rach220

ahhh...I just had Wednesday AND Thursday off because of the snow...CRAZY!

Trip Advisor just released the 2009 awards! Check em out here http://cdn.tripadvisor.com/pdfs/tca/...Awards2009.pdf

Hey Marissa, I'm pretty sure the ASP does the ceremony in English (I think the Isla Mujeres Palace and Cozumel Palace are the ones in Spanish only) We are having just a cocktail reception (undecided on one or two hours) in the Pandero Terrace and then will have dinner at one the restaurants (non-private)... Check out the other Aventura Thread for pics of private event locations... http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t24314

haha...I just realized it's not an IM...sorry girls...I'll PM you Kelly... Still hating David's Bridal though...

I do! School Counseling grad major...you?

OMG! I can't believe this girl... I am getting married at the Aventura Spa Palace and originally had the same issue with pricing...I told my friends they could stay wherever and I would pay their day pass...I have two bridesmaids and one decided to stay at the hotel and one wanted to save money and stay somewhere else. I told the one that was staying with us how I felt and had her talk to my other friend. Neither of them have booked yet, but I'm pretty sure they will both be staying with us. As for the other people that may be coming their attitude seems to be that they want to stay where everyone else is staying. So if I can get one person on board, I think the rest will follow. The more I thought about it, it would totally suck if everyone stayed somewhere else. Not just for the cost of the day passes, but I really wanted everyone to be together. I wish I had never offered the day pass/stay somewhere else thing. I should have just said stay here or don't come and the people that really cared would be there... I'm so sorry you are going through this. Is there another friend that you can talk to to help you work everything out with this girl? Honestly, I wouldn't even want her at my wedding...hope she wasn't a really close friend

Oh no! I was just planning to try to make an appointment in Orange tomorrow night...I have class in New haven until 7:30, so I figure I can pop over there (it's kinda closeby) and try on a 0...not sure when else I will find time to go...I was going to try to call and make an appointment in the morning...I probably still will, but at least now I will be ready for the disappointment Thanks for the tip

Oh and it leaves from Puerto Aventuras too (even though it says Isla Mujeres in the link title!)

This one is $62 pp for 3 hours with open bar and hors d' oeuvres but you have to have between 30 and 45 people... Wind Games – Catamaran - Isla Mujeres, for groups

Private Sunset Cruise in the Riviera Maya oops...forgot to post!

There is a sunset catamaran out of Isla Mujeres Palace but it is kind of far... There are some pics in this thread... http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t30099 Also...here is a link to one of the tours that does this out of Puerto Aventuras Marina...very closeby! I would search for others that leave from here too

Current pic of the Pandero...

Here are a couple documents Yazmin (my WC) at ASP sent me. I think they are older pictures though...the railings on the gazebos look different in newer pictures I've seen. It doesn't say what the pictures are actually of in the first document (private events) but I can ask if anyone is curious...I only cared about the Pandero Terrace. Also, the Pandero Terrace has recently been renovated...she sent me a new pic, I'll post next... eventos privados ap.pdf Aventura Spa Resort Ceremony Locations (30JUN08) (3)[1].pdf

Hi Marissa, I have heard that the North Gazebo is nicer because it is more away from the crowd, but there is supposedly some sort of orange fence right near it at the edge of the resort I think...? Although most of the reviews I read said that it wasn't that noticeable and didn't show up in their pictures/video. I probably would have chosen the North Gazebo if I didn't have a child attending the wedding (so far just one, but she is my flower girl so it's ok)... I think the sunset boat ride (Catamaran Cruise?) is out of another Palace Resort...either Cozumel or Isla Mujeres Palace, but I think you can also do a private one right out of Puerto Aventuras or Playacar. According to their website, the latest time they can perform a wedding is 6PM. That was the original time we signed up for, but then changed it to give us a little more party time I have some pictures that my WC sent me I'll post in a few, and I'll see what other info I can dig up...

I'm also working in a school and the snow days are making me a little crazy...we don't leave until July so it's definitely not as nerve-wracking as your situation, but those last couple of weeks will be needed to finalize everything for me too...tomorrow will be our 3rd snow day and I'm sure there's more to come...

My friend (the one with the alteration problems last year) told me today that she had found her dress in the correct size at another David's Bridal and they said they can't exchange at different stores. So she had to have her 2 size 8s altered rather than just getting them in her correct size The whole thing is just ridiculous... Also, I can't order off the website because it says in store only AND I would also be paying for it twice and I can guarantee I would never see a refund.... It's just frustrating. I will definitely go to another DB to try on a 0 and then go back to the Danbury location if I absolutely have to if I decide to order it, but I have to find the time to do all these things. My next day off is my birthday in February, and that's not really how I want to spend it...

Thanks! I was definitely wary of the $1 price...but that site is great for more info! I am buying some for my BMs bags...

