daniepps

For any past brides who had their reception at Plaza Zavaz, did you use paper lanterns and if so how many and what size did you get?

I'm doing OOT bags and in them I'm putting stadium cups, shot glasses, a miniature bottle of tequila, a pack of cosmopolitan mix, personalized deck of cards, a welcome brochure and a weekend survival/hangover kit. I feel kind of bad though because I didn't want to spend a lot on the bag so the bags I ended up getting are soooooo cheesy! LOL At this point though I don't have the energy to try to find anything better so hopefully they'll pay more attention to what's in the bag instead of the bag themselves. FI wants to go room to room to hand out the bags as people arrive. At the reception we're giving cigars to the men and fans to the women.

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart How exciting!! You'll get it all done, don't worry Miracles happen in the last month I'm telling you! Your shower sounds like so much fun Quote: Originally Posted by taylorwd Ooooh your shower sounds like so much fun!! You will definitely get everything done. Just prioritize. And you know what, if for some reason something doesn't get done or gets forgotten, it won't matter once you step off that plane. You'll be in heaven and only you will know if some detail didn't get carried out. But my guess is you'll be having too good of a time to care! Thanks for the encouragement! I'm sure I'll get it together.

24 days to go and I feel like I still have everything to do!!!!!! I've pretty much ordered everything, just waiting for it to be delivered so I can start organizing everything. Maybe once everything gets here I'll feel like I've accomplished more. I am looking forward to my bridal shower this Saturday though. It's going to be a Sex and the City Theme. We're going to wear stilletos and sip Cosmos!

Quote: Originally Posted by meghan hey ladies! We have been at the resort for 3 days now....and it has been crappy weather...but it is a beautiful resort. We flew into a storm. It is getting better each day, so please, please, please, keep your fingers crossed for us that it doesn't rain on thursday! Even though it has been raining a lot, it is still super gorgeous. Our travel agent, the wedding holiday, was super nice and got us a private cocktail reception (not at our expense) so that was a lovely surprise when we met with the wedding coordinators today. I will keep you updated as to how everything goes...i am in my room as i have had a little too much to drin'k!! Lol it is my bedtime. rain rain go away!!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by jazz04 I'm not sure what everyone else is doing as far as packages, I'm having a hard time deciding. I feel that it may be best to start with the Pearl package and pick and choose add ons. Maybe more bang for your buck? Has anyone used the photographers the resort suggests? I hate to pay the 500 extra just to use one from outside. Also, my girls are wearing blue sapphire short dresses and I'm having a hard time deciding on the guys. My DH wants them to wear linen pants. Any thoughts? I did the pearl package and built on to it. I'm having a welcome/cocktail reception and a reception after the wedding. I didn't use their flowers for the wedding party but I got hanging bouquets for the ceremony site. I got real touch flowers from Sharon Nagassar designs. I'm not using their centerpieces either. I'm bringing a photographer from home. I had to pay for his trip and give him $1000 so all together we're paying like $2,200 for him to shoot for the whole weekend. We were going with one of the hotel photographers at first but it was going to cost $1,300 for 5 hours of coverage. If your photographer stays at the resort for 3 or more nights you don't have to pay teh $500 fee. Maybe your GMs can wear Sapphire colored shirts and linen pants.

