andreslove

Quote: Originally Posted by cariandnick oh my gosh lenita - everything looked perfect! you guys looked beautiful and your recption looked so fun! ahhhhh im so jealous and you're getting me so excited! so it sounds like the free ceremony that comes with the package is super fast - 5 min. they dont really read vows or anything, huh? i guess maybe we'll just have my uncle or someone also recite vows and people do some readings or something. i want a fast wedding ceremony, but 5 min is a little fast for even me! hahaha. how did you guys decide on the nizuc side - was it just automatically assigned to you? The civil ceremony was 5 minutes because we wanted my cousin to perform the religious ceremony. If you just have the civil ceremony it will be about 30 minutes. All we did was the legal stuff, but they add more for those who will only have the civil ceremony. The Nizuc side was automatically assigned to us.

Quote: Originally Posted by soulmates Which package are you getting? If you chose the free, then I would recommend that you at least get the horse and carriage, video DVD and the Mariachi band. If you get the delux, I believe they come standard in them. How many guests are you expecting? Will they all be staying at Moon Palace? I forgot to mention that we received our license and DVD within 3 days. We moved to LeBlanc for our honeymoon, so our wedding coordinator just sent it there. We had our license translated and got an extra copy of it. We also did 2 private functions, which we really didn't need. There was so much food. But, we were so busy taking pictures and mingling, I didn't even eat any of the cocktail reception food. ____________________________________________ We are getting the free package and figured we would just add on the pics, dvd and then we weren't sure what else. I thought about getting my bouque there, but wasn't sure what all they had to choose from except what they had on their website. We are having, as of right now, 8 guests. Yes, they will be staying at the Moon Palace. How much did they charge to go ahead and translate it for you? We are going to have a huge reception when we get back home for everyone that wasn't able to attend. The translation fee is like $30

Thanks everyone. I can't imagine what my wedding would have looked like without the advice and ideas from this website. You all are great! You helped me so much, I look forward to helping someone else.

Quote: Originally Posted by bride2be Congratulations Lenita!! And thank you for posting your review on the MP. I will be getting married there in Feb 2008. Thanks for the tip on the D.J - I had been wondering about that. Did you use any of his music or just music from your IPOD? The centerpieces were beautiful - is there a cost for those? Carolina is also my coordinator - sounds like she did a great job; were you impressed with her? Did you take a look at the other options for a private reception? I had read that there was a terrace also that is available and just wondered what it looked like. Sorry for all the question - I hope you don't mind. Oh...one more....did you feel that the resort was way too huge? Thanks again and best wishes for your married life!! I think he played like 1 or 2 songs - something like Sade or something. You can chose your centerpieces from a book or if you have something you like, you can email them and ask them how much it would be. Those came from a book and we just changed a few things (color, more flowers). All of the centerpieces started around $45 per centerpiece. I think those were $65 though. There are 2 Carolina's (one from the Miami office and the other at the resort). I think you may be communicating with the Miami office right now, because I didn't find out about my coordinator until about 1 month before, but had talked to the other Carolina to book things through. Carolina worked out well. At first, I was getting irritated because I felt like she was taking too long to respond to my email, but as I think back, I believe I was just too stressed. When your wedding is right around the corner little things begin to stress you. They do this for a living and really have everything under control. I did look at the other options for the private function. We got married at noon, so we knew we wanted the dinner (or lunch in our case) reception inside in the ballroom because we expected it to be too hot. We threw in the cocktail hour later, so we chose the garden due to the location of the gazebo. It was right in front and we thought since it was only for 1 hour, our guest could take the heat. Plus it was a little shade and we provided fans during the ceremony. Really, you can't go wrong with either place. I think I took a picture of another wedding reception on a terrace. I'll see if I can find it and post it for you. The resort is huge, but I didn't think it was too big. They do have golf carts and shuttles to take you around. The only time it was a problem was for Andre's mom. Her room was a bit from the gazebo and she has bad asthma. She thought she was late (all of the guests are supposed to be there 15 minutes before) and was rushing and had a little shortness of breath after making it. But our room was really close to the gazebo so it wasn't a big deal. Plus it really has something for everyone. My little niece LOVED the kids club. Plus, since our guests stayed on the Nizuc side we saw each other throughout the day, but it's big enough so that we had our alone time. Keep the questions coming. I don't mind...

