PaulSchrank

Yes my rates and packages are on my site. I have some new video of the Los Itzaes (Los Itzaes - Fire show Drums and lights show Lights and Water show) fire show. I'm having some trouble uploading on my connection but hope to have it online soon. They are great and affordable. I'll post on the board when I post the clip.

I've worked with florist Vanessa Jaimes several times and I think she's the best. Cancun Floral Design, Flower Arranging / Diseño Floral en Cancun, Arreglos Florales Lighting design is a great idea, it's often overlooked and really can't be taken for granted here. Kudos for that, I bet Vanessa can do that as well (don't know). Of course it would be crass to recommend myself for video, so I won't do that BUT I'm getting married next year and it sure takes a lot of pressure off to be able to tell people who might not make it "don't worry, we're going to have a great video." P.S. We went to our reception location last night and the first thing we said is "it's great, we have to do our own lighting."

Here are a collection of clips that I shot at the RIU Palace Riviera Maya. The first one, Melanie & Matt is at the RIU Mexico next door. The reception footage in Erica & Bob's Wedding Day Edit is from the Chili's restaurant. PlayaWeddings’s RIU album on Vimeo

I have a video clip of the Balance Band on my Vimeo site. They do all styles of reception music including lots of salsa and latin flavored dance music. They are top notch. Kind of a large group though. The Balance Band at Xcaret on Vimeo

Here's the skinny: Blue Parrot - Calle 12 Avenida 1 - yes this is tourist heaven. You'll find other tourists and Mexican boys looking to pick up tourist girls here. Of course you find that everywhere. The fire show starts at about 11PM. I believe it's free to get in before 9, it's $10 after but you get two beers with that. Fusion - Calle 6 Avenida 1 - This is a good place to start with tables on the beach, a funky vibe and often live music. Bali - Calle 12 between Avenida 5 y 10 - This is a dance club with lights and fog and videos and performers throughout the night. It's well done. Usually starts after 11. You get the full range of people here. La Santenara - Calle 12 between Avenida 5 y 10 - This is straight up dancing with good DJs. Two different styles of music inside and out. More locals and Playa regulars here. Starts at 1AM. El Cielo - Calle 12 between Avenida1 y 5 - Haven't been there yet but it looks really cool with three levels and cool architecture. Check it out for me and post it here.

Los Itzaes - Fire show Drums and lights show Lights and Water show This is the best fire show in Playa. They also do a water drum show if fire is not allowed. It's a great show, I've shot video of it twice and it's really tight. Sometimes when you hire firedancers here you get a random selection of beach bums. This is a professional group with a complete show and good management.

Go with the 1200 dpi max. It's likely your slideshow program will convert all the images to a standard resolution for projection. The higher the dpi input the better the quality. The final file size should be the same size regardless of the image inputs. It depends on which program you use. Regardless, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose (except disc space) if you go with the max.

Here are some video clips of weddings at the RIU Riviera Maya PlayaWeddings’s videos tagged 'riu' on Vimeo

Here's a video of a wedding at the Royal Playa del Carmen. Sandy & Mark Wedding Day Edit on Vimeo I've never been to the Royal Cancun

I just heard from Matt. He was arranging a meeting with Karisma and it seems like this will get worked out. We vendors here in the Riviera Maya are working to meet with all the resorts to reach an agreement. We all think that surprises like this are bad for everyone. Hopefully this will stop being an issue. It's especially crappy when it comes up after you've chosen the resort and started planning. The good news is that almost all the wedding planners within the resort want the best for their couples, it's usually someone in management that throws the monkey wrench in. Azul beach is a really great location and I know the wedding coordinator there is adamant about allowing outside vendors for her weddings.

Welcome. Here are a number of videos of weddings at the RIU Riviera Maya and some from the RIU Mexico next door. PlayaWeddings’s videos tagged 'riu' on Vimeo

A video that you upload for the web should not be 1 gig. You can try a different output option from your editing program. I output as quicktime Mpeg4 compression with a frame size of 480 x 270 for widescreen. The frame size is important to make the file smaller and easier to upload. I use vimeo.com. They have a weekly limit of 250 mgs of upload and it's free. Every Sunday your limit resets to 0. So you could break a 1gig file into 4 parts or make it smaller with more compression as described above.

The Nuestra Senora del Carmen is the big church in the middle of town. It's big, open and white inside. They have just finished a small chapel in the town square down by the ferry dock. It's actually been there a while, but they've redone it and it's really really nice. The park next door is great for picturesl. It can't hold more than 40-50 people. It's air conditioned as well. I think any of the wedding coordinators can organize a wedding there. Just to clarify Nuestra Senora del Carmen is the big church on 12th. Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Carmen is the small chapel by the park that is renovted.

