Barcelo Maya Palace Brides

[Brenners]

Ok ladies, question about everyone's receptions.  Our ceremony is at 4:00 pm at Coral Beach and our reception will be at Playa Azul.  We haven't decided on the time for the reception - I am thinking 6:00 - but our reception only goes for 3 hours.  Has anyone added time to their receptions, if so then how long and was it worth it???  It is kind of a big expense which is why we don't want to add a cocktail hour...

[JoanneIreland]

We will just miss you, we leave on Friday Novemeber 25th! Our original plan was to leave the 26th but the flight was way cheaper the 25th, and gives us the full weekend to relax before going back to work the Monday!
 

Originally Posted by jess102784 

Hi Joanne,

 

When in the late November are you going?  We are arriving on Saturday November 26 with our wedding being on December 1.

 

[Oneeleven]

I would be getting married in the gazebo at the Barcelo anyways and that is not private either.  But I am in LOVE with the Barcelo's Gazebo.  I am finding it hard to say no to.   But I have to say... when you add everything up the Barcelo trip would be about $2000.00 more than the DRC when all is said and done.  Thats a HUGE difference
 

Originally Posted by Brenners 

Dreams had no real private area for a wedding - everything was right in the middle of all of the action and other guests.  Dreams had no gazebo - they had a structure next to the infinity pool but nothing that would really be a real gazebo.  I do have to say that DRC had the most AMAZING spa I have ever seen!  The Strawberry Passion package is $3385 but worth the privacy. 
 

 

 

[Oneeleven]

I am from Canada too, I'm in Ottawa. And I was just going to book through the resort. But the draw back is that this way, you CAN'T put a deposit down to hold your spot. Which kind of sucks as it forces you to buy your trip super early and therefore costs way more.

How are you able to book using a deposit?  Is that because you're using a Travel agent?  Or maybe you booked though Air Transat?

 

Originally Posted by SandRWedding 

That would be awesome

I have never been to the resort, but from the pics I have seen the gazebo looks gorgeous!! I also wanted the 5pm ceremony time, but the latest time they offered us was 4.

Our ceremony is at 4 on the Coral Beach, we are having a cocktail hour on the rooftop terrace and the reception at Playa Azul. I have always wanted to get married on the beach in bare feet, so it is perfect for us!!  

 

We have booked our trip, and so far have 21 people with deposits in....have you booked as well??

And I see you are also from Canada?? Are you booking a wedding package through the resort or through Air Transat??

 

Steph

 

[Avens]

Transat wasn't booking at the Barcelo when I booked =/ it was in that brief period when they stopped.

 

However I want the soup and we're having surf and turf, so technically we are saving 41 per person (35 + 6), so maybe I'm not missing out on that much! Was your price including the 27.50 a person for the beach?

 

For 35 people and everything (Sur fa nd Turf, beach reception, two tier cake, rest of the strawberry package) it looks like about 4700.

I'm not sure what is all included in the transat package, what little perks from strawberry are you missing out on?   Like hair make up type stuff?

 

Also congrats! I have the same locations as you, just reversed

[SandRWedding]

I booked through a travel agent with Transat. We were able to put deposits in for the wedding package as well as our week stay, as were our guests. We don't have flight times confirmed yet as it is too early, but this way I was able to officially book our wedding date. When we first looked at doing a DW we got the run around so badly and it seemed so confusing, so I was anxious to get it booked and know for sure all the details!!

 

Originally Posted by Oneeleven 

I am from Canada too, I'm in Ottawa. And I was just going to book through the resort. But the draw back is that this way, you CAN'T put a deposit down to hold your spot. Which kind of sucks as it forces you to buy your trip super early and therefore costs way more.

How are you able to book using a deposit?  Is that because you're using a Travel agent?  Or maybe you booked though Air Transat?

 

 

Avens - I found the Strawberry Passion comparable to the Euphoria package we booked through Transat, for our purposes anyways. Our package does include hair & make up as well. I don't believe that we have an 'open bar', and we had to upgrade to have our reception on the beach and to add another hour (our package was only a 2 hour reception), but we do get a cocktail hour. You choose from 3 menu options, which is less than the Strawberry, and we don't get the massage and manicure/pedicure BUT we do get a $200 credit to use at the spa along with a $100 credit towards an excursion. And no live music.

 

[Oneeleven]

Okay so we are booked!! Yay! I booked through Sears Travel and am flying with Westjet.  We are there from the 3rd to the 11th.

 

this is going to seem like a stupid question but when all of you are talking about a cocktail hour I just don't see it in the package listing I have from the Barcelo.

I am still deciding between the Mint Breeze and the Strawberry Passion.

Is a cocktail hour included in either of those?

 

And I have a massive favor to ask.  For those of you who did the Mint Breeze, or maybe just have some info, i am looking to see if there is any other option for the reception other than a banquet hall.

we are only going to be about 15 people so I fear a banquet hall would be ridiculous and I'm just not keen on that idea at all.

 

If you have some info or photos, I would really appreciate it and if you prefer to email it to me just let me know and I will PM you my info.

 

TIA ladies and happy planning!

[780chick]

With strawberry passion you have a base price of 3380 or whatever it is which only includes up to 15 people. And then you have to pay $66 per person. With Transat the package is $1500 and includes 24 people. Any extra people are $20. Then to upgrade to the beach is $27.50. Which in the end is still less than $66. Plus Transat gives you a cocktail hour which I used to substitute an extra hour of reception. You don't get live music which I didn't want anyway. And instead of massages and hair and makeup you get $200 spa credit and 1.5 hours at the spa on the wedding day or something like that. Which works out for me anyways cause I'm hiring Adrian to do my hair and makeup. You also don't get the free gift and not sure about the premium bracelet but we are staying at Palace anyway. Anyways. I've worke out that if we have 50 guests we can save $2000 which we are using to charter a catamaran the day before for our guests.

Transat wasn't booking at the Barcelo when I booked =/ it was in that brief period when they stopped.

 

However I want the soup and we're having surf and turf, so technically we are saving 41 per person (35 + 6), so maybe I'm not missing out on that much! Was your price including the 27.50 a person for the beach?

 

For 35 people and everything (Sur fa nd Turf, beach reception, two tier cake, rest of the strawberry package) it looks like about 4700.

I'm not sure what is all included in the transat package, what little perks from strawberry are you missing out on?   Like hair make up type stuff?

 

Also congrats! I have the same locations as you, just reversed :)

[Brenners]

Yes, you need to factor in the expense.  Good luck with your search!
 

Originally Posted by Oneeleven 

I would be getting married in the gazebo at the Barcelo anyways and that is not private either.  But I am in LOVE with the Barcelo's Gazebo.  I am finding it hard to say no to.   But I have to say... when you add everything up the Barcelo trip would be about $2000.00 more than the DRC when all is said and done.  Thats a HUGE difference
 

 

 

[kisekae]

I am getting married at the Barcelo Maya in April 2012 and have a few questions.

 

First, our package includes the 3 hour dinner at a reception hall. We really want to move this to one of the outdoor locations instead but can't seem to find out if there is a cost for this and if so, how much?

 

Second, the package only includes a 3 hour reception...is this long enough? If not, how much is it to add on?

 

Lastly, I'm having a hard time finding any decent/decently priced photographers...I just feel that the resort photography won't be up to my standards, but I also don't have to be paying $5000 for only a few hours...any suggestions?

 

Thank you, thank you!!! I am getting excited with all the planning, but there is so much to think about!!

 

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