tim-juleswed

Hey ladies, we did bring our own photographer...his name was Mike Gibson, his wife Amanda was my hair and make-up artist too. They were amazing. GPP - Toronto Wedding Photographer, GTA Wedding Photography that is his web site. We got a great deal with them both as a package. If you only want him however he is really good. We have not seen the professional ones yet actually, but the photo's on his web-site are great so we aren't worried. Beverly had no problem with us using our own, we told her in advance. We got a discount on the steel drum band for the wedding as we didn't use the resort photographer and he was "included" in the package price, so you could upgrade something else I'm sure if you want to use your own guy. HIs prices were very reasonable compared to some of the others out there. So contact him and tell him Julie and Tim Sedore sent you...he's great! I will post some pics as soon as I get them. And as soon as I figure out how. LOL Good luck ladies!!!

Hi Michelle, congrats on your engagment. I have just come back from my wedding in Jamaica, not sure if you are set on Mexico but in case you are open, I would highly HIGHLY suggest the Gran Bahia Principe in Runaway Bay Jamaica, we had 50 guests with us including children ages 6 months to 13 years and everyone loved it! We even had our own 9 year old with us and they gave us the honeymoon suite and made up a bed for her int he room. The prices were great with a group rate and the wedding day couldn't have been more perfect! AS I said not sure if you want to only do Mexico but if not, check out the Bahia, it was the time of our lives! Good luck with everything and let me know if you need anything.

Thanks Christina, Yes we paid the $2,500 extra but it was totally worth it! We had the Blissful Love pkg, we also had 50 guests with us. So the first 35 were included then the children were all free and then we paid the $40us over for the rest of the people, I think about 11 extra people in total. My actual bill including the steel drum band and flowers for all the girls and guys and my dad was just over $5000 which to me was a fantastic deal! When is your big day? Is it at the Gran Bahia? If so you are in for a treat!

Well hello all! So we did it! April 1, 2010 and the Gran Bahia Prinicpe Jamaica and let me tell you...it was FANTASTIC! Beverly was amazing, the resort is beautiful and the gazebo is even nicer in real life! We were upgraded when we got there to the bridal suite and OMG the view and the room were amazing. We met with Beverly the morning after we arrived for about 45 minutes and planned the entire thing! We had the private dinner reception with bar and dance floor and DJ in the Italian Restuarant and we got to chose the menu and cake when we arrived, along with the flowers. I also had the steel drum band play for us and then they had a champange reception following the ceremony. I couldn't have been happier. It was the perfect wedding day! We brought a CD with the music on it for first dance and entrance song (Spirit of the west) and the DJ was right on que with everything. I let him play what he wanted at the reception and he took requests. It was seamless. If anything did go wrong I didn't hear about it, Beverly took care of everything and Tim and I just enjoyed our day. After the wedding we went back to our room to find rose petals everywhere, some great towel art and a bubble bath in the jacuzzi tub with more rose petals!! The girls dresses were pink and from RW&Co and the guys shirts were royal blue from Tommy Bahama. We brought our own wedding photographer and hair and make-up artist with us and it was all great! Kimmy, sorry to hear you had drama, I had major bridesmaid drama but that was before we left and I just replaced her with someone much more worthy of the title. I'm sure your day was fantastic and in the years to come you will only remember the happiness you felt that day and how great your groom looked I'm sure. Good luck to the rest of you who are still awaiting your walk towards your future! I hope all of your days are as perfect as mine was!

Well hello all! So we did it! April 1, 2010 and the Gran Bahia Prinicpe Jamaica and let me tell you...it was FANTASTIC! Beverly was amazing, the resort is beautiful and the gazebo is even nicer in real life! We were upgraded when we got there to the bridal suite and OMG the view and the room were amazing. We met with Beverly the morning after we arrived for about 45 minutes and planned the entire thing! We had the private dinner reception with bar and dance floor and DJ in the Italian Restuarant and we got to chose the menu and cake when we arrived, along with the flowers. I also had the steel drum band play for us and then they had a champange reception following the ceremony. I couldn't have been happier. It was the perfect wedding day! We brought a CD with the music on it for first dance and entrance song (Spirit of the west) and the DJ was right on que with everything. I let him play what he wanted at the reception and he took requests. It was seamless. If anything did go wrong I didn't hear about it, Beverly took care of everything and Tim and I just enjoyed our day. After the wedding we went back to our room to find rose petals everywhere, some great towel art and a bubble bath in the jacuzzi tub with more rose petals!! The girls dresses were pink and from RW&Co and the guys shirts were royal blue from Tommy Bahama. We brought our own wedding photographer and hair and make-up artist with us and it was all great! If you have any questions please let me know, and I'll explain anything! But seriously, if you have a wedding planned there in the upcoming year, do not stress, it will be the best day of your life!!!

