Any Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay Brides out there?

[ashley490]

I think what the other brides did was just make friends with one or two bartenders (any of them) the days leading up to the wedding.  Maybe even ask them ahead of time if they'd be willing to do that for you and of course offer a tip.  The beer in the room is also Caribe....the resort only serves Red Stripe on tap.  Past brides have just left a note and a tip for their maid asking for extra beer the days leading up to the wedding and "stock piled" it so to speak until the big day.  Then they just had it all brought down to the reception site by one of the members of their wedding party...No Problem! lol!  They'd also ask Chandlyn to have a table set up with cups and ice, which seemed like they had no trouble arranging.

I could be wrong, but I think they only use square tables.  The wedding coordinators have said in the past that the tables fit 8-10 people.  If you really want round tables I'd say just ask and maybe they can accommodate your request.  For me personally, I had my whole group seated at one long table all together.  There were only 23 of us so it worked out well.  I actually felt like I got to visit with my guests during the dinner rather than being seated away from them....but that was just my preference.

Originally Posted by kdaly 

Thank you for the Info!  So do I go to any bartender and ask them for that and for the beer drinkers are you able to bring down beer from the room to the gazebo?  Did you get to decide between round or long tables?   It really doesn't matter to me one way or another but all this stuff is good to know in planning.  This is sooo exciting and thanks again girls for being so helpful!

 

[cdnbridelinzy]

No, it was only $1700 and that price includes it being private for dinner and ur reception. I was set on having a semi private dinner at the dolce and then renting out the gazebo, but it will be nice to not have to move everyone from from spot to another.

[kdaly]

Thanks so much for the Info Ashley!!  That is such a good idea, my fiance is so worried about people having fun and being able to drink but I just can't justify paying 23/person for 2 hours so that makes more sense to me!  The long table idea sounds so intimate i really like that idea but wonder if that would work for my group ( we have between 40-50)  so most likely I will have to do the standard square tables.  Either way I'm excited!  I really want to try and make things for the tables and bring them down with me so i don't have to worry about much when I'm down there.  Did you girls get flowers from the resort for your bouquets, i was wondering if you were happy with them or if I should try to think of another idea.

[ashley490]

I think 40-50 people would be a little too much for one long table.  If you want a little intimate touch perhaps you and your husband can serve the cake/dessert to guests.  We did that and it gave a more "at home" feeling as that's what we do when we have company over for supper...we serve dessert  

Don't worry about people having fun.  They'll all be on vacation mode so they'll be having fun regardless.  Most folks also bring larger travel mugs of some type with them so you can always suggest to guests ahead of time to fill up their travel mugs before heading down to the gazebo, that way they'll for sure have something they like to drink  

If you do end up bringing things down to be placed on the tables I highly recommend giving it to someone in your wedding party to look after.  We had brought fans down for all of our guests and had given them to Chandlyn to distribute.  I guess she gave them to Donnalee, and Donnalee gave them to some trainee and they ended up being given to a wedding earlier in the day, so I had spent money on something for my guests that they didn't end up receiving. 

I didn't end up using the flowers included in the resort package.  I upgraded and paid the difference.  We did however use the same florist that the resort would've used, Tai Flora, so we got a small discount (the cost of what the flowers included in our package would've been) and applied it to our total bill.  I got bouquets for me and my bridesmaids, and bouts for my husband, groomsmen, and ring bearers - I can't remember exactly but our bill was around $450, which is very comparable to what we would've paid here.  I was very happy with the flowers, they were exactly what I had asked for, and the lady from the flower shop (Jennivie) was fantastic to deal with.  The flowers didn't wilt until late the next day which was great because I was able to use them in our trash the dress session that we did the morning after the wedding.

 

Originally Posted by kdaly 

Thanks so much for the Info Ashley!!  That is such a good idea, my fiance is so worried about people having fun and being able to drink but I just can't justify paying 23/person for 2 hours so that makes more sense to me!  The long table idea sounds so intimate i really like that idea but wonder if that would work for my group ( we have between 40-50)  so most likely I will have to do the standard square tables.  Either way I'm excited!  I really want to try and make things for the tables and bring them down with me so i don't have to worry about much when I'm down there.  Did you girls get flowers from the resort for your bouquets, i was wondering if you were happy with them or if I should try to think of another idea.

 

[pask454]

Does anyone know if the "free" Bridesmaid's bouqets can be used as the centerpieces - I only have two...do you recommend I get extra flowers for the centerpieces? I will be eating at the dolce..then moving to gazebo...only 20-30 guests.

Thanks

[kdaly]

Wow, i can't believe they made a mistake like that!  I bet you were livid!  I don't think they realize how much time, effort and money brides put into those cute details.  I'm so sorry that happened to you!  As for the flowers thats great advice, I will definetely check them out!  Would you recommend me asking chandlyn if we can bring down our own beer and liquor or is that already allowed.  I just don't know if I should risk asking her and her saying no because she wants us to spend the extra money on open bar.  My fiance said that maybe we could bring in some of our own alcohol, do they allow that?

[BusyBee123]

I used the bouquets that I ordered for my bridesmaids in the centrepieces for our reception at the Dolce.  I just got the girls to give them to Donnalee before the reception, and then they got them back afterwards.  I don't have any of my pro pics, but here's one that a friend took.  Unfortunately they didn't push the stem all the way down in the vase, but I definitely didn't notice that night. 

 
 

Originally Posted by pask454 

Does anyone know if the "free" Bridesmaid's bouqets can be used as the centerpieces - I only have two...do you recommend I get extra flowers for the centerpieces? I will be eating at the dolce..then moving to gazebo...only 20-30 guests.

Thanks

 

[pask454]

Thanks. They look amazing! Did you have to bring the vases/rocks down with you, or did they supply them?

[ashley490]

I think bringing your own alcohol is already allowed but I would probably just confirm with Chandlyn as it seems there has been some changes in the last few weeks.  Better to know the rules ahead of time and be prepared than to get down there and find out that you have to spend extra money on a bartender that you didn't budget for.  I think they would probably allow you to bring your own bottles of alcohol because some of the shops in the resort shopping center sell bottles which will still generate business/money.

 

Originally Posted by kdaly 

Wow, i can't believe they made a mistake like that!  I bet you were livid!  I don't think they realize how much time, effort and money brides put into those cute details.  I'm so sorry that happened to you!  As for the flowers thats great advice, I will definetely check them out!  Would you recommend me asking chandlyn if we can bring down our own beer and liquor or is that already allowed.  I just don't know if I should risk asking her and her saying no because she wants us to spend the extra money on open bar.  My fiance said that maybe we could bring in some of our own alcohol, do they allow that?

 

[BusyBee123]

I bought cheap $1.00 vases at the dollar store and a bag of rocks that cost me I think $4.00.  Then I just brought a ton of tea lights and little seashells to put out on the table!  Wasn't heavy to pack and definitely did the trick!  Donnalee also used some of my extra chair ties to drape on the cake table and table we had set up with the sky lanterns which was a nice touch.  
 

Originally Posted by pask454 

Thanks. They look amazing! Did you have to bring the vases/rocks down with you, or did they supply them?