CnC

Quote: Originally Posted by jkcz0702 My DH is taking me to this resort next Friday for my bday for 10 days I am so excited if anyone needs pictures of anything just let me know. Have a fantastic time and yes! Share the pics! If you don't mind, and you happen to go by the chapel, would you mind sharing with me what you thought? Thanks!

Hi CDN! I'm on a same boat. I'm Canadian, my FI is American. We both live in the U.S. although in separate states. We did discuss having a civic ceremony in the U.S. then having a symbolic DW ceremony, but I really do think I want to ceremony to be when we first say 'I do'...so, for now we are just focusing on choosing a venue and a date. Let's keep in touch and see how it all fares! Good luck and happy planning!

Quote: Originally Posted by blana R u liking it so far? Hi Blana, Thanks for asking! Yes, I love the Uptown area and enjoying it...except for the heat! Boy, this heat definitely needs getting used to! Great news is my FI decided that he'll move down with me for about 6-7 weeks to minimize our time apart. I am so excited since this means I can enjoy TX even more and we can actively plan our wedding together instead of over phone calls and emails. It won't be until the end of the month, so I've got to be patient...and sadly, since my place doesn't allow dogs, we need to take our dogs to his sister's (Fargo, ND) for those weeks when he's coming to stay with me (he lives in Chicago). Quite a road trip ahead of us, but nonetheless, sooooo excited!

Quote: Originally Posted by Graciela Hello Ladies! As promised, here are my professional pictures from our wedding! We got Marco Cossu to do some pics during the reception (which is included in the Unforgettable Package - 36 pics) but if photos play an important part in your wedding, which they did for me, I highly suggest DELSOL Photography. Vincente did our pics, he's a bit cheaper then Sol or Matt but in my opinion just as good. Our slideshow: 05.08.09 Graciela y Jamie | Wedding at Valentin Imperial Maya | Photos by Vincent All 352 pics: ..:: Pictage | Registration ::.. (You have to become a member to this website, just click "other") Just want to send out a congrats to Hailadam and Soon2bePowers! Glad to hear that your weddings were everything you hoped for and more! Lovely, lovely photos! You're one beautiful bride! Would you be putting up a review for VIM? How did you like the resort/chapel? How did your guests like the resort? Was it relatively easy to get in and out from the airport? So many Q's!

Thank you for the review! You are stunning and you and your hubby make one great looking couple! I was wondering, did you by any chance see the chapel while you were there? Any thoughts/opinions?

Thank you for the review and the pics! You are a gorgeous bride! VIM is on my top 2 list from Mexico area, mainly b/c I would like a Chapel ceremony. Did you happen to see the chapel? Any opinion? Also, did you, DH, and the witnesses stay 4 day requirement? Other resorts have told me that this isn't necessary, but VIM WC has told me this is required...not sure who to believe... Congratulations on your marriage and hope you are loving being the newlyweds!

Thanks all for helpful tips! It's now been 6 weeks since engagement and still no date, no venue. My FI is starting to clue in how difficult it is to pull the info, and all the little things we need to consider. He's being more proactive now and I cannot be more thrilled. On the other hand, I've now become more apathetic where I just want someone to come in, ask me the right questions, and "wahla!" make it happen. I know I need to buck up...but really, with work, family events (my brother just got married and we've had a number of birthdays and graduations in the past few weeks)...how do you do this? Respect to those who are making it happen!!!

I check Rue la la; Gilt; and HauteLook almost daily. These sites are addictive!

fantastic! Thank you!

Quote: Originally Posted by blana OH right...your the one who just moved here and lives in Uptown right? Yes! Great memory!

I'm just wondering how many of you have used a travel agent (TA) and what were the good and the bad... Here're my thoughts on considering a TA: 1) We're narrowing down on selecting a venue and hoping that a TA can offer advice; 2) Thought it might make things easier on myself and FI to have a 'to-go-to' person for the guests (instead of us trying to be the middle person between the guests and the resort); 3) Thought it might also make thing "neutral" and perhaps reduce the drama? (although, if we aren't lucky, I get the feeling from other threads that it may cause more drama...) 4) I've had experiences on my own vacations that if there's a mistake in booking, a TA was able to sort it out better/quicker than myself or others trying to solve the conflict with the resort once we've arrived at the destination. I would really appreciate your opinion! Also, know of any good ones in Chicago/Dallas/Toronto Thanks in advance!!!

Hi there, I live in Dallas, but FI is in Chicago. Haven't decided on a wedding venue yet but probably in Mexico...

Ugh~ Palmilla was on my short list until I was told the Chapel is only for Catholic weddings (and it will be in Spanish) - Is this true? Anyone have heard otherwise? The person I heard from O&O didn't seem too trustworthy...hopefully I can here from someone here... Thanks!

EDR is on my priority list - mainly because I'm looking for a chapel ceremony and there seem to be only a few AI resorts that have on-site chapel. I will be religiously going through all 51 pages of posts soon!

