kerrij

Ugh! just breaks my heart because the lowest rate now is about $700 less than it's original rate over a month ago. I totally get that prices could go up, but they didn't and the TA completely insisted it was urgent to get everyone booked. so it was a huge panic, printing invitations, mailing them, calling everyone, it was a bit of a gong show that wasn't necessary. I'm so disappointed, but TA Jennifer you're right we'd freak if we had to pay even more, but prices went down tons and we still have to pay the higher rate. Anyway, I've emailed my TA and we'll see what she says when she gets back to me in a couple days, probably just "too bad so sad" in nicer words we weren't offered insurance for if the trip goes down, must be a US thing? lucky bums! lol

I feel so guilty! our TA made it out that it was sooo urgent to get everyone booked within 30 days cause the price would go up as we were getting a steal of a deal...which at the time it was a steal of a deal, now a month later, the prices have dropped about $250 from our group rate!! that is $500 per couple. I feel so awful that 40 people have booked and they could have saved $500 per couple. Has anyone had this happen? what did you do? do you tell your guests who have already booked? I emailed my TA, as with our group we get one price reduction IF there is enough seats avail at that rate. but our tour company hasn't dropped their rates yet. But Air Transat sure has. But if our tour company drops, i doubt they'll have 40 seatss at that rate. ugh, i feel guilty now!

Hey All, I just wanted to share a fun idea that my friend and I as well as my FI came up with for our DW in Jamaica! We wanted to make sure that everyone meets each other so that there isn't anyone left out and make everyone feel like part of the group. so we are doing 2 different get to know each other events... 1. we all fly in friday afternoon so i'm going to send an invite for all our guests (about 50) to come Party at the Disco! with the invitation each person is going to get something, like beads or neon sticks or lais or something so we all stand out, but not too tacky. then everyone will be at the disco and having a few drinks and they'll see someone on the dance floor next to them or at the bar by them with the matching necklace and it'll be a good lead to start up a convo to those who don't know eachother. with a few drinks it's always easier to talk to a "stranger"! and who doesn't want to hang out and party your first night on holidays! hehehe 2. the next day around 2pm, after the hangovers are cleared, we are going to have an Amazing Race challenge! we are still working out the details, but basically we are going to team everyone up in about 7 groups of 6. each group will have 3 couples/friends who don't know eachother. eg, my bro/wife, FI's cousin/friend, our two of our good friends. so they all can meet different "groups" of people, so the trip doesn't feel clicky. each team is going to have Tie Dyed shirts that we'll make all of them, to make them stand out...and cause a bit of a show and make it a little more fun! lol we'll all meet at the beach and we'll tell them the rules etc. at each of the 6 Pit Stops, which will be a bar, will be one person from our wedding party! at the pit stop they will get to meet the person from our wedding party and have a drink and have a little timer so they can chat for a few mins and get to know each person of our wedding party. Then that way aren't just another face on the day of the wedding. then after a few mins of visiting they'll get their next clue, which will be like, take your picture doing a team pyramid on the beach with 2 strangers or go meet a house keeping lady and take a group photo with her...all clues have to be photographed. at the end will be the final pit stop where Blair and I will be...in the swim up bar! all teams will end up here and we'll have some great laughs over all the things they did and mingle in the pool! then we'll take underwater team photos which we'll send to them when we send our thank yous after the trip. it will be a great way to break the ice without any pressure and will give people stuff to talk about! So we'll just have these 2 events and then the day of the wedding hopefully people will all know each other better and make the wedding day/night that much more fun! I'm so excited for this trip, we are going to make sure everyone has a blast! Anyone else have any other fun ideas for the guests? Something different than the usual excursions, etc?

