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

[cdlillad]

Hey girls! How's it going?

 

I'm still waiting for price quotes from several vendors.  I got an answer back from DJ Mannia but the prices are even higher than the resort DJ.  So I sent an email to DJ Doremixx. 

 

For makeup and hair, I'm still waiting for Fernando to get back to me.  He was traveling in Chicago and said he didn't have his appointment book with him.  He didn't give me the prices yet, but I know that they are a little expensive. So I sent an email to Sara Tamargo to see if she's available to do hair and makeup.  Someone on the forum said that Sara charges $150 for hair and makeup, which includes a trial.  I saw pictures of some of the brides she did hair and makeup for and they all look good.

 

Photos - I'm looking for ways to reduce costs, because I'm really worried that my costs for resort photographer pictures are going to be high.  We want the photographer to take pictures of our ceremony, a photo session after, dinner at Gran Tortuga, and poolside cocktail party with DJ.  Arrecife said it will cost $400 since they are covering 2 extra events.  So then if I purchase 140 photos, it will cost me $2300 additional?  For any of the girls recently married, do they negotiate at all?  I would really like to have a DVD of all my pictures.  I am scared that I'm going to pay $400 extra for the photographer and then not be able to afford to buy any of the pictures.

 

Wedding gown, bridesmaids dresses, flower girl dresses - I found several nice shops in Houston that have dress rentals of designer dresses or other pre-worn designer dresses that you can buy.  This can be a good option, if I decide I really need a designer gown.  :-)  But if I rent a dress, I guess I definitely won't be doing "trash the dress". lol  Not that I can afford that photo session anyway.

 

Christi

Wedding Date: June 11, 2011 Gran Bahia Principe Tulum Gazebo, Dinner at Gran Tortuga

[Angie1017]

Eeeeek, I'm a bundle of excitement!  I cannot believe we leave on Sunday! 

 

Question for girls that have been married, did you provide your WC with the seating chart for dinner prior to leaving, or just give it to her at your meeting prior?

 

Also - I think someone had mentioned Jazmin loves maple cookies?  Was thinking of getting her some and just wanted to make sure I was correct.

[aimesmiles]

Hey Everyone,

Hope all the planning is going well our holiday is booked for 3rd November 2011 and the wedding for 9th November I'm so excited!!! those of you who are going soon must be bursting with excitement!! 

good luck

x

[kitchenwitch]

You will not be disappointed with Fernando! It cost me $350 for makeup and hair.  He uses only MAC makeup, perfect for lasting those hours of partying. Gama did an amazing job on my hair too.  These guys are true pros.
 

Originally Posted by cdlillad 

Hey girls! How's it going?

 

I'm still waiting for price quotes from several vendors.  I got an answer back from DJ Mannia but the prices are even higher than the resort DJ.  So I sent an email to DJ Doremixx. 

 

For makeup and hair, I'm still waiting for Fernando to get back to me.  He was traveling in Chicago and said he didn't have his appointment book with him.  He didn't give me the prices yet, but I know that they are a little expensive. So I sent an email to Sara Tamargo to see if she's available to do hair and makeup.  Someone on the forum said that Sara charges $150 for hair and makeup, which includes a trial.  I saw pictures of some of the brides she did hair and makeup for and they all look good.

 

Photos - I'm looking for ways to reduce costs, because I'm really worried that my costs for resort photographer pictures are going to be high.  We want the photographer to take pictures of our ceremony, a photo session after, dinner at Gran Tortuga, and poolside cocktail party with DJ.  Arrecife said it will cost $400 since they are covering 2 extra events.  So then if I purchase 140 photos, it will cost me $2300 additional?  For any of the girls recently married, do they negotiate at all?  I would really like to have a DVD of all my pictures.  I am scared that I'm going to pay $400 extra for the photographer and then not be able to afford to buy any of the pictures.

 

Wedding gown, bridesmaids dresses, flower girl dresses - I found several nice shops in Houston that have dress rentals of designer dresses or other pre-worn designer dresses that you can buy.  This can be a good option, if I decide I really need a designer gown.  :-)  But if I rent a dress, I guess I definitely won't be doing "trash the dress". lol  Not that I can afford that photo session anyway.

 

Christi

Wedding Date: June 11, 2011 Gran Bahia Principe Tulum Gazebo, Dinner at Gran Tortuga

[nikki&owen]

Are these the stylists at the resort salon?  I am stressing about what to do about hair and makeup. One of my girl friends was going to do it, but now it looks like she can't come on the trip. So I am going to have to book something. Please  let me know how I should go about doing that.

I am thinking about getting a stylist here at home to do my hair and take a picture of it to show the hairdresser there.....just in case there is a language barrier as well! lol

Originally Posted by kitchenwitch 

You will not be disappointed with Fernando! It cost me $350 for makeup and hair.  He uses only MAC makeup, perfect for lasting those hours of partying. Gama did an amazing job on my hair too.  These guys are true pros.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdlillad 

Hey girls! How's it going?

