abbypoo

My WC told me that the guests do not have to pay for passes, but I think they're only allowed on the premises like half an hour before the wedding starts and have to leave right after. Hope this helps. Â

I think you should do a regular evening reception! What I would do is have the ceremony and then have a cocktail hour for pictures and what not right afterwards, and then let everyone go back to their rooms and relax until the reception that evening. I don't think you'll have as much fun at a luncheon as a dinner reception, but that's just my two cents! Btw, I have been to several weddings where the ceremony was early in the day and the reception was much later, so I don't think this is completely out of the norm, especially since your guests will not have far to travel.

FYI the photographers the Gran uses are funever photos (funeverphotos.com) I would check them out (if you email them they will give you the password to see more of their photos) because they are pretty good and decently priced. If you choose an outside vender you will have to pay a $350 vendor fee, so it's worth looking into.

No no no no!!! Use an agent and get a black of rooms: a good agent will negotiate a better price because it is a group, and will make things easier on you and your guests... I promise! Also, by doing this it is easier for the hotel to figure out who are your guests which they will need to go when it comes to charging you per person for the reception. Also, if you do it this way you get a free room with each 15 that are booked! Also, an agent can help negotiate the deposit for the rooms as well (my agent got it lowered from 75 per person to 50 per person). Also, when you put down your deposit for the block of rooms you they give you so many months to have the rooms booked, then you have the option to cancel the rest like two more times. So by the third deadline everyone has booked and you can cancel the rest. The biggest reason to do this is because the Gran is known for raising their prices, so if you don't have a contract it could get really costly for your guests who wait to book their rooms until next year. Anyway, just my two cents (my wedding is in Dec. 2010 at the Gran) Â

Quote: Originally Posted by Mrs D To Be! Can I ask a question for anyone who has stayed at the royal before...the swim up suites...I am very interested in booking one of these for a return trip to mexico, however what puts me off is that its on the first floor...is it the actual first floor, meaning the other floors are directly above...or are the swim-up suites forward from the other levels, meaning they don't have anything above them?! I know it sounds totally random, but when we go on holiday a big thing to us is the noise in rooms...we always pay for higher level rooms so we don't have people above us, however the idea of a swim-up pool is soo tempting! Any help would be appreciated x While I don't know if these rooms are out in front of others (I suspect not). I have heard that these rooms are very noisy because the pools that they are connected to are a public area. So if you don't like noise, this is probably not a good idea

Quote: Originally Posted by pamphilia thanks, Heather i am, glad i am 20lbs on my way....but i still have so far to go. i have set a more attainable goal of just being below 200lbs before the wedding, but that is still 45lbs in 7 months....so i have got to get busy!! 175 would be ideal for me, but i don't know if that's gonna happen. Hey! I need to lose 38 pounds to be under 200 pounds by my wedding too, which is in 6 and a half months! Congrats on the 20lbs down, I've lost 40lbs in the last 4 months by using caloriecount.about.com (it's free) It's really helped. Anyway, as someone who is finally losing weight after struggling with it my entire life, my advice is to not try to drastically change your lifestyle. Eat exactly the same, but just eat less. I still eat ice cream and cookies and even fast food sometimes, but now instead of devouring an entire value meal I eat half a cheeseburger and a few fries. I realized that I am probably never going to be a "healthy" eater, so I just had to learn to cut back. Hope this helps.

Quote: Originally Posted by Soon-to-be-McRae Are table linens, chair covers and ribbons included in the package price?? i carnt seem to get a clear answer from the Gran Caribe resort WC. The standard decor is white chair covers and lacy gauze stuff for the gazebo or wherever you decide to get married as well as a floral centerpiece and red carpet for the aisle. Beyond that, everything is extra. Table linens are $12 a piece to rent and napkins are $1 a piece... I forget what colored chair ribbons are, but I think it was around $5 a chair.

