EXCELLENCE Resort Punta Cana - New thread started April 2010

[fmichelle]

Okay, didn't attach. Let's try again:

 

 

 

[farlem311]

I think the brochure look great!!!!

[Diva]

You are awesome Fmichelle! Thanks

[fmichelle]

My pleasure. Glad you can find use out of it as well.  BTW, still haven't heard from my coordinator, I think I'm going to send another email today.  Now I'm getting nervous

[tillytally]

We are having a bit of a problem with our WC.  I'm just looking for a place to vent......Our wedding is on the 30th of Jan.  We want to have the gold wedding package but do not want some of the services ie: the spa or gold menu.   We would like little changes to our package in exchage for these services but they are not being very flexable!   We have decided to bring in our own photographer from Canada, and are aware that we have to pay $250. to bring him onto the resort for the day (no problem with that)-but they are saying for him to eat or drink while there (he is there for the entire day 11-11) we also have to pay for a regular day pass for him ($80.  if he wants to eat at the wedding reception it is another $50 as we have more than 20 guests.  (31 to be exact!)  I wanted my bouquet to be red roses with a few orange or pinks mixed in (maybe 5-8 more) and they want to charge me $80. as adding more flowers is not part of their available bouquets.  I am bringing all my own decorations (centerpieces, isle decor, table decor, and even long white sheers for the gazebo).  We opted for renting chairs as we do not want our guests sitting on plastic chairs with chair covers and we are fine with the price.  We are hoping to not have the woven isle runner and instead have petals-but they are charging $5./bag and will not disclose how big the bag is.  Throughout these forums, I have noticed that many brides leave/"donate" thier decorations (chair sashes etc) after the wedding to the resort.  The WC is saying that they only include green or red sashes for the chairs and that there are other "decorations which we can use for a fee" 

Am I being unreasonable in asking for petals for the walkway, day pass with reception food for our photographer, and silver menu instead of gold and a few and a few coloured roses added into my bouquet?  We are leaving on the 27th and hopefully when we meet the WC in person it will all get figured out.  Hopefully it is all just "miscommunications"

g

[TRose]

Sounds frustrating! We are having some issues as well with our WC. From what I have read on the forum they are much more accomodating once you arrive at the resort. We are bringing in our own photographer and seem to be having the exact same problem as you with the extra fees to get him in the resort. How much did you pay to rent chairs? I asked the WC she told me 10/chair it seems kinda crazy is that what youre paying, if you dont mind me asking.

[tillytally]

Isuguyny quoted us $7 per chair plus a $60 delivery fee.  Yes I agree the price does seem really high.  We would not even pay that here in Canada.  I've asked her if we could borrow chairs from somewhere else as I have found a few event planners who rent chairs in the area, but she does not seem willing to contact anyone for me.    We have decided to downgrade our package to the love package and spend a day looking for vendors once we get down there to supplement what we want.  Looks like though we will be still paying for their photography package as well  as hair and makeup (my sister is a hair and makeup artist) even though we don't want it.

Grrrrr.

[fmichelle]

You girls who are paying extra for the photographer, is that because they are not staying on-site?  A friend of mine who will hopefully be coming to the wedding (and staying Excellence) is a wedding photographer and I was planning on having her shoot (in addition to the basic package that is included with Photosouvenir--which I'm assuming is just some ceremony stuff)  Will I have to pay extra for her even if she is a "guest" of the wedding who happens to have two very professional cameras?  If so, that will definitely change things for me.  Do either of you have Griselda as a WC?  I emailed her a week ago and I haven't heard back. She used to be so prompt.

[mdb]

Girls, Make sure that you take all of your copies of your emails on what they quoted you. Especially if they are quoting you different amounts. Also, if you are not getting through to your wedding coordinator, wait a few days.  When they have off, they get 3 days off in a row.  They work 10, and get three off.  However if you are not hearing anything, email Anna let her know that you haven't heard back and ask the questions in the email.(I believe she may oversee everything with the weddings)  She always responds promptly.   Her email is weddings.puj@excellence-resorts.com      

 

I would take your own sashes because they only run $1 on some sites.    I took fake flowers and I was glad I did.  From what I heard, the bags that they charge $5 for are small.  maybe you could ask how many bags you would need to fill the aisle.      I know that they do not exchange anything that is included in the packages.     Also, I have seen photos from the photographer, (we brought our own with us though)  If it is included in the package, I would just have the resort take pictures also. ( our photographer stayed on the resort so we did not have to pay the fees)    Good luck girls.  Don't stress!!! everything ends up being better than you have imagined on your wedding day.

[Dolcenotte12]

Hello girls and congrats on your upcoming weddings...For those that are not familiar with me, I was married at Excellence in july 2009 (stayed 3 weeks) and have been there 4 times and returning this year as usual! =) Can you tell I love this place?

 

Some tips for you: It is definitely not necessary to rent "special" chairs. I would say the plastic chair with a cover would probably actually look better than the "special" chairs they would provide at a cost. who knows what condition they would be in and that would bother me unless you are going to cover them and then whats the point? And because you are on a beach, the plastic chairs make a lot of sense!!! but i know some people have special preferences, but that is my opinion..i think you could use that money for better things that would actually be noticed. The ceremony is short anyway. I had my reception on the beach and they just pulled over the chairs they used for the ceremony and it looked absolutely perfect!

 

Another thing: Gamc, what sort of vendors are you looking for? I would definitely say you must use what the wedding coordinators offer you as there is really no where else to find vendors in the area. Punta Cana is all farmland with no stores nearby, the closest strip of stores is at least 20 minutes away by car. If there is something unique you are interested in, tell your WC, and she can tell you if its a possibility or not.

 

And on another note, PhotoSouvenir is an amazing photography company....I still look at my pictures frequently and I love them, they made me a beautiful leather bound digital album and a gorgeous slideshow...people tell me all the time what an amazing photographer I had..I also did a boudoir photo shoot this past July and once again PhotoSouvenir outdid themselves, with my help of course

 

Any questions, let me know as I know alot about this place! I'll try to help as much as I can.