nic817

Here are the prices I received as of Sept. 9/2013 for a poolside reception. I thought the pool party without a DJ (#3) was only $580 last I saw on here. Has anyone else been given different prices recently? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For after dinner there is 4 options, please see below and let me know which one is better for you (all are per 30people minimun and If dont have the number is still possible as long as cover the cost of each and If have more than 30, each extra person is 15usd) : Pool party with special coctails per groups from 7:30pm to 10:30pm (3 hrs of duration) with special coctails "margaritas + piñas coladas + sparkling wine + beers" + 2 lounge rooms + ilumination +speakers + microphone +lights + dj services and very nice decorated with chairs and high tables is 1´530usd, Pool party with special coctails per groups from 7:30pm to 10:30pm (3 hrs of duration) with special coctails "margaritas + piñas coladas + sparkling wine + beers" + ilumination +speakers + microphone +lights + dj and very nice decorated with chairs and high tables is 1´080usd, Pool party with special coctails per groups from7:30pm to 10:30pm (3 hrs of duration) with special coctails "margaritas + piñas coladas + sparkling wine + beers" + speaker + microphone and very nice decorated with chairs and high tables is 870usd, Free get together by the lobby bar where the drinks are included, just please remember we cannot book areas, tables or services here because is part of the all inclusive

We are having it at the dolce vita because she only sent us that menu and frutos del mar - these are both at akumal but we are getting married at the tulum gazebo. Do we have the option to have it somewhere else? When she sent us the menu it had 3-4 choices for each of the apps, soups, mains, etc. so basically we have to all eat the exact same dish?? The guests can't choose from the options on the menu? I know for sure there are going to be some people who want chicken and some who want pasta...did everyone eat the same meal at yours then Kirsten? Seems crappy to make them eat all the same?!?

Hey ladies - we finally got our first email from Jazmin about our wedding. In her email she said asked us to choose a restaurant and a set menu. She said we get 1 app, 1 soup, 1 main, 1 dessert. I didn't understand her wording though and I'm confused a bit. Do we choose one of these and all guests have to eat the same thing, or do we find out from each guest ahead of time what they want to eat for each and send that to her?? What have past brides done? Thanks!

Great thanks for the info!!

For the grandparents issue, ultimately you have to decide if it's more important for you to have the location you want or your grandparents there. You could always get married legally at city hall before or after Mexico and have a symbolic ceremony down south. That's what my fiancé and I are doing because both sets of grandparents aren't able to come. At first they were kind of upset that we chose to go down south to get married, but once we told them about doing the legal ceremony here after, they were thrilled. Maybe that could be an option if they are really upset about missing the wedding in Mexico?

Glad to hear all is well now with you and your family, Trish.

Do the restaurants have vegetarian options for the wedding meal? We have 3 people coming who don't eat meat...

We are staying at akumal. We are with air Transat (out of Canada) so we (us and our guests) are in the royal golden section or something?? Does akumal have ocean view?

Thanks for that info! another question...were you upgraded to an ocean view room? I read some reviews on trip advisor that we should email the resort to request this, but wondering if we will get upgraded because it's our wedding?

For those of you with larger parties, how does it work in the a la cartes for seating plans? Are you letting guests choose who they sit with or are you putting out place cards for guests? Are you doing a head table or just sitting wherever?

We are also doing the exact same - gazebo, restaurant dinner, poolside reception but with no dj. We are going one week after you - march 8-15, 2014. We are also flying down our photographer who is amazing! It will be interesting to see what prices they give us. Seems like there isn't a lot of consistency or maybe I'm just reading too many different posts. We have about 60 people going, so hopefully it doesn't get too $$. The whole reason we decided to go south was to save money! Lol

Does anyone know if it's possible to light lanterns on the beach on the evening of the wedding? The ones that float up in the air?

That's march 8-15 from Toronto

We We booked ours at end of January and it's 1750 a person (taxes inc). We are going on march break though, so it's always expensive!

Sorry to hear that! The positive is that you will still be able to go, just that its a few months later. Try to focus on the good things in your life right now. I know that's easier said than done but it will help you keep your chin up.

