PaulSchrank

I've been seeing a lot of boomboxes with a "karaoke" feature for sale here in Mexico. Use it on the beach with a microphone on "karaoke" and no CD playing, and it should be just enough to hear the vows on the beach with 30-50 people. I should say I haven't tried it yet, but the thought occurred to me after shooting a couple of wedding with nothing and nobody could hear anything. The $99 sound system rental sounds perfect, for other brides with the same problem, look into the Karaoke Boomboxes. Then you get to take it home

With rising fuel costs, this has been the model in Europe for some time. Flights in Europe are cheap but they charge you for luggage by weight and they charge plenty. The extra luggage weight reduces fuel efficiency and wipes out the profit margin. The airline industry here in the States has kept prices low throughout the climbing price of oil but they can't keep losing money. Expect to travel to larger cities to fly as flight routes are reduced and expect to pay for your luggage. it's the only way the airlines can survive.

I've lived here three years and I swim all the time. I've never been affected or know anyone who has had a problem with sea lice. It does happen and my homeopath suggegsts taking a bottle of vinegar with you to the beach. If they bite then pour the vinegar on it right away and you'll have no problems.

Congratulations, I knew I recognized your name. We shot Sheila and Uri's wedding together last year here in Mexico. I'm getting married as well, next week!!!

Here's a collection of over 70 wedding videos in the Riviera Maya. It's organized by venue and vendors to help you plan. Enjoy. PlayaWeddings' albums on Vimeo

I did the video for Stephanie and Jean Yves' wedding. I took a couple of still photos as well during the wedding. Here are the still photos, the video will be posted within a week.

Welcome to the forum. Here are some wedding videos from the Royal to help you envision your day: PlayaWeddings' VENUE: The Royal Playa del Carmen album on Vimeo

The dirty truth is people here use the specter of Immigration and their authority to intimidate foreigners. I've seen it since day 1, it is what it is. I just do everything by the letter of the law and have the right documents. Documents seem to go a long way here, if you have the documents people who want to intimidate you will usually give up before they even try.

from Business Mobility Group - Travel Handbook The following APEC economies do not require a visa: Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States, however, the Migratory Form for Tourist, Transmigrant, Business Visitor or Councilor Visitor (FMTTV), obtainable at ports of entry, travel agencies or from airline personnel should be fulfill. These business travelers are granted an initial stay in Mexico of up to 30 days upon arrival. -------- this is from: Consulado de México en El Paso, Tx. Non in-migrant Visa for multiple entries (Business up to 30 days) F.M.T.T.V. A 30-day multiple entry form for business, investments or transfer of personnel, without receiving any salary in México. 1) Business -. All those persons who travel to México for business meetings and with the purpose of acquiring new contacts, sales promotions, manufacture and production, marketing, distribution, services to customers or to explore new investment opportunities in Mexico. 2) Investors-.All those persons who travel to México to establish, develop, administrate or offer key technical services in activities related to executives or those that require essential skills to carry out or administrate an investment in which the person or his company commit or is in the process of committing an important amount of capital. 3) Transfer of personnel-. Persons employed by a company who are transferred to a subsidiary in México in order to carry out managing and executive activities, or those that require essential specialized knowledge. Please note that this information applies only to citizens of the United States and Canada. For citizens of other countries some restrictions may apply, depending on the type of visa they have in the US or the intended activities while in Mexico. For the detailed information regarding your case, please e-mail us at [email protected] F.M.T.T.V. is not valid for visits of more than 30 days, but the foreigner can apply for an extension while in Mexico, before the F.M.T.T.V. expires, at the local office of the National Institute of Immigration. Instituto Nacional de Migración -F.M.T.T.V. can be obtained at no cost from Mexican Consulates/trade offices, airlines and port of entry. -F.M.T.T.V. must be completed at the beginning of each trip. -F.M.T.T.V. must be cancelled at the end of each trip to avoid fines on future trips by returning it to the immigration officer at the time you leave Mexico. Requirements for F.M.T.T.V.: 1. Passport or certified birth certificate is needed for proof of citizenship. For other nationalities passport and proof of legal residence in the US is required. All applications need to be submitted Monday through Friday between 8:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The process to obtain the F.M.T.T.V. will be the same day. For more information, please call: Tel. (915)533-3644 / 533-3645 ext. 242 -------- Obtain the F.M.T.T.V. before your trip and show it at customs in Mexico. i.e. The contract is with an American couple and an American company in the US. The contract is partially fulfilled with a "business meeting" in Mexico that includes "services to customers" and is covered in the F.M.T.T.V. visa. Payment and fulfillment of the contract happens back in the United States.