Hi ladies, I've now written their general email addy twice and have called and left messages but no word from Lauren/Joanne/anyone... I managed to find as much as that 'Joanne Duong' is the planner - is this correct? Does anyone have a direct phone # or email address you wouldn't mind sharing with me? I'm looking for a chapel wedding and I'm getting anxious to find more info from them... Thanks! Please feel free to PM me or write me at [email protected]

Quote: Originally Posted by JLRJEN Hi Jennie, I'm getting married on December 12 at the Valentin. We looked at EDR and VIM. We chose VIM. My fiance and I paid $2200 total for seven nights including airfare, taxes, and transfers. If you take out the airfare and transfers, it works out to about $215/room/night including taxes. Gotta love low season! JLRJEN - Would you mind sharing how you chose VIM over EDR? Was it solely based on the cost?...did you have any not-so-good experience (or hear of) with EDR?

Quote: Originally Posted by soon2bePowers Hey Girls, I leave tomorrow morning at 7:00am!!! My mom and step-dad arrived at the Valentin on Saturday and said the place is amazing! They said it is currently very hot and humid. The food has been fabulous, the beach is amazing and the staff is wonderful! We can't wait!! I will post pics and a review when I return. We are gone for 10 days!! Can't wait to hear your review! Have a fantastic time and Congrats~

Thank you ladies! Such helpful advices. I can feel the love and appreciate it much! I just noticed that there is a specific forum designated to venting (chit chat corner) that I couldn't find last night when wanting so desperately to vent (to post)...sorry...apologies...

Quote: Originally Posted by foxytv CHeck out this link. It's in Sonoma and has a chapel. Not sure if they perform weddings there or not... :: Sonoma California : Wineries: Nicholson Ranch Vineyards and Winery This link also is about Sonoma - and has info about building the chapel replicas for weddings. Good Luck!!! Sonoma Wedding & Event Guide including catering, photography, and sites Thank you!

Quote: Originally Posted by purrfected I was in a wedding in Northern California a few years ago. I sent my girlfriend an email to find out the name of the winery. We had the wedding and reception at the same venue. It was really beautiful! Her pictures were awesome! We were somewhere near Lodi I believe. When I get the name, I will be sure to share! Tammy Thanks, Tammy! I'll look forward to it!

Hi Jessica&Adam! I just moved to Dallas from Chicago (before that, I was in Toronto) in April! It was also job-related and I knew NO one. It was a big culture shock to me but, seeing that you are coming from San Antonio, the transition may be a bit easier for you...(meaning, I haven't owned a car in over 15 years!) I did an extensive research as to where to live. I chose Uptown. It's young, fun, safe, and only neighborhood I found people WALK around! It is busy in main streets, but also very neighborhood-like and friendly. Good luck with the move! and Congrats on your promotion!

Hi ladies, If anything, please, read this in amusement that a bride-to-be has lost it even before STARTING to plan her wedding and felt the need to vent...on this Friday night, sitting in front of TV, with her dog asleep at her feet, FI is long distance and away... I've now gathered a bunch of information from a bunch of venues from Pacific to Atlantic. [Mind you, I still haven't heard from some resorts, and do not have info for 2010.] But none of the venues, I fear, has provided me with clear information. What happened to a table clearly identifying "what; when; how much"? I know my FI is expecting exactly that. This means, I will have to go through all the information, sort them out, make a table, and be able to present a clear proposition as to why one venue is my favorite and it should be our venue...that is, when I figure out for myself what I want... I know, I know...this should all be fun! [Not really...when I ask a venue, that is a service provider, I expect the answers to be given to me clearly...which has not been the case.] Yes, a small voice inside me says just do it - start reading, writing, organizing, listing, etc....[but I just find myself being overwhelmed over and over.] I did get as far as organizing my overflowing inbox by venue and highlighting the front runners (solely based on the look of a few pics on website). Most venue won't give me a specific proposal or even a guideline unless I know how many ppl and when - well, HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO DECIDE WHEN AND HOW MANY TO INVITE IF I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'LL COST ME My FI wants to gather all the info; then for us to sit down and weigh all the options. Well, hm...I cannot gather the information without having some of the details which are dependent on info I would like to gather first! So, how did you do this? What was your priority? Where should I begin? Also, do you know exactly when is ON versus OFF season in Mexico vs. Caribbean vs. Hawaii? Are they different? I'm such a novice to this... Thanks for reading. [i promise you, I'm not usually this whiny. I'm a "do-er", not a whiner...but this wedding planning thing has been more difficult to start than anything else I've done!]

Quote: Originally Posted by Christine we had our ceremony in a church in Napa and then headed over to the Gaia hotel for our reception. I actually didn't do anything but have a wine tour the day after the wedding for some guests. So many of the wineries are beyond my budget for weddings. Thanks, Christine! Would you mind sharing which church you used? Did you use a Wedding planer? How was Gaia hotel?

Thank you so much for the review! It's currently #1 on my list...hopefully my FH would go for it!

Cute! Nice job! Thanks for posting the ppt.