MrsPetti2Be

We are getting married at the Riu Palace Punta Cana next May. We are going with the most expensive package which is $2600 - this includes flowers, centerpieces, cake, photographer, hairdo, manicure, pedicure, massages, cake & champagne for the guests (50 or more), reception, flower petals for our flower girl, etc. Pretty much everything you need is included. We are doing a private reception in one of their restaurants with a DJ which is $800 extra. They are creating a 3 tier cake in any colour that I would like and I am bring sea shells for them to decorate the cake with...they are doing all of this for free. So pretty much we are getting our entire wedding for about $3100 and we have about 50 guests right now but we can go up to 100 guests and it will still be the same cost. The resort is also very reasonably priced, it is a 5 1/2 star resort and we will only be paying about $1500 per person.

Just a word of advice for anyone booking at the Riu Palace Punta Cana...make sure you get all the price info before you book. We have booked our wedding there for May 8th 2009 and we are now looking at the finer details of the ceremony and reception. They want $5000 for the beach reception (they say it costs this much for setting it up) and they want $5/person for a cake to feed 50 people...which we are already suppose to be getting in our wedding package. So just make sure you ask all of your pricing questions before you go so you have proof of what they quoted you.

This is what I read on the Riu wedding website..."For Civil weddings: The marriage certificate will be given to the couple five to six months after wedding´s day."

I have attached some pictures of a beach reception that the wedding coordinator has sent me from the Riu Palace Punta Cana. It looks beautiful but not worth $5000 lol. Attachment 1934 Reception.zip

Iberostar punta cana is a gorgeous resort. We just stayed there in March and that is actually where we got engaged! You will definitely love it, the people are great and the everything is so clean!

Wow!! That is such a big difference. This is one of my concerns but we cannot afford to travel down to firm up the contract so I am hoping that just keeping the emails and bringing them with me will do. I hope this doesn't happen, I am trying to think of all the possible extra charges that could come up so I get it cleared up now instead of when we are there. Anyone know of any of the little things they charge you for that you normally wouldn't think of?

WOW! Thanks, I was wondering what it would look like. It looks gorgeous...makes me want it even more!

The dreams punta cana looks like a nice resort and I believe it is cheaper than the Riu Palace. The Riu bambu also looked nice and is a lot cheaper than the Palace. I have also heard some good reviews about the Ocean Blue and I believe it is cheaper.

My fiance came up with a great idea on the weekend to save money on the reception...let me know what you guys think of this. He thinks we should do the dinner in the restaurant (which is free with our package) and then have the cake, drinks and dancing on the beach...which I would imagine would only cost $1000-$1500 to have them set up tables and give us a bartender for the evening. I am still awaiting a response from the resort as to whether they will do this or not.

thanks for the support!!

Hi Girls, Just needed to share my feelings with someone. I have been sad for the last few days and figure if I get them out it might help. I found out Thursday night that one of my girlfreind's (and bridesmaid) father died thursday morning. It was such a shock and I have just felt horrible since then. Although he was not in my family it is still bringing me down. Anyone have any tips on how to deal with it? Lisa

if you stay a different resort than the guests you wouldn't have to pay for them to attend you would have to have the wedding wherever they are staying...the rule of thumb for all Riu resorts is that the wedding must be held where 80% of the guests are staying. So you guys could do the Riu Palace and get that experience and the rest of the guests can stay at any 1 of the other 5 Riu properties (they are all right next to each other). And because you are at the Palace Punta Cana you can use all 5 of the resorts but they cannot use your resort.

Not too sure why not...they cannot seem to ever tell me whys. And that $5000 is just for the reception...that is on top of the wedding package ($2600).

So the saga with this reception continues...I just got an email stating that the minimum price for a beach reception is $5000 and you cannot have more than 50 guests. The sales coordinator at this resort cannot seem to get things straight! I am very tempted to change to a different resort...only problem is my fiance is dead set on this one. ughhh! Like what in the world could they give you at the reception that costs $5000?!?!?!

The other option is that you guys could stay at the palace and all your family can stay at another riu that is cheap like the Bambu (i think this is a 4 star). The only issue with that is you have to get married at the resort where 80% of the guests are staying...or you can get married at the palace punta cana and the guests not staying there have to pay like $100 each to attend the wedding and reception. Or you can check out the Riu Palace Macao...it is also very nice and a little cheaper but not as much as the bambu.