The FM-3 is a work permit for foreigners who live in Mexico. It is not available unless you live here. This issue is not at all new. It was a big issue for me when I moved here three years ago. It was impressed upon me by my colleagues here that I should NOT shoot weddings here without an FM-3. I risked being discovered by Mexican authorities and I ran the risk of the resort denying entry to me at any time if I did not have the proper paperwork. I risked my entire future here if I had any problems at all, so I took two months off, sat on the beach and applied for and got my FM-3. The FM-3 isn't easy to get, not everyone who applies is granted one. FM-3 status is a very popular topic of discussion among gringos at the bars here. One theory that I heard is that when Argentina had their currency crisis (1999-2002), this area experienced a huge influx of Argentinians who began working here without documentation. The government got really serious about documented workers during this time and everything got harder for all foreigners. I don't believe this is any kind of conspiracy on EDRs part. We just had elections here and with every change of administration comes new officials. It always seems like they want to come in with a bang and all the rules get tighter after an election. It's a real and ever-present concern here.

Let me clarify. A traveling photographer who does not live in Mexico needs a Business Visa to work in Mexico while they are here. They do not need an FM-3. The form that you fill out on the plane has the visa card on the bottom and it has blue boxes that say "For Official Use ONly". If you check the box that says "yes I'll be doing business here" then the customs official will check the box on your visa that says "Business" in the blue box part on the bottom. There are two checkboxes on the visa for the customs official, one that says "Tourist" and one that says "Business". It's the same form and the same visa card (attached to the form) for everyone on the plane. I have never tried to enter Mexico and get a Business Visa so I don't know what kind of song and dance you have to do when you get to the customs official in order to get them to grant a business visa. I don't know if it's easy or difficult but I would recommend having lots of emails printed out and maybe a contract with the name of the resort on it that you can point out. The photographer is shooting "on location" in Mexico and I have to believe this is very common so it won't be too much hassle. This is my suggestion. The photographer should bring a nice binder with their business card attached to the front. Inside the binder is a copy of the contract with the resort name and coordinators name highlighted. Put a copy of an email correspondence that confirms the payment of any fee and the permission for the photographer to work there. A copy of your travel itinerary that shows the return trip date. Present this to the customs official when you get to the front of the line. If someone is bringing down a photographer, call the Mexican Embassy/Consulate in your hometown and ask them what you need to get a Business Visa. Post their answer here.

When an American or Canadian citizen is entering Mexico with the intention of doing business, then you have to state that on the immigration form you fill out on the plane. It's one of the checkboxes. I've never done this, but I assume you have to explain it when you get to the front of the line in customs in mexico. it would help here to have email correspondence with the reort stating that you'll be working there. Then the person in customs marks your tourist visa as a business visa. This is what Karisma wants to see. Alternatively, if you are an American citizen living and working in Mexico, like myself, then you need an FM-3, the equivalent to a green card (yes it is colored green). This would be the other thing Karisma wants to see. This has always been the policy here and is always a concern for ex-pats living here. My neighbor is a timeshare salesman and he tells a story about the mexican Federales surrounding the sales floor and checking everyone's FM-3. It does happen and it's big trouble for the resort. So it's totally within their rights to request it. Look into getting a business visa for your traveling photographer or confirm that whoever you hire here is either a Mexican citizen or an FM-3 carrying foreigner.

I think October/November is the best time for a wedding. I've lived here three years shooting wedding videos. At this time the weather is great and the ocean is warm and you get great service because half the town is off for the summer and eager to work. I have over 70 wedding videos categorized by venue and vendor on my Vimeo site. It should be a great way to visualize your options. PlayaWeddings' albums on Vimeo

I've worked several events with Carlos and his company. All the events have been done well. He sends other DJs as well as himself. Carlos speaks excellent English, but you may get another DJ. I often recommend to couples that they pick a gregarious friend to do the introductions and the supplied DJ is fine for announcements.

