TATrisha

This is horrible!  So sorry for the added stress!  Babs and the entire staff at Wright Travel are amazing, so you're in good hands now!  Best wishes!

I may be mistaken, but I don't think the GBP has any suites with separate bedrooms.  Can anyone confirm?  The suites have extra space in them with a couch and sitting area, but no separation as far as privacy or sound.

I was barefoot and it was fantastic.  I started with flip flops on, however I took two steps into the sand and the sandals were sending sand up my dress!  I was sweating so it was sticking to me.  It was a very quick and easy decision to ditch the shoes!! 

I've seen the tent used for wedding receptions before and it is gorgeous!  It's going to be a great event!!  And so many people coming, what a blessing!

Great choice!  

Personally, I'd go with a poolside.  It's easier to dance on concrete than it is on the beach!  Plus the beach can have bugs at night, be extremely windy, and... well... sand.

I think they are beautiful, I just don't know how practical they are for a wedding reception.

Hard to say if it'd be too hot or not.  I don't think so... but it depends on your tolerance.  

Ceremony at 5pm is perfect in June, actually.  The lighting will be fantastic for your photos!! 

For me, it was $35 per person for dinner and drinks.  I had to pay the DJ extra.  Now the pricing has changed somewhat... so harder to say.

@@N50mys

 

Hi! Congratulations your wedding looked beautiful.

 

I was wondering if you could help me. I was thinking of doing a private poolside reception for dinner as well. But is it windy out there? Would you consider doing that or is it only good for dancing? Also was it really hot at night time out by the pool?

 

Thanks again!

 

Getting married June 2016

I had a poolside reception with dinner and it was amazing.  Beautiful light breeze, the pool lit up gorgeous, and then dancing under the stars after dinner.  It was perfect!!  The breeze keeps it comfortable, I think.

@@Maggietron Thanks for the heads up!  The links have been updated so all three work now.  Sorry about that!

Congratulations!!!!!  It looks like you had a beautiful day and a lot of fun! Thanks for posting the extra prices too!  That helps a lot!

Do the witnesses need to be there four days before?  I know they have to be there on your meeting day... but I'd think Tuesday would be fine for that?

But no, I don't think the witnesses need to stand up there.

We did welcome bags and they were super cute, but yes, costly.  In the end, I'd probably do cinch sack bags with custom drink mugs in them.  Those were the two things that got the most use and were the most fun to see wandering the resort!

Depends which location you're getting married at.

Typically includes white table cloth and chair covers.  Occasionally a fake flower plant.

The end bill for us was in Pesos as well.  They ask how you want to pay for it, and convert it if necessary. 

I have had both meals and they are both fabulous!!  I personally liked Le Gourmet better.

Portofino is definitely closer to the jacuzzi pools though.

Wait... privatize the DANCING part or the DINNER?!?  There has always been a large fee if you want the diner private.  Otherwise other guests come into the restaurant.  So that's nothing new.

Hi Trisha,

 

For your outdoor dinner and dance, where did you have the dance?  I heard from another bride that if you have the poolside reception, you have to rent a dance floor somewhere else?

We danced on the concrete right next to the pool.  

And the weddings that I've photographed at this resort also did the same thing.  

Yes. There is a maximum, or there was in the past at least.  This page: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/63282-official-gran-bahia-principe-riviera-maya-thread/?do=findComment&comment=1514321tells you the cost per person over the maximum.

SUNSHINE - Maximum 20 people.  $25 each additional guest

UNFORGETTABLE - Maximum 30 people.  $35 each additional guest

ROMANCE EXTRAVAGANZA - Maximum 30 people.  $40 each additional gues

In 2016 the sunshine is upgraded to a max of 30 people and $20 each additional.

Unforgettable is still 30 guests, but $30 each additional. 

Romance remains the same.

No, they don't require that for a symbolic.  Or at least have never in the past.

I brought table runners that matched my ceremony fabric.  I also brought along votive candles (only thing I regret about my wedding.  We had the outdoor dinner and dance, so the candles didn't stay lit in the wind.  HUGE waste of money and suitcase weight!).  Besides that I purchased ceremony flowers and centerpieces.  

I didn't want to bring too much with me and rather have the beauty of the resort be the centerpiece.  Since I had a poolside reception it's lit really cute and the pool is lit so that adds extra visual appeal. 

There are a few poolside locations available, so hopefully it'll work out for everyone.  

The receptions aren't necessarily blocked off from other guests, but they are situated in such a way that guests don't go near them.  Occasionally you'll have a few people looking or dancing in the distance, but the four I've been to haven't had any problems.

It's been awhile since I got married, so things may have changed... but I had to pay the DJ and the blood work in cash.  Now that they have the exclusive deal with the DJ perhaps you don't have to anymore?  But that lowered our bill at checkout.  

We had no gratuities added to our bill. 

And I paid with a credit card, so I can't speak to paying cash upon check out.  Sorry!

I would say the biggest difference is actually the open bar and reception after the dinner.  That's where the large cost is coming from.  

I would say the cocktails and canapes after the ceremony aren't a big thing.  You can easily go to any bar and have "cocktails" so if that's all you're looking for in that third package, then I'd probably go more that route.  

I haven't seen anyone have a light up dance floor since the outside DJs were banned.  Sorry. 

Nightmares indeed.  It's so frustrating and it's so hard to relax no matter how many times you hear us say it.  So I'm sorry.  I know it's tough.  I hope it gets better!

There are two big differences.  The first is the signing of the papers.  In the legal, you use ink and leave thumb prints on the document.  For the Symbolic, you don't.  However most people don't know this so most people won't notice a difference.  

The second is that the legal ceremony MUST be done in Spanish.  It is translated, but the judge reads it in Spanish first.