Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe

[JG Corona]

Hello Ladies,

 

I posted our wedding video on you tube =)

 

Enjoy!

[natalieblev]

Hi Ladies! Thank you all so much for reviewing here lately. It is such a help! 

 

JRM did you have any issues bringing food/candy through the airport customs? Did you have to get permission ahead of time? 

Did you bring your own vases for centerpieces? I have never seen those on pictures before. And I am thinking I may do that.

 

Also, as this is my first wedding and my first time even going to a destination wedding, much less planning one, I am wondering the etiquette on tipping your wedding planner? I know in the states it is custom, but is it the same there? Especially considering the amount...like my sister who had a big wedding in CA tipped 1,000 to the WC. Any info would help.

 

 

For my OOT bags....we are planning on survival kit items, a map of DR and resort, the week plans, info for activites at the resort, beer koozies, sunscreen, DR local snacks, my TA found cheap 6 pack coolers that she will go to the grocery store once there and fill with a 6 pack of beer, some personal items for the wedding party like my husband to be and his crazy friends always think it is funny to wear short shorts when on vacation (Even though they are 30 him and his old hs buddies try to take a trip every year to somewhere), so we will include some laughable short shorts for the pool. For my bridesmaids I am thinking magazines, a robe for the day of, and still just thinking. (My wedding is not until next summer).  Oh also for the kids we will do sand buckets and toys geared towards the beach/pool, plus some little snacks. I am still trying to get mine decided on, but my TA was just recently there doing a wedding and so she knows what is available at the resort/the stores around it/ or what we would need to bring in. Hope that  helps a little. 

[JG Corona]

Hello Again,

 

My advice to all the Future BBPD Brides is just to stay organized and bring your own little details like Johanna and I did, we brought our program fans, orange umbrellas, welcome bags, souvenirs, I brought my own centerpieces, the littlest things do make a difference when they are setting up the ceremony and reception area. Also arrive two - three days before to have time to talk to the coordinator and to receive your guests that usually arrive 2 days prior to the wedding. Relax and Enjoy as much as you can because at the end of the day it just all turns out to be perfect!

 

Johanna looked amazing too =) We were in the Salon getting our hair and make up done together 

 

=) Julissa Corona

[JG Corona]

To see our wedding video copy and paste the following:

JG Wedding 2012 @ Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe -- enter this into Google and it should come up.

 

Enjoy!!!

 

Julissa Corona

[trivera5521]

Gorgeous and my goodness everything came together so nicely JRM!! Quick questions the centerpieces that you brought with you were they glass and how much did the resort charge for the flowers that went into them? Were all the lanterns the same size, large? So you were able to get around the outside vendor fee by just paying for DJ Mannia hotel stay for the night? Love the fire show, really nice lil perk! What was the time frame and shipping cost to ship your items prior too? Did you use Tropical Pictures and any chance you did a video as well?

 

Thanks again for the great review!!

[JRM426]

Originally Posted by natalieblev 

 

Hi Ladies! Thank you all so much for reviewing here lately. It is such a help! 

 

JRM did you have any issues bringing food/candy through the airport customs? Did you have to get permission ahead of time? 

Did you bring your own vases for centerpieces? I have never seen those on pictures before. And I am thinking I may do that.

 

Also, as this is my first wedding and my first time even going to a destination wedding, much less planning one, I am wondering the etiquette on tipping your wedding planner? I know in the states it is custom, but is it the same there? Especially considering the amount...like my sister who had a big wedding in CA tipped 1,000 to the WC. Any info would help.

 

 

For my OOT bags....we are planning on survival kit items, a map of DR and resort, the week plans, info for activites at the resort, beer koozies, sunscreen, DR local snacks, my TA found cheap 6 pack coolers that she will go to the grocery store once there and fill with a 6 pack of beer, some personal items for the wedding party like my husband to be and his crazy friends always think it is funny to wear short shorts when on vacation (Even though they are 30 him and his old hs buddies try to take a trip every year to somewhere), so we will include some laughable short shorts for the pool. For my bridesmaids I am thinking magazines, a robe for the day of, and still just thinking. (My wedding is not until next summer).  Oh also for the kids we will do sand buckets and toys geared towards the beach/pool, plus some little snacks. I am still trying to get mine decided on, but my TA was just recently there doing a wedding and so she knows what is available at the resort/the stores around it/ or what we would need to bring in. Hope that  helps a little. 