I remember you emailing me the catalogue...I have it in a saved folder- the 1980's reference reminded me of it! Lol Good to hear you didn't have to pay extra for certain flowers though. I'll do what you suggested and send a picture. Thanks again

Some advice needed from anyone who has already been to this resort... Our wedding is at 2pm at the gazebo in Tulum - we couldn't get a later time because of other weddings. I'm concerned about what the guests will do between the ceremony and dinner. It's symbolic so my guess is the ceremony will be quick and our photographer said he needs 90 minutes after for pics. That would take us to maybe 4pm...and we likely wouldn't do dinner until 5:30-6. That leaves our guests dressed up and entertaining themselves for four hours! Any suggestions on what we can tell guests to do? I know most of the ladies won't want to change back into their bathing suit, just to have to change and get dressed up again. I also worry that if we just leave them to their own devices everyone will end up going to one of the bars and drinking for those 4 hours and then end up being super trashed at our dinner. Suggestions??? I was thinking that maybe after our photos we could have our guests meet us somewhere (an indoor bar where it wont be as hot?) and we could do a few celebratory cocktails and our speeches there while we wait for dinner. Then dinner will just be eating and maybe our speech and then we will do the poolside reception after. This is so much time in between though...I am really not sure what to do. Are there any indoor bars that are open during the afternoon/evening? Ahhh, help me please!!! We wanted to go away so it wouldn't be stressful planning but now I'm getting a little anxious about this timing... Thanks in advance for any ideas!

I wonder if you choose the national bar but you don't want the DJ, just speakers, would it also be about $500 of the price then? I would assume so?? That would make it closer to $1400 and at least you know the variety of booze is there. Has anyone done this?

Definitely interested in this too!

6 groomsmen...not 7

Beautiful pictures Kirsten! You look fantastic!! Did you get your flowers from the resort? I'm wondering a ball-park cost for getting flowers through the resort. We have 4 maids and 7 groomsmen...I'm considering using real-touch flowers for bouquets instead...they are gorgeous but they aren't cheap. If the price of flowers from the resort are comparable, I'd obviously rather have real than fake. Anyone have any numbers to throw at me??

Hey everyone - if you are thinking of bringing your own photographer from home, this is the info my TA just received yesterday from the resort photographer: Hola! We understand your wishes on having your family and friends as photographers on your Wedding. The only concern for Arrecife Studio, as your professional photographers, is that we want you to have the most lovely and outstanding memories for your W Day, so we suggest you to avoid many people taking pictures and ask them to also be part of these memories.As the exclusive photographers at the Resort, we know perfectly well the ambience and techniques required at every location. However there are some policies of Grupo Piñero (owners of Gran Bahía Príncipe Resorts) that has to be respected. If there is a External Professional Photographer coming along with you, as long as they stay at the hotel like the rest of the wedding guests (minimum require 5 days). If it is the case, an External Professional Photographer coming with you, we will ask you to provide us in advance (before your arrival) the following information:  Photographer's Name (First and Last name)  Arrival and Departure Dates  Hotel accommodation  Booking Number  Photo Company Name (If applies)  Photo Company Address (including Country, Zip Code)  Photo Company Phone (If applies)  E-mail Contact Once the information is rectified by Arrecife Studio, then the Authorization will be submitted at the Resort.  If the accommodation were below the 5 days require, then and extra $400 usd PHOTOGRAPHER FEE has to be paid as well to Arrecife Studio. If the photographer has not require accommodation at Gran Bahía Príncipe, We will ask you also to send us a Photo Company letter in advance, with the following information mentioned. And:  The Photographer will have to pay the Day-Pass to the Hotel (ask your wedding coordinator for the specific Rate)  As well as $800 usd PHOTOGRAPHER FEE to Arrecife Studio. Please consider that under any circumstances LOCAL Riviera Mayan Professional External Photographers will be allowed. We want you to know that even if you do not want to book our photograph service, since we are the photo company at Gran Bahía Príncipe resort, we will be at your Ceremony taking record of it, so you could have the opportunity to select the included photos that you already have on your wedding package ('Remember'-10 photos). The included photos are priceless, in an understanding that the Photo Service is implying on your Wedding Package. However, if you want your Photographer as the only photographer at your Ceremony and he is staying at the Hotel as the policies requires, we will just ask you to fill and sign our 'Service Cancellation Form'.

I've been wondering the exact same thing, so thank you for posting this. I think it's ridiculous that at an all inclusive they are charging us in addition to what we paid for the vacation for free drinks....makes no sense at all and seems like a total money grab. We are planning to pay for just the basic bar and are hoping they have everything, but I, too, would love to hear from other brides who paid for just the basic bar.

Question - if you do the wedding dinner included in the package, what is it like? I'm imagining that its just like any other a la carte night, but with your group sectioned together with some decorations in the table? Wondering if you are just mixed in w the rest of the people? We are doing a poolside reception so I'm thinking that's where speeches should be done, since it will just be us?

I've been feeling the exact same. I don't wanna do any of that extra stuff because I suck at it and that's why I picked a DW. Hopefully it's decent enough Do they decorate the gazebo for you?