MissJali

Bumping up

We haven't chosen a new date just yet. We had one, but then we found out we're expecting (yay!) so we're working on a new date.

 

I just saw your pictures....BEAUTIFUL! You chose a great photographer....love it. You guys look great together and the pier is an awesome ceremony location.

 

I'm now looking for ways to save on the extras! I had originally chosen the beach ceremony (with cocktail reception on the rooftop), but I'm thinking about going with the gazebo since we'll ave a little one, and possibly no cocktail reception. I wanted to use the rooftop so bad, but I think instead we'll have the informal welcome reception there. Still not sure if we'll extend the wedding reception and have a photo booth. Was the extra hour/crazy hour worth it, you think?

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!! That's so exciting!!!! The cocktail hour is not necessary esp if your guests are like mine and plan to stick around to see you take photos. I believe the crazy hour/extra hour was worth it for my group. The time goes by fast in between the dances and dinner, dessert etc. and we love to dance. So it was worth it for me. I wish I could have afforded to extend it another hour but no go.

@MissJali thank you so much for your review and your pictures!! you were such a beautiful bride!! I leave Monday, April 21st for my week away at this resort and am getting married on April 25th. I promise to post my review soon after.

 

I really love the pier and was thinking about trying to switch our ceremony location to there, we are currently in the garden gazebo (which i think will be nice cause it is shaded for the guests and I chose because i heard it is more private. We are bringing a photographer down with us, it was actually cheaper and better for us to do that than go with Tropical pictures. Our photographer said she takes pictures of all of us all week long so it will be nice to have a week full of memories in photos.

 

i am feeling a tad unorganized and overwhelmed with all the planning and i feel like i am missing things.  Did you bring your own table numbers or table number holders? I am certain i will forget a million things :$.  the weather also says rain almost every single day but i find that it tends to always say chance of rain in the tropics so fingers crossed that it doesnt rain every day or especially on the wedding day

 

Anyways, good luck with all your planning ladies, i will be sure to post my review and some pictures. If any one has any questions, feel free to ask!

Hi Trish, Thank you! I actually did bring everything down there myself including my table frames and make the table names at home. I also brought my own purple sand for the centerpieces and napkins. I carried a lot of crap lol. Your day will be beautiful. It always says rain. It did rain in the morning of my TTD session but by 1:30 it had cleared up. So don't worry, can't wait to see your photos!

Congrats Miss Jali!!! Can you believe it's over? All that planning...I'm happy it was such a great experience.

 

Trish, I will actually be at the resort April 25th! Maybe I will see your wedding party. So exciting that it's coming up next week!

 

Since we pushed our date back, we decided to do a vacation/site visit. Can't wait to see the resort.

Hi Reign, yes it's bitter sweet, I'm looking forward to planning the next family vacation tho. What date are you getting married now?

 @@DrVic, Thank you so much! I answered your questions in red. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thank you so much @@MissJali, I've been anxiously awaiting your review since I'm getting married next month. Your dress is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for sharing your pictures with us, they are great!

 

Few questions:

 

1) Did you arrange for the day pass prior to Pastor York's arrival or did they add it to your bill?   When I finalized everything at my meeting with Ramona, it was added to my invoice.

2) Did your guest need to pick their meals prior to arrival or would they take their order at dinner? They need to know at least a day ahead of time. What I suggest you do is start getting people's choices now and creating an excel sheet with their name and food choice, which made it easier for Ramona to know who wanted what.

3) Did your vendor fee for HDC cover the TTD session? I guess it did. Merlyn just came to the resort and we walked off the resort on the shore for pics and came back to the pool. I had no issues with reception that day. Good thing too!

 

Congrats again,

 

Vicmary

So here's my long awaited review:

I got married at BBPD on March 8, 2014 on the pier. We had about 55 pple total. We arrived on Thursday March 6, 2014 and had originally booked the jr suite deluxe club premium room and received our automatic upgrade to the master suite oceanview. I met with Ramona that day (Susana was my original WC but she is gone now), dropped off the wedding materials and went over last minute details. We ended up on the pier for the ceremony and Bar Higuey for the reception. I spent the next day just greeting guests and doing my favors. 

