Grand Sunset Princess Resort

[Kelly Olson]

Hi April brides

 

Have any of you been told you cannot bring in your own photographer and if you do there is a $200 per photographer penalty?  Before booking I was told it wasn't a problem but now that they have our deposits this has all changed.  Its also odd how they don't sign their name on my emails so I have no idea who my wc is... anyone else having the same issues?

 

Kelly

[hermi88]

Hey everyone,

 

Just got back from our wedding. Everything went great. No stress at all. There is no planning required. Our WC was the group/wedding manager Pilar. She was great. Once we arrived and checked in you get a silver folder and it has a time to meet with your WC. This is when they go over every choice with you that you had, see if you want to add anything or take anything away and give you a written up contract. Our wedding was at 2PM and we picked the renewal package for $800 and just paid for the extra people. We had 40 people total on our trip including both the bride and groom. We originally had picked the Royalty Package but we were not going to use a lot of the exta's such as the 40 person a la carte meal (we were told we could only use it the day before, we were told only the La Hacienda which is the Mexican resteraunt and in my opinion it is the worst a la carte they have at the resort), other things that they include such as the cocktail hour were not important to me. (you are at an all inclusive resort.... Why would you pay for it?) Another nice extra was the couples massage but they have them going on for $80's for 2 people 50 minutes long. They are great so we both went twice! We changed our ceremony package while we were there and she was great about it no issues. We also had the private beach reception from 6PM-10PM booked but with the weather forcast saying we would be getting 10-20mm of rain each day while we were there we were hesitant on being on the beach so we decided to go with the chill out club (another last minute change). With the ceremony, extra's, dj, chill out club our total came out to just over $5600 USD for 40 people.

 

Wedding Ceremony:

 

We did the symbolic ceremony as we got legally married in Canada first. Our wedding was the sunset gazebo which is along the property line, in my opinion it is nicer because it is behind the chill out club which isnt all inclusive so there wasnt so many people on the beach around that area. It was nice and felt more private. The other option for the ceremony is the Riviera Gazebo which is right off the main bridge which leads from the resort tothe beach. It is right beside the all inclusive bar and is surrounded by people laying in there beach chairs (not private).

 

The groom was to meet the minister at the gazebo at 1:30 to go over some instructions on how things are going to go. The bride got picked up from her room at 1:50, everyone walked in and the coordinator basically just gave you the signal to walk. (We had no rehersal as she said there isnt usually rehersals but if we want one we could get it but they charge for it). The minister then goes through the ceremony on a mic, whispers the vows to you and you speak them in the mic or you can read your own off if you have any. We did the sand ceremony, exchanged rings, kissed and walked out. Everything was perfect. Short and Sweet. After we shot a bunch of pictures with our guests and wedding party. We had some pictures done obviously with both of us after. When we finished pictures it was about 5:00PM we wandered over to the lobby bar and met the rest of our guests where everyone had been mingling.

 

Reception:

 

Like I mentioned earlier, it was at the Chill Out for $100PP. It was absolutely amazing, food was great, drinks were never empty. All your needs were tended to! Cake was delicious. Everything was perfect, we had a friend who was our MC. She was married in Jamaica and kept the ball rolling for everyone. I suggest having someone in charge of the group saying when you are cutting the cake etc so people dont wander off and take pictures all night. The only complaint I have about the reception is when they say 6-10 they mean it. I wish we had some sort of warning that it was getting close to 10 so we could have played a "special" last song. Right at 10 the music stopped. We grabbed the Mic, made a few annoucements about the going to the Disco and thanking everyone again and that was it.

 

The resort encourages bringing any extra decorations or anything that you want, we had brought some chair wraps to match the bridesmaids dress's. They pressed them and tied them on every chair so perfectly. The resort staff was great. Honestly no complaints what so ever on the wedding/week. I havent heard a complaint from any of the guests at all. Nothing but praise the whole trip.

 

 

[VancityBride]

Hi Ladies,

 

Does anyone know the price of the colored chair sashes?

 

I originally was just going to do the white that is provided but now Im kinda thinking of doing the sashes? What do you think? IS it too much, Does it take away from the natural beauty of the beach?

 

[Looney77]

Hi ladies, 

 

I am in exactly the same situation as Riviera Bride!  Now having to re-plan the wedding and looking at almost double the cost now!

 

I am interested in what some of you have mentioned about the private rooms that are available to have buffet/a la carte menus for the evening. Are these their meeting rooms that the resort offers?

 

If anyone is able to send along information regarding options other than the private party to make the event special, yet cost effective (if that is possible), I would be forever grateful.

 

Cheers, 

 

Nicole

 

Originally Posted by Riviera bride 

Hi girls,

 

It's nice to see so many Vancouver brides on here, I'm also from Vancouver.  I'm hoping some of you can help me out..... We have had our wedding for March 16, 2012 booked at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda since May and just found out Sunwing is no longer working with them and I have to switch my wedding to Princess.

Originally I was ok with this since I have actually stayed at this resort twice before and loved it both times.  But now that I have looked into replanning my wedding I am feeling extremely stressed out.

