rgonzalez_83

Quote: Originally Posted by msredbird51 I'm looking for some thoughts/advice on timing of our ceremony and what/when to do things. We are doing a legal ceremony. The judge was only available at 1:00, so that's the time we've been given ("unless something changes"). Which just seems really early to me, but I'm hoping you girls can help me figure out how to work it out. I did ask Carolina if we could move the time, and she said we could do the legal part with the judge at 1:00 and then the ceremony with Pastor Rick later. However, the fiance was not really a fan of this idea. He really wants to do both things at once. So that option is out, and it looks like 1:00 it is. So..... If we get married at 1:00, how long does the ceremony take? We'd do pictures after the ceremony, but do you do cake/first dance then, too? (Is there a champagne toast thing, too??) We're doing the beach party later, but the photographer will be long gone by then. Cake after wedding or at dinner? Even if we do pictures, cake, champagne, etc. right after ceremony, it will still only be 3:00, maybe 4:00, when all of that is done. What would we have our guests, and ourselves really, do for that gap between all of that and dinner/beach party? I'm really struggling with what to do and how to handle the timing of all of that. Any help or thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Our Ceremony was at 430pm and our private reception was at 7pm. We still had time in between pics to have drinks at the lobby bar, which people had no problem with. Not sure what time your dinner is scheduled for but it may be a good idea to have people meet for drinks and snacks before dinner.

Quote: Originally Posted by [email protected] I had almost 40 guests and our dinner was at the spanish rest. it was a smaller rest. so it seemed like we had the whole things; there were huge windows all around us it was gorgeous and perfrct for the size of the wedding.. very nice area of the resort as well. I had the Quijote restaurant too. I thought it was the nicest restaurant with lots of windows.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bella30 yes i have 5 and he has 4 lol... i went a couple times and did look at dresses...it is so fun! i just need to decided on one i think... its just hard haha...Who did you get to do you photos? I am going to decided between HDC or Michael Wieler? Any recommendations... I used Michael Wieler and the videographer (forgot his name but it's his partner and always the same guy) and they were AWESOME!! We got a beautiful video with music of the ceremony, a coffee table book of the wedding pictures, several pics of different sizes and colors printed out as well as a disc that is not copyrighted so u can print more for family.

carribeanlover (or anyone who can help); how have u been adding the pics to the thread? (the beach pics, not the sig)Have you been cutting and pasting? Just trying to figure that out so I can add pics once I have them. Thanks!

Just got back today!! I'm in the middle of unpacking so when I have more time I'll write a thorough review. First off,let me say I did not know May was the month with the most rain in the DR. My FI and I got engaged in the DR in May 2008 and there was not even a drop of rain--apparently that was a fluke. Anyways, i cried my eyes out the first day we got there because it poured. It didn't help that my guests who took private taxis kept telling me how the taxi drivers asked them "Why come in May, it rains everyday??" Grrr.. By the grace of God, our wedding day was the only dry day in the 10 days we were there!! I had already felt defeated and thought we'd have to do it in doors. The gazebo was gorgeous. I had a private reception at the Don Quijote restaurant-what a beautiful place!! My wedding was on a Thursday so that restaurant was easy to book during the weekday. I used the resort DJ (forgot his name...) and he was good. He played whatever we asked, and we brought our own music as well. Dinner was great, we chose the beef medalions for the majority of the guests, and the salmon for those who don't eat red meat. Everyone loved the food. Our photographer and videographer were the best! We used Michael Weiler's company. The video provided came with a personalized cover (front and back), as well as credits at the end. It looked like a legitimate DVD! LOL Okay, gotta run back down to the washer, feel free to ask any questions I can help u with!! Rebecca

Quote: Originally Posted by jerzshortstuff 4. Has anyone ever been over spring break? Because I am a teacher, we will most likely leave the Monday or Tuesday after Easter. Is this a common place families go? Thanks in advance! Jerz., Make sure to go after easter. Holy week (week before easter) Catholic countries, especially the DR and Mexico, limit the things guests can do, like no use of jet skis, no motorized boats, ect. The week after easter will probably be really busy but fun. Alot of Europeans take their "holiday" around that time. I think it will be a real fun week though. You don't want the hotel to be dead.

Quote: Originally Posted by caribbeanLover rgonzalez_83 When are you leaving?! YOUR GETTING MARRIED IN LESS THEN A WEEK!!!!!! are you staying at the palladium for 1 or 2 weeks? Are YOU packed?!?!?!?! Hi! We leave this Monday!! We are pretty much packed, just need to add a few last minute things and we are done! We will be there for 10 days! I can't wait. It's been cool and rainy in Chicago, funny enough the day we leave it will be gorgeous! Oh well, it won't compare to Carribean weather.

