britb618

cover of the magazine!

Glad it worked out! I'm really excited to use them in December and will post pics when I get them. Also, if you go onto hdc photography and go into login to see photos and type in hardrock as password you will see all the photos from other hard rock weddings! very helpful!

Hi All! I was able to get a PDF copy of my magazine today! I am going to try to upload it. If it doesn't work just email me at [email protected] and i can send you a copy! Ok nevermind it wasn't able to upload, if you email me I will try to send it to ya. If that doesn't work I'll just have to wait til i get the hard copy to post pics!

you can get a day pass. Although not sure if you checked out HDC which is there in house photographer and it looks like they are amazing. Just a thought

Yes unfortunately it did cost that much.

Thanks! I have finished the magazine, 24 pages Sending it to the printer next week! Hoping all works out! I will post pics when I get them back!

Thanks for the pepto idea! they have small packs of it on amazon for really cheap i got 50 packets of two for under 30 bucks

Hi Sunny, I am doing the same thing as you but we had snorkeling on for 10pp extra which give you a little bit more time on the boat. But yet what I have heard is that you swim in the natural pool...when I've done things like this before people always bring a bathing suit Hope that helps!

send me an email and i will forward you the attachments [email protected]

attached is the spa services. I believe that the tours change but I'm attaching the resort credit list that they sent me last week. Hope this helps! SPA_MENU[1].pdf SPA_PRICES_LIST_-_LISTA_DE_PRECIOS_SPA[1].pdf Resort_Credit_(Act._Sept._8)[1].pdf

Hi Bella, So sorry to hear about your experience. Unfortunately for alot of us on here we can't change our wedding location. But on a positive note I find that alot of resorts that I go to I have had negative experiences at and others have had positive ones...I would have hoped that they would have been more tattentive to you and made sure to make your experience better as you were a potential bride but thats too bad that they didn't. Heres to hoping that the rest of us brides who are getting married there have a better experience Thanks for your review and the helpful hints on restaurants. I find at most all inclusives (except for Sandals which has excellent food) that the food is always subpar....but at least with some of your ideas for the better restaurants i can send me guests that way Thanks again!

Sorry this took me so long! Attached are some pictures of the bag and stuff in it! As you can see I have the bags which fit alot...the luggage tags on the bags which have each girls name on them, sunglasses for both male and female guests, sun tan spray, aloe, cards, lighter/bottle openers, victoria secret tropical spray and pink ribbon landyards for people to keep room keys dry

Thanks Lala! Very helpful! Which terrace were you referring to by the way? I have a feeling all the terraces will have the same problem... None of my guests are in wheel chairs but that is still disappointing that they don't have it accessible. How was the food there? As to the booking tours and spa etc. I was told by the spa department that you can book for your bridal party and yourself up to two months in advance. Not sure if you can do it for the rest of the guests but maybe send your guests the info and let them call. I'll see if I can find the spa department email that says that with the list of all services Also, how was the cake? Thanks!

lala, how was your site visit? What did you think of the resort? How was the service? Any recommendations? Thanks! Brit

Beachbride: For the restaurant, you can have a 35 person reservation which is included in all of the wedding packages, (except probably the free one) and they will seat you all together. I don't know how it would work as far as one table etc. but I do know that other people will still be eating in the restaurant. Hope that helps!

