SarahJ

I also wanted something lightweight and easy to travel with etc but I also didnt want to compromise on a proper wedding dress...i'm in the UK and on my first visit to the wedding dress shop I found the perfect dress for me...its chiffon so really lightweight and I can move freely in it and don't feel restricted in anyway..I tried on several other dresses all satin and proper wedding dress material (if that makes sense) and found them all far too heavy for me and I just knew I'd be uncomfortable trying to hoist the dress all day in the heat that we may experience in Jamaica. So I highly recommend going for a chiffon dress (these are designed especially for beach weddings), Mine is beautiful, sparkly and elegant and has a train and everything you would see on a normal wedding dress. I hope you find your perfect dress x

Hi Kristo - brilliant...thanks for replying. I was amazed that was a pic of the cake supplied by the resort it was beautiful...I thought we would just be given a simple one tier sponge/fruit cake! I hope I receive the same kind of treatment that you obviously received. I will make sure I tell my guests to eat it all otherwise we lose it or smuggle it back to our room! haha....I have booked the Dolce Vita for our reception so i'm really pleased I did now seeing your pics and reading your reviews etc. Although I havent booked it as a private reception its just whats included in my wedding package and I had a choice of restaurants. I'm getting so excited now - I cant wait. Thank you ) I hope your enjoying married life...x

Kristo - I've been looking at your photos, you looked beautiful and so happy. I hope you had a fantastic day. I just wanted to ask, the cake in your pictures, is that the one the hotel supplied? And the picture of the tables laid out, is that the Dolce Vita restaurant at the hotel? Thanks for sharing your experience on the forum, I'd be lost without this forum, so thanks to all the brides :-)

Hey Geral, how did your wedding go ? Was your special day everything you hoped it would be? What's it like being a "Mrs" now?

DandM2013...are you planning on doing one of those dance entrances? How cool would that be! he he....I've always wanted to surprise my guests with my partner and I breaking out from the first dance into a kind of flash dance number but my partner wont learn to dance! lol.....What date is your wedding? SJ

Mrsdavies2013.....hopefully I will be able to see you on your way to your ceremony ) we've got 4 of our guests flying with us on the Saturday for 2 weeks, then the others are following on the 24th, some staying for 2 weeks and some staying for 10 nights so unfortunately Scott and me won't get any time to ourselves throughout the holiday but we are looking into the possibility of booking a third week if we can afford it but if not we'll go away on honeymoon later in the year even if its just a week in the UK somewhere....it all comes down to money!! Are you from the US or Canada? as some of your guests are going for just 7 days. I think its too far to fly from the UK for just 7 days. Regarding flowers our wedding package includes a bouquet and button hole freshly made on the day of the wedding so i'm just going with that as we arent having bridesmaids or anything so only myself and Scott to worry about. I go for my first dress fitting on Sept 23rd...i'm so excited...i'm having my hair done especially for the fitting too so I can see how I will look on the day! lol....i'm like a little girl all over again playing dress-up! but I think we should all be allowed this day. My groom and his 2 best men are going for some nice cream linen trousers with shirts and just the groom will be wearing a waistcoat and buttonhole - I think they will be too hot if I ask them to wear proper suits. Ive been in contact with the spa and am going to book to have my make-up and nails done on the morning of the wedding, my friend is doing my hair for me so I don't have to pay for that. I'm also booking me and Scott (the groom) for a couples massage hopefully on the morning of the wedding but if not the day after (our first outing as Mr & Mrs!) hehe.... Geral - congratulations and good luck for 24 August...

Dear Maja Thank you for the link. Chandlyn had already given me your contact details. I will email you regarding packages and prices you offer. Thank you. Sarah

Hi MrsDavies2013, we'll be at the resort at the same time as you, we arrive on Saturday 20 April so i'll be sure to watch out for you on your wedding day if we are around the resort and to say hi. I hope you have a perfect day. ) My wedding is on Friday 26 April at the gazebo. Thanks everyone for the tips about the booking of the spa for make-up etc, I hadnt even thought of this - I just thought I would book when I get to the resort but by the sounds of it, if I wait til then I probably won't get an appointment. I'm having my friend do my hair but I might like to get my make-up done and perhaps a massage on the morning of the wedding just to help me relax because I know I am going to be so nervous! haha... Good luck to all the upcoming GBP brides. I wish you lots of luck and happiness for your special days. I'm so glad I found this thread, you have all helped massively towards my wedding as I didn't know where to start when we first booked. Thanks everyone.

