Nonnie

I am wondering if your FMIL is so gung-ho about doing this is because she feels it is one way to help, and being in Canada there are not a lot of other things she can help with. She sounds like my mom, full of energy and passion and eager to jump in there, but not very good at checking in with those she wants to help. I would email or phone your FMIL and thank her for her efforts, but explain your concerns. Tell her what it is you had planned to make your wedding time special for you (the cruise etc) and the date you chose. Also explain that you have a TA you already started dealing with in the states. Explain to her that you are glad to have her help organize stuff for the Canadians, but (depending what you decide) you feel better dealing with the TA you have already contacted and who is closer to home. Good luck, she sounds like she means well so keep that in mind.

June 2009 melnb & FI: June 2009 - Paradisius FYB87 & FI: June 2009 - Resort undecided Lisa & Mike: June 9th 2009 - Majestic Colonial Vanessa & Hugo: June 19, 2009 - Paradisus Palma Real Mark and Jessica: June 19, 2009--Dreams Punta Cana Amanda and Tony: June 19, 2009-- Dreams Punta Cana Katy & Will: June 20, 2009 - Occidental Grand Rosanne & Alex: June 24, 2009- Dreams Punta Cana Sue & Steve: June 30th, 2009 - Riu Palace Punta Cana July 2009 Kylie & Chris: July 1, 2009 - Dreams Punta Cana Amber & Seth: July 2, 2009 - Excellence Punta Cana Nadia & Julian: July 3, 2009 - Excellence Punta Cana Lori & Justin: July 8, 2009 - Melia Caribe Tropical Nathan & Brianne July 15th- Dreams Punta Cana Jess & Dan: July 27, 2009 - Dreams Punta Cana Jenn & Chris: July 31, 2009 - Riu Palace, Punta Cana Cecile & Nord: July 24,2009-Moon Palace, Punta Cana August 2009 Shannon & Rich: August 5, 2009 - Dreams Punta Cana Hayley & Nick: August 10, 2009 - Paradisus Punta Cana Ana & Adam: August 15, 2009 - Iberostar Punta Cana September 2009 Clare & Ross: September 7, 2009 - Ocean Blue (date to be confirmed) Chris & Martin: September 9, 2009 - Ocean Blue (date to be confirmed) Lori & Keith: September 9, 2009 - Excellence, Punta Cana Kenya & Eddie Sept. 12, 2009 - Dreams Punta Cana Kim & Jason September 18, 2009 - Dreams Palm Beach Kristy & Vince: September 19, 2009 - Dreams Punta Cana October 2009 Carmen & Tiny: October 09, 2009 - Catalonia Bavaro Beach, Punta Cana Jeannie & Jorge: October 10, 2009 - Dreams Punta Cana Jen & Dave: October 10, 2009 - Majestic Colonial Punta Cana Darcy & Dave: October 11, 2009- Melia Caribe Tropical- Punta Cana Angela & Jason: October 20, 2009 - Majestic Colonial Punta Cana Kelly & Pablo: October 22, 2009 - Majestic Colonial, Punta Cana Jenny & Matthew: October 27, 2009 - Melia Caribe Tropical c & d: October 27, 2009 - Majestic Colonial, Punta Cana November 2009 Veronica & Paul: November 5, 2009 - Majestic Colonial Punta Cana Lisa & Jim: November 5, 2009 - EdenH Real Arena Punta Cana Erin & Trent: November, 9, 2009 - Melia Caribe Tropical Rosa & Eddie: November 10, 2009 - Barcelo Bavaro Palace Leslie & Gerry: November 16, 2009- Majestic Colonial Andrea & Chris: November 24, 2009, Majestic Elegance Krista & Dave: November 25, 2009 - Sirenis Tropical December 2009 Julie and Rob: December 4, 2009 - Grand Palladium Punta Cana Amber and Dan: December 5, 2009 - Majestic Colonial Nonnie and Marj: December 10,2009-Grand Palladium Punta Cana Beth and Ian: December 12, 2009- Excellence Punta Cana Lindsay and Tracy: December 31, 2009 - Majestic Colonial August 2009 Tasha & Jamil: August 1, 2009 - Excellence Punta Cana January 2010 Jacqueline & Craig: January 5, 2010 - Sirenis Tropical Nicole & Michael: January 23, 2010 - Bavaro Princess Shelby & Michael: January 23, 2010 - Dreams Punta Cana Jocelyn & Michael: January 25, 2010 - Dreams Punta Cana Lisa & Adam: January 2010, Dreams Punta Cana Nicole & Chad: January 13, 2010 - Dreams Punta Cana February 2010 Amber & John: February 27, 2010, Paradisus Palma Real March 2010 Jennifer & Cory March 13 2010- Palma Real Punta Cana Kim & Ron March 17, 2010 - Dreams Punta Cana Diane & Devin March 25 2010 - Paradisus Palma Real Lindsay & Seth March 28 2010 - Paradisus Palma Real April 2010 Vanessa & Eddie April 16, 2010 - Majestic Colonial Jess & Aaron April 22, 2010 - Majestic Colonial Punta Cana Stacey & Eric April 22, 2010 - Dreams La Romana Erin & Jeremy April 28, 2010 - Dreams Punta Cana Amanda & Craig April 28*, 2010 - Grand Palladium Punta Cana May 2010 Jennnifer & Trevor May 11th 2010 - Majestic Colonial Rosa & Larry May 15th, 2010 - Excellence Punta Cana Heather & George May 15th 2010 - Dreams La Romana mary & joey may 21st, 2010- dreams punta cana Lauren & Nate May 18, 2010- Majestic Colonial Sara & Adam May 22nd, 2010 - Indecided, Punta Cana (Palladium, Dreams, Iberostar or Excellence) July 2010 Lynette and Darnel July 13, 2010 - Dreams Punta Cana Liz & Miguel - July 26, 2010 - Undecided location {Santiago, Puerto Plata, or Punta Cana August 2010 Jeanette & Julio - undecided Punta Cana, (PPC or PPR) Aug 2010 Linda & Robin: August 3, 2010 - Paradisus Punta Cana

