cougs

i love the sand frame, but we never got epics done or anything like that so i wouldn't know what photo to use in it. it's not like i just could change it to a wedding photo later.

Quote: Originally Posted by Nikki07 I'm not sure which package you are looking to get, but one of the main reasons I went with MTM, besides their great work and service, is that they cover the vendor fee if you purchase their full package. For me this was really important as my vendor fee is $500 and I wouldn't have been able to afford to go with someone that didn't cover that cost. Just trying to help you out! Good luck! wow! $500? that's seriously ridiculous! if that was the case i'd definitely have gone with the full day package. i am getting the half day ($1300 for 5 hrs) and have to pay for 2 passes @ $55 each, so it's costing me $1410 total. i wish i could afford the full day, but it was a stretch for us to hire an outside photographer at all. Quote: Originally Posted by Steph158 mummergirl- I am so excited to see your pictures when they come back! Promise you will post them! Your day is coming up soon! You must be getting so excited! i AM getting excited! it seems unreal that it's little more than 2 months away ... and *of course* i will post the pics ... i know how photo-hungry all the girls on the forum are! i wish there were a few people on the forum using them before me, but sadly i think i only found one? i am terrified of not liking my photos because my fiance didn't want to hire any outside photographer and i just insisted. if they aren't great he'll be all "i told you so" and i just can't have that! LOL! he is not a picture person at all and not very affectionate (and neither of us are model types, lol) so i'm afraid they are just not going to be romantic and beautiful like others i've seen on the forum. if MTM can make US look great in pics, then they'll have passed the true test! LOL

Quote: Originally Posted by estella1007 I don't think it's really necessary to go overboard. Don't break the bank because you feel guilty. Just think about it...does it really matter that it is a destination wedding or if it were back at home? Either way, any wedding I have been in, you bought your own dress, shoes, paid for hair, makeup, bought them a shower gift, paid for throwing the shower, gave a wedding gift, etc. The only gifts I have received, or any gifts that anyone else I know have received as a bridesmaid are the jewelry. I know it can be a lot to ask someone to pay just for your wedding, but don't forget, they are on vacation too. thank you! so i'm NOT the only one? first of all, the reason we are having a destination wedding is because we can't afford one at home. i see no reason to spend hundreds of dollars each on bridesmaids! i can guarantee (and i've been a bridesmaid 4 times and MOH once) that no bride ever spent more than about $40 on me. when you are in someone's wedding party, you are the one who is supposed to spend the money on the them! i have never, until this forum, heard of brides spending so much on their wedding parties. i understand they are spending a lot to be at your wedding, but honestly, the rest of your guests are spending just as much to be there! oh and i thought it was supposed to be an honor just to be chosen as a bridesmaid? seriously, i'd like to be a bridesmaid for one of you ladies! you're so spendy!

oh gosh, that wind is outrageous! that is the single thing that worries me the most about the wedding. so funny that you have the moment you told him you forgot the ring and his reaction on video! priceless! i was also giggling the whole time listening to the minister's accent. hopefully that will be the thing that keeps me from crying and/or being nervous on my day. seeing these videos just makes me want to get there already! congrats again ... you looked beautiful! oh! editing because i wanted to ask if this is the video guy that's included in the package?

since you are interfaith and don't want too much religious stuff, you could consider including mexican wedding traditions instead. do a google search for mexican wedding traditions. there is something about 13 coins (arras), and there's a lasso (el lazo) ceremony.

Quote: Originally Posted by PhillyBride09 Now that I think My Shower is on April 5th, I have made myself not look! Even though I picked all of that stuff out, I want to be a little surprised (And as i say this all I keep thinking about it looking..LOL) ya know ,I am already using all of my Will-Power on not eating horrible foods, and on getting up at 5am to go to the gym every damn weekday...I don't know if I have enough left over for not peeking! LOL almost positive mine is either march 28 or april 5! LMAO about not having any will power left to use toward not peeking ... so true!

oh my ... i would *maybe* apologize for making a scene but i would explain how badly she hurt my feelings with her comment. yes, she is entitled to an opinion, but there is such a thing as tact, poise, respect, and manners. if i were you, i would make sure she knew the only reason i was speaking to her about it at all is because of my love for her son and how important it is to him that she is there. that if she cares for HIM, she will attend.

