Gran Bahia Principe Akumal/Tulum/Coba - POST HERE!

[Jen_S]

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Originally Posted by Corvette79 JK: I know about the frustration, i emailed her in july and copied Paloma in on it and Paloma replied that Yuritzia was on vacation so i waited and waited and waited..... well i got tired of waiting LOL my wedding is in 6 months, yours is so close, i would be freaking out right about now! ok so here is what i got from her today... BTW she speaks great english, nothing to worry about there. As far as prices we only discussed cocktail options not wedding packages but i do have the price list that they have for all the packages for the ceremonies etc, do you have that? if not let me know and i can email it to you. We have booked the DJ and poolside cocktails and dancing for 2 and a half hours. our ceremony is 4pm dinner is at 6-8 pm, cocktails poolside is 830 to 11 and then live music for an hour at the hacienda before the disco opens. The DJ is $150 an hour, he can play his own stuff or you can bring your own or do both, the cocktails you have2 options: regular is$5 per person for the 1st hr and $3 for the 2nd & 3rd hr and that includes beer, pina colada, margaritas & pop. the international is $17 per person and $12 for the2nd & 3rd hr and it basically includes everything. There is no minimum to be able to book the private poolside cocktail thing, we only have about 15 ppl and so it will only cost us about $ 550 pretty good deal, it includes lights, tables and chairs and linens, i am planning on doing the first dance and cake cutting here. The 2 options for the dinner that she told me was the Italian or the Seafood. The 2 ceremony locations she offered were the hammocks (she recommends this one) or the dock (for smaller groups up to 20 i think she said), she will email me the spa services list and restaurant menus in about a month also, she said wedding gown steaming is $20 to $25. hmm what else, i asked so many questions... bride, groom, parents, bridal party and witnesses may all take their wrist bands off for the day so it doesnt interfere with pictures. the dinner includes a dessert or in lieu of dessert they can make you cake instead she suggested the chocolate cake. Let me know if you have any more questions, i may know the answer. oh also she was very nice about doing a welcome dinner, she said she could book a section off at the riviera buffet so the whole group could dine together. its nerve racking not knowing a lot but i am sure everything will turn out great, they do like a million weddings a year LOL my only big concern is the spa specifically for hair, not hearing too many good things about them. I might source out someone from mexico to come and do it for us instead, i think i will ask claudia rodriguez for suggestions. Happy Planning!

Thank you so much for this it is really a big help. Your wedding will be here before you know it, I remember when we had 6 months now its only almost 3 wow time flies. I know they do a lot of weddings and everything will work out great I would just feel better knowing that we can get the reception we would like since there can be more then 1 wedding a day, I do have a email from her when I booked that we were the first ones booked for the day. I am also nervous about my hair but I will probably give them a shot since I can not seem to really find anyone. Do you have her number I think I will give her a shout to see if we can book. I know we want to do our dancing outside but still unsure about the dinner portion I heard the Italian one was good.

That is great about the welcome dinner as we would really love to do one, the buffet is what we were thinking too.

If you would not mind emailing me the price list you got that would be great then FI and I can try to make some decisions before I call her. My email is [email protected] Thanks again!!!

[MayanButterfly]

I too am a little worried about the spa there - did anyone get their hair done at an outside place? I'm almost contemplating just bringing a curling iron and trying to figure things out with my sister!

[RyanAmanda]

jkcz0702 and Corvette79, I know it's nerve racking when they don't respond, before my wedding I was freaking out because I hadn't heard from Jazmin. So I know it may be hard but trust me when I say everything will work out.

 

The WC's work crazy hours. Jazmin had one day off while we were there and every other day she was there at 9 in the morning until 9 at night, sometimes later. The day of our wedding she stayed with us till 11! Plus, she doesn't live on property so on top of being at the resort for 12 hours a day, she still has driving time each day. As well, we saw a wedding almost every day at each of the resorts, so they do thousands of weddings. So where as something might be a big deal for us, for them they've done it a million times and will have no problem getting it done. I agree it would be nice if they responded faster. I think the big thing to remember is that they do lots of weddings and your wedding will be beautiful.

 

 

Also, for those of you thinking about booking a cocktail party, without a doubt book it if you can! I promise you, you will not regret it.

[RyanAmanda]

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Originally Posted by Corvette79 our ceremony is 4pm dinner is at 6-8 pm, cocktails poolside is 830 to 11

For the cocktail party you pay per hour, I know 11 is the latest you can have them but why don't you have it from 8 to 11?

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Originally Posted by Corvette79 and then live music for an hour at the hacienda before the disco opens.

I would check on this just to be sure. One night of the week they have this special party at the Hacienda and it costs like $16 US to get into the Hacienda.

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Originally Posted by Corvette79 the cocktails you have2 options: regular is$5 per person for the 1st hr and $3 for the 2nd & 3rd hr and that includes beer, pina colada, margaritas & pop. the international is $17 per person and $12 for the2nd & 3rd hr and it basically includes everything.

