PaulSchrank

Yes there are people who officiate. There is a new woman in Cancun named Sharon that I really like, she's American or Canadian. There is a symbolic ceremony from Charlie and Maria. They married my wife and I and are really fantastic. There is also a new group that I just worked with. Eventos de Luz I think was the name. They do a really great Mayan ceremony in mayan with English translation. All three of these can be booked through Maria and/or Erica from weddingsinplaya.com That would be the easiest since they have all these phone numbers and I don't. Plus they have good taste and use only the best people. Honestly, I've seen some bad officiants here (I make wedding videos). A good officiant makes my job so much easier in the editing room so I remember the good ones.

You can use the dropdown menu to view wedding videos from several locations in and around Playa del Carmen here on our website: Playa Weddings - Video and Photography in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya

Two great places in Tulum are Hotel Milamores and Cesiak. Cesiak is more remote and doesn't have a lot of accommodations so guests might be scattered. Milamores is less remote and can accommodate more guests and there will be options next door. You can see videos from both these locations on our website here: Playa Weddings - Video and Photography in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya Use the dropdown to select these venues. Tulum is a great place to get married. Rachel and I were married on the beach just south of the ruins at Tulum, near the Paraiso.

Here's what I know about current policies here: Moon Palace and all Palace Resorts - No outside vendors unless guests RIU Palace Resorts - No outside vendors unless guests Dreams Cancun - Only approved vendors from their list Karisma Resorts (El Dorado ROYALE, Azul Beach and Sensatori) - $500 outside vendor fee - RFC # (tax ID) required from vendor Iberostar Resorts - $300 outside vendor fee Royal Resorts - $100 outside vendor fee Most resorts require only a day pass for each vendor/assistant - These resorts include Dreams Tulum, Princess, Grand Bahia Principe and Grand Palladium. This is just based on our recent experience so maybe we can compile a list that covers them all with everyone's input. Only the All Inclusives have strict policies. You won't have any issues with smaller hotels and privately planned events.

Hello, I'm Paul from PlayaWeddings. Rachel and I started shooting wedding videos in Denver 6 years ago. We shot for two years together before I moved to Playa del Carmen. I've been here 4+ years making wedding videos. A little over a year ago Rachel came and joined me and we got married. We purchased camera equipment and Rachel moved from video to stills and began learning the cameras. At the end of last season we shot our first photo/video wedding, Kelly and Mike. You can see the photos on our site. Then we left for a summer long trip through Europe and shot a ton of photos. This past season has been our first full season of offering both photo and video. The response to our photo/video package has been great. We've done a few for BDW members but no reviews posted yet. We're upgrading all of our photo equipment for next season to the Canon 5D M2 with premium lenses. Our prices have gone up a bit for next season to reflect the upgrade in quality. We are delivering everything in HD on Blu-Ray disc. The resolution is fantastic on a large screen. We are still booking at last years prices for next season for our current leads. We'd be happy to extend that to BDW members here through August. Just let us know when you write.

We now have over 100 wedding videos online, categorized by venue. Go to Playa Weddings - Video and Photography in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya Use the dropdown menu to view videos from different venues here in the Riviera Maya. Here is a current list of venues, more will be added as we shoot more: Ajua Maya Restaurant Al Cielo Hotel Azul Beach Hotel Barcelo Maya BluCacao Beach Club BlueBay Gran Esmeralda Blue Parrot", Blue_Parrot Cannon House - Akumal Capilla Nuestra Senora del Carmen CESiak Ecolodge - Tulum Dreams Cancun Dreams Tulum Excellence Riviera Cancun Gran Bahia Principe Grand Palladium Grand Princess Resort Iberostar Resorts Kool Beach Club Marriott Cancun - Casa Magna Milamores - Tulum Oceans Turquesa Paradisus Riviera Cancun Playacar Phase I South RIU Resorts Sandos Playacar Secret Jewel - Playa Secreto The Royal Playa del Carmen Villa Rolandi - Isla Mujeres Villa Sol y Luna - Playa Secret Xcaret Eco-Park We hope this can be a great planning tool to help you envision your options. Thanks.

