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

[TATrisha]

I had it done for my wedding, but that was in 2008 so who knows if they changed.  But I paid for my bridesmaids and myself, and I was the only one that got a french and it was the same price.

[Jemma]

Hey! we also just got back, our wedding was 17th...... we saw you too TLseege. Will post a review asap. Had such an amazing wedding day, the resort staff are fantastic.

[stylishmeNC]

My wedding is quickly coming up (I can’t believe it!) and I have a few questions that I was hoping you all could help me out with:

 

1. In the Official GBP Thread, Trish listed the Symbolic Ceremony Order of events… I am curious what exactly is said during the opening blessing, the reading, and the sermon? Basically I am concerned that it might be too “preachyâ€â€¦ we are not religious and would prefer to keep a fairly neutral, modern, and shorter ceremony, so any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.
2. That leads to the songs… I have read on here that you need 4-5 songs on a CD for the processional and recessional stuff. Could someone break this down a little bit more for me? Uses of the songs? Suggestions on number and length of songs? I would hate for people to be waiting around just for songs to end or to feel super rushed…
3. I am getting married at the Akumal hammock location and I know that people have brought fabric down to drape on the structure there to bring in more color… but in those photos, are the larger flower arrangements that are hanging included in the package, or were those paid for separately? If separate, how much did that cost?

 

Thanks for all your help! I don’t know what I would have done without this forum

Jill

[Arriba 2012]

Jemma, are u from the uk? We are due to fly 9th April, our wedding date is 20th April at tulum beach. What documents did u have to take? Can't wait to hear your review etc. Jo x

[crystalz]

stylishmeNC- The songs, I had 4 songs on a CD, and I got married at the hammock location... I told the WC in our meeting that the 1st song was for Richard & my mom, and all 4 couples (bridesmaids and groomsmen together) to walk down to. the 2nd song was for me and my dad to walk down to, the 3rd song was for the signing and 4th song was for the recessional. She wrote it all down. I had the full length songs on there and they fade it out as soon as everyone is finished walking and its time for the bride then they fade out that song once the bride is at the alter.

Now, as for my 3rd song... I had a LEGAL ceremony so the signing took a bit longer than a symbolic one. The symbolic ceremony i think you only sign a couple papers but with my ceremony my 4 witnesses signed 4 papers EACH then my hubby and I signed 5 each AND finger printed 2 of them. SOOO my song for it wasnt long enough lol the song ended and there was a good minute or so of no music while we finished up the signing and stuff.

 

Then right before we kissed as she was announcing us "husband and wife" they started my 4th song which was perfect and they played it through as we all walked back down and had our toast.

 

The flower arrangements hanging on the structure is NOT included in your package but the WC told me it was about $35 USD for each arrangement if i wanted... I did not want it, I just had my fabric

 

Hope that helped ya a bit.

Originally Posted by stylishmeNC 

My wedding is quickly coming up (I can’t believe it!) and I have a few questions that I was hoping you all could help me out with:

 

1. In the Official GBP Thread, Trish listed the Symbolic Ceremony Order of events… I am curious what exactly is said during the opening blessing, the reading, and the sermon? Basically I am concerned that it might be too “preachyâ€â€¦ we are not religious and would prefer to keep a fairly neutral, modern, and shorter ceremony, so any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.
2. That leads to the songs… I have read on here that you need 4-5 songs on a CD for the processional and recessional stuff. Could someone break this down a little bit more for me? Uses of the songs? Suggestions on number and length of songs? I would hate for people to be waiting around just for songs to end or to feel super rushed…
3. I am getting married at the Akumal hammock location and I know that people have brought fabric down to drape on the structure there to bring in more color… but in those photos, are the larger flower arrangements that are hanging included in the package, or were those paid for separately? If separate, how much did that cost?

 

Thanks for all your help! I don’t know what I would have done without this forum

Jill

 

[kristi11]

We just got back this week (we stayed a 2nd week at a different resort for our honeymoon) and I can't say a bad thing about the resort or our wedding (Maria was AMAZING)....even tho it did rain it cleared up long enough to get married and have our pictures done.  We got married at the gazebo and I LOVED it!!!!!!  Our reception had to be changed to the music bar which at first made me sad but in the end it was sooooooo much fun....they set up balloons and had a huge dance floor, it was also super private!!!!!!

 

[Jemma]

Hi Arriba2012,

Yes from south wales! neither of us had been married before/changed any names so all we needed was to meet with WC with passport and immigration card that they give out on the plane.  needed to take passports & cards from us and the 4 witnesses. We had emailed scanned copies of all passports before hand too. We took our birth certificates just incase but didnt need them. Just had the blood test then when we got there.....very daunting but it was fine! not a bruise!

