KLPhoto

I personally shot at ME and they did not pay a fee since I spent 3 nights

I just did a wedding in PC where the couple made their own fabric backdrop and brought it. A friend had a camera on a tripod synced to a printer and they did it themselves! Had their own little props and printed right on site, and just took turns someone pressing the button

Ah always wanted to go to Antigua and st Lucia. I booked a trip to Antigua but we had to cancel. Which if the two Is better?

Hi girls!  So we just put the deposit down to have our wedding at Beaches Negril on April 22nd @ 5:30pm, I'm excited,but overwhelmed!!! My WC is Chloe, anybody else have her?  I am setting up my time to speak with her tomrw, I feel like I need to make a long list of my gazillion questions.  What are most of you doing for the reception option? How many average guests? Anybody look into the photography options they offer?  I have seen and read some reviews concerning their photography and that is my biggest concern.  The pictures don't seem very professional to me and I know you can't bring in outside photographers, I'm in a little bit of a panic about that!  Has anyone been to the resort before?

I see that you photographed a wedding at Sandals Negril. I thought outside vendors are prohibited?? How did you get around this as I'd like to bring my own photographer as well because their photo packages are outrageous!

I honeymooned at a sandals and observed their photographers, I guess as a photographer i can be overly critical, but I do know it was very basic and traditional, the same poses they are trained with used on everyone. So I guess if you're in a crunch for time and enjoy traditional portraits then it would be fine

Oh and I also would like to do those round paper lanterns at the reception!  I'm sure they charge you for those too, but I think they would be easy to find here.  Ones with lights are pretty.  I would like some kind of little white christmas light things hanging from the wood structure ceiling!

Originally Posted by carori 

 

I just want to vent a little: sometimes I feel so guilty about having a DW, I feel selfish, and I think aren't weddings about celebrating with family and friends? then why make it so difficult for people to come?

 

I then remember myself of why we are having one: we want to! and at some point I thought it was more convenient for everyone really. But then again, after hearing so many comments about pricing from my dad, mom, friends, colleagues (not even close friends!), well, everyone!  

 

But then I think: me and my FI live in Europe for the last 5 years, this is where we met and this is where our "home" is; but our families are from 2 other different continents! so, wherever we had our wedding it was going to be a DW! So, we decided to make it in a neutral place that we both love, not his country and not mine so that everyone feels that we didn't picked "a side". Not Europe because it would just be more expensive for EVERYONE (us and the guests!). So we chose Punta Cana. 

 

But now, everyone complains: wow! you picked an expensive place! why there? wow! it looks like you move "in other circles", is your family reach? (and no, they are not!) I will try to go to the wedding,... but not to YOUR hotel!! OMG

 

Was I supposed to pick the cheapest hotel in Punta Cana for everyone to be happy? 

 

And why do people think they can just say this things? don't they realize this is stressful? Nobody is forcing them to go! I even say they have the option to stay somewhere else!

 

My mom isn't even paying for her trip but she complains because her cousins complain to her, and then she comes and complains to me about the prices. I don't even care if her cousins come, I only invited them because I wanted to not exclude them, not because I expected them to make any effort in coming... I honestly don't even understand why they are coming, they never even write to me, If they want a vacation they can just take it whenever they want... somehow I'm thinking of letting them know that they shouldn't feel obliged to come AT ALL but i don't want to be rude... 

 

Another aunt sent me the news that she won't be coming: "it just doesn't fit her goal of traveling once again to Europe in this live" WTF!!??? 

 

Am I just being too sensitive? that's what a friend told me, not to take it personally... plop! how am i supposed to do that? It's my f... wedding!!! And then I go back to guilt This is so stressful that i don't even feel like picking the details of the wedding, flowers and nice things i should be thinking about  

 

Well, this became a long vent! Sorry but I don't want to stress my FI, since he also started to get super stressed when I told him about only 1 complaint

 

Anyway, thanks for reading...

Aw don't fret. I know it's tough, but honestly people will always find something to complain about IMO. My hubby and I wanted to do Jamaica but realized it would cost $2k for people to come and we thought that was too much for some people we wanted there. So we decided to do a DW in Vegas. Yet, those people we were originally concerned about STILL didn't come after we cut the costs in half. So it goes. In the end, you need to do what will make you both happy. We wouldn't have changed a thing for the world. We ended up not even having an AHR since it was going to be more costly and a headache for us with everything going on. So who goes, goes. Who doesn't, doesn't. You can't beat yourself up about it because you will never make EVERYONE happy, but gosh darnit, you CAN make YOURSELF happy! It's YOUR day!

Yadira is it possible to see your pictures as well? I am a future bride and I am between Dreams and the Hard Rock. I am interested in seeing pictures of how the big day comes out. My email address is [email protected] I wish all you ladies well. My date is set for October 19th and pricing wise, I am trying to see what my best option is. Can you confirm if we are allowed to have outside vendors at the ceremony. I know with a few other resorts, they make you pay a few hundred dollars to let them have access to the premise. I wish you could just use a day pass. Smh. Anyway any insight would be helpful. Thank you Ladies. 😄😄

do you have photos that we can see???

fire dancers sounds amazing and well worth it for memorable photos!

Sounds like it will be lovely and like you are an easy going bride, so beautiful images will happen instantly for you!!

I am also from Chicago!

You get a free international checked bag with american airlines. you are allowed a carry on and personal (again for AA) . The wedding I just shot had tons of DIY stuff (even a photo booth backdrop!) and they used a lot of guests checked bags to split stuff to get there in!

they also did battery operated candles for centerpieces, and had cute little glass bottles in bowls of sand for seating

as a photographer myself, my couples have never had to pay a fee since I am always a guest staying 3 nights

love this place!!!

http://www.stylemepretty.com/destination-weddings/2012/06/05/dominican-republic-wedding-at-iberostar-grand-hotel-bavaro-by-kristin-la-voie-photography/

I just came back from shooting a wedding at majestic elegance, and it is now one of my favorite PC resorts! staff , food, resort are great. I stayed in the Elegance club, adults only, and well worth it! huge rooms too in the resort. The lobster and steak at Sea & See were yummmmy! Also the bisque and salad! can't wait to go back!

It nevers hurts to ask a photographer what they charge to fly in, even if you look at their prices online, chances are they always give you a better deal  

Congrats!! I think it Might be fav resort photographed at thus far wonderful staff and beaaaautiful weddings http://www.kristinlavoiephotography.com/blog/2012/02/bestof2011/

omgosh Sandals St Lucia looks FABULOUS! my hubby and I were thinking of doing that for our 1 year anniversary since we honeymooned in Sandals Negril and had an amazing time, but we decided to wait until a 5 year or something later since it's a super busy wedding year for me

I too have witnessed several pushier Sandals photographers. They mean well. But as a photographer, I will tend to critique more and it was not my cup of tea. I'm very photojournalistic, I like to document the moments from the tiniest details to the big hoorahs and they seemed to be pushier with stuffier posing, etc. Definitely for the more traditionalist I'd say

thank you!!!

ahh FL weddings = GORGEOUS! A tropical destination without going through customs and immigration

Julie from Vacations to Remember http://www.VacationsToRemember.com/ is awesome! She has actually helped two of my brides find their resort for what they wanted and educated them on it

*but otherwise I do photoshop them out

i have requests to photoshop out people gawking in the background, but I think it can add a really interesting and comical element, so I have even focused on some gawkers watching the ceremony in their speedos and bathing suits, that is where they are getting married after all so it's a funny moment to capture

if you want to email or send my PM we can talk about rates