Sycamore Tree

I am using Pierre Visual Studio located in Playa Del Carmen. During my site visit, I met with Pierre and after our interview, he took my FI and I to the beach and took photos of us. He then emailed them to us that night and we used them on our save-the-dates. He does not charge an arm and a leg. I have photos of his work. If you are interested send me a PM. Pierre Visual Studio - Professional Picture Production Marie

My FI and I met with Paula and Damian in May 2009. They are very lovely people, so personable and friendly. We would have chosen them to be our photographers if we married in Jamaica.

I used wedsimple to design my wedding website. I love the results! The Wedding of Marie and Nathaniel - Welcome Marie

I came across Malisa on this very forum and was so impressed by her review of Tulum, that I gave her major koodos and went on a wedding scouting trip of my own (but I stayed at Dreams Tulum instead of the local hostels). If I hadn't found the forum, I would not have found the wedding location of my dreams - Milamores - and I would not have had the priviledge to work with Malisa. I hired Malisa as my WC, because she is a genuine traveler and she's a natural manager. I did not have much luck with other planners in Mexico as I realized, after speaking with them in person and over the phone, they already had their vision and did not listen very well to my opinions. Malisa listens and offers alternatives if something I have my heart set on may not be realistic, given the locale/vendors. Each week, Malisa and I run through her wedding planning tool and wedding checklist and make key decisions almost effortlessly. I am VERY PLEASED with her level of service and attention to detail and $$$. I am looking forward to the months ahead, planning with Malisa, and sharing my special day with her. Marie

I search for trunk shows and went to one for Priscillas and Yolandas alone. I also went to a bridal outlet (they get the leftover samples but many dresses were in good shape) alone. When I finally went with my MOH and her niece I realized what I had been missing - the oohhss and aaahhhhs and squeals. The first dress I tried on I bought. They squealed at it the LOUDEST. I am having my first fitting in December 2009. I can't believe I have to wait that long. A little news - Vera Wang's 2010 line include a demi-couture collection of dresses under $7,000. If you go to her 2010 trunk show (I did), you get 15% off and a complimentary veil. This is from an article: "Wang’s new collection is as elegant and intricate as ever with a slight organic feel, showing she was unafraid to use color to cater to the more informal wedding. The gowns revealed different layers and details from every angle, and as Wang describes it, “It’s as if the dresses have gone through the washing machine.†Vera’s new gowns create a certain lightness and energy with mismatched and strategically placed bows tied in different directions. Wang also has finished one of her career-long dreams; to make a black wedding dress (SJP may not regret her black wedding dress if she wore this one.) Constructed originally for celebrities and socialites, Wang’s dresses are now becoming more affordable. Dresses that retailed for around $13,000 last season are now in the $7,000 range. Some gowns will even retail for less than $3,000. Wang has lowered her median price down 40%, having 10 gowns at $3,800 level (too bad I wasn’t getting married this year!)"

I used wedsimple and paid $60 for a full year. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the website features.

Congratulations! I recommend a scouting trip so you can select your venue. My FI and I are planning a second scouting trip in November 2009 - cake tasting, hair/makeup trial runs, and enjoying a weekend stay at Milamores.

You're welcome. Our wedding is May 8th 2010 so we were pretty well ahead of the game when we went down there. We didn't stay at Milamores when we went down the first time but the rooms looked really nice when Pamela gave us the tour. Did you check out Malisa's website? There are tons of pictures there that can give you an idea of the rooms. As for restaurants it is fairly far down the beach so it is not as central as say Ana y Jose but I think one of the best restaurants in the area is very close (I think it is called Hechizo or something like that).

We visited Milamores in May of this year to scout it out for a wedding location. It was a bit of a dark horse candidate but as soon as we saw it we were sold. It is very charming and the location is beautiful. The owners are great as well they dropped what they were doing to give us a tour and had a cold drink waiting for us afterwards. The $150 covers food, drink and all the set up incl a 5 course meal (their chef is excellent) 4 hours of open bar and half a bottle of wine per person at dinner. They would probably be willing to work with you on the cost of the reception if you didn't want open bar but we decided that the cost was not too bad compared to other venues even at $150pp. Check out destinationscout.com for pricing and pictures of many of the rooms there. Malisa (the destination scout) is a member of this forum and will be very helpful in getting in touch with Pamela at Milamores. I would recommend contacting Malisa but you could also try contacting directly at [email protected]

Pamela must translate all emails written in English, that is the cause of the delay. I hired Malisa as our WC and she is handling all communications with Milamores.

There is a woman on the forum named Malisa who has a website destinationscout.com . She can probably get in touch with Pamela at Mil Amores for you. Otherwise keep emailing she can be somewhat difficult to get in touch with. Eventually she will respond; Mil Amores is definitely worth the effort.

Milamores is so enchanting.

Selena Wong is located in Kingston and she comes recommended - her cakes have been featured on Martha Stewart's wedding website.

Claudia is very responsive with emails. I bet her brother, Erick, in Cancun. He's very nice and laid back. They do great work. [email protected]

Thank you so much for your review of Ivan Gomez. After meeting with him in Cancun, I hired him to be my DJ. I'm so excited to hear good reviews.

Boven, Ivan Gomez aka DJ Doremixx [email protected] He is very nice and laid back. There are some posts on him and he is less expensive compared to DJ Mannia. He did not seem to have a problem with driving home from Mil Amores at who knows what hour.

Boven, Check at Marvin Jose Ku Kinil. I was told Vanessa has him prepare centerpieces and such when she is at max capacity. .::: Maya Diseño Floral Profesional :::. Flores y Plantas Exóticas I met Marvin two weeks ago and he is less expensive, compared with Vanessa. He prepared 7 arrangements for my visit. He is very nice and is really aimed to please his clients.

Negril is so much better. That resort does not have a gorgeous beach and it is far away from the lovely people of Negril. It's enormous and it does not have an ideal location.

Did you get a reference for Jennifer Smith? Also, she said she would charge me $1,000 for WC services.

Did you get a reference for Jennifer Smith? Also, she said she would charge me $1,000 for WC services.

I am getting married in Mexico, but my second choice is Tensing Pen in Negril. The cliffs and grounds are beautiful, the water is so salty and bouyant, the people are fantastic. Everything is "Ya Mon" and "No Problem". Paula and Damian from Sun Gold Photography are cool and professional. The WC Sonia does not seem very available but Paula from Sun Gold assured me when your wedding day arrives, it will be perfect. The food at Tensing Pen is good. Be sure to go across the street to Sharky's and ask Juliett for a plate of her jerk chicken. It was the best on the island. The people in Negril are amazing and real. Montego Bay is for a different crowd.

Boven, who is your florist and dj?

You said you are going to have dinner/dancing/beach lounge/cigar roller/bonfire, etc on the beach. I am hoping for 60 guests. Milamore has a large private beach but I was thinking of having the dinner and dancing inside. What made you decide to have it outside?

Your pictures are beautiful. Who did you use for your cake?

I recently returned from a scouting trip and I stayed at Dreams Tulum. Be sure to have the chef prepare a tasting menu for you as the food was good but not great and the all-inclusive margaritas were sub par. The staff is wonderful, especially the bell boys dressed in safari hats (not sure why?). The rooms smelled like they should - you are in the tropics. A bridal party arrived one day during my visit and they were put in the less desirable rooms. They complained the rooms stunk like poo. I am not sure why they wouldn't have given them better rooms as the hotel was empty (due to H1N1 flu scare). The next day we overheard the bridal party complaining that Dreams Tulum was giving the rehearsal party pizza and beer for dinner.