cougs

hmmm ... i know *technically* your witnesses should be from your wedding party, but can't you have the wedding party you want and have some other guest sign your certificate as the "official" witness, if blood relatives aren't allowed? also, my resort will provide a witness if you don't have one who qualifies.

this from the amresorts site: Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets and Dreams Resorts & Spas continue to remain open and welcome guests at this time. In light of the current threat of influenza in Mexico, our primary focus continues to be the health and safety of our guests. As a result, we are taking and will continue to take heightened measures to ensure a high level of sanitation at all times. As we understand some travelers may not want to travel at this time, we have implemented two alternative options for direct reservations: Reservations made at a Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resort, Secrets or Dreams Resorts & Spas in Mexico for travel through May 16, 2009 can be changed to a Dreams Resort & Spa in the Dominican Republic in the same room category or higher for the originally scheduled dates, based on availability. Reservations made at a Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resort, Secrets or Dreams Resorts & Spas in Mexico for travel through May 16, 2009 can be postponed at the same property for future travel dates through December 15, 2009 in the same room category or above, based on availability. For guests still wishing to cancel their reservation, our standard cancellation policy continues to apply. For additional information and/or questions, please contact [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]. Sincerely, Guest Services Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets and Dreams Resorts & Spas

this is getting ridiculous and i'm so upset and MAD on everyone's behalf. marie, i hope antigua works out ... if it's any consolation i hear it's beautiful there? i can't believe flights are being canceled for so long!

thanks for posting claudia's letter ... does that mean if you moved to DR they would honor your wedding deposit at that resort? i would think so, considering they are owned by the same company. however i noticed she didn't make a single peep about any kind of refund, lol. figures.

"stuff" came up?!?!?!! aargh ... so pissed on your behalf!!!!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Reluctant Beach Bride So has anyone actually called their doctor as preparation? I want to call my primary to ask about getting Tamiflu to have on hand since the CDC site says "treatment and/or prevention". I just don't want to come across as some overly paranoid crazy person. Think she'd look at me crazy if I asked for enough to put in OOT bags my FI works with some cardiologists. they are trying to make a few calls to see if they can round up any tamiflu sample packs. i was like, "tell them to get enough for us to put those and masks in the OOT bags!" ... FI just laughed. i'm thinking we might have problems at customs if we were trying to smuggle in that much tamiflu, LOL. FI has one pill ... pretty sure you have to take it for several days, if not a week, so that's not going to do much! i keep thinking the masks will make for a good photo op.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jenn3878 hey girls....we are scheduled to go to Cancun on May 6th for our wedding on May 8th....but at this time I dont think we are going the #1 reason is that I am pregnant and a little scared to travel at this time with all that is going on? I am so completely heartbroken I cannot think straight. How is everyone else doing?? oh jenn! i forgot one of our early may brides was pregnant! i don't know what to say ... a lot of this is just sensationalism, but i think if i were pregnant i personally would be afraid of the risk to the baby. even a mild illness in you could be detrimental to your little one's development. the most frustrating thing is there's just no way of knowing for sure whether everything will be ok, and can you take the chance? my heart just aches for you.

tracy, i'm still laughing about what you said in the shout box thread about all your students wishing flu on you now ... LOL. you leave for mexico soon, no? and that's a great point you made for marie! this could be what she's been dreaming of ... no FMIL at the wedding!!!!!

thanks for that post ... knowing dreams they won't be giving any refunds, but at least it sounds like they are looking into what they will offer (maybe a rescheduling with no penalties, or a credit at another AMresorts elsewhere?). this is getting out of control. i've been refusing to come up with a "plan B" and saying i'm still going as planned, but wtf? not sure if i've been being naive when i should be changing all my plans and freaking the f out? just a few days ago my aunt and uncle actually ADDED two days to their trip! haha either they're crazy and like, "BRING IT ON, PIG F*CKERS!" or they lead very sheltered lives and don't watch the news, LOL!

oh gosh all us mexico brides need swine tickers! i love it.

Quote: Originally Posted by paraisobeachbride2009 Lisa - haha...maybe! Well I doubt it but ya never know. If I did, then I'm sure glad to be alive still! I never threw up or anything, it was just a really bad cold. My BIL got bronchitis while we were down there lol. well, we're all glad you and your family are ok! and i'm glad you took my comment as the joke it was meant to be ... i was afraid i could've ended up instilling even more panic by saying something like that! amanda, write that review already!

jax, great pics! we definitely need some relief in this thread! my heart just aches for blkatz (beth, is it?). she posted in another thread that all her guests canceled ... i hope that's an exaggeration and they aren't actually all alone. i have PM'd my photographer (moments that matter) to see if they could offer some "from-inside-mexico" perspective on the swine flu thing. i keep thinking it's getting blown way out of proportion by the media. on a happier note (i think!) i am getting married one month from today! i am thinking positively, and we are trying to get our hands on some tamiflu just in case. FI has one sample box and currently has it as his profile pic on facebook lol. trying to keep it light.