Quote: Originally Posted by thefuturemrslutz Hey girls!!! Ok, time to check in with your to-do's!!!!! Scratch off what you got completed and add to the list...here is a reminder for what everyone was aiming for! STARTING Monday, June 14, 2010 ENDING Sunday, June 27, 2010 We will check in with what is done either as it’s done or every other Friday and start a new list! The futuremrslutz's (Lindsey) To Do's: 1) Book flights to Cancun (they keep going up and down...guess we just need to book and take the risk) 2) Assemble and mail invites (these will go out by Wednesday)-DONE!!!!!!! 3) Order OOT stuff-Have started this! 4) Book Vegas Wedding (Ryan is handling the entire weekend, except the actual wedding part...I will handle this.) 5) Bachelorette Party Favors-DONE!!!!! 6) Order linens, candles, chair ties (already ordered samples), etc 7) Book DJ 8 ) Finalize Thursday night party 9) Create Mock table set up with pics for the reception 10) Update website-DONE!!!!! 11) Decide on vowels 12) Order rose petals for the isle 13) Order garter, hair accessory, jewelry, etc 14) Bridesmaids/groomsmen gifts Taylorwd's new To Dos 1. Find new baker 2. Make a site visit to the party barge 3. Finish playlist 4. Delegate barge setup 5. Find extra coolers and trashcans 6. Resew missing buttons on wedding dress 7. Exchange/Return decorations AmandaMarieB’s To Do’s: - Register (hopefully today and yes I realize we are very behind on this)- DONE!!! - Order fiance's wedding band - Recieve and sign photog contract- DONE - Request rates for a BD shoot (Chris Schmidt?) - Work-out - Begin Qt Extreme Cleanse -Order gold bags for rose petals - Follow up on quote for real touch flowers and possibly order blume boxes -DECIDED ON REAL FLOWERS - Make sure photo booth stand will work - Find images and begin mock-up of post-cards using for guest book - Send mom guest list so she can keep track of RSVP cards -DONE -Begin searching for table card holders that will fit the polaroid-type photos from the photo booth -Receieve suit swatch samples and email groomsmen to order (assuming we like the swatches) - FI WANTS TO HANDLE -Start thinking baout hair and make-up -Start writing ceremony -Figure out DJ -Revise flower choices and figure out centerpeices -Order postcards from VistaPrint while they have the 100 free promotion -Email FI's dad about helping with cake topper -Send revisions/additions to the cocktail menu Kittenheart (Amy)’s To Do’s: Book room for someone Go get fun stuff @ Party City Receive invites and stamps, mail out ASAP Decide on flowers, purch or not Receive cupcake papers & toppers & buy cupcake stand Receive DH's bowtie & suspenders Order cupcakes Order things on sticks Go food shopping at Costco for snacks and booze for MOH to bring Pull out cash for transportation Create guest list to give to Skyloft peeps Have MOH email boys to get tacky suits Decide on hair and makeup and get photos for hair/makeup chick artist Get jars for flowers Buy sunglasses, necklaces etc for peeps Have DH get cigars Have twin make iPod playlist Meredith's new list 1. Insure my ring 2. Cocktail party decor 3. Follow up on invites 4. Work on AHR 5. Come up with ideas for BM's shirts 6. Decide on menu for reception 7. Get thread for welcome bag monograms Daniepps To Do’s 1. Buy tiara 2. Find and buy comb/barette 3. Find and buy jewelry 4. Find and buy bridesmaids jewelry 5. Get heels on shoes cut down-DONE 6. Make reception playlist-DONE 7. Buy placecard holders 8. Print menus and placecards 9. Buy unity sand set 10. Order programs-DONE 11. Decide what to do for centerpieces 12. Order paper lanters 13. Order bridal party t-shirts 14. Buy OOT bags and contents 15. Order reception favors 16. Order ceremony stuff- bubbles/tissues/rose petals 17. Pay for Ty's wedding band 18. Finalize ceremony Danielle's New To Do's 1. Buy tiara---DONE 2. Find and buy comb/barette---DONE 3. Find and buy jewelry 4. Find and buy bridesmaids jewelry----DONE 5. Get heels on shoes cut down-DONE 6. Make reception playlist-DONE 7. Buy placecard holders---Not going to use. 8. Print menus and placecards 9. Buy unity sand set 10. Order programs-DONE 11. Decide what to do for centerpieces 12. Order paper lanters 13. Order bridal party t-shirts 14. Buy OOT bags and contents 15. Order reception favors 16. Order ceremony stuff- bubbles/tissues/rose petals 17. Pay for Ty's wedding band 18. Finalize ceremony script---DONE

Quote: Originally Posted by meghan Mine is still in my account too! And I am leaving right now! That is crazy!!! Have a blast!!!! Can't wait to see pics when you get back!!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by dstinationdrmr Ladies, I wanted to let you know that we finally booked the AHR! It will be Mardi Gras weekend 2011! You want to come to my meet & greet and I want to come to your AHR!!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by taylorwd Ooooooh fun! And what a great idea!!! Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart That sounds like so much fun!! My final payment didn't go through until after I checked out of AS and I paid it a 3 weeks prior! I never even thought of doing it. It was actually the idea of one of the guests but I'm getting excited about that. It's been super hot here this week (it's 99 degrees today but with the humidity they say it feels like 107!) so hopefully that will make everyone get in the pool. The payment thing is CRAZY! It wouldn't bother me so much if I had used a credit card but I actually used my check card and it's a little hard for me not to dip into money that's in the account!

Ok so my final payment was due to the resort on June 16th. Tiffany pressed me and told me that she had to have it by that date. I made it my business to have it to her by that date and guess what............IT'S STILL IN MY ACCOUNT! I sent her an email and she told me it had to be approved by management but she's working on it.