Congratulations!! ) It will be here before we know it...i'm sure the closer it gets the more nervous i'll get! ( At the moment it doesn't really feel real...Have you already booked the steel band? Chaudlyn (our wedding planner) told me that I can book this when we arrive at the resort...do you think perhaps I should book in advance just to make sure? We get the DJ for an hour included in our wedding package so i'm not sure how to work it so that we get the benefit of both...maybe the steel band to play while I walk down the aisle and afterwards like you while we all enjoy the champers and then ask for the DJ to start an hour after the ceremony!?! I think I will email her and see what she says. Do you have your dress yet? I found mine a few weeks ago and have ordered it for delivery October so my first dress fitting with be beginning of November...I cant wait Happy planning...!! SJ

I would have thought that cocktails will be available...it is the Caribbean after all...home of the cocktail!! :-) we are having the steel drum band for the wedding! I'm so excited about the whole experience :-) I just pray we get good weather because I know that April is rainy season in Jamaica! I'm sure if you do decide to choose GBP for your wedding, you won't be disappointed! I have a friend that has been there on holiday and that was when it first opened and he says it's one if the nicest hotels his stayed at and his been to loads so fingers crossed it turns out to be really special for all us GBP, runaway bay, brides to be! :-)

Hi Shista...with regard to hidden charges I dont know much only what i've read on the forum but you have to consider things such as chair ties are charged additionally, tips for the wedding planner(s),the DJ, your hair and makeup if havin it done at the resort salon, unless you book the golden package you have to pay for an in-room safe if you wat one and if you take a photographer from outside the resort the hotel will charge you USD800 to allow them onto the site so you will either need to use the resort photographer or find an outside photographer who is prepared to book themselves into the hotel for a couple of days unless you ask one of your guests to do the photography. Depends on how much you want to spend really. With regard to the premium branded drinks this usually means that all spirits such as vodka, rum, whiskey etc will not be what you have back home as in Smirnoff, Jamiesons etc it will be "house" vodka and whisky etc...when you say "mixed drinks" I assume you mean Vodka and Coke etc ? if so you should still be able to get these but like I said earlier it wont be Smirnoff Vodka. Hope this helps. SJ

MrsCtobe - my hubby to be and me also thought getting married abroad would keep the cost to a minimal but you kind of get carried away in the excitement of it all. Many congratulations to you both - I hope you manage to sort it all out and have a fab time with regard to the photographer you found when you say she is going to be a guest at the hotel does she expect you to pay for her room or does she pay that herself and are her charges reasonable ? I didnt know this could be an option and thought because of the charge of USD800 we had no choice but to use the resort photographer! Thanks SJ.

KDaly - Yes it is so exciting...I still can't get my head around it just yet - I think its because all I have to do is sit back and wait for next April whereas I feel I should be panicking and getting stressed etc which I certainly would be if we were getting married in the UK ( - I think us ladies have definitely got the right idea doing it abroad and I just hope the GBP Runaway Bay is as amazing as other brides have said it to be. My hubby to be and me together with some of our wedding party will be arriving at the resort on April 20th with the rest of our wedding party guests joining us on the 24th your wedding day How about you ? Where are you travelling from ? Have you found out what time your ceremony is yet? Ours is at 2pm so plenty of time to laze around the pool for a couple of hours in the morning before getting ready!

Hi Kdaly was your message for me regarding us getting married in the same week? SarahJ x

I will try and dig out the original email I got sent listing all the different packages but if you email this address they are usually pretty good and reply within 2 days and if you ask they will send you their electronic brochure listing all packages and prices - [email protected]. I hope this helps.

Cant wait to hear all about it and see the pictures...many congratulations...)

Hi JennS, did you look into First Choice? I just wondered the price you said from Toronto of $1500 was that flights only or accommodation at the hotel aswell? Thanks. SJ x

Hope you managed to get it all booked for your guests departing from London Jenn. Did you have much luck with First Choice? Yes my Aunty would be departing from Toronto also but unfortunately it is too expensive for her. Thanks for the info though!!

