kerryjbrown

Marco Bustamante is the Executive Chef and he put together a wonderful menu that blew our mind. We had a 3.5 hour food/wine tasting to taste all of our dish selections/wine & cocktail pairings. All six of us were so impressed with his dishes and suggestions! His food is so amazing, no one will believe it is wedding food, not to mention he cooks all organic and local only. We only had to make 1 change out of 4 meals and it was minor. Here is a pic of some of the appetizers we tasted for one of the meals And sampling them with wine We decided to move the wedding to the deck around the pool (they will remove all pool loungers, bring in dance floor, dinner tables, and lounge furniture around the pool). Here is a pic,I am standing where the edge of the dancefloor will be. The Jacuzzi (hidden by the tree) is in the middle of the pool and will have floating candles/flowers and have candles in glass vases all around it. Here is where the dinner tables will be at sunset (minus the pool loungers in front) Live Music: We heard auditions from 3 of the 4 musician’s we will be using (which Marco & Fernando Flores, who used to work at Lazy Gourmet and is now with Capella) set up for us during the menu tasting). 1.We heard the Mariachi’s Diaz (there are 10 of them and they came in 10 different outfits to show us what our options were). They were fantastic and listened to my requests on style of music and songs I do NOT want to hear (La Bamba, Guantanamera, Oye Como Va, etc…I don’t want our guests to think of the beach mariachi’s they here in town but the traditional wedding mariachis….as this is where they got their name originally). They will play our wedding cocktail reception while we are getting pictures taken. They are $540/hour. 2.We heard Arturo the Spanish Guitarist again (I heard him when I visited in June this year). Again, he was fabulous and was very sweet to give us a CD of his music upon leaving as an engagement gift. He will be playing at our Welcome Party at the Yacht Club. He is $300/hour 3.We heard the Harp Trio (didn’t catch their names…sorry) that will play both the ceremony and our rehearsal dinner. They are so lovely and Fernando had told them Eres Tu was my favorite song and would like it played at the wedding, so they played it as their last song for us…I was literally in tears. They are going to play this song as we walk back down the aisle together. They are $280/hr. Flowers: I met with a lady from Florenta (the owner was out of town so someone showed me the shop with no flowers as it was closed, so I could see their pictures on the computer) and Martha from Mazarte (she came to see me and brought her stuff with her). Both do wonderful work. Mazarte does the flowers for Capella and I got to meet with her in person and really liked her style, I am waiting for a quote from her. Cake Tastings: The property drove and picked up tastings from both Sweet Dreams and Jennifer Hatton for us to do this on property. The 6 of us were all able to taste and both, and all were fabulous. As the unanimous favorite was a vanilla cake with a Key Lime filling from Jennifer and the lightness of her chocolate Devils cake, we will be going with her. Tasting for Jennifer is $25 and deposit on the cake is $100. Jennifer has been amazing with communication and is very quick to respond and easy to access via email. Jennifer Tasting Plate (remember these are for taste, not for looks but thought you might want to see what you get) Deena Tasting Plate (she was so cute, she put a Merry Christmas white chocolate sign on it for us) Hair/Makeup: BeautyLounge in Cabo did a makeup trial (Rosela Banderas) and hair trial (Carmalita) on 12/23 for me. They were fantastic…they worked together to create an overall look. They both paid attention to what I wanted for my hair/makeup and it came out great for our first meeting. I had a cocktail party at the property that night and everyone loved it. A few said the eye’s were a little dark, so we may stick with the color but a little lighter. The only thing we need to fix is how light makeup she had on my face (I do not let my face in the sun so it is always lighter than my chest/body). We will fix this on the next round. I loved how they worked together and making suggestions to each other, which they listened to and made changes. Carmelita even ran outside to find some fresh flowers to put in my hair so we could see what it would look like with something there. It was about $80 for hair & makeup. They will come to you on property if you book 3 or 4 other people to do hair/makeup the day of the wedding as they have to close the shop. They are lovely ladies and I was very happy with them. DJ: DJ Ricardo (Patino) came on 12/26 to the property to see the space he is going to be working in. I really enjoyed speaking with him and am very excited that he was available for our wedding date. He had some suggestions for speakers and such that I had not thought of and was glad he took the time to come to the property (especially right after a holiday). He is going to communicate directly with Fernando on setup, items needed and such so I don’t have to be a liason. Leslie Bost (One Weddings & Events): She is a friend and has volunteered a some coordination for me as I do not have a wedding coordinator. She has been a HUGE help and is amazing! She There on the 22, 23, and 26th driving me around, making phone calls and arranging last minute meetings. She has great insight/vision and is very throughout, I cannot imagine how involved she gets when she is the actual coordinator. A true life savor (even offered to let me store items at her house). She did all of this as she was preparing to leave for a month on 12/27….that is dedication! Wedding Items Storage: I am storing my items left behind (18 boxes) at the hotel. I boxed ita ll up when I was done finalizing everything and Fernando came to the room, went through everbox, labeled them,and took a detailed inventory (which he sent me via email 24 hours later, typed up, for me to review for accuracy). He stored it all ina room with nothing else in it and he has the only key. I am 100% confident that it will all be there an intact upon our return. He is also coordinating giving items to the florist and Jennifer Hatton, as I will not be there to do it until 3 days before the actual wedding. He checked and counted every item to ensure exactly what was there and that nothing was broker. Unbelievable service by Fernando and the whole team at Capella! We are so excited! 3 months from Sunday we will be getting married! Felt like this day would never come and it is so close now!

