marisacastro

Quote: Originally Posted by Natural Hello All!!!! For those who have and/or are going to use Jellyfish Restaurant I would like to know if there is a bar upstairs. I was thinking it would be nice to have the cocktail hour upstairs and eat dinner downstair. After cocktail hour, upstairs would be a loung area. Let me know how this sounds please! Thanks, Natural I actually had my wedding reception (March 2009) there...very small group of 15 total. We were seated upstairs and there is no bar up there but there are great views of the beach. However, if you are reserving the entire place, they can probably set one up there for you.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mrs. Williams I'm planning to get married on May 28, 2011 at the NH. Can you gals provide me with some advice on where to start the planning process? I've gotten a little concerned from reading all the of the posts on this site and realizing that the prices change frequently as well as the WCs. I know exactly what I want and I want to make sure that it is conveyed properly to the WC and there are not too many surprises on the wedding day. HELP! Hello future Mrs. Williams, For me the biggest decision was civil vs symbolic wedding. Obviously, the civil requires more planning (documents) and you have to be willing to go with the date/time the judge is available. After that, deciding on wedding location...beach or garden wedding or other...was the next biggest decision. For me, that helped determine what type of dress/shoes I wanted, my hairstyle, grooms attire, decorations, etc. As far as the WC goes, you don't interact much with them until a few months before the wedding. I was given a questionnaire that I used to communicate as clearly as possible what I wanted...I added lots of details. I made sure to include plenty of photos to help make everything clear. You actually get to sit with the WC once you are there and review all the details before the wedding. They have a photo album so you get to see the options they offer. Frankly, I had already given her so much info on the questionnaire that we didn't even look at the WC's album much. As for prices, the price I paid for my wedding back in March 2009 is still the same price based on their website. I don't know if prices for the extras have changed since those are not posted. Honestly, I think the prices are far better than what I would have paid if I had gotten married here. You'll have to be patient through it all. Apparently they have a lot of weddings but they only allow one per day so that was a plus. Once you have that questionnaire in your hands, make sure you add whatever other details that are important to you...with plenty of pics. Good luck!

Quote: Originally Posted by Keiths_wife_2B I'm lucky enough to live in Washington, DC....I went to the Dominican Consulate today, and they informed me that they NO LONGER do legalizations (as of 9/1/09). So now, I'm stumped as to what to do.....any suggestions I'm from the US and I used WEDO out of Houston, Tx for my wedding in March. It was all legal...I have my DR marriage certificate and a legally translated version that I used to change my name on my SSN with no problem.

Quote: Originally Posted by marisacastro Hello everyone....just wanted to give you an update. I was married (civil ceremony) on March 10, 2009 at the EdenH and I just received an email from Mariana that she has our marriage license and will be sending it to me via UPS. Just wanted to share since there was some discussion recently on this topic. Ooops...I meant to say certificate, not license. Mariana has already mailed our marriage certificate to us via UPS. Hope to receive it soon.

Hello everyone....just wanted to give you an update. I was married (civil ceremony) on March 10, 2009 at the EdenH and I just received an email from Mariana that she has our marriage license and will be sending it to me via UPS. Just wanted to share since there was some discussion recently on this topic.

petunia, Thanks for the compliments. Yes, the judge and the translator were both by the ceremony table, placed to the left of the huppa/gazebo. I think they do that for two reasons. First, the photos will have a clear view of the beach behind the bride and groom. Second, the guests can see the bride and groom (face on) during the ceremony. I thought it was odd too but then it made sense when I saw the photos. The only draw back, if it is windy at the time of your ceremony then you may have issues with your hair. I had mine pulled away from my face for that reason. My hubby keeps his hair on the long side, so the photographer kept pointing out how his hair was not cooperating...it was pretty funny.

Thanks ladies for all the compliements!! We had a great time...I didn't want the day to end!

