NATASHA

Here's my grandma giving a toast:

It's like having a totally awe-inspiring performance at your wedding for $675. Better than a luau, that's for sure.

Here's another photo:

They are amazing. Two girls with guys who drum in the background (that you don't see) dance with fire. Like this (more photos at findphoto.us pass: cabo - under professional photos, post-sunset section).

I really loved Dino - I am still impressed by the photos and he was the easiest vendor of all to work with. I can highly recommend him.

My dress was pretty big and it fit in a carry on just fine and it didn't get wrinkled, so you can stick with the direct flight.

Quote: Originally Posted by Nrvsbride However b/c I am a litigator and I am in courts all day I get depressed about the thought of getting married in a court. They usually marry people in the basement floor and it's so dingy. -Glenda Glenda - take a trip out to San Diego - the county building is on the water - not dingy at all. OK, if I recall, the room where you get married may have had green shag carpeting, but I was almost laughing throughout the ceremony - it was awesome. FYI ladies - we got married the day we got back from the wedding. I preferred doing it after versus before. Then we left from our honeymoon and I picked up the paperwork right after we returned. It was quick, easy, and totally fun.

Both of my 89 year old grandmas came. We couldn't get one of them out of the pool! They both had a great time and loved talking to all the guests (they don't get to be around a lot of people very often). One of my grandmas (the one in the pool - she's a firecracker) even got up and gave a toast.

Quote: Originally Posted by TAMMYM I have contacted Maye and she's recommending the single guitarist however, Cain seems to think it won't give a good range in music. She gave me a name of "Arturo Sotomayor" who plays similar music, but I'm not having any luck finding songs by him online. She said that the guy she's recommending doesn't have a website, nor does the trio she uses. I loved our trio and so did our guests. Same with the mariachi. However, I can't tell you anything that they played as it's background music. But when you're drinking cocktails and having dinner, you don't want to pay attention to the music. I don't remember what the Mariachi played either - I never noticed, but I know it was sure great having them there. I was too into the conversation.

Quote: Originally Posted by Julesr Thank you so much Natasha. That is a big help. I am going to look for the recap section to see what others said as well. I am hopefully getting married in Costa Rica though, so the places do not help me, but I am sure they help lots of others. If anyone out there is getting married in or got married in Costa Rica, drop me a line, I need lots of info I love Costa Rica - if you decide to honeymoon there, stay at Tabacon in the Arenal area. It is so much fun (and fabulous food). Everyday we went to the congierge and arranged for our next day's activity (horseback riding to a waterfall, spelunking, visiting a tribe's home and learning about their medicinal strategies) and then we'd come back and sit in the 32 different hot springs that they have!

Quote: Originally Posted by Nrvsbride Thanks Natasha I think I will def do hair and makeup at the hilton. May I ask how much you paid for your make up? -Glenda I think it was $60 for makeup? We had a 20% discount as well (?) because we did a spa day.

I took a rollie bag into my dress maker who packed it up for me. I took it out and hung it up and it was fine. No pressing needed. NOTE!!!! Get a white king sized, flat sheet for them to wrap it up in so it stays clean and (if you have beads, etc.) it doesn't catch on itself. It was really easy having the rollie bag - I couldn't have dragged it around the airport on the hanger and folding it over my arm would have caused a ton of problems (the beads would have scratched on the bottom half of my dress). The airline volunteered to hang up my husbands suit (he was carrying it).

Oh yeah - one of my bridesmaids had the spa at the Hilton do her hair and it came out great. I wish I would have had mine done there.