Our site visit at Capella Pedregal in Los Cabos: 12/20-12/27 As you all know, my wonderful mother drove (yes, drove 2200 from Idaho to Cabo San Lucas) to deliver my wedding stuff. She got there with no issues at the border or driving other than some weather. I packed all items in 4 suitcases and clear plastic boxes which I placed in Black duffles (thanks Jess!). As no one got stopped at the border, the bags were not needed but came in handy on the other side once I assembled the OOT bags and needed to put them in something. This made it much easier to carry them and protects them from people seeing what is inside. She drove a SportTracker down with a camper shell. All 12 bags fit (just barely in the bed of the truck) and she put her suitcases and stuff in the back seats. We flew via AeroMexico, which I am not in love with. We flew San Diego to Cabo (2:05 min), coach there and first class return. Coach is squishy, no food, snack or even ability to purchase alcohol (WHAT?). The first class was nothing special; food was served with 1 glass of wine (which she took from me before I even finished it). No water or anything additional offered in flight. Airport/customs: The new terminal is finished and fabulous. We had cleared the visa check in, collecting our luggage and through customs with 0 issues and out in under 30 min (a new record for Cabo). It is much more organized and so much quicker! Our property had arranged TransCabo to pick us up (as there were 5 of us on the way in) and they were there waiting upon arrival. TransCabo was easy, clean, and on time Capella Pedregal: Our residences were finished and open even though the hotel is now pushed back on their opening until May, now after the wedding (which was an issue for me as guests will not be able to stay in the hotel, but we have come to other arrangements which work better as our guest will now be able to stay on our side in the residences versus the other side in the hotel portion). The property is AMAZING! It is on the Pacific side, right on the ocean (just north of the Finnisterra). The drive in to the property has these high walls with fountains off them as you enter the tunnel which is lit by flames (this will be a wedding photo). As you come to the end of the tunnel, there is large bare tree with the Mexican stars (made from metal with holes in the which lights twinkle out of) and behind it is the entryway overlooking the ocean. Our Casita was amazingly beautiful. We stayed in the 2 story, 3 bedroom. It has 2 master suites and a double room. Having 6 people and a baby for a week, and we didn’t feel crowded or on top of each other. All rooms face the ocean. The upstairs master has an infinity pool and settee and the downstairs has a walk-in closet. There is a full kitchen and laundry room. There is a private pool by the table on the patio (which is where was spent most of our time and where I did all my wedding prepping/organizing/final DIY projects). Our Majorduomo (Butler) was fantastic and a huge help with all of the wedding stuff. We took walkie talkies so each couple could have one and not have to use cell phones (Motorolla from Costco for 3, $57) The property has a large Palapa right on the beach in front of the Beach Club restaurant and south of the pool. This is a wonderful space and where they had planned for our rehearsal dinner and the cocktail reception after the ceremony. They held our menu/wine tasting here. More to follow