 

At BlueBay we had our ceremony at 4, a cocktail hour afterwards, dinner in a restaurant at 6 and a private after party on the beach from 8-10.  All of this plus extras (flowers, decorations, hair, etc.) was going to cost us about $4000. To do the same at Princess looks to be so much more.  Plus I cant seem to find anywhere if they even do a private party without the dinner other than the one that is $85 pp and includes dinner.  Does anyone know if there is such a thing and maybe how much that would be for 2 hrs?  (DJ, dance floor and bar?)  

 

Hopefully someone can help me out, the idea of replanning everything is driving me nuts and especially when its looking like I won't have the same wedding

 

[samcalv1]

Hi Everyone been back a couple of weeks now so sorry for only now writing a review!!!!!

 

Resort

 

Wonderful we had the time of our lives here!!!!! Staff are lovely they work so hard cleaning!!! always have a smile and a hola for you!!! Food is lovely we especially loved the a la cartes favourite was La Fleur, oriental and tepanaki fab fab fab!!! Worst one was La Hacienda (mexican) not good   When we arrived at the resort our party had a free room upgrade (we booked junior suites and were upgraded to deluxe suites) which were super nice....

 

Wedding:

 

When you arrive at the resort you are given a silver folder which gives you your appointment with your wedding co-ordinator ours was Emma and she was great, we found her really helpful......

 

Our wedding was at 2pm but the judge didn't arrive until 2:20 so we got started at 2:30, they ask the groom and guests to be there half an hour before..... We got married at the Riviera gazebo we preferred it to the Sunset gazebo (Sunset gazebo is much more private).

 

 

[samcalv1]

 

Hi Everyone been back a couple of weeks now so sorry for only now writing a review!!!!!

 

Resort

 

Wonderful we had the time of our lives here!!!!! Staff are lovely they work so hard cleaning!!! always have a smile and a hola for you!!! Food is lovely we especially loved the a la cartes favourite was La Fleur, oriental and tepanaki fab fab fab!!! Worst one was La Hacienda (mexican) not good   When we arrived at the resort our party had a free room upgrade (we booked junior suites and were upgraded to deluxe suites) which were super nice....

 

Wedding:

 

When you arrive at the resort you are given a silver folder which gives you your appointment with your wedding co-ordinator ours was Emma and she was great, we found her really helpful...... She booked my hair and make-up at 12 and also my bridesmaid, I was really happy with my hair and make-up.....

 

Our wedding was at 2pm but the judge didn't arrive until 2:20 so we got started at 2:30, they ask the groom and guests to be there half an hour before..... We got married at the Riviera gazebo we preferred it to the Sunset gazebo (Sunset gazebo is much more private) but people on the beach didn't bother us, we didn't really notice them to be honest.

 

 

Ceremony lasts about 10-15 mins and then we had pics taken, while we having our photos taken our guests went to the lobby to have drinks (I agree with hermi88 why pay when you are at all inclusive!!!!, we then joined them and had our reception meal at La Fleur, it was perfect the best meal we had at the resort!!!! We left about 9 ish (they say 1hr 30 mins) but they don't rush you. And the attention they give is wonderful....

 

 

We had a wonderful day!!!! And I wouldn't change a thing about it!!!!

 

I would definately go to this resort again!!

 

Good luck to you all and if you have any questions then just ask away!!!!

 

[FranticBride2be]

Hey,

 

Thanks for all the info about your recent weddings!  Its great to hear from people who have just gotten back!

 

I asked Emma about sashes and other decorations.  It costs $4 per sash.  It seems a bit steep.  I think you could make them for less.  I think I'm going to go to the dollar store and get some white starfish, and tie them with a small ribbon to each of the chairs.  She hasn't told me the cost of any extra decorations, but I think we'll just make some small stuff here before we leave.  I think now that our reception/ceremony is pretty much booked... there's really nothing left to do!

 

PS:  I asked Emma a couple months ago when we originally booked our photographer to email me a confirmation of the price for bringing in an outside vendor.  I think she quoted about $120 all in for two photographers to stay the whole time.  She might try to change this, so I'm glad I have it in writting!

 

[sonymp]

The flowers were beautiful... Since my wedding was 4 days before I left the resort, they put the flowers in your room. I felt like my room was a florist shop (a bit much). But we dealt with it. I did not provided any music for the DJ. He played the traditional wedding march song and a couple of other really nice songs (can't remember off the top of my head). I didn't have a DJ at my reception. It was a small wedding party so the restaurant (la hacienda) had the mariachi band come up to restaurant and play a couple of songs for us.

 

-Sonia

[jzanthony]

Hi there, did you do the symbolic ceremony? I have booked my wedding for April 17th 2012 at 4pm. We are having approx. 20 guests so a small group. I wanted to keep things simple and dont want to have to worry about bring a ton of extra stuff that isnt necessary. Just curious to know if you had a first dance or not?

Thanks, Zoe

[bmariex26]

Hi Girls,

 

Does anyone know how much it is to bring in an outside photographer (what the day fee is).  I want to book with "photos in cancun" and they send two photographers to the resort. Emma just told me it is $200 a person! I could have sworn it was $75 per person not to long go.  It seems like as the months go by everything is getting more expensive!