 

I'm still waiting for price quotes from several vendors.  I got an answer back from DJ Mannia but the prices are even higher than the resort DJ.  So I sent an email to DJ Doremixx. 

 

For makeup and hair, I'm still waiting for Fernando to get back to me.  He was traveling in Chicago and said he didn't have his appointment book with him.  He didn't give me the prices yet, but I know that they are a little expensive. So I sent an email to Sara Tamargo to see if she's available to do hair and makeup.  Someone on the forum said that Sara charges $150 for hair and makeup, which includes a trial.  I saw pictures of some of the brides she did hair and makeup for and they all look good.

 

Photos - I'm looking for ways to reduce costs, because I'm really worried that my costs for resort photographer pictures are going to be high.  We want the photographer to take pictures of our ceremony, a photo session after, dinner at Gran Tortuga, and poolside cocktail party with DJ.  Arrecife said it will cost $400 since they are covering 2 extra events.  So then if I purchase 140 photos, it will cost me $2300 additional?  For any of the girls recently married, do they negotiate at all?  I would really like to have a DVD of all my pictures.  I am scared that I'm going to pay $400 extra for the photographer and then not be able to afford to buy any of the pictures.

 

Wedding gown, bridesmaids dresses, flower girl dresses - I found several nice shops in Houston that have dress rentals of designer dresses or other pre-worn designer dresses that you can buy.  This can be a good option, if I decide I really need a designer gown.  :-)  But if I rent a dress, I guess I definitely won't be doing "trash the dress". lol  Not that I can afford that photo session anyway.

 

Christi

Wedding Date: June 11, 2011 Gran Bahia Principe Tulum Gazebo, Dinner at Gran Tortuga

 

[CanadianKim]

Hey! I got married at the Akumal a few weeks ago and I had the spa salon do my hair. It actually turned out really nice. I was kind of worried because the curls were sooo tight and made my hair look shorter than Id like...but they loosed up pretty quickly due to the humidity. My husbands brothers girlfriend did my makeup...as she is a makeup artist. There is a bit of a language barrier with the stylislt but if you bring pictures you can figure it out.

 

I was told by others that to bring in other people to do your hair/makeup can be an issue. Youd have to buy a daypass for them and if the resort knows theyre an outside vendor they might have a problem with it. You could always just say theyre your friend though that lives there.
 

Originally Posted by nikki&owen 

Are these the stylists at the resort salon?  I am stressing about what to do about hair and makeup. One of my girl friends was going to do it, but now it looks like she can't come on the trip. So I am going to have to book something. Please  let me know how I should go about doing that.

I am thinking about getting a stylist here at home to do my hair and take a picture of it to show the hairdresser there.....just in case there is a language barrier as well! lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by kitchenwitch 

You will not be disappointed with Fernando! It cost me $350 for makeup and hair.  He uses only MAC makeup, perfect for lasting those hours of partying. Gama did an amazing job on my hair too.  These guys are true pros.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdlillad 

Hey girls! How's it going?

 

I'm still waiting for price quotes from several vendors.  I got an answer back from DJ Mannia but the prices are even higher than the resort DJ.  So I sent an email to DJ Doremixx. 

 

For makeup and hair, I'm still waiting for Fernando to get back to me.  He was traveling in Chicago and said he didn't have his appointment book with him.  He didn't give me the prices yet, but I know that they are a little expensive. So I sent an email to Sara Tamargo to see if she's available to do hair and makeup.  Someone on the forum said that Sara charges $150 for hair and makeup, which includes a trial.  I saw pictures of some of the brides she did hair and makeup for and they all look good.

 

Photos - I'm looking for ways to reduce costs, because I'm really worried that my costs for resort photographer pictures are going to be high.  We want the photographer to take pictures of our ceremony, a photo session after, dinner at Gran Tortuga, and poolside cocktail party with DJ.  Arrecife said it will cost $400 since they are covering 2 extra events.  So then if I purchase 140 photos, it will cost me $2300 additional?  For any of the girls recently married, do they negotiate at all?  I would really like to have a DVD of all my pictures.  I am scared that I'm going to pay $400 extra for the photographer and then not be able to afford to buy any of the pictures.

 

Wedding gown, bridesmaids dresses, flower girl dresses - I found several nice shops in Houston that have dress rentals of designer dresses or other pre-worn designer dresses that you can buy.  This can be a good option, if I decide I really need a designer gown.  :-)  But if I rent a dress, I guess I definitely won't be doing "trash the dress". lol  Not that I can afford that photo session anyway.

 

Christi

Wedding Date: June 11, 2011 Gran Bahia Principe Tulum Gazebo, Dinner at Gran Tortuga

 

 

[cdlillad]

Angie - Wow, so exciting that you're leaving soon!!  I can't wait to hear all about it.  Yes, I read on this forum that Jazmin loves maple cookies.  Are those from Canada? I guess I can't bring them from Houston. lol

 

kitchenwitch - You are right! Your makeup and hair in your pictures looks perfect!  I've also looked at other pictures of brides that used Fernando for their hair and makeup...everyone looks like models!  But I've gone over on my wedding budget and I'm trying to figure out where to cut.    Decisions decisions!

