becks

Congratulations, and welcome! There's tons of info here, I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for.

Congratulations, and welcome! There's tons of info here, I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for.

Hi Neen! We priced it with the very basic package and then have tacked on everything we want. Ultimately, its saving us money even though we have a greater per person fee. But the bigger packages had too much we just didn't need or want. As for music - we're debating between a DJ and just hooking up an iPod to the sound system. There's a significant price difference ($1700 vs. $450). Personally I want a DJ, but I'm not sure its going to make much difference, so ultimately I'll let FI decide. We want to have the cocktail hour on the terrace - we're working from their asian menu (sushi, tempura, spring rolls and something else) and adding on cold seafood - shrimp and something else, plus a few other things I wanted. We're also doing the open bar which is included in the base price for the asian menu ($18 pp), with everything we added it comes to about $35 pp. The reception (dinner) we're hoping to have at L'Hermitage - we'll pare down the menu a bit to make it easier, and just go from there. We're not asking them to move furniture, change linens, make room for a musician, etc., so we'll make it as easy for them to grant this request as we can. However, if we won't have exclusive use of the restaurant, we'll do something else altogether. The food at L'Hermitage was AMAZING. We'll have the cake here too. After that, we're back to the terrace, where we'll have little dessert things, and an open bar for a couple of hours. After hours, the lobby bar is open late (at least midnight, but I think 2:00AM) and the disco is open until 2:00. The lobby bar is really pretty, the disco is nice, too, but it's enclosed and has a very subtle stale cigarette smell - of course, by then I probably wouldn't notice a cigarette right under my nose, so who cares. The sea grass isn't that big of a deal. But it bothered FI more than it did me. The water is a beautiful blue - you can totally see the depth changes as it goes from pale to deep blue. Out several hundred yards you can see the dark of the reef. It's gorgeous!

Wow Morgan! Your brochures (and everything you do) are so beautiful!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Morgan What type of flower is that? I believe those are pink frangipani. I love them!

(Part II) The hotel at night is magical - all of the walkways are marble, and are done like bridges over ponds and pools. At night they set little lanterns out on the edges of the walkways and they just glow. I tried to catch the feel of it. FI and I tried a lot of the food. Generally, it was really good. The ala carte restaurants were outstanding. The buffet was... a buffet. The pastries were out of this world. At lunch, the outdoor patio restaurant is a mob scene, and the waiters are running around all over - our food was a bit cool when it finally arrived. They offered to replace it, but we didn't want to wait. On Sunday we met with Perla to discuss specifics and possible pricing. She was actually very good about making sure that we didn't over-spend, helped us to customize a cocktail hour menu that was within budget, and helped us find places where we could save a bit by using different things. We want to have dinner in one of the restaurants, because it's going to be so warm out. In August they frequently close one due to lower occupancy, they are looking to see if they can confirm that the one we really want (the French restaurant, L'Hermitage) could be used. If not, they offered us the Mediterranean restaurant, which isn't as nice, and has a fountain-thing in the middle which would break up our group. Here's a (bad) photo of L'Hermitage: So, all in, we're figuring a wedding for 40-50 people, including the ceremony, a cocktail hour with DJ, open bar, cold seafood buffet and appetizers, dinner in the restaurants, and a 2-3 hour post-dinner party on the terrace with open bar and a DJ will run us just about $9,000. (That number doesn't include the rooms or the travel.) If we were to have dinner elsewhere, a plated meal runs $70 per person, which is one of the reasons we're so interested in the restaurants. The bad-weather locations are okay. There's an interior gazebo that we could have the ceremony, and a large porticoed area just off the conference rooms where we could have the reception if it rains. Here's the gazebo, the seats would be set up on the walkway that runs across the front (not in the photo): Also, for our welcome event, we are thinking of using the Hacienda patio, and just hiring a waiter to pop around the corner and grab drinks from the lobby bar. Then we're all going to the Mexican restaurant for dinner where they will block off a section by the windows for us. Oh, the other thing Perla did was walk us around to all the places that was really great was to wander us around and show us some of the floral arrangments they had - and what each might cost. The tables at L'Hermitage aren't big, and have really cute little tea-lamp lights, so we thought we might do something like this, which Perla tells us would be about $8 each: So, I guess that's about it. If you have any questions, let me know. And keep your fingers crossed that they come back and let us use L'Hermitage.

