Any Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay Brides out there?

[cupcake1382]

Hey Ashley,

 

Contact Diana 1-2 weeks prior to your wedding, she is the head of all of the a la carte restaurants and super sweet. Don't go through Chandlyn or Donnalee. Here email is [email protected]. There should be no problem getting you into one of the restaurants since we had a party of 35 in the Grille. She will tell you which restaurants are open during your wedding week.
 

Originally Posted by ashley490 

 

I thought about doing a welcome dinner and had talked with Chandlyn about it.  She basically told me that we could be accommodated in the buffet area which I thought was sort of dumb since there are only 18 of us.  I didn't end up pursuing it any further because I decided if people want to get together for dinner we'll just make arrangements when we arrive.

 

 

 

[JayKay]

I would really appreciate if you shared the link for that music!!

 

Originally Posted by acw271011 

Flowers email directly to Tai Flora. Don't deal with the resort over it. Jennivie Wisdom is the one I've been working with and she seems really sweet. I'm going to make a point of going into the store in Ocho Rios to meet her just to say thanks.

 

We're doing a CD of our wedding music. yes - they do set up a sound system to play it. we found a guy that does the steel band wedding music so that's what we have. I'll find the link if you want it - it's $6 to buy it so super cheap!!

 

 

 

 

[JayKay]

Thank you girls for your answers!  It really helps!

 

Originally Posted by ashley490 

I can only answer a couple of your questions but hopefully it helps!

 

I thought about doing a welcome dinner and had talked with Chandlyn about it.  She basically told me that we could be accommodated in the buffet area which I thought was sort of dumb since there are only 18 of us.  I didn't end up pursuing it any further because I decided if people want to get together for dinner we'll just make arrangements when we arrive.

 

I didn't like any of the free bouquets either so I made arrangements directly through Tai Flora.  I sent them an email with pictures of what I was looking for and asked for a quote.  My flowers for everyone ended up being around $400 which I thought was reasonable for what I ordered.  They still give you the groom's bout for free and give a small discount on your bridal bouquet for not using the free one that comes with the package (I think it was only $25 off but better than nothing).  I did a price comparison with Jan's, but Tai Flora ended up being cheaper for me so that's who I went with.  They do require you to send a small deposit to secure your order but they are able to send you all of the deposit options so that you can choose which method works best for you.  After I had everything arranged with Tai Flora I just sent Chandlyn an email letting her know that I've made alternate arrangements with Tai Flora for the flowers and that she won't have to worry about that part.

 

I think having your guests sit closer to you is a lovely idea.  It will really give your ceremony an intimate feel.  I've also contemplated doing that since our group is only 18 people and with 6 being in the wedding party it only leaves 12 in the chairs.  I'm still undecided about this and probably won't make up my mind until we get to the resort lol!

 

 

 

Originally Posted by cupcake1382 

JayKay-Hey Doll!

 

1. Contact Diana the reservation chick for all of the a la carte restaurants 2 weeks prior to your wedding. Do NOT talk to Chandlyn or Donnalee, they put you in the buffet because they have no say over the a la cartes. We had our welcome/rehearsal dinner in the Grill for 35 people and it was amazing. Her email is [email protected]. She will let you know 1-2 weeks before which restaurants are open and which can accommodate your group. But you all have smaller groups than I did so it shouldn't be any problem!

 

2. No you don't have to pay for it and no it doens't count towards one of your a la carte dinners.

 

3. Brought my own flowers, can't help ya on this one.

 

4. Nope- I think that would be really pretty and the best usage of the space and more intimate. 

 

5. Didn't make a cd, I brought my ipod and they had a wire to hook up to the speaker.

 

 

 

[BusyBee123]

Hey JayKay...

 

I've been down a few of these roads already...

 

1/2. We emailed about a month ago about setting up our welcome dinner to the email that cupcake provided.  They got back to us relatively quickly, and apparently put us on some kind of list, but said they couldn't confirm until 2 weeks before.  She said the Grill should definitely be available given that it is high season, which should be a good option cause our wedding dinner is at the Dolce.  Our welcome dinner is (tentatively, if booking comes through) on the Sunday, with us arriving Saturday.  We figured then people would have one day to rest up, but would still meet all the other guests early enough to be able to socialize outside of wedding events. 

 

3.  I have the PDF catalogues for bouquets and a second for arrangements/decor from Tai Flora if you want them.  Just pm me with your email and I can send them your way.  

 

4. We're still trying to figure that out too!  I think we're going to wait until we get there to check it out!

 

Happy Planning!