Hey Fellow HR Brides, I found this post on a facebook discussion about the Hard Rock and thought it would be helpful for everyone as I found it helpful! I just returned from the Hardrock, I was there from July 23-31st w/12 people. Just wanted to share the pros and the cons....Take 150 in $1 bills to have handy to tip your servers, tour guides, and your housekeepers. Building: 4a, 5a (best locations) 1a, 2a, 7a, 8a (area for kids) I booked 5 rooms and had an issue with 1 room. The lights wouldn’t turn off for two days so they slept with the lights on for a couple days. They had an issue with service, but to be honest anytime I called about the TV or Air conditioner not working they were very prompt. Just an FYI the air turns off if the doors are open and not centered…. If you are a Palace member u get the Dominican experience and the morning snorkel included with your stay (it’s a bumpy road but well worth the trip). U also get a mani/pedi & 25 min massage free of charge. Come prepared w/a schedule on what U want to do-U have the following options w/UR resort credit: $76 pp for rock the boat (adult only snorkel and music/dancing), $76 morning snorkel (same as rock the boat kids allowed & they provide show), $250 for moon rocker, $300 spa credit, $100 in either slots or BJ(use the BJ because you can double ur money with the match), $300 for lobster dinner or chefs dinner, kodak pictures (set up an appointment with a photographer towards the end of your vacation to capture ur golden tan or lobster look) it is fun and u probably will have plenty of credits to put towards the package. Back to the chk-in...find your concierge & insist on activating your credits they will ask you to attend a welcome to resort breakfast(a good way to see the resort and get some extra cash for tours or spa but if u are there for a short time pass on the tour its longer than 90min)-walk over to the area in front of the market place buffet and look for an open table to talk to your schedulers if they are busy go enjoy the resort and be there bright and early at 8am(don’t be late or you will have to wait) Set everything up: massages, casino credit, spa, all activities. Be patient and be prepared to sit for a while grab a drink some ice cream and remember UR on island time (Destin was great but service is hit & miss there). Spa: U get $300 in credit. The 50 minute massages and facials are $125. All 80 minute massages and facials are $185. Show up an hour early so you can go through all the stations to exfoliate and close ur pores including: steam room, sauna, clay room, ice room. While at the resort I had a facial, 50 minute holistic massage, 50 minute aromatherapy massage, 25 minute back massage, scrub, 50 minute facial, and an 80 minute hot stone massage. I would suggest the hot rock massage THE BEST I EVER HAD & request Mercedes all the other massages were okay and I do not recommend the scrub or facial at all. Food: In order to eat at Toro you have to go to the table by the market place and get an RSVP for Toro from 8-11am. No RSVP was needed for Zen when we went The very best service & food was at Los Gallos & Zen. We ate @ Los Gallos, Zen, and Toro twice....The service was poor at Toro but you could get a good meal Rib-eye and tenderloin was the best....Zen had great service and pretty good teppanyaki . Los Gallos isn’t traditional Mexican but pretty good food (Enchiladas aren’t traditional they are more like tacos there) the managers there are really nice and it’s the only opportunity to get a good shot of Tequila (Don Julio). The lobster and champagne romantic dinner is okay but would recommend the chefs dinner. The Caffeto had pretty good breakfast & they have a really good breakfast plate called taco something but it’s not tacos it’s more like breakfast chilaquiles (really yummy). Try the creperia it opens at 4pm really delicious Isla was not very good the best plate there was the red snapper and the seafood soup. Ipanema has mediocre food not too yummy. Market buffet has a different cuisine every night. Room service is great avenue if u want to relax in the room or sleep in the morning. Drinks: Mama Juana is a root drink that is said to be an aphrodisiac…contains: honey, red wine, rum. People will run around yelling mama juana…shots shots shots, it kind of tastes like cough medicine. I suggest when you order drinks make sure u ask to have a particular liquor in it. Any rum ask for Bacardi the Dominican rum is a bit rough…..the liquor varies from bar to bar. The best service bar is in the casino Johan is a saint he will take care of you all night!! Zen has yummy Mojitos but remember ask for Bacardi as the rum of choice. Beer will be president….. Entertainment: The night club isn’t open yet but they have a karaoke bar that is kind of hard to sing at because they have kids sign up from 9-10 and adults from 10-11pm. But the kids usually haven’t stopped. Once that is over you can walk over to the moon lounge and listen to a band and the DJ starts after that. The casino is open until 230-3am. They have a couple shows: Friday is Michael Jackson & Saturday the Circus show Beach: Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful it’s rough so don’t go in too deep…I would suggest you let your Picasso out and sign up at the beach to paint. I never painted in my life but it was a great activity for young and old, artists and non artist…. Pools: If you want to relax without children head over to the Eden pool (it’s “topless†but no one was topless while I was there). It’s really relaxing, sheik, good music, cabanas, hammocks, hanging beds, and sushi bar. Good place to chill…. Pool in front of 5A & 4A busy, lively and where the party is at….Games, exercise, entertainment, pool by 8A is the kid’s pool and lazy river. Tours: $100 Sauna Island I would hold off if you are doing the morning snorkel or the rock the boat. You are only on the Island for a couple hours and the food is subpar. The liquor is cheap but it’s a good time. You will get the same adventure with any of the snorkel tours. $76 Rock the boat evening snorkel 2pm on a catamaran good times…adults only (Frenchy the tour guide is not bad on the eyes either). $76 Morning snorkel w/kids great show on boat and you will have the ability to pet sting rays, or swim with sharks for $80 (don’t worry the stingers are removed from the rays, and the sharks are only left with a few teeth for safety. I didn’t swim but the guys on the boat noticed I had a water camera and offered to take pictures ( that was really sweet so I gave him $10 bucks). $250 Moon Rocker: fun adventure for 2 make sure you book early in the day if you wait until 6 it will get dark and your tour will get cut short. It’s like a mini jeep/quad. Beware of the bulls I had one charge at me thinking my quad was trying to mate with its cow ;-) Dominican Experience: It is fun….take water and bug spray!!! You will go to Marias house a native in the jungle and see how she lives off the land and taste homemade coffee and cocoa. Then you will head to the cigar shop to see how they are made and try a flavored cigar. BEWARE: If you have a bad back don’t go on this tour its fun but rough. On this tour you have the ability to try zip lining for an extra $72, if you haven’t tried it go for it your on vacation its fun. Most importantly: pay to eat at this tour it is by far the best meal you will have while on vacation….It’s authentic, fresh and unprocessed. Housekeeping: Befriend them leave a $20 bill the first day just to say I appreciate you and I’ll take care of you so please take care of me. Push the little green light by the door, when you leave the room to tell them you are ready for the room to be cleaned Overall the experience was GREAT…..Beautiful beaches, Johan the bartender and fun in the sun. There is Great, good, bad and ugly…So just remember you are on vacation and try to let loose and enjoy. The resort is the best you will get in Punta Cana but they are still working on improving the service and all the small details…and remember you can always have mama juana when you are a lil on edge. Hope this helped a little bit to make your stay a little more enjoyable

