Tifuhhknee

He was one of the most affordable photographers who could put all the images on a CD and give them to me before we come back home to the states. I don't want prints from him, I can do that at home. Needed pics for our AHR, so he was our best choice. VERY prompt response in emails. The reviews I found were good. His work looks pretty good too. Just don't want a family member to be responsible for taking all our pics.

You got me right, April 21. We will be at Dreams Puerto Aventuras in Mexico. SO excited and can't wait. Â As far as tan lines go, I'm with everyone else. I actually started wearing bandeau tops this summer to dimish my years and years of halter tan lines. So far, so good. Victoria's Secret has swimsuits on mega sale right now, so I plan to possibly purchase a few more to have options. Wore the same one all summer and just bought another before going to Vegas. Â Done: Bought dress. Deposit down for date at resort. Travel Agent ready. STDs mailed. AHR hall booked. Reception decorator/planner booked. Uncles asked to cook for reception. DIY boarding pass invites are made in computer. Ordered FI's wedding band. Â To do: Meet with reception planner. Find BM/GM outfits. Print and cut out invitations (which I love love love). Purchase envelopes to mail them in ASAP. Find FI something to wear, along with my parents. Book our trip. Get a vail to wear at AHR. Buy jewelry. Â What am I missing? It's finally only about 7 months away!!

Thanks for the recommendation! I want mini pinatas for tables at our AHR and considered maracas also. Glad to hear this site is so great to customers. Will definitely be using them!

I am using TA Jill from the forum, she is great also. Booking ASAP, but we are not doing group rates for the reason that keeps coming up. Everyone seems to be going different lengths of time and I don't want to be responsible for taking care of everyone's trip (as I was for our last big trip down there in summer 2009). It's my wedding, so I don't want any added stress. To each his own and they just have to let me know if they book through someone besides my TA. Â I will be meeting with my aunt who is a decorator at receptions and kind of takes care of everything for that. Also going to have her help me come up with some sort of menu. Started on DIY passport invites, hoping to get those mailed out in September. STDs were mailed back in May and people are wanting more details... I have gotten so many facebook messages and I ask them to just wait another month. Â Dress is purchased (since October 2009) and still fits, yay! Mainly I need to get the invitations out, book the trip, and it's smooth sailing for awhile. It's FINALLY feeling like I have deadlines and that it is getting close.

Quote: Originally Posted by Oscar_Ernie Still looking for an affordable photographer...any help in this area would be greatly appreciated too! Trying to stay around $700 if possible. From what I've learned in my research so far, I may be seriously dreaming! What's a more reasonable price, in your opinion? I booked Octavio Montes. He is very reasonably priced and gives quick responses as well. His site is Mayan Riviera Wedding Photographer

Quote: Originally Posted by Janelley100 itsfinallyhere's Blue Starfish 1. JenB – Paradisus Palm – June 4-12, 2010 2. Chelle (Janelley 100) - Moon Palace - July 13 – 20, 2010 3. DestCabo10 - Cabo Rui, Santa Fe - Aug 10 – 20, 2010 4. Mexico102 - Mayan Riviera - Sep 27 - Oct 8, 2010 5. Katie (ktnicole) Siesta Key FL- Nov 3-10, 2010 6. Lovelytlc - Paradisus Palm - Nov 17 - 25, 2010 7. Nichole (coley8 - Paradius, Punta Cana - Dec 5 - 13, 2010 8. Christa (Daily2011) - Barcelo Maya Palace - Jan 11-18, 2011 9. Brandy (surpriseitstaken) - Barcelo Maya - Jan 15-Feb 5, 2011 10. Tifuhhknee - Dreams Puerta Adventuras - April 19 - 27, 2011 11. Southern Sweetie - Moon Palace - June 7 - 15, 2011 12. peterpanpixiedust - Dreams Cancun - June 14? - 26, 2011 13. Mallory57 - Moon Dance, Negril - August 11 - 19, 2011 14. Diamond girl - Oct 5 - 9, 2011 Any more ladies just let me know! Welcome aboard! YAY, so excited to be a part of this! Something borrowed and blue out of the way

