Any Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay Brides out there?

[AngelaandTrevor]

Hi Ladies! This is a site I used and ordered all my flowers for everyone in silk, that way they all have a keep sake!http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Brides-Bouquetcom/141729106089?ref=nf>   They are really much cheaper and way more beautiful! I will use the free bouquet to toss! Hope this helps!

 

Thanks Daphodil for your information! I just don't like the hidden costs that they come out with 6 months later! I think they should be more organised with their prices! The restaurant you were in I was told was $1700.00 see how the prices keep changing! I am waiting still for the manager to respond back to my travel agent on that it should happen sometime this week.

 

Good luck Ladies!

Angela

[AngelaandTrevor]

This is the web page for my photographer he is amazing and reasonable   http://jamaicaweddingphotos.com/?load=flash    

 

Angela Hope this helps!

[tamandrob]

My runner up was Stacey Clarke, I really liked her portfolio!

 

Originally Posted by monarch 

Hey Temandrob - did you have any runner-up photographers?  I'm Merrick is my #1 choice at this point but it is HARD to compare when you've seen so many!  I just want to make sure that I'm choosing the best one for me!

 

[BusyBee123]

Hey....in terms of the flower situation, I really did not like any of the options that the hotel package provided.  At all!  I contemplated Jan's and Tai, but ended up going with Tai Flora in the end.  

 

When I contacted Tai Flora the first time, they were initially very slow to respond (i think it took 2 weeks).  However,  after our initial contact the communication was quick (within a day or two).  I had a fabulous time working with them and found them really easy to work with.  Don't be discouraged...its just that initial wait that takes forever for some reason.  

 

In the end, they accommodated all of my requests in making bouquets for myself and my bridesmaids, boutonieres for the men and wrist corsages for the moms.  I found the prices really very reasonable for the size of the bouquets I requested.  I even had room left in my flower budget to add 2 large arrangements on pedestals to my decor for the gazebo. I can't speak for the quality of the arrangements yet, but I'm hoping they'll be as beautiful as the pics!

 

Good luck!
 

Originally Posted by sbelland 

Can anyone provide any insight into the flower situation.

 

I am currently debating going with the free bouquet - although I'm not a fan of most of the options, purchasing an upgraded bouquet - yet just found out from Tai Floral that the bouquet I want is an additional $100; and making my own bouquet with silk flowers.

 

At least with the silk bouquet I will have it as a keepsake - and also thought that I could do smaller ones for my BM's.

 

Any thoughts or suggestions about this would really help! I really don't want to get there and regret not doing something myself or getting stuck with flowers I hate.

 

Thanks a bunch ladies!

 

 

 

[monarch]

WOW!  I'm so glad that I asked about this cake question!  I am so sorry that your cake didn't turn out for either of you!  I'm definitely going to ask for a smooth cake with flowers and see if they can do it!  Tekeya it would be great if you could post the pic of the 3 options.  Every time that I email these wedding coordinators, I feel like i'm pulling teeth to get an answer to anything!

[cupcake1382]

I found them in my email.. Here are the options they sent me:

 

 

Originally Posted by monarch 

WOW!  I'm so glad that I asked about this cake question!  I am so sorry that your cake didn't turn out for either of you!  I'm definitely going to ask for a smooth cake with flowers and see if they can do it!  Tekeya it would be great if you could post the pic of the 3 options.  Every time that I email these wedding coordinators, I feel like i'm pulling teeth to get an answer to anything!

 

[kenwedjam0902]

Jodiann,

 I got married at the GBP on September 2, 2011 and it was awesome.  Everything was perfect and my guests said it was the best wedding they had ever gone to.  No one experienced roaches in their rooms and Donnalee was fine.  Were there mosquitoes everywhere, YES!!!  So please pack lots of bug spray!!  Did Donnalee walk through the middle of the gazebo to deliver the sand for the unity sand?? Yes, but to my guests it all made sense.  The only advice I would give is when you meet with Chandlyn on the first day be extremely descriptive.  If you want the gazebo to look a certain way tell her and she will do it.  To me the location was beautiful so the flowers only added to the décor so it didn’t matter what flowers they used.  Chandlyn was there to deliver the flowers and escort me to the gazebo but Donnalee was there for the ceremony and reception. So I would recommend that you request a meeting with Donnalee as well or ask to speak with her a day or so before the wedding.  Just highlight the things that are important to you and it will all be fine.  I had over 150 people at my wedding so there were lots of options but everyone had nothing but nice things to say about the entire weekend.  The only negative feedback we received was regarding the towels.  The resort is a bit stingy with the towels to I would let your guests know that they may have to request towel everyday but that really was the only issue.  Oh and they didn’t decorate our room the night of the wedding and the cake was the wrong color and never served it to my guests but it wasn’t a huge issue.  My Mom called to complain about the room the next morning and so they did it that night, delivered fruit, wine and champagne and offer a special dinner at the Italian Restaurant.  And with the cake I didn’t realize until it was all over because everyone was on the dance floor.  The only advice I would give it to have fun and just focus on each other and it will be fine.