Wedding Day:

I went to the spa at 1:30 to start getting ready for my big day. I did my manicure as my nails were chipped and my hair and makeup. I was ready by 4pm when HDC Photos walked into the spa and asked my BM to direct them to the bridal suite (where I got ready). I got the photo and video service from them and paid the vendor fee. I can't remember the videographer's name but Merlyn was the photographer. Both were great. Very patient and friendly. My wedding started late as Ramona couldn't find Pastor York (there were 2 other weddings there, so be sure to communicate with Pastor York about where your ceremony is, the resort is huge, and I had to pay a day pass for him). My ceremony on the pier was BEAUTIFUL. People can't stop raving about Pastor York and his service.

I did not do a cocktail hour and I am so happy that I didn't pay for it, b/c my guests never left the beach as we did the photo sessions (just like I knew dominicans wouldn't), they stayed and took their own photos. My reception started at 7 at Bar Higuey and I had the DJ/MC package with DJ Mannia. My MC was German the Mexican. He was so great with keeping track of the time and keeping me on schedule and very helpful with some last minute song changes and cutting out the bouquet/garter toss. 

Dinner was great, most of my guests chose the beef and were happy for it. Most people who chose chicken wish they chose the beef. The creme brulee is to die for. After dinner, German announced that everyone had to come to the dance floor, or there will be no music played. Everyone came to the dance floor and we danced the night away. We did extend the reception as we did the crazy hour. And I am so happy for the crazy hour. My husband's family is from St. Vincent so we had a mini carnaval! My only regret was I was too busy dancing and didnt eat cake and I didn't pay to keep HDC Photos there the whole time and now i wish i had prof photos of the crazy hour.

I have no complaints. I want to get married again next year! Everyone had a blast and I'm a little biased but really you girls did choose the best resort. You get what you pay for and you will not be disappointed I promise!

I'm sure there are a million questions I haven't answered. I'm mostly on FB now so you girls can look me up if you have any questions. My FB name is Jalitza Poveda Toussaint.

Here is the blog that HDC recently did for me:

http://www.hdcphoto.com/jalitza-shemels-wedding-barcelo-palace-deluxe-punta-cana/

and the rest of my photos:

www.jalimelwedding.shutterfly.com

The world truly is very small! Yesterday I was tagged in a post on Instagram by my sorority sister. Her cousin recently attended a wedding at BBPD and he was a guest at Miss.Jali's wedding! I won't repost the pictures here out of privacy for her and her guest but she looked goregous and from what I saw her guests had an amazing time. Her guest who made the instagram post said "Amazing hotel if you need one in DR. Food, service, and people were great. ZERO complaints." 

 

Since I haven't visited the resort it was comforting to know that an acquaintance had such a great experience with our wedding resort. Just wanted to share since Miss. Jali has been so helpful and active on this forum. I can't wait to read her review.  

Tina who??? Whoo?? I promise to write my review tonight. Just been busy with apartment hunting

Haha nevermind tina, diana is your soror! Her brother went to school with me and her cousin is also getting married at bbpd in July and that's my friend too! Small world indeed! I sent you a follow request in insta

Aww thanks! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

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Hi Girls,

My husband and I recently got married at the Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe on March 8, 2014 (we did have to pay the vendor fee). My wedding started at 5pm on the pier and Merlyn and the videographer (i unfortunately didn't catch his name) arrived at the spa where I was getting ready at 4pm. I was still getting my hair done and they simply asked my bridesmaid to direct them to where the bridal suite was so that they could start taking photos of my dress, shoes, bouquet etc. It was nice to leave all of this in the hands of HDC who just exuded professionalism and experience in what they do. Merlyn made me feel so comfortable in taking my getting ready photos and then went to meet my husband at the pier for some shots of him. The day went by smoothly. Merlyn was very patient with my group who insisted on their individual group photos with me and my husband and kept us on track the whole time. We also did our TTD session with HDC and were happy to see Merlyn in the lobby ready to shoot. He took some amazing photos of us and was very warm and welcoming. If you are on the fence about getting the video....DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are so in love with our video, they really did a great job and we couldn't be happier with the photos and the video.