Quote: Originally Posted by lrfriendly Marisa, You brought you own shells for the cake?? Where did you buy them? Did they hold up ok? Also I love your braclet in the pic. Where did you get that too? Thanks so much!! Yes, I purchased the shells for my wedding cake online. I ordered the 30 piece set. They come white but I also purchased from the same company the sea shell dust set to decorate them. I received them in a white box that was padded with a sponge layer on both the top and bottom that protected them during shipping. I used the same packaging that they came in to take with me to the DR except that I also added a layer of saran wrap to keep the decorative dust from rubbing off the shells. Here is a link to the website: http://www.cakesbysam.com/store/cart...ategory_id=261 The bracelet and earrings I purchased online as well. The bracelet was gorgeous under the sun. It is hard to appreciate it in the photos...looks much prettier in person. The pearls and crystals are strung on clear wire so they seem to be floating on your wrist. I ended up buying multiple pieces that I wore throughout my stay in the DR. Here is a link to the website: Beach Bride Jewelry - Beautiful finishing touches for your wedding in the sand Thanks for your compliments and best wishes on your wedding!

Quote: Originally Posted by moepeedy Your pictures were lovely! Question did you have your reception party at the Jellyfish REstaurant? I am getting married at the Melia and having my reception at the Jellyfish. I love your centerpieces you had. WEre those provided by JF and was your coordinator Mayte. moepeddy - Yes, I had my reception at the Jellyfish. I worked out the details with Mayte. I had a small wedding party so I requested we be seated at one table. I was charged $200 for decorating the table. It turned out very pretty and the food was awesome. Good luck on your wedding.

My professional pics by Renaud from Photosouvenir: http://www.pictage.com/634105

I finally received the link to all of the professional photos from Photosouvenir. Here is a link so you may see more of what the EdenH will do for you. http://www.pictage.com/634105

My dress was a Maggie...I wore the Sterling and I absolutely loved it!! Here is a link to the rest of the professional photos on pictage: http://www.pictage.com/634105

Quote: Originally Posted by SunnysideDerson I love how your wedding turned out. Your pics are great! I am getting married at the same resort in two months. Your review was really helpful!! Did you ship anything ahead of time, or just bring everything with you? I just happen to have very large luggage bags...so no, I didn't ship anything in advance. Plus, since all of my wedding party flew into the DR on the same flight, I had plenty of options to split up my luggage to meet the airline requirements...the guys always pack very light. Best wishes on your upcoming wedding!!

Quote: Originally Posted by DanielleNDerek Of course i had to look at your pictures. You looked gorgeous. And you both look very comfortable in the pics. I'm so glad you booked photosouvenir, they were great for my wedding too. And the resort has so many great places to take pics. Glad you had a great time. Also glad they didnt move your guests to another resort and they got upgraded. Congratulations on becoming a MRS! Thanks so much! I have to admit, your bouquet was my insipiration for my own...so thank you for sharing your story and photos!!

Yes, I purchased them online...white fondant candies. I decorated them with colored pearl dust that I also purchased from the same company. They were packaged in a box padded with foam. I used them same box to take them with me. They did just fine. Here is a link to the website I purchased them from. Wedding Cakes, Cake Decorating Supplies at Cakes By Sam.com - GPSS - Edible Seashells White 30 cntGPSS - Edible Seashells Set 30 Count

Thank you so much. I absoultely loved the dress! It was the perfect choice for me...I wanted the dress to flow with me, have some sparkle (not too much) and make me feel like a bride. It did all of the above and more. I got so many compliments. Guests from the hotel kept asking where I had gotten the dress. I am sure you will feel the same when you walk out in yours!

