Any Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay Brides out there?

[exquisite02]

Espejo2be, Congrats on your up coming wedding! I'm sure you will have a great time! Keep positive! Can't wait to see all your pictures and read about your experience!
 

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]

From what i have heard that you dont need notarized copies if you are bringing the originals.  I sent copies to Chandlyn and she said everything that i sent her is good enough. 
 

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! 

 

[Kristo]

I have a question.. if the gazebo is already rented on my wedding night what are my other options??

[ashley490]

The other options I know about are either to rent out the restaurant for $2500 or rent the disco for $700.  I haven't heard of any other options.

 

Originally Posted by Kristo 

I have a question.. if the gazebo is already rented on my wedding night what are my other options??

 

[Tekeya Thompson]

So I noticed most brides used IPODs during their wedding ceremony to play their wedding songs.  So I am a little confused...because I was thinking about renting the gazebo for the evening for dancing and Chandlyn said that the only option for music was a DJ, there would not be any speakers there for IPOD.  So is there a DJ there during our ceremony in order to use IPODs for the ceremony or do we have to bring some special setup other than the aux cable?

[greatbritain]

From what I have gathered from Chandlyn, you need to bring your own iPod speaker system like a BOSE home system or something similar!
 

Originally Posted by Tekeya Thompson 

So I noticed most brides used IPODs during their wedding ceremony to play their wedding songs.  So I am a little confused...because I was thinking about renting the gazebo for the evening for dancing and Chandlyn said that the only option for music was a DJ, there would not be any speakers there for IPOD.  So is there a DJ there during our ceremony in order to use IPODs for the ceremony or do we have to bring some special setup other than the aux cable?

 

[bizzyangel]

 

 

Originally Posted by greatbritain 

 

I know this is semi off subject, but is anyone or has anyone flown on Air Jamaica? I am trying to figure out if I should book through them or US Air. My TA is semi hesitant about Air Jamaica because they just got bought out but she said they don't charge or your first checked bag and US Air charges for each checked bag and is a little more expensive than the Air Jamaica flight. I'm just curious if anyone else has any opinion or suggestions. Thanks ladies

 

We used Air Jamaica (Caribbean Airlines) from Philadelphia to go to my cousins wedding last month at RIU and they did not charge any fees for checked luggage. My mom and I were able to check two bags without any problems. They were actually the cheapest price we saw and were a direct flight so it really was a win win. You also get a meal and beverage on the flight which was nice =).

 

[cupcake1382]

Hey Girl!! You are getting married a week before us! We are 9-10 and my friend is 9-3 anyhoo- I'll answer what I know.. 1. We have more time than you!! Our ceremony is at 1230 and dinner at 6. So we are doing our ceremony from 1230-1, then at the gazebo with 1st dance and pics until 2. Then doing pics on the beach until 3 then relax time until 530 where everyone will meet at the lobby for dinner at 6. We luckily have two photogs so we will split up and do guys pics and girls pics after family pics. Honestly the resort is huge so I doubt the little time you have in between will matter greatly. If your wedding is at 4 and you have the gazebo until 530 that only leaves an hour until your 630 dinner. I would jut go take more pics or at least go to a bar and have a couple drinks. 2. I don't think the disco has a name. There is only one on the resort. After dinner you could just have all the guests who want to attend meet in the lobby at 1045 (the disco opens at 11). That is totally up to you if you want to change. I'm not, I love my dress too much!! 3. We are just telling our guests to meet us at the buffet at 730 for the welcome dinner where we will hand out welcome bags and remind them of important info. 4. Guests can call the resort up to 2 weeks before check in to make a reservation at the a la carte restaurants. 5. I dunno about the cabana.. I would just try calling the resort front desk and asking.

 

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!

[tnique]

 

Hi fellow BP brides,

 

Mekanabr, I salute you!

 

Mekanabr-Thank you so much for sharing. I have been reading since the begining of this thread with kerij and I am very impressed with the caring and sharing of everyone.  I am so happy that you posted pictures and shared your experience because it helps to take the worry away.  I sent Chandlyn my dates which is january 7th or 14th but I still haven't heard from her.  With all the worry that everyone goes through to have their wedding at BP, it must really mean that after all the nerves and uncertainties about dates and late replies, its worth it.  I really wish there was a better way to communicate with the WC but after seeing your testimonial, I'll just relax.  I am a bit nervous because I am trying to do this in six months vs one yr.  I trust what you and the other ladies say so I will chill and wait until Chandlyn gets back to me and hopefully I will get the dates I want.  Thanks for the pics too!

[funkybride]

Hi ladies,

 

We're getting married January 18 at 2pm and our reception is at 6pm...the problem I'm having is that there doesn't seem to be very many options for a "dance" between the supper and the disco opening up at 11pm. (the gazeebo is already booked up that night) So far the only options Chandlyn has given us are: renting one of the a la carte restaurants for $2500 Or renting the disco (before it opens) for $700 including dj but it would also cost us $15/person/hour for "open bar" - and we have just over 30 people coming along so renting the disco would cost us about $2000 for two hours. I also asked her if we could bring an IPOD and have our first dances in our semi -private area of our supper and she declined.  Ashley 490 is getting married the same day at 4pm and has offered us to use the gazeebo that she has booked in between her ceremony and her dance - so while they're off doing pics, we could sneak in there and do our first dances - but I'm still waiting to hear back from Chandlyn whether she's ok with that or not.

 

Has anyone else been offered anything somewhat inexpensive to do between their supper and the disco or for their "dance"!? I feel very disappointed with this resort and the lack of options and frustrated with Chandlyn as we're spending a lot of money staying there for two weeks and bringing  a large group down there and I feel like I'm not even close to getting "my dream wedding"  

 

Has anyone left the resort to go to a restaurant for their wedding supper? (Is there any restaurants close by?)

 

If nothing else, I'm hoping she's ok with Ashley's offer to borrow the gazeebo for half an hour before our reception at 6pm and then between the supper and disco opening up we could just take drinks down to the beach and hang out there or by one of the bars around the resort - with 30+ people, i'm sure where ever we end up, we'll make it our own "party".

 

Any suggestions, advice etc would be really appreciated!!!!

 

Thank you so much!