Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Brides??

[ChristieG]

@denita - We booked the photographer for 8 hours which I felt was a good amount of time. The packaged I believe was $3450 or something like that, we then paid $200 for her and her assistant to come on the resort and anohter $140 for them as additional guests to the wedding so they could have a meal. When all was said and done and tip I believe it was $4100. Here is her website if you are interested http://claudiaphoto.com/ Araceli has worked with her before and only  had great things to say about her.

[MJKH]

I wondered the same thing after reading the comments from the last two brides and the resort photogs.  What did your off-site photogs think about working alongside the resort photogs?  Did they get in each others' way?  Is there any point in having them there if you are bringing your own photog in?

 

I hope the GS management is reading the comments about the front desk staff...I have heard about the rudeness from friends who were there for two weeks in Feb...and have now read a number of comments indicating similar issues.

 

Recent brides...I'm wondering how flexible are they at the GS with their wedding packages.  If there is something included in your package that you don't want...will they upgrade something else for you?

[Melaina]

Hey MJKH,

 

In response to substitutions, we found that they were NOT flexible at all. (That was one of the reasons we still got the photos from the resort fotog: we asked to sub a video or live music services instead, and they refused to consider it... so we got the photos taken even though they were useless.) We didn't want the resort fotog to get in the way of our own (backgrounds, etc), which is why we requested them to shoot when our photographer would be off with us.

 

Hope that helps
 

Originally Posted by MJKH 

I wondered the same thing after reading the comments from the last two brides and the resort photogs.  What did your off-site photogs think about working alongside the resort photogs?  Did they get in each others' way?  Is there any point in having them there if you are bringing your own photog in?

 

I hope the GS management is reading the comments about the front desk staff...I have heard about the rudeness from friends who were there for two weeks in Feb...and have now read a number of comments indicating similar issues.

 

Recent brides...I'm wondering how flexible are they at the GS with their wedding packages.  If there is something included in your package that you don't want...will they upgrade something else for you?

 

[denita]

Thanks Christie.  I will definitely be checking out that photographer.  Did you guys book directly at the resort? We have gone through AirTransat and with the Euphoria package and just wondering about the costs for the meal at the palapa ect.  I am definetly all over the idea of the palapa although the italian restaurant sounded lovely as well.  Was the time for you ceremony good?  Our is scheduled for 3pm but it's not until November 15th and if I recall I think you start to lose light around 5:30ish in November so I think 3 should be good.

 

How far in advance did you contact the wedding planner.  We don't get married until November 15 this year and I certainly don't want to bombard her with stuff.  Also how far out did you book your photgrapher?

 

Thanks for all the tips ladies it has been very helpful.

[ChristieG]

@denita - We booked our photographer about 10 months in advance, she commented on how we were booking early but we really wanted her and she is popular so we wanted to make sure we got her.  We also booked through Air Transat with the Euphoria package so the prices for the dinner would be the same, unless you want to get the lobster dinner which is more. The ceremony time worked really well it started getting dark by 6. I started contacting the wedding coordinator rather early but that was because I had little information on what was available. Now that there are more brides sharing information it should be easier for you. I would suggest though booking your location for the reception as soon as you make up your mind in case there are multiple weddings on your date.

 

@MJKH - The resort photographer didn't get in the way at all. The funny thing was I completely forgot about them and didn't even notice they were there until they said goodbye to me at the end of the ceremony. I forgot to tell Araceli that we didn't want them but I am assuming they knew to stay out of the way as our photographer was there with two assistances and since our photographer (at our request) asked a family member to sit down who was standing directly dehind us taking pictures as we were saying our vows (in every photo) I am sure the photographer would have also asked them to move without us even noticing. Claudia was extremely professional, I didn't notice any of them as they were taking photos, guess I was a little wrapped up in the moment.

[MJKH]

Thanks for your feedback ladies!  

 

I haven't seen anything from the recent brides about a chest xray...only bloodwork.  Some of the documents I've read said both would need to be done.  I'm guessing that's not the case anymore?

[Melaina]

Supposedly it depends what region you're getting married in. Quintana Roo, thankfully, only requires the bloodwork.

Originally Posted by MJKH 

Thanks for your feedback ladies!  

 

I haven't seen anything from the recent brides about a chest xray...only bloodwork.  Some of the documents I've read said both would need to be done.  I'm guessing that's not the case anymore?

 

[donnaalec11]

@christieg  Congratulations to you both,  thankyou so much for sharing all the info with us.  I am rather concerned now about the photographer as we were having the resort photographer to take our pictures and that is 2 of you that have now said the pictures were awful.  Does anyone have a price list for Claudia that you could share with me. 

 

I am really looking forward to going now, what did you have for the palapa to stop some of the wind?  that sounds like a really good idea and if you could let me know more about this i would appreciate it.  thanks.

 

I do hope the front desk book there ideas up before i get there. 

 

Thanks again. 

[ChristieG]

@donnaalec11 - I sent you the photographer info in a PM . We asked for them to 'wrap' the palapa and they took white fabric and wrapped it around the entire palapa basically covering the railings. It made a huge difference and I am very glad we asked them to do this. One of the tables was infront of the opening/entrance to the palapa and that table found it a little windy so they moved their table over a bit and were much happier. I found out about all this later so I guess they moved the tables before I arrived. All in all it was a little windy but more of a breeze. We had place cards and other decorations on the tables and none of them blew away so the wind wasn't all that strong.

[Kbodchill]

@ChristieG : Congratulations!!!! And thank you very much for the review!!

 

I was really excited to hear your details about the ceremony, the cocktail hour and the reception, because I'm looking to do the same thing (at the palapa beach). Once you have pictures available, would you be able to post some of the ceremony site, cocktail area and the wrapped palapa? I've visited these spots but I'm curious to know what the ceremony and cocktail set up was like. (When I went, it was just a bare beach!)  I read the post above and the "wrapped" palapa sounds like a great idea!

 

Congrats again!