if you mean will they be hearing stuff about DR right NOW in the news, probably not. but that doesn't mean they won't a month from now. if you recall, just a few months ago you weren't hearing anything bad about mexico either! what if you picked asia when there was bird flu? it certainly was in the media. what if you picked new york city, and then sept. 11 happened? no one wanted to travel at all then, let alone to new york or any big city. if you mean you want to pick a place now and know that if you say mexico right now everyone will think you're insane, well that's probably true.

since you are getting married in mexico you could maybe incorporate some mexican traditions like el lazo or 13 coins? if none of your guests have been to a mexican wedding those old traditions will seem unique. then again, i don't know ... one girl's "EWWWcheesy" is another's "OMGhavetohaveit!" you can personalize your wedding with anything that's meaningful to you. choose songs you love, choose readings that have meaning to you, etc. what is your (or FI's) family heritage? there may be old traditions associated with your own heritage that you may not already be familiar with. do some research and you might be surprised!

Quote: Originally Posted by northernflasher I emailed Lincoln and Lori at Moments that Matter late last night and had a reply in my inbox before lunchtime today. Just based on their quick and personal response they seem warm, friendly and professional. Its so nice to get the feeling that they LOVE what they do and are genuinely interested in your day. Here is the link to the price list they sent me. They are serious contenders for me at the moment. Moments that Matter - About Us just wanted to say there's a thread about them here: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t33248 and also that there are pics from dreams tulum up on their website now ... they belong to our very own gorgeous BDW bride, Denise L! edited to laugh at myself for not reading back a little further ... you all have already seen denise's pics! duh!

UPDATE: all white maraca keychains are sold. all blue are still available!

Quote: Originally Posted by lil_miss_frogg Are these just extras? You seem to be selling a lot of stuff right before your wedding! I don't need them....but curious! ~Samie~ haha never fear, the wedding is still on! my problem is i've bought so much stuff along the way and then things change and they just don't work anymore ... hair flower and shoes were because i decided i wanted to wear red for both instead, chair sashes for sale are the wrong red (burgundy is closer match, had to buy new ones, plus i needed more anyway). bra didn't fit. i'll have a veil to sell soon too because i just don't think it goes with my dress (beading was supposed to be "crystal" but it's pearls ... wtf?)! i kept thinking i was saving money by buying things online but then they just aren't right and i end up spending double. as for these maracas, i had to buy 100 of them ... they came assorted red, white, and blue, but i only wanted the red ones (i kept those)! i figured they were pretty cute so i shouldn't have any problem selling them either here or ebay if all else failed.

Quote: Originally Posted by latricej919 Did you order a sample? If so how much did shipping run? i did not order a sample. if i had, i might not be selling these now!

Quote: Originally Posted by paraisobeachbride2009 Amanda - I hear you about the "crappy vacation". Although I had a blast at my wedding and the weather was generally agreeable, I was sick...SICK for the entire second week of my vacation (which was when I should have been relaxing since the first week was a write off because of all the running around before the wedding). I caught the absolute worst, hands down, cold of my life in Mexico...on my vacation. I am still extremely bitter about that (though it was beyond anyone's control I suppose). The fun didn't stop there either, DH got sick a few days after me and then we were both sick for a good 4 weeks after we got home from vacation. It was totally miserable. I was so congested on the plane ride home that my ears wouldn't pop when we were landing, it hurt like a bitch...now I know why kids scream their heads off lol. Regardless, I hear ya sister! *HUGS* maybe you had swine flu?!?! <--kidding! but really, maybe?

blkatz, i wanted to add that your photographer and videographer are even more important now for documenting your beautiful day.

Quote: Originally Posted by mfry thanks for this ... we all need a laugh here!

Quote: Originally Posted by Blkatz so I went from a wedding of 42 to a wedding of maybe 18. I have cried the entire day. Pretty much besides myself-fiance doesn't get it-I keep telling him that i have wanted this wedding since I was a child and now it might not happen because of this flu situation. I literally have hired a DJ, a photographer, a videogapher-and will now only have 18 people if i am lucky. UGH. I really dont know what to do now i am SO sorry this has happened to you ... i can't believe so many of your guests have backed out. but your wedding WILL happen, you will still be a beautiful bride, you'll still have amazing photos ... it will just be a smaller crowd. when all this blows over and you return home happily married (and perfectly HEALTHY) the people who panicked and canceled last minute will be positively kicking themselves. all the best to you, your FI, and the family and friends who are sticking by you through all of this.

andi you tease!!! i love it, and think KLK's work is amazing ... i can't wait to see your wedding and TTD pics now!

gemstone, beautiful pics! congrats!

so far none of our guests are freaking out about the flu thing (at least not to us) but there are a few i know we'll hear it from. i can't believe you ladies have had people CANCEL because of it. i'm so sorry and i wish i could say something to make it better.