MelanieS

and good luck with the planning.

Maura, how much do you REALLY want your sister to be you MOH? Just to keep peace in the family? Because you feel obligated? If the answers to these are yes, then ask your BF to step in. Your sister is so self-involved she probably won't even realize she's not MOH, even on the outside chance she goes to the wedding. You've learned, as Mandy did, that people will quickly say they are coming to your wedding, but when it comes to putting your money where your mouth is, they will make all kinds of flimsy excuses as to why it is more imperative for them to stay home than to attend the most important event of your life. They will carry on with their artificially busy lives, oblivous to your feelings. In the end, you will be married to a wonderful and caring man, who you have no doubt will support you in every way, and you are blessed with the gift of his family who obviously think the world of you and would do anything for you. Go forward from here, concentrate on YOU and Jose, and make these happy times.

I just checked that website and here are the rates: (There are 20 stamps per sheet) Item No. Postage Price Per Sheet 1 -1 2 -9 10 -99 100 + Postcard $0.26 15.99 13.99 11.99 Contact Us 1st Class Letter 1oz $0.42 18.99 16.99 14.99 1st Class Letter 2oz $0.59 22.99 20.99 18.99 Square/Odd-Shaped 1 oz. Letters $0.62 24.99 22.99 20.99 1st Class Letter 3oz $0.75 26.99 24.99 22.99 1st Class Letter 3.5oz $0.92 30.99 28.99 26.99 That makes a sheet of .42 stamps cost almost .95 apiece. The price goes down the more sheets you order.

What a beautiful dress, and it looks like it's a perfect fit!

Quote: Originally Posted by MrsV-to-be I was under the same impression when I first got this email - it's almost the same wording of the one I got!! the $500 fee doesn't have to do with the taxes - this is the policy in regards to the outside vendors, that they have always had in place. I know that isn't totally clear from the email - but that is what I worked out once I figured out the issue. If you already have a prior deal saying you don't have to pay this - then you don't have too. If your photographer is a Mexican Citizen - then it shouldn't be a problem - just let them they need to show their documentation proving they have government approval to be working & being paid for it. Here is the email we received: Outside photographers and videographers are not allowed on property unless pre-approved by the hotel in advance. The hotels reserve the right to deny access to the property to any unauthorized photographer or videographer. Please contact your wedding coordinator for more information on approved vendors. Outside photographers and videographer approved by the hotel will incur a $500 photo fee and a 3 night minimum stay at the hotel. El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels, by Karisma abide by all Mexican governing laws which require foreign workers to obtain proper licensing and work certificates while in Mexico doing work for themselves or on behalf of others. We reserve the right to request proof of such license and/or work certificate. If your photographer is not a Mexican Citizen, and she's receiving payment for her services, she must have a Mexican Government permission to work in this Country. If they are professional photographers (With professional equipment, lenses, tripod's etc) Karisma is charging a 500 usd fee + 3 nights stay to allow these services at the Hotel. Please let me know the name of your photographer. In case you are brining someone from Canada /US, if your photographer is a Mexican Citizen, we will request for him / her to show the Hotel their working documents is called “RFCâ€(in order to declare taxes)

I like the blue on white, and also how the cutout of the snowflake laps over the front. Very nice!

Quote: Originally Posted by hlj033 Yeah, I'm not paying that. My wedding planner here and Monica worked it out. I'm sure you can too. So you aren't paying $500 OR having them stay 3 nights?

I've seen them at Dollar Tree in this color and in pink.

Welcome, Ena! Hopefully the forum will help you decide which resort is a perfect fit for your wedding.

My son and his wife lost their home in a tornado in January. Their insurance wanted a list of everything that wasn't salvageable, receipts (which they didn't have because: 1. duh, they just had a tornado, and 2. most items were wedding presents), and an assigned value of each and every item. Food was listed as one total item, as was clothing. Alot of it was pure guesswork. Luckily, they had great insurance that has taken great care of everything. Another good idea is to backup your computer and keep the copy in a safe location.

Have fun planning; you'll find some awesome ideas here on the forum!

Welcome and congratulations! You'll have so much fun getting ideas here on the forum. Do a search for what you are interested in: Save The Dates, Out Of Town Bags, Welcome Brochures, etc.

Welcome! Good idea to research before you book your resort. Pay attention to fees charged for outside vendors as alot of resorts are now doing this. Have fun with all the planning!

Quote: Originally Posted by med32 Has anyone had a reception with over 60 people? Running into issues about locations for over this amount! Here's a possibility for you. It didn't work for us as we didn't have enough people. La Isla is not available for a private reception, since it can only be private if you have a 70 people wedding group.

Bless your heart, what a boatload of stress. There really is no excuse that your mom could give that would even be adequate. My only thinking is, at least she told you 3 weeks before the wedding rather than 3 days. Your sister deserves a great big hug.

Very nice job. I bet you had a fun time with all the sand!

Wow, Jean-Marcus, you really are super-megacool!

I love your candles - where did you get them?

Quote: Originally Posted by ctpetch I was also just told I had to pay a 2 night stay along with the $500. I got my TA involved and fought it. They should go by the policy when you are confirmed with your wedding. Not change the quotes as we are doing all our arrangements at the end. I'm paying the $500 and that is it. I would fight it. My TA also got the owner involved and is suppose to talk with the owner of Karisma resorts and the EDR about these ridiculous fees to bring in an outside photographer. What is boils down to is they want us to use their photographer that isn't very good. The owner of TA is well known to the resort and they sent over 1 million dollars in business there. They were also named one of the top TA with Karisma resorts. So hopefully we should get somewhere with this. The owner of Berman travel does not agree with this & says they need to know this when booking other brides wedding destinations there. It is a big factor when planning and expense. I also received email from Cancun Studios who is doing my phots and told me we can report this to Mexican govt. kinda like our BBB that they are doing unfair charges which limits outside vendors. Anyone interested in the info let me know and I can forward you the email. It may help with some of you that are paying more than the $500 also future brides we can help out. So you just received an email that said 2 nights plus $500?? Why the change in number of nights required all of a sudden? Did you receive it from Valeria or Monica, and can you please post it?

Quote: Originally Posted by MrsV-to-be you know what is funny? They didn't have a problem with it!! I was originally planning on just going to her on the wedding day, so for the heck of it I told Valeria I wanted her to come to the resort to do my hair, just to see what she said. and no questions asked - I just have to pay the day pass, but only the wedding guest day pass. weird hey? That just proves it is not a "Vendor" issue or something to do with paying the proper taxes. They just know where they can hit brides for extra money and they can't do much about it.

Ana, I just received your email. Thanks so much for sharing.

Thanks for sharing these great tips.

Quote: Originally Posted by MrsV-to-be I agree, that is unbelievable that Monica is still demanding the $500!! Also, I decided to have someone come in to do my hair. She is from Playa, and was recommended by another BDW bride: PDCwedding. I'm going to meet her in Playa for a hair trial, and then she is coming to the resort on the day of. Since there is no way to meet your destination wedding hairdresser beforehand, I just felt more comfortable going on a personal recomendation. Also, my FI doesn't like alot of makeup - so I'm just going to do my own I bet if they found out you were bringing in an "outside hairdresser" they would try to charge another $500!