If you don't want to pay for the internataional cocktails, the lobby bar is right by where the poolside cocktail party is held. We just did the regular drinks (for us it saved $400 vs doing international drinks) but as the bathrooms are at the lobby bar, the few guests that wanted hard alcohol would just grab a drink at the lobby bar on their way back from the bathroom.

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Originally Posted by Corvette79 she said wedding gown steaming is $20 to $25.

My mom brought a small steamer with her and it worked perfect. Not only for me but it worked perfect as my mom ended up steaming almost all our guests clothes! A lot of people had brought clothes that couldn't be ironed and all their dresses looked perfect thanks to the steamer.

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Originally Posted by Corvette79 my only big concern is the spa specifically for hair, not hearing too many good things about them. I might source out someone from mexico to come and do it for us instead, i think i will ask claudia rodriguez for suggestions.

I would definitely do this!

[orchid1981]

my sister just got married there last week and the wedding was fantastic. jazmin was amazing!

 

we did have a bit of a wedding gown situation. basically it was sent to be steamed on tuesday morning and by wednesday early evening we had not received it back (wedding was on thursday). we asked the front desk and they called the laundry department who said that they did not have the gown...not what you want to hear the night before the wedding. finally after much discussion (and struggling through the language barrier) they said that they did have the gown. i being a very outspoken maid of honor demanded that the gown be returned that night or else my dear friend edgar at the front desk was going to have a lot of explaining to do....lol.....it was returned that evening and looked beautiful. and it only cost $15. just be forewarned that somethings happen on mexico time....and at times it can be frustrating dealing with the staff.

 

we had our hair done at the spa. the bride's turned out great which is all that matters. i pretty much had to show the hairdresser what to do as she spoke hardly any english. the woman working at the reception desk spoke english so we had her in a few times to translate. my mom was not a big fan of her hair...and mine was okay after i fixed a bit of it myself. it definitely helps to have pictures....but also bring someone with you who can step in to assist if needed!

[Jen_S]

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Originally Posted by RyanAmanda jkcz0702 and Corvette79, I know it's nerve racking when they don't respond, before my wedding I was freaking out because I hadn't heard from Jazmin. So I know it may be hard but trust me when I say everything will work out. The WC's work crazy hours. Jazmin had one day off while we were there and every other day she was there at 9 in the morning until 9 at night, sometimes later. The day of our wedding she stayed with us till 11! Plus, she doesn't live on property so on top of being at the resort for 12 hours a day, she still has driving time each day. As well, we saw a wedding almost every day at each of the resorts, so they do thousands of weddings. So where as something might be a big deal for us, for them they've done it a million times and will have no problem getting it done. I agree it would be nice if they responded faster. I think the big thing to remember is that they do lots of weddings and your wedding will be beautiful. Also, for those of you thinking about booking a cocktail party, without a doubt book it if you can! I promise you, you will not regret it.

I do understand that they are really busy but I would feel more comfortable that we knew we could get what we want since they only have so many areas and can do more then 1 wedding a day so that is what I am nervous about.

[calchik]

thanks girls for all the new info and reviews. it's been very helpful

 

and helped me make the decision to do my own hair instead of attempting at the salon. my wedding is at noon so i wouldn't have a lot of time if they didn't get it right the first time.

 

good thing my hairdresser will probably be able to show me how to do it myself and then i have 6 months to practice. lol

[Jen_S]

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Originally Posted by calchik thanks girls for all the new info and reviews. it's been very helpful and helped me make the decision to do my own hair instead of attempting at the salon. my wedding is at noon so i wouldn't have a lot of time if they didn't get it right the first time. good thing my hairdresser will probably be able to show me how to do it myself and then i have 6 months to practice. lol

That is what I think I am going to do also.

[orchid1981]

I forgot to mention in my last post about the buffet and restaurant situation. Before we went I had been complaining about how on the Air Canada website it was saying that we could only eat at our own buffet and a la cartes at Tulum. When we talked to the resort they knew nothing about this.

 

When we got there this rule was basically non-existent. We ate at all 3 of the buffets and 2 of the a la cartes at Coba. Members of our group ate at various a la cartes including the "gourmet" ones at the other resorts. We were told that the rule would go into effect December 1st.....but that depended on who you were talking to. I cant imagine how they would actually enforce this rule so who knows if it is true or not.

 

A word about the a la cartes. A lot of our group had a lot of trouble getting a reservation....people were told the restaurants were full every night we were there. It was disappointing....especially when we went to one of them and it was basically half full. Another of our group was told to not even bother making a reservation and to just show up before 8 pm and they would get in. If you have any troubles please speak with your vacation rep and I'm sure they can help you. We had a problem with our room and our Air Canada Vacation rep Cesar was a huge help!

 

Have fun....it really is paradise!!!!

[Corvette79]

Ladies does anyone know if stephanotis flowers are available from the florist in mexico that Bahia uses? I would really want these flowers in my bouquet. Thanks for the info