway. Until last week, I decided to make my own bouquet. I'm doing a seashell bouquet. Pricewise it's cheaper than their bouquets or if I bought silk flowers that look real. Seashell bouquets are ridiculously high on etsy considering the cost of materials to make them. It's not too difficult to do and I'll have an original piece that I can keep forever.

I intend to post pics of everything from beginning to end once I get a second to breathe.

 

@@jaj1230 The OOT bags are on my nerves because I keep seeing items to add to them. Other half is so annoyed... We will do as other people have suggested. Buy a suitcase from thrift store to pack OOT items and leave it in DR. Bag will be empty so no sense in bringing extra luggage back.

You should meet with your girls before hand and have them give you your money for services up front. No way I'd take on the burden of that bill. I'm sure they would understand.

[Meandhim]

@@jaj1230 leaving on Tuesday!!! You must be so excited! I'm sure everything will go as planned please come back and let us know how it went... I will definitely want to pick your brain!

 

That $800 tab is crazy! I'm gonna have to keep that in mind! Thanks for the tip!

 

 

 

 

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@@1BeachBride the shell bouquet is such a good idea!... I pinned one I like with both shells and flowers but I wasn't sure how to go about it .. Make the whole bouquet with shells and fake flowers or if I should just make the shells wired to go into a real bouquet

 

 

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Edited April 25, 2014 by Meandhim

[1BeachBride]

Entirely shells is nice but very heavy. I too like the wired shells combined with flowers. My opinion is that the flowers give it a softer more elegant touch. It combines the beach and tropical destination.

[Meandhim]

 

This is my inspiration bouquet

 

 

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[Feltzwedding]

Hey ladies!!

 

I'm getting married Dec 1, 2014 at the GPPC!!  I'm just in the midst of getting everything planned and organized!  Its only 7 months aways and I'm starting to feel the pressure of getting everything done!

 

I did have to pay a $300 deposit to hold our wedding date.  Carolina told me that it would be deducted off the final price when we get there though!

 

Right now my main concern is getting our wedding party attire.  How did you guys choose your colours and such??  Do you know if the flowers that are on the wedding website are our only choices or are there other arrangements and flowers that we can choose from??

 

Also, are you guys having a welcoming party for all the guest before the wedding??  We were thinking we would like to do this because neither of our families have met yet, besides our parents (our families live 2 provinces away).  I looked into renting a catamaran but it looks like it is going to be rather pricey (we're expecting between 80-100 ppl…) do you having any other suggestions?

 

I look forward to chatting with you guys

[Meandhim]

@@Feltzwedding...Congrats! 

 

Ha...I'm felling the pressure and I'm 11 months away April 1 2015. This Site is Awesome! The GP brides need to stick together, there are a lot of past brides and just a small few of us current brides so far... the information is so valuable!

 

I think I had my colors picked out before I even started booking the wedding...blue is both my and my FI favorite color...so we have various shades of blues and greens.

 

The flowers...that's on my list of questions to ask to ask Carolina....let me know what you find out and I will do the same.

 

As for the wedding party I have no idea yet...I thinking I'm going with Grey pants and white shirt for the groomsmen & the Groom will have a vest as well...I'm kinda stuck on the bridesmaids yet...But I'm going to visit my friends in June and will probably decide then.

 

As for a welcoming party...I was thinking about just telling everyone to meet at one of the bars...since its free...however if I have money left in my budget I will try to do something special. that's probably when I will give out the OOT bags too...if I do OOT bags....right now my budget is all hinging on the amount of people attending...

 

I'm still waiting for prices from a travel agent...one has gotten back to me and pretty much told me I'm trying to do the impossible...so now I'm freaking out....I think once I have the travel sorted it should be smooth sailing...haha