Any brides from the UK

[char79uk]

Hi ladies

 

I was just wondering if there were any UK brides out there, I just wanted some information on what travel agent you booked through, who did you find gave the best wedding package etc.

 

If there's anybody out there, I'd love to hear from you.

[Nicyx]

Hey, Im a UK bride... we have just booked our wedding today!! YIPEE!!!! we booked through Thomas Cook but are flying with Thomson Airlines. Wedding packages were pretty similar but we had best service from TC and the price was right. Thomson them selves were £50 more expensive though so that wa also a factor!!!! Where are you loking at getting married?

 

xoxo

[josietoms]

Hey; another UK bride here. There really only seems to be 2 options if you are booking through a TA - Thomson or Thomas Cook (First choice are now part of Thomson). The wedding packages are pretty much the same with whoever you book with as the hotels set these. Its just the cost of the holiday that varies.

I have to say i have heard many horror stories on other forums in the UK about both TC & Thomson but ultimately they have to wait on information from the hotels in Mexico who are not the quickest at getting back. I've booked with Thomson and have had no problems as yet. (fingers crossed).

One thing to bear in mind - Thomson give you more KG for the baggage so if you do go with TC try and go with Thomsons airlines.

Good luck on booking :-)

[jodieP]

Im a UK bride too!! We booked through Firstchoice, flying with thomsons since they are the same group now. TBH not had the best experience with them so far. But they were the only ones we could use because of the htel we wanted. Here's hoping all the problems have been ironed out as it all involved one incompetent sales advisor who promised the stars and delivered nothing but incomplete bookings and false promises? however management have taken over our large booking and we're finally making progress! yay!

 

IMHO whoever you decide to book with, either deal directly with the manager or assistant manger, they will have way more experience and knowledge! Because you will want lots of questions answered, planing so far away can be very trying, and they can help more if they know more!

 

Happy planning!

 

Jodie.xx

[char79uk]

Hi Laides

 

Thanks for replying, it's nice to have some ladies from the UK to share ideas with.

 

I'm not actually getting married until June 2012 and we're still deciding on a hotel. I am swaying towrds the Gran Caribe Real, as we have alot of children travelling in our party and this resort looks family friendly with loads for the kids to do. We will hopefully be upgrading their sister hotel The Royal, after the ceremony so that we can have some honeymoon privacy but still pop next door and see our friends and family that are at the Caribe if we want (thats the plan anyway).

 

I originally wanted one of the Riu Hotels but they have this silly policy where 80% of the wedding party must be staying at the hotel in order to have the wedding there and some of my guests will be staying at other hotels so the Riu's were no longer an option.

 

I'm finding it really difficult to get correct pricing for anything, because I can't actually book anything until the 2012 prices come out at the travel agents which isn't until May 2011. I have contacted the Gran Caribe for their prices and package details but these prices will obviously be different by the time the travel agents have added on their commission fee.

 

Are any of you having a reception included in your package and if so what is the food menu like?? I contacted the Gran Caribe Real and had them send me over their wedding menu and it is a set menu where the bride and groom have to choose 1 starter, 1 main, 1 dessert for the whole of the wedding party, it is going to be so difficult to find 1 thing that everybody likes and there are only 3 options for each course, and I didn't really like any of the starters or mains

[Nicyx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by char79uk Hi Laides Thanks for replying, it's nice to have some ladies from the UK to share ideas with. I originally wanted one of the Riu Hotels but they have this silly policy where 80% of the wedding party must be staying at the hotel in order to have the wedding there and some of my guests will be staying at other hotels so the Riu's were no longer an option. I'm finding it really difficult to get correct pricing for anything, because I can't actually book anything until the 2012 prices come out at the travel agents which isn't until May 2011. I have contacted the Gran Caribe for their prices and package details but these prices will obviously be different by the time the travel agents have added on their commission fee.

