cjb0arder13

Quote: Originally Posted by Lindobride14 Mischaka and Cjb0arder13- OMG I am in the EXACT same situation. I booked the Lindo for our 01/22/11 wedding and paid the deposit to secure our date based on an estimate our TA gave of around 1596pp for a week. Well, as of today, the "rack rate" is $2139!! I know she said estimate, but $500-600 more?! I contacted a diff TA who specializes in DWs and it was explained to me that Iberostar resorts have not negotiated their 2011 contracts with tour operators (such as Apple, Funjet, etc) yet and that they will do so ANY DAY NOW. As soon as they do, the rates should go down. This may be the case for you girls too -- hope so! To add insult to injury, my sister's coworker informed her today that she'd been to the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo recently and she told her that she thought $1500 for a week "sounded high" LOL. At this point I would welcome 1500 with open arms! I made the mistake of opening my fat mouth and telling a few friends & family members that it should be in the neighborhood of 1500 plus or a minus a few hundred $. Whoops Lol...I think we are on the same page. I told people who asked "Oh, it should be no more than $1700 pp for 7 nights, with flight...hopefully closer to $1500!" and now I am EATING my words. I sent invites out two weeks ago (I know, super early) and people are already kinda freaking out about the prices. It's hard to convince them that prices SHOULD go down in summer time, when I don't know for sure that they will, or how much! My TA said the specials will come out in summer, and at that point we can lock in the lower rate. If all else fails, I can always switch to a different, less expensive resort. Luckily my room deposits will transfer, but the wedding deposit won't. I'll just have to wait and see!! This is the most frustrating thing so far!

Quote: Originally Posted by Mischaka It felt like someone just kicked me in the gut...lol The prices for my resort are higher than what I was expecting. It's cool cause it's gonna happen but wow! Girl, I am so on the same page!!! Our prices right now are "rack rates", meaning they just came out and are super inflated. It's kind of freaking me out, because my TA "thinks" they'll go down, but there's no guarantee, and I can't ask my guests to pay $2200 each (with flight) to come to our wedding! I was hoping to stay more around $1500-$1700 with flight for 7 nights. So now I'm considering changing the resort, and losing my wedding deposit, unless prices go down. Sigh. I hate being stressed out this early in the game!

Quote: Originally Posted by Lindobride14 Does anyone have their flight/hotel rates yet? My TA said she's still waiting on the rates from the vacation companies, but I heard somewhere that you can get rates as long as you're less than 330 days out? I'm getting so impatient! I hate that I booked the resort but have no idea what my guests are going to pay!! I was able to get my hotel rates (although they are REALLY high right now...my travel agent says they should go down in the summer, and at that point we can lock in the lower rates). Airfare is out for some airlines, not all...and actually, the resort we want to stay at for our honeymoon doesn't have their room rates out yet, which is weird. I would say be next month ALL rates should be out...at least I hope that's the case!

Lolo...congrats!!! I'm VERY excited to see your review when you have time Welcome home!

I know, it's the one thing I don't have to stress about because I know she'll do such a great job. Now, if only I had such good connections for everything else!

Quote: Originally Posted by taylorwd Question: Are you girls buying all this makeup b/c you're going to do it yourself the day of? You've got me thinking I need to get on this! AmyKH, I'll try your suggestion about the pic and see what I get. I'm trying to paste directly from the web without going through an storage site like photobucket but I think I'm technology challenged. It's weird b/c I can see it on here but no one else can! I'm totally spoiled rotten. My best friend/bridesmaid owns a hair salon and always does my hair, so she's doing it for me. She also trained with a celebrity make-up artist in Vancouver, and she works on photo shoots and music videos all the time so she's doing my make-up too! I think she's going to bring her make-up kit (all MAC and Make Up Forever) but I'll bring my own just in case.

Quote: Originally Posted by ahollo02 Thank you guys for your help!! I'm not sure if I want to do a civial or symbolic service yet.. how many days in advance would you arrive for a symbolic one. Say I arrive on Saturday, would you get married Tuesday? I think every resort is different. I'm getting married (symbolic ceremony) on a Monday, and we have to arrive on Thursday. The resort's website says for symbolic ceremonies, you have to arrive 1 business day before, but the off-site wedding coordinator said 2 business days. So even if the website says one thing, I'd confirm with the WC....just one more example of inconsistent info! Sometimes it gets frustrating

Quote: Originally Posted by taylorwd Good luck with the 5k!! Not being a runner myself, I'm awed by those who run. And good job getting back on track! Agreed! I don't run unless I'm being chased by someone with a knife I played soccer most of my young life, until I was 17, and then just got in the cycle of being a lazy-bones. I REALLY need to find something I LIKE doing and stick to it! So much easier said than done.

Hey ladies!! Haven't posted in a couple days...been too busy stressing on my own! haha. I had a *minor* freak about prices...right now, prices are running about $1700 per person WITHOUT flight. Now, my TA said prices will go down a bit in spring/summer, so I'm hoping against all hope that they go down significantly! I was hoping to keep it under $1600 with flight for 7 nights, so we'll see if I can achieve that We've got deposits down on our room, my mom/dad, sister/bro-in-law, brother/niece, so it's becoming real! woo hoo! My invitations are almost finished, just have to put them together which I'm going to try to do this week to have out in the mail by this weekend. I'll post pics as soon as they're all put together!

