shellb

What are the various set-up locations: Garden Gazebo: Ampitheatre: Beach: Beach Gazebo (new for 2009, extra charge for this location):

What do the bouquets look like? Melia Tides: Melia Tropical: You can also send pictures to see if certain bouquets can be replicated (for a cost of course).

Updated with 2009 info: What type of wedding packages do they have? Based on 2009 information I got from the coordinator they offer 3 types: * Free Symbollic - if you stay in the Royal Suites Section and have less than 12 guests * Tides - includes semi-private reception for up to 24 guests - ~$1296 US * Tropical Fairy Tale - includes private reception for up to 24 guests ~1728 US These prices are without the extra's (Horse & Carriage, Trio, beach dance floor, extra people, etc.). How do you book? Nonrefundable deposit is 35% of the package you choose due when you request your date, ceremony type and location sent via wire transfer or cheque to name specified in the Celebrations PDF. Also there are two forms to be completed (one in excel with wedding details and the other is the official contract between you and the resort). PM me if you want the full details. I can send you the PDF with the full details for 2009 Packages.

Hi all, I started the following Melia Caribe Tropical thread when I started planning: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t17334 There are a few things in there. Been so busy with my wedding planning I haven't gotten a chance to update recently. Also, there is a huge thread on Debbie's Dominican forum for Melia brides (Debbie's Dominican Travel Forums - Melia Caribe wedding!!). Hope this helps.

I know, everytime I turn around I remember something else to do. Here I thought I was being so organized. Two weeks until we leave for us. Happy Wedding Day Ladies!

Some friends & family become strangers when it comes to weddings. You really find out who is there to support you. We've been engaged for over 2 years and let people from the get go know it was going to be a DW. People have known it would be Punta Cana, DR for over 1 & 1/2 yrs. I have one friend that gave me a song and a dance over they just bought a house, needed the drive paved, grass sodded, etc and there was no way they would be able to afford to go to a DW or anywhere in 2009 for that matter. I was perfectly ok with that told them all we asked was that they wish us well. She got distant after that, went on a few trips after that like NY & Vegas, then two months ago I see on FB how she is exicted to be going to Playa del Carmen in X days. After they got back they purchase another pure bred dog. No money, haha, why give a BS excuse and then avoid someone. Have the spine to be honest and say we are planning to go to Mexico in Jan of 2009. I have no issue with the fact people have lives, their priorities are different, but come on you're supposed to be honest with your friends. My MOH, threw me for a loop the other week as well. For the wedding, I let her choose her dress, only told her 2 color options, tea length and said choose something you love and will wear again, we'll pay for it. For any of the traditional wedding stuff, I have opted out because she is in another country and I don't think it's fair of me to expect her to come here to do a bridal shower, hen night, come dress shopping, etc. So, I have said I don't want or need any of it. Well, it's time to book the salon for the day of and she seems annoyed I want her hair in an up-do (we are paying), wants to do it herself. It's the only thing I have really said I wanted. I went thru a ton of stuff to be her MOH, wierd dress, up-do with these awful sparkly butterflies, very uncomfortable sparkly shoes (I just had to wear). I just don't get it...it's an updo (that I have given her options to choose from), these are my pictures for life and I want them to look a certain way. Sorry for the whine, but wanted to let you know you are not alone.

See my responses in the following 2 threads: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t38153 http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t38046 The search feature at the top can help you find alot of things abotu the details surrounding a symbolic ceremony. Also if you are having a civil ceremony in the DR you need to book the judge. Check with your coordinator to see if there are slots left for your date.

I advise you if you are going this route to no tell anyone, we considered and told our families they were very upset and requested we go the civil route with a judge which means about an extra $1000 to the wedding cost (translations $360 US + judge $620US).

Ladies, I wanted to share a great jewelry vendor that I recently made some purchases from on Etsy. First of all Etsy is awesome for finding great crafters with some amazing products. I was searching Etsy for something pretty to wear on my wedding day that wouldn’t cost a fortune to buy and stumbled across a shop called Handwired Etsy :: Handwired :: FOR BRIDAL JEWELRY AS UNIQUE AS YOU.... The owner of Handwired specializes in handmade jewelry with a wide assortment of bridal selections that can be customized. Joyce is a dream to work with, very helpful, offers suggestions, and customizes to suit what you are looking for. Her store offers things like hair vines, necklaces, bracelets, as well as, long and short bridal earrings done in Swarovski Austrian crystal & pearls with 14K Gold Filled or 925 Sterling Silver metals. Her pieces are well made, reasonably priced and shipping costs are great (especially for Canadian brides). Here are some of the things that I ordered: My earrings My bracelet MOH earrings Some gifts I got for my wedding readers and a friend who has been helping out with my DIY projects.

Their contact info is on their site: Photosouvenir Punta Cana, Wedding Photographer Dominican Republic select Enter Site Go to the Contact Us page. There's a form to fill out to book them (if you haven't done this, you should), along with their address, phone number and fax. If Severine is still out of the country due to a family emergency and she is the one who completely runs the office it is understandable why you are not hearing back. They are very busy. She's probably only taking care of what she has too while she's away.