Thanks Anna, I am actually having my legal ceremony December 3 and my DW December 9 at the hard rock

excellent thread!

Hey beachbride, a few questions so that I can see if i can help, 1) are you getting legally married at the resort? if not you could have one of your friends stand in, or if your not tied to having a minister do it you could have one of your friends ordained and have them do it? We are having a religious ceremony at home (small thing) and then flying down our priest who will perform a symbolic ceremony... 2) Who in Hard Rock told you it takes TWO weeks to find out if theres a minister available? If you give me your date etc. I can try contacting my contact and see if she can reserve for you. Let me know I do have a good relationship with her and she's been tremendous in getting things done alot quicker than others have said it would take! Good luck either way and don;t worry most people wouldn't book their flights til four months from the wedding anyways, or right when they get the save the dates, so no matter when you send them you will be fine as long as its a few months out!

Hi! I too am getting married in December in Punta Cana and am having my legal church ceremony at home two days before I leave. This is a "don't do what I'm doing" post. My fiances family does everything over the top, so of course now the church is turning into this big to do, with a dinner afterwards that is costing over 5000, 50 (close family only originally turned into extended family and friends who can't make it to the destination) people are coming and because I want to keep my DW special I refused to wear my wedding dress. So someone his aunt convinced me that she would buy me another dress, at the time I got all swept up into getting another gorgeous wedding gown, but now I wish I had put my foot down and kept it to just our immediate family (i.e. parents) and wore a white short dress or suit. Now I have two weddings, way more stress, and it isn't the simpleness that my future husband and I imagined. I am still excited because I am going to keep it christmas themed and make it more of a christmas party dinner but it still isn't what we originally wanted and that definitely puts stress on both my fiance and I. Hope that helps! P.S. Where and when are you getting married?

I'm taking my guets on a day cruise with La Barcaza and going snorkeling, its costs us 50 pp for snorkeling and open bar for three hours.

I was told you can ship directly to hardrock by my wedding coordinator so I believe you can bring your own bouquets and centerpieces, not sure if they charge you a set up fee though for the centerpieces. From what I've seen though it looks like it costs more to send them/bring them with you then in would to just have them do them for you. If you ask them Creative Punta Cana who does their decorations can do just about anything and I didn't find the pricing that bad. Hope that helps!

Thanks everyone for all of your input! I actually am treating all of my guests to a snorkeling trip and boat cruise so I bought the girls matching bikinis for that and will just have friends do photos of us. I don't want to plan too much and take up everyones time so I decided against the photoshoot. Fortunately, I bought all of my girls dresses so I know their sizes and was able to get the bathing suits, they are just black tie bottoms and black bandeau tops with a gold heart in the middle. I hope they fit everyone! None of my girls are overweight ( I think I'm the only one hoping to drop a few lbs before the wedding!) lol so I think the bathing suits are a pretty safe choice. Hope they like um! I did that, their dresses, beach bags, and jewelry...so I think I'm done spending money! Thanks again!

love this thread! thanks so much to all of you who have shared your great experiences, i'm only on page 48 but its fabulous so far!