2015 Grand Palladium Punta Cana Brides

[ShoeBoxPhotography]

@@Kerrierf Thanks so much for that link. Yeah, I agree, I am not very impressed by that vendor so we may have to just pay the extra money to get the pictures that we want. Unfortunately we don't have any guest who are photographers.

 

 

Hey ladies, 

 

So sorry I have been MIA for so long. Things have been very busy  but we have been very productive. I found a dress and we have about 60 confirmed guest at this point which is amazing. All of my friends think I am crazy because we have been doing things so early lol.  We are also doing a symbolic ceremony like @@Meandhim.

 

Where I am stuck right now is the photographer. What are you guys doing?  it is 500 dollars to have an outside vendor to come to the hotel which is crazy! but it is one of the few things that we are okay with paying a bit more for. Is there a website for the hotel photographer?

 

@@Mels84, the big day is coming up soon. Can't wait to hear how it goes for you. 

 

Hi Ladies,

 

I don't know if you know of us or not.. but we are Canadian wedding photographers from Vancouver. We live here 6 or so months out of the year October - May. There are so many options for amazing wedding photography right here in Punta Cana... my husband and I being one of them. We've shot at Grand Palladium as well... beautiful resort. & As a heads up... we were able to come onto the property to shoot the wedding with a one nights stay booked instead of the vendor fee. I don't know if the rules have changed since last year.. but something to look into with your coordinator for sure. It saved our couple about $200 having us booked into a room instead.

 

All the best in your planning! If you have any specific questions as well about the ins and outs of having a dominican wedding, please feel free to ask. =)

 

Enjoy the process!

 

XOXO - Rob + Mel

[Mels84]

Wow busy weekend on this thread! I love it!

 

We have opted for the legal ceremony. I ran it by my parents and they didn't like the idea of us getting married before since so many people were paying so much to be there. My parents also live 14 hrs away from me so they would miss it too.. So we have been working toward the legal ceremony. On Friday I brought our paperwork to the dominican consulate in Toronto. It cost $560 USD for our paperwork to be translated and legalized. Plus the judge on the island is another $600 USD!! Not cheap!!

 

For our photography, a friend of ours is a pro.. So she is coming and only charges what it would cost for her biggest pkg back home($1900).. She covers her own trip!

 

Now a bit of a heads up.. Regarding etsy... I have ordered quite a lot from there for the wedding (garters, cake topper, gifts, etc)... It's definitely buyer beware.. I ordered flowers for my hair a few weeks ago and just went to check on the status and that shop isn't on etsy anymore!! So I'm out my flowers and now I have to fight with paypal to get my money back!!! I've had great success with everything else... Now with just over a month to go I have to figure something else out for my hair... So order early incase you have trouble!

 

On a happier note... I got most of my printed material (place cards, table numbers, programs, thank you letters, do not disturb signs and seating chart) done this weekend.. Finished a couple more things for our oot bags, and worked on our bouquets! This weekend I need to get all our info and the check list to Carolina... Eeek!!!

[Meandhim]

@@Kerrierf Thanks for all the info that's really helpful!!

 

@@acw271011 Thank you! I'm happy you are going ahead with your renewal as well! Can wait to start all the fun things:)

 

@@shevette925 I found a photographer here in TO that is trying to build a Destination Portfolio so she does 3 destinations a year at a great price, she will be a guest so we can avoid the vendor fee. I did a photography certificate at GBC and I have a few friends from school coming so that should cover all my basis! Our budget is pretty limited.   Which wedding package did you choose? the Silver renewal?

 

@@Mels84 Thanks for the heads up! Do you have a planning blog yet? I'd be interested to see what you have done so far

Edited November 25, 2014 by Meandhim

[Kerrierf]

@@Mels84 that's awful about your flowers!  I used http://www.wedideas.com

(on etsy) and they turned out beautifully.  Can you try googling the shop?