I also finished these and Left them in Mexico. As we are not havign a bridal party, I did one for each of my girls helping out/throwing my bridal shower and bachelorette as well as one for each of our 3 moms. I think they came out cute. I closed all items in the bag and tied the bag to their personalized robes (LOVE Smarty Pants Custom Embroidery Boutique Joy is the BEST!) The jewlery bag will have a necklace/bracelet I am having made for them in it as well). Bag contents Bags and jewelery boxes: Target 2.50 ea Flip flops (got from my Burke Williams for $25) Notebook, bathsalts, notepad ($1 ea at Michaels) Loofah & Manicure set ($1 ea Dollartree) Face Loofah target (2 for $3, I think) lotion, body scrub ($1 ea target) mending kit $1 ea dollartree)

Here is the rest First Aid Kit (my own DIY) DIY Lipbalm (used logo with Besos! at the top and SPF 15 at the bottom with our names). I acually redid these with the same water resistant paper as the water bottles so they look better now, but this shows the label layout. Finished Bag

My mom took all of my items down for me (via car) and we assembled them outside our casita (much better than my little bridal workshop downstairs). It wasn't a relaxing holiday, but I could have been here in the cold so I will take working on the OOT's outside in the sun with a beautiful view over this 50 degree weather any day! So, here they are, they are all assembled with personal notes to each already in them and tagged. I certainly hope we don't have a big change in guest in the next 90 days! I did 30 bags. The bags came from Walmart $5/ea. The towels came from Beach Towels wholesale manufacturer of custom embroidered monogrammed bath towel for corporate events This is mommy helping me work on them Filling/organizing them Bag Tags that say bienvenidos a Los Cabos on the back with their names Towells verbaige Towels wrapped with keychain/card holder (thank you to Becks for the idea) DIY Water Bottles (they have a message to guests on one side, logo in the middle and marriage facts on the other side). Bought water at Costco in Cabo (much more expensive than it is here) and made my own labels printed on water resistant labels from Labelsbythesheet.com. Large ones went in Welcome bags and small are for the cocktail and reception if people want water (we did 180 bottles) Special Candles for family (illuminations buy 2 get one free) with monogram on bottom Candle Tins with DIY Monogram on bottom Contents: Spanish for Dummies ($1 target) Blue Organza bag with 2 lipbalms (2 for $1 @ Dollar Tree) Suduko ($1 @ Dollar Tree) Crossword puzzles Beach pocket calendar (has St. Lucia on the cover which is where we got engaged) $1 @ Michaels Playing cards ((2 for $1 @ Dollar Tree) Personal note on a DIY Post card (3.00 from vistaprint.com) with a blank self addressed one for them to write a message to us and mail from Cabo Green/Blue Personalized Pencils (1 of each color)-Oriental Trading Company 2 Doz for 5.99 Green or Blue Pencil Sharpener ($1 for package of 10 at Dollar Store, I only used the blue/green so had to buy extra) Personalized Crystal Pens-110 from Pensxpress for $156.00 incl tax/ship INFLATE BEACH BALLS (14") 3 $3.99 for 12 VINYL HIBISCUS FOOTBALLS 1 $9.99 (for 12-mixed colors so I only used blue/green) PERSONALIZED SOCCER BALL CAN INSULATOR $19.99 for 12 (FI is from Ireland and Soccor, or football, is their major passion so one for each male) Travel Ziplock Pouch for small loose "just in case" Items-box of 7 $1 target First Aid Kit (DIY label): Target $1 Sunblock, scope, Aleve, Tylonel all $1 ea at Target Shout Wipes (4 per box $1 at Target) Immodium AD-$15.99 Staples (52 individual packets) Alka Selzer-11.99 Staples (50 individual packets) 2 ea crystal light individual serving drink packets (costco) Tissues (7 for $1 dollar tree) 2 EA DIY water bottles Items to add still: Welcome brochure Wedding Timeline Gum/snacks Aloe (out of season so I can't buy anywhere) Total Cost about $1000 for 30 bags.

