Any Gran Bahia Principe Runaway Bay Brides out there?

[Hydewedding]

Hi ladies, just wondering do you have to stay on the luxury size/adult only side of the resort to be eligible for the beach ceremony? And have you heard anything about the wind at the beach? I heard the gazebo weddings are always super windy, wondering if the beach is on a different side of the resort!

 

Thanks! 

Has anyone done an outdoor reception on the beach? It was included in their google docs that they sent to my TA. Looks beautiful! Wondering what the cost would be compared to Pisces. 

 

 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9Z4XuvqT5HwcDNoYWs4VjJ2eEk&usp=sharing&tid=0B9Z4XuvqT5HwUUxRQ1ZsRWE0MkE

 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9Z4XuvqT5HwUUxRQ1ZsRWE0MkE&usp=sharing

Edited January 19, 2016 by Hydewedding

[Melissa080413]

@@Hydewedding We are not staying on the luxury side and we are having a beach ceremony Have not hear about the wind at the beach

[TorontoGal]

Thanks for responding and for the food recommendation! Haven't gotten the menu yet but now we know what's good!

 

As for the Pisces: did they offer you the old Pisces area (not the tented one)? One of the reasons we chose Pisces is for the feel of the restaurant - the palm leaves and wood. The tented area looks nice but it's really big and we will be a small group. We're not investing in a lot of decorations so it will look quite bare if we just have have the white on white. 

 

Another question: did you have a choice of tables : round vs rectangular? I'd rather have tables of 6 but can't get a straight answer from Sonae on some things. (did you work with her as the wedding coordinator). I feel like I'm playing broken telephone with her lol. I called her after she sent me details on how to pay my deposit to reserve my wedding date when I had already paid and confirmed my date almost a year ago. It freaked me out!!

 

Thanks again! 

 

Hey TorontoGal yes I had my reception at the Pisces, they totally re did the whole restaurant and snack bar area. The area you see in my pic is a separate tented area a couple feet away from the Pisces. We ordered our food from the Dolce Vita, the stuffed chicken, I would highly recommended it. 

[claczko]

Thanks for responding and for the food recommendation! Haven't gotten the menu yet but now we know what's good!

 

As for the Pisces: did they offer you the old Pisces area (not the tented one)? One of the reasons we chose Pisces is for the feel of the restaurant - the palm leaves and wood. The tented area looks nice but it's really big and we will be a small group. We're not investing in a lot of decorations so it will look quite bare if we just have have the white on white. 

 

Another question: did you have a choice of tables : round vs rectangular? I'd rather have tables of 6 but can't get a straight answer from Sonae on some things. (did you work with her as the wedding coordinator). I feel like I'm playing broken telephone with her lol. I called her after she sent me details on how to pay my deposit to reserve my wedding date when I had already paid and confirmed my date almost a year ago. It freaked me out!!

 

Thanks again! 

Hey Toronto Gal; All of Pisces has been redone, no more wood and all that which I had really like as well from the pictures. There is a smaller area off to the side near the bbq at the Pisces restaurant which you could ask to have your reception in. I asked for small rounds for 6 people each. I have the menu if you want me to email it to you. Honestly, once you are there and meet with your coordinator you can ask for anything and they will do it. As long as you have the date confirmed for the wedding, don't worry about the money or anything, all you really need is your deposit for your wedding group with your travel agent, that secures everything for you. No worries ask anything, I will try to help

[TorontoGal]

That's so much help Claczko.

I was also wondering if there is a 10% tax on the wedding charges (wedding packages, fee for pisces). I've read it on some of the documents but have not been able to confirm this. Did you have to add 10%? (With the tanking Canadian dollar (69c now!), our wedding costs ballooned since we will be charged in US$.)

 

What package did you go with? I'm torn between the Romance Extravaganza and the Unforgettable. We'd like a bar to serve our guests after dinner and during dancing, and the Romance has that included. But if we pay for a bar separately it will be almost as much as the difference between the two package, except we get the cocktails and canapes after the ceremony as well. I read some brides got bottles at the duty free and got some mix from the hotel to avoid spending almost $1000 on booze at an all inclusive. 

