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

[Cdunn514]

Has anyone used a different photographer then the one at the resort, I found a vendor Octavio Montes that will give you 90 prints plus all pictures taken on a CD with the rights to them, and if I book them for a 3 night stay for 2 people it is still cheaper then the Arrecife wedding package where you get I think it is 30 6x8's and some other prints with 100 photos on a CD. Anyways I am just wondering if anyone else has done this where they just book a photographer for 3 days so they are a "guest" at your wedding, I am wondering if this is difficult and a pain or am I better off just using Arrecife and not worry about the headache?

[Julie2011]

Hey Christi,

For our oots we handed them out to eat person/couple. As soon as we got settled I put them all together and met up with everybody for a welcome dinner at the Akumal buffet. But since your guests are ariving on different days and times I would hang them out as they come. The hotel could possibly lose them, they actually lost our huge bin of bubba kegs (but we found it 2 days later)

As for your music, If your worried you can bring an extra song or 2. We just brought them on cd and wrote out what each song was for. I wish we brought more songs because I was about 8 mins late and apparently they played out 4 songs for seating the guests, then there was no music for 8 mins until the bridesmaids and I got there and our songs played for our walk down the isle. I was super happy about that!

 

Megz, I would tell them as soon as possible what you want. There are so many weddings there you wouldnt want it to get booked up. For your hair you can wait until you get there to book, just check with Maria to be sure but we were given the option when we got there.

As for the DJ we hired dj Bijan and paid the $90 for his daypass. He was Great! The Dj the hotel uses is DJ Bob and I saw a wedding later in the week with him and it actually looked really good, he has lots of lights.

[crystalz]

Ahhh ladies I get married in exactly 5 months!!! Exciting!!! Anyways I do have a question... I've been thinking about music for the ceremony and I'm putting songs on a CD but how many songs actually get played? Here is what I was going to do...

 

Song #1 (When guests arrive to ceremony site) - 1,2,3 by Bruno Mars

Song #2 (Wedding party walk down aisle) - Soul Sista by Train

Song #3 (Bride walk) - I'm Yours by Jason Mraz

Song #4 (Signing registry) - Marry You by Bruno Mars

Song #5 (Recessional) - Undecided because.....

 

I am not sure if they will play the same song for recessional and the champange toast with everyone or will they play one song for recessional and a different song for toasting?

 

Thanks guys

[KRama]

I would recommend putting a bunch of extra songs on your CD for when the guests are seated...just in case! I was nearly 20 minutes late for our ceremony but I had about 8 extra songs on my CD so I don't think our guests heard the same song twice or (gasp!) the ceremony songs!

[Sunshine2680]

Good idea! Is it necessary to put the songs on a CD? Or have people also just brought their iPods?
 

Originally Posted by KRama 

I would recommend putting a bunch of extra songs on your CD for when the guests are seated...just in case! I was nearly 20 minutes late for our ceremony but I had about 8 extra songs on my CD so I don't think our guests heard the same song twice or (gasp!) the ceremony songs!

 

[Jemma]

Well i'm finally getting some emails from Eugenia!! so exciting...even if the wedding isnt until Jan 2012!!   We're staying in Akumal part of the resort and have been recommeded the Hammocks location.....but I have quite liked the Tulum Gazebo. Has anyone seen these or have any advice to pick one?? I have bought heels to wear with my wedding dress so guessing I wont be able to wesr these on hte beach!!!

Also, Eugenia has sent me info on two restaurants; Dolce Vita and Frutos del Mar ?? There's not a huge choice of foods to pick a set menu? ? Are there any other restaurants I could ask for? maybe a grill type one which may have more varied foods??? any advice?

[crystalz]

oohh ok good to know!! thanks!
 

Originally Posted by KRama 

I would recommend putting a bunch of extra songs on your CD for when the guests are seated...just in case! I was nearly 20 minutes late for our ceremony but I had about 8 extra songs on my CD so I don't think our guests heard the same song twice or (gasp!) the ceremony songs!

 

[Tanya-Karolina]

Hello ladies! I have a question, whoever had a wedding at Gran Bahia Principe Akumal or is going to have a wedding there, do you know how they set up the tables for the dinner reception? I am going to have my dinner at Frutos Del Mar, and I was wondering how they set it up, do they provide the round tables, how many people per table, what kind of chairs are used? I receieved a picture from Eugenia of Frutos Del Mar restaurant, and the chairs on the picture are straw chairs, I was wondering if they use same chairs at the weddings? I wanted to bring the chair sashes but if the straw chairs are used, it will look weird. And also if you know ladies, what kind of basic table linen they use? On the picture that Eugenia sent to me, they use white linen with blue trim, is it the same at the weddings? Thank you so much beforehand! I would apreciate some pictures of the dinner reception and poolside reception if you have them available! Thanks again!

[LCQ1401]

Hi,

 

I wouldnt mind finding this out either.  Just to see what my options are especially since ive heard how expensive Arrecife are.  Is there any guidelines?

 

Thanks

Lx

 

 

[Sunshine2680]

I personally liked Arrecife's photos - they do a good job - but when I saw their prices I just about lost it. I was planning to go with Ivan Luckie and book him in for the three nights - as this is the only way around having an outside photographer come in - but his prices and a lot of other photographers prices are all limited to how many hours you want them there for. Which is good in some way and not so good in others. I may still use Ivan to do my TTD the following day - as it will be off the resort

but I'm now looking into bringing a photographer right from home. My group bookings have ensured me a couple of 'free bookings/credits' so I think I'll plan to use that for the photograher and that takes care of this travel expenses...and then when he's down there - I'll have him for as much use as I want. No restrictions. I won't have to pay extra to have him at the reception - nor will I have to if I want pictures around the Hacienda etc.
His fee is around $3200 CAD - and I know he'll be rounding off a couple thousand pictures - rather than paying Arrecife $2800USD for 160 photos that only covers me getting ready...the ceremony and pics after the ceremony.


 

Originally Posted by Cdunn514 

Has anyone used a different photographer then the one at the resort, I found a vendor Octavio Montes that will give you 90 prints plus all pictures taken on a CD with the rights to them, and if I book them for a 3 night stay for 2 people it is still cheaper then the Arrecife wedding package where you get I think it is 30 6x8's and some other prints with 100 photos on a CD. Anyways I am just wondering if anyone else has done this where they just book a photographer for 3 days so they are a "guest" at your wedding, I am wondering if this is difficult and a pain or am I better off just using Arrecife and not worry about the headache?