Quote: So can anyone give me actual prices you paid and numbers of photos that you got for your wedding (resort photog or otherwise). It just seems SO expensive to hire an outside vendor once you factor in the additional fees. We're looking for simplicity in this whole destination wedding thing, not lots of details to figure out. But I want more than 70 pictures, and we definitely can't afford more than $600-700. Is this completely unrealistic? I do want decent pictures...This totally has me stressed now. I booked Octavio Montes for my wedding. He is very reasonable and his pictures are pretty good. Just getting a disc of all the pictures he takes, which will be delivered to us before we leave Mexico (which we need because we are having our AHR a week and a half after coming back home). His website is Mayan Riviera Wedding Photographer and he responds pretty quickly to emails.

Have y'all checked expedia? So far one of the only places giving me prices. Looking at 8 days, 7 nights from small town I live into Houston, then Houston to Mexico. Looking like about $1400 per person. I am thrilled! Not going to book yet, I know I can get a better deal later. But the price isn't bad, I could honestly book now just to get it over with. Haha, the wait is killing me.

fried : alligator

Would love to be added to this list if it's still available! Dreams Puerto Aventuras, probably traveling April 19-April 26 (or 27). Wedding date is April 21! I just love love love this idea. Thanks ) *Tiffany* Quote: Originally Posted by Janelley100 itsfinallyhere's Blue Starfish 1. JenB – Paradisus Palm – June 4-12, 2010 2. Chelle (Janelley 100) - Moon Palace - July 13 – 20, 2010 3. DestCabo10 - Cabo Rui, Santa Fe - Aug 10 – 20, 2010 4. Katie (ktnicole) Siesta Key FL- Nov 3-10, 2010 5. Lovelytlc - Paradisus Palm - Nov 17 - 25, 2010 6. Nichole (coley8 - Paradius, Punta Cana - Dec 5 - 13, 2010 7. Christa (Daily2011) - Barcelo Maya Palace - Jan 11-18, 2011 8. Brandy (surpriseitstaken) - Barcelo Maya - Jan 15-Feb 5, 2011 9. Southern Sweetie - Moon Palace - June 7 - 15, 2011 10. peterpanpixiedust - Dreams Cancun - June 14? - 26, 2011 11. Mallory57 - Moon Dance, Negril - August 11 - 19, 2011 12. Diamond girl - Oct 5 - 9, 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by badrianne I got my photos! Believe it or not these photos are from the resort photographer and all but the trash the dress were included in our ultimate package price. Josh and Adrianne These are great! Love the artsy TTD ones. The snorkel ones cracked me up. Lots of great ideas from your pics. Thanks for sharing so much detail on everything!

Quote: Originally Posted by m&d2011 Wedding Resort - Check - Deposit sent Photographer - Check - Deposit sent/confirmed - Sascha Gluck, Jacy said I will have to reserve one night stay for him Save the Dates - Check - Paid, they are being printed by Allurements by Rebecca I sent an email to Jacy yesterday asking a bunch of questions, so I will keep you updated! My TA said that she can get a local room rate for my photographer for the night. It's only about $100-$120 USD, so you may want to look into that!

Quote: Originally Posted by nucci My finance is mailing our save the dates today! I was thinking a little earlier than Jan for the invites too. Maybe in the Fall. I want to give my guests as much time as possible, especially since prices are higher than expected. You can always make the RSVP later, but at least they'll have the invites! I sent out STDs at the beginning of this month, giving everyone just over a year for a head's up. I want to send out invitations in the fall also. People need time to actually be prepared for something like this. Then in around February I'll send invites to the reception only for those I know won't come to Mexico.

Quote: Originally Posted by cjb0arder13 Our colors are aqua blue and lime green...no special significance, I just like the way they look together And I don't have a date twin on ANY of the threads yet. I think it's because my wedding is on a Monday and that seems to be pretty rare I'm thinking cobalt blue with lime! Fell in love with this... but prob flowers like that for just me and the girls with lime parasols. Who knows, I could change my mind lol. No date twin for me yet either? Oh well.

