OFFICIAL Gran Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Thread

[KatLew]

Hello, 

 

My fiance and I know we want to get married at Gran Bahia.... However, we are having an issue with the date... I am in school so can only get married on my time off. That being said, we are left with August, christmas/ new years, or mid april. It seems that August more of the family/friends could go, and the price is better.... however, I am worried that it will be too hot and rainy - any thoughts?

 

Also, with the pictures... do we only keep the amount of pictures stated in the packages, or do they give us a cd with lots of pictures? How does that work?

 

Thank you! xo

 

Kat

[JDubya]

Breena, I'm getting married at 4pm, and know that people have had 5pm ceremonies. Initially they tried to get me to have a 12pm ceremony (!!!!) and that 12 was the only available time slot left (more than a year in advance!? I didn't believe it for a second). I was, uh, less than pleased. I told them in no uncertain terms (but still as politely as possible) that wouldn't be happening and it was magically and immediately changed to 4pm. 

 

That being said, depending on your photography and evening plans a 3pm ceremony might work just fine. If it's later (like 5 or 6) and you plan on having a photo session on the beach or at the Hacienda prior to dinner, you won't have time if you have a private reception planned. The private receptions, at least at poolside, aren't allowed to go later than 11pm. A ceremony at 3pm, photos and cocktails until 4:30, freshening up time, dinner from 5-7pm and a reception immediately following is still a nice flow, even though not at sunset.

 

I'm sorry you are so frustrated

[KatLew]

What is the deal with the photos and photographer? Does the photographer take a lot of photos and let's you keep disc but only prints out ten?... Or we only get ten total and that's it? Is he any good? Thank you :-) Kat

[KatLew]

Jdubya... When is your wedding? My wedding is in August... So not sure if 4 or 5 would be better time? Take care, Kat

[JDubya]

I'm in November 2013. I thought I'd want 5pm but I'm really happy with 4pm. It might be hella hot but we'll be at the Akumal beach location. It's apparently windy so hopefully it won't be brutal. Also, my dress is light and short. In August I bet the Akumal beach location would be your best bet for comfort but only the people who have actually been married elsewhere could say I guess. 

 

I have my dinner at 5:30pm so it's a good flow for the day. Just enough time to have photos and champagne but not so much time that guests are incredibly bored and wander back to their rooms for a long period (hopefully). Then dinner is 5:30-7:30 and our private reception is 7:30-10:30pm. I tried to get a later reception end time but Eugenia said no.

[KatLew]

They are SO hard to get a hold of! It's frustrating :-(

 

My fiance and I want to book our wedding, but I don't even know how to get a hold of them to book the week the wedding! Do we just buy our tickets down there first? I'm so confused... I wish they would get a hold of me. We are thinking of having the wedding August 2014, but I am worried about weather....

 

 

Here are some questions I have, if anyone can help me I would so greatly appreciate it! :-)

 

1. We are planning to do the Unforgettable package (if they ever get a hold of me), with dinner after-wards, and followed by DJ and poolside dancing.... *** DOES ANYONE KNOW if the DJ will play an entrance for bridal party and bride and groom, and if he does the bride/groom first dance, etc? 

 

2. For the ceremony I want a guitar trio playing for processional, a song during ceremony, and the recessional... I also want them playing for 45 minutes during dinner. Is it possible to have the trio play for processional, a song during ceremony, and the recessional?

 

3. Additionally, I wish I knew more about the photos... like, do we ONLY  get 10 photos and that is it, or do we get 10 prints and then a CD of more photos?

 

Take care, 

 

Kat

[KatLew]

Originally Posted by JDubya 

 

I'm in November 2013. I thought I'd want 5pm but I'm really happy with 4pm. It might be hella hot but we'll be at the Akumal beach location. It's apparently windy so hopefully it won't be brutal. Also, my dress is light and short. In August I bet the Akumal beach location would be your best bet for comfort but only the people who have actually been married elsewhere could say I guess. 

 

I have my dinner at 5:30pm so it's a good flow for the day. Just enough time to have photos and champagne but not so much time that guests are incredibly bored and wander back to their rooms for a long period (hopefully). Then dinner is 5:30-7:30 and our private reception is 7:30-10:30pm. I tried to get a later reception end time but Eugenia said no.

I actually really like the idea you have for the flow of things.... it seems like it is all sequential and wont have any issues with guests waiting around being too bored or too hot. I'm thinking of asking for a 4pm ceremony, so pictures would be 4:30 to 5, then drink at bar at 5, dinner at 5:30 to 7:30, and then reception from 7:30 to 10:30. Although a later reception seems to make more sense, in Mexico, I feel like 7:30 to 10:30 is perfect because the heat will really tire everyone out. 

