Barcelo Bavaro Palace Deluxe

[Ycuriel2]

@@Reign14 did you have your wedding yet !?

[Reign14]

@@Reign14 did you have your wedding yet !?

 

Yes!!!! Last Saturday. And it was perfect! It was beautiful. Ask me anything.

 

I was there for 10 days (it was our honeymoon too) and I probably saw 5 or 6 other weddings. The resort is gorgeous no matter where you have it, I can't say enough about how awesome the hotel is. All of my guests LOVED it. We had been there before which gave us extra comfort in our choice, but this time around was even better. Service is unsurpassed. And no one got sick!

 

Elizabeth is an amazing WC. Love her! 

 

The details I can think of:

• We had it at the garden gazebo and Bar Higuey for the reception
• Pastor York was the officiant for the ceremony
• We used the DJ & MC there who were great. The DJ played like 2 songs I had never heard then stuck to my playlist for the rest. The MC was really good.
• Tropical pictures was amazing... both photography and video. Thy definitely get you in the end by making you want to buy all of the photos, so we did.
• I was worried about how the bouquets and centerpieces would turn out but it all looked lovely. 
• All of the planning and details came together beautifully.
• There were a few things that didn't go as planned (such as I was mysteriously missing several place cards by the time I got to the resort, but Elizabeth reprinted them for me. And about 10 guests declined last minute due to a death in FI's family) but not everything is in your control, and in the grand scheme of things they don't make or break the day. I also did not bring a sand ceremony kit (thought they'd have it to purchase at the hotel) but Elizabeth helped us improvise.
• The ONLY thing I would have done differently at the reception is choose the beef tenderloin rather than the sirloin steak. It wasn't all that great. The pesto chicken was descent. The chocolate fondant dessert was only OK. The shrimp ceasar salad in a parmesan cheese bowl was amazing and so was the cake (vanilla with strawberry filling).
• We booked the Jr. Suite Deluxe Club Premium and were upgraded to the suite, which was lovely, and big!
• Club premium is worth it if you're getting married. The perks make a difference in your experience.
• April is the perfect time of year b/c it wasn't too hot and humid. And only rained once overnight in the 10 days we were there. It was gloomy a few days though, but we got lucky and had perfect weather.
• I thought the ladies in the salon did great hair and makeup. Bring pictures and they'll replicate the look pretty closely. And be vocal about what you like and dislike.
• I will say it generally helps your entire stay if you can speak some spanish b/c a lot of the employees surprisingly don't speak/understand english well. Including the salon workers, but the salon manager does. And obviously the WCs do.
• The massage included with the package was nothing to rave about but the facial was amazing.
• We booked an excursion the day after thru La Barcaza... a boat ride, which was awesome. The only downside is since they aren't affiliated with the resort, it was difficult for the rep to meet me in the lobby to make the payment, and my group had to walk all the way to the end of the adults side to catch the boat b/c they can't come onto the BBPD beach since it's private. I'd recommend maybe booking with an excursion company affiliated with BBPD to make things easier. Although we had a wonderful time on La Barcaza. It was 3 hours, took us snorkeling, then to the natural pool where the water is shallow and clear, there was open bar, a DJ who played great music, and they served lunch (grilled chicken and steak kabobs, plantains, and fries) and everyone loved the food!

Let me know if anyone has any other questions.

Edited April 23, 2016 by Reign14

[Ycuriel2]

@@Reign14 I am sooooo happy the resort was awesome ! I know I definitely want to stay there but I am unsure now if I want the actually wedding there or an off site location , I fell in love with Kukua restaurant outside the resort and was going to do ceremony at church in resort and reception at Kukua but the resort is still making me pick a package and pay for the extra people not included in package even though it's literally only ceremony I want to have there . So now I have to rethink what I am doing Thank you for your feedback it's very comforting knowing at least the resort was amazing and the guest loved it as well !

[Reign14]

@@Reign14 I am sooooo happy the resort was awesome ! I know I definitely want to stay there but I am unsure now if I want the actually wedding there or an off site location , I fell in love with Kukua restaurant outside the resort and was going to do ceremony at church in resort and reception at Kukua but the resort is still making me pick a package and pay for the extra people not included in package even though it's literally only ceremony I want to have there . So now I have to rethink what I am doing Thank you for your feedback it's very comforting knowing at least the resort was amazing and the guest loved it as well !

Yeah they probably don't have an option for just the ceremony since the reception is included in the package price. It may not be worth it for you to pay for the package and just do the ceremony. The package includes the ceremony & reception venues, decorations, dinner, cake, and even an officiant. So I'd either have it all there or have it elsewhere if I were you. You can always do your rehearsal dinner or a day-after dinner/excursion at the other location you like.

