OFFICIAL Gran Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Thread

[kristen29]

Hi Ladies!!!  Im so glad I found this site.  Our wedding planner doesnt seem to have much info on the wedding planning part and this website is very useful.  I hope I'm posting this to the correct part haha. So were booked for Jan 27 2013-Feb 3 2013 with our wedding feb 1.  So excited.  I just have a few questions for you ladies and really appreciate the help.  If were staying in the Akumal section does our ceremony and dinner and reception all have to be in the akumal section? because I wanted to get married in the Tulum Gazebo.  Also, photographers? is everyone using the one at the resort? is there more than one?  I'm new at this thanks for the help

 

 

Kristen

[Sunshine2680]

Hi Kristen! Congrats!! I believe you're our 1st 2013 bride!!
As far as I know you can get married at the Tulum Gazebo even if you're staying at Akumal..as long as there isn't a Tulum bride that wants it on the same day/time.
Thats what they told me when I was interested in the Akumal Hammock location.
So being that it's a year away and you're booked already - I think you should be safe but you'll have to confirm with your WC at Akumal (if thats where youre staying). I believe her name is Eugenia. The Tulum WC is Jazmin.

The Photographers the the resort offers are amazing by what I've seen. They use Arrecife..and I believe they have a page on Facebook if you want to see their shots.
http://www.facebook.com/arrecife.studio.mexico?ref=ts    and

http://www.facebook.com/arrecife.studio.mexico?ref=ts#!/pages/Arrecife-Weddings-Bahia-Principe/108871939180012
 

Personally...I feel that their prices are just too high for what you're getting and because the resort does not allow outside photographers I'm bringing my own. Luckily...with the amount of people we have booked for our wedding we get a credit so we will be applying that to his travel expenses so we're actually only paying for his fee as a photographer.
You'll see a lot of mixed opinions on here about the photographers but its really what you decide about how much you want to spend on your photography. For some people photography is the #1 most important expense for their wedding...others not so much.
I would read through the threads and get others' opinions....have a look at their pics/portfolio on FB as well as their prices of course and decide from there.

good luck!

 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by kristen29 

Hi Ladies!!!  Im so glad I found this site.  Our wedding planner doesnt seem to have much info on the wedding planning part and this website is very useful.  I hope I'm posting this to the correct part haha. So were booked for Jan 27 2013-Feb 3 2013 with our wedding feb 1.  So excited.  I just have a few questions for you ladies and really appreciate the help.  If were staying in the Akumal section does our ceremony and dinner and reception all have to be in the akumal section? because I wanted to get married in the Tulum Gazebo.  Also, photographers? is everyone using the one at the resort? is there more than one?  I'm new at this thanks for the help

 

 

Kristen

 

[promise12]

Hello!

We are looking to book the beginning of 2013 as well.

Did you get a good price for January and where are you flying out of??

I am kinda worried about the whole photographer thing, looks like we can't bring anyone onto the resort we need to use the one they have or fly someone with us??

Can't wait to get in touch with you!

Promise

[kristen29]

Thank you for the info Sunshine 2680

[kristen29]

Hello Promise12.  We are flying from Winnipeg and got an o.k. group rate.  I'm a little worried about the photography thing too.  From my understanding as long as you ok the photographer u choose by your WC beforehand and pay the $90. fee you can choose other photographers.  Please anyone out there correct me if thats wrong

Where are you flying from?  Which part of the resort are u booking in?

 

Kristen

[TATrisha]

Sorry Kristen, they do NOT allow photographers from the Mexico area.  The only way you can have your own photographer is if you fly them in and they are guests at the resort.  It's really not terrible though.  You can choose a photographer that you love their style and their offerings, fly them in and it's actually usually the same price or CHEAPER than using the resort photographer or a local photographer and you get more bang for your buck. 
It's still a darn shame, as there are SO many amazing photographers in the Riviera Maya area, but at least you still have a choice.

[Sunshine2680]

Tlseege is right. The day pass for outside vendors is for anyone OTHER than a photographer. For me..I'm bringing in outside hair/makeup people.  There's no way of using another photographer down there unless you actually book them into the resort as a true guest for a minimum of 3 nights. Thats what my TA told me.

So as Tlseege pointed out..you may aswell pay to bring your own down. Another benefit of that is that if you bring your own...he/she will probably include an engagement session or two in Winnipeg and down in Mexico. Plus they get to know you as a couple and what you like etc etc. The photographers at the resort don't know you. They show up to 'do the job' and thats it. Not to say that they do a bad job...i just thing you end up with way better photos when the photog is working for YOU..and not the resort.
I was also very dissapointed to find out that I'd have to pay EXTRA $ to have them shoot the dinner/reception!!!

As I mentioned previously...we're paying more to bring our photog down..but in his fee we're getting an engagement session here at home...another one down in mexico (we'll probably head to the Tulum ruins for that)...the ENTIRE wedding day (getting ready...allllll the way to the end of the night)...AND a TTD session the next day. Plus we're getting a nice DVD Slideshow included so we can show our family/friends at home who couldnt make it to Mexico.

Your options are...resort photog or bring one from Winnipeg. I'd start doing your research and narrow down what's important to you and what you're budgeted for.
I'm pretty sure Arrecife's pricing is on one of these Bahia threads but if its' not ..let me know and I think i still have theirs from when I inquired last year.
But definitely start pricing out photogs in Winnipeg for comparison.

[arielh]

Is there any issues with the resort photographers if you have your own photographer that comes down with your group and is taking photos?

[Krysti]

Is there any issues with the resort photographers if you have your own photographer that comes down with your group and is taking photos?

As long as your photographer is a guest at your wedding and not someone you hired locally outside of the resort, you're all good

[TATrisha]

Yup, I just photographed Cheryl's wedding and the resort photographer was there during the ceremony (for her 10 free shots) and it wasn't a problem.

I will say this though, the photographers are very intrusive.  He was up at the alter and VERY much in their face.  So he's in almost all of my photos, which kind of stinks.  So remember that when you think about if you want to accept the 10 free photos.