 

If you don't mind emailing or posting the menu that would be fantastic. I will PM you with my email. Thanks

 

 

Hey Toronto Gal; All of Pisces has been redone, no more wood and all that which I had really like as well from the pictures. There is a smaller area off to the side near the bbq at the Pisces restaurant which you could ask to have your reception in. I asked for small rounds for 6 people each. I have the menu if you want me to email it to you. Honestly, once you are there and meet with your coordinator you can ask for anything and they will do it. As long as you have the date confirmed for the wedding, don't worry about the money or anything, all you really need is your deposit for your wedding group with your travel agent, that secures everything for you. No worries ask anything, I will try to help

Thanks ebecks! 

Where did you have the reception? Did you use the hotel's photographer? Any pics you'd like to share

 

The wedding is 7 months away and we don't have exact numbers yet. We're at 20 people so far but will likely be closer to 26. Booked the pisces for the reception. Very excited. 

 

The prices keep changing.  So just make sure you keep note of the email they send you and quotes.  I confirmed everything right away.  Then a month before I was told the prices went up.   I told them the prices I was quoted and they gave me those prices.

 

I didn't have to put a deposit down for anything.  Ask for Nick and Ornella if you can - they were amazing.

 

Feel free to ask any questions.  I was just married there last month.

[ebecks]

Hi ladies, just wondering do you have to stay on the luxury size/adult only side of the resort to be eligible for the beach ceremony? And have you heard anything about the wind at the beach? I heard the gazebo weddings are always super windy, wondering if the beach is on a different side of the resort!

 

Thanks! 

Has anyone done an outdoor reception on the beach? It was included in their google docs that they sent to my TA. Looks beautiful! Wondering what the cost would be compared to Pisces. 

 

 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9Z4XuvqT5HwcDNoYWs4VjJ2eEk&usp=sharing&tid=0B9Z4XuvqT5HwUUxRQ1ZsRWE0MkE

 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9Z4XuvqT5HwUUxRQ1ZsRWE0MkE&usp=sharing

The gazebo was super windy when I had my wedding at 2pm.  I had my hair down but it didn't bother me.  The ceremony would have been way to hot without the wind for myself and the guests.

 

The wind also makes your dress flow nicely while you're standing there getting married.

 

I just uploaded pictures a l couple days ago with pics from my wedding.  

Some were done by the photographer so you can see what they are like - Nick was our photog and was great.  I labelled the photog shots.

Some answers to questions above.

 

• We only were charged taxes on the photographer - all wedding fees included taxes
• We did the free package and paid for the bar at the gazebo for our after dinner dancing party.  The gazebo rental ended up being free - not sure if they forgot to charge us or if because we paid for the bar it was free.  It was sooo worth it and the pictures were so pretty - see my gallery for our first dance pictures with bubbles
• We also paid $400 for the steel drum band for the ceremony
• It was still cheaper to not go with a package and the above 2 options - we had 43 guests.
• We had the resort photographer - Nick / Ornella - they were amazing - I uploaded some pics last week with the title "grand bahia principe" - resort photographer pictures are labelled 
• The resort coordinator can send you the menu options, bar costs, bouquet options - many many flower options
• We choose dolce vita but it was under construction so they shut down the palmyra (smaller buffet) for my group but still have the dolce vita menu
• OUr menu was: Caprese Salad (nothing special but it was good - not like i'm used to in Canada - very simple lettuce and tomato and cheese).  Chicken breast with risotto - so good.  Dessert was profiterols (soooo good) and wedding cake (vanilla raspberry) all good!
• We thought about doing canape after the cermony but i'm glad i didn't.  We all got champagne then took group pictures.   By that time everyone was ready to get out of the heat and sun - most went to the pool - our wedding started at 2pm

Here was the menu - I thought we got both soup and salad but it was just one or the other.