Quote: Originally Posted by sungoddess_08 For me it's cheaper, and we aren't telling anyone (I dont feel I'm cheating them out of a Wedding because I don't consider signing papers a wedding anyways). So...it's a lot cheaper in Ontario (121 for the license and 150 for a guy to perform the "ceremony"). Plus, I didn't want to wait for the papers -- not that I would have minded, but I'd rather just be done with it and not worry about anything once we get back! Wow. In Chicago we paid $40 to get married at city hall (judge included). $275 is pretty expensive!

Quote: Originally Posted by jerzshortstuff Does anyone know if we get married legally 2 weeks before we go, if we would be able to do the Renewal of Vows ceremony instead of paying for the Legal wedding? I am doing the renewal of vows next week. The wedding planner only requested that we bring in a copy of the marriage certificate we've obtained from Chicago on the day of the meeting. So if you are able to get a copy of your marriage license from Jersey within 2 weeks, you should be fine. We had to wait 10 business days here in Chicago for an offical copy.

Whenever I have an upcoming event, big or small, I have trouble sleeping the night before. Did any of the April brides have trouble sleeping the night before?? I'm scared I'll look and feel tired the next day. Maybe a few drinks will put me to sleep the night before...LOL

Quote: Originally Posted by caribbeanLover Thanks!! I wore a Mori Lee dress!!!! I love the brand of dresses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never heard of the brand while dress shopping. At one of the bridal boutiques, the lady suggested a dress and I loved it. Now, at least in the US bridal magazines, I have seen some advertisements for Mori Lee. I'll put up pics as soon as we get back. Only 13 more days....

carribeanlover, Copy and paste the address below. I was able to see DEH's pics that way. Flickr: hendersondianne's Photostream DEH-Very nice pics! There are alot of similarities between my dress and yours. Is it a Mori Lee dress? I loved the sparklers. Was that something you brought along or did the hotel provide?

Quote: Originally Posted by ManoCujo Just popping in to say that I too had a fantastic wedding! We got married on the beach on the 28th of April and can't think of anything really worth complaining about. Everything went smooth and my guests had a blast - we are very happy. If there is a question that has not yet been answered I'd be happy to answer and I will post pics ASAP. We used the onsite photographer and are satisfied with the pics chosen. I did my own hair so can't comment of the hair stylist but the couples massage was out of this world! Feels good to be a Mrs! Ciao! What type of reception did you have? (beach, private, regualar,ect.) What entree did you choose and would you recommend it? I read in one of these hundred pages that a bride liked the beef medalions.

Quote: Originally Posted by beachbum I only had a few photos from dinner, we did the father daughter and our first dance songs then, and the cake cutting. Nice Pic! When you get a chance, please let us know how your wedding went and what you would and wouldn't do again. Thanks! Rebecca

With the sand ceremony--Who did the reading for you? I hadn't thought to do one, but last minute thinking has me wondering if I do purchase a set, do I have to pick a family member to do the reading

Quote: Originally Posted by DEH83 rgonzalez, We dealt almost exclusively wit Kenia. SHe was good and knew what she was doing. The only issue we struggled with during our planning session was that her english was not as good as Carolina's. We struggled with the menu selections and people's food allergies, but eventually we got there! She was on time and met us at the Punta Cana lobby later that day because we had forgottent o give her some stuff. I really woudln't worry about it. She seemed quite organized as well! We didn't have any issues with getting our stuff back. I think though it was because our room was so close to the gazebo. We were in the 4000 block with the room looking right onto the Gazebo and ocean, so it was probably easier for them to just drop the stuff off there than to drive it back to their office. All our stuff was in our room when we came back after the reception. But just to be sure, label all your stuff if you can! They have a lot going on there! That's comforting to hear!! Both of us speak Spanish so at least that won't be an issue. I guess I just got used to emailing Carolina and hearing about her on the forum that I freaked out when she said she'd be gone for a few weeks. Since the resort is super huge, can any of the April brides point out what they think are the best spots please? I keep hearing Hemmingways so I'll keep that one in mind. Any other must-sees?

Sheila, Grand Palladium wasn't our first choice but it was cheaper than the one we wanted and it allowed children (some are adults only). We made adjustments with certain family members in mind that ultimately for one reason or another are not going to make it at the end... My advice to you is plan it they way you want and forget everyone else!!! It does suck when u have a special friend or family member in mind you'd really want there and they sincerly can't make it, but that is all part of the gamble when choosing to do a destination wedding. Some nerve-wrecking news: I just got an email from Carolina that she will be out on a medical leave of absence for the next couple of weeks, and will def. not be in for my wedding on 5/27. Did anyone meet her assitant Kenia?

