Adamsgrrl

Sooo pretty!! I'm gonna have to steal that idea from you (Sorry)!

Yea another Chicagoan... Welcome! I think we're now a majority! My FI and I are thinking of getting married in the Rivieria Maya so let me know how I can help!

WOW.... Magsie.. I'm assuming your prices are for 7 nights land only What exactly are you quoting.... because the Moon Palace and Aventura quoted me land only (group rate of 10 rooms) at $130 per person based on double occupancy. Grand Bahia Prinicpe should not be in the expensive category. Per my Experience: Riu Tequila -- Old Riu Lupita -- Old Gran Bahia Principe Tulum -- Okay Paradisus -- Yes!! nice. Moon Palace & Aventura -- more affordable than you think Best bet to compare "niceness" of the hotels is to go to applevacations.com and compare the apple ratings of the hotels. They are by far your best bet for honest interpetation. I am happy to share any info and/or pictures as well as the email contacts for the group rates directly to the hotels. Because at my initial glance these rates seem a bit outrageous for some hotels.

We've been to the Riu Ochos Rios when it opened up last year. I liked it because it was brand new and really clean, all marble, etc. The rooms were really nice as well. The Riu was next to the sandals which looked old.... I've never stayed at a sandals before because I've heard some of them are nice and others are not plus, I don't really like staying at an older hotel. One warning -- DO NOT drink the beer in Jamacia (Red Stripe is okay). But there's some sort of other Jamacian brand beer (brown label i think) that my FI drank and got really sick.... i mean like 4 IV's in his arm sick. He drank the beer and like a half an hour later he felt ill so we suspect it was because the beer was unpasturized. Oh that reminds me another good thing about the RIU is that they have a doctor on staff 24/7.

We're looking at the Paradisus Palma Real. The hotel looks stunning!! You can get a suite with a private pool and butler service... fancy. The prices are really reasonable, I think. Has anyone stayed at this hotel?? Dominican Republic Resort - Paradisus Palma Real - All Inclusive Beach Resort

I love the first picture!! so pretty especially with the broach. I also always wear my hair down becasue my FI likes it that way.... long and straight. when I go to the salon, hes always like.. okay so your gonna get a trim right? or my favorite, "you should grow your hair longer?" Longer?? its already past way past my sholders... I don't think he comprehends how long it takes to wash, blow dry, straightend.. etc. but, he actually suggested that I have my hair up for the wedding, go figure. I think I might put some flowers in my hair that macth his boutennire. We'll see.

I didn't mean to freak you out. You can "buy" witnesses at the hotel, if you don't mind having the staff present at your wedding and signing the documents. It's about $20 per person.

Riu Brides, I found this forum that's all about the different Riu's. Some wedding pictures from brides at the various Rius and a ton of information from Riu lovers. Hope this helps! ALL RIU RESORT Pictures, photos, information, virtual tours, maps, map, info, resort, puerto plata, punta cana, dominican republic, hotel, merengue, bachata, mambo, naiboa, taino, melao, bambu, palace macao, yucatan, picture, photo, tour, playacar, p

Jules -- Thanks for the pictures! Looks like a fun wedding. I was thinking of doing our wedding in the DR (RM or Negril), I still haven't narrowed it down really. I think I'm going to make my decision based upon the hotel and what it has to offer in terms of wedding. Did you like the accomidations at the Sunscape? The food? Whats your review on the hotel compared to others you stayed in? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Monika

I love the Dominican Republic.... we stayed at the Bahia while we were there. Its nice, but not too fancy. If you want pictures let me know. The only thing you need to keep in mind is the airport, its literally a hut. So when you fly in you taxi on the runway and go down a steep ramp of stairs upon which they herd you into buses (little to no seats) to get to the main entrace of the hut. So if you have any elderly people traveling or in a wheelchair its not the most comfortable airport. We were going to do our wedding there (still debating) but my FI's sister is in a wheelchair so I'm not sure if they have a procedure to accomidate her.

Jennifer, I have some pics from the hotel photographer at Riu Palace Riviera Maya if your interested from 2 brides. No photos from the Riu Palace Las Americas though. But, I've been to 2 Riu's on vacation (Ocho's Rios and PV), they all basically look the same, with the exception of the beach of course. You can pm me if you want me to send the links to you. ~ Monika

Haven't gotten it yet. But, I've already pretty much made up my mind. I've already tried on the ring at a jewerly store and like the way it looked. However, I am worried about how delicate the stones are and how much activity I can do with it on. For example, I type a lot for work/school so I don't know if me banging on the ring will make the stones lose....I doubt it but, I haven't really asked anyone yet. The good thing about BN is that they price the ring based on the size of your finger, so you don't have to worry about resizing the ring and losing the stones in the process. I will let you know more info once I get it/find out.

