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

[Christina18]

I agree. We had 32 people at our wedding in November and everyone said Arlequin was hands down their favorite, atmosphere is intimate too...its hard to get into as they are not always open so book asap.

[dfranklin]

Hi Christina- How was the weather in November!?

[Angie1017]

I'm back!  All I have to say to future brides and grooms is do not worry!  They are absolutely amazing there and take care of everything.  I know it's hard when your WC won't email you back for a few days, but once you get there they absolutely take care of everything and they run so smoothly!  We were married on December 16, 2010 at 4:00 pm at the Tulum beach palapas.  Here is a little review:

 

Departure:

 

We were picked up at 5:30 am in a 20 person limo bus arranged by my dad. It was awesome to be with a bunch of our family and wedding party, pop some champagne, and be relaxed heading to the airport. Because we had such a large booking, we were all given VIP lounge passes for YVR, so we all had breakfast, coffee and for some - beer, while waiting to board our plane. The flight was great (West Jet), although you have to pay for your meals (you get non-alcoholic drinks and either Bits and Bites or a cookie), they did however pay for a round of drinks for my husband and I. It was cute, they announced that there were two couples going to Mexico to get married, and they passed around napkins to everyone and had them write down their worst wedding advice, and then we got them at the end of the flight. We had so much fun reading them before we landed.

 

Arrival:

 

We arrived in Mexico and boarded a bus to take us to our resort. It was good since there was so many of us, that there was only one other couple on the bus, so we only had to stop at one other resort before ours. The driver allowed us to stop and pick up beers and water for the hour and a half drive to our resort. We stayed in Tulum, in the Diamond Club area.  Our room was 4021.  Check in went smoothly, although some of the rooms had one king size bed, and there were a couple guys sharing a room. So we had to get them to bring in extra beds. But other than that, everyone was pleased with their rooms. We had the top floor (3rd floor) corner suite, with a king size bed, and ocean view.  The bed was super comfy, although my husband prefers a harder bed.  Most of our guests were in the Diamond Club area.

 

The days leading up to the wedding were so much fun! Our friends and families meshed well, and everyone had a ton of fun together. We had our welcome dinner the night after we arrived in the main buffet in Tulum, that is when we handed out our welcome bags. My MOH had a mariachi band come and they played for a bit and my husband and I danced We went on a group excursion to Tulum and swam in the ocean there. It is so gorgeous there, it reminded me of beaches in Thailand.

 

Wedding:

 

Our wedding was mid-week, on the Thursday. My MOH spent the night with me the night before, and we had a Grey Goose and vodka before bed and I wrote my cards to my parents. Woke up and had breakfast with my wedding party and my mom, lounged by the pool for a bit and then went to my room to shower. Went and had my hair done at the spa with my mom. I can't remember the name of the woman who did my hair, but it turned out fabulous!  I had extensions in, and she knew how to work with them.  My mom's hair also turned out really nice. 

 

During getting my hair done, one of my husband's groomsmen came in with a flower and a card from him, it was really sweet. Then, later, another groomsmen came in with a card that said "Something Old". My husband had said he would be taking care of my something old, so I was super curious! In it was a charm that his grandpa had given to his grandma on their wedding day, it was a little wedding bell. So cute! Throughout the day, different groomsmen would come and drop off cards and gifts from him that said Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. My something new was a new watch, something borrowed was a hotel pen to sign our license, lol, and my something blue was a Tiffany's necklace. So thoughtful, and such a fun idea!

 

After the spa I came back to my room and got my make up done by a friend.  I felt bad because she still had to get ready, and once she was done she only had about half an hour to get ready. But she did an awesome job, and exactly what I wanted.

 

We were picked up in a club car, like a little golf cart at 3:55 pm and taken down to the beach. I heard my husband's song that he walked down the aisle to "Kiss - I was made for loving you" start up, and he danced and high fived down the aisle. He he. When it was me and my dad's turn to go I was so freaking excited! I thought I would be bawling, but I was sooooo happy and excited, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face! My husband was the one emotional throughout the whole ceremony and I was the strong one! LOL The ceremony was perfect, I really liked the minister. It was about 20 minutes long. Afterwards we took some family shots, and then went off with our photographer to do group shots. Dinner was at 6 to 8 at Gran Tortuga, and really yummy!  Don't fill up on the salad buffet before the main courses, because you get so full!  Afterwards we had a private poolside party from 8 - 11 where we did first dances and speeches. We had DJ Bijan come, and he was awesome!  He and his wife were there, they set everything up, and took everything down.  He played music that suited everyone! 