Nonnie and Mark December 9, 2009 Grand Palladium Punta Cana Hey, I'll be there for Julie and Rob's wedding

So I am feeling a bit annoyed about something and want to share My Fiance and I have finally settled on the Dominican Republic, changing locations from St Maarten which he loved since he is Dutch but I grew to hate only because the resort kept giving the run-around and I needed ot hire an outside planner (=$$$) Our TA told us we needed 10 people to book the hotel as a group, or wait until individual rates came out. I also was given the idea that I would not be able to book any wedding stuff with the resort until we had booked our rooms. Makes sense right? so I never questioned that. Meanwhile It's been months and we are still at 8 people booked and no one new is showing interest. I'm freaking out because we only have one day we can marry (there is a weekend in the middle of our trip, and I need 3 working days before the ceremony) and I am worried no officiant will be available unless we book ASAP. Enter my mom who says we should send out more email invited to friends of her and my dad's to bring out the numbers. Desperate, I agree. Fiance seems fine with it at the time, but later admits he did not want to say anything in front of my mom, but he hates the idea of course then it is too late to recall those invites because she rushed off eagerly and sent them. grrrrrr Then I email the wedding coordinator and it turns out I did not have to wait until we booked the resort to book the officiant!!! My TA was surprised by this, as was I. Of course now 2 of my folk's friends have signed up, 2 people I really don't know at all and more are thinking about it!!! GAAHHH I wanted a small wedding, now I am going to have all these people I don't know and my Fiance is upset at me and my mom had won out in having control over things again!!!! *weep*

They call that a symbolic ceremony and it's a popular option because it saves a lot of cash and hassle. You will need to have your wedding license from the city hall in your home town translated into Spanish to prove you guys are already married, but that's it. In the symbolic ceremony an English speaking employee of the resort will do the ceremony for you. From what I have heard they still take it seriously and do a good job.

#1, you look like a hollywood star, it's sexy! The mermaid look fits a beach theme too.

No guest minimum I think I'll contact the WC and see if I can book the wedding now Thanx!

Can I book an officiant before I have booked the resort?? I can't book my resort now until either I have 10 people commit to the group package my TA put together, or the individual rates come out in a few months. I'm worried because I am 2 people short, and now one is stepping up to the plate yet. I've heard that there are not a lot of officiants in the DR and I don't want to risk not getting one. I don't have a specific date or time in mind as long as it is either December 8 or 9th of 2009 Any advice?

I'm marrying at the Grand Palladium Punta Cana

I am certainly tempted to hire them, however my money is tight (like most ppl I suppose). I'm trying to get a hold of the resort photographer so I can see some of their work to make a decision, but they have yet to reply. I'm thinking I will use a cheap package with the resort photographer for the wedding ceremony (unless their work is really bad) and then hire photo souvenir to do TTD pics the next day, since I want to do that anyway. I was thinking I wanted a 2 hr photo session with my FI an I the day of the wedding, but you get most of the same stuff you do from a TTD, you just stay out of the water. This way I'll pay less and get all the pics I want.