Here's a list I made from my collection of what I consider the ultimate wedding reception songs. Just for ideas. My experience has been, don't forget the classics. That's what will get everybody on the dance floor. Once you got them there, you can hit them with the "Sexyback". Ring my bellAnita Ward Le FreakChic Brick HouseCommodores Word UpCameo Woo HooThe 5 6 7 8s You Shook Me All Night LongAC/DC We are familySister Sledge Stevie Wonder - Superstitious Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (Rae & Christian Remix)Dinah Washington Dancing in the street - Martha & The Vandellas 70's Pure Disco - Funkytown.mp Hey YaOutkast BodyrockMoby I feel goodJames Brown You Sexy ThingHot Choclate CongaGloria Estefan Funk #49James Gang Rebel rebelDavid Bowie Beatles-Obla-di Obli-daBeatles Magic Carpet RideCrystal Method

Before I moved here I used to spend a week here every September. I've been here the past 5 or 6 Septembers, except the Wilma year, I moved here at the end of October and barely missed it. I love the weather in September/October. Yes there are rain showers but they are brief and refreshing. The water is warm for swimming and it's not too hot in the day. It's also not as crowded. But yes, hurricanes happen. Only the adventurous remain.

The RIU is a great place to get married. Here's a video clip from the RIU Riviera Maya: Erica & Bob's Wedding Day Edit on Vimeo There are several more clips from the RIU on my Vimeo site here: PlayaWeddings’s videos tagged 'riu' on Vimeo

As a vendor I've been to lots of receptions. I made this songlist from my collection and named it "Partystarter". It's specifically designed from my experience to get a party started. A little bit of something for everyone. Ring my bellAnita Ward Le FreakChic Brick HouseCommodores Word UpCameo Woo HooThe 5 6 7 8s You Shook Me All Night LongAC/DC We Are FamilySISTER Sledge Stevie Wonder - Superstitious Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (Rae & Christian Remix)Dinah Washington Dancing in the street - Martha & The Vandellas 70's Pure Disco - Funkytown Hey YaOutkast BodyrockMoby I feel goodJames Brown You Sexy ThingHot Choclate CongaGloria Estefan Funk #49James Gang Rebel rebelDavid Bowie Beatles-Obla-di Obli-daBeatles Magic Carpet RideCrystal Method

"Better Together" by Jack Johnson has been the most popular wedding video song this year. There is a version on an album called Rhythms del Mundo with the Buena Vista Social Club providing the backing track. Very beachy, calypso and sweet.

There is a private hospital called Hospiten (http://www.playamayanews.com/health/...el_carmen.html) with locations in both Cancun and Playa del Carmen. They have a very good reputation. Many people also go to the local Hyperbaric Chamber (medical care for diving accidents) for minor injuries. My friend went there for a broken wrist and received good, affordable care.

You may find the same problem with any band you try to bring into an all-inclusive like EDR. They make money on everything with the spread between what you pay and what they pay their vendors. Often their vendors are chosen by who offers the maximum "spread". When you try to go around them and choose your own they will get their spread one way or another. It's really part of the all-inclusive deal. You get a bunch of things at a good package price but they charge you for everything else. It's how they make their money. I look at it like a baseball stadium, once you are inside it's no longer a free market, it's controlled by the stadium. So you pay way too much for a beer and a hot dog. Oh well, enjoy the game. My advice is negotiate they heck out of the extra fee but understand it is their house and it's not a free market inside. Look at the big picture total budget. You save money for you and your guests by choosing an AI, but some things that you want will cost more. Even with the Algodon band you're gonna pay this fee, you just don't see it.

The singer's name is Roberto Lita. The email address is [email protected]

Yes, I was the videographer at that wedding. I can get the singer's phone number for you. I'll PM it tomorrow with the prefix numbers to dial from the USA.

Really nice pictures. Who is the photographer? and who was the wedding coordinator?

Wow, I'm not alone. My secret as a wedding videographer is that I love punk rock and I slip a little punk attitude into all my wedding videos. Is this song for the video? I just used one of my favorite instrumentals in a video. Probably more "alternative" than "punk" Yoga Means Union - Ambulance LTD I think the dynamics of this song are custom made for a wedding, and no pesky words to get in the way. A lot of punk love songs are actually about heartbreak so you gotta be careful. I would love to do a video using the Ramones "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend". Especially because it's from the groom's point of view. Other songs that come to mind. Love Song - The Damned What Is This Feeling Called Love - Wire Fell in Love With a Girl - White Stripes I've always wanted to do a wedding day edit to this song: Young Lions - the Constantines

NegroSol has really great food, not huge portions but I was blown away by the flavors. Its on calle 14 bis between 1st and 5th Avenue. Ajua is a fun time. I like their pollo pibil, a local dish. They have live music and waiters that balance glasses on their head. It's on calle 4 between 5th and 10th. Rolandis is a really good value. Not overpriced, good portions, good food. It's at the south end of 5th in Paseo del Carmen. For excursions I would go to Altournative and see what they offer. They have stands all over fifth. They have a solid reputation and interesting activities.