lgerry

I'm staying at Akumal as well. Can you post the email address? Thanks so much!<br /><br />Does the resort have anywhere where my dress and the bridesmaid dresses can be steamed if need be? I thought about buying a portable steamer to take down with me if not. What have past brides done?

Oops not sure why that post turned out so weird... The address is [email protected]<br /><br />Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk<br /><br />

I read on trip advisor that it's wise to email the hotel ahead of time to book a la cartes. I wanted to pass this info on to my guests, since we are going during March break and it will be extra busy. Does anyone know the email address where guests can do this? I saw it in trip advisor months ago and of course now I can't find it. Thanks for your help!

Which of the 3 resorts are you staying at? Cause there's a different email address for each one and they're listed in the "top questions" section. I have the email for Akumal if you're staying there...

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I was nervous about bringing the cash down as well, but I ended up paying the resort all in cash in the end. With the credit card, alot of companies will charge the exchange rate + an extra % so it just didnt make sense to me. The hubby and I ended up paying the resort and all our vendors in cash in the end, and since we exchanged a larger sum, the bank gave us a slightly better rate. You would have to take cash no matter what as the resort asked us to place a cash deposit of about 630 USD during our meeting with the WC. So do bring some cash. We left all the cash in the safe the whole time, and paid everyone as soon as we could so we didnt have to keep the cash. 

Thanks for your reply!

Eugenia hasn't mentioned anything about a cash deposit. Did she wait until you got there to tell you about it or did you know about the deposit before you left for Mexico?

My dress is top to bottom lace (Jim Hjelm 8011) and I paid about $450 for everything (taking in sides from bust to hips, raising the straps, shortening hemline, adding bustle). Shortening the hem was the most pricey due to the lace. $900 seems very high!!

I forget Trisha, are you from the US or Canada? Cause Eugenia said they charge us in USD for cash or they convert the US to pesos if you use credit card. So I'm just wondering if it would be cheaper to pay by card and just have it charged in pesos rather than having to exchange into US which is a poorer conversion for canadians at the banks (ie. I get less than a dollar US for every dollar CAN I exchange, whereas I get ~ 12peso for every CAD)... If that makes any sense lol!

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Do any past Canadian brides have any feedback on how you paid for everything?

I know you pay for everything at the end, but we are trying to decide on whether to pay by credit card or to bring down cash. Taking $3k + cash down to Mexico (esp leaving it in our room safe for en entire week) makes me nervous, but Eugenia has told us that the exchange rate the hotel gives us if we pay by credit card in Pesos is not the greatest and is better if we pay in cash. This makes sense if we were coming from the US and all our currency was in USD already, but coming from Canada we have to exchange either way.

Any thoughts... 

Do any past Canadian brides have any feedback on how you paid for everything?

I know you pay for everything at the end, but we are trying to decide on whether to pay by credit card or to bring down cash. Taking $3k + cash down to Mexico (esp leaving it in our room safe for en entire week) makes me nervous, but Eugenia has told us that the exchange rate the hotel gives us if we pay by credit card in Pesos is not the greatest and is better if we pay in cash. This makes sense if we were coming from the US and all our currency was in USD already, but coming from Canada we have to exchange either way.

Any thoughts...

We are using Marvin with Maya floral as well. We get married next month so I can't report on the final product yet, but his communication has been stellar and the pics he sent me of the arrangements are beautiful and just what we want! Prices are also really decent

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Hi Ladies Just a heads up I have emailed the coordinator there and she is stating that they do not allow outside hair and makeup... I haven't heard good things about the resort spa for bridal hair and makeup..,

Quote:

Originally Posted by futuremrswarner 
 

Hi ladies, 

 

I just returned home from my two weeks wedding/vacation from Mexico, and super sad because I came home to snow in Toronto. However, the wedding was successful and all my guests had fun. The wedding coordinators did a FANTASTIC job, and I really couldn't have asked for a better wedding day. 

Here are a couple of photos from my photographer that I have received so far. Let me know if I can help with any questions about the resort.
 

 

There was a chance of rain later on in the afternoon, so our poolside reception was moved indoors to the Plan B location at Sian K'an. No regrets. We had just as much fun and the space was gorgeous!

 

Beautiful photos! Congratulations!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatLew 

Wedding dresses:

What type of style and fabric is everyone going with? I found a simple mermaid style soft satin dress I love, but I don't know if it will be too hot??

My bridesmaids are wearing a short chiffon dress.

My wedding is August 4! - so I know it will be super hot!!!

Mine is top to bottom lace.