I think their "home" resort is the Excellence Punta Cana which they are currently under contract according to their site.

I agree with Abbie & Sara310, the two are separate. The travel arrangements you & your guests book on your own or through a TA and pay before you go (i.e. your trip portion of the week). The wedding aspects (i.e. the special event / add-on services) you arrange with the wedding department of the resort, you put a deposit on and pay when you get there. The wedding part will be a contract between you, your FI & the resort or the outside venue you choose and have nothing to do with your guests rates for staying at the resort.

When I searched I could only find the one. One thing to note for La Barcaza is that you need to pay for 20 persons in order to make a reservations. You make a 20% deposit when booking and they only do private cruises. There are a variety of options starting at $35 pp for open bar, $45 Dominican Snack, $50 Tropical Snack, $55 Open Bar & Grill (Chicken & Beef), $65 Open Bar & Seafood Grill, and $70 - Open Bar & Mixed Grill (Chicken, Beef & Seafood). It looks like a great relaxing way to spend 2-3 hrs. Alot of people even do their weddings on the La Barcaza (La Barcaza). It seems to get rave reviews (see Debbies Dominican Forum, wedding section there's a whole thread dedicated to it).

From my experience, if you have a good TA, it makes it so much less stressful than having to be responsible for a whole group when it comes to sorting travel arrangements. I only have 13 guests, flights from different parts of the country, late bookers, a lot of 1st time flyers and questions...so it is nice when I can say our TA would have the best answer. One less thing for me to worry about.

Blackpearl, To chime in with what Josh has said in his previous posts. From my perspective, people that opt to do a symbolic ceremony do so for a number of reasons, mainly cost and simplifying the process. With a symbolic ceremony you: Do not have to pay to get your documents (birth certificate, notarized single status affidavit, etc) translated into Spanish. It is about $360US through the Dominican consulate in Ottawa, not sure on the price in the US. Do not have to pay for a judge (civil ceremony) or a priest (religious) at the resort. It is $620 US this year for a judge for the civil ceremony at the resort I am getting married at. If you do a civil ceremony in the country you live in (either by a judge or justice of the peace) you are paying for the marriage license in the province/state (about $150) you live in and the cost of a judge or justice of the peace (about $100). Do not have to wait for your marriage certificate, because the legal paperwork gets done in the country that you reside in and you get it really quickly. I think a lot of couples that opt to go the route of symbolic ceremony, do a very basic civil ceremony only for the legality. I've read where couples do not do the ring exchange, the kiss, dress up, etc. They treat it like a legal transaction. They save the specialness of the rings, the dress, and the kiss for the symbolic ceremony that they do in front of friends and family. Hope this helps. Shellb

Thank you for sharing your absolutely gorgeous wedding photo's. It makes me excited because we booked PhotoSouvenir as well.

For Canadians, go to: Dominican Republic Canada Tourism Section (left side) --> Non Immigrant Services (center right) --> Documentation for Getting Married (in the list under Non Immigrant Services) It lists the prices to have the consulate do the translations as well as legalize along with a sample set of doument translation costs. The cost to translate a document is 40$ US per document The cost to legalize a document is 100$ US per document You do this within 3 months of getting married.

exercise : what I am about to go do

I heard from PS in late January, Severine was away at the time. I would probably try calling maybe you will get Renaud or one of the other photographers. They are probably really busy, they do a lot of weddings.

Bump for the new brides and grooms! Remember chin up, your day will be beautiful!

Oh Erica, so sorry you are having to go through this. I agree with MarieSam's comments and commend you for making a very hard decision. A big hug and remember we are here if you need us.

For Canadians, similar info is located here: Marriage Overseas

Christinamaria22, As long as you get married according to the laws of the country in which you are having your wedding ceremony, then your marriage will be valid and recognized in the US. Here are two resources for you that should put your mind at ease: US Embassy in the Dominican (Marriage in the Dominican Republic) and the US Department of State (Marriage of U.S. Citizens Abroad). On another note, there are alot of people who opt to do a legal ceremony (i.e. mainly the paperwork) at home (US / Can / UK) before going to the DR to save money and the time it takes to get their marriage certificate from the DR (around 6 months). People that go this route opt to have just a symbolic ceremony in the DR. Hope this helps.

DarcyJAde, I don't think so, I think only during the ceremony. You may want to ask on Debbie's Dominican forum. A few of the past brides still visit the Melia thread occasionally. Michelle

My advice talk to a TA. Most prices to Mexico aren't too bad if they are the Atlantic side for those of us from Halifax (generally around $1200-$1600). Your Toronto guests will probably get it for about $200-$300 cheaper than the Halifax ones. I am am not oo familiar with Mexico since we are heading the the DR, but at a local travel agency close to where I work, I generally see deals posted for places like Mayan Riviera, Cancun, Ixtapa, Tulum. I think your best best would be to talk to a TA to get an idea of both locations and prices.