melitanner

Hi guys i want to leave you with a review. I got married there on June 19th it was amazing. Everything went without a hitch. It rained so we xchanged the gazebo for the indoor setting without fail. Here goes: I used the photographer on the resort because they charge 500$ to use an outside photgrapher. I initially wanted Michael Weiler. I was afraid it wouldnt work out but it ended up being better! They are very condusive to what you want and your budget. you can FB them Arrecife Bahia is their FB page. They are extremely friendly and accomodating. Their packages ranged from 699 and up which is good for the quality of photos. We didnt want printed ones so they gave us a dvd slideshow and the cd . Word of advice... dont do the unforgettable.. its not worth it.. we downgraded to Blissful Love which is just as good. The signature cocktail hour is excellent and they add extra liquor in the drink if you want. They give you dinner reservations with your whole group throughout your stay together if you give them a list in advance of the guests! The spa discounts does not include hair and nails. We checked in, got a letter from the WC at a time to meet. She reviewed the contract and pulled out two books. 1. with flowers a HUGE selection of bouquets 2.Cake book huge selection of cakes 3. Extras in the second book too like candles ribbons etc.. The cake was amazing i had vanilla coconut.. When you get there they will reconfirm and tell you of extra things they have if your interested but they dont push. Dont do open bar unless you are adamant about it. there is an hour usually of open time after ceremony guests went to lobby and drank. They include wine, beer and with the cocktail hour you can modify it for a time during dinner or dance portion. We took an ipod worked amazing. If you pick canapes service, when you get there the WC will be honest and say.. you wont like this so switch it with this.. it doesnt taste good. so dont worry over selections. We ordered personalized shot glasses as favors at discount mugs.com & our fan program we got for 20$ at the knot .com. They decorate everything beautifully for you so dont encumber yourself taking centerpieces etc. i dont know how to put some photos on here ...but they were amazing

Hi guys i want to leave you with a review. I got married there on June 19th it was amazing. Everything went without a hitch. It rained so we xchanged the gazebo for the indoor setting without fail. Here goes: I used the photographer on the resort because they charge 500$ to use an outside photgrapher. I initially wanted Michael Weiler. I was afraid it wouldnt work out but it ended up being better! They are very condusive to what you want and your budget. you can FB them Arrecife Bahia is their FB page. They are extremely friendly and accomodating. Their packages ranged from 699 and up which is good for the quality of photos. We didnt want printed ones so they gave us a dvd slideshow and the cd . Word of advice... dont do the unforgettable.. its not worth it.. we downgraded to Blissful Love which is just as good. The signature cocktail hour is excellent and they add extra liquor in the drink if you want. They give you dinner reservations with your whole group throughout your stay together if you give them a list in advance of the guests! The spa discounts does not include hair and nails. We checked in, got a letter from the WC at a time to meet. She reviewed the contract and pulled out two books. 1. with flowers a HUGE selection of bouquets 2.Cake book huge selection of cakes 3. Extras in the second book too like candles ribbons etc.. The cake was amazing i had vanilla coconut.. When you get there they will reconfirm and tell you of extra things they have if your interested but they dont push. Dont do open bar unless you are adamant about it. there is an hour usually of open time after ceremony guests went to lobby and drank. They include wine, beer and with the cocktail hour you can modify it for a time during dinner or dance portion. We took an ipod worked amazing. If you pick canapes service, when you get there the WC will be honest and say.. you wont like this so switch it with this.. it doesnt taste good. so dont worry over selections. We ordered personalized shot glasses as favors at discount mugs.com & our fan program we got for 20$ at the knot .com. They decorate everything beautifully for you so dont encumber yourself taking centerpieces etc. i dont know how to put some photos on here ...but they were amazing

Hi guys i want to leave you with a review. I got married there on June 19th it was amazing. Everything went without a hitch. It rained so we xchanged the gazebo for the indoor setting without fail. Here goes: I used the photographer on the resort because they charge 500$ to use an outside photgrapher. I initially wanted Michael Weiler. I was afraid it wouldnt work out but it ended up being better! They are very condusive to what you want and your budget. you can FB them Arrecife Bahia is their FB page. They are extremely friendly and accomodating. Their packages ranged from 699 and up which is good for the quality of photos. We didnt want printed ones so they gave us a dvd slideshow and the cd . Word of advice... dont do the unforgettable.. its not worth it.. we downgraded to Blissful Love which is just as good. The signature cocktail hour is excellent and they add extra liquor in the drink if you want. They give you dinner reservations with your whole group throughout your stay together if you give them a list in advance of the guests! The spa discounts does not include hair and nails. We checked in, got a letter from the WC at a time to meet. She reviewed the contract and pulled out two books. 1. with flowers a HUGE selection of bouquets 2.Cake book huge selection of cakes 3. Extras in the second book too like candles ribbons etc.. The cake was amazing i had vanilla coconut.. When you get there they will reconfirm and tell you of extra things they have if your interested but they dont push. Dont do open bar unless you are adamant about it. there is an hour usually of open time after ceremony guests went to lobby and drank. They include wine, beer and with the cocktail hour you can modify it for a time during dinner or dance portion. We took an ipod worked amazing. If you pick canapes service, when you get there the WC will be honest and say.. you wont like this so switch it with this.. it doesnt taste good. so dont worry over selections. We ordered personalized shot glasses as favors at discount mugs.com & our fan program we got for 20$ at the knot .com. They decorate everything beautifully for you so dont encumber yourself taking centerpieces etc. i dont know how to put some photos on here ...but they were amazing

