NATASHA

I'm leaving for pilates right now.

My mother had everyone sing that song at her reception. It's a very pretty song.

Given what you've said about Tulum (my husband has stayed at the same place) and your interest in photography, I am now officially recommending Hacienda San Jose. It's inland, but it's made for your tastes. There are 30 to 40 spots on the property that would be perfect for a private wedding (including in front of this amazing tree that is all twisted and textured). I'll see if I can get photos from my husband.

Hi TammyM - what about a single guitar? Ask Leigh Miller what she thinks - she just shot a wedding at Pedregal Beach (you're still getting married there, right?)

We stayed at La Casa Que Canta for the first leg of our honeymoon in November. FABULOUS. I highly recommend. We went to Ixtapa one day. I don't recommend it. Stick to Zihuatanejo. You'll be much happier. If LCQC is too pricey, look at Villa del Sol or, maybe Brisas Del Mar. Avoid other hotels. Practically speaking - we are adventure travelers and had grand plans to go on safari. All of our friends said don't do it because all we were going to want to do was veg after the wedding. They were right. We sat by our private plunge pool, read, and ate. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. After 5 days, I was ready for a bit more action and we headed over to the Riviera Maya and explored caves and pyramids. It was perfect. We stayed at Hacienda Tomezon and Hacienda San Jose (awesome!). It was a perfect honeymoon.

The Sheraton in Cabo has a really pretty church on site. It's not huge, but it would make for a BEAUTIFUL wedding. Also, the food there is great and the restaurant by the water would make for a beuatiful site for a reception. I believe TammyM is having her dinner reception there.

The only sad thing is that it didn't get me any extra points on TammyM's "fine" post!

I can highly recommend on of the hotels that we stayed at for our honeymoon - Hacienda San Jose. It's a gorgeous property and the service is phenomenal! Oh - and the bed is suspended - a great novelty. Luxury Collection Tixkokob Hotels: Hacienda San Jose - Hotel Rooms at luxury.com It's SPG Luxury Collection. We hired a driver through the hotel everyday which was TOTALLY worth it (great guy). He took us to the various pyramids and caves throughout the region. It's nice to be on your own schedule. July - though - is tough. The entire region is very HOT and humid. Alternatively, we also stayed at La Casa Que Canta in Zihuatanejo. Very pricey, very worth it - especially if you're eloping and just looking to relax in your private plunge pool and eat some great food. I would think it would be cooler/more comfortable in July vs. the Riviera Maya region.

I forgot to post Dino's info. Again - I highly recommend him. He gave us 583 photos - there are maybe 4 or 5 that I wouldn't keep which blows me away. I do not take great photos and I really don't like posing, but he was very easy to work with and I felt really comfortable with him. He also came to the hotel two days before and spent about 1 1/2 hours with me and the coordinators so he knew the flow of the wedding and he walked me around to different areas to discuss various shots. I gave him a whole bunch of sample photos several weeks before and I noticed when I reviewed the photos that he really captured all of them (or better). Pricing: $350 for 1st hour; $300 for 2nd hour; $250 for each additional hour. He gave me 100 5x7 prints, a full slideshow on CD, and all the photos on a CD with full ownership rights. Contact: Dino Gomez at [email protected] and/or [email protected]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nrvsbride Natasha these are great!! You look so beautiful! Sorry to get off topic but what was the weather like in Nov? -Glenda The weather was phenomenal - it's the start of their high season and November is one of their best months (not too hot). I recommend the second weekend or beyond - there was a storm just two weeks before I believe. It's good to give yourself a bit of cushion for peace of mind. Plus, November 11th was around Veteran's Day so some people (and those with kids) had extra time off which really helped a lot of our guests.

It was an innocent mistake and fortunately I'm not shy.

Oh yeah - that's a total bribery shot for later years, right before he's headed out the door from prom.

Hmm - it's showing up on my screen. It must be too big. Here's a compressed file (the color is a bit off now, but oh well). I've added another pic for good measure!.

That was my first choice too!!! It's such a mood lifter. I just couldn't figure out how to have it played.

Sorry girls - I was doing all these Christmas projects and wedding projects/announcement cards... AHHH! Anyway, I have posted the pro photos at shawnandnatasha.phanfare.com Password: cabo Dino did a fabulous job and was very easy to work with and responsive. I highly recommend him. He is artistic, professional, shot the ENTIRE night - no breaks, and speaks fluent English (he's Colombian and lived in the UK for years). This is my favorite overall

So, I've never been one to care about being naked. My bridesmaids said I should get some shots with just me in my thong (because they loved my thong). NP, knew my husband would love them. Except - our photographer accidentally sent our CD to another couple. Glad to say, they all looked great and only one was totally naked, but my husband teases me that it's floating out there are the web and it's payback because I used to take my clothes off at parties when I was in college (I was drunk and liked to swim - nothing more scandalous than that). Just factor that into the equation...