I thought it would be cooler cause it's not all that heavy, but when I went in for my first fitting a couple of weeks ago I was already sweating in it! Oh well, I love it so it's worth it!!

I think that you should pick a dress that you love no matter what the material is!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemma2014 


Yeah, you've had a response at last, hopefully I'll hear something soon as mine is soon after yours!

It sounds like she thinks it's the floating sky lanterns and said no due to health and safety.

Ya, that's what I was thinking too! I emailed her back to clarify a few things cause most of her responses didn't really answer any of my questions... they were all really vague, lol! Still no details confirmed, so we wait some more  

Hopefully you hear something soon!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkwedding 

Hi ladies! My fiancé and I are getting married January 29, 2014 at Occidental Grand Xcaret and are beyond excited! This week we ordered tumblers with straws for our guest gift, bought our guest book and I have finally decided on centrepieces. Now we are at the part where we need to get our music, vows, etc. figured out. Also, I'm looking into hiring a hairdresser and makeup artist, has anyone else found someone they would recommend?
Happy planning everyone!

Hi! I'm using Sara Tamargo http://saratamargo.com/  

Her work looks amazing and she was really reasonably priced... She got back to me very quickly with info too!

Just wondering if any past brides/grooms have used the hanging paper lanterns at their poolside reception. I got an email from Linda, Palomas assistant, with some answers to some questions and she said that they are not allowed. That's kinda strange since they just have an LED light in them and no open flame... maybe she thinks I was talking about the sky lanterns that you set off into the air??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tlseege 
 

I find the Coba lobby to always be lively.  Tulum, on certain nights, will have a DJ outside which is fun.  But in my experience, Coba always has something.  Plus they have the wine bar which always has live music at night.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemma2014 


At the moment there's 16 of us going as it's quite a journey getting there but it'll be nice having the holiday with them all before the wedding!

Coba and tulum have good music but we mostly kept to the main bar in Akumal, last time they did some greats shows and dances on stage then music afterwards, our children loved the entertainment before the shows so they were worn out before the music. The hacienda was nice also.

Thanks ladies!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemma2014 

Thanks for sending that, the menu looks nice. Have you got a lot of guests going?
 

We have about 30 people coming. I figure that's a good number so that we have a good amount of family and friends, but not so many that we'll be worrying about everyone the whole week. How about you guys?

Since you have been to the resort before, can you tell me where the best spot is to sit and enjoy live music and have drinks after supper other than the hacienda? Is one lobby bar more lively than the others? Or would you just suggest to go to the hacien  da?

Thanks,

Liz

Alright gang, the OFFICIAL thread has been updated with the new photo pricing.  Just as a reminder, for full day wedding coverage (8 hours) it's $2800.  That gives you 160 photos (plus the free ones that are included in your package).  I would like to point out how crazy expensive that is.  To put it into perspective, I typically charge $2750 or less to fly to the GBP and take pictures.  It's all day coverage and includes between 600-1000 photos.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemma2014 


Have you been to the resort before? Could you tell me where the arlequin restaurant is and what type of food they do. I've been to the hotel before but can't think where it is.

No, neither of us have stayed at this resort before. I really have no idea where the Arelquin restaurant is, but I believe they are one of the gourmet restaurants. We picked the beef filet option for dinner.... here's a pic of the menu she sent me. Sorry it's kinda cut off at the bottom, it was the best i could do with taking a screenshot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by futuremrswarner 

From what it seems, I've had a much different experience with the WC than you. I've been dealing with Jazmin, and she's been quite on top of everything. In the beginning, I didn't hear from her until a week or two after I send them, but she's been pretty quick since a month ago. She replied pretty much within the same day sometimes.

She confirmed my ceremony location, the time, and the dinner location for me approx. 2-3 months after we booked with the TA. She confirmed the poolside reception for me as well around the same time. So I essentially had a timeline of the day relatively early in the planning process.

That's so strange that some coordinators are more on the ball than the others, you'd think that they would all go off the same guidelines but maybe not.

On a more positive note... you must be getting sooooooooo EXCITED!!! I hope your wedding day and your vacation end up as everything you'd hoped for... Congratulations!! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemma2014 


Hi, I'm in the same boat as you and I'm getting married just after you at Akumal, i think the WC at Akumal is very slow. I haven't even got a location sorted yet or time or restaurant!!! Not happy! I've emailed them so many times it's ridiculous!

