kimkeathley

hi Girls! I don't have too long to write, but I will try to do a recap of our FABULOUS wedding soon! We were married June 21, and truly, there is NOT A THING I would change!! We had 60 guests, and everyone had a fantastic time. You know how they say "expect something to go wrong with your wedding?"... well, NOTHING went wrong!! I have some pictures, but can't seem to attach them (too big!!) ... but I must say I am SO GLAD I went with the Paradisus!! I didn't even do a site visit... and we were sooo pleased. Perla was AMAZING to work with, and she made all of our dreams a reality!! We didn't even use a TA... I just called/ emailed with Ana (group reservation manager at the paradisus) and got a good rate ($140pp/ night, based on double occ. for the garden view suite) and then we arranged for transportation to/from the airport (Cancun Valet... can't say enough good things about them, either!!) If everyone is coming in around the same time, it's great, because the charge per shuttle, not per person... so it's the same rate if 1 person or 15 people are on the shuttle. Feel free to PM me or email me ([email protected]) if you have any questions or if I can help with anything at all!! Congrats on your upcoming wedding, and most of all HAVE FUN!! Kim Oh, and Finally, if you need a wedding photographer, JOE COGLIANDRO is the BEST!!! I can't say enough good things about him. A-MA-ZING!!! Houston Wedding Photography | Destination Wedding Photography | International Award Winning Photographers | J Cogliandro Photographers

LeShay, and EVERYONE!! I haven't been posting much, but rest assured, I have been reading my "email updates" to see what's going on... I have certainly been a "lurker" and I cannot thank you all enough!! We are getting married TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY!! We leave on Tuesday, the 17th... I cannot wait! LeShay, your posts have totally put my mind at ease... I am so excited to go to the resort and have the wedding of my dreams! I will do my best to post a re-cap, but I am sure I will not do 1/2 the job that LeShay did in summarizing! (BTW, I would love to see that binder!) You are all great... happy plannning, happy wedding, and happy marriage to you all!! Kim

LeShay, and EVERYONE!! I haven't been posting much, but rest assured, I have been reading my "email updates" to see what's going on... I have certainly been a "lurker" and I cannot thank you all enough!! We are getting married TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY!! We leave on Tuesday, the 17th... I cannot wait! LeShay, your posts have totally put my mind at ease... I am so excited to go to the resort and have the wedding of my dreams! I will do my best to post a re-cap, but I am sure I will not do 1/2 the job that LeShay did in summarizing! (BTW, I would love to see that binder!) You are all great... happy plannning, happy wedding, and happy marriage to you all!! Kim

Does anyone know who LeShay is using...or did she say that she wasn't going to use one? I wonder if there is anyone that we can talk to that has used either one...

Quote: Originally Posted by MissyR It would have been sooo fun! On another note - wondering whether anyone has given any thought to any live music - mariachi, band etc. We were thinking something for the ceremony might be nice - although not sure I want to pay $750 for 45 minutes.. we're thinking about doing the mariachi's, too... what do you think about using them for the ceremony, and then possilby a "cocktail hour" ... then you can hand it over to the DJ for the rest? On that note, are you pretty happy with your dj choice? Is it less expensive to go with him than with SWANK? thanks!

Welcome Back, Jeanne!!! I am soooo happy to read that everything went so well, and you looked GORGEOUS!! Your pictures were amazing, and your flowers... WOW!! I am starting to freak a little, considering I am just over 2 months away!!!!! I got the invitations out last week, and they look AWESOME!!! I will see if I can get some pics taken of them, and post them... Here's where I am and what I am having issues with: need to decide on flowers (I LOVE Peonies, just don't think that can work on the beach in Mexico in June) need to decide on which DJ to go with (Swank? The outside vendor, who's name is escaping me right now? ...which one is less expensive??) need to decide on cake (Flavor and decor) need to get b'maid's gifts (Thinking about spa wraps or robes) need to get welcome dinner organized (Great idea about reserving a restaraunt... there's no extra cost, is there?!?) need to get welcome basket ideas/ items (What are y'all doing??) Um... do you think I have enough to do!?! Should I be freaking out!?!? ....oh, but the BEST thing?? I picked up my dress yesterday!! Y'all, it's STILL as beautiful as it was six months ago when I bought it!! I AM SO EXCITED!! I have to say, this is the GREATEST website I have ever found... have NO IDEA how I found it, but I am so glad to know you girls! I promise to not be so MIA anymore!! Chat soon~ Kim

