Gran Bahia Principe Akumal/Tulum/Coba - POST HERE!

[KRama]

For the poolside reception, you pay for the DJ and the bar set up per person. This is what I was quoted when we were planning (which was over a year ago...man time flies!):

 

Open Bar / extra charge

Special Cocktail
Sparkling wine, Beer, Margaritas, Piña Colada

5 USD /Pers
extra hour 3 USD /Pers

(so for 3 hours, this works out to $11 per person)

National Bar:        
Beer, Rum, Vodka, Tequila, Cocktails, Gin

17 USD/pers/hour
extra hour: 12 USD/pers

International Bar:        
Beer, Tequila, Rum, Vodka Absolute, Whisky JW, Chivas
Regal, Cutty Sark, Cocktails, Gin Beefeaters,
wine of the house, sparkling wine

24 USD/pers/hour

extra hour: 18 USD/pers

[Angie1017]

I'm trying to decide whether or not to pay extra to have champagne after the ceremony to toast, or just stick with the fruit cocktail that is included in our package.  Has anyone had this fruit cocktail?  Is it good?

[nikki&owen]

My poolside dinner price does not include DJ, just dinner and 2 hours of bar. So I will pay $1160 for the ceremony, $1015 for dinner and 2 hours of bar, $600 for DJ, and then 3 hours of bar per person per hour (price depending on what bar I choose). It is not the poolside dinner price that I am worried about, I know I am paying for an extra service; it is more the ceremony price that seems a bit high if I am only doing a symbolic and not having the restaurant dinner. But if that is what everyone is paying, I guess it is correct.

 

Originally Posted by jcgrant1 

I am having the poolside dinner, so the prices that I was quoted wont help you, but I am pretty sure that further back in this thread there are the reception only prices.

I have a question for all of you about the wedding package prices. We are just doing the symbolic ceremony so were going to go with the Deluxe Package at $1160US. However, I am starting to think we are getting a bit ripped off with this as we are not using the "included dinner" we are paying an additional $1015 US for the poolside dinner anyway. So really we are paying $1160 for the non legal minister, flower arrangement, cake, transportation for the bride, and a few amenities. Seems a bit much. Is there anyone else out there that is paying for the poolside dinner getting a different ceremony package?

Thanks for your help 

 

I'm not sure the price is that far off.  Your paying $1015 for a poolside reception with dinner included right?  That's not much more than I'm paying for just the poolside reception ($845) which covers everything including DJ.  I don't think your being ripped off.  Just my opinion though. 

[aimesmiles]

Hi Nikki

Yeah the dinner in the restaurant is included in the package and paloma said its for unlimited GBP guests!! You can have private reception after the dinner in the restaurant then you don't pay quite as much but each to their own!!

 

hope you sort it!! 

 

amie x

[cdlillad]

I have been reading this thread, starting back at November 2009. Very interesting information!  I am currently in the April 2010 section. 

 

My fiance is from Mexico City, so I thought it would be a good idea for him to write to our wedding coordinator, Jazmin, in Spanish.  I thought maybe we would get more information and avoid any misunderstandings.  Well I guess it worked, Jazmin answered most of our questions and she wrote a really long detailed email in Spanish.  Of course I had to get my fiance to help me read it. I know some Spanish, but don't know all the words.  But we didn't get any preferential treatment on prices. 

 

The resort DJ price has gone up.  It is $210 USD + TAX for 45 minutes of DJ.  Has this always been the case? When you start calculating costs in 45 minute segments, the price really goes up!  She quoted us $955 USD for a 2 hour poolside cocktail party including DJ and basic drinks (margarita, pina colada, sparkling wine, and beer). 

 

This DJ price increase made me go over budget now, so I am very upset.  So then my fiance helped me go over our expenses for the year and figure out how we can save money. But honestly I know that I spend way more money on a regular basis than my fiance does. Anyways, I think I should consider hiring DJ Bijan or DJ Bob, as others have on this forum.  I wanted to try the resort DJ, but it's just too expensive.  So I hope the outside DJs can play music in Spanish as well, because we wanted a mix of Spanish and English pop.

