Any Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay Brides out there?

[CdnBrideJoanne]

Take a look at my post #4314. There is more information posted there. If you don't choose the gazebo or disco option, then the DJ is $350/hour (like a pool reception).

 

For guests having a semi-private dinner after dinner receptions are accommodated at the gazebo on beach at a cost of US$500 or at the disco at a cost of USD700. Both locations are inclusive of DJ for 2 hours.

[Jenn83]

Originally Posted by CdnBrideJoanne 

 

Take a look at my post #4314. There is more information posted there. If you don't choose the gazebo or disco option, then the DJ is $350/hour (like a pool reception).

 

For guests having a semi-private dinner after dinner receptions are accommodated at the gazebo on beach at a cost of US$500 or at the disco at a cost of USD700. Both locations are inclusive of DJ for 2 hours.

 

Thank you for this info. I had no idea! I love this site

[tram13]

I was just wondering...for those past brides who have rented the private venue...what are your dinner options like?

[HopeToBe]

WOW! Where is THAT? I could only assume that is to book a building/space that would otherwise be used... I also have booked the "dancing area"... which is actually the GAZEBO we get married at... and the DJ for 2 hours for $500. I'm curious WHERE in the resort you have been quoted. I would assume for that price, it's like the resort Lobby or something...

Ah ok got it. The cheap cost for the gazebo /DJ is ONLY if you do the semi-private dinner... Which means you will be eating with the general public. Semi-private is not private at all. Hence the expensive cost of $1700 for your own private, separate, dinner venue...hope everyone is aware of the difference in private vs. semi-private. I personally don't want to be eating my nice, fancy, relatively formal, celebratory dinner with every other guest at the hotel

[HopeToBe]

Thank you for this info. I had no idea! I love this site The cheap cost for the gazebo /DJ is ONLY if you do the semi-private dinner... Which means you will be eating with the general public. Semi-private is not private at all. Hence the expensive cost of $1700 for your own private, separate, dinner venue...hope everyone is aware of the difference in private vs. semi-private. I personally don't want to be eating my nice, fancy, relatively formal, celebratory dinner with every other guest at the hotel

[acw271011]

Originally Posted by MrsViolo 

 

Not yet! A lot of photographers I contacted were appalled at the rate. 

 

I was thinking of posting in here and asking brides that have used them to send me detailed reviews with their names that I can show Chandalyn when i make my case for a reduced fee. 

 

I'm also going to contact other resorts to find out their vendors fee. 

 

There's power in numbers right and my wedding is not for a year, planning is done, so i have time to fuss over annoying things like this. 

 

So... any brides out there willing to share their not so good reviews of the resort photographer, including their name and wedding date so Chandalyn knows that we have the inside scoop

 

Your help would be awesome! 

 

Thanks

 

Hi. We got married at GBPJ on Oct 20, 2011 and used Merrick Cousley for our pics. He was fantastic and like JayKay we didn't pay the rates that he charges now! But he is wonderful to work with and his work has progressed so much that he's well worth what he charges! We were horribly disappointed with the resort photographers and they had just taken over when we were there. It had only been a couple of weeks. They did about 75 shots and we looked through and had a tough time picking the 5 freebies. In the end we found 10 and they gave them all to us for free. They were ok and were actually one or two shots that Merrick didn't get so that was why I wanted them. We actually got talking to a bride to be at the resort and she was stuck for a photographer - she actually arrived without one booked - and we talked her out of the resort people just because of how horrible they were and how expensive. We gave her Merrick's info on the off chance that he was still open but we never heard how she made out. I would NOT recommend the resort people. My husband actually sat and talked to the new "owner" and she went on and on about how they wanted to improve the service, blah, blah. The whole sales pitch but we didn't see it translated into their work and there was another wedding 2 days before ours that was in reviewing photos at the same time and they seemed just as disappointed. They are located in other resorts as well,  specifically the Dominican that we know of but I have no idea what the quality of their work is there. Hope that helps out. As an FYI, I was looking at Mexico for some information and the resorts there definitely have vendor fees - some as high as $800 but the general seems to be $500 unless you use their "recommended" photographers. The fact that GBPJ has now gone to charging isn't surprising but the fact that their "recommended" people are crappy is. At least Mexico seems to recommend people that take good pictures!

[acw271011]

Originally Posted by EmbellishMe 

 

 

Hi Amber

 

I'm getting married in October at 1pm, so we are in the exact same situation as you   I'm trying to get through all these posts, trying to piece everything together from all these wonderful suggestions and ideas

 

 

Originally Posted by AmberFraser 

 

Hi Ladies! 

