Barcelo Maya Palace Brides

[FireyNurse]

Hello fellow Brides! A newbie here, I've been reading lots so far and thought I would join so I could post!

 

We JUST got engaged but I think we have already chosen the Barcelo Maya resorts as our #1 choice!! We aren't planning on having the wedding until Nov 2012 so we have a while to go still but I am wondering as far as booking and planning goes how far away should we start planning and getting quotes for the travel?

 

Also, does anyone have any info/pics from the resort photographers?

 

Thanks!

[JoanneIreland]

Welcome to the forum FireyNurse! We just got married last month, so November 2011, and I have to say it's a beautiful time of the year down there! November 2012 sounds good! Do you know what date? We were there for 3 weeks, and in the first week it was transitioning from hurricane season so we did have a lot of lunch time showers that could run into the afternoon. It was have been coincidence, but I'm suspecting that this is the norm as the rates changed on November 15th. Stays before the 15th were cheaper per night than after the 15th. It hiked up again at the very end of the month over Thanksgiving.

 

Sorry I have no pics of the on-site photographer as we bought in our own. I know if you go back on this thread other brides have used the onsite photographer.

[valsalerno]

Hi Everyone- Just heard from MyBarcelo photographers that the fee to NOT use them in 2012 has gone up to $500.  Just wanted to tell everyone ASAP because it would definitely be cheaper to book your photog's for 2 nights in the Tropical or Beach sections as long as you book it very early.

[Avens]

Thanks for the head's up! I'll  be printing my email that says it's only $300 and bringing it along!
 

Originally Posted by valsalerno 

Hi Everyone- Just heard from MyBarcelo photographers that the fee to NOT use them in 2012 has gone up to $500.  Just wanted to tell everyone ASAP because it would definitely be cheaper to book your photog's for 2 nights in the Tropical or Beach sections as long as you book it very early.

 

[Brenners]

I agree that I will be bringing my information that stated it would be a $300 fee.  I am wondering if booking at a lower end hotel may not be cheaper though...
 

Originally Posted by Avens 

Thanks for the head's up! I'll  be printing my email that says it's only $300 and bringing it along!
 

 

 

[FireyNurse]

Does anyone have info on their policy if you book your photographer a room if it has to be a minimum of any certain # of nights?

 

Also wondering...has anyone done their wedding ceremony only at the Gazebo and had guests staying at the other resorts (tropical/Caribe, etc) attend?

 

I heard that they will charge to use the gazebo per person if they aren't staying at the Palace, its just so frustrating because we aren't asking to use the Palace lounge/restaurant or anything else, just literally the gazebo for 30 mins for our ceremony!

 

Thanks!

[valsalerno]

Hi FireyNurse- I believe you have to book 2 nights for your photographer to be considered a "guest".

 

I have not read anywhere that you have to pay per person if your guests are staying at one of the other Barcelo hotels.  From my understanding, this only applies to people who are not staying an ANY of the Barcelo resorts (i.e. if they hop on over from the Secrets hotel for the day).

 

Your WC should be able to answer that pretty straightforward.  I have Claudia and she is sooooo helpful.

[780chick]

I know that when we were thinking of staying at tropical, our WC said there would be a charge per person to use the palace beach for the ceremony. Now we are staying at the palace and the only charge for others staying at tropical/beach etc. is $3/ hour at dinner for premium booze for the reception. 

Originally Posted by FireyNurse 

Does anyone have info on their policy if you book your photographer a room if it has to be a minimum of any certain # of nights?

 

Also wondering...has anyone done their wedding ceremony only at the Gazebo and had guests staying at the other resorts (tropical/Caribe, etc) attend?

 

I heard that they will charge to use the gazebo per person if they aren't staying at the Palace, its just so frustrating because we aren't asking to use the Palace lounge/restaurant or anything else, just literally the gazebo for 30 mins for our ceremony!

 

Thanks!

 

 

[Brenners]

When we originally looked at Barcelo, we asked about having the wedding at the Palace if we stayed there but our guests stayed at one of the lower end hotels.  Our WC told us there was no charge for the guests to attend the wedding and reception - they would only have to pay a day pass if they wanted to use the Palace on days other than our wedding day.  Who is your WC 780Chick?
 

Originally Posted by 780chick 

I know that when we were thinking of staying at tropical, our WC said there would be a charge per person to use the palace beach for the ceremony. Now we are staying at the palace and the only charge for others staying at tropical/beach etc. is $3/ hour at dinner for premium booze for the reception. 

 

 

 

[780chick]

I have Lillian Vargas. She's been pretty good at correspondence but all the fees get to be a bit much. We figured out that for the price of dancefloor $1209 and slideshow equipment $440 from the hotel, we could hire an outside dj and rent the dancefloor and equipment from them  for roughly the same price and that includes 5 hours of dj services! Oh but wait...$95/hour to use the hotel electricity