Barcelo Maya Palace Brides

[eblum999]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunnyT Hey, Erica! What exactly IS the air star?? Is it really a balloon with helium or something? Our wedding is June 26, 2010...I wish it was sooner! But I know time is gonna fly by! The hardest part for me is picking the colors for the wedding! Did you stay there for your honeymoon?? -Tania

Tania,
The aire star is a large "balloon on a stick".. I know that sounds really cheesy... but it was so nice! Lit up part of that party and was the focal point of the party! Everyone kept on say "oh wow.. Look at that"! I would do it over again in a heart beat!!!

[eblum999]

Quote:

Originally Posted by t&kJanuary2010 Erica, Thank you so much for all of your valuable information. I def feel I am grasping what items need to be addressed earlier on and what not to worry about...trying not to stress..but you have been there so I am sure I will survive as you did You and your guests looked full of smiles and happiness and that is all I want for my day We are getting married Jan 16th, 2010. Many people are booking so it is really getting even more exciting. We are looking at around 45 like your group. You did not discouarge me at all about the wedding beach party... I would totally love to have such a lovely party...it really looked like you guys had tons of fun. I just know we don't have to funds. Still not sure what we are working with as far as numbers so have to keep it simple until I get the final guest count, etc. Now you said Gabriela made reservations for you and your party of 35-45 people at the a la cartes...how far in advance did you contact her to plan that out? Do you recommend certain restaurants over others? I was just thinking of making a reservation on Friday night and then having the wedding saturday. Let people make their own selection on Thurs and Sunday? What do you think of should I make them for everyone for all the nights? As for the welcome dinner...I don't mind everyone not sitting at the same tables...I just want to be together and make some announcements and give out our presents for the bridal party. Will they let us do that?? Let me know your thoughts?? Thanks again

I am sorry I have been a little slow on my replys... I went back to work this week after having the whole summer off... oh the joys of teaching Lol

I asked Gabriela to book the reservations when I got down there. But if you want to be more pro-active than I was with them, email her and ask how far in advance can you book them.. they might not take reservations until like a couple of days before... I dont know. But Gabriela did all the reservations for me since we did have such a large group! It is up to you and how you want dinners to go.... I wanted everyone together, but I do know how your group and if everyone is going to want to all eat together. Thats your call
I see no reason why anyone would give you an issue with handing out gifts in the restaurant... I would do it. As far as the restauranrts go... I mean the French is my favorite... but never actually ate dinner in there... we avoided it and did allow any of my guests to eat in there... since we knew that was where we were having the reception ... I did want anyone to see it before the big reveal
I did not like at all the Brazilian Restaurant (Ridizo)... I am not a huge meat eatter and to be honest.... I hated it... I hate to be blunt... but it was not my cup of tea. The Carribbean restaurant was good... and then that leaves the French and the Japanese.... but the Japanese (which I heard was good) was totally out of the questuon for me... since it is an air conditioned and I didnt want to sweat while eatting! (it is the coral grill.... they turn it into the Japanese restaurant after hours).

[pebbles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by beachbride17 I'm a little confused on the whole photographer thing. When I contact Barcelo they say no outside photographers at all but I hear you can book a room for your photographer and they are considered a guest? Do you then still have to pay the $300.00 to Photo Caribe? and won't the resort recognize the photographer and that they are only a guest for one night? I hate to pay to have a photographer there and then be told they can't take pictures. Sorry, but it seems to be different for everyone...... Thanks for the help!!

Hi Beachbride 17,
My WC Xhail (at the Palace) told me the same thing "No outside photographers". When I asked her that I "heard" that if you have the photographer stay at the hotel this was allowed. Her response from a direct quote in an email was "* Our policy is: external photographer are not allowed to come in the resort to take pictures, however if one of your guest is staying in the hotel and he/she will take your pictures, it is not going to be a problem"

So in other words....book a room for your photographer and have them listed as one of your guests. I actually had my travel agent do this and we got a discount room price since we already had a block of rooms booked for "real guests".

I wouldn't worry....just go a head and book. I booked with Claudia Rodriguez. I felt her rates were pretty good and I LOVE HER WORK!

Hope this helps!
Sabrina

[diamondpooch]

I have a wedding planned at the Barcelo Palace in May of 2009. Anyone have any tips I've been researching it forever!

Also, I feel a little nervous about the planning. I feel like I just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best. It's hard to get a hold of my planner. Help!

[diamondpooch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MObride09 Hey VarsityGolf (Ashley)! I'm also from Missouri, Columbia MO actually and am getting married at the Palace on May 29, 2010... Looks like we'll be there at the same time! Hope the planning is going well for you. It's been pretty frustrating trying to arrange the details from afar and the WC's take so long to reply. This new photography rule has had me crazy! I've booked a photographer from St. Louis to stay for four days and as far as I know this is OK, I haven't been told otherwise... Also curious if anyone has received the 2010 packages It's hard to stick to a budget when you don't know exactly how much the wedding package is going to cost

Holy Moly! I am from St. Louis and am also getting married there on May 29th! How crazy!
We need to for sure hang say hello to each other!
I have the 2010 wedding packages if anyone needs them.

[MObride09]

How funny! That's at least 3 Missouri weddings that week and ours is on the same day!!! We'll have to meet up for a drink for sure!

[diamondpooch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MObride09 How funny! That's at least 3 Missouri weddings that week and ours is on the same day!!! We'll have to meet up for a drink for sure!

I know!!!! Think of the awesome tips we will be able to bring back to this forum.

[t&kJanuary2010]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eblum999 I am sorry I have been a little slow on my replys... I went back to work this week after having the whole summer off... oh the joys of teaching Lol I asked Gabriela to book the reservations when I got down there. But if you want to be more pro-active than I was with them, email her and ask how far in advance can you book them.. they might not take reservations until like a couple of days before... I dont know. But Gabriela did all the reservations for me since we did have such a large group! It is up to you and how you want dinners to go.... I wanted everyone together, but I do know how your group and if everyone is going to want to all eat together. Thats your call I see no reason why anyone would give you an issue with handing out gifts in the restaurant... I would do it. As far as the restauranrts go... I mean the French is my favorite... but never actually ate dinner in there... we avoided it and did allow any of my guests to eat in there... since we knew that was where we were having the reception ... I did want anyone to see it before the big reveal I did not like at all the Brazilian Restaurant (Ridizo)... I am not a huge meat eatter and to be honest.... I hated it... I hate to be blunt... but it was not my cup of tea. The Carribbean restaurant was good... and then that leaves the French and the Japanese.... but the Japanese (which I heard was good) was totally out of the questuon for me... since it is an air conditioned and I didnt want to sweat while eatting! (it is the coral grill.... they turn it into the Japanese restaurant after hours).

Thank you for all your thoughts and suggestions. I do not eat any meat at all, however I do eat fish. My crew is all meat eaters so I can always deal and just get salad or whatever. Is the Japanese is that inside/outside cabana? I think that is what we were looking at for our wedding reception. Really wish we could get into that French resturant like you did, that place looks amazing. Do you think the weather would be more mild in January for our guests if it were in that outside/inside cabana?

[brandynd]

I think you can use any ala carte with their packages. I would just shoot an email to your WC to be clear on that, but from what I got from Ana and Xhail, that's usually the case.

[beachbride17]

I asked this question in an earlier post and didn't get a reply so I thought I'd ask again. Has anyone who is flying with Air Transat booked one of their wedding packages that is offered at the Barcelo. Apparently it's a new thing that Air Transat offers this year and it seems a lot less expensive and I was wondering if anyone had experience with this.