I would upload pictures from the ceremony and reception but I don’t have enough posts to do so.  If you have any other concerns feel free to ask as I was there for 8 days…

Happy Planning!! 

 

Originally Posted by Jodiann 

Hi ladies! I am new to the site and I am also getting married at the GBP, and now I am SOOOOO scared! All the good things sound great .. but the bad things sound horrible! Like roaches (OMG), and a rude wedding coordinator (Donnalee). It took me long enough to actually pick a resort. Being in charge of picking a place for all your family and friends to spend their vacation and their money on is a harsh reality to have on your shoulders. I mean its booked for us, and everyone knows this is where its going to be, so I guess now its just working with what we have. But I am def nervous now, not only about the resort but about everything.

 

Cupcake & Mrs. Johnson, you guys are amazing! The time you have taken to write everything you have for everyone is great, thank you so much! Also both of you looked GORGEOUS on your day, and the wedding itself looked amazing. And all of your pre-wedding planning with bags and decorations and everything else is such a big help. After seeing all of your posts from start to finish, I am nervous! I hope I can pull it off too!

 

[FleetMac bride]

Wow I have missed tons in a few days. i had my stag and doe on the 17th so have been really busy.

 

Congrats to cupcake and ken wed your picstures are lovely Cupcake

 

My photographer is marcia roberts and I have been very happy with her so far.

 

Okay gotta go I'm at work but can't wait till I have time again LOL

Cakes.pdf

2012 packages.doc

[Tekeya Thompson]

Wow you got fruit and dinner after the wedding.  I got a bottle of champagne and breakfast but it was not what we had ordered. 

 

Okay so I thought I was the only one that had Donnalee walking in the middle of the ceremony with bags of sand (instead of having the sand in the pouring vase) and having me, the minister, and my husband help to hold it and pour in the pouring vases.  To me it was sort of tacky. 

 

And I only had 2 guests to say they had bugs in the room and had to move rooms.  I totally agree that Donnalee should have been a part of the intial meeting with Chandlyn...she is bossy and does not listen to what you want, my minister even said that...she changed the whole ceremony around after I told Chandlyn how I wanted it.
 

Originally Posted by kenwedjam0902 

Jodiann,

 I got married at the GBP on September 2, 2011 and it was awesome.  Everything was perfect and my guests said it was the best wedding they had ever gone to.  No one experienced roaches in their rooms and Donnalee was fine.  Were there mosquitoes everywhere, YES!!!  So please pack lots of bug spray!!  Did Donnalee walk through the middle of the gazebo to deliver the sand for the unity sand?? Yes, but to my guests it all made sense.  The only advice I would give is when you meet with Chandlyn on the first day be extremely descriptive.  If you want the gazebo to look a certain way tell her and she will do it.  To me the location was beautiful so the flowers only added to the décor so it didn’t matter what flowers they used.  Chandlyn was there to deliver the flowers and escort me to the gazebo but Donnalee was there for the ceremony and reception. So I would recommend that you request a meeting with Donnalee as well or ask to speak with her a day or so before the wedding.  Just highlight the things that are important to you and it will all be fine.  I had over 150 people at my wedding so there were lots of options but everyone had nothing but nice things to say about the entire weekend.  The only negative feedback we received was regarding the towels.  The resort is a bit stingy with the towels to I would let your guests know that they may have to request towel everyday but that really was the only issue.  Oh and they didn’t decorate our room the night of the wedding and the cake was the wrong color and never served it to my guests but it wasn’t a huge issue.  My Mom called to complain about the room the next morning and so they did it that night, delivered fruit, wine and champagne and offer a special dinner at the Italian Restaurant.  And with the cake I didn’t realize until it was all over because everyone was on the dance floor.  The only advice I would give it to have fun and just focus on each other and it will be fine.

I would upload pictures from the ceremony and reception but I don’t have enough posts to do so.  If you have any other concerns feel free to ask as I was there for 8 days…

Happy Planning!! 

 

 

 

[Tekeya Thompson]

Thanks Cupcake for posting it for me.  I had chose the last option but you see what my cake looked like ;-(

 

Originally Posted by cupcake1382 

I found them in my email.. Here are the options they sent me: