TATrisha

I really do not think there is enough room by the Coba Jacuzzi pools for 63 guests. That is a very intimate location so I would plan on being by one of the bigger pools. By the Tulum main Pool they set up a bar with everything you'll need.

Arlequin has round and rectangle tables. You can put the tables together to seat as many as you want. For this wedding: http://faberphotography.com/weddings/nikki-tim-gran-bahia-principe-akumal-wedding/2014they had three rectangle tables with 12 people at each and then the head table perpendicular to the guests tables. For a 2pm ceremony, I would say you want to be done with hair and makeup by noon so you can eat lunch. Then you'll want to get into your dress around 1pm (depending on if you have your own photographer who will take pictures prior to the ceremony). For 6 people to get their hair done, I'd recommend you start at 9. It'll take about an hour per person and the salon has three spots. This will leave you with more than enough time to not feel stressed! iPhone will not be a problem at all. I would say you want a song for the seating of your guests, song for your bridal party to walk down the aisle to, song for the bride to walk down the aisle to, song to play during the signing of documents, and then a processional song. Guests will arrive at the wedding site either on their own or they will provide a trolley from the lobby to the site. It depends which location you've chosen and where your guests are staying. I wouldn't worry too much about your guests in between the ceremony and reception. Often times they will travel in a pack to the bar or back to their rooms to freshen up. As long as they know what time dinner is, they will definitely find something to do. I mean, you're in paradise! Using the speakers with your iPhone will work just fine. I'd recommend you download a DJ app so that the transitions in between songs is a little better.

Welcome and congratulations!! There is no rehearsal the day before. You really don't need one either. They will tell you exactly where to go and what to do. Plus, I'm sure you've been to enough weddings to get the idea of who stands where As for rehearsal dinner, many brides set up a time and place to meet in the buffet. If you get there right when it opens you can "reserve" a section for your group. This option seems to work the best and doesn't use one of the dinner credits for your guests. For the symbolic ceremony, you can have your friend officiate. I'm sure it'll be lovely!

Yeah, the Barcelo does a good job of cleaning up the beach, and depending which beach you're getting married at it might not even be an issue (the far south beach location isn't where the water hits, so no seaweed!). I wouldn't stress too much about it

You're welcome. Nikki & Tim's wedding was at the hammock location that has indeed been painted white. You can see in the pictures that they had it practically white with all the fabric to begin with, so not too much different. The pool area that they had their reception at is the Akumal Main pool. It's right outside of the main lobby. The Tulum beach location is more private than the Akumal, but when you're standing there saying your vows, they both seem intimate. I have not seen that Barcelo beach in recent years so I cannot say. GBP does indeed have a disco. It's in the Hacienda and opens at midnight. Many of the wedding receptions that I have photographed have gone their after their poolside receptions ended. I love my ocean view rooms at GBP. I have stayed at Coba, Tulum, and Akumal. Akumal is the only one where I've stayed ocean view and I've done it a couple times. It's amazing and beautiful. Barcelo's room was much more updated though. Had very modern furniture where the GBP has very classic furniture. The catalog is very dated, but the flowers are the same. You can see what type of flowers are used in those bouquets and then find pictures of more modern arrangements using the same flowers.

Welcome to the site!! I have been to both resorts and I have photographed weddings at both resorts. Both are lovely. Are you thinking the gazebo or the beach location at the Barcelo? Personally, I like the look of the Barcelo gazebo better than the Tulum Gazebo, however the Tulum Gazebo is far more private. Beach location, I like the Gran Bahia better. I think it's more private and you have more options. I enjoyed the private restaurant reception of the Barcelo where at the GBP it isn't private, however I like the poolside receptions at the GBP more. End result... I'd select GBP. But I got married there so I'm bias Here are some of the weddings I've photographed at both: http://faberphotography.com/destination-wedding/barcelo-maya-palace-the-wedding-west-bend-wisconsin-destination-wedding-photographer/2010 http://faberphotography.com/weddings/nikki-tim-gran-bahia-principe-akumal-wedding/2014 http://faberphotography.com/weddings/gran-bahia-principe-tulum-gazebo-wedding/2012 http://faberphotography.com/weddings/cheryl-aaron-gran-bahia-principe-coba-destination-wedding-photos/2012

Welcome and congratulations!!! I have not heard any restrictions over the holidays, especially with it being a symbolic ceremony. Obviously the resort will give the final answer that for, but I wouldn't think it'd be a problem. I'm not positive about the two business days, but I do believe that allows them to have time to meet with you and get everything perfect for your big day!

