amandalsu

Have you looked at Terra Noble in Puerto Vallarta. It is up in the mountain and is a garden setting over looking the city and bay. I don't recall a gazebo but there is a covered area. It is some type of artist studio/compound. There are a lot of great locations around PV for interesting photos. Here is a link to a dazzling details reception there: The Dazzling Details: Amy and Nick - Guadalupe/Terra Noble There is gazebo somewhere in downtown PV but I am not exactly sure where. I have seen it in several professional photos.

Information I have been given on the beaches in PV: -North - (Nuevo Vallarta) whiter sand, clearer water -Futher north out of the bay - good for surfing - on the Pacific rather than bay -Hotel zone - rocky beaches, water less clear due to the rivers and marina -South (Conchas Chinas to Mislamoya) - better sand (less small rocks/pebbles), clearer water -Further south - (Yelapa, Las Caletas) - whiter sand, much clearer water but still in the protected bay so swimable without the big waves of the north. We have been to the beachs in nuevo vallarta (pretty white sand but crowded and very far away from downtown PV), the hotel zone (very rocky sand and not that pretty), Conchas Chinas (very nice but smaller beaches), Garza Blanca (nicer sand), Mismaloya (even nicer but a little crowded), Yelapa (beautiful water). These are in order from North to South. PV is on the Pacific Ocean so it has dark blue water not the light turquoise waters of the caribbean. It is very beautiful though with the big rock formations at the water (especially south) and much more tropical in my opinion with the mountains and jungles meeting the sea. I have heard great things about the Dreams PV that is south of PV. The PV threads have some photos of those that scouted that hotel and got married there.

What hasn't been a huge stress! I wanted a destination wedding because I didn't want to have to plan a wedding. Now I have learned, it instead have to plan a vacation for everyone. We are doing a private villa so everyone else is on their own for what they book but these highly capable people all of the sudden are incapable of using the internet to book anything. I have given them plenty of information and websites but they all want me to do everything for them. It is really hard to firm up a lot of things without a head count, and I feel you can't count anyone until they are booked. And my Dad keeps inviting his friends. These are people I have not seen in the last 10 years. We aren't even inviting all our close friends that we want to keep the wedding small but he thinks he should be able to invite all these other people. He is driving me nuts! My other issue is trying to decide between the beach and villa terrace for the wedding. I really want it on the beach, but we have family members that are going to have really difficult time getting down the steps and walking through the sand. I have been spending an ungodly amount of hours researching other options and easier ways to get down to the beach. That was one of the few things I really wanted. One of the people is his mom though, so I think I am going to have to give in on this one.

I would only put pricing info on the website and add the address to the STDs. This is standard practice. Keep the STD simple and concise. Don't forget to include the information on the " at home reception" so those that can't make the wedding still can find useful information on the webpage and feel included.

Yay. I am happy he agreed. Mine was a little hesitant but then realized he really didn't have much choice in it.

Sorry, that is one of the few I didn't tour! But I found a wedding there on the Dazzling Details Blog: The Dazzling Details: Search results for Carol Ann You might try doing a search for just villas in PV. There were a few people that toured this villa and had photos.

I vote #2. I normally don't like chair covers but those are so sleek and modern, I love them. I think #1 is a little poofy and might get annoying to people if they are in their way or touching the person in the chair next to them.

We are paying for the flights for the BM, MOH,(only attendants) and friend that will officiate but not their lodging. We are not paying for their spouses either. I read where you should pay for their lodging but not their transportation but I have a lot of airline miles so we took on the airfare which has been really high recently. What I read was talking about local weddings and paying for those attendants that have to travel to your wedding. There was a little blurb in there about it applying to destination weddings as well. We also are paying for the flight for his mom and sister that can't afford the trip but he really wanted there. Some of his other brothers and sisters (he has a lot) are going to help pay for their lodging and expenses while down there. Even paying with miles the taxes and fees added up pretty fast. There is no way we would have been able to do it without all my miles.

I would recommend a wedding coordinator to help with all the vendors. They can usually negotiate better rates and know which vendors to trust. As far as tours, we have used Vallarta Adventures on previous trips and were very happy with them. If you email them they usually will provide a small discount for groups and they are very helpful with any questions you may have about the trips. Have you toured any of the locations you listed? Those are all very different locations in very different areas of PV (or Saluyita).