We chose menu 3 - bolded selections below

 

 

GROUPS - WEDDINGS Dolce Vita Restaurant

 

MENU No 1

 

Cream of Tomato and fresh Basil

 

Spinach Ravioli with Sauce "Boscaila"

 

Beef Scalloppini with Fungi Sauce Porcini

 

Tiramisu

 

MENU No 2

 

Minestrone Soup

 

Neapolitan Penne Rigatto

 

Seafood Choppino

 

Panna cotta

 

MENU No 3

 

Caprese Salad

 

Cream of Roasted Squash and Thyme

 

Chicken breast with ricotta, walnuts and bacon - basil - risotto crunch

 

Profiteroles with Cream and Chocolate Coulis

[TorontoGal]

Love your photos and dress ebecks! Looks like you had an awesome time. Thanks for sharing. I originally was looking for a dress in the style you had (for a flow in the breeze) but fell in love with a different style (fit and flare).

 

Where did you get the shades done? Figuring out guest favors right now. 

 

 

 

The gazebo was super windy when I had my wedding at 2pm.  I had my hair down but it didn't bother me.  The ceremony would have been way to hot without the wind for myself and the guests.

 

The wind also makes your dress flow nicely while you're standing there getting married.

 

I just uploaded pictures a l couple days ago with pics from my wedding.  

Some were done by the photographer so you can see what they are like - Nick was our photog and was great.  I labelled the photog shots.

Some answers to questions above.

 

• We only were charged taxes on the photographer - all wedding fees included taxes
• We did the free package and paid for the bar at the gazebo for our after dinner dancing party.  The gazebo rental ended up being free - not sure if they forgot to charge us or if because we paid for the bar it was free.  It was sooo worth it and the pictures were so pretty - see my gallery for our first dance pictures with bubbles
• We also paid $400 for the steel drum band for the ceremony
• It was still cheaper to not go with a package and the above 2 options - we had 43 guests.
• We had the resort photographer - Nick / Ornella - they were amazing - I uploaded some pics last week with the title "grand bahia principe" - resort photographer pictures are labelled 
• The resort coordinator can send you the menu options, bar costs, bouquet options - many many flower options
• We choose dolce vita but it was under construction so they shut down the palmyra (smaller buffet) for my group but still have the dolce vita menu
• OUr menu was: Caprese Salad (nothing special but it was good - not like i'm used to in Canada - very simple lettuce and tomato and cheese).  Chicken breast with risotto - so good.  Dessert was profiterols (soooo good) and wedding cake (vanilla raspberry) all good!
• We thought about doing canape after the cermony but i'm glad i didn't.  We all got champagne then took group pictures.   By that time everyone was ready to get out of the heat and sun - most went to the pool - our wedding started at 2pm

 

[ebecks]

i am getting married in May and have started asking for quotes for decor, dj, etc. Do you guys find the prices are negotiable or it is what it is? they quoted me 1200$ for the arch which i find a little too much considering there are minimal flowers, but then again i have no idea how the pricing works! Also, when do you confirm everything you want for decor? a couple of months in advance, weeks or when you arrive? thank you ladies!

Look into getting married at the gazebo - it was gorgeous.  I wouldn't have wanted a beach wedding - it was too hot to be in the sun that long without shade and the beach isn't super fine super soft sand, it's kind of rocky.  They will upcharge you for everything - try to keep simple for cost savings.   A lot of the extras you think you want, won't really be remembered.

Love your photos and dress ebecks! Looks like you had an awesome time. Thanks for sharing. I originally was looking for a dress in the style you had (for a flow in the breeze) but fell in love with a different style (fit and flare).

 

Where did you get the shades done? Figuring out guest favors right now. 

 

The sunglasses we ordered through 'shades of fun' - they turned out to be the cheapest for decent quality.  We actually wear the sunglasses on a regular basis.   We didn't put our names on them so maybe if others wanted to continue wearing them after the trip.

 

We did lanyards with our names and date which turned out nice.   And plain beach bags which a lot of guests used.   Along with some added snacks in our welcome bags.  Also had how to share pictures with us, thank you notes, and a hangover kit with Tylenol, pepto tablets, bandaids, and gatoraid single powder packs.