Quote: Originally Posted by dstinationdrmr Yeah, this is happening to us monthly it seems. We have people who swear they're coming but still haven't even called the TA (groomsmen included) and we have people who decided not to come and not tell us. Two of my cousins sing, so I was going to ask both of them to sing at the wedding. The older one told me she had to check her schedule since she's getting to be all big time now and the younger one is still on the guest list as we speak. Too bad their mom had to tell me that both of them weren't coming. I've only seen the two of them like a hundred times since planning began. I even brought it up at dinner the other day and the younger one never said a word. Guess I should change my siggy. I don't think you'll actually know how many people are coming until the final payment is due and it still may be shaky after that! At one point we had 75 confirmed but that constantly changed. We had one couple pay the deposit for their room and then cancel it and STILL haven't bothered to mention that they cancelled. In addition to that stupidity I had one couple call my TA to book a room and by the time she called them back they told her they booked straight through the hotel! The final payments for the rooms were due May 21st. I've had 3 more people book through the hotel since then and more people still saying they want to come. I've already made my payments for food at the receptions and the chairs so I told FI that if anybody else decides to come they won't be able to sit at the ceremony or have food at the reception or get a OOT bag. I can't keep making adjustments this close to the wedding because people decided to procrastinate!

Quote: Originally Posted by dstinationdrmr It's almost your turn!! If you don't mind me asking, what is a pre-wedding meet and greet? Is that for the bridal party? We have friends in the wedding party who have a pool so they're inviting everyone who's going to Mexico over for a meet & greet pool party. We have 50 people going to Mexico and not everyone knows each other. We're doing a Mexican fiesta theme and having Tacos, fajitas, chips & salsa, margaritas and coronas.

I just looked at my wedding ticker and saw that it's 1 month, 1 week and 1 day til the wedding. I'm still waiting for the "excited bride" feeling to kick in. We're having a pre-wedding meet and greet this weekend so I'm sure I'll get the feeling then. Time is flying. I'll be in Mexico sooner than I think!

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda The catamaran was amazing. We went for 4 hours. They picked us up in a huge bus and drove us the 50-60 mins to Puerto Adventuras. The boat was new and gorgeous and the staff were super fun. We drank beers and rum punches and did the best snorkeling I have ever done. It was a bit scary at times b/c we were like less than a foot away from the coral. My in laws sponsored the trip and told Mark it was for a wedding. Let me tell you - they were great! They had flowers on the boat, and did a little special thing (I am not going to tell in case other brides are doing the cat and they should be surprised too!) for the bride & groom. It was fabulous. My in laws were super happy that it turned out so well and my parents were impressed so it was all good. This sounds like fun. I sent out my pre-wedding brochure and let everybody know that we may do this. Did you use Paradise Catamarans? And how far in advance did you have to make the deposit?

Quote: Originally Posted by dstinationdrmr So, I'm gonna try this again. These are the centerpieces my mom and I have been working on. Let me know what you think. Putting it in a Word doc was the only way I could make them fit. Attachment 5147 Very very cute!

Here's my To-Do list: 1. Buy tiara 2. Find and buy comb/barette 3. Find and buy jewelry 4. Find and buy bridesmaids jewelry 5. Get heels on shoes cut down-DONE 6. Make reception playlist-DONE 7. Buy placecard holders 8. Print menus and placecards 9. Buy unity sand set 10. Order programs-DONE 11. Decide what to do for centerpieces 12. Order paper lanters 13. Order bridal party t-shirts 14. Buy OOT bags and contents 15. Order reception favors 16. Order ceremony stuff- bubbles/tissues/rose petals 17. Pay for Ty's wedding band 18. Finalize ceremony script-DONE

