{"id":12654,"date":"2016-08-28T18:58:43","date_gmt":"2016-08-29T01:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/?p=12654"},"modified":"2022-01-01T22:37:21","modified_gmt":"2022-01-01T22:37:21","slug":"destination-wedding-day-ceremony-reception","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/destination-wedding-day-ceremony-reception\/","title":{"rendered":"Destination Wedding Advice – Ceremony & Reception"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"carmen_kyle_wed0481web\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 4 – Kyle and Carmen<\/h2>\n

This week, we have\u00a0Destination Wedding Advice – Ceremony & Reception with Kyle and Carmen. If you are just tuning in, don’t forget to check out Part 1<\/a>, Part 2<\/a>, and Part 3<\/a>! Carmen has been going through the details of her wedding, and we can’t hear the rest. Let’s begin Destination Wedding Advice – Ceremony & Reception.<\/p>\n

The Ceremony<\/strong><\/h3>\n
I had some close family friends that helped set up the ceremony site so that I knew it\u00a0would be as I wanted. I knew there was so much to do, and it gave me a bit more peace of mind to know I had people double checking things before\u00a0everyone arrived.<\/div>\n
\"carmen_kyle_wed0144web\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
The weather had been a bit threatening the morning of the wedding which had me worried. \u00a0Thankfully, the clouds cleared up just before the ceremony and was perfect the rest of the day and night.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Due to the heat earlier in the day, they recommend starting the ceremony in the late\u00a0afternoon. And we were ready right on time to start at 4:30 p.m.\u00a0We walked to the gazebo from our building, which was just behind it, so it wasn\u2019t a\u00a0far walk.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"carmen_kyle_wed0219web\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
I had hired a violinist for the ceremony at the request of Bibia, which was another\u00a0fantastic choice as he was unreal!! I heard so many comments from all the guests about how\u00a0great he was, and Kyle was especially happy with him. The violinist played until we were\u00a0ready to walk, and then they played our chosen bridal walk songs through the stereo.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I had my mom and brother enter just before\u00a0the bridal party, and Kyle and his groomsmen were waiting at the front. My bridesmaids\u00a0walked down the aisle in their gorgeous long blue dresses, to\u00a0\u201cA Thousand Years\u201d\u00a0by\u00a0Christina Perri. That song is probably a clich\u00e9 song to use, however, it\u2019s just so\u00a0beautiful, I couldn\u2019t pass it up! Then I walked down the aisle with my Dad to a cover of\u00a0Hunter Haye\u2019s song\u00a0\u201cWanted\u201d\u00a0done by one of Kyle’s and\u00a0my\u00a0favourite bands, Boyce Avenue.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"carmen_kyle_wed0222web\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
We had a legal ceremony, so a Dominican Judge performed it. We weren\u2019t\u00a0totally sure what to expect. However, we had been told that it is all said in Spanish and then\u00a0translated by the coordinator. So, we were picturing a long, drawn out ceremony where the\u00a0judge talks, then the coordinator translates, and then we repeat everything. However,\u00a0it was extremely quick, as they do not have the bride and groom repeat anything! We only said why we are here and ask each if you take the bride or groom. All\u00a0we had to say was\u00a0\u201cSi\u201d\u00a0or\u00a0\u201cI do\u201d\u00a0and then exchange rings.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
So in retrospect, if we knew, we might have come up with a few of our vows to add\u00a0on the end, just to make it a little more personal. Regardless, it was still so beautiful, and\u00a0the guests were thankful for a quick ceremony in the sweltering heat. So that way they were to be able to start\u00a0celebrating sooner!<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"carmen_kyle_wed0290web\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
As soon as the ceremony ended, we had the recessional down the aisle to the song\u00a0\u201cLove never felt so Good\u201d\u00a0by Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake. They also had\u00a0champagne set up at the end of the aisle for the whole group. The violinist played\u00a0again while we toasted, hugged and got congratulated.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"carmen_kyle_wed0396web\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n

Photos<\/strong><\/h3>\n
We allotted plenty of time for photos to ensure it wouldn\u2019t be rushed and miss any\u00a0important ones. We probably spent 25 minutes or so on Family photos’ and photos’ with all\u00a0the guests in front of the gazebo. Then, 45 or so on Wedding party photos on the rocks\/beach\u00a0and the pier, and then couple photos in a few different spots. The timing was great, as\u00a0was the weather and the lighting, and we were ready for the reception to begin at 7:00.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"carmen_kyle_wed0300web\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n