My song was O Sole Mio - it sounded beautiful when played by our trio. My husband's family is from the Neopolitan villiage (or near it) where the song took root in the late 1800s so it was a nod to his ancestry. Here are the words (note - it is NOTHING like Elvis Presley's version) although ours was acoustical... ’O SOLE MIO (Translation) What a beautiful thing is a sunny day, A gentle breeze after the storm! Through the fresh air already appears a feast. What a beautiful thing is a sunny day! Refrain: But another, lovelier sun doesn’t exist. My sun is your face. The sun, my sun, Is your face, is your face. There’s a light in the panes of your window. A laundress sings and boasts. While she wrings and spreads and sings, There’s a light in the panes of your window. Refrain When night is falling and the sun is setting, A feeling almost like melancholy overcomes me. I would stop under your window, When night is falling and the sun is setting.

If anyone decides to have a wedding in SD - I can help with photographers and I can comment on food, hotel quality, whether a hotel is set up for a wedding, and overall ambiance. I don't know of any coordinators here though. Also, I scouted for our wedding and have attended many weddings over the years, so I know of some other areas (like on the various beaches) where you could consider having your ceremony.

I can HIGHLY recommend Estancia in La Jolla. It's a newer hotel (2-3 years old) with spacious rooms and very pretty grounds. Luxury Hotels San Diego California | Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa | California Day Spa Resorts I live in SD and we hosted New Years there last year for 25 people. Note, this is not on the beach, but it is a beautiful hotel and the grounds just feel awesome. I like the Del - we've had a few corporate parties there.It's great for a very formal, large wedding (it's huge). The rooms are older so it's not luxurious feeling, but the grounds are absolutely gorgeous.

OH - don't forget to ask for a discount on food and beverage for the kids! Wait - you picked an AI - duh! Nevermind.

Well, there you go, Ed. It's good to get your guests organized early.

Yeah - well, didn't one of his friends sleep on the beach!

That's what I was trying to describe - it's romantic. You're right! The food is great at the De Cortez restaurant, too. OH - and there's this cute bridge that you could walk across on your way to the ceremony - what a cute picture with your dad! I wanted to do that and I still think about it every time we stay there. Ohhh - this is making me want to take a trip to Cabo.

OH - and since you're a planner (me too) - here are a few tips: After you select and secure the dates: 1) Get a judge or officiant - they book up, who knew? You're going to want a good time (1 1/2 hours before sunset to maximize your light for pictures). If you draw the short end of the stick and can't find someone to officiate (unless you're bringing your own) you could get stuck! 2) Get your photographer reserved. These guys book up! I went through 8 choices before I found one that was available because I waited until 5 months before the wedding. They can book 12 months in advance (don't panic, that was a "can.") 3) Send an evite to your big list of guests and explain that their discounted room rate is only available until ___ date. We got the majority of our guests to book and commit by June for our November wedding. Our room block (we were on the hook) had its first cancellation fee in July. I was SWEATING bullets because we had 4 rooms that it looked like we would be on the hook for. Fortunately, we had 5 more rooms needed (so we were one over what we estimated), but WHEW! Knowing your number of guests makes all the difference on your budget. Our guests also said they appreciated the somewhat forceful heads up (my husband called everyone who didn't respond, even if they were a maybe we were fine, we just wanted to know) as it helped them plan their vacations that year.

Quote: Originally Posted by eychoi The time kinda depends on the place. For Hawaii, November is beginning of rainy season. So, it might be sooner, like in August or early September. If Cabo, then we're a little more flexible. So, I've been trying to pin down a location, but it's been difficult. Now, I'm going back and forth over Princeville vs. Grand Hyatt, if we wanted to do in Hawaii..... or if in Maui, Four Seasons, Ritz, or if in Oahu, Kahala or Hakeluni.... As you can tell, it's difficult. Princeville is less predictable re: rain. We're Starwood Luxury Collection whores so I considered this as well. We decided against Hawaii because of flight costs - it was prohibitive for our guests (60 of them), but if you are planning a smaller crew - it's definitely more manageable. A place to consider that is a bit lower in the budget is the Sheraton on the big island. We stayed there a few Christmases ago. The grounds are perfect for a wedding - they maximize the view. I remember thinking that when we were there. The rooms are fine, the hotel is fine, it would work. It's not nearly as nice as the Sheraton in Cabo, though. No contest.