MARIAELM

Thanks Christa - so nice of you! 4 /4 of my friends agree with you on pic 51. It's the clear leader in votes right now. Its def one of my favorites!

Thanks! The bags and iron-on transfers were from Hobby Lobby (a craft store like Michaels here in Texas). Every week they have a 40% off coupon in their ad so we put it to good use. The bags ended up costing $1 each. My sister bought the ribbon and transfers so I don't know about that.

Hi Sarah! I was wondering where you'd gone! It's nice to see you online again!

Check out the OOT bags my sister is making for my wedding. She's doing an awesome job in my opinion. Bags = The bags were about $1 (after coupon) from Hobby Lobby. Ribbon = The ribbon was cheap cheap from JoAnn Fabrics online. It is secured with iron-on tape. I love cheater tools. The bow that is tied on the handle is detachable. Logo = I created it using Word. She used iron-on transfers to get it on the bag. Anyway, just sharing. OOTbag_Logo_03.doc OOTbag_Logo_03.doc

thanks tammy! i really like that one too. it seems the most natural - like i really laugh all the time.

thanks for all the feedback! ya'll are great!

Quote: Originally Posted by KARLA Sorry Maria Elena, I'm just mooching off this posting, since I'm trying to figure out where we will be going when we're there also, and I've never been there either. Are you going to do a really "fancy" night out to dinner? We were thinking about going to either Las Ventanas or One and Only for dinner one of those nights. I have read mixed reviews about "C" in One and Only. Any thoughts by anybody that has been to either one of the hotel's restaurants for dinner? Where are you honeymooning (if you don't mind me asking)? You're funny! We all mooch off each other! We ARE going to do a fancy night, probably at Mi Cocina (Casa Natalia). I'm doing a spa day with lunch at Las Ventanas with my family. I can't wait for that! We're staying in Cabo for our honeymoon. We'll be at Hilton from 10/24 - 10/29 and then move to another hotel. I'm not sure where we'll move to yet. My FI is supposed to be in charge of this, but I don't think he's done anything yet - GAH!!! What about you?

so much great info! i'm always in awe of you! thanks!

I'm so exctied! My bridal portraits were posted online today. I'm really happy with they way they came out. They were taken at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas. I worked down the street up until a month ago and always wanted my pics taken there. Anyway, if you feel like it, help me choose by voting on your top 3 - THANKS! www.fpphoto.com client login event: Murillo Bridals password: MariaElena

Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira So i was having two thoughts about wedding cake. For one thing I'm not that crazy about cake to begin with. BUT my dad seems really upset by the idea of us not have a wedding cake. The Hilton charges either 10/pp or a 3/pp "cutting fee" if you bring your cake in from outside... so with let's say 50 people that's a $500 cake! So this brings me to my next point - cupcakes. A) Do you think if we served individual serving/ wrapped (therefore no plates or forks needed) cupcakes I could talk the Hilton into waiving the $3/pp "cutting fee." At this point there would be nothing to cut and they couldn't even say that we would need their plates and service... I just like the idea of cupcakes - a friend even said that you can buy these tiered cupcake trays to put them together in the shape of a cake! So on that note, any recommendations for bakeries? I wonder if cupcakes would be more or less expensive. I feel like then should be less... I mean who's ever heard of a $10 cupcake!?! Even here is Los Angeles that's outrageous! I love the idea of cupcakes. I don't mean to burst your bubble, but have you talked to Emeline about this? I can't find the e-mail right now, but I know I asked her if I could bring in an outside cake and she told me no because the Hilton didn't want to be responsible for people getting sick, etc.

Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira Did Emeline get your flowers/music all that stuff? Her prices I've heard are high but I can't figure out if I'm spending more by have an outside coordinator or if I'm saving in the end... Also I don't speak Spanish (though i took 6 years of it in school!) so I don't know if I'd be able to negotiate with vendors on my own. Did you do this (do you speak Spanish?). I went thru Emeline for the florist and photographer. I contacted Elena Damy and several other florsits, but Mundo Floral thru Hilton came in chepaer. I could use Emeline as an intermediary for my requests. Plus, you only have to pay 10% tax, not the 15% service charge they add to food and alcohol. For the photographer (Sergio Reyes thru Hilton), I'm paying $350 for 1st hour and $297 for subsequent hours. I get to keep cds of all the pics. Regarding Dueto Amigo for the church music, the priest recommended them. I had my Dad call in Spanish. I also had my Dad call (in Spanish) to book Mariachis Los Cabos. For the DJ, I contacted him in English via his website (AVL Systems). I speak some Spanish, but not the technical terms needed for wedding planning. Luckily, my Dad was able to help me out. Regarding coordinators, I originally worked with Baja Brides and Bella Brides, but found them so unhelpful and expensive that I gave up. Plus, by the time I paid their fees it would have been smarter (in my opinion) to book the higher prices thru Emeline at the Hilton. I have no experience with Maye though whom people on the forum seem to like.