I had my hair/makeup trial in Cabo last week with BeautyLounge. Carmelita did my hair and Rosela Banderas (I think she owns the salon) did my make up. I loved them and how they worked iwth each other. I will be wearing a long veil for ceremony only and adding white flowers where the bouganvilla is in the pics. We need to do darker face makeup as I don't let my face int he sun and it is so white it looks funny so we are going to fix that next time. My mom thought my eyes were too heavy? THoughts? Changes? Makeup eyes closed Getting Hair Done Finished Look Back of Hair Side view (dont' look at my ugly nose or double chin!) Curls 2 Hours Later at a party

Does anyone know how to resize more than one image at once in Photobucket? I just uploaded all the pics from my site visit, hair trial, OOT bags, planning thread, etc and don't have time to resize one by one...is there a faster way?

So...tried to use points yesterday to book our plane tickets to Bora Bora for the honeymoon. I called American Airlines as I am using their points on Air Tahiti Nui (the only way to get to Bora Bora). I tried to book First Class tickets as it is a long flight and we had saved 300k just for the flights knowing this is what it would cost. To my surprise, there is only one seat available for booking with points in first class (on any flight, at any time). They only release 1 seat for a points purchase option! I am so frustrated as I had not budgeted for paying for tickets for the flights! Has anyone heard this? Is this new with airlines so couples cannot both fly on points? I am so shocked, especially on a honeymoon flight (who else goes to Bora Bora?)

Everyone (especially you) looks beautiful! It looks like everyone had a great trip!

I got these yesterday! They had tons! Thanks....wish they had them 2 weeks ago since I just returned from my site visit...oh well, thrilled they had them now. Thanks for the heads up as I have stopped "stalking" the $1 section as my OOT's are already in MEx.

YEAH! A successful trip! It is a beautiful dress, congratulations

I am not at Dreams, but there is a 10 man wonderful Mariachi named Mariachis Diaz. You can ask if they will allow them. They do not sound like the beach/tourist restaurant mariachi's you here in Cabo that drive everyone nuts. I don't have a contact for them though.

It is gorgeous! I am sure all went well! Where did you get the maraca's? I have been looking for some that are more upscale looking and these are great!

We are getting married in April, we are using Lime Green and a Peacock Blue iwth a few accents on labels & such of aqua. The cermony as it is on the beach is primarily in greens iwth hints of blue, the cocktail reception is mixed with both and the reception is primarily peacock blue with green accents.

Your pictures are lovely! It looks like everything came out perfectly. What a beautiful ceremony (I love the sombrero flower girl baskets...what a great idea). Congratulations!

UPDATE! YEAH! I am sitting here at Capella in Cabo....at the pool, listening to the waterfall and looking out over the ocean (amazing) and thought I would check in to let all know that mommy and wedding goods are safe! They got in to Cabo 2 min before I did on Saturday (as I literally found them on the road driving in and passed them). They had a great trip down. Border crossing was a breeze, they paid thier FMT's in Ensenada and had no trouble with that either. They chose to do the drive in 3 days versus 2 so they stayed in El Rosario, Santa Rosalia, and Lapaz before arriving here. I have been meeting with vendors (today is our cake tastings with both Jennifer and Deena...a few miscommunication here and they are both upset with me, but not my fault as I set up tastings with both as I was instructed to do by out chef...just an FYI, they are best friends). I will do a site visit (this was really only a semi site visit as I already had chosen our property as we are owners here) review and post some pics upon my return. I will say, hair and makeup by Rosalia and Carmalita at the Beauty Lounge is fantastic! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

I have lived in Cabo 2x and gone to Cabo every year for 14 years in Feb/March. In recent years we had 2 trips that it rained on the first week of Feb so we moved it to the first week of March. However, we have 35-50 people that go on our annual trip and we swim on every trip and it is plenty warm, minus the 2 years we had stange weather and they were about 5 years ago and back to back. We now do the fist week of March and have had no issues. march is leading into spring break so it gets a bit busier, which can bring fun or more crowds (depending on your mentality) but is a fabulous time of year