Absolutely! I don't think this is tacky at all...

Absolutely! I don't think this is tacky at all...

Yes, the Pandero is that brown open structure...I really wanted our ceremony there too (thought it would be nice to decorate with paper lanterns and such) and asked my WC about this. She initially said no...then I asked again and she said she would look into seeing if they would make an exception...but I haven't heard back yet. I'll let you know when I find out...

Very pretty! David's Bridal has a very similar one for $800 David's Bridal - Bridal Gowns ST9637 Chiffon split front A-line gown with pleated surplice bodice beaded empire waist.

Hey LeAnne...it was the DB in Danbury...I guess it's just hit or miss...I just posted my sob story here though http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t35895

OMG Thank you! You looked gorgeous...and it's so helpful to see the Pandero set up for a cocktail hour...it looks great! I can't wait.... ::incessantly checking for your pro pics::

I will start off by saying that I know several brides that had a wonderful experience at DB. They have a range of dresses, the ability to buy off the rack for the bride that needs a dress quick and are afforable compared to "designer" dresses. With that said I HATE HATE HATE David's Bridal. The first time I went was between Christmas and New Years, so I guess they were pretty busy. My Mom and I went to shop at Christmas Tree Shop in Danbury, CT for their after xmas sale...I saw the DB sign next door and they were advertising their $99 sale. I went in looking for a cheap TTD but there were only 7 or 8 dresses on the $99 rack and none of them were my style at all. So my Mom and I looked through the regular racks real quick and I found a dress I really liked (style P9345) and I just figured I would try it on real quick while we were there...HA! So I asked if I could try it on and of course they said they were booked until later that night and I needed an appointment. It was around 1PM and their next open appointment was at 7. Ughhh...so I made the appointment and figured, if we are still out shopping I'll come back, otherwise I'll just blow it off...I was kinda pissed because there were a million empty dressing rooms and I think it's ridiculous that you need a consultant just to try on a wedding dress (you don't for BM or other dresses). It would have taken me 30 seconds to put it on and decide if I liked it or not... But anyway we went to xmas tree and to the mall which is right there and really took our time and stretched it out...I couldn't stop thinking about it while we were shopping and really wanted to keep the appointment. I remember thinking how mad I would be if I wasted all that time and hated the dress, but I couldn't stand the thought of leaving and not knowing. Also, I work a LOT and very rarely (1x per month?) have days off so I knew I wouldn't get an opportunity to go another time for a while. So we walk in at about 6:50, hoping they might take us a little early, but they said they were a little backed up and it would be about 15-20 minutes. So we browsed through some more dresses and things...also the store was completely empty except for 2 younger girls looking at BM dresses, a bride purchasing her dress at the register, and a bride trying on dresses with her daughter. As for staff, there was one woman sitting at the desk in the front, one at the register, and one walking around. So we waited and waited and waited...I had my Mom try on some dresses so our time wasn't completely wasted and I picked out 3 more dresses I kind of liked (I figured if I was waiting this long I wasn't just going to try on one dress and have it be a complete waste). At 7:50 I complained. More than 45 minutes after our appointment is crazy. The store was empty! The one bride was still there trying things on (no consultant in sight) and there were a few people browsing shoes and things. They told me it would be "just a few more minutes." At 8:15 the consultant same over and introduced herself (who I had seen a half hour earlier sitting in the back room drinking a soda). I'm sure she was probably on a break or something, I'm sure it was a busy day, but I had been waiting forever. So she asked the other bride (who had just gotten dressed and was leaving) if her name was Rachel, and then apologized to her that no one had helped her try on her dresses. The bride was kind of rude to her (not that I blame her) but I would have given anything to have been able to try on dresses on my own! So I tell her I'm Rachel and she says "I hope you weren't waiting long." BULLSHIT. She knows I've been waiting over an hour and she doesn't even apologize. I'm not the type of person to be rude and I'm kind of a pushover so of course I was like, that's ok, although I was steaming inside. So I have my 4 dresses to try on and of course the one I really wanted was on the bottom of the pile, so we start with the others...the first one I put on there was beading on the top and it was already hurting the upper part of my chest on the sides (I have really sensitive pale skin) and my skin was bright red already so I said it was a NO, it was too uncomfortable. She told me I had to walk out and show my mom and look in the mirror...and she zipped it up (ouch!) and we walked out. My mom made a face and I was telling her how uncomfortable it was and the consultant starting talking about removing beads or putting some sort of anti-rash creme on my chest...do I have to practically scream that I don't like the damn dress? All she was concerned about was making a sale and getting her commission...the next two dresses were ok but not great. Of course with each one she tried to talk me into them...I'm not a very assertive person so it was hard for me but I had to basically yell at her to make her understand I didn't like the dresses! Ok so then I try on the one that started the whole day...and I loved it! It was a size 2 and it fit me perfectly! It hugged all my curves (which I don't actually have, but it made me look like I do!) and