Here is a collection of our wedding videos sorted by venue, vendor and by edit type. I think it can serve as a great resource so you can see and hear the different options available here in the Riviera Maya. Happy planning. PlayaWeddings' albums on Vimeo

Here's some wedding videos from Azul Beach Hotel. PlayaWeddings' VENUE: Azul Beach Hotel album on Vimeo

Mannia did the sound and lights for this reception on the beach at the Royal Playa del Carmen/ They did a great job with the setup, I love the lighting here for the first dance. Sandy & Mark First Dance on Vimeo

Quote: Originally Posted by Morgan Those are great! I never saw Susan post them. It does have a different perspective than just the pictures. It was fun seeing what was going on as the pictures were being shot. It was also cool to see what happens right after the ceremony in the 2nd video. I wasn't sure where to go after walking down the aisle. del Sol Photography - Movie - Trash The Dress Here is a video I shot of a Trash the Dress session. Sort of a "making of" if you want to see what goes into making the TTD pictures.

Here are some videos I shot at Dreams Cancun. I am an outside vendor and not the videographer from the resort. Susan & Matt's Wedding Day Edit on Vimeo Susan Matt Photo Session on Vimeo The photographer is Citlalli from Claudia's studio.

"Better Together" by Jack Johnson. There's a version he performed with the Buena Vista Social Club that has a calypso feel on this album Amazon.com: Rhythms del Mundo: Cuba: Music: Various Artists

Susan & Aaron Intro on Vimeo Here is a clip that I shot digitally and applied effects to create an 8mm look. I have an old 8mm film camera but getting and processing the film can be a challenge. The digital effect is quite nice. I use the Magic Bullet Look Suite for this effect. It's a third party plug in for Final Cut Pro. It does an excellent job, much better than similar built-in filters. This clip was a brief intro to the 20 minute version, shot in HD digital widescreen. I have my parent's wedding on VHS tape that was originally shot on 8mm film. We watched it at Christmas time with three generations together. It was amazing to see it, my parents had so much fun identifying all the people that were there on film. It was great to see my grandparents so young and full of life.

I took a look at the videos on his website and I think they are really well done. As a wedding videographer, I would trust him to do quality work based on what I saw, even though it wasn't an actual wedding..

Quote: Originally Posted by Christine I have to be honest here and tell you this is exactly what I fight to teach my kids about. I think that only looking at one issue is not fair, especially this issue. You have to be honest with yourself and realize that as soon as whomever is elected and finds out all the details that we the american public are not privvy to they will realize that pulling out right away is not going to happen. And that being said Obama might have said that in the past but he is not sticking to that hard and fast anymore. I really have to urge you to look at the person who can manage our country, internally and externally. If its Obama than fine I will gladly support that but don't say that he is the only one that will get us out of this war when he can't truly promise that. I've never felt this strongly about a single issue until now. I feel the single most important thing to do as a nation is end this war that we started. Peace on earth is the most important thing we have to do as human beings. I feel it's important enough to advocate over all other concerns and vote accordingly. That's me. I've never understood how people could be single issue voters in the past, but now that I am one, I understand. I would never advise others to vote on a single issue. It seems like people have stopped talking about the war and forgotten that it's still happening. I want the United States to start talking about it again and really look at it.

I'm supporting Ron Paul for President. Of course he has no chance but I feel it's really important to continue supporting him because of his frankness and his ability to see through the bull and call it like it is. He pulls the facade off of politics and offers radical solutions to radical problems. This makes him seem somewhat insane because if you pull the facade off this administration it is in fact, completely insane. Having said all that, when it comes time to vote I'm a one issue voter this time. I'm going to vote for the candidate that will end the war as soon as possible. I'm pulling for Obama. I feel as if nothing is more important than ending wars in this world and standing in opposition to those who start them.

Hello and welcome. Here's some videos from Dreams Cancun to help you start visualizing things. PlayaWeddings' VENUE: Dreams Cancun album on Vimeo