Reign14

I got the initial e-mail from Susana on how to book. It says: In order to book your wedding, you need to complete the next step: 1. Attach contains a reservation form that should be completed to get the wedding availability and send back to us at your earliest convenience. 2. Once you have a confirmation form for the wedding, you will have two months to e-mail us a copy of the Reservation Manifest/Invoice from the Tour Operator (confirmation must include name of Bride & Groom, arrival - departure dates and time, name of Tour Operator Company). What is a Reservation Manifest/Invoice from the Tour Operator?! Is this just the flight itinerary?

I got the initial e-mail from Susana on how to book. It says: In order to book your wedding, you need to complete the next step: 1. Attach contains a reservation form that should be completed to get the wedding availability and send back to us at your earliest convenience. 2. Once you have a confirmation form for the wedding, you will have two months to e-mail us a copy of the Reservation Manifest/Invoice from the Tour Operator (confirmation must include name of Bride & Groom, arrival - departure dates and time, name of Tour Operator Company). What is a Reservation Manifest/Invoice from the Tour Operator?! Is this just the flight itinerary?

Thanks natalieblev! I figured that was the case. Good to know.

Thanks natalieblev! I figured that was the case. Good to know.

Question ladies... Me and the fiance want to put down a deposit for our April 2014 wedding at BBPD. But I am a stickler for refund policies and generally bad at planning and uncomfortable paying for things this far in advance! Although I know it must be done if I want to reserve my date. If we make the deposit, and for some crazy, unlikely reason we decide to change our date or not get married at BBPD, will they give us a refund? I read somewhere that the deposit is non-refundable, but I also remember that Oct 2012 Bride had paid her deposit, then decided not to go through with things and the resort did issue her a refund (which was nice of them). But I got the impression that was the exception, not the rule. Any insight would be extremely helpful!

Question ladies... Me and the fiance want to put down a deposit for our April 2014 wedding at BBPD. But I am a stickler for refund policies and generally bad at planning and uncomfortable paying for things this far in advance! Although I know it must be done if I want to reserve my date. If we make the deposit, and for some crazy, unlikely reason we decide to change our date or not get married at BBPD, will they give us a refund? I read somewhere that the deposit is non-refundable, but I also remember that Oct 2012 Bride had paid her deposit, then decided not to go through with things and the resort did issue her a refund (which was nice of them). But I got the impression that was the exception, not the rule. Any insight would be extremely helpful!

I would love to fall ill right about now. Not too ill, but just enough to stop eating for ehhhh...5 maybe 6 days. Oh yeah, failed on my detox this week. Had some late nights at the library and somehow ended up at McDonalds afterward Will try again next week!

I would love to fall ill right about now. Not too ill, but just enough to stop eating for ehhhh...5 maybe 6 days. Oh yeah, failed on my detox this week. Had some late nights at the library and somehow ended up at McDonalds afterward Will try again next week!

Hi Netty, I haven't decided whether I'm using a TA but I have seen quite a few brides on here warn against using destinationweddings.com for this. A few popular agencies are Apple and Delta Vacations, both of which I've heard good things about. Some ladies on here have said it's better to just let your guests book on their own through orbitz, expedia, etc. for the best prices. I'm thinking of going that route. With a TA you have to be organized and your guests must be prepared to book extremely far in advance. The only benefits I can see with using a TA is that guests can set up a payment plan, and usually the couple get a pretty good discounts on their rate. But the discounts that TA's claim to offer your group seem to be a joke, since by nature of the business they have to mark prices up to make a profit. But they're good to use for negotiating with hotels (which you don't really need to do with BBPD) and organizing your guests' reservations. I don't know if I'll use one....I'm torn.

Gained 2 pounds this week... Grrrrrrr!!!!! But I'm detoxing for the next 10 days so I have no choice but to lose!

Awwwww lovely ceremony. You had the perfect number of people and the chapel is perfect. You guys look really happy. Congrats again!!! I don't like to see video of myself but since I'm planning to go with TP I may have to consider the videography. I may regret not recording everything. And thanks for the heads up on the wifi. Good to know!