Quote: Originally Posted by J&E2011 hi everyone! I finally have a wedding date, yay! Nov. 4th, 2011. So excited to get started with all the planning! it feels like forever though... right now planning on getting our engagement pictures taken to include in our wedding website and the Save the Date. Does anyone have any suggestions for wedding websites? or STD? I set up a free website with theknot.com and it's super cute, the web address is a little long though. STD's I did FREE on vistaprint If you get the emails from them (which come 1-2 times a week it seems) you can get free stuff all the time. I paid shipping (about $12) for 200 postcards... super cheap and they do a great job!

The prices for early April (leaving on Easter Sunday actually) in 2007 were a little cheaper than what I am finding now. But what I've seen so far is pretty close to what we all paid to go last June. I figure if people paid it just for a vacation and not my wedding... maybe they will pay it for a vacation and a purpose! We will have to see. I'm crossing my fingers on prices going down too though so more people can try to make it.

Yay! Can't wait to hear how all these weddings are going. Ready for reviews and new pics )

Someone asked what we all have done so far, so here's where I stand. Deposit on date at resort. Deposit w/ TA Jill for booking. Wedding dress purchased (will get altered later, it's too long). STDs mailed (except a few I don't have addresses for). Reserved hall for AHR. AHR dress purchased (wearing THE dress awhile, then changing). Booked AHR photographer. Soon to do.. Deposit on photographer (thinking Octavio Montes, can get me cd of pics before leaving Mexico). Meet with cake people. Work on DIY boarding pass invites.

Yay Adrianne! Congrats, I'm jealous, have a blast! Sent out STDs about a week or two ago (a few addresses still missing, but the bulk of them are out) and have had really good feedback so far. I was pleasantly surprised. About to book photographer and my neighbor/landlord is a baptist minister (is that what the baptists are? sorry, i'm catholic!) offered to do our at home marriage for free before we go instead of going to the courthouse. So woo, everything is falling into place. )

I have a very strong feeling that I will be booking Octavio. I've only found one or two reviews, so I am a little apprehensive. But I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Quote: Originally Posted by roxmysockz Oh nooooo I just read a review saying it rained for 2 and half days during their trip in April!!! I cant imagine flying all my friends and family somewhere for a beach wedding then having to get married indoors!! I went in April 8-12 in 2007 and it rained maybe twice. But it is basically a quick rain shower for 5-10 minutes then it blew away and you would have never known it rained. The weather was amazing, not too hot yet and the water was just the right temperature to be refreshing when you snorkel or swim (I don't get in cold water).

Yay, glad to have found an April 2011 thread! I've been waiting to see one. ) April 21, 2011 here and I can't wait!

Thanks for the review! I haven't read a bad one yet about this resort and have stayed next door twice, so I know the area is fantastic. Can't wait to see pics! As far as a TA goes, I have been working with TA Jill from this forum. She has been fantastic so far and I hope she keeps it up, I have a long year to go before my wedding.

Whew, spent a good while yesterday getting all of our STDs addressed! Missing about 5 addresses, big whoop right, so all I need are my postcard stamps and they are on their way. Also bought a house this weekend! It's a mobile home, trying to get it moved this week and get moved in the week after that. ) April 2011 room rates are out too, yay! But waiting on air before we book anything. Happy planning everyone.

I thought I sent this the other day, but it seems to have not gone through, so I'll try again! Not sure if it's already been discussed, but just in case... My TA got in touch with Jacy on the whole outside photographer thing because all the other Dreams resorts allow a day pass for them instead of booking a room. There is no way around booking the room, however, if your photographer is from Mexico, you can get the local rate on their room, being 1100 pesos. Paying roughly $110 for a room for one night sounds much better than the prices I was finding for a room for one night online, so I thought I'd spread the word. )