NATASHA

Hi Janet - we've been struggling with the same thing. Although not finalized, we are leaning to "time." We're planning on giving our parents a weekend away with us. We live away from our family and we really don't see them often. For our moms - they're just starting to get to know each other, so we're planning on flying up to Napa and paying for their transportation, hotel, and one of the dinners. That way we can all get to know each other while enjoying wine and spa time. For my dad (who is recently retired and is loving learning how to cook from my FI which is a shocker given that he always hated the idea of cooking) we're thinking of flying him in for the weekend when we go to Oaxaca later next year for a cooking school weekend. It's sentimental. In 2004, both of my parents retired and I took both of them (individually) to Costa Rica. They still say that it was the best vacation of their lives. It meant so much to my mom that she and I went horseback riding, hiking, spelunking and the canopy jungle tour while she was still young enough to "keep up." (HA!). Anyway - this is on our "to finalize this weekend" list!

Welcome! You'll get the hang of it.

We used ewedding.com - I upgraded to the full program which was, I think, $75. I really wanted the entire website password protected. It's worked fine - is easy to use, etc.

I'm geared up for the weekly lottery. Cmon - no whammies, no whammies - I need some points!

Casa del Mar will only do one wedding per day.

Quote: Originally Posted by KARLA One of my flaky friends just called and had to cancel her trip to Cabo I'm disappointed, but not surprised...let's just say we all said "typical" when we heard. Some friends rented a 6 person condo at PBR, but the condo nights don't start until Thursday night. 3 of those people are arriving Wed night and were going to stay with this friend. They can't really afford anything too expensive. Any suggestions of affordable, yet acceptable accomodations for Wed, Nov 1st? Tammy, is this something maybe you can help me out with? We rented a condo from an incredibly helpful woman named Celeste (www.cabome.com/wst_page4.html) for $185 a night (includes taxes I believe) at Casa del Mar. It's a beautiful condo.

I'm having 65, but I know Cabo pretty well so I can speak to the smaller wedding. The problem you will have is the cost that the hotels will want for set-up, etc. They have all these minimums = block of 10 to get a good room rate or to waive the site fee due to set-up, etc. You just have to email in advance and say, "we're having 10 people - we don't mind if they have to stand or, alternatively, we're willing to pay a nominal per chair fee to cover your set up. We want an arch and a few flowers and then we want to go and have a really lovely dinner in your restaurant and we're not worried about other people being there." they'll be a lot easier to work with than, "we want to take away your ability to make money off of other diners or to occupy space on your beach where you would otherwise be having a wedding party with 100 guests." Cabo Surf (where Janet is getting married) might work with you. They use Maye as their coordinator. Your idea of getting married at Pedregal Beach is lovely. If you head over to a restaurant after I bet it will be wonderful. You might have to: a) fire your coordinator and hire another to get rid of your frustration suck it up and pay $30 more for flowers and let the aggrevation go c) look at other options while you're there and see if they will be the same or less expensive than what you have going currently. How much more do you think your coordinator is costing you than what you're seeing on this board?

Welcome! I'm getting married the day before you. How are you liking Lazy Gourmet? What are their prices like? I don't know Pepe Lima, but we had looked into Peter Hatton and liked his work. I would contact Fun and Motivation for music. There are several brides who are sourcing their own flowers so they should be able to help with that.

OK - no one get me in trouble, though. This is one reference that you can leave my name off of!

Wow! How many people do you think will attend? That will help us identify good places that might be available.

If you are using Maye, she can help.

Darn it - I keep playing and losing. I'm running out of points!

Quote: Originally Posted by A10CALGAL I've also been to a combo bachelor/bachelorette party - total disaster! Vegas + strippers + alcohol + 2 insecure engaged people + all of their closest friends =1 pissed bride, 1 grounded groom and 10 very uncomfortable (if not completely drunk) guests! That's so funny! We had a dual Vegas bachelor/bachelorette party. It went well. All of our friends that were attending the bach parties are couples so it didn't make sense for them to double up on the cost of hotels, etc. It was tamer than my standard girls Vegas trips, but really fun. I kept trying to get everyone to go to a strip club, but it didn't happen.

Hi Jenetta - on a slightly different topic - I think you posted this picture and I responded that it was the same table configuration that we were doing. If so, do you remember which post that was? You had a higher resolution image than I have and I was looking for something better for my paperwork. If anyone else remembers this and can help me, I would totally appreciate it!

OH! Ladies - one to put on the list that I forgot! We should all have a shawl handy as it can cool down at night.