I was so relieved... So then I run into my own personal dilemma. A friend of mine had warned me about getting my dress altered there. Side story...she got married this past summer and had a very short engagement. Went to DB and bought 2 dresses that she couldn't decide between, both size 8. (She is like a 2). She didn't have time to order them in her size and they told her it would be no problem to size them down. She didn't think to ask about the price of the alterations (which is her own fault) so when she went to pick them up her bill was REALLY expensive. She had already paid $600 for both dresses and the alterations bill was almost another $600! They told her because it was done quickly and because the dresses needed to go more than 2 sizes (which is the most they say they can do, but they didn't tell her that the first time). So she paid, brought the dresses home to find there was a giant snag down the front of one of them! She brought it back and they fixed it for free, but it happened during the alterations and they had no remorse... Ok, enough of the side story....based on this experience, I really didn't want to have my dress altered. The dress fit me perfectly except for the length and the consultant said I might be able to order the petite. So she brings the seamstress out and they both say that yes, I can order the petite and it will probably fit me perfectly. My mom asked if it would change the way the dress falls and they said no, that it was just the length, and it was 4" shorter. We measured the dress as being 4" too long when I was wearing the 2" heels... So I am the worst desicion-maker ever. The dress was marked at $499, but there was a sale for $50 off through the end of the weekend. I know it's not a lot of money, but I really didn't want to spend that much, even though it was soooo perfect. The consultant told me I could go home and think about it and could call in to order it before Sunday night and still get the $50 off. I also really needed to leave because I had to be at work (I work 11PM-7AM) and it was already almost 9:30 and I was an hour from home and still needed to drop my mom off at her place and then go to my place and change before going to work. So I left... The next day (I sleep during the day) I had a dream about the dress, and couldn't stop thinking about it, so I knew I had to buy it. Sunday afternoon I called and ordered it in a 2 petite, in the hopes that it would fit perfectly AND not have to be altered in length. They said it would take 6 weeks to come in and would be ready on February 9th. January 8th I got an email that it had come in (it was really early so I was psyched!). I called to see if I needed an appointment to come pick it up and they said yes (which kind of pissed me off but I'm glad I checked). So I made my appointment for Wednesday the 14th. I was hoping to get a 3:00 which is right after I get out of work, but they didn't have anything until 4:00 so I had to take that. SO I get there and say I have an appointment and they look me up in the computer and say "oh, you already paid for your dress and you're just picking it up?" (key word: "paid for"). I said yes and someone went in the back, got my dress and put it in a fitting room and said there you go and walked away. I had a friend with me and we were both like WTF?! So, I had to go find someone to ask for a bra and slip. And they said they had to get a consultant for that. (I'm so confused about their appointment policy? I thought the appointment meant a consultant otherwise why can't I just walk in?) So the same girl comes back with a bra, and a very large slip (which I couldn't even wear since it was way too big but whatever). Luckily I had my friend there to help me hook the bra and give me advice, bc there was not a DB staff member in sight. When I put on the dress I was kind of unsure. It was too big in the waist and it just hit the floor, meaning I would have to be barefoot or wear flats. I thought maybe I lost weight so I had my friend grab the 2 regular off the rack so I could try it on again. It wasn't as perfect as it was the first time but it fit way better than the petite. So I'm upset that I've lost weight (I have been trying to gain weight for almost a year with no luck) and I'm upset that the dress doesn't fit and I'm upset that there is no one around to help me. So I walk around sulking and thinking for a while in my petite dress, trying to figure out what to do. Eventually, the same girl comes back and asks if something is wrong (I had been there almost an hour now) and I explain my feelings. She said it's impossible that the petite is bigger than the regular in the waist, and says I can take it in and goes to get the alterations woman. It's the same one from the last time and she tells me it's no problem to take it in and it will be about $65. I am thinking that maybe it's not that bad and even though I told myself I wouldn't get it altered because of what happened to my friend, but maybe that was a fluke. To alter the hem it is $125...so I figure I'll save the money by keeping the petite and just altering the sides (cheaper). It was already more than I wanted to spend. I also thought maybe I would gain some weight in the meantime. I asked about their return policy and they said I could always do a size exchange up until my wedding date if I changed my mind as long as I had the receipt. Next problem...I didn't get a receipt since I ordered over the phone...so they said they might be able to print one out for me...they did, but it was this big hassle and took forever to find me in the computer. So I went home with my petite dress....I took it straight to my parents' house for my mom's opinion...well, I wish I had brought her in the first place! We looked at the pictures we had taken the first night and the hips were higher on the petite (why it was too big). I was also unsure about wearing flats. Well that weekend put me over the edge on the flats thing...I went to a wedding with my FI. He's not much of a dancer and only danced one slow