Quote: Originally Posted by soulmates Lenita congratulations!!!! Your picutures are absolutely stunning. I am so glad you wrote that review because I am getting married there on June 8, 2007. So it makes me feel so much better. Do you recommend anything for us? Which package are you getting? If you chose the free, then I would recommend that you at least get the horse and carriage, video DVD and the Mariachi band. If you get the delux, I believe they come standard in them. How many guests are you expecting? Will they all be staying at Moon Palace? I forgot to mention that we received our license and DVD within 3 days. We moved to LeBlanc for our honeymoon, so our wedding coordinator just sent it there. We had our license translated and got an extra copy of it. We also did 2 private functions, which we really didn't need. There was so much food. But, we were so busy taking pictures and mingling, I didn't even eat any of the cocktail reception food.

That has been the biggest headache. He's moving into my condo until we can save for a downpayment. We don't have enough space though. I'm been trying to clean out closets and drawers to give him some room to move in. Luckily, he doesn't have to be completely out of his place until the end of the month, so he's slowly bringing things over and is trying to sell his furniture (bachelor stuff that I refuse to have). We need a place quick! Do you know of a good charity that I could donate some clothes and coats? I may just take it to the Salvation Army or something. Someone also suggested those consignment places that will pay you a percentage of what they get for selling it. Have you used anything like that? I have 2 boxed and about 5 bags full of stuff that I'm going to toss or give away.

Here's mine: What is the weather like during March in Cancun? Average High: 84 Average Low: 71 What sort of attire is appropriate for the wedding? We don't want to tell you what to wear- but since you asked, tropical formal attire would be most appropriate. Suggestions for tropical formal attire include: Men: - linen or cotten dress pants - collard golf or button down shirts - summery suits Women: - sundresses - dress pants or capris - blouses or lightweight twinsets - summery skirt suits Will I be able to call home? Glad you asked. It is very expensive to call from the resort - even when using your own calling card. We would recommend purchasing a pre-paid calling card upon arrival in Cancun. From what we hear, the Mexico calling cards you can buy in the States DO NOT WORK when calling from Mexico - only to. What happens after we land in Cancun? You will first need to proceed to immigration. You will be given a tourist card. DO NOT LOSE IT, as you need to present this card when you leave Mexico. If lost, you will be fined. Next, you will go through customs, where you press a button - green means you're all good, red means they will search your things. Please check online to be sure you are not bringing any prohibited items (such as fresh fruits or vegetables) into Mexico. Please refer to the State Department's website for more tips for travelers to Mexico: Tips for Travelers to Mexico Do I need to convert money? Mexicans use the Peso as their currency. The Mexican government permits tourists to exchange dollars for pesos at the fluctuating free market rate. Most places accept the US Dollar, but you get a better exchange rate if you convert to Pesos. Only exchange what you need for each day as the rate changes daily. Take travelers checks with you. Personal U.S. checks are rarely accepted by Mexican hotels or banks. Major credit cards are accepted in many hotels, shops and restaurants. An exchange office (casa de cambios) usually gives a better rate of exchange than do stores, hotels or restaurants. Can I drink the water? Drink only bottled water or water that has been boiled for 20 minutes. Beware of ice cubes that may not have been made with purified water. Vegetables and fruits should be peeled or washed in a purifying solution. If you can't peel it or cook it, do NOT eat it. Don't eat food purchased from street vendors. Don't eat dairy products unless you know for a fact that they have been pasteurized. Is it safe to walk around the town at night? Yes, definitely. You should feel much safer in Cancun than in the United States. There is very little crime here, and what does exist is usually petty compared to the U.S. The tourist police here are friendly and very helpful. Use your common sense, and be careful. Leave your fancy jewelry at home! After dark, stay on the main streets; do not wander on the beaches late at night. Never flash large amounts of money.