(Part 1) Hello Ladies: We got back on Monday night after spending the weekend at the Paradisus RM. Had a wonderful time and loved the resort. Elisa and Perla (WCs) are WONDERFUL. So, some notes and some picks. Arrived in Cancun around 11:30, grabbed a cab to the hotel - CUN airport has a sole-sourced taxi service which way overcharges. If you go, have Perla or Elisa book you a car - its about 1/2 price. Arrived at the resort - went to check in, but our room wasn't ready until about 3:30. However, the desk rang Elisa and she immediately came and spent nearly two hours with us, just showing us around and sharing anecdotes. (We had an appointment to discuss specifics with Perla on Sunday morning.) She did this despite the fact that they had a wedding that night for about 90 people. She also made sure we had reservations for dinner at the restaurants we wanted. Spent the afternoon by the main pool - it's big and lovely - but we didn't see much in the way of waiter service - we got up to get our own drinks at the bar. Not my idea of fun, but totally manageable. At 5:00 went over to the "Tequila Terrace" to see the wedding (we hid discretely in the corner). The set up is beautiful, and about as private as you could hope for - it's off to the side of the resort, beyond where sunbathers and beach chairs are. The Gazebo is stick construction, with white fabric (or in this case, white and blue, per the bride's request). There is quite a bit of sea grass that washes up from the reef offshore (you can see the dark line in the background, but a tractor comes along and rakes it up. Actually, that night the tractor didn't show, so the hotel staff raked it up so it wouldn't interfere with photos. They put a white runner down the center aisle, but guests walked on it to get to their chairs, so by the time the bride made her entrance, it was all sandy. I plan to go without. The reception is held on the terrace just above the beach: The table settings were all done by the hotel - including the really adorable shell centerpiece vases. The hotel has all of the decorations, linens, etc. on site, so if you like this, you don't have to bring a thing! The dinner tables used up most of the space on the terrace, so they did cocktails on the dance floor and on the beach. They had an open bar, as well:

They look wonderful! The colors are great and I love the watermarked flower!

Wow! Great post! I couldn't agree with you more about the powerpoint vs. word, and the PDF. And they look fantastic! I hope mine turn out as well!

I got mine from Staples - 250 sheets for $15. And its extra heavy - 110 lb or something. I'm doing everything on white, so I didn't need anything special, and it has a nice smooth finish that makes the colors I'm printing in really pop.

Hi Kate - Just checked with our recruiting people, no luck with openings for marketing in MA. Do have two in Chicago, though. I'll check with some friends and see if anyone knows of any openings!

SO happy to hear that she's changed her stance on the wedding. You'll need to help her stay strong, though. It's easy to fall back into old habits and think that it was just a one-time thing. And we're here to help if you need us.

I agree. Send them a confirmation in the form of a boarding pass or whatever. And I'd specifically point out that due to the cruise ship regulations or the room capacity or whatever, that people without boarding passes can not (or will not) be permitted to attend. People will get it.

I'm sorry you're going thru all this. Personally, I'd suggest you call her and change plans for brunch before going to David's Bridal. It's not exactly as you planned, and it would probably require MOH to leave her place earlier (so check with her first), but at least it will give you an opportunity to show your sister how important it is to you. And if she still blows you off... you have your answer as to her priorities.

I'm sorry you're bummed. But you'll see - it will all work for the best. And your stress levels will be lower and all will be fine! And we're here if you need us!

Those are really cute! Well done!

Hi Ladies: So I was talking with my mom the other day, and she mentioned that she still had her dress and veil from when she and my dad were married some 40+ years ago. She told me the story of when my sister got married and tried on my mom's dress, but it didn't fit (my mom had a 23" waist when she got married... that b**ch... just kidding... love my mommy!!!) But, she did say that the veil (or the comb) was pretty, but might be a little dated. She sent me a photo this morning. Clearly she was married in the 60s. I was thinking of going really simple - a simple veil that had a bit of piping around the edges, and some tiny flowers in my hair. But seeing mom's veil (or the comb, anyway - the veil itself would probably have to be redone), I'm wondering if I should use the flower-y part. It would be pretty neat to have my mom's veil, and I think she would be touched. That being said, it's pretty dated in appearance, and really isn't my style. So, what do you think? I figure I'm going to lose the veil shortly after the 20 minute ceremony anyway.... Alternatively, she also has three hair pins that have little rhinestone flowers on them that she's sending me - I don't have any photos, but I COVETED the hair pins as a little girl.

I love it when you find a bargain!! We want photos, ladies!!!

You guys are such an inspiration!!! I need to lose about 7 more to get to where I want to be. But it's those last few pounds that I always struggle with. I would kill for something totally not-healthy right now.

Oooh. I like having family have the rings! We aren't having a ring bearer, either... but that is a great idea.

Yay!!! Congratulations on picking a place! So exciting!

People are such twits. I mean seriously!!!! Whenever I'm at work and hear a comment that begins "I'm not a racist..." or is otherwise blatantly offensive, I just smile and say "you're okay if I quote you to HR on that, right?" Even if they think it, it shuts them up so I don't have to listen to their stupidity.

I'm so sorry. And we all sympathize and empathize. I know it's just a matter of time before someone important to me backs out. And I haven't even sent the STDs out yet. But keep your spirits up, don't let the money issue be a factor in your relationship with FI. (Yes, I think he should demand that his family repay the deposits, but don't let that be an issue between you.) Big hugs!!

We don't have a Target here in NYC, so I called mommy! She went straight out and bought me 30 copies. GO MOM! YOU ROCK!

You might try blue nile. I think their return policy is pretty good, and they have an enormous selection. So you could order it and if you don't like it, send it back.