song with me, but while we were dancing I just about started crying. He's 6'4 (a whole foot taller than me) and even with my 4" heels it was awkward. I decided right there that I needed to be able to wear heels for our wedding and I had to return the petite dress or I wouldn't be happy. The following Tuesday (the 20th) I called DB with the intention my dress in a size 0. I figured since the 2 was slightly big on me, I would just get the 0 instead of telling myself I would gain weight (it's a been a year and I haven't so who am I kidding?!). I figured if the 0 didn't fit, I could always get the 2 (I have plenty of time until my July wedding, especially based on how fast the first one came in, although they tell you 6 weeks). Well, they told me I couldn't do an exchange over the phone and I had to return the dress I had before they could order me a new one. So I asked if I could make an appointment. They said I didn't need an appointment just to order a dress, and for the first time I got a little snotty. I said in the past I have made appointments and they have not been honored, so I would like to have an appointment just in case. Again, they couldn't give me a 3:00 so I took a 3:30 and ventured back to DB on Wednesday the 21st. I will say I was pleasantly surprised at this visit (at first anyway). I was by myself this time and had wanted to try on the 2 again just to see how it fit me since I had come all the way down there. The consultant got it for me and I tried it on. It fit ok, although it was still slightly big in the hips/waist (an inch on each side maybe) although it seemed to fit perfectly on top. The woman helping me was younger and was very nice. I asked her what she thought about me ordering a 0 and she said it might not fit in the chest. Now I didn't know what to do. The seamstress came out again (a different one this time) and she also said the 0 would not fit and I should just alter the 2 at the waist. (Although it was tight up top, my mom had been able to fit 8 fingers inside the dress while it was zipped, which she said was about a size). I had planned on ordering the zero, but at this point, with everyone telling me it wouldn't fit, I just decided to order the 2... So I get up front to do my exchange/order. And the girl is putting it into the computer and the consultant brings over the size 2 and says here you go. I was like, no I'm ordering one and they proceed to explain to me that they are not allowed to order a dress if they have it in stock. Well, this didn't sit so well with me. I know it's DB and it's not that expensive but if I'm paying full price for a dress I don't want one off the rack that has been tried on by thousands of brides. So now I'm stuck again. I said "if I order the zero I will get a new dress, but if I want the 2, I have to take this one?" and then they give me some story about how all their orders come from somewhere else on the rack anyway and nothing is "new." I guess this could be true, but the 2 petite I ordered had come looking brand new...they said they would make my 2 off the rack look brand new too after they alter it. I didn't know whether to believe this but I had already made my decision about the 2 and not the 0 and everyone said the 0 wouldn't fit...I was so frustrated and just wanted to get out of there...I figured maybe if I try on a 0 in a different dress just to see the size, I might feel better about it...so I ask if I can see a 0 and they tell me that they don't carry 0 in the store, it's a special order and that no DB carries a zero. At this point I wanted to cry and get the hell out of there with ANY dress, so I took the 2 off the rack and ran with it. When I got home I regretted my decision and asked myself why I didn't just order the 0 like I had originally planned...if it fit, great. If not, I could always order the 2 (or take the 2 off the rach, but maybe by then it would be gone). Why did I let them talk me out of it? So I called the other 2 DB in the state (both and hour and a half away from me) and both said they have several 0's on the rack, although neither had that particular dress. Is the Danbury location just a bunch of liars? I am so fed up and don't know what to do. I think I am going to go to the other DBs and try on a 0 to see how it fits me, but my next time off is February 21st. I'm sorry that I just wrote a book about this...I guess I am just in need of venting. I can't talk to my FI about it because he thinks it's ridiculous that I have 3 dresses and still can't make up my mind...my Mom won't listen to me complain because she says it's my own fault because I'm not assertive and have no decision-making skills (which is true)...haha... Any advice? What would you ladies do? Has this happened to anyone else?

I am getting married there in July and the splitting of the resort was kind of disappointing. We booked in the fall before they announced the split and the adults only aspect was the main reason we chose the resort. I made the best of it...now that the resort is allowing children I am able to have my cousin's daughter as my flower girl (one of the things I gave up originally to have adults only), but it does mean that everything we plan as a group has to be on the family side of the resort. It was also a problem for my FI...because we chose an adults only originally his sister was upset that she couldn't bring her 2 kids, and decided not to go. Even when we told her it was changing, she still said she can't go (using money as the excuse although my FI doesn't agree). I think she is still hurt but FI is PISSED and it has caused a big issue between them... The resort does look beautiful, although it sucks that it is changing. We spent a lot of time deciding on this place based on the adults only aspect and it was just too much of a headache for me to change resorts...I think FI is still mad that they changed but he didn't want to look for another place either...I think it will be good for a lot of people who wanted to get married here but passed on it because of the no children policy...