6 meters is roughly 20 feet. That structure is bigger than that. Maybe just for the top part? The table in front of me appears to be a five foot table, or there abouts. And the structure is about 8 feet tall. So I would say you need 16 feet just for the sides of it, and then based on the table size, I'd say 15 feet for the top. So roughly 30 feet

@@nicolesal Last time I was there, there was NOT an additional show in the theater on Thursdays. The activity board photo shown on my blog: http://faberphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Tulum-Activities-Board.jpgshows Thursday as the Fiesta night. There should still will be live entertainment by the lobby bar areas, however.

I used a very silky material, so it didn't add too much. I bought 16 yards I believe but mine didn't touch the ground. I also cut the fabric in half (the long way) so it wasn't so wide and then I used the other half as table runners for our dinner tables.

I had flowers on the post for my wedding and I loved it. They weren't too expensive and they used them as centerpieces for the reception. So if it's still a problem in November maybe that is a good option for you ladies. And how cool that you guys are so close in dates! You'll have to get together and toast to your happy marriages!

@@DonnaandDaz I wish! When I was there in May it wasn't officially a wedding location yet, so I've never seen it set up I would gladly go visit next month with you though! It's -12 here today! I'm so cold that anyone who books photography today will pay just travel fees! Brrr

Good afternoon ladies! I have added some new photos to my photo tours: http://faberphotography.com/gran-bahia-principe-akumal-photo-tour/ http://faberphotography.com/gran-bahia-principe-tulum-resort-photo-tour/ http://faberphotography.com/gran-bahia-principe-coba-photo-tour/ But the big new addition is all the pictures of the new Tulum wedding location! I have updated the page in this thread, but here are the new pictures:

Good afternoon ladies! I have added some new photos to my photo tours: http://faberphotography.com/gran-bahia-principe-akumal-photo-tour/ http://faberphotography.com/gran-bahia-principe-tulum-resort-photo-tour/ http://faberphotography.com/gran-bahia-principe-coba-photo-tour/ But the big new addition is all the pictures of the new Tulum wedding location! I have updated the page in this thread, but here are the new pictures:

@@MiniChic Did you find any Chic brides? I will be visiting this resort in June!

@@Gmarie721 @@AmandaR88 You guys might want to look into splitting the costs of flying in a photographer? It could be cheaper for you both. And with over a week in-between your weddings you could possibly get even another bride and make it even cheaper! Just throwing that out there as an option

Lighting in that area is not sufficient for anything but conversation, drinking, and dancing, quite frankly. It's very much "mood" lighting, which is great for a reception... but for taking pictures! Ha! If you have a photographer they'll be able to set something up, otherwise you'd want a nice flash on your camera to try and bring enough light in the area. What's nice is that area is surrounded by light colored walls and partial ceiling. That'll help bounce flash lighting so that your subjects are properly illuminated.

You could use the hammock area. I think that'd work out really well, actually. The area on the right hand side of this picture is what I'm talking about: http://faberphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Gran-Bahia-Principe-Coba-Destination-Wedding-v64.jpg In the weddings I've photographed there, nobody has really used that area because it's small so not many guests can mingle up there, however for a photobooth that you wouldn't want knocked over or "in the way" I think it would work perfect!

I had an area of the buffet reserved for our group, but I'm not positive if they do it anymore. Regardless, if you get there in the evening when the Buffet opens, you should be fine securing an area for your group. Specifically the Akumal buffet. There is the "normal" entrance across from the shops, however if you use the entrance NEXT TO (so past the "normal" entrance) the shops less people are over there and you should be able to snag up enough tables for your group.

Congratulations on finalizing your details! It sounds like an amazing day!! I made place cards so people could save their seats, but I did not assign places. The last wedding I photographed at Arlequin had long rectangle tables with about 16 people at each one. Are you going with round tables instead?

@@Dreamteam17 Happy wedding day!!!!!!!!!!!! @@calgarybride2015 Happy wedding day! I hope you beautiful ladies have perfect days today! Congratulations to you both!

If you ladies do decide to split the costs, it would be $2375 each (based on prices today), so that's a pretty good savings!

Congratulations to all the brides that have gotten married the past couple weeks!! So many of you and the reviews and pictures you've posted are wonderful! Best wishes!!

I had my live music play at the bar for pre-dinner drinks. It was lovely.