newbride - I wore the Sterling at my beach wedding....LOVED IT!! If you're on facebook, I have some of the prof photos posted there: Login | Facebook

lrfriendly, Parasols: I actually had 5 parasols with me, one for each female in my party. We decided to place them out as part of the decorations but really for anyone to grab if needed. I had two at the gazebo, two at the the aisle entry as you noted and one at the ceremonial table. They looked very pretty...I got lots of compliments on them. Civil Ceremony: Went without a problem. The judge was very nice and smiled the whole time. She seemed happy to be there enjoying the moment. Mike Bryant, the resort manager, translated the ceremony. They each had microphones so everyone could hear what was being said. We didn't have any personalized vows, we simply said our "I Do" out loud for everyone to hear. After the '...kiss the bride' part, we signed all the paperwork at the ceremonial table. We then had my maid of honor read the sand ceremony which we performed at the ceremonial table too. It was very lovely. Toast: After the sand ceremony, my CD started playing and champagne was handed out to all the guests and we had our toast right there on the beach. I had my cocktail hour all laid out at the ceremony sight...it was very nice. Dance: After a few drinks and some photos, we had our first dance right on the sand. Again all very beautiful. We had a few other guests join in, dancing on the beach. Planning: Most of my planning I did in advance. I am a very detailed person so I couldn't wait...I had to go with a plan in mind (and on paper...lol). Mariana, the WC, sent me a questionnaire that you must return completed 15 days prior to your wedding date. The questionnaire is enough to get most of what they need from you. I modified it slightly by adding some additional sections to capture all the details I could think of. I added lots of pics to make sure they had a good idea of what I wanted. If you don't have the time look for photos, they actually have a binder of sample photos to show you when you meet at the resort. You will get an email right before you leave that tells you what date/time to meet the WC. If you dont' get the email, you will have a message in your room. Good luck on your wedding planning and let me know if there is anything else I can help with!

I just added my review to the forum. I will add a link to my professional photos once I have that. Here is a link to the review: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t39333 Let me know if you have questions!