 

We're hoping to do a few Mexican wedding reception songs. Like the Vibora del Mar, where everyone holds hands and makes a snake.  The bride and groom stand on a chair and make a bridge for the snake to run under (example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNnCGnx7O_0).  Another song is a really simple line dance to the song Carnavalito by King Africa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sLyFkqPmIQ).  But if we do that, I guess I need to represent my Texas side and do the Cotton Eyed Joe. lol But I don't even listen to country music. Hmmm

 

Christi

[Angie1017]

Just wondering if anyone has used the resort videographer?  We are really wanting to have a video to show at our AHR, and are thinking of getting the basic $500 USD package, with one camera for 3 hours.  They won't have a demo ready in time for us to see before our wedding, so just wondering what the quality is like?

[abbie32]

Nikki - I'm having a symbolic ceremony as well but we decided to just go with the "Remember" package for $700US. The only difference between this one and the "Deluxe" one ($1160) is the flowers for the bride's table and the champagne toast. I'm not paying for extra flowers because I have 6 BM's and they can use the bouquets for flowers for the table. We're just going to buy a few bottles of champagne from the resort for a toast. It's in the list of extras and it's certainly not going to cost $460. So, if you want to save some money I would just go with the "Remember" package.

 

Angie - I have been back and forth with them about a video. I want a really nice video and I'm concerned about the quality of the video as well. Their pictures are great but I want a video almost more than pictures. haha   They said they were working on a demo to send me as well but it looks like I won't be seeing it until the new year. Would you mind sending me a link to your video when you get it? I would love to see how it turns out. You must be so excited to be leaving in a few weeks!!

 

Does anyone have an email for DJ Bijan? I was going to use the resort DJ but I'm not using him now for that price. Thanks!! :-)

[Angie1017]

Abbie - I have since gotten some feedback on the quality of the video services, and I think I'm going to pass.  I really love the movie-style videos of weddings they are doing these days, and I just don't think she'd be up to par with what I have in mind.  One of our guests is in film school and can bring a video camera, so I think I'm going to have him video our wedding.

 

DJ Bijan's email address is:  mayanvibes@gmail.com

 

Originally Posted by abbie32 

 

Angie - I have been back and forth with them about a video. I want a really nice video and I'm concerned about the quality of the video as well. Their pictures are great but I want a video almost more than pictures. haha   They said they were working on a demo to send me as well but it looks like I won't be seeing it until the new year. Would you mind sending me a link to your video when you get it? I would love to see how it turns out. You must be so excited to be leaving in a few weeks!!

 

Does anyone have an email for DJ Bijan? I was going to use the resort DJ but I'm not using him now for that price. Thanks!! :-)

[cdlillad]

Hi everyone!

Abbie and Nikki - I agree with Abbie, I am having the symbolic wedding and I picked the Remember package for the same reason.

 

Angie - What did you find out about the video?  I don't even know what a movie-style video is.  So I guess I would be fine with the video they provide?

 

Regarding DJs - DJ Bijan wrote me back quickly and answered all my questions.  But he says he normally does American/Canadian weddings, so he doesn't have any music in Spanish.  I would have to provide the music.  My finance is from Mexico City, so its important to us to incorporate both the Mexican and American cultures.  So I think I'm going to see how much DJ Mannia charges.  Has anyone heard anything about DJ Mannia?  I watched some of DJ Mannia youtube videos and I like their music in English and Spanish.  I just hope they don't cost too much.

 

Arrecife Pictures - FYI they just posted another wedding photo album on facebook yesterday, if you want to see more pictures.

 

Christi

[Michele4172011]

Hi Ladies!

 

Are there any brides getting married in April 2011? I'm hoping to share a photographer. Please let me know if you are interested.

 

Thanks,

Michele