TATrisha

It applies for anything that looks like you're going to try and sell it... so favors and decorations and stuff you wouldn't take on a vacation to Mexico. Personal items such as the wedding bands, dresses, suits, etc don't count. Although there are limits to how much you can take in (just like photographer's equipment). I think you're only allowed two wedding dresses or something fun like that

Your wedding is coming up so fast! How awesome! I'll respond below.

Yeah, Paradise beach is where I take all of my trash the dress clients. It's GORGEOUS there. I cannot wait to see your photos!

Hi Kristin! Yeah, I've been around this forum for a really long time, and in August I'll be going back to the Gran Bahia to photograph another wedding, so I try to be as much of an expert at least on THAT resort as I can!! I have put together this official thread and it has a bunch of information on Arrecife: Click HERE for that. Basically, I would highly advise against booking this photographer. But, that's just my honest opinion. The size of the photos are 6x8 or 5x7, I believe. He is with you for the ceremony and then portraits on the beach for about 20 minutes after. Unless you book him longer, that is. The photos are VERY edited and technically speaking are pretty bad, but I know a lot of people have also been happy with them. From the reviews over the past year, most brides spend between $2,000 and $3,000 on their services and receive 150-200 pictures. That to me, is kind of crazy since I typically get flown in for around $2500-3000 and you get full day wedding coverage, ~800 pictures, and a trash the dress session. It just seems like a no brainer to me to fly someone in who will give you more bang for your buck, but I'm biased Hope this helps! Please feel free to PM or email me if you have any questions Trisha

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!! So great to hear that everything was so fabulous, even the weather. I cannot wait to hear more and see pictures!

HI! I photographed a wedding at the Grand Riviera Princess. I thought it was very nice. They are on the same complex, and you can use the facilities of both, but they are technically two separate resorts. They have different wedding locations. The Grand Riviera Princess has a beach site right next to a dark wood gazebo. What kind of extras are you looking at?

Hi Brooke, Yeah, sadly a lot of resorts no longer allow local photographers. However, there is always the option of flying in your photographer as a guest to your wedding. That's pretty much the only way to gaurantee that your photos will be as amazing as you've always dreamed. Good luck! Trisha

I definitely think you'll be really happy with an outside photographer. I think the quality will be MUCH better. And Del Sol is amazing!

Oh I wouldn't worry about it. It'll probably rain in the morning or during the late evening. It was scheduled to rain every day of my wedding week too... and I pretty much stressed myself into a panic. But you're in the tropics. It rains a lot... but not usually during the day or early evening. And all of you guys getting married in a week has me SO excited!!! I wish I were down there. I mean, that's 6 BDW weddings in one week! that has to be a record!

Are you staying at the Akumal side or the Coba side. If you're staying at the Coba side, lanterns will be difficult to string up. But I think they'd look really cool in the hammock area of the pool which is empty during the reception. You could make that into a kind of dance floor, although most likely everyone will end up in the pool.

Great review Jill!

It's a portable crib. They no longer provide cribs?

Congratulations!!!!!!! I'll add you to the official thread under the bridal roll call. For our wedding we had two 1 1/2 year olds with us. The moms went to Walmart in Playa Del Carmen when we got to the resort and bought diapers and wipes. That way they didn't have to pack them. The resort was wonderful though. They are fantastic with children. The Akumal area has a nice little cove that is very calm for little ones to play in the ocean, and a very shallow section of the pool. My only advice, make sure you get a suite. If you get a standard room then you won't have very much area to put the pack and play that they give you or to even walk!

Congratulations!!! I've added you to the bridal roll call

Wow! That's going to be an AWESOME week at the GBP!!!

That's correct. It is not very far away. You can take the collectivos or hire a taxi. The taxi would be about $20 (that's what it costs me to take my brides to the Tulum beach for trash the dress sessions). I believe the taxi will drop you off near the highway. You will have to pay to ride the little train to take you to the entrance of the ruins. It's super cheap and kind of adds to the experience.

Awesome! You and your husband look so very happy! And your little boy, oh he is just adorable!!! Congratulations again!

Only looked at the first picture... but OMG you're gorgeous! Sorry, I'll go look at the rest now.

Oh yes! I've driven past the Grand Sirenis Resort many times and it looks very beautiful!!

Hi! Yup, tulips just will not make it. Sometimes you can get away with them if they are tightly packed in by other flowers. The other flowers hold them up so you can't see the wilting as terribly bad... but otherwise, I'd go a different route. And if you REALLY wanted tulips, probably go the real touch flower (fake) route.

Hi again Kat! DEFINITELY get a TA. The ones from the forum are amazing... but I do agree with at least having maybe your top 4 resorts chosen before contacting them. That's what I did. Maybe that's silly, but I liked it. And TAs don't charge you for their services. They get paid by the resorts and such... I had 35 guests attend. Some of the resorts I looked at: - Moon Palace - beach was icky and I had to get married in a gazebo... - Grand Riviera Princess - Good contender... but I have since photographed a wedding there and the beach area is NOT private. Guests can walk right in front of your ceremony, and they do! - Barcelo - I really like this one. I photographed a wedding here two years ago and it was beautiful. The beach location looks over rocks so it's private and it's surrounded by palm trees. It's super cute. Plus outdoor reception options are great and the food was very good. (HERE is the wedding that I photographed there and HERE is the trash the dress) - Dreams Cancun - this is a very popular resort for weddings because it's gorgeous. I just wanted to get married on the beach and the word CANCUN meant spring breakers to my guests. - NOW Jade - This is a newer option that I didn't consider, but some family friends are getting married there in June. I put together this official thread about it. They have some cool wedding locations and very nice private reception options. - Gran Bahia Principe - obviously this is my favorite and I'm partial because I got married there I also photographed a wedding there in january and will be doing another in August... so clearly I enjoy this resort! Here is the wedding I just did in January (their wedding is HERE and the trash the dress is HERE). I also created an official thread to make finding information easier for this resort too. It's located HERE.

You typically get more bang for your buck when you fly in a photographer, but that doesn't always make it the right choice. But from what it sounds like, I think flying someone in will be the best option. Just for price comparison... and EVERYONE is different, but I photograph destination weddings for $1,000 plus travel. It's extremely cheap but I love destination weddings and everything about them. Being a destination wedding bride myself, I have a special place in my heart for getting married by the beach.

Is anyone going to be there in August when I am? I feel like we need more August brides!

You're welcome! Great communication is a HUGE plus and will make you feel much more at ease during the process.

Who to choose is always tricky... but this forum has great photographers to choose from, both on location and photographers that you can fly in. Caribbean Emotions has an extensive amount of reviews if you go here: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/products/caribbean-emotions-photography/reviews/ I would recommend finding some photographers that you love and just emailing them asking for a quote. Hopefully you'll find someone that you both love for a price that you think is good.