Edited November 25, 2014 by Kerrierf

[Mels84]

@@Kerrierf. Thanks! I just ordered new ones from a shop in Toronto... So it should get here on time... At the very least, I'm an hr and a half away from Toronto so I can go pick it up if need be!

 

@@Meandhim no blog... Just my posts on here... I might consider doing one when things slow down a bit... My to do list seems a million miles long lol... My own fault of course. I'm doing a lot of crafty things at the moment

[shevette925]

@@Meandhim I am trying to decide between the Tropical promise package and the Ocean Pearl package. We are probably going to have about 80-90 guest total so the renewal package probably wouldn't work with what we need. Im still confused what I should do about photos. Im trying to decide if I should stick to looking at vendors based in the DR or flying someone from the states. I think we are gonna have to cut cost by cutting out the cocktail hour to make it work. I also am opposed to having to pay hundreds of dollars for one hour of  an open bar when all my guest can go to one of the bars on resort for free. Its crazy how much money they try to squeeze out of you!

 

 Hope you ladies had a happy Thanksgiving!

[Kerrierf]

@@Mels84 your date is getting so close!  You must be getting excited  Can't wait to hear all about it!

 

Are you ladies doing a  "welcome kit"?  I found this link that has some cute ideas for things you can just print off yourselfs - so cost effective! http://www.shopgirldaily.com/2012/05/wedding-welcome-kit-ideas/ 

 

My partner and I were thinking of putting them together and mailing them out a month before the wedding to get everyone pumped up.

 

@@shevette925 any progress with the photographers?  

[Mels84]

Well we're one week away from departure!  Sooooo excited! 

 

@@Kerrierf I did welome bags for everyone.  In each bag I have customized insulated travel mugs, customized decks of cards, ugly fabric for luggage identification (then the whole wedding group doesnt need to be at the carousel waiting for their bags, only a couple ppl to grab everyones bags), dryer sheets (sometimes rooms are a bit musty in the tropics, string them thru the a/c and its make the room nice and fresh), disposable cameras, lavender scented candles that I decorated, a thank you note, itinerary, map and please do not disturb sign identifying the wedding....I am handing them out at the airport before everyone checks in... that way everyone can carry their own bags.. less we have to worry about.

 

I just have a few things to finish up with the boutonnieres, and corsages and i think i'm done!  I made a ton of stuff for the wedding so I'm glad i finished with plenty of time. Oh and of course packing but I'm feeling pretty orgaized at this point.  I have my appointments coming up this week for hair, nails, waxing etc... its getting real!!

 

Unfortunately its looking like my flowers that I ordered for my hair from Etsy(ordered Nov 14) aren't going to be here on time. The store owner told me that they would ship within a couple days of her recieving the order however it took her over 2.5 wks to ship.  So with customs time and the fact that its Christmas... Its not looking good.   But I did order a back up from a Canadian store so I at least have something!  So a word to the wise... make sure you allow lots of time when ordering stuff in from the US.  I thought 7 weeks would be plenty but thats not the case.

[MandyMc]

Hey everyone! I love all the information I've got reading all the forums and I've finally decided to join the conversation. We just confirmed for November 6th 2015! So excited!

 

Question for you guys, are you using a travel agent to help set up all the travel? I have family and friend from all over the US that is planning on coming and I don't know how to choose a travel agent. Does anyone have any suggestions of a good agents that have worked with grand palladium to set up large group travel?

Thanks!

[Kerrierf]

Hi @@MandyMc, welcome to the forum!  It took us a few tries to find a travel agent we actually liked, and ended up with someone we had a personal referral for.  She was able to get us a group package, and work things out for family that lived across Canada.  I know our systems are a little bit different, so maybe one of the ladies that lives in the states can help?  I think there's also a section on this website for vendor reviews, so I'd look into those before confirming your agent.

 

@@Mels84 I just realized IT'S YOUR DAY!!!!  CONGRATS!!! I hope your having the most fabulous time, can't wait to hear all about it!

Also - @@shevette925, it looks like you're going to be there at the same time as @@MandyMc! So fun!