I was told they cut off the electricity around 8 pm there. I don't know if that is true though. I would definitely ask. Most of the places at Yelapa looked open air with mosquito nets. Depending on what time of year you plan on going, I would check on A/C in the bedrooms (all night). We had a lot of fun the day we went over there to hang on the beach. There are a few resturants on the beach with pretty good food.

I am so glad you are okay and Macy's is doing some follow up. I can't wait to see the dress too.

I am also a 5.15.10 bride. You are much further along than I am! And I am super jealous about the bachelorette party in Vegas. I haven't even gotten the STDs out yet. I was trying to finalize a website before sending them.

No I must have overlooked the video. I will definitely check it out. Thanks!

I am so sorry you are having to go through all of this in what should be the happiest time of your life. I am sure you will be able to plan a beautiful wedding at home. Maybe you can get the resort to work with you regarding the deposits you made for the others (and they are jerks for not reimbursing you) and put them towards a room upgrade, resort credits, an anniversary trip, or something once you explain your situation.

Good luck!

What is the material of the train? I say keep it down and bustle for the reception. The sand won't get it dirty. You can have someone shake it out (good job for your brand new DH) when you get done at the beach.

Here is a link to Mishka Designs with that color combo. Mishka is a member on forum. Mishka Designs' Blog: Elegant Beachside Wedding!

Do you mean real coral (the deep red), or the color coral (the pinky/peach)? I have seen several weddings with turquoise and the deep red real coral color. They were beautiful. It was in magazines though. That was my original color combination but I have so much turquoise in my life, I decide to do something different. I was also worried about finding flowers to go with that combo.

Well hopefully they will move you to the nicer resort for the same price and give you some freebies for the hassle. It never hurts to ask. I would definitely hold off payment until "plan B" is finalized.

We are doing a Welcome Dinner and inviting all the guest attending the wedding. All of our guest will have to travel though. I think etiquette is to invite all traveling guests to your rehearsal dinner or have some kind of cocktail party before the wedding. From what I have gathered, most DW brides have a Welcome Dinner vs a Rehearsal Dinner. We are still debating a Welcome Dinner vs brunch. Brunch is cheaper and it free's up the evening for those that are coming in on Friday morning and leaving Sunday. This is a good way for all the guests to get to know one another and a good time to get speeches out of the way. I don't understand why your WC would have an issue with this. Does she have another wedding planned for the night before your wedding or not want to take the time to plan this event for you?

Cancel for any reason insurance must be purchased within 10 days of the 1st payment made for any portion of your trip. This is the only insurance that will cover things like a cancelled wedding (or let's say moved wedding), swine flu, etc. It also covers medical evacuation and things like that. There is travel insurance that will cover things like illness or death in the family that may cause you to need to cancel your trip but it will only cover the person affected, not all the guests. I got insurance for mine during the swine flu scare in May because I was trying to get insurance for a trip I had planned to PV then. I had booked the airfare too far in advance so I couldn't get it for that trip but was able to get it for the wedding trip. I used insuremytrip.com. They give comparisson rates. Hope that helps.

Does anyone have any pictures that would do it justice? This was one of the suggestions from my wedding coordinator but I was not that impressed with the website and couldn't get an idea of the view.

Has anyone been to Joe Jack's Fishshack? This was one that was recommended by the coordinator.

I am currently researching my welcome dinner options. The prices on this thread vary greatly. I really don't know what to budget. Has anyone looked into just a cocktail/appetizer welcome reception versus a full dinner or brunch? I really want to keep prices low and not out do the wedding. I too loved Barcelo tapas but the steep hill and 4 flights of stairs are not a good option for some of our guests. There are so many great resturants in PV. This thread has given me a list of resturants to try on my own when there regardless of what I choose for the welcome dinner.

I think everyone of us have gone through it. But if you ask anyone on here that has already had their DW you will see no one regrets it. Plus most of the invited guests that declined, regretted it later because the ones that did go came back talking about how it was one of the best weddings/vacations they ever had. Just be sure you give plenty of advance notice so people can save up for it. And isn't Atlantis running some great specials now? I saw a commercial for it the other day. I would love to go to the Atlantis for a wedding rather than New Jersey to some banquet hall! I am excluding grandparents from my wedding by going to Mexico but that was a sacrifice I decided I was ready to make. They are excited about the at home reception with photos and video of the event.