kitty25967

@chule0307 - The pictures on the link you sent were definitely the ones I went by and sent out to guests, however, according to Chicago's review, these are only true of a few rooms and non representative of rooms in the Royal Suites. I encouraged all my guests to booked in RST b/c of these photos & tripadvisor reviews/photos from past guests, but Chicago stated that they are not like the TripAdvisor photos???? I just wish I had the block of room numbers that looked like the link you sent.

I'm REALLY confused about the rooms now Should I have not had guest book in the RST? We have a Romance Suite booked. I wish I could do a site visit, but I just don't think it's going to be possible. I'm extremely stressed about this now. We have 40 guests coming so I know that we probably end up with some in 'older" rooms, but I just wish I could do the room assignments based on the people I know are easy going and the ones who are picky! Ugh! Type A coming out... @Chicago ...were those real touch flowers? You looked beautiful!

Chicago - This is VERY dishearting...I have some rather picky people in my group who, like I said, are used to the best so I'm in dismay. Hopefully getting down the day before everyone else will allow me to work on the rooms for everyone ensuring the the "picky" people get the nicer rooms. I just don't know how else to prepare for this. I have booked a Romance Suite (along with both our parents and other guests) so I'm hoping that ours will be nice. Most people have a junior swim up suite or romance suite with one honeymoon suite booked all in the RST section. Richarsd - I think I've read that you can take them off, but there is a fee for a replacement? Maybe Chicago can answer this for us....

Some people in our group (myself included) would be absolutely disgusted to find mold in their shower and on their sheets....yikes! Now I'm stressed all over again.

Uh Oh! Chicago, your review has me very nervous. Serveral of the people traveling with my group travel a lot and are use to really nice places....We all booked the RST and I told my travel agent that we had to be in the new section (so the rooms look like the pictures). I can only pray that it all works out and that our service is good

Love the passport invitations!!!

Not sure if this helps you girls any, but I am using PhotoSouveneir for both my pictures and my video. They have some sample videos on youtube ....this one happens to be at the Excellence Punta Cana, and I think there are a few others. ...always neat to see a real wedding take place.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBgoCLI5JV0

Wow! Yay! Look at all the Grand Palladium Brides in April! Please please come back with lots of pics and pointers so I will be fully prepared for my May wedding!

I would just email your WC and the spa to see if they would offer a group special. I'm sure they will. Don't know til you ask. Plus, if it is a big group, then you want to be assured that they have the time slots available and aren't already booked.

Let your guests know that if they are interested in the Spa, sometimes its not worth it to book ahead. You will receive a newsletter in your room every day with the activities going on and "spa specials" for the day. This is a much cheaper route if you take advantage of it. The Spa is nice and during the pool games they will give spa prizes (i.e. use of the Hydro Tub).

I looked into possible "group" options for flights. This is pretty much the only way to hold a "package" rate as the flights change frequently. My problem is that we have people coming from all over...CA, AL, GA, CO, NY, FL, LA.....It was just going to be too complicated to do this. Plus I had people telling me that they might want to use miles, etc. etc. So I told them that my TA would be happy to assist them and would probably provide them with the best rates, but some chose not to go this route. Also, with the hotel through the TA, you can make payments, with the flights, you have to pay up front for the whole flight. Bottom line...I'm booked, my FI is booked, & my parents are booked

I'm actually getting married at The Grand Palladium in Punta Cana in May but I stayed at The Excellence the past July. My Fiance proposed to me on the beach there. The only reason we chose somewhere different for the wedding is because The Excellence wasn't kid friendly and didn't offer a selection of price points/accomadations that The GPPC does. We loved the Excellence and would go back there for sure. I read Trip Advisor daily before our trip and ended up feeling pretty terrified when I read about the smell in your clothes, bugs, etc. We had NO issues with any type of bugs. We had no issue with oders. The thing that I would prepare your guests for which I am preparing my guests for as well, is the fact that Punta Cana is HOT and Humid. There isn't a lot of air conditioner especially in guest rooms, so you just have to be prepared for this (especially after you drink and get sunburned). Bring lots of pepto bismal type medicines because most people will not be used to the spices, excessive drinking, etc. I got sick the first day becuase I had a coco loco drink as soon as I arrived. This is PURE coconut juice/water which our systems aren't used to and can be unsettling on our stomachs (which they will teach you in orientation...which I failed to go to LOL)...I didn't have n e more coconut drinks and was fine for the rest of the trip. The food was good, the staff was good, and we always had plenty to drink. The shows were a lot of fun, and so were the pool games! I really really enjoyed the Excellence. I have traveled all over the world and would reccomend it. I really like the Asian restaurant and the restaurant by the pool. As mentioned above, they will try to get you to upgrade to the Excellence club which, in my opinion, isn't worth it. I saw weddings while I was there, and wished it had been mine! Your wedding will be great and you will love The Excellence so just ignore Trip Advisor. P.S. As far as tipping goes, I HIGHLY suggest tipping. Find a waiter the first day at the pool and slip him a good tip...he will follow you around for the rest of your vacation! Trust me! Also, my FI and I would leave a few dollars for the maids on the bed and always had a clean room and stocked fridge and whatever we needed...no complaints. I have lots of pics from my trip if you would like to PM me for information. I even have a pic of all the amnenities they provided in the room (i.e. shower gel, toothpaste, etc.) in case you are putting items like this in your OOT bags and don't want to duplicate. Happy planning!