 

Everyone's speech was so sweet, especially my dad's. He came up with the idea a few days before our wedding to hand over the torch to my husband. So he had someone in Mexico hand carve a torch! While he was saying his speech, about how he was handing me over to my husband, in essence, handing him the torch, the Survivor theme song started playing, and then my MOH and the Best Man walked up carrying a lit torch! My dad took it and handed it to my husband, my husband then got on his knee and accepted it! It was so funny, and awesome all in one!

 

After the poolside party we went to the Hacidenda, were the disco is, and sat around at these outdoor tables and danced, drank and partied.

 

When we finally got back to our room very late, it was decorated with rose petals, champagne, choclate covered strawberries, little gifts, and books. My mom had set it all up, it was so sweet.

 

A few days after we did a TTD session.  We started at this unfinished condo to the left of the Tulum beach, where there is this gazebo that is unfinished on this point.  It was gorgeous.  We then went down to the beach and then finished with us jumping in the private pool by the Tequila restaurant.  It was so much fun, and I highly suggest doing a TTD session!

 

The rest of the week with everyone was awesome! I couldn't wipe the smile off my face, we are so lucky to have such amazing friends and family. We had a week honeymoon just the two of us once everyone left, it was so nice to unwind, relax and recharge. We had the chance to go to the a la carte restaurants that week, and ate and drank ourselves silly! All in all, it was like a dream, and the best 2 weeks of my life.

 

Here are some non-pro pictures, I will be sure to post the professional ones once we get them.  If you would like to see more there are a ton I am tagged in in Facebook, PM me and I'll give you my name and email address to search me and add me

 

[cdlillad]

Wow Angie! Everything looks beautiful!!  What a dream wedding!!! Your review was great, thank you so much.  We're getting married at the Tulum gazebo, dinner at Gran Tortuga, and poolside cocktail party with DJ Julian from Mood Event Services (June 11, 2011).  I may have some questions for you!  hehe

 

How much time did you spend taking pictures after the ceremony?  Did you have the photographer take pictures at your dinner or poolside cocktail party?  I'm trying to figure out how much money I will spend on the photographer and pictures.  How much was the TTD session?  That sounds like a lot of fun!!

Christi

[Angie1017]

Thanks Christi!    Any questions, ask away!  I know I had a TON before we left!

 

Our ceremony was at 4, and it was about 20 minutes.  Afterwards you get a cocktail to toast with and take pictures.  We lingered with our guests longer than I thought before we all went off to take family and wedding party photos, so we didn't start taking pictures with our photographer until about 4:40.  I kind of wished we had our ceremony at 3 so we had more time to take pictures, because you have to be at the Tulum lobby at 5:45 to be picked up to be taken with all your guests to Gran Tortuga.  So we were a bit rushed, and didn't have time to freshen up.  Our photographer was a friend, so he did take pictures at the dinner of the cake cutting, and at the poolside cocktail party.  I don't know how much a photographer would charge for all of that, and the TTD session unfortunately, so I can't help you there...we were so lucky to have him come and spend the entire week with us...
 

Originally Posted by cdlillad 

Wow Angie! Everything looks beautiful!!  What a dream wedding!!! Your review was great, thank you so much.  We're getting married at the Tulum gazebo, dinner at Gran Tortuga, and poolside cocktail party with DJ Julian from Mood Event Services (June 11, 2011).  I may have some questions for you!  hehe

 

How much time did you spend taking pictures after the ceremony?  Did you have the photographer take pictures at your dinner or poolside cocktail party?  I'm trying to figure out how much money I will spend on the photographer and pictures.  How much was the TTD session?  That sounds like a lot of fun!!

Christi

[xcitedbride]

Congratulations Angie!

After reading your review, I'm getting excited for my wedding thats coming up in 6 weeks. eeekkk!!

We booked Gran Tortuga for our dinner and i'm pleased to hear that its good. The food is the only thing that i'm worried about.

 

Is there anything that you would have changed or added to your wedding day, now that you have had time to reflect?

 

Thanks for your advice.