Good stuff - thanks Christa! You have me really intrigued by the Nowhere Bar now!

Thanks Janet! These are great tips and REAL info I can use to further my research.

So, I'm starting to plan my trip to Cabo, not just my wedding. Of course, there's tons of research to be done online. I wondered if any of you have good restaurants (all price ranges) and clubs to recommend in Cabo, SJD, etc. I'd be grateful for suggestions since I've never actually been to Cabo.

Welcome! What a great mom! Your daughter is very lucky to have somone so internet savvy and willing to help!

No, I didn't think it was a bad price. Plus, I think it has a big wow factor. You have a good idea! I don't have another coordiantor. I've been using just Emeline, but mostly this forum and my own obsessive research. Ask all the questions you want. We're here to help each other!

Yes, we're doing a bonfire for the s'mores. The set-up fee is $100.00. Then add $3.00 per person.

Yes, Hilton is providing the yellow table cloths and chair bows. Emeline is not charging me for this. I had her write in the BEO (banquet event order) that we turn in this Friday with our 80% of the bill.

You're welcome. Feel free to steal any ideas you like. I've begged, borrowed, and stolen from numerous other people and magazines. I'm glad you liked the starfish legend. It's cheesy, but makes me smile. It will be posted in a frame near the starfish boxes. Each starfish will have a tag tied to it with yellow and pink ribbon. On the front, the tag will say: MariaElena Murillo (name) Destination: Rockport (table name) On the back, the tag will say: Thank you for joining us today and making a difference in our lives! - Dave & MariaElena -

Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira MariaElena, That sound so delicious! Are you doing the plated dinner or a buffet? I need to look at my menus again! Listening to the description of your cake is making me rethink my cupcake idea! ...maybe I'm just hungry because it's lunch time but I think it's your delicious food! The church in San Jose is gorgeous by the way. We peaked in at a mass when we were there and it's really a beautiful little church! What are you doing for decorations, etc? We decided to go with a plated dinner. That was one of my FIs main sticking points so I didn't fight him on it. We actually just decided on the cake yesterday. Emeline says opera is a very popular flavor. My FI and I are both chocolate lovers, so we figured "what the heck?" We were originally going to go with tres leches, but Emeline says it doesn't hold up well outside. (BTW, she's much better when you ask her specific questions rather than general ones.) Yes, we're excited about the church. The Hilton website (have you seen the version below?) has good 360 views of places and hotel details. http://www.emarketing360.com/hilton/...tractions.html For decorations, we're keeping it pretty simple. See attached table diagram. We'll have 9 tables for dining. For centerpieces I rented glass bowls from fun & motivation ($7 each). We'll sprinkle sand and a few shells at the bottom and float starfish and pink round floating candles. We also have additional tables for: 1. Bridal portrait and guest book, framed pictures of both of our parents on their wedding day 2. Cake 3. Rented boxes (from Fun and Motivation, $10 each) with starfish in sand. The starfish will have each person's name and "destination" table for seating. I've glued magnets on the starfish so they're also favors. We'll post the legend of the starfish as well. In case you hadn't figured it out. The theme of our wedding is starfish with tropical pink and yellow colors. Anyway, I've inundated you with info but I hope it helps! TableDiagram_MariaElena Murillo_Oct06_v04.doc Hilton_TablesWithYellowLinens.pdf MariaElenaMurilloCenterpieces.pdf TableDiagram_MariaElena Murillo_Oct06_v04.doc Hilton_TablesWithYellowLinens.pdf MariaElenaMurilloCenterpieces.pdf

Quote: Originally Posted by A10CALGAL Yummy MariaElena, your menu sounds so good! Thanks!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by JANET1111 We are having a Mexican buffett, so like chile rellenos, tacos, chicken mole, etc etc. Mexican food in DC is pretty terrible, so I am super excited about eating good stuff! Our RD menu is more like "fancy wedding food" - steak and shrimp. You are right that even if the food isn't totally fabulous, you will be in an amazing place, with the right number of people and not 100 extra. We leave on the 9th (only 2 days before wedding) so just make sure to post your review by then (thanks in advance, I sound so demanding! haha) Mmmm, your menu sounds great too. We're doing the opposite and doing traditional Mexican at the rehearsal dinner (at Damiana). My FI is handling the RD planning so I'm trying to breathe and believe it's going well. Ok, I'll be sure to post my review in plenty of time before you leave so you don't yell at me.

you're right!

I love this function, but it keeps me glued to the forum all day when I should be working!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by JANET1111 I am drooling thinking of how good your menu items are going to taste! I love love the s'mores idea -- wanted to do it myself but was told no fire on the beaches allowed (I could probably fight it, but didn't feel like going thru the hassle.) I can't wait to hear your review, especially on the DJ!! The s'mores are my favorite thing about the menu. I hope everything else tastes as good as it sounds. I keep telling myself, "We'll all be together at the beach. Nothing can be that bad." What are you serving? When do you leave for your wedding? I get back from Cabo on 11/02/06. Hopefully you can see my review before you leave.