Any Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay Brides out there?

[toesinsand30]

I totally understand I would feel the same way, but its hard to get upset at them and wouldnt want their son to get any worse while they are away and then totally regret going.  Chin up and everything will be great either way you will have a fab time !!!!

 

Originally Posted by Espejo2be 

mekanabr, looking at your pictures makes me feel so much better!! We leave for Jamaica tomorrow night and one of our bridesmaids (my FI's only sister) just backed out of the wedding tonight!!! She's not going because her son caught a chest infection and he hasnt been feeling well the last 2 weeks but it got worse today so she decided to tell us 24 hours before we leave that her and her husband (who was also in the wedding) have decided that they aren't going to come.  I"m mad and upset but yet I can't show it because it's my FI's nephew that's sick.... i'm so mixed up right now I'm down a bridesmaid and my FI's down a family member which is hard seeing he only has one sister and one brother.... so looking at your pictures makes me feel a bit better because then i somewhat focus on the fact that i'm getting married to the man of my dreams in less than a week and although this is not how i pictured my wedding going... in the end, i will be married!

 

[toesinsand30]

Hi Mekanabar, What size lanterns were used for the Gazebo ? I was thinking a range from size 8" to 12" but not too sure if they would be too small ?

 

Originally Posted by mekanabr 

hi girls,

 

I bought a bunch of lanterns of all sizes but after I read on here that they might not put them up, I only brought with me a few small lanterns and asked them to put them on the light posts along the walk way.  But, when we showed up they had put them in the gazebo.  It actually wasn't what I wanted, I originally bought the lanterns for them to put in the gazebo during our evening reception, not the ceremony.  But, it looked pretty and I was so happy they put them up for the reception as well.  At the end of the night we just ripped them down and tossed them bc they were a little moist from the rain that night.  One tip- I brought the lanterns as well as fishing line to string them up with, I never got that back (not a big deal) but I'm thinking that may have helped a bit with them putting them up. 

 

I bought the lanterns and paper luminaries from lunabazaar.com and the electronic tea lights for the lumiaries from ebay.

 

The gazebo rental without DJ or Bar was $250.  With DJ, it would've been $500, and bar is $22 per person or something like that. 

 

With the free package you are supposed to get the bride and grooms flowers, but since we bought our flowers from Jan's, they instead gave us a centerpiece which was used during the ceremony and the dinner.  It was really surprised how pretty it was!

 

Hope this helps!

 

[greatbritain]

Ugh that is awful all around, I'm sorry...but you are totally right...in the end, you will be married and the wedding is still going to be amazing!! Try to stay positive
 

Originally Posted by Espejo2be 

mekanabr, looking at your pictures makes me feel so much better!! We leave for Jamaica tomorrow night and one of our bridesmaids (my FI's only sister) just backed out of the wedding tonight!!! She's not going because her son caught a chest infection and he hasnt been feeling well the last 2 weeks but it got worse today so she decided to tell us 24 hours before we leave that her and her husband (who was also in the wedding) have decided that they aren't going to come.  I"m mad and upset but yet I can't show it because it's my FI's nephew that's sick.... i'm so mixed up right now I'm down a bridesmaid and my FI's down a family member which is hard seeing he only has one sister and one brother.... so looking at your pictures makes me feel a bit better because then i somewhat focus on the fact that i'm getting married to the man of my dreams in less than a week and although this is not how i pictured my wedding going... in the end, i will be married!

 

[kenwedjam0902]

 

Hi Ladies!!!

 

It has been soo long since I have been here.  I have soo much reading to do but I can't because my wedding is in 30 days!!!!  I can't believe its next month...  I still have to print programs and the weekend brochure...  But I will leave it in the hands of Kinkos to get it all printed for me.  But before I finalize my documents I have a few questions for past brides.

 

How much time did you have between your ceremony and reception??  Our wedding ceremony starts at 4pm but Chandlyn just said that our reception will start at 6:30pm.  That's 2 1/2 hours!!  I plan on our ceremony lasting at the most 45 minutes and then pictures should take about an hour but what will the guest be doing at that time??  Does anyone know what the closest bar to the Dolce Vita Restaurant is?? And is it open air or air conditioned??

