Grace Torres

I was there in January 2012 and stayed Friday to Sunday just to check out the property for my wedding and I have nothing bad to say! The food was much better than I expected...it was really good, the rooms were CLEAN, the property was well kept. I get married there in 8 days and I also read reviews... makes me NERVOUS AS HELL so I had to stop reading them!!!!!!!!!!!

We chose the GOLD MENU for the reception dinner. Hearts of Palm, Creole and Romaine Lettuce Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Soup Dominican “Sanchocho†(Meat Stew) Main Course Beef Medallions with Shrimp with Cordial and Black Pepper Sauces Dessert Kahlua Flan with Coconut and Chocolate Sauces Wedding Cake Dominican Almond Cake

Hi! See my responses below:

Hi!! I made my own schedule. Here it is .(Still undecided if we're doing the bride and groom dance right after our entrance) 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM CEREMONY (GAZEBO) 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Cocktail Hour/Dominican Trio (HIMITZU TERRACE) 7:30 PM – 7:45 PM Guest Seating (BALLROOM) 7:45 PM – 7:55 PM Bridal Party Entrance 7:55 PM – 8:00 PM Bride & Groom Entrance 8:00 PM – 8:05 PM Bride & Groom First Dance 8:05 PM – 8:10 PM Bride & Father Dance 8:10 PM – 8:15 PM Groom & Mother Dance 8:15 PM – 9:15PM Dinner 9:00 PM – 9:05 PM Maid of Honor Speech 9:05 PM – 9:10 PM Best Man Speech 9:10 PM – 9:15 PM Leslie and Randy Speech 9:15 PM – 9:20 PM Bonnelly’s Speeches 9:20 PM – 9:25 PM Torres’s Speeches 9:30 PM – 10:00 PM DJ 10:00 PM – 10:30 PM Perico Ripiao 10:30 PM – 11:00 PM DJ 11:00 PM – 11: 15 PM Bouquet/Garter Toss 11:15 PM – 11:30 PM DJ – last dance 11:45 Sparkler Send off!

40 days to go until my wedding and I've been so busy I had to force myself to stop looking at this forum! *BUT* I had to share some AMAZING NEWS for all of you brides-to-be! The centerpieces have been my biggest challenge! I thought about making them myself but I already have way too much on my plate. I have a huge wedding (I think the biggest Dreams Punta Cana has ever seen). We have 158 people confirmed and booked (16 tables of 10 people) Anyway the good news is that I found a local florist who is AMAZING and will be doing my centerpieces for a little less than HALF THE PRICE DREAMS PUNTA CANA was going to charge me! Real flowers. My family is Dominican and I asked around and waaaaa laaaa! The only problem is that she does not speak English! All of my communication has been in Spanish with her.... so maybe you have a friend who speaks fluent spanish who can help you communicate with her. I emailed her images I pulled from Pinterest of the centerpieces I want and she is going to re-create them! She is a wedding planner in DR so she has access to many more extras aside from flowers. She also offers the Tiffany chairs, decorations, candles, etc. Here is her website: www.magdalenaramos.shutterfly.com

Hi ! No, they do not provide menu's. I'm making my own.

Hi Sherylh, They do start at $150 unless someone has other information... My "Tall" centerpieces are $240 EACH!

Hi Winslow13! I'm having a DJ because I don't want to have to worry about the music. My fiance is working on putting our favorite songs together on an external hard drive and an iPod that we plan on giving to the DJ so he can mix it in with the music he has... also, I confirmed with Deyanira (my coordinator) that the DJ speaks English and can announce the wedding party. Regards, Grace

98 days to go my friend! (Freaking out!!) I'm not changing into another dress but If you want to party with us after your wedding you're more than welcomed!! We can take a shot of mamajuana together in our dresses! Lol

Hi Carolina13, No, I didn't pay extra. I was told the location was on a "First come first serve basis" and I booked my wedding 10 months in advance so I had free reign! Talk to your coordiantor

Hi Chinanow You won't have a problem.... Dominicans are known for being great hair dressers! We have every skin color and hair type you can think of! I was born in NY but both of my parents are Dominican and I am 100% confident you will be happy with your hair! Makeup --- I'm not sure.... although I emailed the Spa directly and asked if they knew how to apply fake eyelashes and they told me yes. So boom there you go

Hi TeamMissick, I did not use a TA.... My guests are setting up their own transportation via AMSTAR. Here's the info: Amstar http://www.amstardmc.com/ 1) Click on Transfers 2) Select Country: Dominican Republic 3) Select Airport: Punta Cana - PUJ 4) Select Hotel: Dreams Punta Cana 5) Select Class of Service: Private Transfer 6) Select Transfer Type: Round Trip 7) Enter your name and payment info and you're all set!

THANK YOU FOR SHARING! BEAUTIFUL and CONGRATS AGAIN!

Thank you!!! Where did you upload them? I'd love to see pics.

Yadira - One more question. Did you have centerpieces from the resort or did you make your own? I'd love to see pics! Thank you! TorresBonnellyWedding@gmail.com

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DREAM WEDDING!! Did you get your make up done at the Spa? Were they good? Can you send any pics? TorresBonnellyWedding@gmail.com Thank you and God Bless!

@yazzy Congrats! I sent my coodinator a powerpoint with images of the flowers and cake that I wanted and she said it was "do-able" I am nervous but I sent plenty of pictures for them to reference... If you're not on Pinterest yet.. I totally recommend! Great site for wedding ideas. I pulled alot of my images from there.

Yes, I'm paying per person.

Congrats! I also added drapes to the gazebo... and I know it's expensive!! I don't think it looks bad without it but it does add a little something extra

Hi! I worked with Deyanira on my rehearsal dinner.. she gave me different options and I went with a sit down dinner in the Oceana Restaraunt and picked a menu but ... they offer different things other than a sit down dinner.

Since I have such a large party.... they blocked off 100 rooms once I paid 10% of the total cost of the wedding. They gave me a group code and a link that I put on my wedding website and invites... the guest click on the link, enter our wedding code and choose from 1 of 3 room types I choose for our package. The deluxe (standard king or two double beds) Junior Suite Honeymoon Suite They are required to leave a CC on file to make the reservation but it is not charged (unless they don't cancel within the alloted time which I believe is 3 days before check in date...I have to double check) At check in, the guest will decide if they want to pay cash or credit.

I didn't use an agent. I dealt direct with the resort on the rates and the guests book their airfare seperate. If I could do it over... I'd get a travel agent! Everyone is calling me with questions and issues and it's offically becoming a bit much...but remember I have a lot more people than you.

@sherylh I'm the queen of control freaks so don't you worry I feel your pain That's correct on the payments... I made some payments already but will pay the balance when I arrive. I'm having my coctail hour in the Himitzu Terrace and at the time it was first come, first serve so I got lucky. Most people use the Himitzu for their outdoor reception because it's spacey and a nice location. I needed something BIG since I'm having so many people. My fiance and I are both from New York, live in Miami but both of our parents are from The DR so we have a lot of family that live in DR that are coming to our wedding. It's my big fat dominican wedding! AAAAAAAAAAAAAH