Quote: Originally Posted by Vanessa C Hey Abbypoo, That sounds like a good plan for you. We may just end up going with their photographers, I just wanted more photos for 1250. I would like an option to have unlimited photos actually lol. We'll see what happens, we still have a lot of time. Thanks for your help. Well, I spoke with the guys at funever and they say that if your package is for say 120 (like mine) they usually take at least 3 times as many photos as that. They just set me a link to view a wedding they photographed, and there are over 79 pages of pictures. So anyway, while the package includes a set amount of photos, I'm sure more photos will be available for purchase, like any other wedding photographer. I know it's hard to think, 1250 for 120 photos, but you have to realize that you're really paying for is 4 hours of their times as well as editing and developing.

Oh I just wanted to say, anyone who wants the short/vintage look but doesn't have a big budget should check out the dresses on unique vintage. They're quite beautiful and I would have gotten one myself had I not seem them AFTER I ordered mine!

Stephanie James Couture has the best tea length dress (if you also like the vintage feel). I'm wearing this one:

I am wearing a short dress for my entire wedding. I just think it's more appropriate for the beach and the hot weather! Ever since I learned that they made short wedding dresses I've wanted one, I also love the vintage feel. I'm wearing this one by Stephanie James (but with a teal petticoat):

1. Where is your cell phone? Ottoman 2. Your significant other? Jon 3. Your hair? Brown 4. Your mother? Crazy! 5. Your father? Deceased 6. Your favorite thing? Lemonheads 7. Your dream last night? Unknown 8. Your favorite drink? Tea 9. Your dream/goal? Family 10. The room you're in? Bedroom 11. Your ex? Which? 12. Your fear? Failure 13.Where do you want to be in 6 years? Kids 14. Where were you last night? Home 15. What you're not? Rich! 16. Muffins? Blueberry 17. One of your wish list items? House 18. Where you grew up? Midwest 19. The last thing you did? Surfed 20. What are you wearing? Dress 21. Your TV? Off 22. Your pets? Jude 23. Your computer? Mac 24. Your life? Simple 25. Your mood? Decent 26. Missing someone? Always 27. Your vehicle? Scion 28. Something you're not wearing? Pants 29. Favorite Store? Ross 30. Your summer? Here 31. Like someone? Totally 32. favorite color? Teal 33. When is the last time you laughed? Today 34. Last time you cried? Weeks

Quote: Originally Posted by surprise_its_taken OK, question for you ladies. I'm wearing a 36J size bra these days, and I ended up buying a strapless gown (easy to do considering most of them are freaking strapless! WTH? ). I actually really like the look of my dress without straps so I don't really want to add them, but I need better support for the girls. There is some plastic boning in there already, but I know from previous experience that it loses its shape when it's warm and supporting that kind of weight. I have a corset that I tried with it, but it comes up too high in the back, its heavy (aka hot!) and makes sitting down an uncomfortable experience. I've looked around but strapless anything in that size is hard to find. Has anyone found a good strapless bra for larger chested ladies? Cacique (sold at Lane Bryant) has, hands down, the best strapless bras that I have ever worn. They only go up to DD, but I strongly suggest you get over to a Lane Bryant and try one on. I normally wear an E and a C was actually a little big on me. Obviously I don't know exactly how well endowed you are, but it's worth a try if you are near one of their stores.

Quote: Originally Posted by StephyD We are getting flower centerpieces done by the resort's florist... I want some kind of tall flower and the only orange one that comes to my mind is the 'Bird of paradise'. Does anyone have any other suggestion for tall orange flowers? Here is my inspirational picture, with a bit of orange flowers at the bottom and more greenery. I will add tealights around the flower arrangement as well as some beige starfish. I think. For what you are trying to do, I think orange calla lilies or gerbera daisies would work well, and they're also possibly cheaper

Quote: Originally Posted by Vanessa C that's true-4 hours is good. I'm wondering if that includes while you're getting ready and the reception....? What about video, are u getting that too? I just wanted to let you know that I found out that the Gran uses funever photos (funeverphotos.com) and from what I can tell they are really very decent. From what I can tell they can either start an hour before the ceremony while you're getting ready, or they will start at the beginning of the ceremony. Hope this helps. Does anyone know anything about the Gran Caribe's DJ? I'm worried that they will be bad!