Quote: Originally Posted by K&Rwedding I am in your same boat. I want to go to Bora Bora for our honeymoon but it looks like it will cost us a pretty penny for 8 nights, plus airfare. I am hoping to use our points for airfare, but still these little things are expensive. I do travel a lot and can tell you. It truly isn't where you are it is who you are with and what you do while you are there. I have been all over the tropics and some of my favorite places are not the place I would have thought going there would turn out to be my fav. Happy Planning Kathy, Where are you staying? We are doing separate weeks of our HM and our wedding so we can actually be alone for 2 weeks. We have booked 1 week of rooms at the St. Regis Bora Bora (using points for some as we want the over water bungalows but they want $120k a nite). We are waiting on flights as they are still high due to >6 mos out and are trying to book a catamaran for the 2nd week but still researching. It is more thatn I was thinking as I thought I could use points for the hotel as we are an owner of their residence in NY and Am Ex points for flights (but when I tried too book it wasn't the 300k I had saved it was over a milion...NO WAY...I will pay cash first). So we are wiating until Jan. to book ours. I was trying to do it for no more than $10k plus free flights and 7 days free rooms....

I have only stayed at the Grand Lido Negril and had an amazing time! The beach was in a private cove so you had the beach but could also ski/wakeboard with the free provided boat (which I indulged in daily after my morning dive) and if you walk down past the Couples/Sandals Places (or have the boat driver deliver you as I did), there is an amazing beach with a local serving of lobster where you eat on the beach called the Lobster Pot....most amazing day on the beach in my life in all the countries I have been to. Best part of Negril is there are no tourist cruises, like there is in Ochos or other places so it is private.

These times are so tough without any additional stressors. I hate that crime raises at this time of year and more so that you were a victim of such a terrible ordeal! I am very sorry that you had to experience such a violating offense. Warmest wishes with you and hoping you will find 2009 to be a much better year!

There is always over-hype with Mex & the US. Any time there is one slight robbery or any issue it is blown out of proportion here even when it is way less than we have in LA, SF or any city in the US. My mom drove all my wedding stuff across the border today and had no issues. She is 300 miles down so far and issue free. Do no let your mom watch the LA Border Patrol thing they are doing online as it is over exagerated. Yes, there are issues due to the economy here and so many trying to go home and they are stuck in the border cities so the crime rate is up in the border cities (as it is in our cities due to the economy). I made my mom promise not to stop in the first 100 miles, yet she stopped in Tecate where she crossed, TJ on accident, Rosarito due to a storm and mud slides, ensenada for FMT filing, and stuck after that with weather related accidentes and wash outs. All is same as usual. My family has lived there 3x and driven the "dangerous roads" dozens of times. Feel safe, it is the same as being in any tourist city all over the world. Be smart, be safe, be watchful!

A mother's love has no end. My mother drove from Idaho to the Bay Area, then to me in Orange COunty to pick up my 12 suitcases of wedding stuff to deliver (driving) to Cabo San Lucas). She left today with the truck packed to the gills with all 12 suitcases (Thanks Jess for 7 duffles) plus an additional several random items. She left OC at 7:30 am today and made it to and across the border in less than 2.5 hours. She didn't get stopped at all...waved through with 0 issues. Unfortunately as many of you know our storms here have been horrible and the roads are covered in accidents, trees blown down or over 3 ft if water ub the intersection once she passed TJ. I have lost contact with her at 3 PM today and am praying that all is well. However, absolutely thrilled that all my wedding stuff (yes I am 3.5 mos out and could do my planning thread already, but assuming you wnat me to wait) is in transit to Mexico with no issues with customs/border crossing. YEAH! Love and prayers for mommy that she makes it all the way with no issues (besides the weather issues she had today). I am flying to Cabo on Sat for my site visit on 12/20 for 7 days with mom/stepdad, best friends and their 15 mos. baby girl. I am so exicted as this was originally planned as a vacation and now it is a site visit with meetings and tastings with everyone! I hope you all have such loving and supportive parents. I cannot imagine what it means to be a mother for what my mom is doing for me (over 4000 miles driving).

I'm jealous....I really want twins...have since I was 20 (earlier really but that doesn't count). Lucky them. At least they have the finances to take care of all the little ones and it seems they get a lot of attention from mom/dad which is great!

They came out great! My favorites are you two standing on the rocks above teh tidepools...the colors and the both of you look amazing!

Congratulations! Can't wait to see the pro pics. You look gorgeous!