[andrea2006]

Hey Ladies...I am having some major anxiety here!

Pictures are VERY important to me, but I am not sure how many pictures I really need...I do not want to skimp on pictures, but I also don't want to lose sight and go overboard and get way more pictures than I need.  I decided I wanted arrecife to cover the reception just so I would be sure I would have nice pictures of our first dance father/daughter dance, bouquet toss, etc.  I also want to do a TTD on another day. 

 

My original plan was get the basic $540 package then add one reception coverage and a TTD.  My only worry was know I don't get professional pictures of the cake cutting and this only leaves me with 100 pictures between the 3 "sessions". 

 

When I asked arrecife about my options they suggested I get the akbla180 package ($3200) which would cover the morning, the very end of dinner for the cake cutting, the reception and a TTD on another day.  This gives me 180 pictures, a dvd slide show plus some printed photos and album that I can trade for more digital pictures.

 

Thoughts?     

[TATrisha]

 

 

Originally Posted by stylishmeNC 

 

My wedding is quickly coming up (I can’t believe it!) and I have a few questions that I was hoping you all could help me out with:

 

1. In the Official GBP Thread, Trish listed the Symbolic Ceremony Order of events… I am curious what exactly is said during the opening blessing, the reading, and the sermon? Basically I am concerned that it might be too “preachyâ€â€¦ we are not religious and would prefer to keep a fairly neutral, modern, and shorter ceremony, so any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.
2. That leads to the songs… I have read on here that you need 4-5 songs on a CD for the processional and recessional stuff. Could someone break this down a little bit more for me? Uses of the songs? Suggestions on number and length of songs? I would hate for people to be waiting around just for songs to end or to feel super rushed…
3. I am getting married at the Akumal hammock location and I know that people have brought fabric down to drape on the structure there to bring in more color… but in those photos, are the larger flower arrangements that are hanging included in the package, or were those paid for separately? If separate, how much did that cost?

 

Thanks for all your help! I don’t know what I would have done without this forum

Jill

 

 

It's so exciting that your day is coming up so fast!  I'm so excited for you!! 

You know, you'd think I'd remember what was said during the symbolic ceremony, but i can't for the life of me think of it.  If it makes you feel better, we are not religious either and we were fine with the wording that was said, but that was the official ceremony, so I'm not sure.

 

Songs.  MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT MP3S!  Cheryl had that issue.  Her disc of 4-5 songs only played ONE song because the rest were MP3s and their player does not play them.  You will want to test your disc in a VERY old player to make sure it'll work.  So yeah song order:

1. Guests be seated (optional, but nice)

2. Bridesmaids walk down aisle (they will fade the music out nicely)

3. Bride walk down aisle

4. Signing document song

5. If you're having a sand ceremony, you can have a separate song.

6. Recessional.

 

$35 for each flower arrangement. The only one included is ON the table.

 

Originally Posted by Jemma 

 

Hi Arriba2012,

Yes from south wales! neither of us had been married before/changed any names so all we needed was to meet with WC with passport and immigration card that they give out on the plane.  needed to take passports & cards from us and the 4 witnesses. We had emailed scanned copies of all passports before hand too. We took our birth certificates just incase but didnt need them. Just had the blood test then when we got there.....very daunting but it was fine! not a bruise!

 

I'm so bummed you didn't say hi!!!  I would have loved to meet you!

 

 

Originally Posted by andrea2006 

 

Hey Ladies...I am having some major anxiety here!

Pictures are VERY important to me, but I am not sure how many pictures I really need...I do not want to skimp on pictures, but I also don't want to lose sight and go overboard and get way more pictures than I need.  I decided I wanted arrecife to cover the reception just so I would be sure I would have nice pictures of our first dance father/daughter dance, bouquet toss, etc.  I also want to do a TTD on another day. 

 

My original plan was get the basic $540 package then add one reception coverage and a TTD.  My only worry was know I don't get professional pictures of the cake cutting and this only leaves me with 100 pictures between the 3 "sessions". 

 

When I asked arrecife about my options they suggested I get the akbla180 package ($3200) which would cover the morning, the very end of dinner for the cake cutting, the reception and a TTD on another day.  This gives me 180 pictures, a dvd slide show plus some printed photos and album that I can trade for more digital pictures.

 

Thoughts?     

 

Yeah, so that's really expensive, but if you love them, then go with it.

To give you an idea of why I say it's expensive... Cheryl paid approximately $2500 total to fly me in.  She got full day wedding coverage and will be receiving over 900 edited photos.  Then we had a trash the dress the next day with another 150+ photos (not done editing those yet so I can't confirm that number).

 

[stylishmeNC]

Trisha & Crystal -

Thank you so much for you feedback! It definitely helps to know some of these little details

Jill