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayKay 

Like BusyBee123, my wedding day is fast approaching! Where has the time gone?!

 

I just have a few questions and hope to find the answers here.

 

1.  We want to do a welcome dinner.  We arrive at the resort on a Monday and get married the Friday.  What day would be appropriate for the welcome dinner?  We were thinking either the Wednesday or the Thursday.  Would it be weird to have it the day before the wedding? 

 

2.  If any past brides did have a welcome dinner, did you go to an A La Cart or the buffet?  We are only a group of 16.  If we do have it in an A La Cart do we have to pay for it? And does it count for the number of A La Cart you can use in the week?  Also, how did you go about arranging it with the resort?

 

3.  The more I look at the free bouquts, the more I realize I don't like any of them!  I am thinking of getting some other flowers from Tai Flora.  How did you go about this? Did you email the wedding planners at the resort or Tai Flora directly?  How much is it costing you?

 

4.  I need your opinion.  We are only a group of 16.  Between our wedding party and ourselves that leaves only 10 guests in chairs in the aisle.  Do you think it would be weird to have our guests sit on the first layer of the gazebo around it, instead of on the walkway leading to the gazebo?

 

5.  Has anyone made a CD of their own music and taken it with them?  Does someone play it for you?  How many songs do you need?

 

If anyone has any answers I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

[BusyBee123]

Ashley - Thanks so much for posting your response!  I really appreciate it!  As usual I am still waiting to hear back, but that's definitely reassuring!  I was super confused as to what I was supposed to be authorizing! Thanks!
 

Originally Posted by ashley490 

I've already gone ahead and arranged a rehearsal time in advance with Chandlyn, however, our initial meeting is not scheduled yet.  Maybe just send her an email stating you would like to book the rehearsal and perhaps the initial meeting and see what she says (fingers crossed Chandlyn replies and not Donnalee!).

 

I was also struggling with the credit card authorization form as we are also going with the free package.  Here are the questions I had emailed Chandlyn as well as the response I received from her today.

 

Given that we are going with the Free Package I am unclear on the need for the credit card authorization form to be completed and sent in. Could you please clarify why the credit card authorization form must be completed? Could you also please clarify what charges we are authorizing to be placed on our credit card? Should you have the Free package please note that you are not required to complete the authorization form

[AngelaandTrevor]

 

Angela and Trevor

www.angelaandtrevor.jamaicaweddingphotos.com here is a preview of our wedding site if anyone wants to see it!

[greatbritain]

oh my gosh, you look GORGEOUS and these pics are beautiful!
 

Originally Posted by Tekeya Thompson 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FleetMac bride]

Acw- Thanks i also was asking about the divorce paper's I have sent my copies of everything not notarized andf this was fine but then I got them notarized after. I also sent all those other forms too. Also you must be so excited you even closer then mine and I am getting pumped less then 60 days now.

 

Flowers- Can someone please send me the newest catalogue I picked mine from 2007 and the number's are not matching up.

 

Someone asked about music I am doing the ipod and we have roughly three hours worth of music.

 

Also I ordered my FI suit from studio suits and the quality colour was great but he picked the wrong size pants so we have to send it back but with the pre set sizes it's not a problem and they were quick too.

 

Here is some stuff I have bought from etsy for the wedding.

 

Bouts for the men in turquiose and hair clips for the bridesaids

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74258052/for-the-men-custom-peacock-groom 

 

 

Garter belt for the FI,shhhhh's a surprise

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73597655/montreal-canadiens-nhl-wedding-garter 

 

My head band

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65311363/bridal-headband-swarovski-crystal-with 

 

My clips for my shoes in turquoise

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76044492/peacock-hair-clip-kiss-of-color-feather 

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76044492/peacock-hair-clip-kiss-of-color-feather 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[greatbritain]

geez i'm hoping things go a little more smoothly for me...i'm definitely similar to you...i have no problem opening my mouth and telling people what they need to be doing and not be doing. i'm not shy! it sounds like that's the only way to go to get what you want! you looked gorgeous though!!

Originally Posted by cupcake1382 

I'M BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK I've missed my GBP brides SO MUCH!

 

Ok so I hate to do this but can I just say DITTO to everything Tekeya said, lol? Our weddings were exactly a week a part and everything that she experienced so did I.... so I will keep it short but feel free to ask questions. I am blunt so I don't meant to offend anyone but I too believe in keeping it real. 