Where about in the Uk are you? Im in Scotland (just over the border nr Gretna Green)
We first of found the 80% guest rule a wee bit of a problem and i thnk because of this rule not as many people will be coming to the wedding as we wanted and as much as this is a silly rule, we really really want to get married their so have booked it anyway, it took us over 12 months to find where we wanted to get married, It started in Mexico, then Aruba, then Jamaica then back to Mexico!! We were so in decisive, FI liked something i didnt and vise versa... until we stumbled up on the Riu Palace Riviera Maya, we fell in love with it :-)
Also like you when we first started looking and planning we had to go of May 2010 prices and had to wait 12 months for 2011 prices to come out... and i tell you, it came round so so fast, i cant believe they have come out and we have booked already!!! I think you'll be suprised... But at saying that to you im scaring myself now that means my wedding will be here before we know it!!!! Haha.... Not that, thats a bad thing as i cant wait but then it will be over :-( Haha!!

Have you decided what dress you want? etc?

Oooo and as Josie has said if you book through TC try to get flights with Thomsons... Especially if its a premier collection as you get 23KG each check in luggage and 7KG hand luggage AND bride and groom also get an extra 5KG EACH of luggage and you can use that anywich way you like as hand of check in.... I'll be using mine for my dres as hand luggage i think..... :-)

xoxo

[Nicyx]

Ooops ive just seen from your details under your user name your from London!!! Never mind the above question where i ask where your from!!!

[josietoms]

Quote:

Originally Posted by char79uk Hi Laides Thanks for replying, it's nice to have some ladies from the UK to share ideas with. I'm not actually getting married until June 2012 and we're still deciding on a hotel. I am swaying towrds the Gran Caribe Real, as we have alot of children travelling in our party and this resort looks family friendly with loads for the kids to do. We will hopefully be upgrading their sister hotel The Royal, after the ceremony so that we can have some honeymoon privacy but still pop next door and see our friends and family that are at the Caribe if we want (thats the plan anyway). I originally wanted one of the Riu Hotels but they have this silly policy where 80% of the wedding party must be staying at the hotel in order to have the wedding there and some of my guests will be staying at other hotels so the Riu's were no longer an option. I'm finding it really difficult to get correct pricing for anything, because I can't actually book anything until the 2012 prices come out at the travel agents which isn't until May 2011. I have contacted the Gran Caribe for their prices and package details but these prices will obviously be different by the time the travel agents have added on their commission fee. Are any of you having a reception included in your package and if so what is the food menu like?? I contacted the Gran Caribe Real and had them send me over their wedding menu and it is a set menu where the bride and groom have to choose 1 starter, 1 main, 1 dessert for the whole of the wedding party, it is going to be so difficult to find 1 thing that everybody likes and there are only 3 options for each course, and I didn't really like any of the starters or mains

Hey, with regards to prices i think you are safe to look at this years prices for your chosen hotel and wedding and add on 5% just to be on the safe side as they usually increase year on year about 2 - 3%.

Our reception is included in our package - there are 18 of us travelling and included is a reception for dinner reservation in a private area of a restaurant of your choice for up to 20 people. However we have chosen to have a fully private reception in the beach bar which they decorate and have a bbq on the beach for approx an additional £20 each (which my parents are paying for as they have got off lightly with us chosing to marry abroad :-) - the bbq will suit everyone as there is a full starter buffet, salads and a selection of dessets. I say the bbq will suit everyone - thats everyone but the bride as im a vegetarian - lol!

[josietoms]

With regards to how to make the final choice of where to go we had that one sorted already as we have been to our chosen hotel before and loved it. Its a v small resort compared to a lot of the huge mexican hotels and we wanted something v authentic caribbean which this one is. Also we know what to expect so could give those travelling an honest opinion of what it is like rather than relying on the brochures. So we were really lucky in this respect.

[roxmysockz]

I'm from the UK too!!

 

We booked with Carribean Warehouse who have been fantastic so far! Very knowledgable and easy to work with they also quoted alot earlier than high street TA's. I saw them at the London Olympia wedding show and know a few people who have used them and their parent company Blue Bay Travel. They came in about £200 pp less than cosmos!

 

Do you guys worry about what guests will do after the dinner? I wonder if with 20 people it'll be hard to get a good atmosphere!?

 

x