Ying

[Angie1017]

Oh yay!  These next 6 weeks are going to fly by, you'll be there in the sun before you know it! 

 

A lot of our guests said the Gran Tortuga was one of their favorite meals, it was just something different and fun!

 

Honestly, I would have changed nothing!  It really was perfect!  The only thing I might have done differently was perhaps had the ceremony at 3 instead of 4, as we were a bit rushed to take pictures before meeting up at the lobby in Tulum at 5:45 to be taken to dinner.  We lingered with our guests longer than we thought right after the ceremony, receiving congrats, hugs, and taking pictures before going off with our photographer at about 4:45, so only had about an hour to take pictures.  It was okay for us because we did a TTD session a few days after, so I knew we'd have another opportunity to take some pictures.
 

Originally Posted by xcitedbride 

Congratulations Angie!

After reading your review, I'm getting excited for my wedding thats coming up in 6 weeks. eeekkk!!

We booked Gran Tortuga for our dinner and i'm pleased to hear that its good. The food is the only thing that i'm worried about.

 

Is there anything that you would have changed or added to your wedding day, now that you have had time to reflect?

 

Thanks for your advice.

Ying

[nikki&owen]

Angie1017,

Your wedding photos look beautiful! Congratulations! We have the same wedding colors (as do 80% of the brides! lol) and I noticed in one of the photos that you have a pink colored sparkling wine. what did you put in the wine to make it this color? did you bring something with you, so did the resort do it?

Thanks

Nikki

[nikki&owen]

 

Originally Posted by dfranklin 

Thank you for all your info- I really appreciate it! Sounds good!

I was told that November is outside of the busy season, so hopefully we will get upgraded to a suite with an ocean view...

 

Who is your wedding coordinator? Besides the pool site, did they offer you any other outdoor reception site?

Were you able to send them pictures of floral arrangements and decor that interests you?

What have you heard about the resort DJ? Did you research any bands by any chance?

Thanks!!!

My wedding coordinator is Eugenia, I believe she does all of the weddings at Akumal. They didn't offer any other outdoor reception sites, but to be honest I had already done so much research that I just told her what I wanted, so she didn't have a chance to offer. So you should ask, they may have. I haven't heard of any other brides having a band, but if price is not problem, I am sure it is possible. They do offer a mariachi band as an option for the ceremony. At the Tulum side of the resort, they do have a band that plays in the lobby bar, the bar is an open air bar (no walls) and I have heard of wedding parties going there for the reception if you are a small group. It is a fun atmosphere there, but it is not private.

They have a resort florist, so yes you can send them photos and see if they have what you are looking for. Lots of brides have been happy with the resort DJ, I am using DJ Bob, also lots of good feedback.

Hope this helps

Nikki

 

[CanadianKim]

Hey! Just thought I'd point out that the florist isnt actually at the resort. They are in Playa del Carmen. I sent Eugenia a picture of what I wanted and asked her to have a sample ready for when I met with her to go over details. This cost $20 I think it was and was totaly worth it because at that point if you want to change anything you can rather than having them the day of and not liking them and being stuck with it.  It was just a smaller size sample of the actual bouqet.
 

Originally Posted by nikki&owen 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfranklin 

Thank you for all your info- I really appreciate it! Sounds good!

I was told that November is outside of the busy season, so hopefully we will get upgraded to a suite with an ocean view...

 

Who is your wedding coordinator? Besides the pool site, did they offer you any other outdoor reception site?

Were you able to send them pictures of floral arrangements and decor that interests you?

What have you heard about the resort DJ? Did you research any bands by any chance?

Thanks!!!

My wedding coordinator is Eugenia, I believe she does all of the weddings at Akumal. They didn't offer any other outdoor reception sites, but to be honest I had already done so much research that I just told her what I wanted, so she didn't have a chance to offer. So you should ask, they may have. I haven't heard of any other brides having a band, but if price is not problem, I am sure it is possible. They do offer a mariachi band as an option for the ceremony. At the Tulum side of the resort, they do have a band that plays in the lobby bar, the bar is an open air bar (no walls) and I have heard of wedding parties going there for the reception if you are a small group. It is a fun atmosphere there, but it is not private.

They have a resort florist, so yes you can send them photos and see if they have what you are looking for. Lots of brides have been happy with the resort DJ, I am using DJ Bob, also lots of good feedback.

Hope this helps

Nikki