i had basically the same thing happen with a friend of 18 years (practically inseparable ... in fact some people thought we were a lesbian couple, lol!). in my case, it happened when tom and i first started dating. she was so jealous and just couldn't be happy for me, and always b*tched that i spent all my time with him and invited him out with us all the time. she was all "woe is me" and lonely, but ya know, it wasn't my fault she was banging a married guy (still is!) and that's why she didn't have someone to go out with on friday nights. she complained i judged her (hell yeah i did!) and wasn't there for her, and then continued to bring up every time i disappointed her in the 18 years she'd known me. guess she thought she had been a perfect friend and just conveniently "forgot" everything good i'd ever done for her (which was a hell of a lot, i might add). long story short (too late) we are no longer friends, other than occasional emails and facebook. my fiance can't stand her (mostly because of how much he knows she hurt me by throwing our friendship away, but also because he thinks she's a tramp), and she was NOT invited to mexico for our wedding (and i had always thought she'd be my MOH!). she will be invited to our AHR only, as will her parents (who i adore). i'm still hurt over it sometimes, and still feel weird about not even inviting her to the wedding. i don't let tom know because he would just be mad that i'm still letting her bother me. just know that people come in and out of our lives for a reason.

haven't bought mine yet but have found them on amazon.com

oh man, i'm so outta control. i keep telling myself not to look again, and then i do anyway! NO WILL POWER!

i think you girls are VERY generous! i have been in several weddings and never received more than just wedding-day jewelry (and that was NEVER anything from tiffany's or even near that price range, and usually not anything i'd ever wear again). do i just have cheap-ass friends? LOL! now i'm afraid i'm a total cheapskate too! i am buying my 4 girls wedding day jewelry (so far bracelets that cost me only $10 each, and i will be making earrings to match). i plan on paying for an excursion for them too, so it will probably total $80-$100 each? i paid for the flower girl's dress and shoes. plus they will all get OOT bags like everyone else.

Quote: Originally Posted by jcoop If Azucar is actually on Dreams, shouldn't the drinks be included anyways? I think i'm confused! Also, does anyone know if you can bring your own minister? My Uncle is a minister and I would rather have him perform the ceremony, would feel more special than some random person I hadn't met before, but I don't want to ask him until i know they will let him do it, and I don't want to ask the WC, because i'm afraid if I ask them we will get wires crossed and they will think I have my own minister even if it doesn't work out with my uncle...the language barrier is a struggle :-/ azucar is kinda outside but connected to dreams, like that restaurant poloma bonita, so it's not actually part of the resort. the resort gives you complimentary admission and two free drinks there (and according to these girls you can get that every day). i plan on just drinking at the resort before/after going to azucar so as not to spend money unnecessarily. ask if you can bring your own minister first. if she says yes, then ask your uncle right away and make sure he's a definite. if it doesn't work out with your uncle i'm sure she can get a minister for you as long as you're able to give her a little bit of notice. getting the judge would definitely be more difficult. if i had a relative who was a minister i would definitely want to use them over a stranger. the best ceremonies i've witnessed are the ones where the person performing the ceremony knows the couple personally. much more meaningful and sweet.

Quote: Originally Posted by FutureMrsLewis One of the comments on that page: "90 days of Obama and Bush is back in NJ" LMAO Sorry, had to say it. i snorted when i read that! LMFAO!!! there's no need to "ban" brazilians (that's just silly) but it certainly should be regulated. the people who perform the waxings should have to get some sort of certification. if you think about the possibilities of disease being spread it does make some sense. any place that isn't using a new stick EVERY time they dip into the wax (not just one stick per client) is clearly violating some health regulations. i just don't know how they could possibly monitor it, without some official *watching* the waxing sessions, which then violates privacy in a BIG way!

hahaha "bajingos" and "cookies" ... you ladies are cracking me up with the euphemisms for your lady parts!

haha "bajingos" and "cookies" ... you are all cracking me up with the euphemisms for your lady parts!

pete and his gf are very excited to come. i do know part of that is the fact that my uncle moved to florida many years ago so they hardly ever get to see each other anymore. so it's kinda like a best-friends reunion for them as well. i didn't see any problem in inviting them, just thought the whole thing was kinda funny. my fiance's brother originally invited his in-laws to come along, but to watch his baby the day of the wedding. we were going to send them an invite as well, but it ended up just tom's brother is coming. i seriously would have to draw the line at a whole group of strangers tho. i think that people who assume it's ok to bring even one guest when it wasn't specified are rude as hell. you handled it perfectly. in destination weddings, you usually have a smaller group, and you don't want to look back at your pics and have to wonder who 6 out of 20 people are! and then have to deal with hurt feelings from people you DO know but who didn't get invites because you were keeping it small. for instance, we cut it off at aunts/uncles and didn't invite our TON of cousins. how will they feel if it seems they got bumped for virtual strangers?