Quote: Originally Posted by tim-juleswed Hi there, my name is Julie and I am newly engaged. My fiance Tim and I were hoping for a destination wedding on April 1, 2010. We have looked into so many resorts I have lost count...having no luck yet on picking a place. we are expecting between 40-50 guests and are trying to keep the cost down so people can afford to come. Our first choice was Jamaica but it is much too pricey so we have instead chosen Punta Cana. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions on places we can go I would welcome any help. We are getting very discouraged and the few places we have decided on have e-mailed back saying they are booked or there aren't enough seats on the plane... Any thoughts Just wanted to mention, i wouldn't worry about costs so much...if they are going to come, they won't changed their mind over a couple hundred buck over the $1500. but i did the same and i didn't want to go over the $2000 mark, taxes in, it took a lot of research but i did it, but travelers from Vancover and Regina have to pay even more and it didn't discourage anyone. So just my advice, to go where you want to go and don't focus on the price tooo much! ps. GBP from TO is $1600 taxes in. a friend of mine is going to negril for $2400/week and they still had a huge turn out...just saying, don't worry too much, and do what you want to do.

Quote: Originally Posted by tim-juleswed Well we have had no luck. The date we want (April 1, 2010) falls in "Holy Week" so the DR won't marry us then. So we have switched gears and are loking in Jamaica, finding it a bit more expensive. However we have been trying to keep cost down for guests and stressing ourselves out, we have decided that once we find a place with our date available and the cost in the $1500 range we will book it and hope people can make it. It's going to be wonderful we know that, but all the resort searching is hard work. We have a few travel agents working for us as well as a wedding planner at one of the resorts I like looking into what group rate we can get from the hotel directly. Hoping to have this sorted some time this week...wish me luck!! Hey, I booked Gran Bahia Principe and got a pretty good deal, we are going March 5-12 which was slightly more than the end of the month...We were quoted $2400 from a couple TAs and then i went to selloffvacations.com and their group booking TA got it for $2000 taxes in from Calgary!! leaving from Toronto is about 3-400 cheaper....so if you are still looking check with Sell Off, Glynis is who i use. The WC at GBP is awesoooome too! Good luck! it pays to look around. ps....this is the most stressful part of the wedding...finding the resort and getting quotes! it took me 8 travel agents before i actually found one who would get back to me, don't get why! (well one did get back to me but with that crazy quote, and a friend TA quoted that same rate after i got my SOV quote)

Hi again! I've been searching for a couple months for the perfect honeymoon resort/villa/etc in Negril. We want something on the beach, and we want to upgrade to a beachfront room that we can walk out onto the sand if we want. Does anyone have any recommendations? I found the most perfect place but it's $5000 for the week, just for the hotel! yikes! Suggestions pllllease?!

Hi! I'm getting married at the GBP in just over 4 months! i can't wait! i did quite a few searches on GBP and all the posts are old and have kind of died, so I'm wondering if there are any GBP Brides who still visit this site, or any brides to be of GBP that visit this site? I'd really love to see some pics! but the one thread i saw with the link, i can't open the link maybe cause i'm still a Noob?

hey, i'm just putting my 2 cents in as i stayed there a few years ago. i just went there for a holiday with 4 girls, i was 27, the others were 30, 45, 75. we had a nice relaxing time. the food was amazing. the thing i found was that there was very minimal partying! i wanted to party up a night or two, but there wasn't any action. maybe it has changed since my stay. but we loved the resort, it was one of my favorite resorts, and i've been to many! the only down fall, is you can't swim in the ocean in front of the resort, you have to walk about 10 mins down the beach to a bay. and the sand isn't the sandy-est. it's a little more like pebbles, but still amazing!!! i think you'll love it! i didn't see any other weddings when i was there either. have a fabulous time, and don't worry about it, everyone will looooove it!

Oops, i just saw you've already come and gone, i'm sure it was amazing! Congrats!

We got engaged in Cozumel!! i loooove it there! sorry, no suggestions as we just did a day trip, but you'll love it there. be sure to rent a scooter and take your own snorkle gear

and thanks for the ticker tips! going to make mine now too!