[JDubya]

Yeah, I was disappointed we couldn't extend until midnight but then my FI poited that same thing out - people might be more tired than at a wedding at home because of the heat. However, the disco is open until late, so any partygoers who want to can continue on there.

[claruickie]

Originally Posted by KatLew 

 

What is the deal with the photos and photographer? Does the photographer take a lot of photos and let's you keep disc but only prints out ten?... Or we only get ten total and that's it? Is he any good?

Thank you :-)

 

Kat

 

Originally Posted by KatLew 

 

They are SO hard to get a hold of! It's frustrating :-(

 

My fiance and I want to book our wedding, but I don't even know how to get a hold of them to book the week the wedding! Do we just buy our tickets down there first? I'm so confused... I wish they would get a hold of me. We are thinking of having the wedding August 2014, but I am worried about weather....

 

 

Here are some questions I have, if anyone can help me I would so greatly appreciate it! :-)

 

1. We are planning to do the Unforgettable package (if they ever get a hold of me), with dinner after-wards, and followed by DJ and poolside dancing.... *** DOES ANYONE KNOW if the DJ will play an entrance for bridal party and bride and groom, and if he does the bride/groom first dance, etc? 

 

2. For the ceremony I want a guitar trio playing for processional, a song during ceremony, and the recessional... I also want them playing for 45 minutes during dinner. Is it possible to have the trio play for processional, a song during ceremony, and the recessional?

 

3. Additionally, I wish I knew more about the photos... like, do we ONLY  get 10 photos and that is it, or do we get 10 prints and then a CD of more photos?

 

Take care, 

 

Kat

 

Hi ladies

 

Welcome to this site and congratulations on your upcoming wedding and the planning  You will find this site and various thread very informative

 

Below are some amazing  thread/links that will assist with everything in planning your wedding  If you have any questions ask away and you will get plenty responses - past brides, future bride with the same queries, vendors - everyone is so helpful and supportive.

 

We were married on 20 June this year at Tulum Gazebo  - 21 of us travelled from Aberdeen, Scotland  and it was AMAZING.  Having holidayed at the Bahia in Mexico twice before and loved it and the people hence the reason we chose to have our wedding their – I am sure you will love it too.

 

On all 3 occasions we have been we stayed at Akumal.  Closer to the nice beach area yet close enough to snack bar, toilets etc  In saying that its doesn't matter where you stay as you can use all facilities in Akumal, Coba or Tulum.  Coba is inland and surrounded by vegetation = more mosquitos

 

I must say that where you stay is where you are supposed to get married we should have been married at Akumal beach location however for us it was not what we wanted - no privacy and you have people lurking around in the background in their bikini's, trunks etc. and for photos it would be a nightmare as so many sun loungers about too.

 

We chose Tulum Gazebo as its secluded and no-one really sees you - until you then go to the beach for photos - this beach area is much quieter too.  We had to wait and see if the brides staying at Tulum were wanting married there as that's there area - lucky for us there was only 1 bride that wanted married at the Gazebo on our date and she wanted 1pm so it worked out fine with our wedding at 4pm  we then had our meal at 630pm in Don Pablo Restaurant.

 

We booked our holiday and Unforgettable Wedding package all at the same time via First Choice /Thomson and the price is for exactly what is says in the package  - there are no hidden extras.   The only extras are optional if you choose them ie adding extra button holes for men, depending on the flowers you want for your bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, poolside party, DJ  etc

 

To begin with we were concerned we didn't get a reply from WC  as fast as we would have liked but that's the nature of the business and they deal with weddings in date order - in exactly the same way as Arrecife photographers.   They can have up to 4 weddings a day at each wedding location around the hotel so you can understand how busy they are .  

 

As our date got closer we were in touch with WC and Arrecife more often confirming all details - We provided a schedule of all the photos we wanted taken.  

After reading so much about Arrecife we went with our gut instinct (just because someone else says they didn't like a film or restaurant does that mean you will be the same) and have to say had no issues with them and love all our photos and DVD  

Yes costly but money very well spent and at the end of the day that’s your memories - compared to wedding photography prices at home a bargain for what we received

When we had our pre wedding it was only then we decided to get a DVD, we opted for the wedding highlights version so its 25 minutes long and well worth the money and thinking back cannot believe we were not going to have one.

 

NOTE - I believe this below details applies to all hotels

You cannot employ a local photographer to come into the Bahia Principe Hotel to take your wedding photos

If you take a photographer from home, you have to pay for them to stay at the hotel as a guest for X amount of nights.  Would work out costly - cost of stay for them as well as cost of wedding photography package you book from them etc etc

 

Your WC will give you all the necessary details about your paperwork. . . .   below is some information, you may already be aware of some things.  

