"New Resort Opening May 1 2011" NOW LARIMAR ~ PUNTA CANA

[Skygirl]

aww im glad that you end up going with blue lagoon. i see there FB pic posted all the time, they always look awesome..

did you fill that HDC/Blue Lagood was very comparible with price?

[suzzMF]

@skygirl - 11-03-12 

[Skygirl]

 

 

Quote:@Thfeb2012/How is ur planning going?ur day is coming up so soon...

Originally Posted by TJfeb2012 

 

CONGRATULATIONS Katusha!!!!!!!!

So glad to hear that everything turned out for you Katusha~!  The questions and answers were great.  I love your tables!!  They look great!  You did such a good job on them!  I have some questions too LOL

 

Did you have Castaways all to yourselves? 

For your table runners what was the length of the material you used?

What did you use in your vases to light them up that way?

Was Catasways cool?  Is it at all sheltered?  I am trying to decide if we are going to have our reception here...Do you have photos of an overall view of this area? 

Did they have the dacing area set up on the terrace?

What did you use for your OOT bags themselves? 

 

I need to start booking things and getting organized! LOL... i have been a bit of a procrastinator lately!

 

Did you do a Trash the Dress shoot?  If so did you "trash" your own dress or have a second one for that?

 

 

[sarahgn4t]

Hey ladies! I went with HDC Photo and I found their prices seemed to be the best out there. I do remember seeing that somewhere as well that hotel transfer was included. I better figure that out by next week! Ha!!! Has anyone been on the Now Larimar website in awhile. I hadn't and recently did and they have so much more information on there that I had no idea was there!! It's been a few months since I have been on their website mostly because there was nothing to look at on there and now they have so many pics of ideas for cake and flowers and decor!!

 

As far as the DJ goes I also hired DJ Mannia. I am renting a bunch of stuff from them as well because their prices are cheaper than the hotel. Like the light up dance floor is way cheaper thru them. We are also doing sparklers and they sell them which is great because I almost ordered them online and then realized I would probably get arrested for carrying fireworks in my luggage! Ha!

 

I am starting to panic!!!!!!!!!!! I made a trial hair appointment on Valentines Day to try out hair and makeup. I am assuming I will not use their services the day of my wedding because I am a hairdresser and I doubt I will like their work. I really hope I do because that is less for me to do the day of but I am a hard one to please! Ha!

 

I am having anxiety like crazy. I feel like this wedding is going to cost us a fortune and I don't feel like we are doing any crazy upgrades but when you add the tax to all the alcohol and food I feel like it almost doubled!!! We were going to do a buffet on the beach for our reception because for some reason I thought that you could not do plated dinner on the beach but maybe that was when we had more than 50 people??? We chose the divine package and wanted to upgrade to premium bar but Cristina said that Jack Daniels and Absolut were included in the International bar so we decided it wasn't worth it. We also wanted to add an extra hour of alcohol and it ends up to be $1,000 for one extra hour for basic alcohol. That to me seems so ridiculous considering we can walk to the bar and have free drinks.

 

When I first started planning a destination wedding I really thought it was only going to cost us a few thousand dollars but I feel like nothing is included in any of these packages and we are still going to spend well over 10,000.

 

Don't mean to be a downer I guess it is just the pre wedding jitters!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will all end up perfect and everyone will have a great time and in the end it will be well worth it!!!!!

 

On a happy note. We went to the grocery store last night to get some snacks for the OOT bags and I found the little valentines day conversation hearts that have little sayings on them. And the sayings are in Spanish!!!! I thought that was super cute. Those are my favorite candies and I have a ton of little tiffany blue favor boxes left over from my shower so I figured I could add those to my tables as another favor. The other favor is just 2 sparklers with personalized matches attached to them. I thought that would make great pictures!

 

Can't wait to tell you all how much fun it was and that everything went perfectly!! We return on the 25th so expect a response from me on the 26th unless I can respond on my honeymoon!!

 

[Mayrose]

Hi Sarahgn4t,

 

I just went to the hotel website and you are right, they have added a lot more information. I was in shock, I am glad they updated their wedding page.

 

You got the sparklers through DJ Mania? I already have a DJ, my FI cousin does DJ on the side and agreed to DJ at our wedding. Can I have their contact info, I would like to have sparklers but threw that idea out the window b/c I did not know how to get it there w/o getting arrested lol!!!

 

Don't worry, Dominican hairdresser are really good, but it doesn't hurt to have a back up plan just in case.

 

I understand your anxiety, I am hoping to not go over $10,000. I am not sure where you are but having the wedding in DR is way more cheaper than having the wedding where I live. 

 

My understanding of the dinner is, if is 50 ppl or less you can have a plated dinner and not a buffet. The only thing with the plated dinner is that you can only choose one food from each category. I can not do a plated dinner b/c we are all picking eaters

 

Your reception on the beach is going to be beautiful. I originally wanted my reception on the beach, under the stars. Don't know why I am changing the location to the open air restaurant.

 

I would not pay extra for another hour, $1000??!!! that's way too much. Go to the bar and their disco, it could be an after party. That's what I am going to do. Remember is included in you room rate, take advantage.

 

Don't worry you are not being a downer, you just want everything to be great and memorable. I have had a few nervous breakdown and I am still 6 months away. I know is going to be perfect, at the end of the day you are marrying the person you love and you are sharing this moment with your family and friends. Don't let no one or nothing ruin it. 