Resort: EdenH Real Arena (NH) Wedding Date/Time: March 10, 2009 at 11:00am Wedding Location: Civil Ceremony on the Beach Wedding Coordinators: Mariana Vilchez & Ana De Los Santos Photographer: Photosouvenir – Reno (Renaud) No. of Guests: 11 Check-in: For some reason, all of my wedding guests that had booked through Orbitz were notified the day before departure that the hotel had moved them to a different resort. It sounded like they were overbooked but we were never told exactly why this happened. We had to call the resort directly to notify them that they had to stay at the EdenH since they were part of my wedding party. We were told they would go ahead and accommodate them since they were part of my wedding party. When we arrived at check-in, they were directed to the VIP check-in area where all of them were upgraded to the Paradise Club rooms which gave them ‘VIP’ status (the pink bracelets). VIP status gives you access to the VIP pools, VIP bars (with premium liquor) and VIP lounge (check-in area, two computers with free internet, snacks and drinks). In the end, they actually got a better deal through this mess up. Accommodations: We had the standard deluxe room which I really enjoyed. These rooms have an indoor hot tub between the restroom area and the bed/living area, giving the room an open feeling. If you have guests sharing rooms, you should let them know this in advance since the toilet and shower have frosted glass doors that can be seen from the bed. The Paradise Club rooms have a short wall instead of the hot tub inside and a hot tub in the balcony. I wanted the indoor hot tub myself so I had no problem staying in the deluxe room. With the deluxe wedding package, we got the pink ‘VIP’ bracelets to use throughout the resort. There are two main buildings of rooms. In building 1 (room starts with a 1), you'll want an even numbered room for a decent view. In building 2, you'll want an odd numbered room for a good view. The even numbered rooms in building 2 are facing construction. We were in building 2, room 2315 and we had a view of the fountains and pools which I enjoyed every morning. It seems to me that the only rooms that have a true ocean view are the Paradise Club rooms. Wedding Package Selected: I selected the Deluxe Wedding Package ($1449 USD) which included the following: •Wedding coordinator •Choice of wedding locations •Welcome fruit platter – we didn’t get one but we did get a small bottle of local rum •Civil judge service fees •Translation of ceremony – performed by Mike Bryant, hotel manager •Marriage certificate delivered by UPS – will take up to 3 months •One floral centerpiece for ceremonial table – tropical flowers •Wedding music during ceremony – I took my own CD for the ceremony and a second for the cocktail hour and I didn’t get charged for using their sound system for the cocktail hour •Deluxe chairs for bride and groom – I never saw anything that looked like exclusive chairs for us…but I never had the need to sit down •Elegantly covered chairs for all guests – I selected a color (yellow/orange) to coordinate with the tropical flowers. The chairs had a sash in my color tied around them. I was not charged extra for the sash. I think they only charge more if flowers are used to decorate the chairs. •Bouquet for Bride and Boutonniere for Groom using tropical flowers – I did not want to pay extra to have flowers imported so I chose tropical flowers. I emailed the WC photos of a bouquet that I liked and was not charged extra. My actual bouquet was almost an exact match. When you meet the WC, they have photos you can look through to select from. •Wedding cake for 15 guests – I brought my own candy shells/starfish I decorated myself. I went with vanilla icing/cake. They have multiple flavors to select from for no extra charge. •One glass of sparkling wine for up to 15 guests - I requested they also have cold bottled water and orange juice and was not charged extra. •One hour of hors d'oeuvres – It consisted of mostly smoked salmon and shrimp on bread, which everyone enjoyed. •15 min massage for Bride and Groom – You’ll get a certificate that you can use to schedule a massage through the Spa. I had mine on the beach; quite nice. •Certificate for 4 day/3 nights stay on anniversary – You’ll get a certificate that you can use later. •VIP status – These are the pink bracelets I already mentioned. I added the following items to my wedding package: •Huppa ($350 USD) – The huppa (gazebo) is covered in white fabric and then decorated with tropical flowers. I asked that all the flowers coordinate with my bouquet and my color (yellow/orange). I got three flower swags; one on the top and two on the front sides of the huppa, all tied in ribbon to match my color theme. I also asked that they use the starfish they already have which they added to the flower swags. In addition, I asked they mark the aisle with palm leaves, which they did plus they added red flower petals sprinkled on the sand down the aisle. I was charged exactly the $350 for all of the above. •Day pass for my photographer ($69 USD) •Maid of honor bouquet ($45 USD) •Best Man boutonniere ($20 USD) I brought the following items for the ceremony which I gave the WC when we met: •Flower petals/cones in my color theme to give to the guests for the walk back down the aisle after the ceremony. •Butterflies to add to the palm leaves along the aisle. •Parasols which I took in case it got too hot, but instead we used to decorate around the huppa and the aisle. •Sand ceremony set and reading •Wedding cake decorations •My DIY coconut ring holder •Toasting glasses Payment for your wedding is made when you meet with the WC, prior to your wedding. Payment can be a credit card or traveler’s checks. Flowers/Decorations: As I mentioned before, I was extremely pleased with the flowers included in the tropical selection. I was mostly focused on the bouquets and boutonnieres. I provided sample photos of what I wanted and I got almost exactly what I envisioned so I have to say that helped tremendously. I got a lot of complements on the setting and choice of colors. I couldn’t really take credit for anything other than provided the WC with as much detail as I could weeks prior to the ceremony. The WC actually sent me a questionnaire to complete one month before my wedding which I used to detail everything I could think of. I even added my own sections to the questionnaire. Renova Spa/Salon: I did the trial bridal hair the day before the wedding and was quite pleased. So I went ahead and booked the bridal hair for the next morning. My maid of honor also had her hair done the day of the wedding. I think they did a good job…my hair lasted all day without having to do any touchups. As you can see in the photos below, it can be quite windy but despite that it stayed out of my face. It was a little pricey but it was worth it for me. My hairdo was $90 USD and my maid of honor’s was $60 USD. You pay for any services you receive from the Spa when you are done. Giselle did my hair and finished off my MOH. We both had sample photos of what we wanted so that certainly made it easier. FYI…it took 2 hours to get my hair done and I did my own makeup…so plan for the time it takes. Beach Ceremony/Cocktail Hour: I opted to have both the ceremony and the cocktail hour back to back on the beach. I had a civil ceremony so I didn’t have a choice on the time for the ceremony…11:00am. I was worried it would be too hot but there was a constant breeze from