 

What’s the name of the resort disco??  We are having 140 guests at our wedding and they love to party so our four hour reception isn't long enough.  So we are telling everyone that we are going to continue to party at the resort disco.  Do most people change after the reception or just go straight to the disco. I am trying to decide it I want to buy another dress for the after party...

 

Where is a good location for our guests to meet for the Welcome Reception??  Chandlyn said the lobby bar is open at 8pm and in a central location but I just wanted to know if there are any other options.

 

How do guest make dinner reservations before their arrival at the resort?
 
Can guest reserve beach and pool cabana before they arrive at the resort?  I read that they can on tripadvisor but I can't figure out who they should contact?

 

Thanks so much for you help!

[JayKay]

First of all, CONGRATS!!!

 

I just have a few questions.  How much of the pink and orange did you bring to decorate the gazebo?  Im just curious how much I will have to bring.  Also, where did you purchase it?  Thanks so much!

 

Originally Posted by mekanabr 

Thanks everyone for the congrats!  It was such an amazing day!  I'll attempt to answer some of the questions..

 

Exquisite02:

 

-as far as the decor goes, I brought with us pink and orange chair sashes, pink, orange, and white 8" paper lanterns, and pink and orange paper luminary bags with electronic tea lights to go inside.  Chanldyn and Donnalee set up the chair covers and lanterns for hte ceremony and it was beautiful.  After our wedding since there was one after us, they took everything down and then to my surprise set up the paper lanterns in the gazebo again for our reception.  THey also put our luminaries around the outter part of the gazebo and along the inner step and a few alnog hte pathway leading up to the gazebo.  I'll post the pics I have that were posted on fb, sorry I don't have any other ones.  I originally wanted them to use the luminaries to light up the entire pathway to the gazebo, but it worked out better the way they did it bc ppl just cut across the beach to get there, so noone would have appreciated the pathway anyway.  Plus, when the lights went out they provided just enough light to allow us to keep dancing!

ceremony decoration

 

gazebo at night, hard to see sorry!  but you can see a few lumiaries in the front along the pathway and they they were put around the outter edge and along the inner part that raises a little bit

 

table decor, we didn't get the package inclusive flowers, bc we went through Jan's so instead they gave us a centerpiece for our table and it was used on the table during the signing of the register.  We brought with us the table runners in both pink and orange and they transferred the chair sashes from the ceremony to the dinner.  We brought with us tea lights and the centerpieces which were photos printed on vellum and set up in triangles, everyone loved them.

 

for the alcohol we got for the reception, we just stopped at a random road side store that our taxi driver took us to.  His name was Michael and he was just a driver the resort got for us.  Since we went all over for about 2 hrs, the trip cost us $10 pp and we had 16 ppl with us (not cheap! but totally worth it).  I'm sure if you were just going to the store and back it wouldn't cost for than $20.  We bought 4 bottles of wine and 2 cases of red stripe and they charged us in Jamaican, so I think it was just over $100 for everything.  When the reception at the gazebo started our friend walked over to the lobby bar and paid the bartender $5 for a gallon jug of rum punch.  Chanldyn set up the cooler or ice, table, and cups for us.  We actualy had cups with us that were from our fav bar back home but they provided everything we would've needed.  THe only thing we didn't have when we got down there was a bottle opener for the red stripe and a cork screw for the wine, but we got one from a bartender and returned it at the end of the night.  If you want liquor, the resort sells it at their shops on site, we didin't trust our friends mixing their own liquor drinks lol.

 

We borought our own ipod dock and just set it up once we walked over from dinner to the gazebo.  My brother in law was in charge of it for the night and just made sure our first dance song came on when needed, other wse it played until the playlist ended.

 

-Mahoe falls is about 20 mins away and it is $5 to play in the falls and $5 to tour the Coyoba gardens that are on-site.  Mahoe was beautiful and I definitely recommend it!  Our tour was through Lee's Tours and I set up everything in advance beofre we were down there.  We had private transportation during the whole excursion and we went zip lining and to the falls and it was $62 per person.  Everyone loved the tour and thought it was cool that we went into Jamaica and saw the mountains etc instead of doing a snorkeling excursion (our original idea).  We were usposed to have had time to go shopping at Ohco Rios but we got stuck in traffic bc of an accident on the way to zip lining and didn't have enough time.  Our excursion left the resort at 9am and returned around 3pm. 