Hey, I wouldn't choose your resort based on cost of weddings...i almost did that, and now i'm so glad i didn't go with the other resort thinking their wedding packages were cheaper. there are still all the other odds and ends to consider. like some do charge for meals and some places don't. so if you plan your resort choice on the wedding package, make sure you get all the additional charges. and whether or not the minister fees are included or not too, they run about $400. also really review the packages, we almost went with one package for $1350 instead of the free package, when all the little extras that were in the 1350 package were so minor or inexpensive...so consider all your options before picking! good luck and have fuN!

I'm so indicisive too! it took me a long time to pick my resort, GBP, but i'm still happy with it. but really, it doesn't matter where you get married, right, as long as your Mr is there. I can't really imagine it would be overwhelmed with families, it is Jamaica and more expensive than most places. i think if you were in mexico you might have more to worry about. i've been to family resorts and there is never more than a handful of kids. you'll love it, just don't think about the What Ifs. have fun!!

Wow 200 people! I was surprised by how expensive a wedding is at an AI. we have about 50 people coming with us, at $2000 a person, you would think they wouldn't charge us for every single thing! i'm going the cheap route at our AI, GBP, and have lucked out that our wedding, from the ceremony to dinner to dance/DJ, steel drums and photographer is going to be about, $5000 for 50 people. You'd think since my group is bringing in all that money they would do weddings a little cheaper...and i'm going the cheap route. not complaining, just took me a while to overcome the costs as we decided on a DW to save money. lol happy planning! that will be so nice to have so many people celebrate your day with you!

Yah! I'm getting married in 4 months at the Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay, Jamaica! Congrats to you!

WOW!!! i'm checking out their website, it's amazing!!! these are the photographers iv'e been searching for! i'm going to contact them and see if they are avail and what their rates are...eek, scared to hear their rates! lol thanks for the tip!

User Name: kerrij Names: Kerri & Blair Location: Gran Bahia Principe, Runaway Bay, Jamaica!! Wedding: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 In JA: March 5-19, honeymooning the second week alone! yippeeee!!! haven't found many people going to the GBP yet!

Thanks All!! so much info on here, it's a little overwhelming! can't wait!

Yay!! i found the travel arrangements and finding the perfect hotel the hardest part, now it's all just fun fun fun!!! Congrats!

Me! Me!! We are getting married at GBP on March 9th, 2010. can't wait!!! Beverly has been just awesome to deal with. she responds within a couple days which is awesome, some WPs can take weeks, which was my friends experience at Grand Palladium MR. We opted to go for the "free package" but still is about $25/person after the first 16, and i think we'll have 50 people. but i just want a simple yet romantic and amazing wedding. i don't want any stress, so i'm basically just getting the jist of the day, learning what the costs are of things, i'm going to tell Beverly want we want and let her take care of the rest. i don't want to stress about a thing and just enjoy the day! and the week! heheheh we are paying $2016 including taxes for a week, March 9-12 out of Calgary. I think our Toronto rates were about $1700 incl taxes. we have a direct flight too which is uber important! i had a heck of a time getting a travel agent to get me a price too. i went through 8! yes, 8!! and me, i'm simple, i knew the dates the resort everything, i just needed someone to get me a quote, and finally my 8th got me one. actually my 4th did but she quoted me $2400 which was more than website prices. i ended up using Glynis from Sell Off Vacations.com actually! she gave us the rate of $2016 out of calgary, which is always way more, and then later i reconnected with a friend who is a TA and she is like, i don't get how she found you such a good rate?! i also know 4 different friends who have all been there, one of my closest friends went 2 years ago and loooved it! everyone has loved it. lots of options and 24 hr food/bev which was very important to me to be able to give our guests the best of the best! anyway, good luck!!

So excited ! Getting married at the Gran Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay Jamaica in March!! can't wait to check out this site to get some great info. tata! Kerri