Married or going to be married at Grand Palladium Punta Cana?

[richarsd]

Welcome jacobderosenoir,

 

You ask some good questions.

1) Not sure about this one. The "rule" is 20 people miniumum for the reception-dinner on the beach...but since most people who seem to have picked this option use it as the reception venue, not just dinner, I'm not sure if it makes a difference. Just so you know, the two restaurants used for the receptions, La Uva and Arrecife is the other name I think, are located at the beach and are open are concept. Something to consider maybe if you can't have it directly on the beach.

 

2) When you say last minute, how last minute do you mean? Day of - probably not. Keep in mind there may be other weddings going on that day too and if they have chosen the restaurants, then you would need to stick to the beach plan. Also, since these restaurants are used by guests as well as a la carte restaurnts, I would presume that the resort needs a days notice.

 

3) Most brides go with La Uva but I've heard the other one they use for reception (Like I said, think it's Arrecife) is nice too. You need minimum 20 people to privatize a restaurant, however. Otherwise, they give you a small section for you and your guests. Keep in mind, it might not necessarily be "quiet" that way.
 

4) You'd definitely hear it, might not be loud though but you can definitely hear it as well as any noise from people on the beach, lol. You could always bring some music just as a back-up (ipod or CDs) and decide when you get there (most planning for things like that can be done a couple days before the wedding when you meet with the wedding coordinator).

 

Have fun with the planning and welcome again to the forum!
 

Originally Posted by jacobderosenoir 

Hello Everyone - Thanks for all the info here. Very helpfull. My Fiancé and I are getting married at the GP first week of April 2011. We're staying at the Royal Turquesa. There are some questions I haven't found answer for. Please help. I have been 3 nights at it now. 

1) Do you really need 20 guests (we only have 10) to get the reception-diner directly on the beach (no party)?

2) Is the reception diner on the beach worth it or more often than not it's too windy, cold, hot, bugs, etc.? Can you decide to go to the restaurant at the last minute?

3) For a small diner with 10 guests,  with no party/dance, just a fun quite diner with our families, which restaurant would you suggest?

4) I see people having music during their ceremony. We wanted the sound of  the wave breaking on the beach to be our music. If we're at the Palace Gazebo, are we going to ear them. Is that enough or are we loosing something without music?

 

Thanks for everything

[Chicago]

@jacobderosenoir

 

As far as beach dinner reception technically you do need 20 guests. I am going that route as well and only had 16 guests which made it impossible to reach an agreement with Carolina. She wanted me to wait until I got there to figure out if they'll let me!!! The whole catch for me was the beach dinner reception. Luckily, last minute I decided to go with a travel agency and they arranged everything for me.

Your situation is a little bit different. I was only missing a few guests so they made an exception I dont know about 10 guests but worth trying. Just make sure she gives you a final decision prior to going there cause nothing guarantees you'll have it unless you have it in writing from her.

 

Good luck

 

@ January 5th, 2012 BRIDE (SORRY FORGOT THE NAME)

CONGRATS! I have also chosen that date but for 2011.

[sheila2011]

How is everyone's planning going? We finally ordered some travel mugs after trying other websites, so I finally hoping I will get my mugs! Then I got an email from Carolina asking for our guest list....I think the month before your wedding she begins really contacting you. I am getting excited, 6 weeks until I get to Punta Cana!!!

 

And welcome  jacobderosenoir!! I think richarsd answered your questions and I agree with her answers from what I have gathered!

[sheila2011]

Sorry half my post got lost!

 

Just also wanted to say Chicago, you are even closer!! One month exactly!!! You must be so excited!!!!! 

[novagirl3]

Where did you order your mugs from Shelia2011? I'm thinking about ordering some for my guests too. I would have loved to do OOT bags too but I have 50 guests and it's just too pricey!! The website I've been looking into is discountmugs.com.

 

6 weeks...you must be soooo excited.

75 days for me!!

You'll have to put your pics up when you get back so we can see.

