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

[lkw4568]

I don't think any of the packages include traditional center peices - just like a floral arrangement for the sweet heart table - thats it I think

[Alana LM]

Hey girls, 

I we are only 3 weeks away and the hotel is terribly over booked.

They have 5 buildings and so far our nanny with our kids is NOT in the same building....not so fun.  We are crossing our fingers that it all works out. 

 

I have written confirmation that we will get our private dinner; so I am hoping they honor it.  Christina has been wonderful to work with (when she does get back to me, lol) our Travel Agent is quite dippy.  

 

At this point we have 57 guests, a non-private welcome dinner planned for the 14th, a rehearsal diner for the 15th and the wedding on the 16th.

I'll be back tonight with a few pick of what I am bringing for my decor etc.  I SO SO SO didn't want to bring any of it BUT it is over the top expensive to have them do it.

 

 

[suzzMF]

@ Alana - I'm sure everything will work out. Im so excited for you and I cant wait to hear all about your wedding when you are back.

 

 

[Skygirl]

@alana, i cant wait to see your pictures, also keep in mind if you booked as a group, you all have a priority, how did you book a non private dinner? also all wedding reception are private dinners, am i wrong saying this?unless you are maybe doing surf and turf. how are you packing all the decor?

[AcutieRN]

Hey Girls,

Alana, we are in the same boat.  We will be arriving April 14th and our wedding is the 17th.  The hotel is so overbooked that they have downgraded all of us to garden views from ocean views and it seems that none of us are in the same area of the resort.  This is awful because I have two grandma's who were helping two couples out with baby care coming and their rooms were supposed to be side by side. No longer.And to make matters worse, they are supposed to reinburse us the money we paid for the upgrades and they have stated they have yet the money is no where to be found on any of our cards. We even have a few people who didn't book with my travel agent that may not have rooms, even after they paid for them a year ago.AHHHHH!

 

I also still have no idea where we are having our dinner/reception.Mercy only gave me the options of the Terrace by the fountain(I have since learned this is the buffet rest, which we don't really want) or the beach. How can there only be two options?  I have sent info that states I was told I could use castaways, but since the resort is overbooked it doesn't seem to matter much.  They are doing what they want at this point.  I feel frustrated. I have spent more time feeling frustrated about the resort that not. Why can everyone else get a response? Is it just that I have Mercy and not Christina?   

 

 

[Skygirl]

@Acutie. i waited 3wks for a response from Christina... i think they have Sylvia now too, not sure. Call them in the morning, make a list of questions and ask them, and also have them sent you an email asap to confirm it...

[Alana LM]

Oh and it keeps getting better. Apparently our TA told us tonight they are over booked by 100 rooms!! Now I used to work in hotels and overbooking is a fact of life, it's necessary because SO many people don't show up BUT by 100!! That is crazy!!

 

Not all wedding dinners are private - check what you have booked, and as Val said bring your emails printed!!

 

We made a reservation at one of the buffet restaurants I don't care if it's private for the welcome dinner or rehearsal. I just want to greet everyone & give out their bags  and have a nice bridal party dinner the night before so I don't have to worry if I don't socialize with them much during the wedding.

 

Below are my OOT bags (I know a bit girly but nice). They have a teal rafia tie holding the little Alana & Peter tag (next image).

Then in the pocket is the invitation and a folded bulletin with an itinerary inside. Table setting is white on white. the napkin rings with name cards, a paper luminary with battery candle (on sand for weight) in the center, draped with the 'pearl' runners. Table numbers on luminary bags in blue lettering. Each guest gets a 50ml bottle homemade maple syrup (hence the sticker) and the kids each get mini-gumball machines. All that fits into one box and weighs about 35lbs.

 

So far the ceremony is at the fountain, (No boardwalk), with regular chairs no sashes. Cocktails to follow right there at the fountain , dinner at 7 at Castaways.  We've upgraded to calla lillies for my bouquet (SO sad I can't take it home), divine package, platinum dinner, DJ from the hotel. We are bringing our photographer. 

 

Last image is our guest book - each family will have their photograph taken and while at the wedding sign the back of an image mat that fits in the box (we'll print images and match them up after we get them from the photogrpher)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Alana LM]

LOL, maybe I should have put all those details in a different thread (eh hem, not the one re the hotel - sorry girls)

[AcutieRN]

Alana,

No, I am so glad you shared it here.  I love seeing what everyone else is doing.  It looks like you have everything together and ready to go! 

I can't believe the hotel overbooked by 100 rooms.  My Travel Agent said not to worry because my group has a contract so they won't be able to kick us to another resort.  That being said, we do have a few guests who booked on their own and she said they may be bused to another resort. That would be awful. They have messed up a bit of stuff it sounds like.

Is your reception dinner private at the Castaways?  If so, how did you get that?  I wanted it there, have an email from Claribel confirming it from months ago, but they still said no way.  I don't get it. Maybe if yours is private, they won't let me have mine private the next night due to closing the place down for two nights at over capacity?

 

SkyGirl, thanks for the info. I have called a few times. I keep getting Christina, which is awesome, but she keeps referring me to Mercy, who I never hear back from. I think my frustration comes from the first 10 months Claribel never responded to me and I feel like I lost out on a lot of what I wanted because of this.Also, a lot of what she told me was false information or information that has drastically changed.  I can't wait for 3 weeks to hear back from these girls, my wedding is in 3 weeks!!!Ahhh.  Christina did say that since I have such a small group we can do a plated dinner even though it is at the Carnival Terrace.  Hopefully it will be good! I am trying to keep calm, the reason I wanted a DW was not to stress. I don't really know why the resort is in such a mess right now.  Makes me more than nervous.

[Skygirl]

TJFeb2012, congrats on your recent wedding, can you share with us your experience?
 

Originally Posted by TJfeb2012 

My wedding date is February 29, 2012.  We arrive on the 24th and my sister would be there until the 2nd of March.  We are staying an additional 2 wks while we are there and going all over the Island.  Should be awesome!