the ocean that kept everyone comfortable. There were a few clouds here and there but it never looked like rain. I couldn’t have asked for better weather! The set for the ceremony ran a little late but I didn’t notice it. I actually held it up a few minutes taking some quick photos with the photographer. I provided the music that was played for both the ceremony and the cocktail hour. They have a good sound system so everyone could hear the music and ceremony. The ceremony itself was short and sweet. Mike Bryant, the hotel manager, translated what the judge recites. The judge was very nice and seemed happy to be there. After the civil ceremony finished, we signed all the documents and then performed the sand ceremony. I took a reading with me that my MOH read over the microphone for everyone to hear. Again, very simple and sweet. The beach is not private so you do get people close by watching and even recording your ceremony. Most people are cordial and stay out of the way. There was a construction crew behind us that came to a complete stop to watch the whole thing. I even had resort guests cheer me on as I walked over to the ceremony area. I was all quite cute and lovely. The cocktail hour was immediately after the ceremony. The champagne and hors d'oeuvres were very good. The cake looked beautiful with the candy decorations I brought. I was very pleased with how it turned out. I had them play a CD I had made that had exactly one hour’s worth of music to be played in sequence. The only complaint I had was they played the first song repeatedly waiting for us to do our first dance on the beach. I had no idea they were waiting on us. Because of that, we didn’t get to hear all of the songs on my CD. It would have been nice if they had asked me first if I wanted them to stay longer (for an extra charge) but instead they turned off the music and started packing up! I felt a little rushed to finish up…I didn’t want it to end. Wedding Lunch at the Jellyfish Restaurant: Since my wedding was scheduled at 11:00am, I opted for a wedding lunch outside the resort at 2:30pm. The Edenh does not have any of the a la carte restaurants open for lunch. I wanted something a little nicer than the buffet so I made a reservation at a nearby restaurant called the Jellyfish. I had Mayte from the Jellyfish restaurant include transportation for the entire group from EdenH and did not have a set menu since we were such a small group. However, almost everyone ordered the same thing….the House Lobster. It was absolutely wonderful! The best lobster I’ve ever had. I also had Mayte include decorations for our table ($200 USD) that coordinated with my color choices. She did a very nice job…I was quite pleased with how it turned out. The total for lunch, drinks, decorations, transportation and tip was $740 USD. Photosouvenir Photography: I cannot express to you how happy I am with my choice in photographer. Reno did our photographs and I am extremely happy with all the work he has done. I knew this was the one wedding expense I could not skimp out on. The photos are the only thing from my wedding that I could share with those that were not there. So I wanted to make sure my photos would make those who couldn’t be there, feel like they too have memories of my wedding. I selected the Gold package (no video) and received close to 500 photos to look through. Reno did an excellent job capturing everything and everyone without being noticed too much…and when I did, he looked like he was having fun too! He knew exactly where to go for the best shots and always asked if we had any other locations in mind. Neither my husband nor I are good at posing for photos but he made us feel comfortable with the whole process. We didn’t even notice the time go by because we were having so much fun doing it…and again, we never had cared for posing in a photo before! Our wedding was on a Tuesday and Reno had our proofs ready by Thursday morning. Thursday evening we called him and let him know which photo we wanted for our painted canvas. We met with him one last time on Saturday morning where we received our painted canvas, slide show, digital images, signed release statement and paid our remaining balance. The Gold package included a hand painted 12x18 canvas from of a photo of my choice. Everyone that has seen it is totally blown away. Even after seeing the samples on the artist’s website, I was still not prepared to see how beautiful it turned out. The images on the internet don’t do them justice. A painted canvas is included in all of Photosouvenir’s packages and you will be pleasantly surprised with what you get. I ended up ordering a second, larger one and others in my wedding wanted one made of their photo!! I will be receiving the second one along with my photo album in 1-2 weeks. Reno will have a folder for my wedding photos on Pictage soon and I will share that when it is ready. If you're on facebook and want a quick peek, I posted some already: Login | Facebook Wedding Dinner at Senses: We had a reservation at Senses for dinner the day of my wedding. I had the WC decorate our dinner table with the floral centerpiece from our ceremony and some of the flower petals I had provided. The table looked very pretty and the restaurant itself is decorated with white chiffon hanging throughout and red accessories. I had only 11 people total in my wedding party but they still required that I select a set menu. I thought that was odd but I did it anyway. We went with the green leaves and veg. salad, lobster bisque, beef tenderloin, and crème brulee. Everything tasted good…but we did have to wait a long time between courses. We didn’t have a private dinner so there was no charge for this. Resort Restaurants: Reservations: You have to make your dinner reservations at least a day in advance if not sooner for the a la carte restaurants. I tried making them all through the WC prior to arrival but only one was actually on the books. I had to pretty much make them all on my first day there. Main Buffet: We usually had breakfast at the main buffet but I would suggest you order room service. There is a huge assortment of food there but it was pretty much the same everyday...we were there a week. There is no charge for it and there is no line to wait at. If you like your eggs made a certain way, then room service is the way to go. Otherwise, there are long lines to have your eggs made fresh. We also tried the buffet for dinner a couple of nights. We sometimes didn't want to wait for our meal after an excusion so the buffet was the quickest source to food in our bellies. Also, they have wait staff refilling your drinks and removing dirty dishes from your table. Great service for a buffet! Beach front Buffet: As I said before, only the buffets are open for lunch. This is where we ended up for lunch everyday since we enjoy being outdoors. There is always a breeze the temperature was quite comfortable. The occassional sprinkle had people running for cover at the buffet but it never lasted. The food was ok but we didn't care too much...we probably drank more than ate for lunch. A la Carte: I would have to say that Senses had the best food of all the a la carte restaurants. However, be prepared to wait a long time for your meal no matter which one you go to. I actually saw some people leave because they had been waiting for a long time without any service. If you are really hungry and on a tight schedule then you are better off going to the main buffet.