[sheila2011]

novagirl3,

We ordered our mugs from http://www.4imprint.ca since they had prices in Canadian dollars and we found some good reviews of them and then we didn't have to worry about the extra custom duty fees. If you're from Canada, they could be a good choice! I will let you know how they turn out!! Fingers crossed.

 

We also decided not to do OOT bags for the same reason and we only have 30 guests! I thought the mugs would be good especially so people can carry their drinks with them. We did think of just ordering bags for people (without anything in them), but my FI really liked the mugs so we went with that instead. 

 

And yes I am getting excited and will for post pics and a review! You must be getting excited too!

 

Originally Posted by novagirl3 

Where did you order your mugs from Shelia2011? I'm thinking about ordering some for my guests too. I would have loved to do OOT bags too but I have 50 guests and it's just too pricey!! The website I've been looking into is discountmugs.com.

 

6 weeks...you must be soooo excited.

75 days for me!!

You'll have to put your pics up when you get back so we can see.

[chell44]

Just curious as to what everyone is doing for music? my fi and I are making our own cd's, music is really important to us, and a friend of mine will be the mc. I'm hating the idea of paying a dj just to play my cd's  does anyone know if they have just the equipment at the resort, like speakers a microphone? I'm doing the beach party..    I've yet to hear back from Carolina

[Chicago]

 

 

@Sheila

 

I am more than excited, but also losing my mind with last minute preparation. I just found out this morning that Carolina wont be there for my wedding. For all the ladies out there that are getting married soon, her assistant Kenia will take over.

I am freaking out about this!!!

 

Any previous brides worked with Kenia?

 

I feel as if I will have to repeat everything I have planned with Carolina for the past year with Kenia.

 

As for the music. We are also making our own CDs and getting a resort DJ to play them. I know sounds stupid to pay $300 for that but if I am not mistaken it also costs a bit to rent their equipment. I figured I dont want to bother my guests to be MC or even ourselves.

 

 

 

[msredbird51]

Hi ladies! So sorry I haven't been on here since we got back. Between the wedding and honeymoon we were gone for 2.5 weeks. We got back last Sunday (as in a week ago yesterday), but it wasn't until 10:30 PM that we got back,  plus having to go to work the next morning....all made for two very tired people. There was some event/dinner every night last week with people wanting to congratulate and celebrate with us, too. I swear by the time we worked everyday and then attended one of those, the only thing we had energy to do when we got home last week was sleep!

 

Anywho--Things could not have been more fantastic! Carolina, the GP, everything was WAY BEYOND what we'd hoped for. I mean, I've said several times since then that not many things in life go exactly the way you've built them up in your head, and with this EVERYTHING did. The trip, our guests, the "rehearsal dinner" (catamaran, snorkel, sunset sail tour) the wedding, the dinner, the beach party...everything was just EXACTLY how my husband and I had planned and hoped it would go. It was perfect!

 

I want to type up a little review and my thoughts on every aspect--the resort, the food, the tours we did, Carolina, the photographer (HDC), the ceremony, Pastor Rick, the dinner, the beach party, etc. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time at work right now to type up the whole review that I totally intend to write. I plan to try to do that tonight.

 

I will reply to one thing I saw just glancing over this page though--I can't imagine that the dinner would ever not be quiet. Our dinner was at La Uva, and since we had the beach party afterward and that is literally right outside the doors of La Uva, we never thought of trying to switch it. The dinner was setup on the side outdoor patio, and it was only our party dining outside. There were certainly other parties inside (although, not very many), but we never noticed them. We only noticed the lovely setup (all done by Carolina), the sound of the waves, the ocean breeze, the delicious food and our wedding party. Like I said, the were other people dining inside that night, but even on the other night that my husband and I dined a la carte at La Uva it wasn't busy then either. Could've just been that week though. At any rate, the fact the wedding party dinner was in our little section, completely away from the other diners it was as if it was private anyway.

 

I'll be back for more later tonight and write a full review. Promise.

 

P.S. I can't believe tomorrow it will already be three weeks since the wedding! Time flies!

[roxy1122]

Welcome back msredbird!!! I've been waiting for your return so I could hear all the details!!!! Soooo happy that all turned out wonderfully for you two