Hi Girls! And Welcome, Steph! I am new, too... this is probably THE GREATEST thing I have found! I love it... although I kinda get freaked out thinking about everything I still need to do and my wedding is in less than three months!!! I am so sorry that I have been MIA for the past few days... I have been working on our DARLING wedding invitiations... I will send pics once I have them all done... It has been really hard work, but I think we have saved a couple of thousands of dollars! Happy Saturday to everyone!! I am off to finish them... oh, and btw, thanks so much for all of the vendor/ DJ info! I am going to see about booking Carlos! Thanks so much Missy and Becks!! Kim

thanks for sharing! Great find!

how is this going? Did y'all start? How's your weight loss going!?! If anyone wants to do it again, let me know... i'd love to do it!!

Hi! Thanks so much for the kind words... great thoughts about the roses... I think we'll probably place them on the chairs, because you're right about the tossing them to sea... I am going to try to attach the contract that SWANK sent me, but it's for 4 hours... this is just insane!! I'll keep reading to see what you find out about Mannia... I also have some other contacts out there that are checking some other DJ's... i'll let you know what I find out! 06-21-08-IHO Kim Keathly-775PC Reception 1.0.pdf

I thought I would tell you all this now, so if I reference it later, you won't be like, "huh?" ... My Mom passed away last April, and Jonathan (my FI)'s dad passed away just three weeks before that. (We just had his 1 year anniv.) With that being said, that is the main reason why we decided to have a destination wedding! We are so excited to be getting married in Mexico, on the beach! I am telling y'all this now because I read a post about favors...we are doing in-room guest bags (which the hotel charges $3-$4/ room to deliver) so, like someone else said, no need to give our guests anything else to lug around...however, in lieu of "favors" we are making donations to The American Heart Association and The Lupus Foundation, in our parents names. I am also trying to think of other ways to honor our parents... so far, I have had a panel with their names sewn in blue made to put inside my dress, and will be carrying a locket around the base of my boquet, with a picture of both of them. I would like to do something to honor them during the ceremony... I read somewhere about placing or throwing roses out to sea, and then a moment of silence... any suggestions? Wow... who knew that I would open up to a group of girls (practically strangers!!) so quickly... I guess knowing that we're all going through the same thing (planning a wedding in Mexico!!) together helps... Happy Tuesday, girls!! Kim

I did contact him directly... his contract was for a total of $2,368.85 (Really? where does the $0.85 come in!?!?) At any rate, that's waaaay too much!! You can get a great band in The States for about that much! I remember reading someone else's post about getting a DJ for $800 or so? Thats more like it, even if you do have to pay the $450 to the resort... anyone else have any other suggestions? Kim

Quote: Originally Posted by MissyR This is going to be an awesome planning week ladies! I can feel it! ...In terms of photog - we continue to struggle as well. We want someone who will be with us all day, do a TTD and also be able to take candids during the week - which is why we are thinking of bringing someone from home although trying to balance that with the costs associated with it!..." I am using a FANTASTIC photog from Houston... he is wonderful, and I highly recommend him! His cost is reasonable, and gives you full rights to your pics after the wedding... i'm getting him and a 2nd photographer for the rehearsal dinner, all day the wedding day, and a session on the day after (we're doing a TTD Session, and I am sooo excited about it!) I am sure he'd be more than happy to travel for your wedding, too... his website is: J. Cogliandro Photographers - International Award Winning Photographers Sol Tamargo is another fantastic photographer, and she's located in Playa... I am becoming slightly obsessed with photographers... I just love photography! On another note, I am starting to freak out a little reading everyone's posts... I know, I need to relax, and know that our wedding will be great! I just need to focus, and take it one day at a time!! Kim

Quote: Originally Posted by becks You might also ask her to price it with the Wish and with the other packages. There's no "change fee" (that's not per person, is it) She was frankly very good with us - of course we were on site when we were doing it, so that probably helped. But she did suggest we go with the Wish and add on, rather than the other way around. I was quoted something closer to $3,000 for Victor de Alba!!!! I am working on getting an outside vendor, so any help or advice would be great! thanks, girls!!

Hi Girls! I am new to the site, and am getting married at The Hotel Paradisus on June 21~ We are so excited! I am happy to share any info. that I have! I have not read through all 4 pages of posts yet, but I will, and will let you know anything I can help with! Sooooo excited to have found this site! Kim