Hi guys I'm getting married there this saturday...The resort itself is huge... My package is 1650 for 30 guests dinner and ceremony. I will be doing a private reception which is an additional 650. I also will be doing signature drinks at 5.50 pp. I will have to use resort photographers because they charge 500$ if you wanna use an off resort one. It's beautiful there and the WC is very much on top of things and always answers my emails quickly!!. Ill post a review when I come back. I have in attendance 34 people...so we shall see : )

Hi ladies!!! I will be getting married in 9 days!!!! @ the Gran Bahia of course. Ana has been a great help but a quick FYI!! REgarding photography. It has been made to my knowledge that The resort is now charging 500$US for using an outside photographer plus the 75$ guest fee. I confirmed that with Ana. I spoke to Michael Weiler to try to get his services but he advised me that he will not be doing photos there because the surcharge was ridiculously high!! I spoke to other photographers and they agreed. It just to happened that the volume of weddings was increasing and the photographers on the resort ARRECIFE studios was not getting much business since the brides were going with michael, or phil, or even HDC photos. So consequently they enlisted a surcharge. Trust me even if you say their a guest it wont fly. They will charge u in the end : ( so i have to use the resort photographer. I will post a very detailed review when I come back with me luck!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by clairisse I had also assumed it included hair & makeup - not the case! And the thing about the hair & trial being included - make sure you raise it with Jasmin, the wedding coordinator so she calls the spa to make sure they don't charge you for either the hair trial or the hair on your wedding day if it's included in the package you chose. What she did for me (and seems to do for others is to deduct it from the cost of your package, so you pay the spa, but less on the package). Have you visited the resort? The white gazebo is beautiful, but it is right next to a main road/sidewalk where a tram runs so it's busy right next to it. I wish I had taken pictures of it so I could show you - there must be some on tripadvisor or something though. I think they pause the tram during ceremonies, however. I did see it stopped when one bride was having photos taken. The other gazebo (which is surrounded by more greenery) is right next to the main building, but has fewer people walking by. Then again, you're bound to have gawkers no matter where you are on the resort. You must be getting excited! Don't sweat the small stuff - just enjoy the experience! Yes, I am very excited...I was aware of the tram path but they said they stop them for the duration of the ceremony which is ok...I did manage to downgrade the package which was awesome..but now more people have decided to come so our private cost increased from 600-750 so thank goodness for the downgrade. I am doing the Canapes which is a 1 hr cocktail hour because we got pastor york for 330p but the reception they say cannot start prior to 630 so we needed something to kill time. we imagined ceremony over by 415, pictures for abt an hour that should be like 515 and then the canapes hour..We also are doing our signature drink thing for the 1 hour rather than the cost of open bar. ...which is ridiculous seeing its an all inclusive resort. So I'm keepin my fingers crossed all goes well!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by clairisse Congratulations Melissa! We brought our own photographer and because he was a guest at the hotel, there was no charge. It was not a problem with the resort. Instead of paying the $75+$500, it would probably be better to just pay for a night at the resort for the photographer if they are local. Just tell the resort they are a friend of the family and ask the photographer to go along with it That said, I saw some of the photos by Arrecife (the resort photographer) - they also took some at my wedding as some were included for free in our package - and they are pretty good. In general they are as good as the photos on their facebook page (friend them if you want to take a look). Not quite my style (pose-y) but lovely nonetheless. I can send you a few they took at ours (where they knew we were not buying a package as we never contacted them to book or anything - so they probably didn't make too much of an effort but still got nice photos). Just PM me. I would suggest downgrading your package. We never got the nightly treats except the first night (I forgot they were even included!) the 20% spa discount only includes "spa" treatments which means it doesn't include hair, nails, make-up - just massages, facials, etc... so it won't save you any money if you are paying for your wedding party to have hair and makeup done. If you booked everything last June, know that they will generally honour those prices. So you can kind of mix and match the prices. Just bring emails or whatever to the resort and have them ready. Generally, if you tell them that's the price you were quoted and the person (usually a coordinator who is gone) you were talking to, it's enough for them to give you the lower price. Which gazebo are you using for your wedding? Claire Thanks for the advice Claire...I definitely will downgrade! I selected Gazebo 2 which is the white one. I'm glad I got clarification on the spa discount because I assumed it included hair etc but since it doesn't I can do without. I am so excited It's only a couple weeks left eeekkk!!!! Hopefully time will fly as will my calories!! lol meli