mishka was discussed early in this thread. her work is gorgeous, but a lot of girls (myself included) just can't make room in their tight budgets for it. i got lazy and finally put my mom to work painting mine with me. we just did silver handles and red (sparkly!) tops. they are small, so i plan on tying the escort (seating) cards to them with ribbon. so they are nothing extravagant but they will at least match my wedding colors. and my mom had so much fun painting them ... she really wanted to do *something* so it was perfect!

i wanted to give everyone plenty of time to save, but honestly, no one saved little by little except my one sister. most people are last minute, holy-crap-how-are-we-supposed-to-afford-this types who are banking on large tax returns to pay for their trips or not able to make it at all. they all act like we sprang this on them even though they've known about it and the approximate cost for over a year and a half, lol. no matter what you do, someone will fault you for it! just enjoy your time planning!

man, you ladies are quick! i would've taken the sunblock and/or first aid kits but seems they were gone in a flash! if for whatever reason these girls change their minds, i'll take those!

Quote: Originally Posted by lanalovesyou I remember during my 'planning proccess' I printed off menues but at the end of it all I just chose the menu when I got there.... I didn't show it to my guests as I pretty much knew what everyone would like... the food was great, i do reccommend scallops for the appy, steak with mushrooms for the main course the Bella Alaska for the dessert, all three of those were such a hit with everyone! lana were you able to mix and match between the different menus (in the same price category)? like can i choose the appy from one gold menu and the entree or dessert from one of the other gold menus?

Quote: Originally Posted by Michelle613 Has anyone used Michael Maurus? or Martha Roque or Vanessa Vargas? I know I have over a year until my wedding but I want to find the perfect photographer for the perfect price and have him/her available on my day. Please help! There are tons of forums on photographers but none of this is actually helping!! harty will be using martha roque in may and can give you insight then. haven't heard of anyone at dreams using vanessa vargas. you can try going to the photographers' websites to view their work, and if they have comments/user reviews on their sites you can try contacting the people who left the comments. that's what i did for juan navarro (the resort photographer) to see more of his work and get a better idea of whether i wanted to hire someone else (i ended up hiring moments that matter). most people have used claudia rodriguez or someone from her team. just fyi, a lot of photographers may not have their 2010 prices out yet. settle down ... you have plenty of time still and the heavier wedding season is ramping up so you should be able to see plenty more examples soon to make your choice easier.

Quote: Originally Posted by Michelle613 And for the third timee- who has gotten the lighted dance floor and how much did it end up costing? not using a dj (we're using our ipod and docking station) but you can probably find your answer in this thread: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t16299

i have heard about usair being crappy about it, and unfortunately, that is of course the airline we're using. sigh. are you sure it will definitely exceed carry on size? my resort offers steaming so i'm not too worried about it being perfect ... i'll pack it in something carry-on size if i have to!

Quote: Originally Posted by britsytoll OMG...this thread has been so helpful. I have heard some bad reviews about the resort photographer today and started stressing about it. I have done some research today and so far MTM is my favorite. I love their story I have emailed them and excited to see what their pricing is. So far, all the other photographers are a little high especially since there is also a fee to bring in an outside vendor. Oh well....pictures are so important to me and they are the only things you have after the fact to explain your wedding story! Thanks for all the great info! keep in mind that moments that matter is a team of two photographers, so if your resort requires day passes you will need to purchase TWO.

Quote: Originally Posted by [email protected] We decided on Dreams Cancun because of the beautiful location for the ceremony. Also, we did not want to drive on a bus all the way to Tulum. My fiances mom has some health issues so we wanted to land in the same town as the resort. the long ride to tulum helped decide it for us as well, because of similar health issues of our more elderly guests. also, dreams tulum doesn't have a wedding gazebo, so your ceremony is either on the beach (some people like it that way!) or inside in the little chapel. neither of those worked for us since my fiance hates sand, and to me being inside negated the whole point of a destination wedding (but i'm also not religious and wouldn't have had a church wedding at home either). however, for some people, the chapel is the whole reason they pick tulum! it really is a cute little room, but i've heard it's sweltering hot because of small windows/no air conditioning. both resorts are really beautiful in their own way. i admit i think dreams tulum is actually a prettier resort but the gazebo at dreams cancun had me sold. you can't go wrong with either one!