Boston Bride 2009

We are just about the same as everyone else who has posted...I'll give some more detail of how it's breaking down for us. We are spending $3500 for travel (including the flight for my MOH) $5100 for the wedding/private reception including -flowers -dj -Reception dinner/drinks 15 additional guests (over the 20) -upgraded photog -pastor york $5300 on everything else including -my attire (2 dresses) -his attire -really nice invitations -save the date -gifts for our guests (beach towels) -gifts for wedding party -website -rings I'm sure there are few things that we will need here and there. We also agreed if we wanted things extra for our attire that wasn't in the budget we would get it on our own...we both have spent quite a bit extra in this area which is not included in our calculation. We are estimating we will have around 35-40 guests. We have 22 booked so far and we are getting married in November. Hope this helps

Has anyone heard anything about the dj? In reviews on Tripadvisor some folks mentioned the club music is cheesy so didn't know if they use the same dj for weddings. July brides....only weeks away!!! I can't wait to hear how everything goes...best of luck.

I am using destinationweddings.com and they have been AWESOME. They will help you from finding a resort all the way through making sure you land back home. There are a lot of perks for you if you book specific numbers of rooms (I think it depends on your hotel). They give you a website where you can see whose booked and their dates of travel. My TA is on the west coast and I'm in Boston so it's great to be able to talk to her after work because of the time difference. It's also convenient so she can reach my guests. We have gotten GREAT feedback about her. Debbie

We booked him as well for November 27th 2009. He has been great to work with. He has responded the same day to all of my emails. He is going to meet with us the day we get to the resort to get to know one another. I thought that was great. He sent us our ceremony and it is very nice. We are going to tailor it just a little. I can't wait to meet him. I've read a lot of great things about him. Debbie

nbulldog19, If you look in the first few pages of the thread someone posted a link to pics on snapfish that were helpful. Also, Ana sent me a link to this couple's wedding Luna Things. On the photosouvenier website you can see some Excellence weddings. As far as booking. We are working with a travel agent from destinationweddings.com who is awesome. She has called all of our guests, sent them quotes for their dates and airports. She coordinates our ground tranpsortation. If anything happens to any guests flights she will take care of it. It's made my life a million times easier. Oh and if the hotel is overbooked we will not get bumped because of the contract we have....annnnd we get free things for people booking. We booked 10 rooms so far and got 2 upgrades on our room. They also create a travel website for you and your guests. I can go in and look at who is booked and their travel dates. I HIGHLY recommend it. ecox125, I would call Ana directly. If she doesn't answer I would call the hotel. I can email you everything I have if you'd like. I think I've asked her every question possible and have pictures and menus. Happy planning...we are working on our Civil Ceremony which is June 20th ...had to please the family and have something here.

GPbride2009, Thank you for the information. I booked him as well for November. Please let me know how the ceremony goes. I'd love to here feedback. For anyone else who is interested his site is Eastern Dominican Christian Mission. He has been very responsive. He is charging us $300. He is also coming to the resort a few days early to meet with us which I thought was great. I didn't want to have total stranger over seeing our ceremony. Debbie

Destinationweddings.com is a travel agency and will coordinate travel. My wedding coordinator is at the resort.

Anna has been great and I strongly recommend destinationweddings.com. I like that on the site they created for me that I can see who's booked and the dates that they are going. We have recieved great feedback from our guests on Ana's service. She has made my life very easy. The prices are competitive. She can get any flights you see advertised on line for the same price. I've compared her prices to hotels.com and it's similar. A friend also checked with her travel agent and it was the same price. For what you get it's completely worth it. It's also helpful for me that she is on the west coast so I can talk to her after work. Debbie

Are you looking for wedding pics or pics of the hotel? If you are looking for wedding pics you can email Ana, the wedding coordinator and she can send you links. If you are looking just for the hotel the suggestion of tripadvisor is really good. I am getting married there in November. I went this past october. If you want you can visit our website celadogallant.weddingwindow.com and go to the photos section and you can look at the pics I took. Debbie

GPBride2009, Where did you find his contact information. I am very interested in getting in contact as we REALLY want to have a religous ceremony. Thanks, Debbie

jessyg20, Where did you find this person's contact information? We are getting married in Punta Cana and are struggling to find a religous leader to perform our ceremony. How much does he charge? Debbie

haskinl, I started working with Ana last summer for our November 09 wedding. My mom and I visited in October and sent in our date confirmation form shortly after our visit. We started working with a travel agent form destinationweddings.com (who is AWESOME) in November. Flights only book out 300 days ahead so you may have to wait some time. Your travel agent can get you group rates or you can go through the hotel. You have a lot of freedom to make your ceremony and reception how you would like it. Ana sent me quotes for photography. Does anyone know if Photosouvenier is the standard photographer for excellence or do you have to specify ahead of time?

I had this same conversation at christmas. It wasn't that my mom wasn't on board she that no one else in my family would be able to go (which is the case). I was really upset. Once my FI and I explained that it was what we could afford, we had more time with people, and it was a little more accessible for his family (they live on the island) she was more understanding. She didn't say don't do it she did say you really should consider having a formal event in the US. She offered to pay for the event in the US...so, we are having 2 events to make everyone happy. It has taken me a while to come around to the idea of the event in the US being more formal, but I think it is important to my family and will be fun (this will be a civil ceremony). Everyone's family dynamic is different. I think if you explain to people why it is important to you and show them how beautiful and affordable it is they may come around. Good Luck!

We are actually having a civil ceremony with a JP here in the states and have invited family and very close friends. Almost all of my extended family had let me know that they were not going to be able to make the trip. With a little push from my mom we caved in and agreed to a ceremony for the family to witness. It is going to be a nice event but I'm not wearing my wedding gown, we are not dancing, and it's early in the day (11:00). I think for us this was the best way to do it. In the DR we will have our acutal ceremony with gowns/flowers/wedding party/rehersal dinner/reception. We are considering this our "real wedding" This has kept everyone happy so far. Our friends/immediate are still super excited about the DR and those who can't go still feel a part of everything.

I am getting married at Excellence. When I went in October to start the planning I had my make up done at the resort because I had the same concern. She did an ok job just not my style. She didn't really understand the language well so it was hard for me. I am going to have a good friend who is an esthetician with us for the wedding and she will be doing out make up. Your hotel may have a make up artist in the spa.

Erin, Congrats! Excellence is wonderful. I have read great things about weddings held there. I went with my mom last October to start the planning process for our November 27, 2009 wedding. We are having 40-50 people so we had to plan early. I agree with everyone that Ana is wonderful. I would even consider calling her directly to get things done quickly. Sometimes email takes a day or two. You also want to make sure they have that date available. Amber, Would you mind emailing me the boquets and the pastry powepoint? And any information you have on the menu. I haven't requested that info yet. My email is [email protected]. Thank you!!! Debbie

Theresa, Congrats!!! We are getting married at EPC on November 27, 2009 and we are planning to do the same as you with beach ceremony, beach cocktail, and cascade pool reception. I have a few questions if you don't mind. -Did you hire the DJ for the reception? How were they? -Do you have a picture of how the tables were set up around the pool? -Did you do a legal ceremony or spiritual? If you did spiritual was the person over seeing the ceremony a judge or religous leader? -Did you ship items for the wedding down (gifts etc.) or did you bring them with you? I'm sure I'll think of other questions. Thanks for taking the time to help us!!! Debbie

Hello! I joined this info site to connect with Excellence PC brides. We are getting married 11/27/09 and will have about 45 guests. My mom and I visited the resort this past October to start the planning process. Debbie