 

I can not wait to hear all about it, have fun, enjoy every moment and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

 

Let me know how was HDC b/c I think I am going to book them. I have read great reviews about them.

 

Enjoy DR, it truly is a special place. At least for me it is

[vav11238]

I agree with Sarah, the prices between HDC and Blue Lagoon are pretty similar. The FI and I just chose randomly. DJ Mannia is the only DJ service spoken about throughout the island. So that was easy. 

 

And like Sarah, I'm heading toward panic mode but keep talking my self down. Went to check the updated website and saw that my time slot on the 20th was left as available. WTF?!?! Which is strange because Christina has been emailing me. We even have our meeting setup to go over the details of the wedding. Which means it should be marked off but isn't. 

 

I've also emailed about the hotel transfer. On the old list there was one but now on the new list that they've put up, it doesn't mention it. It seems like things just keep changing. I think, obviously, we should be allowed the items that were available when we signed our contract. 

 

On the bright side, it now says with Gazebo decor that a walkway is included. I'm looking forward to seeing what that is! And it's good that they've finally put up the document requirements. I know I've emailed a few brides on here who didn't know that you had to have everything made official and then translated. And all that does add another potential $1500 to your total. Which is why we got married a month ago. It's free when it's a vow renewal. No need to translate the marriage certificate - fyi.

 

Now, I just need to put the finishing touches on our FACEbook (more about that after the wedding), our paddle fans for the ceremony and I'm all done! (oh, and packing - lol) I had planned for our wedding to cost between $10,000 - $12,000 which, considering I could have had the big day in either New York or London, UK, is still far cheaper. I did a spreadsheet where I tabbed up all the costs noted on the price breakdown and I'm currently at $7,500. That's the divine package for 50 guests (considering that usually everything is free for the first 25). It does feel, with the mention of taxes - which I hadn't considered adding on top of that amount - that it could get pretty pricey.

 

Oh, and for the new brides. I spoke to Christina and the concergie about the 'new' section of the resort. That falls under Deluxe Garden View. So, when your guests begin to book their rooms, you'll want them all booking the same rooms if you'd like them to be in the same section of the resort. I've gotten lucky. Most of my guests booked Deluxe Tropical view (bc it was cheapest) which means they won't be in the new section. Only three booked Deluxe Ocean view which can still be by the other guests, apparently. But Garden, is at the other end. 

 

That's all I've got! Like, Sarah, I'll upload pics as soon as I can. But it seems at Now, internet isn't free - unless you're in the Premier Club (and yes, I'm hoping for an upgrade!) - so it may have to wait till I'm back on the 24th. 

[Vizionme101]

Hello All,

 

I am new to this forum, but boy am I lucky to have joined. I'm set to get Married at the Now Larimar in July.  At first Claribel was swift on her feet with emails and responses. Now I can't even get a blink out of her.  But now I know, since reading she is no longer there. Is anyone able to provide me with Cristina's email address. I have a lot of concerns regarding my wedding (the Menu, decor, etc). And I need them answered very swiftly. Thank GOD I have my confirmation letter and the deposits were made and I looked online and my time and date are not available. But now I'm scared.  Being a travel agent and booking not only my wedding and all my guests are coming is a hassle within itself... But now nowing there isn't a WC there is going to drive me insane.  Any information would help.

 

Thanks,

Mesha

[Vizionme101]

Hello All,

 

I am new to this forum, but boy am I lucky to have joined. I'm set to get Married at the Now Larimar in July.  At first Claribel was swift on her feet with emails and responses. Now I can't even get a blink out of her.  But now I know, since reading she is no longer there. Is anyone able to provide me with Cristina's email address. I have a lot of concerns regarding my wedding (the Menu, decor, etc). And I need them answered very swiftly. Thank GOD I have my confirmation letter and the deposits were made and I looked online and my time and date are not available. But now I'm scared.  Being a travel agent and booking not only my wedding and all my guests are coming is a hassle within itself... But now nowing there isn't a WC there is going to drive me insane.  Any information would help.

 

Thanks,

Mesha

[sarahgn4t]

Hey Ladies!! One week till my wedding!! I leave Monday!!!! I started packing and I have way too much stuff!! Ha! I have stopped stressing so that is good news!! I have everything done that is important and figured if the rest doesn't get done oh well! Dj mania info@manniapuntacana.com Cristinas email weddings.serpc@secretsresorts.com I am having a tasting for food when I get there and the dj will drop off sparklers the day I get there so I can attach the matches and name cards to it before the big day. Cristina did email me a pic of the decor that is included with the walkway so if you want that pic please email me and let me know. Sarahgn4t@att.net pastor York will be performing ceremony rickandsuzanneyork@gmail.com and the photographer for hdc is arnaudbrichet@hdcphoto.com we have been in contact with a host that plans a lot of events and is available for hire if you want to do any group events like go to other hotels or plan a night out at some of theur hot clubs. He also knows the area well so for example if u need sparklers or other things I am sure he can be of assistance.. His name is Charlie. nyile@aol.com contact him if you want to hire a driver or plan other events. Gotta finish packing! Talk to you all when I return!! thanks for all the love and support! Couldn't have done this without the help of everyone on here!!

[sarahgn4t]

Here is the contact to make spa and salon appointments ljubica.ivanic@gmail.com