TATrisha

Welcome back Jamie!!! I sure hope you post your photos on here for us all to see! You know we all want to!!! Congratulations!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by ajswope Thanks everyone! I have 25 people coming so I get both options... but for ther rehersal dinner they gave me 4 menus. Can you mix and match or have to pick menu a, b, c, or d? I was thinking for the reception either the Beef, Mahi Mahi, or the Shrimp Kabob. Figured you can get chicken anywhere.. but then i got to thinking how many cows do they really have in Jamaica? silly I know. As I mentioned, myself and my assistant had the beef and it was EXCELLENT! MMMM I wish they had like a jurk chicken so it was more authentic. Any suggestions on things that you ate while there? What about the deserts? they are all yummy. I want them all haha!! Whatever kind of cake (it should be listed on that picture I posted) that the bride had in November was AWESOME! So good. i wanted 20 pieces! Also, anyone use the onsite DJ? Was it worth the money...Its expensive but i really want someone to say "and here they are for their first dance".. The DJ was used at the wedding in November. They were GREAT. it was a beach reception and they had the crowd dancing the whole time. The WC was the one who annouced the couple and all of the toasts though. Do they set up a place for people to dance or does it seem more social? Her reception was on the beach, and they had a spot under the tent to dance, however everyone went out from under the tent and just danced under the stars in the sand. They had a large spot light. And then people went and danced in the water too because it was soo hot! Sorry so many questions! I am so excited and this is the first time ive had to ask questions to other brides doing a wedding at sandals. Thanks!!!! -Andrea Any other questions that i can try and answer I will. I asked that my bride write a review too, so hopefully that will be coming!

Here is the set menu that was at the wedding I photographed... I will post food pictures soon:

Yup, I transported everything for my OOT bags in my luggage. And you're not allowed to bring anything into Mexico for resale, that's why you have to bring receipts to prove you don't have over a certain amount of goods, and so that you can prove it's not for resale.

I also had signs which read something to the effect of "this is for the XXXX/XXXX wedding." It said it in English and in Spanish. I figured that way if they opened it, they'd know what it was for and that i didn't plan on selling it! Funny thing is, I was just away photographing a wedding and I found one of my signs!!

Welcome to the forum!! I was just in Negril and it was absolutely beautiful! Which resort are you thinking?

At the wedding I was at in November the bride had two dinner options. Steak and mahi mahi. Myself and my assistant had the steak and it was absolutely fantastic!! The mahi mahi looked good. I do have pictures of both, if you'd like to see the presentation.

Welcome Andrea! I just photographed a wedding at Sandals Negril! It is a beautiful property. The bride that I worked with got married in the sand next to the gazebo and had a beach reception. If you have any questions about any of the set ups, feel free to let me know!

Very nice! I love the one with the sax... cause it's just like one of my engagement photos and reminds me of that great day!!

Quote: Originally Posted by HereFishie Can anyone who has been there tell me how far it is from the Akumal Beach location (Dolce Vita specifically) to the Coba pools? Also how far from the Coba pools to the Hacienda (disco)?? We're trying to figure out how far everything is away from each other between these 2 resorts and the map isn't great for distances so we're worried about getting up to 40 people where they need to be in time! Also, for those brides that mailed some of their items ahead of time to the resort... where did you mail it to?? I'm thinking of this because of baggage restrictions. I agree with Kiera, I would rely on the cart transportation. It should only take 5 minutes that way instead of having your guests walk in the heat, and possibly high heels. Also, the hacienda bus is definitely the way to get to the Hacienda. I wouldn't walk that... VERY LONG walk. Plus, it makes a cute picture for your photographer to take! And as far as mailing things ahead of time... DO NOT DO IT!!!!!!!!! There are a ton of threads on this forum. Do not mail things. More than likely they will get lost or stuck in customs. You are much better off taking extra luggage or having your guests take luggage.

Honestly Pelican10... I might think about switching travel agents if I were you. Getting in contact with the resorts is very difficult but the travel agents seem to be able to do a lot more. I think it'll save you a lot of time, money, ant patience if you do. Just a thought.