Yes - the wedding was everything I'd hoped for. I couldn't be happier. Leigh - As you can see from Andre's reaction. He LOVED the pics. The surprised look on his face was the topless photos (it was more than 1 on the page). The first couple of pictures were ones with his basketball jersey or just "pretty" pictures. Then, it turned into the "sexy" pictures which is why he looked so funny and shocked. I'm constantly looking at his pictures and laughing at his reaction. I'm going to show him the others to see if I picked the ones that he would have. But he was more than happy especially after finding out that you took the pictures (although he still thinks I'm crazy for being so comfortable with people I met online).

Loved the pics...we want more! Everything looked beautiful!

That is a cute color scheme. I love it!

Hi everyone, I've been extremely busy since I've returned, but I wanted to write my review while things are fresh in my mind. We had a ball in Mexico! All of our guests keep thanking us for having it there. They seem to have had just as much fun as we did. Let me start with the pictures. Lenita & Andre Photography: Jill Higgins and Josie Martin (Charleston Wedding Photography by Jill Higgins - Childrens Portrait Photographers) Jill and Josie did an amazing job on our photography! We love our pictures. It captured everything we'd hoped. We met them the day before to do a get to know you shoot. They were really nice and funny! The morning of my wedding, they met me at 8:00 am to take pictures of me getting my hair and make-up done. They were full of personality to keep me calm and laughing on what could be a stressful day. Once things got rolling I forgot they were there, but the pictures reveal that they didn't miss a thing! Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort: We were pleased with the resort. The rooms were clean and the service was great. However, the resort is so big we didn't get a chance to see everything. We stayed on the Nizuc side and never made it to the Sunrise side. The restaurants that we tried were all good. My favorite was El Manglar which is the Italian restuarant. A couple of people also recommended the other Italian restuarant by the golf course but we never made it. We chose the "free" package and purchased add-ons once we were at the resort. Upon arrival, we received a welcome letter from our wedding coordinator, Carolina, informing us of our meeting with her the next morning. She was well organized and I soon realized that I stressed for nothing. Everything was taken care of. We did the civil ceremony which lasted about 5 minutes and then my cousin who is a minister took over for the religious ceremony. Before I get ahead of myself, I would have to recommend the horse and carraige. I loved it! They had everything timed perfectly. We went riding and when we came around the corner where the gazebo was all I heard was "Awww" from our guests and flashes from the cameras. My father rode with me in the carraige. Immediately after the ceremony while we were taking pictures, the cocktail hour began with the Mariachi band. We had it in the garden area near the gazebo and everything was set up beautifully. Next we moved to the private dinner reception held in the Laud ballroom. We had a DJ, but this is where I would have saved some money. We didn't need it. The sound system is great, so we had our iPods and one of our friends acted as the MC. For those who are getting married at Moon Palace, you may want to assign someone the tasks of hosting and MC. Once Carolina had the DJ announce us and passed out our favors, we didn't see her again. My friends took over and kept things going (announced first dance, garter toss, cake cutting, etc.). Videography: We used the resort's videographer. We upgraded to the DVD and it turned out nice. They use your ceremony music on the DVD, which is a nice touch. Ceremony music: I made a list of music to be used during the ceremony and gave it to Carolina during our meeting. I've attached our wedding songs just in case anyone is interested. Flowers: They will give you a book of flowers and centerpieces to choose from. I was so nervous about not liking my flowers that I decided to use fake flowers. They looked, felt and even smelt real. This saved us some money. However, it was a real pain traveling with them. The centerpieces were real and were provided by the resort. Cake: The cake came from the resort as well. I emailed Carolina a picture of what I wanted and they were able to create it. It looked good, but didn't taste that great. The only time I ate it was during the cutting of it. Salon services: The day before I had my nails done and the day of I had my hair and make-up done. I took a picture with me, but after I realized how windy it was I ended up having to pick a picture out of the book. This was what I was most nervous about. I even had Josie (the photographer) translate some questions that I had for the stylist. He didn't speak much english, but knew what he was doing. I was happy with the way both my hair and make-up turned out. Welcome bags: I think I'm the only lazy person on this forum...lazy enough to order our bags. We ordered them from Swell Sweets (www.swellsweets.com). I told them how much I wanted to spend per bag and they presented some options. They were really easy to work with and they arrived early. I posted a picture in another thread, but would be happy to share if anyone wanted to see. Shoes: I love my shoes because they were custom made by my friend Candra of Artyce Designs (www.artycedesigns.com). I posted a picture of my shoe in another thread as well. When I began designing my shoe, I didn't know what I wanted, but that soon changed. I enjoyed working with her and I loved the end result. They were comfortable too. I kept them on the entire time. OK, I think that's about it. I am a huge fan of destination weddings and couldn't be happier with the way things turned out. Hopefully, someone will find this review helpful. I know I probably forgot something, so if anyone has any specific questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Wedding Songs.doc