I just got back from the doctor. My FI and I worked out an arrangement to have our blood tests done here. We went together and decided to have our full bloodwork done while we're at it. I met my FI's cardiologist for the first time. It was interesting! They let us go in together so I heard everything that his cardiologist said to him about his cholesterol (it made me sad because he tried to guilt him by saying, "you want to be around to be with her, don't you?"). I'm really liking being the wife - it was so different - the doctor treated us like a team. Yay! It's exciting and so different than being on your own.

Quote: Originally Posted by JANET1111 Do your men like these treatments? Are they worth the $$$? Should I just book him a normal old barber haircut and stop caring, or do you think it's worth it to splurge, especially if he doesn't seem to care? Just looking for some opinions... Thanks! Ha! My FI just called to say he booked us spa appointments this weekend. I love having a metrosexual FI! I was just talking with him this morning about getting a pedicure since he is going barefoot on the sand, but he's a bit resistent to that. A steam and a massage? He's proactive about getting them "for us." Anyway - most of our guy friends get massages - but not frilly ones! The most adventerous they'll go for is a hot stone massage. Here's a tip - schedule him for a 50 minute head and foot massage if he seems resistant to a full body massage. That will get him hooked!

I just updated our website with this information. Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by host i wouldn't invite people to the shower that werent invited to the wedding...it is just uncomfortable for all involved...the ones that were not invited will feel weird when the wedding is brought up...the ones that were invited will feel like big jerks when they talk about how excited they are for the wedding to have the gal next to them say they weren't invited....and you will be uncomfortable for all of it. Very good point. My friends at work are taking me to a "hen party." The organizer is from the UK and that's what they call showers. Basically, we all decided to get together for drinks after work before I leave. We didn't invite anyone to the shower who isn't going to the wedding. I felt the same as has been expressed - why are the same people who are going to the wedding also buying me gifts for the engagement party and the shower! I'm still opposed but they all really wanted to get together. Perhaps you can insist on a no-gift shower and just have an opportunity to get together for brunch. For people like TammyM who have a lot of family and close friends who will not be attending the wedding, it would be nice to include them in some way either before or after the wedding. Maybe it's not a shower?

Quote: Originally Posted by host my sisters threw one for me or i wouldn't have had one...it was a ladies brunch and was really fun...we all dressed up in frilly, floral dresses and my sisters rented a room at a nice restaurant...we just had brunch, unwrapped gifts...taht was it...no games, or anything..short and sweet We did the same thing and it was really lovely. The only thing my bridesmaids made me do was read excerpts from this article that they framed for me about the important things that a good wife should do (a real article from the 1950's). It was funny. TammyM - you should have a shower. It would be a good way for you to share the wedding with those who can't come to Cabo with you.

I was at a family dinner last night (20 of our 65 guests were there) and I floated it past them. They looked at me like I was crazy for even considering a seating chart. One had a look of panic. Again, though, we're having a buffet. Also, I've decided not to have a wedding party table. Two sets of ur attendants have young children (one couple has a 4 year old, the other has a 5 and 2 year old). They will want to be fluid. Plus, I think that it gives us an opportunity to float to a few different tables and chat with our guests between helpings.

Oh - important and I forgot - my comment in the other post is about Melia Cabo Real. We have not been to the Melia Cabo San Lucas.

Quote: Originally Posted by TAMMYM Natasha, the more you tell me about the Sheraton the more I like that place. Have you been to Melia San Lucas as well? If so, which one do you prefer? Meaning food, decor, quiet romantic setting, for a small group? We didn't eat at the Melia. We walked through it. It's very big. We didn't even have a drink because it wasn't the vibe we were going for. I would chose the Hilton or Casa del Mar for dinner over the Melia. You know, why don't you email Claudia at Casa del Mar ([email protected])? They have a dinner area on the beach that they surround with tiki torches. Tell them that you don't want a private party, you just want to have a group of 7 to 10 on the beach. They'll accommodate. The food is very good there. Also, if you don't want to eat on the beach, they have a little restaurant with great views. This would be a more romantic option versus the Sheraton without having to pay extra money for a private party.

Many venues (like the Sheraton) have the lanterns already.

Quote: Originally Posted by KELLID Thanks. I think I'll look into the fabric store idea. I can't imagine how expensive that would be to rent in Cabo! It's not expensive. Mine are $6 per table for a custom wide width satin runner and custom satin napkins. Chair sashes are $3 per. I looked into making them myself. Given the hassel (and trying to make sure that the fabric would match the chair sashes as I didn't want to make 65 chair sashes and 65 napkins) and the effort needed to get them there (I'm bringing so much for the OOT bags) it was definitely worth $50 to have Maye get them for me.