I live here. It's not raining right now, and if it does it's brief. The sun is harsh in the middle of the day but the breeze is blowing and it is cooling down at night. The weather is great right now. Bring a wide hat for the sun.

Oh yes, and Everything - Michael Buble has been really popular this year.

I've been doing wedding videos for 6 years and I keep a list of songs that I've used so I can provide our clients with a page of mp3s to select from (sorry, for clients only). Here is that list, many of these songs (most of the obscure sounding ones) are instrumentals that are good for parts with a lot of dialogue (i.e. ceremony). There are also more Latin songs on the list because we are in Mexico. I can tell you the most popular songs are: Jack Johnson - Better Together.mp3 Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Over The Rainbow, Wonderful World.mp3 U2 - Beautiful Day.mp3 The U2 is always my favorite to work with. It's really uplifting and has tons of great dynamics that I can work with when editing. Here is our list for clients. 1Adam Sandler - I Wanna Grow Old With You.mp3 3Andrea Echeverri - A Eme O.mp3 4Banda - Beso.mp3 5Bebel Gilberto - Samba Da Benà 6Bebel Gilberto - Sem Contencao -Ugo & Sanz remix-.mp3 7Bebel Gilberto - So Nice (Summer Samba).mp3 8Big Star - I'm In Love With A Girl.mp3 9Bill Withers - Lovely Day.mp3 10Billie Holiday - The Very Thought of You.mp3 11Bob Sinclair - Love Generation.mp31.5 mb 12Brandi Carlile - The Story.mp3 14Coldplay - Speed Of Sound.mp3 15Corinne Bailey Rae - Like A Star.mp3 16Edgar Meyer - Early Morning.mp3 17Edgar Meyer - Sliding Down.mp3 18Ela é Carioca.mp3 19ELO - Mr. Blue Sky.mp3 20Emmylou Harris - May This Be Love.mp32.3 mb 21Etta James - At Last.mp3 22Frank Sinatra - Love And Marriage.mp3 23Frank Sinatra - You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me.mp3 24Fruit Bats - When U Love Somebody.mp34.1 mb 25Gotan Project - Triptico.mp33.8 mb 26Harry Connick, Jr - It Had To Be You (With Big Band And Vocals).mp3 27Imagine Instrumental - Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins 29Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Over The Rainbow, Wonderful World.mp3 30Ivy - These are the Things About You.mp3 31Jack Johnson - Better Together.mp3 32Jack Johnson and Buena Vista Social Club - Better Together.mp3 33James Taylor - Mexico.mp31.3 mb 34Jason Mraz - I'm Yours.mp37.3 mb 35Jesse McCartney - Beautiful Soul.mp3 36Katie Melua - Just Like Heaven.mp3 37Lifehouse - You And Me.mp31.5 mb 38Lisa Gerrard - Biking Home.mp3 39Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World.mp3 40Mana - Eres Mi Religion.mp33.3 mb 41Marc Anthony - I Need You.mp3 42Mark Cohen - True Companion .mp3 43Michael Buble - Cuando Cuando Cuando.mp3 44Neil Diamond - We.mp3 45Nickel Creek - Smoothie Song.mp31.5 mb 46Norah Jones - Come Away With Me.mp3 47Orbital - One Perfect Sunrise.mp3 49Patty Griffin - Heavenly Day.mp3 50Paul Van Dyk - Time of Our Lives.mp3 54Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes.mp3 55Peter Gabriel - The Book of Love.mp3 56Rascal Flatts - God Blessed The Broken Roads.mp3 57Robin Thicke - Lost Without You.aif 58Sade - By Your Side.mp3 59U2 - Beautiful Day.mp31.9 mb 60Van Morrison - Have I Told You Lately.mp3 The Weepies - I Gotta Have You ies.

Here's a video we shot at the Princess. Amanda & Greg Wedding Day Edit on Vimeo The gazebo is great and private and there is a nice stretch of beach right next to it for photos. We had a reception on the beach and it was very private due to the line of mangroves that separate the buildings from the beach.

