nairay

Everything looks great! Love the lantern idea and your DIY vases, everything is so colorful! Where did you get the gift tags for the maracas/placecards?

Welcome to the forum! It sounds like it's going to be beautiful and amazing. Happy planning!

Welcome to the forum! I don't know much about Key West, but post over there and you should get plenty of information! Happy planning!

Congrats! Everything looks great, thanks for sharing!

Beautiful! You look stunning, and the TTD pics are great. Thanks for sharing!

If it goes with the same colors/theme, it should be fine. Don't stray too far though!

That is so beautiful!

Beautiful! Great job, thanks for sharing!

I'm having my AHR 2 weeks after the DW, 1 week after FI and I get back. Most of my family and friends are in CA, most of his are up and down the east coast....initially we were going to have 1 AHR which my parents are hosting, but my FI's family (most of whom could not afford to come to Mexico) said they would have difficulty coming to CA for it (due to cost and travel time)...so my FMIL is going to have a small reception in MD. Probably not as full-on as my parents are doing, just a small gathering at a restaurant or small venue. Since FMIL pulled that on me after i sent out invitations, that AHR is going to be a little later in the year (maybe August). At least I'll get to wear my dress 3 times!

It's a beautiful dress, wear what will make YOU happy on that special day. Don't settle!

I like the second one as well

Not strange at all, if it's pastels it should look very pretty!

Nice deal, thanks for sharing!

My photographer said they change for Daylight Savings this weekend, so the sun will set around 7, 7:10 in April. So there will be plenty of light, time for sunset pictures, and it won't be that hot (hopefully)!

Congrats and welcome! Happy planning, it goes by fast!

Very cute! Congrats and happy planning!!

Congrats and welcome to the forum! The wedding coordinators can be difficult to contact if your date is not coming up as soon as some others, but correspondence should increase as the time nears. In the meantime, the search function on here is great for getting information without having to wait too long. There should be a specific resort thread around here for you Happy planning!

Sounds like you might have to wait until you hear back from the resort to finalize a date. Generally they have some sort of form that you fill out, and put in a deposit. If the resort has something like a contact questionnaire on their website, that may help expedite things. Congrats and happy planning!!!

Welcome! Congrats on deciding on the resort, that's one of the big steps. Happy planning!