[kmparmerlee]

Hi all - my wedding is at BBPD in just 3 short weeks!  For those of you who have had weddings there, did you tip your wedding coordinator?  Or those of you who having upcoming weddings there, are you planning to tip her?

 

I'm assuming the DJ will also need to be tipped - anyone else?  

 

Thanks for the help! 

[Ycuriel2]

Yeah they probably don't have an option for just the ceremony since the reception is included in the package price. It may not be worth it for you to pay for the package and just do the ceremony. The package includes the ceremony & reception venues, decorations, dinner, cake, and even an officiant. So I'd either have it all there or have it elsewhere if I were you. You can always do your rehearsal dinner or a day-after dinner/excursion at the other location you like.

 

Yeah that's what I'm thinking I may have to do one or the other at this point . The rehearsal dinner idea sounds like a good idea I'll keep that in mind . Thank you !

[Soon2beJara]

@@Reign14 Thanks so much for your review!!!! So happy to hear that everything went great and you enjoyed your wedding & stay at the resort! I feel like i have so many questions but the only ones I can think of right now are these.... 

1. Did you do any sort of welcome bags or welcome Party? 2. You got the centerpieces from the resort correct? were you happy with them? were they worth all the extra money? 3. did you do a rehearsal dinner? 

Also I would love to see some pictures!!. 

 

Thank you!! 

I am about 3 months away & starting to freak out!

[mcanales]

@@AddyB hi I am getting married August 4, 2016 I am considering bringing my own speakers if you don't mind me asking what type of speaker did you bring?

[KC143]

Yes!!!! Last Saturday. And it was perfect! It was beautiful. Ask me anything.

 

I was there for 10 days (it was our honeymoon too) and I probably saw 5 or 6 other weddings. The resort is gorgeous no matter where you have it, I can't say enough about how awesome the hotel is. All of my guests LOVED it. We had been there before which gave us extra comfort in our choice, but this time around was even better. Service is unsurpassed. And no one got sick!

 

Elizabeth is an amazing WC. Love her! 

 

The details I can think of:

• We had it at the garden gazebo and Bar Higuey for the reception
• Pastor York was the officiant for the ceremony
• We used the DJ & MC there who were great. The DJ played like 2 songs I had never heard then stuck to my playlist for the rest. The MC was really good.
• Tropical pictures was amazing... both photography and video. Thy definitely get you in the end by making you want to buy all of the photos, so we did.
• I was worried about how the bouquets and centerpieces would turn out but it all looked lovely. 
• All of the planning and details came together beautifully.
• There were a few things that didn't go as planned (such as I was mysteriously missing several place cards by the time I got to the resort, but Elizabeth reprinted them for me. And about 10 guests declined last minute due to a death in FI's family) but not everything is in your control, and in the grand scheme of things they don't make or break the day. I also did not bring a sand ceremony kit (thought they'd have it to purchase at the hotel) but Elizabeth helped us improvise.
• The ONLY thing I would have done differently at the reception is choose the beef tenderloin rather than the sirloin steak. It wasn't all that great. The pesto chicken was descent. The chocolate fondant dessert was only OK. The shrimp ceasar salad in a parmesan cheese bowl was amazing and so was the cake (vanilla with strawberry filling).
• We booked the Jr. Suite Deluxe Club Premium and were upgraded to the suite, which was lovely, and big!
• Club premium is worth it if you're getting married. The perks make a difference in your experience.
• April is the perfect time of year b/c it wasn't too hot and humid. And only rained once overnight in the 10 days we were there. It was gloomy a few days though, but we got lucky and had perfect weather.
• I thought the ladies in the salon did great hair and makeup. Bring pictures and they'll replicate the look pretty closely. And be vocal about what you like and dislike.
• I will say it generally helps your entire stay if you can speak some spanish b/c a lot of the employees surprisingly don't speak/understand english well. Including the salon workers, but the salon manager does. And obviously the WCs do.
• The massage included with the package was nothing to rave about but the facial was amazing.
• We booked an excursion the day after thru La Barcaza... a boat ride, which was awesome. The only downside is since they aren't affiliated with the resort, it was difficult for the rep to meet me in the lobby to make the payment, and my group had to walk all the way to the end of the adults side to catch the boat b/c they can't come onto the BBPD beach since it's private. I'd recommend maybe booking with an excursion company affiliated with BBPD to make things easier. Although we had a wonderful time on La Barcaza. It was 3 hours, took us snorkeling, then to the natural pool where the water is shallow and clear, there was open bar, a DJ who played great music, and they served lunch (grilled chicken and steak kabobs, plantains, and fries) and everyone loved the food!

Let me know if anyone has any other questions.

Do you have pictures?? I will love to see them!

[Soon2beJara]

@@mcanales Hey !! I'm getting August 5th !!! What are your colors & what are you bringing?! let me know if there is anyway we can help each other since it looks like well be there at the same time!