 

1. Donnalee is an asshole. She has not one customer service bone in her body. I'm a wedding planner and I would NEVER talk to anyone of my clients the way she THOUGHT I was going to let her talk to me. She decided to continuously tell me they had a wedding at 3 when my time at the gazebo was until 2pm. So kindly after the 3rd time of her telling me (around 1:40) I politely told her to stop telling me as I understood the 1st time she told me and also I have the gazebo until 2pm, so DO NOT start to take down my decorations until 2pm. She left me alone after that. Secondly, she told me it wasn't her responsibility to give me back my decorations- see below:

 

2. Make sure you have someone get your decorations after your reception dinner (if you have some things you want back.) Now, I had pomanders, starfish bowls and 31 battery operated tea lights and I told Chandlyn when I met her that I wanted these items back. All she said was "no problem" (I will get more into that phrase later on!). So on Monday, since they don't work on Sunday's I was told no one knew where my items were and I should have elected someone to get the items after the reception at the Dolce Vita. To make matters worse, since the resort is turning over to off season, the Dolce Vita was closed until the day we left. So Donnalee with her stank attitude continued to remind me it wasn't her problem so I reminded her if she wanted me to pay for the wedding packaged she would find my items. After about 45 minutes of back and forth she called Chandlyn who called the manager of the Dolce Vita and said my stuff was in a storage closet in the restaurant and they would be retrieved on Thursday (our check out day) and be mailed to me. I had Donnalee put this in writing on GBP letterhead. 

 

3. Make sure you go through everything with Chandlyn. EVERYTHING. I told her I didn't want the resort photog there, who actually is the photog who takes pictures of you in the pool all day for purchase. Who elbowed my photog a couple times and was quite rude. So this was person #2 who I politely had words with. I told him to leave and that I told Chandlyn I wouldn't need his services. So he gave me some sad look and said, well you get 10 free pictures so can't I shoot something for you? I said no thanks, I have 2 photogs taking care of everything. Since the pictures are free and you aren't getting paid for any of this, it might be better for you to go back to snapping people at the pool. 

 

4. The resort has a mosquito issue in the rooms. My hubby and I were spraying like crazy in our room, it was gross. Other guests had roaches in their rooms. The Dolce Vita has a serious mosquito problem. At the beginning of the reception my dad actually walked all the way back to his room and go OFF and all 35 of us sprayed it before the reception started. We didn't have any bug issues at the gazebo or near the gazebo where we took pictures on the rocks. 

 

Honestly the resort is very nice, not 5 star, more like 3 star. The food is ok, the place is HUGE, nice people working there. I did find out that the guys at the swim up bars wearing white button downs with bow ties are Trainees and do not get paid at all. So I made sure to tip them well as they were the most polite and always made my drinks perfectly. The Jerk Shack on the back of the hotel (open from 12-3pm) was soooo good, and we ate there after the wedding (we had a big gap, wedding at 1230, dinner at 6) and we ate there for lunch every day. Breakfast in the main buffet was great, dinner at the Japanese was horrible, and we loved the Dolce Vita and Grille dinners. 

 

Make sure you make your dinner reservations when you check in, they fill up fast. We waited and ended up with reservations at 9pm, 2 nights in a row. DON'T splurge on the Golden Club rooms unless you really just want the 30 minutes of internet access and a couple other amenities like a little bottle of rum in your room, and robes/slippers. The rooms are all exactly the same so to pay more money for those few amenities were not worth it to us. 

 

I hate real flowers so I had no flowers whatsoever at the gazebo or reception so I got an extra layer of cake for free instead. So I can't comment on Jans or Tai Flora. I also brought my own photogs. Ok that's all I can think of, lol... If you have any questions feel free to ask anything! Here is the teaser we got from my photog- I'll update with more pics when she updates me!

 

 

[BusyBee123]

FleetMac - I think the 2007 edition is the most recent.  That's what they sent me when I emailed Tai Flora directly in the spring.  I know a few are misnumbered (mine (#52) was cut off and the prior two bouquets were both labelled 50!) but the explanations next to them seemed accurate.  I just emailed Tai Flora to clarify and they were super helpful and easy to work with.  

Originally Posted by FleetMac bride 

Acw- Thanks i also was asking about the divorce paper's I have sent my copies of everything not notarized andf this was fine but then I got them notarized after. I also sent all those other forms too. Also you must be so excited you even closer then mine and I am getting pumped less then 60 days now.

 

Flowers- Can someone please send me the newest catalogue I picked mine from 2007 and the number's are not matching up.