Great choice, we live nearby and I walk by on the beach all the time. I really appreciate how they left a line of trees and mangroves between the buildings and the beach. This is the most important thing to do if you want to preserve the natural beauty of the beach and not open it to erosion. We've shot a couple weddings there. The gazebo is fantastic and private. There is a stretch of still undeveloped beach right next door which makes for great pictures. You can see a video that we shot at the Princess here: Amanda & Greg Wedding Day Edit on Vimeo

Here are a couple of videos I shot at a wedding at Milamores: VENUE: Milamores - Tulum on Vimeo

We have almost 100 videos from weddings in the Riviera Maya. They are all online categorized by resort and by vendor. I hope this helps you visualize your options: PlayaWeddings's albums on Vimeo

We have close to 100 videos of weddings in the Riviera Maya online. All sorted by venue and vendor. I hope this can help you visualize your options: PlayaWeddings's albums on Vimeo

We have almost 100 video from weddings in the Riviera Maya. They are all sorted by vendor and venue here: PlayaWeddings's albums on Vimeo This should help you envision your options.

I live in Mexico and deal with the banks often. I've done several wire transfers and there are always hoops to jump through. The bank asking for a copy of your passport seems normal to me. I have to provide a copy of my passport for many, many things here. It seems like banks and government offices always need just one more document. Glitches like this happen and if it only takes a copy of your passport to finish it up, I would send it.

Here are some videos from a great wedding we shot there. It's a really nice venue, very private and spacious. VENUE: Villa Sol y Luna - Playa del Secreto on Vimeo

Quote: Originally Posted by MarieSam For the gals who are rescheduling to other locations ~ I'm glad you guys have come to a resolution and will still be celebrating your weddings. I know they will not be "as planned" but I am also confident they will be filled with happiness and love, and awesome pictures for all us ladies to enjoy For those who have decided to go on with their plans in Mexico ~ I'm equally glad that you are sticking with your plans and basically giving the swine flu a big "F.U." To MarieSam and all the BDW brides who have booked photo and/or video with us (PlayaWeddings). We're going to do backflips to make sure you get the best coverage for your wedding day. We're going to put extra effort into all of our weddings. We'll send extra copies of the DVDs so you have a great wedding video to give to anyone who decides not to come. I think I can speak for all the vendors in the Riviera Maya. You can expect extra special attention and "above-and-beyond" service from all of us down in the Riviera Maya. I can promise it for all our PlayaWedding clients.

Admite gobernador sólo un caso de influenza estacional tipo "A" - Chetumal This article from the local paper says that all 32 cases of suspected flu have been tested and are negative for Swine Flu. It states that only one case was positive for Type A influenza, which is seasonal flu and it was not Swine Flu. Here is the Babelfish translation: CHETUMAL, MX. - The governor of Quintana Roo, Felix González Canto, I inform that in the State Capital I detect a case of influenza seasonal type " A" , I reiterate that at the moment they have not registered any pig case of influenza. " Of the 32 cases that have appeared in state 31 they gave negative and only one gave to positive to influenza seasonal type To, until the moment the organization is frees of influenza porcina" Felix González Canto in a press conference said that offered in Chetumal. With regard to the cases of influenza seasonal type " A" , in Quintana Roo 2 cases in 2006 were registered, in 2007 were 5, in 2008 2 cases were confirmed and in which a case only goes of the present year. I indicate that to its government this preparation to take care of cases of influenza pig, in case they are gotten to present/display. " We count on 100 doses medecines that are effective to fight influenza pig, in case it is gotten to present/display a case in the state will immediately be moving medecines to the place that is necesario". (Source: Newspaper of Yucatan)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/28/ny...l?ref=nyregion Read this article about the students in New York who have the swine flu. It suggests there is no connection between the students who went to Cancun for Spring Break and the students who have SF. They interview one of the girls, she has the flu but has not been tested for Swine Flu. It seems the students with Swine Flu, and the students who went to Cancun, are not the same students.