Awesome review disazaja, and STUNNING pictures!!! You are an absolute beautiful bride...the dress, the hair, the groom, the bridal party, everything! I loved all of the colors, and that each GM had 2 BMs. Ha! Tropical pictures did an excellent job capturing everything...of course you're gonna want all 400 photos. Total scam, but worth it I'm sure. Thanks for sharing your beautiful day with us And thank you so much for the details...I'm so printing out your review as a reference. You pretty much covered it all! Questions... 1. You mention having welcoming cocktails AND appetizers at the rooftop spa/infinity pool terrace. I saw another bride post that food is not allowed on the rooftop terrace. This obviously isn't true if your guests were able to have appetizers up there, which is great news! Can you confirm that the food and drinks were on the rooftop terrace, and not just close by?! I love that venue and I really want to have the same type of cocktail hour before the reception. 2. Your BM dresses are BEAUTIFUL. Who are they made by? I would ask for the style but I see they are different styles, which I love! 3. At your reception, what type of drinks are those multi-colored cocktails I saw in your pics, lined up at the bar? Very cool and they look good. Just curious.

Looks like Easter week was rough for everyone!!! Haha I sent mine in today...completely missed last week. Apologies! I tried starting my detox last week...FAIL. Trying again next week to I can go out with a bang!

Based on the the extra and hidden costs, sounds like if you really want to get married here you'll have to bring a credit card that has room for $1,000-$2,000 worth of charges just to make sure you can get everything you want. I think when you're there you'll just want everything to be perfect and while wel care about the price, we'll probably spend the money anyway because it's our wedding day. But since we're all planning ahead we're trying to minimize these surprise costs to the best of our ability. I've already accepted the fact that I'll probably have to spend at least $2,000 over my planned budget for unexpected things that come up. This way I can't be disappointed when it happens.

Miss Jali and TRivera... I'm a grad school bride too! Won't be done until December, and then will have about 3 months to finish planning. I was thinking of doing some kind of seating arrangement, but if it doesn't get done I won't sweat it. I'm one of those people who HATES planning, which is part of why I'm having a destination wedding, so the resort can basically do everything for me. (Well, that and my fiance's family is from DR.)

I haven't been hitting the gym like I should (only once in the last week), but I have been watching my eating habits! And only drinking water, which was originally for Lent but is really helping I think. I may start a new detox next week. Haven't decided which one....probably juicing. That always helps me drop the most pounds the quickest. I always put like 2 or 3 back on in the week following, I'm guessing that's water weight. But I usually net about a 5 pound weight loss after detoxing for 7 days. Can't complain.

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!!!!!!! Be good this weekend!

Good job ladies!!! Hang in there. I read somewhere that weight loss is 20% exercise and 80% diet. Helps me to keep things in perspective. You can do all the exercise in the world but if you're eating the wrong things you may be more fit bit you won't lose weight. Even if I miss the gym I try to make sure I'm eating smaller portions and healthier foods (or at least keeping the junk food to a minimum). Ann, For clarification....so each week you post the percentage decrease in weight from the prior week, and at the end the winner is the one with the largest overall percentage decrease, right?

Mary, You may have been given the beach option for no extra charge because you originally requested Bar Higuey and it is booked on your date. I've heard of brides saying that they got a beach wedding included as an accommodation for some other shortcoming (i.e. their original reception space was not available due to double booking, conventions, etc.)

But TRivera is right, the rooftop cannot be used for the reception because there is no food allowed. Sounds like even if you do cocktail hour there, you can only have drinks, no oer d'oeuvres. Not 100% about that but I think that's what I read.

I actually read on here that WTRunner paid an extra $500 to have her actual ceremony on the rooftop lounge. She posted pictures on her Facebook account and it was beautiful! You'll have to go back in the thread to find her post in order to see the pictures.

As an alternative to the ballroom in case of rain, I keep hearing about something called the Palapa on the beach. Ask the WCs about that. Apparently it's a covered space near the beach but is not completely indoors. From reading on this forum, only one bride has said she used it and it's not a space typically used for receptions but they let her use it b/c it started raining during her beach reception. FYI the ballrooms are fully indoors and the only other reception space that's not is Bar Higuey. There are plenty of pictures of the ballrooms in this thread. Although I haven't seen a pic of the Palapa, the bride that used it said it was very nice.

Finally sent mine. Tough to keep up with since I'm in school and take 3 part time classes. Not to mention planning a wedding and planning to be in one this summer. Gotta stay motivated!

TDawn, STUNNING is the only word I can think of to describe your wedding and pictures. Everything was BEAUTIFUL. Congrats! So glad you loved it and that everything turned out great. And thank you for the awesome review! It makes us brides to be so excited!

Makes sense. Thanks for clarifying...I was getting confused!