I'm glad to hear i'm not the only one, but sorry that you are having a tough time with her too  

I just emailed Paloma today, stating that it is unacceptable at this point to have no clue what is going on or have anything planned/booked and that we have our TA looking at other options for resorts. Hopefully we hear something back soon, and if/when we do  I will be sure to let you know!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatLew 

I booked my trip in September... Our weddig is set for August 4, 2014 at the tulum gazebo for 3pm. Our dinner is going to be at 6 to 8 at the tequila Resturant... This is what is currently set. I still need to touch base with my weddig coordinator about the meals for dinner and I also want to set up a cocktail hour before dinner from 5 to 6 with cocktails, refreshments, chips/salsa, and guitar trio.

We also plan to do a poolside reception from 8 to 10:30...

My wedding coordinator is jazmin. It sounds like your wedding coordinator is slacking. I would be really upset! Did you send out your invitations yet?

Thanks KatLew! We sent our invites out last Feb, right after we confirmed our wedding date with them. And now we have had virtually no info from them since, other than where we can have our dinner. I'm ok with not having little details planned but I really need answers to my questions and have a timeline nailed down.

Your timeline sounds perfect! I like the idea of using the Trio at the cocktail hour!

Can anyone tell me at what point did they have a timeline of their events nailed down and know for sure that a poolside reception was booked?

We have had the worst time trying to get a hold of Eugenia. After some nasty emails from our TA and a contact from Air Transat, we finally got her to reply to us once, introducing herself and telling us the planning could begin and asked us to complete an info form. Well... that was 1.5 months ago now and after sending 3 emails trying to get a few questions answered and a timeline, we still  have nothing! 

We are about 2 months away from leaving now and we still have no idea whats going on. We have no poolside reception booked, we have no idea what our timeline is for the day, and not one of our questions answered. The only think we have is the ceremony location (no confirmed time though) and confirmation that we can have our dinner at Arlequin (also no time). Is anyone else in the same boat, or is our WC just really slacking?? We have pre-travel passport booklets that we would like to mail out soon but I cannot finish it until we know our timeline and know if we have a pool for a reception.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdnolan 
 

Anyone have a price list for Arrecife? Trying to decide on bringing a photographer or going with Arrecife.... Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatLew 
 

I need a price list too!

 

Also, do we just pick one appetizer, dinner, desert for everyone? Or does everyone pick their own?? I'm eating at Tequila. 

 

thanks

I have a price list that I received from Arrecife a couple weeks back, I will post as attachments (since its in PDF format... sorry) and i'll PM it to Trisha so maybe she can update the "Official" thread.

As for meals, yes we were only given 1 option as well. We just picked the most neutral options that we thought the most people would like... we chose the filet at Arlequin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by karolane 

Hi I just got engaged and planing to get Maried at the grand bahia principe tulum/akumel/coba we are planing on getting Maried April 9th 2015 how early would I be able to reserve the gazebo for our wedding day ?

Congratulations, and welcome to the forum!!

I would say that you can email them your request at any time, but it may be quite awhile before they get back to you to confirm (a.k.a. months). The wedding coordinators tend to work on "manana time", lol! Also, If I remember correctly, I think that we had to have our travel booking confirmations and provide them to the resort before they would hold the wedding date/location.

Happy planning!!

So happy to say that we have finally had first contact with Eugenia!! She emailed us last night with forms to complete with info and our restaurant/menu choices... what a relief!! 

 

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by gemma2014 

Hello brides to be's, I'm getting married at the end of January with my date confirmed but no time arranged yet! I'm getting really concerned as I've emailed them four times in six wks and nothing! I cant send invites with no time.
Any advice? The last email was quite pushy and said I was not happy with the communication!
I'm not enjoying wedding planning as I'm not getting anywhere :-(

I feel your pain!  We weren't getting anywhere either, then we got our TA to email and phone down there and communication has become better now. If you are working with a TA you could try having them contact the WC...

Well, after emails from both my TA as well as reps from Air Transat and a "not so nice" phone call to the resort from my TA yesterday morning, we finally got some answers from Paloma via email last night. This is her reply regarding our concerns over allowing external vendors onto the property:

Hola Liz

In case you want to bring an external supplier for hair & make up - the regular procedure is to pay a day pass for each person that comes to the Hotel
Nowadays the cost of the day pass is of 90 usd - ( this has always been the policy for externalsuppliers like hair & make up)

What we cannot acept ( mandatory) - no local external photgraphers are allowed 

I enclose options & costs for private events


Kind regards

So, good news that hair/make-up vendors are allowed!! The prices she sent me for the reception details are still 2013 so I'm not sure if they'll try to hike them up for our wedding in Jan, but since it's only 3.5 mths away and she JUST sent these prices. I'm taking these as the prices we will be charged and raise a stink if they try to jack them up on us.