Hi JennS We booked through First Choice (part of Thomson Group) as they were offering the best price at the time and package. Our guests have also booked through them. I too looked into booking the rooms direct with the hotel but it worked out much more expensive for us. Good luck, I hope you manage to get good rates for your family. If you do find an affordable way keep me posted as I have an Aunty in Canada who I would love to be at the wedding but she has looked into it from Canada and it is too expensive for her.

Hi Angela Thanks for the advice on the tips - i'm glad I checked because I was thinking it would have to be about $100 tip (whoops - lol!) so your $20 is more affordable for us. ) Thanks. I cant believe they make us pay for the use of a safe - we have paid alot of money for our package holiday to this hotel and to then charge extra for a safe is new to me....I've never been to a hotel before where the safe wasn't included in the room free of charge! ( Thanks for your help ) SJ x

Hi Jenn I think things work differently for us here in the UK to how you in Canada book because I did all my booking through a UK tour operator so the only deposit we have had to pay is to the tour operator for the holiday package. I take it people in the USA and Canada book their weddings direct with the hotel? so unfortunately I can't help with your queries on the deposit of 25% etc as it works completely different for me in the UK. In my emails to Chandlyn I have asked about what colour scheme and bouquets etc are available and she has replied ( always within 2 days ) saying that I can go through everything with her once I get to the resort next year and that I dont need to pre-book now. Hopefully a bride on here from Canada will be able to help you out with the deposit query! ) I think the steel band is definitely the way to go. Many congratulations by the way....its very exciting hey!?! SJ x

I've heard from Chandlyn today who informed me that Beverly no longer works at GBP and she will now be my WC. Really pleased with the swift response from her answering many questions I had. She has confirmed that I will be getting married at 2pm at the wedding Gazebo on 26 April 2013...its starting to feel real now! Its scary after waiting 7 years! lol...We've asked to hire a steel band for an hour after the ceremony, has anyone on here had the steel band at their wedding at the GBP? I just wondered what you're thoughts are on this.

Hi JayKay Thanks for your reply, I think thats all I needed was to here that the resort is nice and they do try and make your day as special as possible....I hated the thought that it would be very much like a production line but your words have reassured me. Thank you. Hopefully once I have heard from the WC (I have been allocated Beverly) with all the costs of the extras etc I will be able to start relaxing and looking forward to it. I am a stress head at the best of times so perhaps getting married shouldn't be my thing! lol...thanks again for all your advice...it really does make a difference to us GBP brides to be.

Hi everyone, i'm new to this forum but I have just had my wedding at GBP confirmed for Friday 26th April 2013 and came across this forum when googling to see other peoples opinions on the hotel etc. I'm so glad I did because most of the comments have put my mind at rest that everything will be ok! After reading some not too good reviews on Trip Advisor I had started to panic a bit. Everybody that has posted pictures on here, you all look amazing and so happy.. ) I just wondered (AngelaCollins) what do you suggest as a tip for the WC? I'm trying to calculate how much additional cash we're going to need to take and until I saw your post I hadn't even thought of having to tip the WC! doh...Also is it true that you have to pay additional to have a safe in your room at GBP? and if so does anyone know how much it costs for 2 weeks hire?

Hello everyone. I've just booked to get married at this hotel April 2013 but after reading this thread i'm having second thoughts now! Can they really change the cost of the wedding package once its already been agreed within the booking of the package holiday/wedding? I've booked everything through a UK tour operator and agreed on the "Sunshine" package at £475. The cost for us is a big part of the reason for getting married abroad because in the UK we would never be able to afford it! But I dont want to be getting any surprises come next year on arrival at the resort and they say the package is now "x" amount especially not with the mounting costs i've been adding up from reading the thread re photography etc. I plan on only getting married once in my life and I want it to be perfect. JayKay were you happy with the hotel itself and the grounds etc and did the hotel do all they could to make your special day "special"? I haven't received my wedding pack yet from the tour operator but as soon as I do if I find that there are answers in there for some of the questions in this thread I will definitely let you all know so that I can help others out how you have all helped me so far with your comments. Thanks guys. S x