 

Bride & Groom must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the ceremony

You each require 2 witnesses, Bride & Groom & 4 witnesses must arrive to their hotel minimum of 4 business days prior to the legal wedding ceremony date in order to complete and confirm all the necessary documents – you will have already emailed everything but its formality to go through everything when there.  NOTE Saturday and Sunday are not considered working days.

 

PRE-WEDDING MEETING  The Bride & Groom are required to have a meeting with the WC as soon as possible after you arrive – we had ours the day after, and arranged meeting with Arrefice photographers after then finishing off with our blood tests.

 

BLOOD TESTS Bride and Groom must get blood tests carried out to determine blood type, if either have any STD’s or HIV  also to confirm you are not related!   They must be taken in Mexico as soon as possible after you arrive.   Blood test costs are separate from all the wedding packages, we were $180 US dollars for the 2 of us - this has to be paid cash.  At the Bahia Principe the medical centre is located at the Hacienda within the hotel.

 

VALID PASSPORTS They are mandatory for a legal wedding to be performed and are needed for Bride, Groom & 4 witnesses – this will all have been emailed previously. All 4 Passports must also be taken to the Pre-wedding meeting

 

BIRTH CERTIFICATES

WHEN BRIDE & GROOM ARE SINGLE and their last names match to their parents name & passports the only other documentation needed is your Passport & Tourist cards.

WHEN BRIDE or GROOMS FORMER SPOUSE IS DECEASED a copy of their death certificate is required. This is required for legal ceremonies only.

If adopted/ changed name by deed poll/ divorced and kept married name this is when it becomes a bit of a mine field but your WC will keep you right. 

Again  the necessary documents will have been emailed previously and you need to take the originals to the Pre-wedding meeting

 

TOURIST CARDS  These green cards are provided to all persons on the plane and require to be completed before you enter Cancun’s International Airport – saves time.  Check and double check all areas are completed otherwise you will get put to the back of the que at the airport arrivals desk.. Names on Tourist Card and Passport MUST be the same. This card proves your legal stay in Mexico.  These will be copied by the WC for Bride,  Groom and 4 witnesses – 2 each

Do NOT loose these cards as you require them when leaving the country

 

WEDDING CERMONY

The Mexican Marriage Certificate requires the Bride & Grooms thumbprints.  Make sure someone takes wet wipes with them on the day so your dress stays clear from the black ink.  I do however love our thumbprint photos J

 

The judge reads/ speaks in Spanish/Mexican with WC  then translating

 At the alter - vows taken and rings exchanged

 Bride & Groom move to table for paperwork to be signed by bride, groom and 4 witnesses - along with your thumb prints

 Back to the altar for final words  before being pronounced husband and wife

 Down aisle to then have champagne toast photos

We then had group photos around the Tulum Gazebo and on the beach.  Bride & Groom then went to Hacienda for photos - we paid additional in our wedding photo package for this.

 

 WEDDING CERTIFICATE The certificate is always in Spanish / Mexican.  If you require to get it translated that will be a cost you will have when back home.

These are a few great thread/links that will assist with everything in planning your wedding, any questions ask away and you will get plenty responses

 

Post Your Wedding Date

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/9132/post-your-wedding-date/630

 

If you go onto the thread/link, ensure you go to the bottom of the thread then copy and paste it then enter your wedding date and the name of the hotel / location.  That way all other brides can see who is getting married dates close to them.

 

It is handy too as some brides have then shared cost of flying photographers down rather than using Arrecife the onsite photographers or local ones (you then have to pay a visitors day pass)

 

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

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/786/gran-bahia-principe-akumal-tulum-coba-post-here

 

OFFICIAL Gran Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Thread

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/75549/official-gran-bahia-principe-riviera-maya-thread

 

Urgent Help Required  - Documents required for wedding at Gran Bahia Principe Mexico

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/84571/urgent-help-required-documents-required-for-wedding-at-gran-bahia-principe-mexico

 

Anyone used Arrecife Photography at Gran Bahia Principe Tulum/Akumal/Coba

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/63142/anyone-used-arrecife-photography-at-gran-bahia-principe-tulum-akumal-coba

 

Arrecife Studio Mexico, WEG

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/products/arrecife-studio-mexico-weg

 

Anyone used Arrecife Photography at Gran Bahia Principe Tulum/Akumal/Coba

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/63142/anyone-used-arrecife-photography-at-gran-bahia-principe-tulum-akumal-coba

 

This is their website address http://www.arrecifestudio.com

 

If you are on Facebook look up Arrecife as they have a page, it has photos, videos and feedback from brides and guests that had photo sessions at the hotel.

 

Anyone have their entire playlist?

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/42149/anyone-have-their-entire-playlist/250

 

Enjoy the journey

 

Kirstin x 

[KatLew]

Is Arrecife the photography studio used by the Gran Bahia resort?