As a mom with a four month old, i can understand why people wouldn't want to bring their baby with. Sure, for some people it's no big deal. But for people who stress out about traveling in the first place, and then to have to bring a baby! Oh good heavens! For instance, my situation. I LOVE traveling. However, I'd think twice about taking my baby some where right now for many reasons. 1. she is formula fed. I would NEVER feed my baby water from a resort. Which means I'd have to buy a million bottles of water after I went through security and basically bring a suitcase of just water bottles. Yeah, that'd be fun. Not to mention having to pack 10 diapers per day, at least a can of formula and all her other crap. 2. she sleeps in a swing if at all. Yeah, I can't very well take my swing on vacation. So now what? We don't sleep? you listen to a baby scream bloody murder for a week? Gotta love over tired babies. 3. money. Do you know how much daycare is? I could afford to go on vacation every single month if I didn't pay daycare (which leads me to the question of why wasn't I doing that in the first place) let alone all of her other crazy bills. 4. Time off. I got 6 weeks paid. Many places don't even get that. I also used up a lot of my vacation time. So taking more time off isn't really an option. 5. Illnesses. I think we all know what i"m talking about. 6. Leaving a baby at home is hard. I have photographed destination weddings after I had my daughter. It is extremely hard to leave her at home, and that's when I know she's with her daddy. But to leave her alone with someone else just for fun, would seriously break my heart. I never thought I'd say that, by the way. Your life truly does change when you have a kid. Anyway, I'm sure I could go on and on and on. But I think you just need to have a little empathy for people who have just had a kid or will be having a kid. And talk to AnnR. She gave birth in California to the very premature Gwen. Even though it might be "safe" for travel, life is unexpected. For the OP... how to deal... I would buy them a lovely gift and think of them while you are at your wedding having the time of your life.

That is the case, with the exception of the Coba resort. If you stay at the Coba resort you are allowed to get married at the Tulum or Akumal locations, however you are given second priority.

Beautiful Erika!!

I used my engagement pictures in a variety of ways. I used it on my wedding website, in my save the dates, in a photo book, in frames around my house, and for a signature frame at the wedding (picture in the middle, guests sign the matte around it). Now that i'm a photographer, i actually suggest that my clients make a photo book out of their engagement photos for the guests to sign at the wedding. They are super cute and a great way to show off your pictures!

Beautiful photos! I love the waterfall.

Hola! Like the other posters have mentioned, the biggest difference is their location and proximity to the ocean and the ceremony locations. Tulum is where you'll want to stay if you want the gazebo and Akumal seems to have a better beach location. Coba uses the Tulum and Akumal locations, however if a wedding is already scheduled on your day you'll get second choice. As for the actual resorts, Tulum is the oldest. It is all normal rooms. However it is right on the water and the odds of getting an ocean view are very good. Akumal is next. PART of it is on the water and that would be the club golden section (and a few random normal rooms). The club golden section is where i stayed for my wedding and those are suites with sitting areas (plenty of room for getting ready... I have pictures if you need to see them). Coba is the newest. it is all suites, however it is a 5-15 minute walk to the beach depending on where your room is located. If you have any other questions, feel free to let me know, otherwise check out the GBP thread. You'll find hundreds of posts!

I too just got back from this resort, and you guys have made a great choice! The resort is GORGEOUS! Very large, but beautiful. It had SO many photo ops that we just didn't want to stop taking pictures. I do have a bunch of photos of the resort if anyone would like to see them.

So exciting!! I can't wait to get the first edition!

Krama... there is a Tulum beach location, which is NOT the gazebo, so you should definitely double check.

Welcome to the forum!!! I got married on the Akumal side and the resort is just awesome. I loved every single second of it! Best wishes!

Welcome to the forum! I just photographed a trash the dress session in Tulum and it was just gorgeous!!! Which resort are you planning on staying at?

Welcome to the forum! I have no advice, however my shuttle last weekend stopped at that resort and it was GORGEOUS!!!! Best wishes!!

Honestly, I would move it up. I just returned from photographing a wedding in Riviera Maya and it was definitely dusk by 5pm. As in, need to use a flash or be in a very well lit area dusk. 5:30 it was black out. So I would see if you could move up your ceremony. Especially if you have any amount of guests coming. Because your ceremony will go until 4:30, and then your guests will want to give you hugs and congratulations. Then you'll have to do formals, and you won't have any time at all for portraits with your new husband. Also... the sunset in the riviera maya is NOT along the coast, so sunset pictures aren't really an option anways.

I would say, in my experience, the further south you go the whiter the sand and the bluer the water... but that's just in my experience.