I think I already responded in the band thread, but I'm doing a round eternity ring from BlueNile. Not nervous at all about ordering from them. When we first started shopping for rings every jewerly store we went into they kept asking us....."So,um have you done any research online??" meaning yea have you seen what ridiculous prices we charge compared to BN. Some wholesalers will even use BN prices as a guide to charge their customers becasue they know they can't compete. I recommend them highly!!

Ann -- In chicago, Go to Jewelers Row, its on Wabash. There's basically a strip of wholesale jewelers on Wabash. Bellow is the link for the map. where is jewelers row loc: Chicago, IL - Google Maps They all set their prices based on BlueNile, so come armed with some info and they will macth the prices and even try to do better. I vote for #2 very pretty. I also have an asscher cut ring, but mines solitare. I already decided to get a enternity ring with round diamonds to swicth things up a bit. Platinum Diamond Eternity Band (2 ct. tw.) Sorry, I don't know how to make nice links.

Its so nice to hear everyones ring stories, before I got engaged I was obsessed with ring shopping. Now my obsession turned to the wedding. Anyway, mines an Asscher cutt from BlueNile. I basically picked it out and told him that's what I wanted (I know its not that romantic, but I figured this was something I would have for the rest of my life and I didn't want to send him off into the dark or have him stress about it). So if it works, attached is a picture of my ring.

Lenita -- Wow, its such a small world. I'm debating between Major in Finance or Strategy Execution and Valuation. I don't have to declare until next trimester. I just started last trimester, so I will be done by fall of next year. My background is in Financial Advisory Services (or basically Litigation Consulting). I'm assuming your in marketing. Are you full time or part time? When did you start? This full time thing is kicking my butt, guess I got lazy over time. And if your part time I can't even imagine having to go from work to night class!

I agree.... to get legally married in Mexico you need to arrive 3 days prior to the wedding date. The day of travel does not count. So you should be fine.

I was also looking into her.... the wedding package she sent me is a bit different than what Ann was showing us. In my package for Riviera Maya option 3 was $4,500 but did not include the 500 4X6 pics like in Anns document. The 500 pics would be an additional $750.... So, basically she is charging me $5,250 for the package she quoted Ann for $4,750. I will email her with this discrepancy and see what she says..... Makes me almost not want to use her. I'll keep you posted.

LOL ... thats too funny. We'll its been really nice talking to you... I better get some studying done for my class tonight (I'm in the MBA program at DePaul downtown chicago). Eversince I got engaged... i've been seriously slacking..... I can't help myself this wedding stuff is soo addictive! Hopefully, I talked to you soon. Have a good one!

Ohh so you know what I'm talking about. I hope you didn't get the theater in the back that's on the second floor.....its like sitting in a box.... its so Closter phobic. If you ever go again, avoid that theater.

You all probably looked at theknot.com site.... but just in case, they have some quite customized tanks and tees (the ones with rinestones are my favorite!). It can be a bit pricy if you have a large party though. But, hope it helps. Cheap Wedding Favors - Cheap Personalized Wedding Favors - Cheap Wedding Favor Ideas

Sounds good to me.... yea I don't quite understand why no one leaves. It's not like it a happening place (its a dry town... Woo Hoo so much fun!). Hey don't feel bad if you end up living here, you can always catch the early bird specials!

Being that I was a freshman when he was a senior... I was too young to meet him. And I'm the only child so our families proably never met. Its still funny though.

Thanks for the welcome. I will email Leigh. Its such a small world, my fiancee and I both went to Maine South, I graduated in 2000 and he graduated in 2001. (I'm robbing the craddle...by about 2 months... lol). I will definatly let you all know what I'm planning to wear.... although I have to get in shape first. Sad, I was so good in college... oh well.

Hello girls, I'm new to this post.... I live in the northwest suburbs (park ridge) of Chicago. I would be interested in doing this.... that is if none of you object or whatever, I don't know how close you guys are. I don't want to intrude. I saw Leighs work and its amazing! So, I couldn't resist asking. Monika : )