Hair and Makeup This was my biggest concern as well. I highly recommend doing a trial when you get there (before if you're going to do a site visit). I went to the salon - I knew I would need to be away from the group for a breather. One of my bridesmaids went with me. That worked well for me as the salon was just a few miles away from our hotel - it's your call, though. My schedule was: 10:00 - brunch with bridesmaids 11:30 - hair at Hive 1:00 - makeup at Hilton (plus I ordered some food) 2:30 - back to Casa del Mar to get dressed 3:00 - met photographer 4:00 - wedding This schedule worked perfectly. I was running early the whole day so I never felt rushed. I had Hive do my hair. Didn't love them. We had to do two styles at the trial and then a different version on the actual day because what they had settled with wasn't going to hold. IMPORTANT - don't let them take your hair down after the trial. Wear it and make sure it doesn't hurt and it holds. Go to the recap section to see which brides had good luck with their hair. Mine was fine, but I wouldn't recommend Hive. If Bambi had done my hair, maybe it would have been better, but I've heard too many stories where she's the person you're appointment is with but then she doesn't show up (that's what happened to me). Makeup - I had the spa at the Hilton do my makeup and they did a GREAT job. Take a few pictures so they can see what you're going for. Also, remember that it might look heavier to you than it does in the pictures. Oh - and, upon their recommendation, I brought my own false lashes that they put on for me. I very rarely wear them, but it made a total difference in the pictures.

Here is his top of mind three things I would definitely do and three that didn't matter so much (he didn't totally follow directions, but this is exactly what he said)... Definitely do: 1) Firedancers 2) Waiting to see my bride walk down the aisle was one of my favorite memories 3) Big on the entertainment vs. other things like the food and flowers - I remember fireworks and firedancers, but not the food and I'm usually very picky about food. If you're thinking of spending $600 more in food vs. getting firedancers, I'd go for the firedancers 4) go barefoot on the beach - go casual all the way - if your guests wear shorts, all the better. It's so hot there no matter what you do, you want your guests to feel like they're on vacation 5) go a few days before so you can spend time with people and get in a groove. At least two nights before. Didn't matter so much/would do differently: 1) Stay a day or two later to spend time with people (we left on Sunday at 1 and our wedding was on Saturday). I don't know - it went really well - there's not much that I can think of that I would change. Ladies - what about your husbands?

Quote: Originally Posted by JPMO Initially, I planned for our first look to occur at the ceremony. I am also having second thoughts due to lighting and the desire to keep the cocktail hour and reception moving. FI could care less which we choose. His statement is, "tell me what time and place to show up and I'll be there." We haven't really discussed if we'll share our room the night before but I do know that he plans to be golfing/spa-ing the morning/afternoon of the wedding. ? for photographers: I scheduled 1hour pf photography before ceremony to capture us with our bridal parties. If we decide to see each other shoulh I schedule 1.5hr before the ceremony. We have 2 photographers covering the day. One likes "tighter" shots that the others... does that make any sense? I think thats wht she said. Jenetta, I don't know what time you're getting ready, but we had TONS of time before the lighting was right to start taking photos so we had plenty of time to hang out at the cocktail hour both before and after the photos were taken. We did take photos apart (me with bridesmaids, him with groomsmen) in advance of the wedding. We left 1.5 hours ahead of the ceremony to take these shots, though. It's tough to mobilize people.

So, we are not traditionalists at all. BUT... My husband insisted on us being apart. I talked him into staying together the night before and we went for a walk on the beach in the morning which was so wonderful given the "scheduling" of everything throughout the rest of the day. It was like stealing a moment in time. He dropped me off at breakfast with my bridesmaids at 9:30 and then the next time he saw me was when I walked down the aisle at 4. I have to say, he was right. I really liked seeing him from afar looking at me with this look that I can't describe but won't ever forget. It felt etheral. I wouldn't have wanted to first see him as we were taking pictures - too administrative. Instead, I looked down the aisle and saw him looking at me with the happiest, cutest most memorable look of my life. I do - however - love the photos that Dino took of him just prior to the wedding when my letter to him was delivered. Knowing how he thinks, I know by the look on his face how he was receiving what I wrote and it's precious to me. He rarely participates in this forum, but he's sitting here with me and I asked him about it - here's his comment verbatim, "the first time I wanted to see my bride in her wedding dress is when she was coming to me, ready to say our vows. When you're taking photos - it should be as a married couple - not ten minutes before you got married. Plus, it ruins it - it treats the wedding ceremony itself as a detail that has to be gotten out of the way as opposed to the pictures that have to be gotten out of the way. I stood with my feet grounded to the earth (which is why we got married on a beach) looking at my bride coming to me to say THE most important words that I will ever hear. That was the most important thing to me and my heart skipped when I saw you. At that moment, I had tunnel vision and I would never have changed it." So, it is, of course, going to be unique per couple. But I agree with him - when I first saw him it was the most unique experience of my life. Like opening a gift when you're five years old. I was so happy to get to the end of the aisle and hold his hands. I spent the entire ceremony just looking at him. I wouldn't have had those moments if we would have gotten together before. It's romantic, the tunnel vision that no one else is around you except everyone is around you.