Hi April Brides! Does anyone have any pics of the beach party they wouldn't mind sharing? We had originally wanted the private reception but now I'm wondering if it would be better to do the beach party instead. Thanks, Rebecca

Quote: Originally Posted by shankd Hello.....I brought a burned cd with all the music I wanted to use for the ceremony. They played all the music I wanted when I wanted it played. It was beautiful. I hired the trio for after the ceremony and cake cutting was done, because again I had my own music. I had the trio play while we were getting our pictures done. My mother loved them and worth every penny. They are 100$ 2.I had the beach party booked but they were calling for rain over the next 24hr so didn't want my guests to get soaked, so after diner we headed back to Hemingways for drinks and our first dance, which they let me have there.....beautiful 3.I brought my cake topper, cake knife set, raffia fans(which came in really handy, so hot that day) and champagne flutes. I brought shells to decorate my cake and that's it......you really don't need to stress with anything else, it's not worth packing it all and not using it....I also brought little bubbles for after the ceremony....just gave it that added touch... Any more questions, I can answer just hollar!!!! I'm putting all my pictures on a stick caus my computer won't read the disc of all my pictures......time for an upgrade I think. I will post pics soon..... Thanks for letting me know not to bother with the decorations, I haven't bought any and started wondering if that was a bad thing...One less thing to spend on, worry about, and pack!

Congrats to all the April Brides!!!

Hi April Brides!! Hope everyone is feeling more excited than nervous. Pretty please post pics and reviews for the rest of us brides getting married after April. I haven't seen any recent pictures or reviews and am DYING to get more info and help before my turn in May. ~Rebecca

Quote: Originally Posted by msredbird51 Hi girls. Let me first start off by introducing myself. I'm Dana, from St. Louis. My fiance, Mike, and I got engaged two weeks. We knew long before we ever got engaged that a destination wedding was what we wanted to do. So we were researching and trying to pick out a spot within 24 hours of our engagement (That's how long it took to spread the word to our parents and siblings and make sure they were officially onboard. Otherwise, it would've been immediately, lol.). We decided on Punta Cana in November 2010 rather quickly. Once we made that decision we researched resorts and fell in love with the Grand Palladium. So I think that's what we've decided on. Along with perusing other threads on this site, I've read back through every single post and page in this thread, and I can't tell you how helpful this thread has already been to me! However, we have not booked yet because we have one question. Well, we have many, many questions, which I'll post at a later date. Our most pressing question though is if we can/should book the travel before we have confirmation that our target date, or a date within 1-2 days of it, is available to get married. I have a HUGE fear of booking all of this travel and then being told, "sorry, no times are available then". I sent an email to Carolina at PC on Friday with this question (asking if we book travel first and if our date(s) are available) and have not heard back from yet. Reading through this thread I see that sometimes it can take her awhile to get back to you with answers to your emails. So I'm waiting, but also wonder how long to wait. So I'm wondering......did you girls book your travel first, and then hope the wedding date would be available, or did you get confirmation on wedding date availability first? Thanks! Dana Welcome!! Great to have another mid-westerner going to Punta Cana. And I appreciate that u are a Cardinals fan-I HATE THE CUBS!! and the cardinals are their biggest rival (and I have a crush on Pujols Okay, focusing now.... I would suggest that you get the date confirmed first, there are a limited # of weddings per day. The travel is very easy to coordinate once you have a date. I would also recommend using Apple Vacations or Funjet to help with a group discount rate and arrange for different #of day packaages for your guests. I am using Apple through a TA and it's been great. They arrange for the airfare, hotel, and bus to and from the hotel (no need to worry about taxis). Rebecca

Carribean Lover, Very nice favors! I like that they seem super light to take with on the plane.

CarribeanLover, For the dinner favors, I am planning on getting engraved shot glasses for the men (and women who may want one) and engraved votive candle holders for the ladies. For the ceremony, I plan to buy fans and decorate them with purple ribbon or something like that. Is anyone planning to buy/make fans for the ceremony? I'd love to hear some ideas. ~Rebecca

Quote: Originally Posted by Nonnie Shanked Resort photographer info: here is their website: JALU.US if you go to the "about us" section you will find the prices for weddings and sessions, TTD is treated as a session. The most expensive package includes a video of the whole day. All the pictures you see are from the photographer named Peter Reilly. I had a fellow named Andres who I was very very happy with. Nonnie, any pics from the beach ceremony set up? I wish I were in the DR now...It's about -5 to -10 degrees below zero in Chicago!!!