nylalany

I did this for my STD (tho it was an e-STD) and was thinking of using one of the photos I took for that to silkscreen on OOT bags and to put at the top of my programs - but this is a great idea for continuing with that theme! Thanks!

where did you get your flower girl's dress?

Al Cielo will be open until the end of 2008! The lease was extended through December. So maybe you should go with that option and pick a hotel for everyone to stay at elsewhere? The WC, Donaji is really sweet. My guests are all staying at a mega-resort - Grand Riviera Maya Princess / Grand Sunset Princess b/c the rates were so low it was too hard to pass up and b/c I have so many, it made it easier (expecting btwn 80 and 110 at this point). And it seems nice and got good food reviews. But there are other cuter options... Another option, though further away, is Ana y Jose beach club. It is really nice, but just far away - in rustic Tulum. I think Shangri La is planning on reopening down there someday in the future. I didn't want to wait that long though. There is also a place called Tres Rios that seems kinda cool and naturey that is opening this summer I think. And lastly, there is a place called Petite Lafitte which includes breakfast and dinner I think, but is not AI, and I believe they do weddings. It was too small for my group sadly, but it is cute and not mega if that is what you're going for.

Vaughan Long, Thank you for checking that for me! I'm am excited about Al Cielo, but the WC there is just one person with a set list of options and although she is open to suggestions, I am having to do some research. I appreciate your help!

I was told by both properties directly that they are closing at the beginning of April '08, which sucked for me b/c I am getting married in May '08 and they were both at the top of my list. Oh well!

I'm using a TA for the first time and it hasn't been as easy as I thought it would be. She said the group room rates at the resort weren't as cheap as the rates she's finding from suppliers (or maybe she claimed unless everyone is coming the same days, she couldn't do a group room rate?), so she is doing individual bookings for my guests. However, since she has to do each individually, it takes a while for her to email or call my guests back with quotes, and then more time to actual do the bookings. Since none of my guests (and I'm talking about 70-100 guests) are used to using a travel agent (we mostly book online), this delay is difficult for many of them to understand, especially since the delay can often be up to a week. Additionally, she talked me out of doing a group air rate since she felt it would be cheaper and easier for guests to do it individually, but then people have been asking about this because rates for airlines have already gone up since I originally sent out my STD (nobody called her right away unfortunately). AND because of the individual bookings, some of my guests are getting to the resort before I am getting there. Finally, for my own booking, she told me there are no direct flights on a certain day and then I found out there were, after the booking a longer stay. Now if I want to change there is a big penalty. I also do not have any physical form of confirmation, and I looked up my flight online on my airline's website and there is no record of it. So since I'm used to doing my own travel research (I actualy pointed her towards the lowest rates for the resort that I found online and she got her supplier to match it), and since I'm still trying to keep my guests organized b/c I feel like she isn't and because they keep wanting to book everything online, and b/c of the delay in getting stuff done compared with what I'm used to, this isn't what I expected. I'm not sure if my travel agent just can't handle things or if my expectations are too high? She also is unable to reach the hotel (Grand Riviera Maya Princess / Sunset Princess) to find out if I can have a rehearsal /welcome dinner there, althouh to be fair, I haven't been able to either. Other TAs I spoke to prior to her seemed to be more with it, but I don't know if they were over-promising, and she came recommended. Sorry to vent, but I'm getting a little worried.

It isn't for my bouquet - it is for the centerpieces - I like the orchid centerpieces she offered, but not with white orchids... Thanks for the list tho!

Anyone know if you can find red orchids in the Riviera Maya area? My WC said they only come in white or pink, but there are a zillion varieties of orchids, many of the red, so I wonder if I can help her find red ones for me... If not, does anyone have other red flower suggestions? Thanks!

Anyone know if you can find red orchids in the Riviera Maya area? My WC said they only come in white or pink, but there are a zillion varieties of orchids, many of the red, so I wonder if I can help her find red ones for me... If not, does anyone have other red flower suggestions? Thanks!

Yes, I have an HD tv and HD dvd player. I will try PMing him.

We are staying in Riviera Maya for a week - arriving on Thursday, wedding on Sunday, staying thru Thurs, which I think might have been too long? Then hoping to go for a honeymoon with surfing somewhere, but not sure if my FI can get enough time off work yet - so either Costa Rica, Cabo, or Fiji (my preference). Other suggestions are welcome! Although we love Hawaii, we've both been there a bunch of times. Hopefully he'll find out soon and I can find some sort of deal...

Well I also wrote Mike/Miguel Cantarell through his site 2x but have yet to hear back from him. Paul from playaweddings suggested writing Miguel. Mike - if you read this - please let me know if you got an email inquiry re: May 4, 2008 and write me back, thanks!

Let me know if you find out anything b/c they aren't responding to me either and we're already booked there! I want to have a welcome/rehearsal dinner there for 70-100 guests and you would think they'd respond, but no!

I was told that it is tacky to have more than 3, but I'm struggling on this because I may go for this offbeat china that is not at any of the normal stores. So I'd maybe have William Sonoma, Amazon, lille: a shop, and then I'd have to choose silverware or glassware from WS, and I wouldn't get to register for platters or towels or any of that type of stuff that you would get at C&B, Macys, or Pottery Barn...

Paul is getting married on the same day as me, which is why I'm searching for someone else good. I'm kinda picky since I have film and editing experience myself and I edited my sister's wedding video. I also wanted to know what other brides' videography budget looks like. I found one woman from LA that I can fly out with 2 HD cameras, wireless mics, 3 copies of edited dvd, and raw footage for $3000 + $1000 travel expenses, which seems a bit on the high side - but since my friend shot my sister's wedding video (she borrowed a good camera from work), I don't have a ton of perspective.

#1 is definitely more flattering on you

Christine - I'm 5'3" and my FI is 6'6" too! I'm hoping the kids will be somewhere in btwn if I'm lucky enough to get pregnant! The styles I'm looking at are: Melissa Sweet - MS102 - in Ruby, perhaps with a flower, but no contrast detailing Wedding Gown Style MS102 Tank style dress with cross over bodice in Silk Crinkle with below the knee length skirt. Available in Atlantis, Coco, Green Tea, Jet, Linen, Ocean, Orchid, Olive, Plum, Ruby, Sangria and Shadow. | Melissa Sweet OR Vineyard Colletction - 1211 - in Kensington Red Style 1211 Bridal Gown | Vineyard

If you are using a videographer, are you flying the videographer down or hiring him/her from the area. any recommendations? I'm trying to figure out pricing too, so knowing what people are paying for videography would be super helpful. Thanks!

Has anyone of you had a pregnant bridesmaid? Mine will be about 5 months at the time of my wedding, and we're not sure whether she should just order a big size of the bridesmaid dress I end up choosing or if she should order a special maternity bridesmaid dress (which the 2 dress lines I'm looking at don't make, so the color would be different most likely).

I've read that it is not proper to put wording of wedding attire on the invitation unless it is black tie or black tie optional. So I'm trying to decide whether to put it on my insert or to just put it on my website, or maybe neither. Mostly, I'm having trouble with coming up with the right phrase. My wedding is on the sand on the beach, and the place just has a palapa and I'm renting a dance floor (which willl be placed on the sand), but I want an elegant beach wedding - like how people get dressed up on the beach in movies in Havana or Miami or wherever... Was thinking "Tropical Cocktail Attire, jackets & ties optional" -- to encourage women to wear warm weather cocktail dresses and men to wear linen or lightweight suits if they have them, and otherwise to just come dressed nicely in a dressy shirt and pants, without being too hot or uncomfortable. But then I'm wondering if I should just skip putting anything, and if people will just assume they should dress like they would for a summer wedding? I don't want people to come too dressed up and then be hot and uncomfortable, but I don't want it to be just sundresses and polo shirts either...Should I skip putting something on the insert and just write some dressing advice on my wedding event webpage?

oh right - i forgot about the wedding bands, ha! NOT DONE!

LALA where are your bridesmaid dresses from? I like the red!

Ok so we all fall into overachievers and underachievers? I didn't pick my place and set my date until mid-December, so I'm pretty behind for my May 4 date! I'm sending approximately 150 invites and am expecting approximately 100 guests to come (if more come, it should get interesting as our site is pretty small!) done: deposit on site (Al Cielo) booked our trip (Grand Riviera Maya / Sunset Princess) photographer (Elizabeth Medina) picked out dinner menu (at Al Cielo) trio (thru Al Cielo) cake (thru Al Cielo) sent e-SaveTheDates made website (so people would book Princess thru our TA) ordered dress (Cymbeline, due in early April) figured out bridal party (pretty much, as of today) not done: order invites (hopefully done with this on Monday) make invites (components coming late January, I'm stupid and picked complicated design) send invites REGISTER - Ugh this is my weekend project, in addition to finding all the addresses for invites videographer (Paul Schrank at playaweddings if he writes back?) FI still has to finish asking his groomsmen to do the honor pick out what groom & groomsmen will wear- need help for beach chic/elegant - linen suit with no tie? groom looks bad in white... pick bridesmaid dresses (want red knee length and fun, not too bridesmaidy and not too casual, but everything in red looks cheesy sadly) find officiant (family or friend or very liberal rabbi since my FI is not Jewish) pick flowers pick canapes for cocktail hour pick centerpieces (why do they only have white orchids in Mexico? I want red!) pick music for DJ find mp3 to see if trio can play our wedding song PLAN REHEARSAL DINNER (stupid resort isn't getting back to me) and send additional invites or evite to this. plan extra activity possibly - Hidden Worlds? for people who stay longer find shoes and veil? and figure out what to do with my hair find hairstylist and makeup person in Riviera Maya and figure out where to get ready - resort or site order OOT totes find silkscreener or whatever to personalize the totes figure out what to put in the totes make welcome letter for totes (anyone know where to get cane or rattan or bamboo like paper?) make placecards (donations to Heal the Bay or Surfrider) make programs order fans for guests at wedding buy bridesmaid & groomsmen gifts probably forgetting a lot but as you see, I can make you feel all more accomplished and prepared in comparison, right?

Did your guests comment on the invites in the boxes? I'm worried I'm going to spend 12 hours trying to put all the layers together and all the extra postage and everything and my FI is like, nobody saves invitations anyway, why do you care (I save them ha!), and my sis is like, shouldn't you spend the money on wedding stuff at the wedding instead, etc. (I have to send 150 invites)

OOH - please tell me where you are getting your flip flops and parasols since you seem so prepared - I only sent my STD 2 weeks ago - so few rsvps yet. Just ordering my real invites now. The Thai Beach Restaurant is the pay restaurant (not included) that is beachfront at the Princess resort. Do you have a name for the male contact? Was it over email? I was originally communicating with Damarys, but well, no longer it seems!