Quote: Originally Posted by ~Nicole~ Erin, I've added you to the list! If I missed anyone let me know! March 2010 Lolo – March 3, 2010 Melsha - March 16, 2010 April 2010 daifje - April 10, 2010 taylorwd – April 17, 2010 – Azul Beach Aneliese26 – April 19, 2010 sunkissed bride - April 22, 2010 May 2010 27 dresses - May 5, 2010 LivandScot - May 7, 2010 KittenHeart - May 8, 2010 Mocashman – May 10, 2010 Erinandbrent2010 – May 14, 2010 Sammyhawk – May 19, 2010 Renee1811 - May 28, 2010 Amybermuda – May 29, 2010 June 2010 July 2010 meghan - July 2, 2010 Meesh – July 10, 2009 momichele – July 24, 2010 Daniepps – July 31, 2010 August 2010 September 2010 October 2010 November 2010 ~Crista-Lee~ - November 10, 2010 December 2010 jaimeburns – December 10, 2010 January 2011 February 2011 Less is More – February 19, 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 JaimeTalis – May 7, 2011 Hi Nicole! Any chance you could add me? I'm a Azul Beach bride, but we don't really have our own "thread" so I'm hoping I can butt in to yours My wedding date is January 31st 2011.

Picking the resort is THE hardest decision to make, in my opinion. Honestly, I started looking back in Septemer '09, and just picked a resort three weeks ago! In the end, I told my TA what I was looking for (price, good food, good beach, service) and then had him list out his recommendations, and the pros and cons of each. He had only good things to say about Azul Beach, which cemented my decision. Are you working with a travel agent? That might be a good place to start. Many times, they've either been to all the resorts you're interested in, or have had clients stay there, etc. There are tons of fabulous travel agents on this forum! Good luck!!! I totally feel your pain

So, I'm probably going to be alone on this one, but I HATE having my picture taken, and so does my FI. I think we're just going to stick with the photographer the resort offers (we can pick from two) and get the most basic package. I may change my mind, but honestly the pictures aren't as important to me as other things. I'm hoping family/friends take a lot of pictures on their own cameras, and that'll be good enough for me.

Good call on the youtube! I will definitely be checking that out!

Quote: Originally Posted by ahollo02 I loveee the eternity bands idea!! I will have to go look at them. My only things- is that my sister in law had a band that the diamonds went all the way around and she traded it in because she said the diamonds rubbing on her middle finger and pinky finger got really irritating. She developed little scabs inbetween her fingers. I wonder if she just had sensitive skin or if she didnt give her self enough time to get used to it. Anyone ever have this problem? That's a good point, and one I didn't think of. Maybe you could try one on and see if it irritates the skin? If it does, maybe you could get one that has the diamonds stop where your engagement ring's diamonds stop...that way, the diamonds are pointing upward, not outward, and there shouldn't be any irritation. Or get an eternity band with the diamonds inset (channel) rather than lying on top of the band.

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda I actually had a mini bridezilla attack last week. So, FI and I are staying 1 extra night for alone time after our wedding. Turns out one of the GM (the one who did not book the hotel until it was sold out) are bringing their girlfriend now to the wedding and staying 3 extra nights. I told him that we are having alone time and will not be talking to them after Monday. Anyways, I have never met this girlfriend before (its a 3 month relationship now). She is coming to Mexico on Saturday, the day we are getting married, so I am not even going to meet her before she sits at my wedding ceremony. I asked GM to have her come friday b/c everyone will already know each other and she might feel left out, especially when he is doing wedding party duties before the ceremony and she is staying at AS not AB so wont even get to mingle before the wedding. I know in the grand scheme of things this will not matter, but I am having a hard time getting over it. Eek! Um...I would probably go a little bridezilla, too. Talk about last minute! Are you going to have to add another person to the reception and pay the cost? Honestly, people inviting others to my wedding would irritate the heck outta me...I know everyone says "the more the merrier" but these people cost money! My FI's sister was like "oh, I told Alyssa about the wedding, and she says she wants to come". That's great, but she ISN'T INVITED. Sigh. The good thing is, GM's new lady is staying at a different resort, so you guys won't have to feel obligated to hang out with them after the wedding, and will get some alone time. Sorry for the added stress, that's really a bummer!

Nicola (LOVE your name by the way!): I will definitely post pics as soon as they're done! I have to get the actual wording on the invites printed out, and then it's just a matter of putting them together. I hope to have that done sometime this week...as soon as they're put together I'll def post pictures! I think the total cost comes out to somewhere around $2/invite, which is a bit more than I was planning on spending, but I'm only sending 50 invites out so it wasn't TOO expensive.