I am getting married at the Gran Bahia and we are also doing a 1 hour cocktail hour because the main reception only includes wine beer, and soda..within that hour they give us a 4 signature drink selection to personalize it which I think is nice.

Hi guys!! My FI and I are getting married on June 19, 2010 @ the Gran Bahia Principe bavaro too!!! We have 34 people booked!! Location: Gazebo wit Pastor York Package:Unforgettable but thinking about downgrading to Blissful Love since its a 400$ diff and the only things missing are nightly sweet treats, 5 photos, and spa discounts lol Reception: Garden Grill & doing a cocktail hour with the 4 signature drinks Music: Ipod Rehearsal Dinner : Jellyfish Restaurant We initially booked everything in June of last year but since then so much has changed. Our initial bridal booklet explaining all the packages etc has since been upgraded i.e. the cocktail hour So we are now reviewing to make any additions and revisions The one thing I am stuck on is a photographer!!! I am lost. I wanted MIchael Weiler but he is soo expensive and now the resort has a policy that if you dont use the resort guys they charge 75$ for the day and a 500 vendor fee. I'm scared to use resort photographers Any suggestions??!!! Anyone doing any of the other extras??!!! Melissa

It def has different connotations with all cultures.. but even if stereotypically religious; the idea of the groom sharing his riches both emotionally and materialistically ..has a meaning...well that is shown with gesture. In many cultures, sharing what abundance be it financially or even spiritually is def essential. The coins represent the idea that my fiance is sharing all that he has to offer symbolically in the coins themselves to me, be it the now, the past and whats to come.. he is def not religious.. I am on the other hand lol... but all the same... the simple and humble idea of sharing the coins represent the trust and faith you have in the other party to hold in their hand your future as well as theirs..forever..as one... : )

I'm actually looking to get the arras in a little novelty store here in jersey. Yes they are religious, but its also a tradition of him sharing with you his prosperity. I am traditionally catholic but not so " religious" ya know. In my culture we do the arras more-so like in the indian culture with the dowry. At the end of the day ...the traditions we all use have our own special meaning to them : )

I will actually be doing the arras portion as well as the rosary/lasso tradition as well. I am working with Pastor York to finalize the ceremony details to include these tradtitions

We are also scheduled to marrry @ the GBP and the reception will be at the Garden Grill. We keep going back and forth with the open bar option. Ive heard from some that they sometimes permit signature drinks and to others ive heard they have to pay the open bar??!! We have 6 guests coming from other resorts ..and with that out of resort 75$ cost kinda kicks off the open bar option?? Does anyone have any ideas or feedback on that? We are planning on going to a disco afterwards...and doing our rehearsal dinner at the Jellyfish... Any suggestions would be a great help!

Quote: Originally Posted by ashley1316 i know this doesnt have to do with the menu of the bahia...but i have confirmed my date with them, sent in my deposit for the wedding package....now the info they sent me is stating i have to be @ the resort 3 days before the wedding.....but when i go to the DR governament sites for requirements to get married out there, it doesnt say anywhere about having to be there x amount of days before.....now if i get married on a friday, what day do i need to be there on? is arrival on a wed ok? or does it have to be a tues? sandy - here is my contact i have for a wc [email protected] Hi, yes there is a minimum stay at the Dominican Republic for the weddings. I am scheduled to get married on a Saturday so we are arriving on Wed...That day we meet with the wedding coordinator who was Cynthia but I guess now is Jasmin/Patricia? and she is going to sit us down with books to finalize all the details. We also will be meeting with Pastor York to discuss wedding ceremony details. The Reception is at the Garden Grilll which I hear the food is great!!

Hi everyone, I am getting married on June 19th and have had a hellish experience with trying to get a catholic ceremony and have just been told it wont be able to happen : ( But thankfully I stumbled upon this thread and got in contact wit Pastor York and he will be doing our ceremony!!! His readings made me teary eyed and I am very excited to have the blessing at my ceremony.