Hi everyone, We're back! Looks like Jill has filled you all in with the pictures. I still have to write my review, but I'm trying to get caught up at work. I loved Andre's reactions! I can't stop laughing at it. The first thing he asked though was who tooked the pictures. He was totally surprised because I would never do anything like that which made it even better.

Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Just doing my last minute check before I leave for Mexico. It will be really weird to be away from the forum for so long, but I think I'll manage. I'll post the review and pictures as soon as possible.

Thanks for all the well wishes. Jill Higgins is my photographer, so I'm sure she'll have the pictures covered. I've spoken with my on-site wedding coordinator and she said that it was ok to bring a photographer as long as they weren't from Mexico. Jill will actually be staying at the resort, so I don't forsee them kicking her out. Thanks for your concern though. That's crazy! I'm also not much of a beach girl, which is one of the reasons why I loved the gazebos. I will pay attention to the beach to let you all know how maintained it is. I heard the sound system is really good, but I'll confirm that too. Thanks everyone and stay tuned!

I haven't received the final product (should get it tomorrow), but when I originally tried them on they were comfortable.

Thanks ladies. I'm supposed to get them on Friday, so I'll have a couple of days to break them in. Natalie, my friend Candra created them. She's from Chicago, but lives in California now and just opened up a shoe boutique. Here's her information Artyce Designs Boutique In Los Angeles - DECEMBER 2006 Jessalyn, those are beautiful!

THose pictures were so nice. Thanks for sharing.

Quote: Originally Posted by bride2be Thanks! and congratulations to you too! I am very excited hear your review and see any pictures you are able to share when you get back. I feel confident in our choice of MP - a little worried about how huge it is and the bad beach reviews but very happy with the gazebo selection and responsiveness of the wedding coordinator. I also think the horse drawn carriage is so fairytale and perfect. We are likely going to have a large group - maybe 120 attending and the MP seems to be able to accommodate that size of wedding group with no problem. What is the plan for your wedding day? are you having a private function? Yes- we're doing a cocktail hour with Mariachi and Buffet. We only have 52 guests coming though. I can't imagine trying to accomodate 120 people. Hopefully, they all stay at MP so you won't have to worry about the day pass fee.

Nice ss. Great work Leigh. Ann, you all look so cute together.

Welcome to the forum! I'm getting married at Moon Palace in 10 days! I'll be giving a review upon my return. In the meantime, feel free to contact me with any questions. There are a few threads that exist already with information on Moon Palace. Good luck and congrats!

Sounds great to me.

Quote: Originally Posted by Natalie M Can you post a bigger pic of them it is hard to see them but they look soooo cute!! Sorry, I kept getting the too big message so I made sure it would work. Is this better?

I really like this idea. Now, I just need the time to actually come up with the puzzles.

Thanks everyone. That gives me a good starting point. Good suggestions. Sometimes the most fun comes when things aren't planned and just kinda happen. I did want a way to see everyone before the wedding though. Sydskyga, where can I find more info?

My shoes are finally ready! Here's a picture. My friend designed and created them. I can't wait to get them.