 

and don't worry, your questions weren't rude at all!  I"m happy to help.

 

Ashley490-

 

My hair literally didn't move until I went swimming that night at 2am!  My hair never holds curl and whatever they put on it actually made my hair stay where it was supposed to and was mostly curled the entire day, I was super impressed.  I didn't get my make up done at the resort, although they wanted me to.  I used a tinted primer from Benefit and it was amaizng, even with the heat and humidity, my makeup looked great all day.  I got it from Sephora and highly recommend it!

 

As far as the excursion goes, read above and that should hopefully answer your questions, let me know if it doesn't!

 

Here's a pic of Mahoe!    It's the top portion, there is another part below about the same size.  It was so fun and refreshing after the hot morning in the jungle zip lining to splash around in the falls

 

part of the lower portion

 

 

 

[FleetMac bride]

Congrats Mekanbr wow you looked stunning, I am so happy for you sounds like you had the perfect day. I also am getting luminaires just haven't ordered them yet. So glad your day was special your review has helped me alot it sounds like you and your friends had a blast LOL.

[BusyBee123]

I'm so sorry for what you're going through Espejo2be!  That's awful timing and very last minute!  I can understand why you would be so upset!

 

As tough as it is, all you can do now is try to focus on the positive, as corny as that sounds!  You're jetting off to a tropical destination to marry the man of your dreams!  That has to count for something.  As much as you would love to have them there, I'm sure they will always regret not being able to come and share the day with you!  Maybe you can do a special dinner or something with them when you get back?

 

Have a fabulous trip and a wonderful wedding and we all cannot wait to hear about it when you get back!
 

Originally Posted by Espejo2be 

mekanabr, looking at your pictures makes me feel so much better!! We leave for Jamaica tomorrow night and one of our bridesmaids (my FI's only sister) just backed out of the wedding tonight!!! She's not going because her son caught a chest infection and he hasnt been feeling well the last 2 weeks but it got worse today so she decided to tell us 24 hours before we leave that her and her husband (who was also in the wedding) have decided that they aren't going to come.  I"m mad and upset but yet I can't show it because it's my FI's nephew that's sick.... i'm so mixed up right now I'm down a bridesmaid and my FI's down a family member which is hard seeing he only has one sister and one brother.... so looking at your pictures makes me feel a bit better because then i somewhat focus on the fact that i'm getting married to the man of my dreams in less than a week and although this is not how i pictured my wedding going... in the end, i will be married!

 

[Tekeya Thompson]

Hi!  Would you please recommend who you are using locally? 
 

Originally Posted by Dutchie600 

EEEK!! 400/hr? I contacted a Local in Jamaica and arranged for him to come and play at the wedding. He's EXTREMELY cheap. 

 

[BusyBee123]

Sorry for the double post...I completely forgot to ask before!  

 

For Mekanabr and those who have been married recently, did Chandlyn ask to see/have copies of your notarized birth certificate and passport when you arrived?  I remember reading that a lot of previous brides had never even been asked for them!  My FI is whining about having to pay $60 to get his documents notarized if they'll never be required!  I just got lucky and was able to get mine done for free at work!  I'm going to scan those and send them to her, but wondering if we can get away with saving the few extra $$?

 

Thanks a bunch! 

[JayKay]

I know I enquired a few times about this and each time they clearly stated that they needed notarized copies, so we payed the $40 dollars just to be on the safe side.  Would hate to get all the way to Jamaica and not be legally married over $40 dollars!

 

Originally Posted by BusyBee123 

Sorry for the double post...I completely forgot to ask before!  

 

For Mekanabr and those who have been married recently, did Chandlyn ask to see/have copies of your notarized birth certificate and passport when you arrived?  I remember reading that a lot of previous brides had never even been asked for them!  My FI is whining about having to pay $60 to get his documents notarized if they'll never be required!  I just got lucky and was able to get mine done for free at work!  I'm going to scan those and send them to her, but wondering if we can get away with saving the few extra $$?

 

Thanks a bunch!