My FI is big into photography and has lots of magazines, some of which advertise touch up software. This got me thinking about all photo retouching I've been seeing in Bridal magazines etc so I thought I would try finding some pics of models before and after touchups. Enjoy: digitalpablo, Italy - Affordable Web, Graphic, Logo, Flash Design and Digital Retouching Greg's Digital Archive To be honest, I find this one a little creepy: Photo Retouching and Enhancement for Pageant, Model and Glamour Photography I find the way the boobs move when I put my cursor over the images to be most amusing.

I know how you feel! changed my location just to make it more affordable for people and how many more have signed up.... NONE!! Not to mention now my FIs folks say they may not come, that's right. WTF! If I don't get 10 people booked I won't be able to book as individuals until this summer and by then I will probably have an impossible time finding an officiant (I'm a DR bride) I hope your family clues in. Good luck!

How does he get around the fact that ceremonies in the DR have to be in Spanish??

The wedding planner is Carolina Barragán Beck. Her email is [email protected] She has been a bit slow to reply to my emails, but I think it's a busy time for them there Here is a great website about the resort: Palladium Addict - Grand Palladium Punta Cana You can find package info, flower upgrade info, spa info etc through that website.

OMG, that Palladium addicts site is SO Helpful!! Thank you!!

wow, thanks guys. I think I'll probably stick with the Bavaro section to keep things consistent, I already changed my location once. I hadn't even thought about airport to resort transportation...

So I thought I narrowed myself down to one resort, the Grand Palladium Bavaro on the Grand Palladium Property, but now I am wondering if that is the best of the 3 resorts there to go with. Is anyone familiar enough with the grounds to give any advice. Bavaro: Rated better on trip advisor, but the rooms look far away from the ammenities Palace: a few bad ratings, all rooms near the beach, close to the amenities, but a whole 5 cents more expensive (I find this amusing) Punta Cana: by the beach, by the amenities, did not rate too well on Trip advisor. Help!!

I'm going to be booking with the Grand Palladium Bavaro. It's one of 3 resorts on the same property, so there is lots of stuff to explore. Other brides who married there gave great reviews. Also, it rated #6 out of 94 resorts in Punta Cana on tripadvisor

Thanks guys the cut of the dresses is all the same, but the colours are different for each BM, so I wont have any luck changing the cut We are going to take that twisted band under the bust and use a wider flat band instead (a couple inches) which should help

I tried it on again today to take pictures, I'm feeling a little better about it, but still not excited. please let me know what you think.

Yep, started working yesterday evening so I spent some time drooling over images. Now I just need to find a way to afford it...

So I am a bridesmaid for my brother's wedding in August (4 months before my DW, I got engaged first though). My mom is making the bridesmaid dresses (to save $$) and the bride picked out the pattern and colour and fabric sash she is adding. My dress was finished first, I tried it on yesterday and OMG!! . . . I look super pregnant. It is probably the most unflattering thing I could wear, the colour is nice, but the bust flattens out my chest and the folds of fabric down the stomach poof out at the Empress waistline making it look like a maternity gown. At the back it flows awkwardly over my large caboose making it look even bigger. To make matters worst the bride wants us to wear flip flops, which make me walk very awkwardly. The 3 bridesmaids are very different figures, I am short and curvy (not fat, I have a Marilyn Monroe figure), one is tall and stick thin and the other is a pretty big girl. I don't think this dress will be flattering on any of us. I don't want to think that my future SIL is wanting her bridesmaids to look horrible, but I can't help but wonder... I would say something, but my mom put a lot of time into these. The worst part is I was saying (before I tried the dress on) that I would take to to Dominican Republic and wear it the week of my wedding and then the Honeymoon, but now I know I will never wear it again after her wedding. Both her and my mom will be there for my wedding, so they will know that I don't wear it, thus don't like it. I guess the plus side is I don't need to work my winter flab off before August, no one will be able to tell the difference

I am really wanting to look around the photo souvenir website, but I can't see it on either my laptop or my Fiance's laptop. I was wondering if the problem is with us, we both run linux, or if the site is down. Mark's computer definatly has the latest Flash player and theother day I could see more of the main page then I can see now Can anyone see it?

Would anyone be able to provide me with the package info for Grand Palladium Bavaro? I have some info from other threads, but I am trying to figure out costs and some things (like hair and makeup) I have not found anything about. I emailed the resort coordinator, but I hear she is slow to respond. Thank you!

Yay! I am looking forward to your findings!