I just got back from my beach wedding at the EdenH...it was wonderful!! I would have not guessed it was spring break. I saw mostly older couples and families. I never noticed the typical teenage/college kids you'd expect over spring break. The resort you select may have something to do with it. I know the Edenh does not allow more than 3 people per room. Also, my wedding happened at 11:00am...I thought the time was perfect for me. Not as many people out on the beach yet at that time and the lighting was perfect. Plus, it wasn't hot like I thought it was going to be. In fact, there is a constant breeze that kept everyone comfortable...we are from Texas so we are used to much warmer temperatures. As far as the beach ceremony went, yes there are people watching and taking pics and even video. But they all seemed respectful and kept their distance...I even got a cheer from the crowd as I walked towards the ceremony site. I actually thought it was cute...it certainly made me smile! I will be posting a review soon so you may want to keep an eye out for it so you may see my photos.

Thanks!! I loved the dress...it was a perfect choice for the beach. I took the parasols with me and gave them to the WC to place at the ceremony. I took them with me since I was afraid it would be too hot for the guests but we are from Texas so it actually felt very comfortable for us.

Hello ladies....I just got back from my wedding at the EdenH Real Arena. It was absolutely wonderful!! I have a lot to share but will give you a link to the photos from the professional photographer (Renaud) from Photosouvenir... I absolutely loved and highly recommend. http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...&id=1200114998

I have to say the same...Severine asked for my deposit about a month before my scheduled wedding date. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Beautiful pics!! Congratulations on such a beautiful wedding.