MagsieMexico

And don't forget, the bride's pedicure/manicure is included, and it was the BEST mani/pedi i've ever had and took 2 hours!! And I got the chocolate scrub on my feet and hands.

Can't help you with the temperature because I got married in February. I'd just check the average temperatures at that time of year and go from there.

We didn't have the reception in the banquet hall, but we brought some shells and things to sprinkle on the tables, and then they had candles around the edge of the room, and fruit centerpieces. We could have paid more to upgrade to flower centerpieces but we didn't want to spend the extra money and the fruit center pieces were really nice I thought!

Fantastic, good luck!!! It will be great. The WC I had, was fantastic, and always got back to me pretty quickly, I hope you have the same experience. I was so impressed because when I showed up on my first day a few days before the wedding, I went to meet with her, and she had ALL my emails printed out, with things highlighted, so I know she was paying attention. Also, she was the one the made everything go smoothly in a Mexican resort that was NOT good at organizing for 80 people, haha. She distributed all the OOT bags personally because the receptions messed it up, she organized the mariachis when they didn't show up, and we didn't even know that happened! She sorted out the problems with the hotel dividing our guests into two hotels accidentally, she did it all, so if yours is anything like her, you have NOTHING to worry about. Good luck!

By the way, in case I never said this, fantastic photos Phili Bride!!!!! Looks like a gorgeous wedding.

I'm afraid I didn't use an outside planner, so I am not sure. But I don't think I'd recommend it because they have quite strict policies for the vendors that are not part of the hotel plan, and I don't know how an outside planner would be able to organize the hotel people. Ana did a great job for me of organizing everyone at the hotel.... I didn't have trouble getting in touch with them. Maybe try calling once just to make sure you have the address right? Good luck!

Yup, I can confirm, I had an outside photographer come in and it was absolutely fine, no issues at all.

Another bargaining chip, it's cheaper... You will spend 300? I think dollars on the ceremony in Mexico, PLUS, show him some of the threads on this forum talking about how they spent days at the Mexican consulate after getting back trying to get the paperwork over to prove they are married in America. There are plenty of examples of how annoying this is on this forum!!

For the ceremony, we actually had a friend do it for us, so we didn't have the people that work there do it, so I can't comment. As for the fact that it was a symbolic ceremony, I didn't tell anyone that either, so everyone thought it was the legal wedding, and nobody knew!! And just to reiterate what I said on the other thread, I think you'll be fine with Claudia instead of Ana...

Oh, so, I had Ana, and she was great, but Claudia was there, and a few times I couldn't reach Ana, and that was fine, Claudia was very helpful, so It hink it will be fine!

Fantastic! Looks fabulous, and like you had so much fun, and you look amazing!!!!! I'm so happy for you! Who was your photographer?

Thanks everyone, it was fantastic! My timing was ceremony at 4.30, cocktail hour from 5.00 to 6.30, Reception at 6.30, so it flowed really well! It was fantastic. but, I think just from going to weddings on my own it would be great to have a break in the afternoon. As for the palace vs colonial, I think you'd probably be fine changing. They kept moving us around between them, soI think they're really flexible! Good luck!

Is everyone staying at the Barcelo? If so, I'd say just plan something with your nearest and dearest in the afternoon but basically release everyone after the cocktail hour and return for dinner reception. I think it's too long to have everyone wait around, and since nobody has to go very far and can easily get back to rooms etc, you may as well just break and regroup in the evening, everyone may be glad for the break. Kind of two parties - one with cocktail hour and ceremony, and one with the big dinner and party, with an interval to relax in the middle! Sounds good actually!

Really Those weren't my choices at all!! We ended up with steak and lobster and some vegetarian option, and it was really good. But I didn't see any rabbit or other bunny varieties on my choices!! I can't remember what the options were now but it was nothing like that!!! So, I should think you'll be fine.

I spent about 9K with the Barcelo directly for 80 guests, the rest was photographer, dress, OOT bags, flights all that stuff that you can control. The Barcelo was VERY clear with me when we go there, and we picked extras that we didn't have to. But it was all stuff that I knew, and was VERY similar to what I calculated it being (there were slight differences and I upgraded some stuff when I got there: Again, you wouldn't have to do that!). So, I can't think of any hidden costs... And I'm SURE yours will flow perfectly. I was really worried about having a 1.5 to 2 hour cocktail hour, but we had mariachis and it ended up just being a great part of the party!

My cocktail hour was supposed to be on the beach, and they moved it onto the deck of the Captain Morgan's grill because of wind. It was private, but I have no idea if it was supposed to be or not... However, she did tell me that the reception could only be private after 7 (though that ended up being 6.30...) For the cocktail hour, I never asked, but it was private from 5 to 6.30pm on the deck of the Captain Morgan's grill.

You're probably getting married right as I type this! Congrats congrats, can't wait to hear how it went, I'm sure it was fantastic!

The ceremony was in front of Captain Morgan's bar, so it was NOT at the Palace -- on my first day, Ana showed me the possible spots around the 5 hotels, and that was the one we liked. The resort is huge if you're going from rooms to rooms in other hotels, but if you're just walking the length of the resort on the beach, it's not as big, so you can easily have your wedding on the beach by one of the other hotels. The cocktail hour was at the Captain Morgan's bar, right by the ceremony.

Hi ladies, thanks, it was wonderful!! 2009 bride -- to answer your questions: The grill restaurants are only open to 6pm, so, they just hold them open after that for you, so it is private. I'm not sure if you need a minimum number of guests for this, I doubt it, it was just one of the options for the under the stars program. As for timing, we had the ceremony on the beach at 4.00, followed by a cocktail hour directly afterwards with hors d'oeuvres. That went til 6.30, which I was worried about (it was about an hour and 45 minutes of cocktail hour), but it was actually really fun because we had mariachis at the cocktail hour, so people really enjoyed it and some even danced then! The cocktail hour and the ceremony were right next to each other, and then the reception was a few minutes walk down the beach so they all flowed nicely one into the other. For the rain venues, she will show you your options on the day you arrive. Ours was one of the theatres and it was nice I thought... Good luck, it will be wonderful!

They gave me choices as to where on the beach to have it. Most of the beach was rocky but gorgeous, so I wasn't picky, but yes, on my first day, the WC walked me around her thoughts for where to have it given the number of people. The photographer was fantastic. Her rates start somewhere around 3500 dollars I think, but it totally depends on what package you get. She has been on vacation for a while, so you might want to email her again, she's back now and catching up. I recommend the resort for all the wedding planning aspects, but they do have some issues with the general reception of the hotel. Either way, it was the perfect day for me, and I'm sure yours will be too, wherever you do it!

Hi guys, sorry, I'm just back from my honeymoon, 2 weeks in Vietnam, I had the best time!!! As for the group booking, I don't think we got a discount at all really, but it was just for my peace of mind that we got the block reservation, so we knew that the place wouldn't be booked out or anything. Also, it meant that when we got there, they knew everyone that was part of our wedding party, in order to try to put them all together, in one of the hotels, to up grade them, and to deliver welcome bags. However, none of that went smoothly anyway! So, I'd say, it's probably neither here nor there...

So, today I will receive my cleaned dress packed in a box. What do I do now? I live in a tiny flat in london, nowhere to put it, and let's be honest, i'm not going to use it again. But I do love it... Should I donate it to charity? Should I keep it? what did you guys do?