I am so distressed about airline flights for my guests! Everyone has put their deposits down but barely anyone has booked their flight. Why have the flights to Dominican gone up so much? I was just there in July and the flights weren't that bad, now they are almost $1000 from Alabama! Is anyone concerned about the outbreak in Haiti and how they shut down the flights there. ...just when I start to get excited about the fun details to the planning, I get stressed about something else... I know it is "my time" and every girl gets "their time" but I just feel so guilty with showers and things when people are already having to fork out so much for the wedding. Is anyone else experiencing these delimas?

BEAUTIFUL pictures and wedding!!! Congrats & thanks for sharing! Your planning for this was amazing.

Congrats msredbird!!! Can't wait to hear ALL the details, and glad it was so perfect! This makes me feel so much better when I read such wonderful reviews! yay!

Nova - Please take lots of pics and give pointers! I will be there in May '11!

Hey! You will have to fill me in when you get back and give me some pointers before I go in May!!!

Yay! So excited for you! I think it will be well worth it...I will be sooooooo ready for a Par-Tay (which is what I wrote in my email to DJ Mannia LOL)

Quote:Originally Posted by beachbum We had the cocktail in the green / open space that was near the gazebo. They brought the champagne, and food out there. The cocktail hour was so worth it, it was some of the best food of our week there!

I like the one of the left better, though I like the chiffon material better...I know that doesn't help, but I would go with the one on the left from David's Bridal. Mine are very similar. I will try to find a pic of them.....

I would suggest booking ANY outside vendor ASAP. As soon as you and your FI decide on something you would like, don't wait to book. DJ Mannia only has, I believe, 3-4 slots available at a time, and they stay booked. As mentioned above, they are VERY popular on this site and very well known. I lucked out and they had 1 slot available and another bride asking so book soon if this is what you want. I haven't read anyone post anything negative or have any regrets in spending the extra $ to have DJ Mannia. Also, there are a few great photogs that are often discussed on this forum that book fast as well. Once you decide on one book as soon as you know so you are not disappointed later, plus it gets it all out of the way so you don't have to worry. ...you snooze, you loose =) Also, another popular "booking" is Pastor York. He is discussed A LOT on here! I have booked him as well. To my knowledge, he is the only English speaking Pastor in the area, and he is very familiar with the ceremony process. He is very nice and prompt to respond. He will send you a full ceremony reading for you to review and edit as you wish. The ceremony includes all the "traditionals" plus readings and sand ceremony. Hope this helps.

I am pretty sure the below pictures are the correct location! Past brides please help! Carolina sent me some of these. I wish I had better ones and of the complete set up! DJ Mannia just had a wedding at the GP this weekend with a private beach party & dance floor set up. I requested that they please takes some pics to send to me, so hopefully they will =) I hope the below pictures work btw (If they don't show up, here is the link to the public album I posted on photobucket... http://s37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/kitty25967/Beach%20Party%20Location/

The above was posted @Chule0307 & @chell44 (regarding LED lights) @chell44 I don't know if there will be places to "hang" the lanterns, but I do know that they put out the plastic white chairs and tables on the beach and a few columns. They also have a "spotlight" in that area as well and the bartender & dj set up in a tiki hut looking booth. If you want to PM your email address I will send you a packet of pics that Carolina had sent to me that showed a few pics of this (not very good ones, but at least you get an idea) @ Chule0307, you might want these pics as well since you are considering a beach a beach party as well...

Don't worry, I am stressing myself....but a good stress right? LOL I am thinking of doing the pink LED lights on the tables and have seen these on ebay (all the time). I am having DJ Mannia for my beach party and he is setting up the lighted dance floor so I think the led lights on the tables will go nicely with the dance floor (I saw something like it in a picture on DJ Mannia's website). I plan on have a private dinner in LA UVA (given Carolina's approval) and then a private beach party. I want to have a cake table and do my cake cutting at the dinner, however, I want my first dance to be during the beach party. The only thing I want to do at the ceremony is the champagne toast. I am getting married on the beach. I have dreamed of a beach wedding, and though the gazebo looks beautiful, I'm not having people fly all that way for me not to walk down the sand. I know there will be on lookers which worries me, but I know I will be too caught up in the moment to think of that, and I am hoping my guests will as well. Plus my dress is going to draw A LOT of attention, soooo I'm not too worried. I am going to get married on the beach by the ocean. I guess I don't mind the onlookers, I just hope they aren't nude (that is my biggest concern!) I hired PhotoSouveneir to do my pics so hopefully they have the experience of dealing with the "on-lookers" for the pictures. I was going to do a cocktail period while we take pics, but I believe I have decided to scrap this idea as I figured that most people will A. want to take pics on the beach with us as well & B. want to go back to their rooms to refreshen up before dinner. Since my wedding is a 5pm, there won't be a lot of time for guests to change or relax if they wish before other festivities begin, so I am probably just going to forget the apps & cocktails after the ceremony. =)

I hired DJ Mannia!!! Sooo excited. What is more fun then a lighted dancefloor on the beach with a worry free night of drinks, music, and dancing! woo hoo, I'm so excited an wish mine was next week!