If you choose to have a video of your wedding day, choose your videographer as you would a photographer. It is the same technical skill, artistry and eye for composition that makes a video great and worth watching and sharing with others. Quality videographers will also have the same dedication to constantly improving their equipment to provide the best product. A quality video will provide great looking images as well as movement and sound. This makes it a unique and perfect way to share the day with those that couldn't be there. Just like choosing a photographer it's very important to see samples of the work and the assurance that the same person who shot and edited the sample will be the person shooting your wedding. It's also important to know what equipment will be used. With the large screen TVs, you'll want a video that's shot in HD and delivered on Blu-Ray. Even the best standard definition camera will shoot in 480i at 4:3 (widescreen is 16:9 and 4:3 content is usually stretched to fit the widescreen, not very flattering). Ask if the video will be shot in HD and edited and delivered in HD. Many people are shooting in HD but editing and delivering in SD (standard definition). On a scale: shot in SD, edited in SD, delivered in SD (poor) shot in HD, edited in SD, delivered in SD (better) shot in HD, edited in HD, delivered in SD (even better) shot in HD, edited in HD, delivered in HD (best) Frankly, the first option will be so disappointing it's not worth it at all. The last option looks so good it has the potential to wow people and be something you will play over and over for future generations. Ask these questions: Show me samples of your work Will it be the same person(s) shooting our wedding Will it be shot in HD Will it be delivered in HD (Blu-Ray disc) What camera(s) will be used How will the audio be captured Poor audio can ruin a video and render it unwatchable faster than anything else. With the wind on the beach it presents a special challenge that requires a skilled pro. Nobody notices good audio but everybody notices bad audio. The second thing that can ruin a video is not using a tripod. Handheld camcorder footage is very difficult to watch for more than a few minutes. Combine that with poor audio and you have a disaster that you will never watch more than once. If you are intent on having a guest shoot it, buy an inexpensive tripod and have the operator stand by one of the speakers. A pair of headphones will help that person position themselves to avoid wind noise. Even putting your hand between the wind and camera will help. The sound will travel around your hand. Finally, don't sell the editing short. Thinking that a friend will edit your footage for you, or that you will edit it yourself after the wedding may be over ambitious. These things have a habit of not getting done unless you pay a professional to do it. It's especially worth it if you want to insure you have a DVD to play at a AHR. It starts with well shot video, but it really comes to life with expert editing. Good editing will be the difference between something only you want to watch and something that everybody wants to watch. Treat the video like you would the photos. Consider your guests that can't attend and give them an opportunity to experience the day. Make sure that the memories you capture are complete. Consider how important sound and movement are to these memories. If you do it yourself and buy a camera I recommend the Sony SR11 with a tripod. Sony also has a wireless Bluetooth microphone for about $150 that will really help with the sound. You can put the wireless mic on the lapel of the minister. Be sure the minister has their back to the wind, if not put it on the Groom and be sure he has his back to the wind. Don't forget headphones to monitor the sound. I hope this helps, if anybody has any questions please send me a PM. I want everybody to have a great video of their wedding. Last Christmas we watched a tape of an 8mm film that was shot at our parent's wedding. There was no sound and there was not enough light in the church to see anything, but having the footage outside of the church before and after was priceless. We had three generations all watching the video as my parents pointed out all the different people that were there. It was great for me to see my uncle who passed when I was young, and to see my grandparents looking so young and full of life. And my Mom, wow! gorgeous, absolutely priceless.

My wife has been reading the local newspapers in Spanish online, from the Riviera Maya area. There are no confirmed cases there at this time. They tested 22 people with flu symptoms, ruled out 15 cases and 7 are still pending results. They have convened a meeting of government and health officials in the State capitol for 9PM to make decisions on what measures and restrictions they will have for this area. We'll read the papers tomorrow morning and post any new news. We also heard that United is changing tickets to Mexico City to Cancun, which suggests that the Cancun area is still considered safe.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ayita Thanks... Actually... think I went to Fusion... is it this place with low wooden chairs and tables sitting in the sand, latin orchestra (on Saturday) and fire dancers ? Can they accomodate big groups ? Yes that's it. Big groups? 40 or 50 I think, they have a beach area as well as a deck area. Maybe 80 people.

I would recommend Zensi for something chic, or Fusion for something more casual/rustic. Both are on the beach on 8th and 4th I believe.

You can use this free software Convert DVD to Avi and Mpeg using bitRipper to convert the file from your DVD to an AVI file which you can then upload to YouTube, Google Video, Facebook, Vimeo or any other video sharing site (your choice). Then, post that link to the forum here.