 

nikki and owen - We were talking about an outside vendor, Fernando Fuentes, who does a really good job on hair/makeup.  His contact information is [email protected] http://the-makeup-pros.com/  I haven't received prices from him yet, but he charged kitchenwitch $350 for both makeup and hair.  Hopefully he hasn't gone up on his price.  I know that Fernando speaks English, because he wrote me an email in English and he was visiting family in Chicago.  Fernando said that he has gone to Gran Bahia Principe many times and the resort will not charge a day pass for him.

 

Another makeup/hair person I am considering is Sara Tamargo (the sister of Sol Tamargo - really good photographer from Del Sol Photography), but she hasn't replied to me yet ([email protected]).  I'm not sure how her English is.

 

CanadianKim - Thanks for sharing the picture of your hair.  It looks good! Do you have a picture of what it looked like later.  I'm trying to imagine.  What was the name of the person that did your hair?  I keep thinking that each stylist is different, so I'm worried about booking through the resort salon.

 

DJs -  I received a response from DJ Doremixx. They said the 2011 cost is $800 for 1-4 hours. The price is the same if you have 1 hour or 4 hours.  For that price, they bring equipment, including robotic lights, speakers, amplifiers, microphone, bilingual DJ, cold fireworks, Fog/smoke machine, bubble machine (if indoors), balloons, masks, neon bracelets.  They also have a lightup dance floor for an additional $700.

 

DJ Mannia is $800 for 1-5 hours, which includes audit equipment, robotic lights, smoke/fog machine, balloons, confetti machine.  They also have lightup dance floors, but I don't know the cost.

 

These DJs are too expensive for me.  Has anyone used the resort DJ, how was that?

 

I am thinking of using DJ Bijan, but he told me he doesn't have music in Spanish.  So I have to think about that. 

 

Christi

[cdlillad]

Update on DJs -  I got quotes from 2 more DJs now:

 

D I S C O M O V I L - C A N C U N
http://www.discomovilcancun.com
$650 for weddings in Tulum.  He didn't give a timeframe.  He brings the audio equipment and lights.  He has a database on his website (70,000 songs) in English and Spanish that you can search. I know that at least one person on the BDW forum has recommended him.

 

Julian Molina with Mood Events
http://www.moodevents.com.mx

$650 for 3 hours - includes audio equipment and lights, balloons, masks, and glowsticks. Has 60,000 songs (English and Spanish). On facebook as "Mood Event Services".  He introduced himself on the BDW forum, but I don't think anyone has posted any reviews on them.

 

Hmmm which one to pick?  I like the balloons/masks/glowsticks.  Wonder if I should ask Discomovil if he brings those too.  I'm kinda leaning toward Julian Molina because he wrote a lot of information when he replied to me.

 

Christi

[aimesmiles]

Hi Christi,

 

I was considering using resort DJ also and wondered if anyone had any previous experience of his work?

 

I've been in contact with DJ Bob he charges $400 for 2 hours and each additional hour is $100 he brings his own equipment, sound and light package, and a microphone which you are welcome to use for speeches.His email is [email protected] 

 

I've spoken to Jazmin she sent this to say - The pool party is 960usd per 30people maximun(every extra person will cost 11usd) and 3 hours of piñas coladas, margaritas, sparkling wine & beers +  special ilumination, sound equipment, speakers, microphone, lights and DJ to play or help you with the music- very nicely decorated, 

Note, If you wish to bring your own DJ is possible and there isnt any extra charge for this, you just need to cover the cost on top and thats it,

 

So i am now wondering whether to have the resort DJ as i feel like i'd be paying twice for an outside one! Are you having just a pool party or private dinner and pool party?  

 

i have also emailed sara tamargo with no reply!

 

Amie x

[cdlillad]

Hi Amie,

Hair/Makeup - Sara Tamargo replied to me yesterday.  She said that it's $150 for the bride's hair and makeup and $130 for bridesmaids or others for hair/makeup.  She didn't mention anything about a trial, so I guess that's no longer included.  It's still a pretty good price compared to Fernando ($350).

 

DJ - I'm planning on having dinner at Gran Tortuga and then a poolside cocktail reception.

 

I think I misunderstood Jazmin about the DJ cost.  I thought based on what other girls wrote in this forum that its

(35 people * $5 for first hour) + (35 people * $3 for second hour) = $280 for drinks/bartender setup

 

When Jazmin quoted me $955 for 35 people for 2 hours, including setup, service, tall cocktail tables, chairs, bar with margaritas, pina coladas, sparkling wine, and beer, sound equipment, microphone, speakers, DJ services, lighting.  I *thought* the resort DJ price was $655 (because the extra costs list says $210 for DJ 45 minute set).  So I thought I could just subtract the $655 and get an outside DJ. 

 

I definitely need to followup with Jazmin on this, because I am confused.

 

Christi