Quote: Originally Posted by MaggieandJay Ladies, I have a question! The resort is telling my TA that in order to block a group of rooms for May 2011 we have to put up $300 a room. Did you guys run into this? My TA was a bit taken aback with the price. I knew we might have to put something down. Now with that said it's not like I have to block rooms but to get the current promotion they are running you do. Any Advice? Side Note: Current promotion if you block or outright book 20 or more rooms you get 20% off room rates and 20% off private events Quote: Originally Posted by taylorwd Unfortunately, that's about right. Ours was $150 per adult, so essentially the same. This is the eternal question when considering a group contract: Get one, lock in the rates and promotions but put down the deposit, OR don't get one, risk rates going up and/or the resort selling out (this last one might not be much of a concern with AS). For us, we did the group contract and blocked 13 rooms. However, we already had our guest list at that point and told our guests that if they wanted to come under our contract and with our lower, negotiated prices, they had to put down the $150. We never even considered fronting the $$ ourselves. Our guest list was only immediate family, though, so that made it easier. If you do put up the money, don't worry you'll get it back. When room balances come due, your TA will credit you back the money as your guests pay for their rooms. It can go to pay off your own room or they might reimburse you once it's all said and done. Each TA is a bit different. Quote: Originally Posted by amandamarieb I got 20% off rooms with 10 or more booked and 20% off special events with 15 or more rooms booked that's with the "bride and groom stay free package" we also got "free anniversary nights". Just this week I got the "get a free cocktail reception" when booking with a GI consultant added. This is all through Destinationweddings.com. But of course I also see what the other girls on here are getting and ask for it. (For example the free cocktail prty promo.) I am also doing the sky wedding and when i booked you had to do it with the silver or gold package but I saw that some of the other girls did it with the pearl package...and so I asked TA at DW.com and we made that work too. Thanks to this forum, already got a lot of upgrades and am saving a lot of money. (Still over budget but just by a couple of thousand and getting most things I want.) Oh and my guests only needed to put down $100 per person to reserve the rooms. Again through DW.com. My TA can be sooooo slow, so much so that I've had to complain to her boss (didn't help) but I guess it was worth it because seems like I am getting a good deal. Hope that helps you. Quote: Originally Posted by amandamarieb Ok so looking back, maybe I misunderstood a bit. I blocked out 25 rooms (but we've already booked 27, yay!) We had a month to get enough people to put down a 5k deposit. So I guess that works out to $200 per room. I asked guests to put down a deposit and then we paid whatever was left of the 5k. Since some people paid in full straight away, ended up only being about 1200 and we're getting that refunded this month now that I have 50 some odd guests booked! Whoo hoo! I believe the deposit for blocking a group of rooms is standard. I'm going through DW.com too so I had the same promotions as Amanda. I also blocked 25 rooms and there was no way I was coming up with $5000 to put on the rooms so I too told people that they needed to make their deposits in a month or risk the price going up. The price never went up. In fact, if you go on the hotel's website they're running a special and the rooms are like $200 cheaper than what my group rate was but anyway I think if you tell people they need to make their deposits in order to lock in their rates they will do it and you won't have to come out of your pocket with the money.

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Also, got some more pictures my photog put up on a website, these are temporarily up if you wanna check them out Amy + Daylen 2010 Beautiful pics!

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda The donkey is definitely still allowed at the resort. They will ask you in your planning meeting if you want the donkey or no donkey. I said - YES DONKEY! All of the contradictions are crazy because I'm getting the donkey cocktail hour and was told that the donkey was definitely not allowed at the resort anymore. It really doesn't matter to be because I just chose that cocktail hour because of the food that was offered but I would've opted to have him there if it was offered.

Quote: Originally Posted by meghan I'm glad to hear this! I was avoiding getting a signature drink because of the cost, but I will wait till I get there and ask for it then. They told me that there are some ingredients in the drinks that aren't included in the open bar. I haven't responded to ask what ingredients in a lemon drop aren't included since it's only vodka and lemonade! I printed the list of things that are included so I may come up with a drink from that list or I may just wait until we get there. I don't think it's that big a deal to argue with the WC about it but I do think it's really stupid that they would even say you would have to pay for drinks at an open bar that's at an all inclusive resort!

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda I think some of the girls pushed back and got them included for free. I feel like the more you talk, the more you get. You might not get anywhere with the Miami coords, but the Mexico ppl will sort you out. Pull the "past brides have done this and there was no charge" line as well. So, yes, I think I want to go back to Mexico for my honeymoon and really enjoy it. Adventura spa palace is booked solid in Aug & Sept (crazy). But there are some good deals on Expedia so I might just try to do a week somewhere - and not look at Trip Advisor. How does anyone book a trip anymore with Trip Advisor making you second guess every decision I think I will have to go with the "past brides" approach and good luck to finding a honeymoon spot. Do you want to stay on the east coast of Mexico? What about Cabo?

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Yay!! Congrats! Good morning No way, no charges for me and I had two signature drinks! One at the ceremony spot, one at the reception. The coordinator even called us one day and said the restaurant manager wanted to set up a tasting for our reception signature drink. During our coordinator meeting earlier that day they brought in our ceremony signature drink for us to try. They made us feel very special and offered up different options to our drink to make sure we had exactly what we wanted. Ok I thought that was a little bit ridiculous and what's even more ridiculous is that all I asked for were lemon drop martinis and french martinis. Any bar should have the ingredients for both of those drinks so I shouldn't have to pay anything for them.

I just reached Member status! Yay for me!!!!