Any Destination Weddings?

My fiance and I are getting married in the Dominican Republic, has anyone been to a wedding in DR? If yes, how was it? Any advice for this destination bride?

This was my original plan when I first got engaged. We were going to have a full wedding (not an elopement) at a resort in Punta Cana or in La Romana with approx 100 guests. Why did I change my mind? Well, 2 reasons:
1. We were doing this to save money and be able to get married sooner. But it was never really what I wanted.
2. I had such a hard time finding information, getting vendors to cooperate, etc. I got so frustrated at everyone telling me to call back 3 months before the wedding. THREE MONTHS??? What are you people crazy??! I don't think they ever got the point that I needed to send out STDs a year in advance so my guests would have time to save and make travel arrangements. No one would block off rooms for me. The airlines did give me a discount group rate but that's it.

So I hired a wedding planner experienced in planning destination weddings. Two months and $200 dollars later even SHE couldn't come up with anything. Don't get me wrong, she was wonderful to work with and I even recommend you call herLisa Light but if you are set on doing a DW, I would pick another carribean island that has more experience with this stuff like Jamaica.

Believe me, I feel bad even saying this because my parents were born there (I'm Dominican-American) and that's why I picked it but it was soooo frustrating trying to plan a wedding there. NO one answered my emails, returned my phone calls, or anything. Sorry to not have much good advice for you. The best advice I can give you is that if you have someone there, family or a friend, -- ask them to help you out and do all the planning OVER THERE.... because you won't get much accomplished from here.


FM if you have any questions!! Good luck!!