@@MissJali did you get your answer about the mics? Also, which dj did you book and did you do it with your wedding coordinator?

Hi Tricia,

The djs are mute unless you get the MC lol. I told my WC I want DJ Mannia and I reached out to him myself and he said i'd have to go through my WC and she hasn't gotten back to me and im 2 weeks out. Mannia did follow up with me to see if my wc gave me the info i needed and i know he is available so we will see.

Haha I'm back! Girl you know everything costs something. I believe no MC, no hosting. Want me to ask Aris?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

you know I do!!! lol

Hi Girls I'm 29 days out and I have a question, since i can't seem to get a straight answer. If we get the dj package without the MC, does that mean the dj stays mute and doesn't announce the first dance, etc etc

Hi Girls!!!! I've been MIA!!!! 50 days left to the big day! and I have a total of 33 booked. Tangerine package with the pier for the ceremony. 

Im wondering if they're all locked out still. 86 days to go and planning is a slow process. BOOO

Has anyone heard from the WCs? Seems for the last 3 weeks, they've gone rogue

Samantha congrats!!!! I'm so happy to hear you used HDC also. I'm using them as well. You look beautiful in your photos. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind.

1. How many guests did you have?

2. Did Aris offer you the option to take down everyone's food choice before the wedding or did you just choose the beef before?

3. Did they print menus for you? Day of Itineraries?

4. Did you use the dj?

What Mrs. To Be D said. It's probably your card, call them up and let them know you are trying to make a purchase. I used both babyonline and jasmines, for babyonline, i used my card. no problem. For jasmines, i did a bank transfer. Half upfront, half before they send my dress out.

Mary123

Congrats on your big day!!! Thanks for your review, I am verrrryyy happy to hear that the guests can make their food choices when they're out there!!! That makes things so much easier! Please post some photos of your big day!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoonMrsD 
 

 

I looked into the Hard Rock and the amenities are awesome but then your guests will suffer and pay more than any other resort so you might get fewer people to attend!

I have to agree here, the wedding package doesn't really include much and everything is out of pocket and honestly, i could be a little biased, but the videos I've seen of wedding at the Hard Rock don't appear very special. Stick with BBPD!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by samantha2 

We leave today for our wedding week at BBPD! Super excited! Will post how everything goes when I am back.

Have fun! and Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DR2015 


Yes I have checked their fb page. I honestly believe they can pull off the dress based on what I have seen this far my only concern is ensuring the quality of lace fabric looks as amazing as the picture. I would hate to look like a table cloth with tulle and beads!! Lol!! Btw you dress is coming out AMAZING!!

Yea Lace is a little tricky. I think that's why I stayed away from it and i just loved the way ruching flatters any body type. Thanks! I can't wait for it to come so I can wear it!!!

Here's my Jasmine's Replica. 

Here's the original (bottom):

Quote:

Originally Posted by DR2015 

I waited and waited and I finally received both responses. Requested a quote on a replica of this Galia Lahav which retails over 10k. Neptunes response: we can not replicate this dress. Jasmines response just over $600. I'm am stuck between looking for a new dress or just paying the $600+. I have plenty of time but surely not willing to just throw away money!! Useful Comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated?!?!

Have you checked out Jasmine's Bridal FB page? You can see how they take inspiration dresses and replicate them exactly. I have a dress by babyonline (my TTD) and one from Jasmine's Bridal which is almost finished. I have to say I am very happy with how well they were able to replicate my Vera Wang, b/c the rosette skirt is so intricate.

Sorry, I went with Jasmines Bridal and am very happy with my Vera replica. It was just a reassurance that the dress after being corrected looks a lot better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by misskay 


The wedding manager emailed me and told me. Susana is about 8 month pregnant I believe so she's expecting the baby soon ...sad she won't be there buy very happy for her! Haven't heard anything about Laura ... But so far she is just as good as Susan ! He is very quick to respond and she get everything done quick ... I was really nervous and there was some confusion at first with my request that were played already so she worked it out ! I'm getting married dec 4 sooo excited

yea Susana's actually due on my birthday so she's a little more than 8 months prego but all of the wedding planners are in the loop and all are great. I have Ramona until Susana gets back.