Reception<\/strong><\/h3>\n
We had our reception on the deck of the Seaside Grill, which is a beautiful setting\u00a0under the palm trees and overlooking the ocean. They mostly had everything set up as I had\u00a0requested- my mom just had to fix a few things with the centrepieces, but everything was perfect by the time I got there.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"carmen_kyle_wed0530web\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
We hired DJ\u00a0Mannia and had Kyle\u2019s cousin MC the reception, although the DJ prepared to MC\u00a0himself. We had a buffet, which was very delicious, followed by cake cutting so people\u00a0could have their desserts during the speeches. We kept the speeches to a minimum and\u00a0simply had my Dad, maid of honour, best man, and Kyle speaks. Because the receptions at the\u00a0resort are required to end at 11:00 and we didn\u2019t want to use up too much time on toasts.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Everything went smoothly throughout, and we started our first dance. The DJ even surprised<\/div>\n
us with fireworks on the sides of the dance floor which began partway through our dance and<\/div>\n
made for some more incredible photos. It was a breathtaking moment.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"carmen_kyle_wed0608web\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The rest of the night\u00a0was just as perfect! Filled with plenty of drinking, dancing, and stress-free mingling! The only thing\u00a0that bothered me just a tiny bit was that they have the rest of the restaurant open. However, it’s far enough away from the deck that it still feels private, but the restaurant music was\u00a0playing during the speeches which made it hard to hear. Moreover, some people, of course, will\u00a0always be a bit weird. \u00a0You have some strangers taking pictures of your wedding and\u00a0listening in to the speeches, etc. However, you can have the restaurant fully privatized for\u00a0more money if that\u2019s important, we just chose to save the money.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"carmen_kyle_wed0686web\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
Overall, the wedding day was fantastic, and everything went smoothly after all the\u00a0planning and organizing. The resort tries to charge way too much money for a lot\u00a0of things. It ended up requiring a little more work on my end. I made and brought all my centrepieces and d\u00e9cor aside from flowers (flowers were also very expensive, but of course\u00a0they always are for weddings). Also, I brought my tablecloths and chair sashes to save\u00a0money. Luckily I had a very helpful group of guests, and many of them helped bring stuff\u00a0over on the flights.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"carmen_kyle_wed0639web\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n

The Day After Photoshoot<\/strong><\/h3>\n
As part of the photography package we purchased, there was a second day, Trash the Dress<\/div>\n
Shoot included. I had no interest in trashing my dress, but there is a beautiful little\u00a0place about 15 minutes away from our resort. It is called Altos De Chavon, which is a\u00a0reconstruction of a 16th-century Mediterranean\u00a0town.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"IMG_2468\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Long ago, in my search for our perfect\u00a0wedding resort, I had stumbled upon some photos of this place. I instantly fell in love with it,\u00a0especially the old style church right in the middle. Immediately I desperately wanted to go\u00a0there, and the session gave us the perfect opportunity!<\/div>\n
We also decided that since we\u00a0never actually did engagement photos, it might be a nice place to do some casual shots as\u00a0well.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"IMG_2492\"<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
It was a perfect day for photos, with the incredibly blue sky and great lighting. We had a\u00a0hard time stopping taking photos, as there were so many great spots! Every direction you\u00a0turned, with the church and all the old looking buildings, the stone streets and overhanging\u00a0trees! Moreover, the fact that the town was so high up looking over the river.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"IMG_2472\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
Obviously, a picture is\u00a0worth a thousand words! The photos Julia and Mark captured describe it so much better\u00a0than I ever could.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/div>\n

In Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We want to thank Carmen so much for doing this fantastic review of her Destination Wedding. She has given so much information to future brides! What an amazing end to Destination Wedding Advice – Reception & Ceremony. If you missed out on Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3, make sure you check them out. What an incredible wedding experience we were thrilled to share it! Thank you, Kyle and Carmen! Congratulation and enjoy married life!<\/p>\n

\"carmen_kyle3\"<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n\n
\n\n\"Paige\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\n\n

Paige Moore<\/strong><\/h4>\n\nDirector of Communications for Liz Moore Destination Weddings. She enjoys writing about all things wedding, travel, and fashion. Notably, she has a BA in Communications and currently located in Sydney, Australia.
\n\n@Paige2Travel \"Paige<\/a>\n\n@Paige2Travel\"Paige<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/div>\n\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part 4 – Kyle and Carmen This week, we have\u00a0Destination Wedding Advice – Ceremony & Reception with Kyle and Carmen. If you are just tuning in, don’t forget to check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3! Carmen has been going through the details of her wedding, and we can’t hear the rest. Let’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":13446,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,18,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-ideas-advice","category-real-weddings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12654","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12654"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12654\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12654"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12654"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lizmooredestinationweddings.com\/old-site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12654"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}