 

I have been reading all the posts and have got some great Ideas, Thank you!!! 

My wedding is booked in October ) and we have the ceremony booked at 1pm...I reallly wanted a later time but it does not look like it is possible. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do from the ceremony to dinner....i think it would about 4 hours till dinner  

Any thoughts?

 

 

Originally Posted by CdnBrideJoanne 

 

Any suggestions on what to do between a 12:00 wedding and the dinner??  That's the only time slot available...  Shouldn't have listened to my TA.  She told me to wait to book.  She even wanted me to wait until April but I was getting nervous.

 

So now I don't know what to do between the service and dinner. 

 

 

Hi ladies,

 

I don't know if this will be helpful or not. I got married Oct 20, 2011 at 1 pm. Originally we were set for November 17th, but had a lot of difficulty with people booking. We knew we were going to be a very small group - we're a lot older and it was the second time around for both of us - but too many people bailed at the last minute. In the end we decided we would go ahead and we went just the 2 of us in October instead and had a great time. When it was going to be a group in November, we had an early ceremony time too so we asked about having some hors d'oeuvres put together up at the Terrace Bar so that everyone could go from the ceremony site to a shady spot, sit and have a drink and something light to eat while we were off having pics done. It isn't that far from the gazebo for people to get to, it's in the shade and would allow people to relax before the dinner. It would be easy to kill a couple of hours and the prices are really quite inexpensive for the hors d'oeuvres.

 

I don't stop by here much anymore since we've now been married almost a year and a half, but I check in every once in a while and thought I would pass on the suggestion. I had so many good ideas from this site, and then when our entire wedding fell apart and we had to put it all back together, this site kept me sane! lol  Good luck to everyone and I'll say the same thing I said in my review. RELAX! In Jamaica, it's no problem mon and the coordinators really do know what they're doing. Your wedding day will be perfect! I am a true testament to that after everything we went through and still had a beautiful, wonderful day. I got really sick 5 months ago and had major surgery and was told that if I had gotten to the hospital just a couple of days later than I did, I wouldn't be here to tell about it. My husband spent hours and hours sitting beside me in the hospital for 23 days so believe it or not, we're actually thinking about renewing our vows on a beach somewhere, maybe next year. I still have more surgery to get through so we'll wait to see how all of that goes to make sure we really have something to be thankful for before we make a final decision.

[acw271011]

Originally Posted by MelB2012 

 

Only 255 days until my wedding!!! Lol....

 

Since I started my new job... I haven't had all that much time for my wedding planning...

 

Thankfully I plan things way ahead of time, so I have no stress right now, even though it feels like I still have a million things to do.

 

I wish there were better timelines for destination brides. I need something to tell me when to get my butt in gear.

 

Still need to write the ceremony script, and vows... and ask a family friend to be our unofficial officiant. Haha!

 

Centerpieces, flower girl dress decision (might have it made. My little cousin is so cute!), OOT bags, welcome brochure... Groom/smen outfits. Groom's RING!! (Haven't even looked yet... AHH!)

 

Oh, etc etc.... With 8 1/2 months to go... when would you say I should have some of these things completed?!

Hi,

 

I just wondered what your colours are? I have a beautiful little flower girl dress, never worn, with matching shoes and flip flops, matching hair band with a flower and a coordinating sash that goes around the waist of the dress. The tags are still on everything. If the colour is right, I could send you pics if you want.

[acw271011]

Originally Posted by leannesmith 

 

 

No I don't think they charge a vendor fee for that. I haven't told them either....but I know I am not paying two vendor fees!

 

Just to clarify, the vendor fee is for anyone coming to and staying on the resort to provide a service, i.e. a photographer. For both Tai Flora and Jan's, all they do is drop off the flowers so there is no vendor fee. They are the 2 accepted florists for the resort. My understanding, although I didn't use her, for Rachel and her assistant is that if they just come in, do the hair and makeup and leave, there is no vendor fee. I know there was one bride that said that if she sticks around through the day to touch you up, then they will charge the guest pass rate for her, which is $75 US.

[leannesmith]

Just to clarify, the vendor fee is for anyone coming to and staying on the resort to provide a service, i.e. a photographer. For both Tai Flora and Jan's, all they do is drop off the flowers so there is no vendor fee. They are the 2 accepted florists for the resort. My understanding, although I didn't use her, for Rachel and her assistant is that if they just come in, do the hair and makeup and leave, there is no vendor fee. I know there was one bride that said that if she sticks around through the day to touch you up, then they will charge the guest pass rate for her, which is $75 US.

Great thanks for the info