Hi ladies, just wondering do you have to stay on the luxury size/adult only side of the resort to be eligible for the beach ceremony? And have you heard anything about the wind at the beach? I heard the gazebo weddings are always super windy, wondering if the beach is on a different side of the resort!

 

Thanks! 

Has anyone done an outdoor reception on the beach? It was included in their google docs that they sent to my TA. Looks beautiful! Wondering what the cost would be compared to Pisces. 

 

 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9Z4XuvqT5HwcDNoYWs4VjJ2eEk&usp=sharing&tid=0B9Z4XuvqT5HwUUxRQ1ZsRWE0MkE

 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9Z4XuvqT5HwUUxRQ1ZsRWE0MkE&usp=sharing

Are you doing the wedding planning with the travel agent or wedding coordinator?   I suggest doing directly to the resort if you haven't figured that out already.

 

Pisces has changed - they are no longer the palm fran huts - it is now a white tent which is pretty but not as tropical as the older picture illustrate.

Beautiful pictures! My wedding will be somewhere between 30-50 people in May 2017. Just had a few questions!

 

1. Would you recommend any outside photographers or videographers as the hotels seem super expensive!

 

 

2. Do you need seating charts and table numbers? Or does everyone sit where they want at the Pisces?

 

3. Did anyone provide a dress code for men? Was reading there was some restaurants that's don't allow shorts.

 

4. What is the Max number of ppl before you have to get private reception?

 

5. Did anyone bring fake flowers? Would you recommend this over the resort?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1. the photogs at the resort were awesome - the pricing is about the same as local so it was 100% worth it for me.

2. We didn't use seating charts and let everyone sit where they wanted - 43 poeple.  you can choose how many tables and seats per table.  No table number needed unless you want a seating chart - they do put menus on each table

3. Depends on the restaurant for pants / shorts

4. 49 people is the max for a "free dinner / reception"  if you have 50 you need to go private.

5. I almost brought fake flowers but chose against it - i only had 1 bridesmaid - she got the free bouquet included and I chose an upgrade for around $130 US - it was gorgeous.   see my gallery for picture.  I just did the standard version because the deluxe was $255US.  The standard was perfect and full of flowers.

Hello ladies,

 

glad I found this forum. I am planning my wedding at the GBP for April 4, 2017. I am having a hard time getting a response back from the wedding coordinator, in fact she has not responded to any of my emails or answered when my travel agent calls. I did however get a response from the manager at the resort to provide packages and pricing and let me know they had availability on my requested date. I responded back that I would like to go ahead and book now waiting on confirmation. How quickly did others get responses back? What is the next step?

Sometimes she took days or even a week when you first start planning.  I suggest you email your questions / request in point form because they always seemed to answer every question  this way by just answering each bullet in a different color.

Edited January 21, 2016 by ebecks

[Hydewedding]

Looking into bringing my own photographer and videographer. Found a great couple who do both, just for the price of their travel expenses.

 

I am wondering if there is anyway to avoid the $500 vendor fee. This is a ridiculous expense to add onto someone's wedding.

 

Also, just wondering if anyone did the free wedding package and a private reception. Did this end up being cheaper or more expensive than just going with the romance package.

 

Are there any other add ons that people did with the free wedding?

 

I am unsure how to getting the most for my guests for their money since the Canadian dollar is so bad.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TorontoGal]

Hi!

I haven't had my wedding yet but was told it would be $500 for a guest to be the photographer.

 

As for the free vs romance wedding package: both come with a semi-private reception (at one of the restaurants). You will still need to pay for the private reception fee either way if that is what you want. 

 

 

Looking into bringing my own photographer and videographer. Found a great couple who do both, just for the price of their travel expenses.

I am wondering if there is anyway to avoid the $500 vendor fee. This is a ridiculous expense to add onto someone's wedding.

Also, just wondering if anyone did the free wedding package and a private reception. Did this end up being cheaper or more expensive than just going with the romance package.

Are there any other add ons that people did with the free wedding?

I am unsure how to getting the most for my guests for their money since the Canadian dollar is so bad.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk