SunBride

Quote: Originally Posted by violetvixen thanks amyandrich, for answering my question. on another note, I'm having a minor freakout about photography. We've asked a dear friend/ impressive amateur photographer to shoot our wedding, and offered to pay her travel expenses as compensation for her services. She initially agreed, but now may be unable to attend due to some unexpected medical issues. I emailed for quotes from some of the professionals that others on this board have used, and I just don't think we have the budget for it. However, I'm afraid to rely on the resort photographer (which is included in our wedding package) as I've heard extremely mixed reviews. Do any already-marrieds have images from the resort photographer that they can share? Or any feedback about using this service? Thanks in advance! There is a 3rd option you haven't mentioned which is using a local photographer from off-resort, this will likely fall in between the cost of the resort photographer and flying one in (in general, although there are a few very expensive local photographers). My personal favorites are Claudia Photo and Moments That Matter. However there are a ton more that are cheaper. The two most popular high end ones are Del Sol and Elizabeth Medina although they will cost you more than the average cost to fly in a photographer. Check out the rest of the Riviera Maya sub-forum (both the general sub-sub section and the vendor sub-sub section) and you will find tons of threads about local photographers.

welcome angel, are you getting married at Dreams Tulum or still deciding? I've never heard of those so I have no ideas, you should ask the coordinators. There is one bride that I can think of who got married in the ballroom. It was about a year ago. I'll go check the detailed bride list on page 1. I know she posted a review and pictures. EDIT: It was Chibi411. Her review is linked here and it has pictures. Make sure to read all 3 pages because there is more info on the subsequent pages http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t23169

They have enough white tulle but no color tulle. They have enough for their regular set-up, but I'm not 100% sure if they have enough for a different set-up. For my set-up (look at page 1 near the bottom of the page) they had enough of the white and I brought the turquoise. But that was a year and a half ago, who knows what the situation is like now. It's probably best to ask to be sure (seeing as tulle is something that needs to be replaced regularly if used often).

Last one!!!

I figure at this point I might as well save the whole page in case we eventually need more space...

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JennyJean's cake SBlake's cake Can't wait's cake Wahmsuzanne’s cake RachelAnnMartin’s cake

RachelAnnMartin’s Flowers Gimlori’s Bouquet

Sblake's bouquet Denise L's flowers Dreams425’s flowers Blkatz’ Flowers Amy706’s Flowers Ida’s Flowers

Sblake’s set up Wahmsuzanne’s set-up RachelAnnMartin’s table Ida’s reception U shape table set-up (bride unknown)

example of table set-up Neen's set-up at Seaside Grill Neen's tables JeninVirginia's set-up StarlitK reception by the adult pool Can't Wait reception at Seaside grill SunBride's table set-up (seaside grill, we were only 10 people total so one big table, not private event)

(saving space for more later)

Okay since somebody was asking for inspiration pics of different set-ups of the DT gazebo, I thought I would post a collection of pics here from past DT brides. I can't post more than 10 pictures per post and page 2 is full so I will put everything here, and post a link in the front of the thread to come to page 260 (it's page 260 assuming you have 10 posts per page chosen for your display settings). ***If you had a unique gazebo set-up, or if you have good pictures of your reception set-up, cake, flowers, etc please let me know so I can post them here! Sometimes people post their pics as a slideshow and I can't right-click and save the pics, so I need you to email them to me in that case so I can post them in the thread. Set-up with tulle: JeninVirginia's set-up: Set-up with hanging flowers MonicaBrandon's set-up RachelAnnMartin's set-up Gimlori Gazebo :

wow, I was just rereading my last post and can't believe I spent tulle "tool"

Quote: Originally Posted by clinicalgal Hi Ladies!! Day before the wedding question here: 1. Are you allowed to rehearse in the location where your ceremony will take place? 2. What do we do about a rehearsal dinner? Do we have to pay per person as we do for the wedding reception or can we just go with the group to dinner after having a rehearsal? Yes you can have a rehearsal, talk to the coordinator, it will obviously have to be scheduled around whatever other weddings are taking place. For the rehersal dinner, it's the same policies as the wedding dinner (although you don't get the first 20 people free like with the wedding package, well, unless you awnt to pay for that package twice!) So you can eat with a large group for free in the buffet and they will put you off to the side. Or you can go to any restaurant with a group of 10 or less and eat for free. If you are a group of 10 or more and you go to an a-la-carte restaurant you have to pay 20$ per person as a group fee. Quote: Originally Posted by jeni is there one place to view gazebo/arbor ideas. I know it's a huge dilemma for people because they have that standard way they do it (wrapped tightly around the poles) which i personally don't find attractive i'd like to take advantage of the wind! We're doing pink and green parasols & handfans and large white parasol for us, and the same colors for chair wraps (only 6 chairs) Maybe the same green pink and white on the arbor. would love to see some photos of what other people did:) Thanks Look at all the past brides' pictures, many of them have done different stuff with tool on the gazebo.

Quote: Originally Posted by angruck hi everyone, i have a question about walking down the aisle music---do you play a full song and have the bridesmaids go down first and you come at a climax part? Or do you just burn part of a song onto a CD and give it to the hotel to play right when you come down the aisle? I think people do it different ways. I had canon in D (provided by the resort) and we all walked down the aisle to it. Some other people choose to have a different song for the bride. If your song isn't finished by the time your (or the bridesmaids if you want a different song for you) are done walking down the aisle they will just fade out the music. I think it would be hard to time the bride's entrance to a particular part in the song since it's hard to know how long it will take to walk down the aisle, you'd have to practice it with your bridesmaids in advance when you get there.

Quote: Originally Posted by sdtooley I am back from my wedding and honeymoon and will start working on my review soon, I promise. But in the meantime I wanted to give you all the link to the pictures that we have so far from the week of the wedding. We created a site on shutterfly.com yesterday so people from our wedding can upload their pictures, download pictures they want, and order prints that they want. There is an album on the site that is rehearsal dinner pictures that the photographer from the resort took. I must admit we hired an outside photographer (Claudia Rodriguez) for the wedding because we didnt know just how good the resort photographer would be but let me just say... WE WERE AMAZED by the pictures that we got from the resort photographer for the rehearsal dinner. All of the pictures on the site are just regulalr colored ones but he did an amazing job of changing some of the pictures to black and white and sepia tone and he printed those for an album that we got. I hope that you enjoy looking at them and as soon as I get pictures from Claudia Rodriguez I will post those. Here is the link: http://michaelandshannonpageswedding.shutterfly.com/ awesome pictures! It's more a casual photoshoot then rehersal dinner (i.e. no pictures of the dinner or associated activities) but I love it and this will be a beautiful supplement to your wedding photos. I so wish we had done a casual photoshoot on the resort with our photographer.

wow, we have a ton of new brides, welcome to everyone!

Quote: Originally Posted by northernflasher Excited to see a fellow "chapel" girl, we dont get many of us on here.... As for your idea about the trio If I were you I'd double check the timings with your W.C before you make a decision. Its my understanding that you usually only get them to play for one set of 45mins - 1 hour so if they started to play in the chapel im not sure if they would then come back later to play the cocktail hour unless you paid a seperate fee. Also perhaps they would start timing their set from when they start to play in the chapel so you would then not get the full set for your cocktail hour? Just a thought, maybe some past brides can give more specific info. Since the ceremony runs a little less than 30 minutes, I would say that you would have them for the ceremony and then maybe 15 minutes afterwards, for the start of your cocktail hour. Unless you pay more to extend the time.

Quote: Originally Posted by jerzygirl85 I am also considering using the guitarist or violinst for the ceremony, but I don't know if either will be heard over the sound of the ocean and wind. I don't think this would be an issue. Teh waves and wind drown out the sound of a voice, but the instruments are much lounder than a voice. I think either of these would be beautiful for the ceremony if you have the budget.

Okay ladies, I finally got around to updating the thread but I only got so far as updating the bride list (including links to review and detailed information) as I hadn't done it in 3 months (yikes!) and that alone took me an hour or more. So I will have to save updating page 1 with the info from the new Wedding Guide for another day. All new brides who sent me their info should now be listed, if you are not listed send me your info! (you can just reply in this thread and don't worry, I will see it, even if I don't reply I will save the info for next time I update it). Quote: Originally Posted by jmb0902 Yes, but I am no SunBride!!! Haha

Quote: Originally Posted by jmb0902 Hey Carmen! What DJ did you end up hiring? I feel like I am so behind and our day is so soon!!! I organized my whole wedding in less 3 than months so not to worry, you're not behind

awesome video, looks like your TTD was lots of fun!

Quote: Originally Posted by northernflasher Another major headache Im having is set up fee's for a private reception. The new wedding guide now states $750 set up fee inside or out. I knew this always applied to the seaside grill but are they really going to charge me $750 to set up a table for 13 on the beach or by the pool. I am pretty sure nobody has ever paid the 750$ fee for set-up on the beach or the pool. Of all the reviews I read, and the many many times people have asked this exact question, everyone has said the fee is only for a private event in a restaurant. Quote: Originally Posted by jmb0902 SO I am still confused-- you don't have to do the Silver menus for $55 a person? What is the $20 per person options? I don't see them in my wedding packet that was sent (the pdf file). Quote: Originally Posted by paradise wedding 09 I was just wondering if this applies to any package or for the free package only? I was under the assumption that you paid for only the people above the first 20 with the dreams of love package No matter what package you use, you can always choose from the following dinners 20$ - regular restaurant menu 55$ - silver menu 65$ - gold menu Depending on what package you choose, the silver or gold menu would be included for the first 20 people, and then you paid the extra fee for the additional people. If you don't want to pay 55$ or 65$ for all the additional people, then just choose something off the regualar restaurant menu and you only have to pay the 20$ Here is how I explained it on page 1 if this helps: 6) RECEPTION (6.1) Groups policies & costs Dreams Tulum defines a “group†as being more than 10 people. Group dinner policies and extra charges apply for any event (wedding, welcome dinner, etc). If your group is 10 or less people, none of the below apply as these are policies for groups only. So you can eat in any restaurant, using the regular menu, for no extra fee. They will set-up a nice table for your group to be together. Any group event will have a service charge of 20$ (18$ in 2007-08 ) per person for the regular restaurant menu. The service charge is to cover to extra service required to serve a large group. If a menu special is desired, the cost is 55$ for the silver menu (45$ in 2007-08 ) or 65$ for the gold menu (55$ in 2007-08 ). Lobster menu is 25$ in addition to the dinner charge (I assume they mean the service charge of 20$ per person. For all group events, the official policy is that the menu must be chosen in advance and must be the same for everyone (i.e. one menu item only). Exceptions will be made for vegetarians and children. Some brides have reported being allowed to give their guests 2 choices. Wedding in paradise package does not include dinner officially (i.e. not listed in package) but they will set up a special large table for a group of 10 or less (because less than 10 is not officially a “groupâ€) and you can eat off the regular menu for free. If you have more than 10, you pay 20$ per person only for the extra people (i.e. if you have 15 people, you pay for the extra 5 people not for the first 10). BUT if you want to upgrade to silver or gold menu, you pay 55$ or 65$ for every single person, including the first 10. Dreams of love package includes silver dinner for 20 people. Each person above 20 will 55$ for the silver menu (i.e. if you have 25 people, you only pay 55$ for 5 people, not all 25). If you find this too expensive, you could forgo the silver menu and just use the normal menu for 20$ (the first 20 will still be free, so in this case with an example of 25 people, you pay 20$ for 5 people, not all 25). Ultimate Wedding package includes gold dinner for 20 people. Each person above 20 will be subject to a charge of 65$ for the gold menu (i.e. if you have 25 people, you pay 65$ per person for 5 people, not all 25). If you find this too expensive, you could forgo the gold menu and choose the silver menu (55$) or normal menu (20$) and just pay those fees for each person above 20 people (the first 20 are always free). Quote: Originally Posted by lolosmama I think I emailed with of the the WCs about this OK, found it. From Landy: IN RELATION WITH YOUR QUESTION PLEASE CHECK MY ANSWER Advise if pricing is correct (10 ppl free, $20/person for additional 20-30 guests)? NO, THE 20 USD PER PERSON PLUS SERVICE AND TAX, WOULD BE FOR EACH PEOPLE I have never heard before of having to pay the 20$ for the first 10 people. However, when I ask past brides for detailed cost breakdowns of all their additional costs, I often don't get very detailed information (for their list, or in their review) so it's hard to know for sure. Personally we were only 10 exactly so we didn't have to pay. I assumed that if we were 11 we only would have paid for 1 person (as I explained above). I think you pay for everyone only if it's not your wedding reception, i.e. for your welcome dinner or whatever other event. But for your reception the first 10 are free with Wedding in Paradise and your first 20 free with Dreams of Love or Ultimate.

I received over 2000 photos on discs but my photographer only deleted the really bad ones (i.e. eyes closed) and gave me all the rest, which included a lot of repeats of the same shot , as well as several hundred black and white or other color editing versions of the same pictures, so I probably had closer to 1000 unique photos. Many photographers will only give you one version of each photo (i.e. each "pose") so that you only have the best one, and so that all the images you receive are unique. Different photographers have different editing styles. This inluded wedding, TTD and vacation photos. I think 400 sounds a bit low, even if the photographer does provide only a limited amount of photos, you should still have gotten more like 500-800 photos considering the number of events and that there were 2 photographers. But what concerns me more is that you don't like almost half of them. Likely the photos you are thinking about, which you didn't get, probably didn't turn out well. I would just talk to the photographer, let them you know you thought you were getting a larger number of pictures, and you want to know what happened to the other photos you remember them taking. No need to get mad or be rude to them, just keep the questions simple like that and see what they say.