Quote: Originally Posted by TAMMYM Christa the only problem that I was thinking about with the Mariachi was that we are having about 10 guests and the Mariachi band is about 7-10 people I think it might look off balance to have as many people standing as I have sitting in chairs. Tammy, when I had dinner at the Sheraton they had either a duo or a trio and they were singing (they were at the De Cortez restaurant). Maybe you could ask the Sheraton if they will be there/could be there. They might split it with you given that they will be entertaining other guests at the restaurant. FYI - they were set up outside, up against the restaurant half under the overhang.

Ah - salsa_groom - we were told you were coming We picked a date/location 7 months before our wedding. You're all good.

Quote: Originally Posted by weez Great thread guys and really helpful! OK my question is, do any of you wish (afterwards) you had done something at your wedding that you didn't? For monetary reasons or other? thanks -lou I don't - ours was pretty comprehensive (firedancers, cuban salsa teachers, and fireworks). However, I wasn't going to have the Sunday brunch and I'm really glad we did. Oh - and I would have paid more to get one big bus to take everyone to our one off-site dinner. We did separate vans and it was a mess. However - that means that anyone with kids who wants to leave early has to take a cab home.

TammyM - we had a trio - loved them. Maye got them for $300. However, if you're looking for best bang for the buck, I would go with Janet's guitar player unless you want them to play through dinner, then you'll want a bit more to work with. Your event is intimate and a guitar player or trio would fit nicely with the theme. Nicole - we also did the polaroid guestbook and I highly recommend it. I got the camera, film (5 packs), and polaroid guest book for $62, $46, and $51 respectively (includes shipping). You only need one camera, but put someone in charge of getting everyone's picture (my 21 year old cousin volunteered and she got everyone). Bring colorful sharpies. Riu Bride - we took a group shot at the wedding. We took that shot and printed our individualized thank you (that we signed) on each and made 5x7 pictures. Those cost $5 each (envelop and picture). We took a different picture of just the two of us and did a 4x8 photo greeting card on Snapfish and sent those out as announcements to the friends and family who didn't attend and to all of our parents friends and miscellaneous associates. Given the timing of our wedding (November) we did Season's Greetings cards. Christine - We had little tradition and I don't feel that we needed any. Also, I really don't think I even needed a bridal bouquet. That's not a high ticket item nor is it a time-consuming organizational thing, so I would say skip the programs and menus. You don't need a program telling people who your wedding party is because everyone will be hanging out together. And the food is what it is. Save yourself the hassle of designing, writing copy, printing and shipping. Glenda - Ricardo's play list was EXTENSIVE. He didn't play the things I x'd out and he did read the crowd and played more of what people were responding to (which was...70s music!) Shannon - I would totally do the cocktail hour. It's worth it. We had a mariachi which was tons of fun and everyone took pictures in front of them (with their own cameras).

We both have repeatedly stated that this was the only way for us. We love to travel and really liked incorporating our family into our holiday. Being grounded in the sand with the waves crashing surrounded by a close group of friends and family and one big ol' party with fireworks and firedancers was priceless. Everyone keeps telling us that it's the best wedding they have been to (and many have said including their own). We couldn't have replicated that in San Diego. Yes, some people couldn't come and many others (mostly extended family) weren't invited, but most of them would have balked at the imposition we were making on them by having to travel to San Diego anyway or they would have thought that we were fishing for gifts. We were thrilled our choice and ifeel t was the best way for us to start our official life together.

If you had one question (or two, or ten), what would you want to know? What behind the scenes information can we provide? There's so much that we can help with in terms of what something was like, what was/wasn't stressful, what we didn't expect, what was a wonderful surprise, etc. How can we help?

Quote: Originally Posted by riubride Thanks for all the information Natasha. I really want to get married barefoot. I think that was a great idea that you hemmed your dress to fit being barefoot. I also like the fire dancer idea. How long was the show? You know - I'm not sure, but it was longer than I thought it would be. It was definitely worth the money.