KittenHeart I LOVE your new siggy pic! That is drop-dead gorgeous! I'm trying to get the cojones to do BD pics, but honestly I'd like to lose, like, 20 more pounds first before I'll be comfortable letting my inner vixen out . I'm working on it...have lost 10 already...but man it's coming off slow! Of course, it would probably help if I started working out (I'm notoriously lazy) so I'm going to start that soon....one of these days.... I thought it was pretty funny that Tiffany said in her email that the eating utensils were included in the private dinner event. Um...would I have had to rent them otherwise? I guess I can't take anything for granted in this whole planning process

@AishaB...you have PLENTY of time to get things done, and you should be pretty impressed with yourself for having started already! That dress is absolutely stunning. I am all about pre-owned dresses. If you think about it, spending thousands on a dress you're going to wear ONCE just seems a bit crazy to me! My dress was about $850, and I am blessed enough to have a very generous family (my mom purchased it for me)...there's no way I would have gone over $1,000, but that's because I'm frugal to the core. Does anyone else watch "Say Yes to the Dress"? I do, and I'm amazed at those ladies that have a budget of like $10k and over...that's a new car! For a dress! AishaB, I also love your idea of the cord ceremony. It seems very meaningful and I love the concept. My fiance won't be able to wear a ring, either...he's a commercial electrician, and it's dangerous for him to wear any metal on his body, and it can get caught on ladders/tools/etc. So we'll get him a very simple ring, but he'll only be able to wear it after work or on weekends. I'm hoping to send out my invites next week! Yes, I know it's wicked early, and I had originally planned on sending STD's out first, but honestly I pretty much know who will be coming so I think I'll save some money by just sending out the invites. Our resort is small (under 100 rooms) so I want to give enough notice so my guests can book ASAP and lock in a room before they sell out. I'm making them myself, which has been SO much fun.

Oh my goodness I'm so sorry for everything you're going through right now. I don't even have words.... Sending hugs your way.

I totally feel your pain. I spent MONTHS researching resorts, and just put a deposit down on mine last week. I can't say it's really gotten easier, because now I'm kind of second-guessing my choice, especially as I read about all the options for the wedding and think this place might be more expensive than I had planned on!! But then again, that's me...even when I make a decision, I tend to second-guess myself until enough time has passed that I don't have a choice to change it anymore I plan on visiting this forum as much as possible to share the burden! People on here are so supportive, it's awesome.

I would really love to do pre-marital counseling, and my FI has offered to do it if it's something I want. I know we have some issues (mainly, money and intimacy) that we really need to work on. I'm actually going to start therapy by myself next week, and that will be a good way to feel for the process. After that, I may sign FI and myself up for couple's therapy.

Quote: Originally Posted by mexbride83 I don't think we'll look at rings for awhile, as our wedding is so far off. But I am concerned about picking one. Because of the style of my engagement ring, I have to have a curved wedding band to have it lie against my engagement ring. However, my ring has a scrolling design on the side that I absolutely love, so I want the wedding band to have the same. The jewelry store said that there is a matching wedding band to go with it, but they don't carry them (they can order it in for me) nor do they have pictures of them. When I search online (it's a Penny Preville ring), I can't find anything about wedding bands! I'm starting to wonder whether they actually do wedding bands, or if the girl at the jewelry store is wrong and they don't. I'm hoping there is one to match it though, because I don't want to take away from the design at all, nor do I want to have a gap between the e-ring and wedding band. Here is what it looks like: Wow girl! With a ring like that who needs a band?? That is gorgeous!!!

Hi Jennifer- That totally sucks! I can completely understand why you wouldn't want to continue to do these when people back out and don't show up. I'm with japonick, though, and would love to attend a Karisma webinar if/when you do decide to host another. I've booked my wedding there, so am a definite "in" IF you have another one. Thanks for all that you do!

Quote: Originally Posted by Andy&Cris I'm getting married on January 8th I hired a wedding planner her name is Andrea Garcia [email protected] she's awesome!! In the begining I had a lot of reservations about having my wedding in Rivera Maya, Mexico but you do have access to a lot of the same resources you would have in the USA. As soon as I spoke with Andrea almost 1 year. ago I felt she understood my vision for my wedding. She helped me booking the venues and get a better rate for everything!!All of her vendors are very reputable and work well with each other. I'm getting married at Amarte Amarte at Maroma Bay | Mexico Yucatan Peninsula, refering to the travel chanel is one of the most beautiful beach in the world, now Andrea is helping me with everything else she gaved me references of some of her brides and they hightly recommend her, Hugs! Macsy Welcome and happy planning!

Quote: Originally Posted by prettypigpig Cbj0arder13, u can go for an eternity band with small 1-2 ptes diamonds or the Damiani style ring with the diamond set on the rim of the ring. However the bad side of these style is ...they are difficult to resize. Therefore a half eternity with tiny diamonds can be a good option. Thanks Bonnie! Now I'm going to have to go look up what a Damiani style is...it sounds pretty! You bring up a really good point with the re-sizing. Originally, I wanted an eternity band as my engagement ring (I had "subtley" pointed out what I liked to my fiance) but when he went to go buy my ring, he didn't know my ring size. He really wanted it to be a big surprise, and didn't want to tip it off by asking me, so he went with a half eternity so I could get it re-sized if it didn't fit. I think it's beautiful, so I'm very proud of his mad ring-picking skillz