Thanks natalieblev,

 

To answer your questions:

 

JRM did you have any issues bringing food/candy through the airport customs? Did you have to get permission ahead of time? No issues whatsoever and no I didn't get permission. They are so lax with security down there that when we arrived no one took my customs form...I still have it. They are strict about taking things out of the country as opposed to bringing things in.

Did you bring your own vases for centerpieces? I have never seen those on pictures before. And I am thinking I may do that. No those centerpieces came from the hotel florists...I just brought a picture and they replicated it. The jars I brought were for the candy table

I am wondering the etiquette on tipping your wedding planner? We tipped everyone from the wedding coordinator, the maitre d', the DJ and the photographer...based on how much they earn and dollar difference $100 or more is gracious..but tip at your own discretion. 

 

Hope this helps!

[JRM426]

Originally Posted by trivera5521 

 

Gorgeous and my goodness everything came together so nicely JRM!! Quick questions the centerpieces that you brought with you were they glass and how much did the resort charge for the flowers that went into them? Were all the lanterns the same size, large? So you were able to get around the outside vendor fee by just paying for DJ Mannia hotel stay for the night? Love the fire show, really nice lil perk! What was the time frame and shipping cost to ship your items prior too? Did you use Tropical Pictures and any chance you did a video as well?

 

Thanks again for the great review!!

Hi trivera5521,

 

To answer you questions:

The centerpieces that you brought with you were they glass and how much did the resort charge for the flowers that went into them? Yes but the hotel provided the vases and flowers...I didn't bring those with me, $60 each

Were all the lanterns the same size, large? Yes, all the same size

So you were able to get around the outside vendor fee by just paying for DJ Mannia hotel stay for the night? They didn't stay for the night, I just paid for them as a guest and got them day/night passes.

What was the time frame and shipping cost to ship your items prior too? I brought everything with me to the hotel in various suitcases..I didn't ship anything because I don't trust shipping in DR. 

Did you use Tropical Pictures and any chance you did a video as well? I did but just got the photo package not video....they do make a DVD slideshow with music with the photos you choose if you opt to not have video. 

[JRM426]

Originally Posted by disazaja 

 

Hi JRM426!!! Thanks for all the pics!!! they look awesome! just as curiosity, how many chinese lanterns did you bring with you? I want to bring my own too but I want to get an idea of how many are needed to fill Bar Higuey. how many lighted balls did you get too? I saw those online but they will be impossible to bring so I would have to get them in the DR. Did you have decorations on the pools around bar higuey? JG Corona thanks for the video! so pretty! did you girls felt that you were rushed on the spa because your weddings were the same day? or it didnt really matter? mine is at 3 pm and there is another bride at 5pm .. so I dont want to be ready by 12....

Hey disazaja,

 

I actually saw you getting your hair and make-up done...I was the girl falling asleep two seats away as they did my hair!

 

To answer your questions:

how many chinese lanterns did you bring with you? Marlene originally told my sister that she needed to bring 70 down to cover the ceiling; she brought 58 and they put up less than half...I think they ran out of time which is why a lot of them didn't end up going up. 

ow many lighted balls did you get too? I Lighted balls 7 on each side and the resort provides them to you...they were 60 cm each and $21 for each lighted ball. 

Did you have decorations on the pools around bar higuey? No I did not....I didn't see if they put anything in there either...it's a nice touch though if you decide to decorate the pool

did you girls felt that you were rushed on the spa because your weddings were the same day? or it didnt really matter? Not at all, my hair appointment was at 2pm and I needed to be ready by 4p for the photographer....we had all the time in the world and everyone showed up a little late-the photographer and Lianny as well in picking me up...the wedding was supposed to start at 5pm but I think I didn't get there till about 5:20-5:30p. 

[pclama2013]

Hi JRM426,

 

Your wedding looked beautiful!  THanks for the review, that will really help us in our wedding planning.  How many guests were at each table? We are curious at how many centerpeices we would need.

 

Thanks!

[ncordero6504]

JGcorona, JRM - thankful for your reviews! I was wondering if you and your hubby were separated before the ceremony and if so how did that work out (how were you transported separately) I do not want us to see eachother until ceremony. Also, did they do a good job with your cake was it what you expected and wanted? I'm a little worried about that. Thanks ladies