Hello ladies!!! Hope all the planning is going smoothly. I am just over 2 months away from the big day! We have 49 guests booked and paid, Beverly has been wonderful with getting back to me about all my questions. I'm starting to get very excited!!! I have my dress and the rings and the groom and groomsmen shirts, they just need to go get the pants. I am still looking for bridesmaid dresses... we found some we liked but only for 2 of the girls, they don't have the right size for the MOH and I really want them all in the same dress, so the hunt continues. We have found a wonderful photographer located in Burlington Ontario, his wife does the hair and make up. They are traveling with us at their own expense and we are paying for the photo package which is super reasonable. look them up at gibsonprecisionphotography.com if you need a photographer. I still have to speak to Beverly about this as I'm not sure how it works if I am bringing my own. I don't think the resort will have a problem with it but we shall see. So like I said, we are all booked and paid. All that is left to do is select the venue when we arrive and the flowers. So excited!!! Oh and if you look on Trip Advisor there is a post from someone that just got married there too and they are giving it rave reviews so that makes me feel better! Good luck to you all...

Hey Chrissy, yes I did hear from her eventually and I sent my card info over. She hasn't yet taken the money from me either but in due time. If you still can't find her I suggest giving her a call. She is still there but perhaps jsut really busy this time if year. I'm not sure. As I said I got a reply back from her and then faxed my CC info and she e-mailed me to say she got it. Fingers crossed everything works out...keep trying and you should hear soon. Keep me posted on how you are doing with her and the planning.

Hey all, so it's been two weeks since I have last heard from Beverly and I'm freaking out. My wedding is in 4 months but I have questions for her and she won't get back to me!! She also asked for a deposit and hasn't been heard form since I am a bit relunctant to send my credit card info through the fax if I don't know she is there to get it...Has anyone heard from her lately My friend that got married in the DR a few years ago said the turn over rate for the onsite Wedding Planners is big and I'm wondering if she simply doesn't work there anymore. Please if anyone has heard from her let me know. Or if anyone else is having a problem tracking her down also let me know...starting to stress! Thanks all!

Hey Sadie, we used Tripcentral.ca they are great there. Most of the TA's you speak with have actually been to the resorts. Check it out. She was able to get us a lower rate then anyone. Even my Fiance's own father. LOL Good luck.

Hey all, We did register as there are a number of people not attending the wedding in Jamaica and I know some of them have asked my mom and MOH about what to get us. So we registered at Home Outfitters and The Bay. Stuff like towles and sheets and pots and pans. We moved into our house about 7 months ago so we just put things on there we wanted to upgrade. If no one buys them...no big deal. Also for all those wanting "cash" there is something called a Wishing Well shower/wedding, look it up there are websites with clever wording for invites etc...it's simply saying that the happy couple has everything they need but could use donations towards a honeymoon type thing. I had never heard of this before and my Fiance's grandma told us about it. So just a thought. Good luck to you all. Oh and registering...is a fun way to spend the afternoon too.

Good luck Bree! Beverly has been great to me so far!!

Kerrij - Yes the private function includes a DJ and dancing and a mic for speeches. So to us it was worth the extra money. I was planning on spending about $5k on the wedding and this will come in just under that. Having the first dance and everything was important to us. So we will get married in the Gazebo then pictues and then the private reception at about 5:30 till midnight. Not sure where the reception is, she mentioned I got to pick the place, so I'm guessing we do that when we arrive.

Hey all! Well we did it! We are going to the Gran Bahia Prinicpe in Jamaica and are getting Married April 1, 2010. WOOHOO we got the trip $1522 taxes in leaving from Toronto. There are about 43 guests booked already so things are looking up! I have been talking to Beverly the WC there and she has been wonderful. Our wedding package is picked and the guests are booked! Now to find a dress...wish me luck!

Breeze616 - I reserved my wedding date with the GBP and Beverly the wedding planner there said it was of no cost to me and if I have to cancel that was fine. So we booked the date of the wedding before we even booked the hotel. I still haven't given any money yet, but it's only about 4 months away give or take so now she is asking for 25% deposit on the wedding package, not on all of the extras so still a pretty good deal to me. Fingers crossed it all goes well...

Welcome, and congrats on the engagment! I was engaged about a month ago and we have already planned the wedding for April 1, 2010 in Jamaica and have about 40 guests coming. It is possible in only a few months but it will be work. First would be to narrow it down to one location. once you have done that, have a travel agent (or 2) start getting group rate quotes for you. We sent out a save the date first, telling people the dates we were traveling and that the price would be $1500 or under per person. We are leaving from Toronto, and ended up and the Gran Bahia Prinicpe in Jamaica for $1522 per person taxes in. It is doable if you shop around. Before you book the resort however get in touch with the wedding planner on site and secure the date for the wedding. Also, we are having the ceremony in the gazebo, I'm not opposed to sand on my dress but the gazebo is super nice so the choice was easy. ONce we had the quote from the travel agent we sent out the final details of the resort and prices and the travel agent info and the guests did there thing. The most stressful part was picking the place. My FI and I were very picky on the date, it had to be April fools day so it made it a bit harder for us. If you two aren't as picky it should be easy. All the best and if you need any more advice let me know.