Thanks to everyone on this thread! There were so many ideas, it was hard to trim them down. I sent this to the minister at my resort and he said it would take 20-25 minutes. I wanted to incorporate some cultural wedding traditions as well, so we are doing the coin/veil/cord ceremonies. Opening Words You may be seated. Love? Be it man. Be it woman. It must be a wave you want to glide in on, give your body to it, give your laugh to it, give, when the gravelly sand takes you, your tears to the land. To love another is something like prayer and can't be planned, you just fall into its arms because your belief undoes your disbelief. On behalf of GROOM and BRIDE, I welcome you and thank you all for gathering here in Mexico on this beautiful day to witness their marriage ceremony. The fact that you have all traveled such a great distance to be here today is a testament to the amazing amount of love and support they have. Many of you have given them much happiness, love, warmth, and guidance through the various stages of their lives. They would like to sincerely thank you for being here to celebrate their big day. A special and respectful acknowledgement must also be made to those friends and family members who were unable to attend, or have passed on, but whose spirit remains alive and strong in our hearts. I have also been asked by GROOM and BRIDE to thank their parents for the wonderful lives they have given them, for the hard work and guidance they have provided, for their everlasting love, support, and encouragement. It is from them that they have learned the true meaning of love, friendship and family. Marriage is an affirmation of life, an undying commitment, a spiritual, emotional, and intellectual bond between two people. It is created from the purest of friendship, respect and love. The institution of marriage is not entered into lightly, because it symbolizes commitment on every level. Together you will continue to meet the challenges and obstacles of life head on. You have chosen to walk through life together. There is no truer statement of love. Before this moment you have been many things to each other – best friend, companion, lover, partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another over the years. Soon you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after the vows, you shall say to the world, this – is my husband, this – is my wife. Giving of the Bride/Groom Would Mr. and Mrs. XYZ and Mr. and Mrs. ABC please stand. It is traditional for the father of the bride to give her away. However, both sets of parents share in the giving and receiving. Therefore, Mr. and Mrs. XYZ, do you not only give you daughter, BRIDE, to be GROOM’s wife, but also joyfully receive GROOM as your son? Response, “we do†And Mr. and Mrs. ABC, do you not only joyfully give your son GROOM to BRIDE as her husband, but receive BRIDE to be your daughter? Response, “we do.†Readings Now, we will have our first reading. Now, we will have our second reading. Charge to the couple The covenant of marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; only by persons who are both legally and spiritually free offer themselves to one another. So I ask you: GROOM, do you come of your own free will and with a conscious desire to be united in marriage with BRIDE? Yes. Do you promise to give to this woman the love of your person, the comfort of your support and companionship, and the patience of your understanding? I do. BRIDE, do you come of your own free will and with a conscious desire to be united in marriage with GROOM? Yes. GROOM, do you promise to give to this woman the love of your person, the comfort of your support and companionship, and the patience of your understanding? I do. GROOM and BRIDE, do you promise to care for each other in the joys and sorrows of life, come what may, and to share the responsibility for growth and enrichment of your life together? We do. Wedding Vows GROOM, as I say these words, would you please repeat after me… I love you, BRIDE. You are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage. / I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. / I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, / when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. / I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. / These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life. I am forever yours… …faithfully. BRIDE as I say these words, would you please repeat after me… I love you, GROOM; You too are my best friend. Today I give myself to you in marriage./ I promise to encourage and inspire you, to laugh with you, and to comfort you in times of sorrow and struggle. / I promise to love you in good times and in bad, when life seems easy and when it seems hard, / when our love is simple, and when it is an effort. / I promise to cherish you, and to always hold you in highest regard. / These things I give to you today, and all the days of our life. I am forever yours……faithfully. Exchange of Rings May I please have the rings? The ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love. Love freely given has no beginning and no end, no giver and no receiver for each is the giver and each is the receiver. May these rings always remind you of the vows you have taken. GROOM as you place this ring on BRIDE’s finger please repeat after me: I give you this ring as a sign of my devotion and love / with my all my heart I promise to you all that I am. / With this ring I marry you and join my life to yours. BRIDE as you place this ring on GROOM’s finger please repeat after me: I give you this ring as a sign of my devotion and love / with my all my heart I promise to you all that I am. / With this ring I marry you and join my life to yours. May the sacredness of this moment and the vows and rings you have exchanged ever remain as a priceless memory in the heart of each of you and may you have perfect love and peace together. The engagement ring is a symbol of promise and intention. Now the intention is realized and the promise fulfilled. GROOM, please place the engagement ring on BRIDE’s finger over her wedding band to symbolize that the love that brought you together will always protect and sustain your marriage. GROOM and BRIDE have consented together in these promises and have symbolized this by the giving and receiving of the rings. Whom God has joined together, let no man or institution separate. Blessing of Rings and arrhae Exchanging of the arrhae The Priest/Minister then drops 13 pieces of coins (silver or gold) called arras into the Groom's waiting hands, who in turn drops it into the Bride's hands. The Bride then puts her hand above the Groom's then drops the arras into his hands again. The Groom allows the coins to then be dropped into a plate. Veil Ceremony Veil sponsors will come up to the bride and groom Cord Ceremony The Cord Sponsors come up to the Bride and Groom Signing of Marriage Certificate HAND CEREMONY As an expression that you are joined together in love - will you please hold up your hands and hold one another, so you may feel the gift that you are to each other. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. Blessing by the Audience Ladies and Gentlemen, BRIDE and GROOM have demonstrated in your presence today, their belief in their love, and their desire to live together in Holy Matrimony. If you also believe in their love, and wish to add your blessing on their marriage today, please respond now by saying “WE DO†….. “We do†And are you all willing to sustain and strengthen this marriage, by giving BRIDE and GROOM the public commitment of your love and support, through all the ups and downs ahead of them…If you are willing, please say, “WE ARE†“We are†Closing GROOM and BRIDE, if there is anything you remember of this marriage ceremony, may it be the love that brought you here today, it is only love which can make it a glorious union, and by love which your marriage shall endure. Today your separate lives with your individual memories, desires, and hopes merge into one. You are now taking into your care and keeping the happiness of the one person in the entire world whom you love above all others. You are adding to your life not only the affection of each other, but also the companionship and blessing of a deep trust as well. You are agreeing to share strength, responsibilities and to share love. May you be a blessing and comfort to each other, sharers of each other’s dreams, consolers of each others sorrows, helpers to each other in all of life's challenges. May you encourage each other in whatever you set out to achieve. May you trust each other, trust life and be unafraid. May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you patience, tolerance, and understanding. Final Blessing Let us bow our heads in prayer – Lord, bless this marriage, as GROOM and BRIDE continue their journey down the road of life together. May they respect each other’s likes and dislikes, opinions and beliefs, hopes, dreams and fears. And even though they may not always understand or agree with one another, may they rest in the knowledge that no matter what happens, by holding on to each other, things will always work out for the best. Most of all, Dear God, help them to keep the torch of love burning with the fire that they now share in their hearts. Amen Pronouncement of Husband & Wife With friends and family, along with God, the sun, the sand, and the sea, I have the pleasure of announcing you as husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride! First Kiss as Husband & Wife Introduction of the new couple It is my pleasure to introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. ABC Recessional

Great ideas! Between the VistaPrint deals and the Dollar Tree store, I'm very happy with how things are coming along

Sorry to hear about that, what a bummer! I would keep the wording neutral like above, "Unfortunately, we will be unable to have the AHR as initially planned. Thank you so much for your love and support!" Hope everything turns out okay in the end...

I think it's possible, though you may have to check with the resort - sometimes they can accomodate your whole group in a specialty restaurant if the group is small enough. Or, they can section off a part of the restaurant for your party. Sometimes the private receptions offer dinners at lower prices than what you quote (~$35-50, depending on the menu), if the other options are not available.

We initially did not want to register either, since we have a lot of the things we need already, but people who are unable to make it to the DW kept asking me where we were registered because they still wanted to get us something. We ended up registering for a small number of items. I only included the info on the website and told people if they asked.

Welcome! Sometimes the initial date of the thread may be old, but people may post to it and keep it current, or start your own post in the Riviera Maya forum. Happy planning!