Any 2011 Brides out there?

Well, I brought up my contract, and it says

"Outside Vendors including Photographers and Videographers not booked through the Hotels wedding coordinator will not be allowed inside the Hotel unless pre-approved by the Hotel in advance. The Hotels reserve the right to deny access to the property to any unauthorized photographer or videographer. Outside photographers and videographers approved by the hotel will incur a $500.00 USD photo fee per day"

...so, it sounds like they need to approve the photographer before they'll let them in, but charge $500...yet the WC didn't even ask me who it was, just said "No photographers from Mexico".

Girl you're singing my song! I'm a darn PEAR shape...all thighs and bottom...I've lost about 20 pounds since December but I have 20 more to go, and I've stalled a bit recently. Now that the weather is getting nicer, I'm going to commit to working out after work every day at the track near my house. Gotta rock that bikini so I don't burn anyone's retinas!!

hee hee

Well stick to your contract I say but $500 is steep!!!!

PMSL this made me really laugh!! x

We're planning on the Iberostar Del Mar. I just have to get everything back to the coordinator to get our date (June 25, 2011) confirmed.

 

The photographer situation is so frustrating! I originally was going to book at another resort, but I never got the same answer twice if you could or couldn't book a photographer from Mexico. I am actually bringing our photographer- we just have to pay for her flight & hotel and she's waiving our photography fee & giving us all the prints. She's done a few weddings for our friends & does my niece & nephew's pictures. Since she's our guest, we were able to waive the outside vendor fee with the Iberostar.

cjb0arder13 - OMG absolutely stupid policy!! What a joke. I would be as mad as you about this..... There must be a way around it. How about saying he's a family friend? Lol, i know Barcelo are stricked but loads of brides have got away with having an outside photographer. On their forum on here hardly any of them have used the resort photographer. Some have just taken a chance and booked them a room and as they are then classed as a "guest" they have authorised it. Bit risky but i know ppl will do whatever it takes to have what they want on their wedding day! It is so silly though. I feel mad for you!! I hope you find a way around this!

 

Girls i honestly dont think any of you look like you need to lose weight but i know how you feel. I think as i have been smaller if i gain weight even if it's half a stone i feel big. So it is down to how you feel personally. I am the same, pear shaped. I hold ALL my weight on my butt!! And the frustrating thing is i have tiny boobs and waist and when i lose any weight it comes straight off there and my butt stays the same! WTF.... Where is the justice in that, lol

Well we had bitter sweet news this week...... Bitter - FI's had his wages cut AGAIN!!! The company he works for are still struggling from the recession and things will now be hard. He is on the job hunt but that is a frustrating game!! We are hoping we can still book Mexico if the price is right (and my dad has give us some money to help out) It's just come at the wrong time. Trying to stay positive though and hopefully something will come up!

 

Sweet - My lovely sister is going to make our wedding cake! Yah!! She is in Catering and she used to make cakes as her hobby. As a director in her company now she doesn't have the time but she has insisted she make ours. Now to pick what to have...YUM!! x

I know how you feel - i keep having a lot of these bitter sweet moments - especially on the money front. Both me and FI work within the construction industry so our jobs have been hit really hard - mine is still 'up in the air' at the moment and i took 10% pay cut mid last year and its hit us really hard. With my FI being self employed as well; thats why i can let any spending get out of control. Ive already saved up for my holiday and my mum and dad are paying for the wedding package - its all the unforeseen extras that add up that i need to be careful with.

As for the cake - my cousin is making ours for our AHR as she runs her own cake decorating business......mmmmmmmmmm :-)

Oh it is a tough time isn't it! Its so horrible. I think this is his 3rd pay cut in under a yr. It is worrying. 7% everytime and it's amazing what a difference it makes. We will really feel it this time! I just am hoping and preying he gets another job with a more stable firm! Hope your job will be OK. I too will now be watching the pennies like a hawk! Bargain hunting it is for me! Still we are both lucky ppl are helping where they can. Like the cake! They are expensive to buy so that's saved us a few quid! )... do you know what one your having yet?

Yikes Michelle I am sooo sorry! That really is sad news. These past few years have been really scary with the economy TANKING, so I absolutely feel your pain. We've been blessed to remain employed, but I know that at any moment that could change.

Just blame America...we're the idiots that got the world into this mess!

Is there any chance you could do Mexico, and maybe delay the AHR until the following year? That's kind of what we're doing. We're not having the AHR until the summer after we go to Mexico (summer 2011) but I may push it back if it starts getting expensive. I'm just thinking, with all the stress you guys are going through, you DESERVE and NEED a vacation!!!

Yeah, it really is a bummer. I'm going to try my hardest to remain positive about it. The resort has two choices. I really am not "in love" with either of their pictures. The first is better, but the "affordable" packages only cover 1 and a half hours, MAX. I'm not even looking at the 5-hour coverage, because if I'm going to spend that much money on photography, the pictures better be amazing!

The second photog never got back to me after I e-mailed him 2 months ago. GREAT service, real impressive! They don't even list the prices on their website.

Well you don't need to lose any weight, either...girl you are GORGEOUS! Your FI is a very lucky man

I mostly just want to lose weight so I feel better in a bathing suit, considering I'll be spending most of my time in one in Mexico. Got to get rid of these love handles and chicken-wing arms! Hee hee. I'm so lucky, FI tells me every day how beautiful I am, but it's all about feeling good about yourself, and I have a ways to go yet on that!