SKing24

NurseM, if tipping can get you some extra goodies, does that mean we should tip before the wedding? I was planning on about $100 for my WC if everything went great at the wedding.

Hanna we get to Mexico on the afternoon of the 2nd so we should get a chance to meet before you leave! Good luck with the dress...I'm sure you'll find something you love. A friend of mine is doing a hair trial for me today...I'm so excited. I havent tried my dress on since I picked it up, so we're going to do the whole hair, makeup, jewelry and dress today. I'm such an informal person so I usually hate my hair in an updo but I'm worried about the wind, so i think i should pull it back. Hopefully we figure out something i like!

Hey everyone's been really slacking with the posts Lisa/Amy/Hanna, I know your weddings are all right before mine....how are you ladies doing? Nervous or completely ready?? I definitely feel like I have more things to do than time to do it in, but I'm still super excited and just want to be in Mexico already! Lindsay I am definitely bringing my dress on the plane with me but i havent really thought about where it's gonns go. I guess at the worst, I can just keep it on my lap.

Lindsay, I leave for my wedding in less than 4 weeks and I just got the photographer's info from Ana last week so I dont know how much luck you'll have going around her. I dont know anything about the florist, and I actually did get in touch with the DJ company but they just said we'll meet when we get down there. I think I just need to take the advice from other brides and wait until I get down there to plan, and just trust that they know what they're doing. For brides who just got married recently, did you bring down things for OOT bags? And if so, did you have any issues with customs? Did you have all of your receipts? I'm starting to get nervous about that.

Is anyone else having trouble getting ahold of Ana? I emailed her Saturday the 12th and still havent heard back from her. I am not having any luck this week!

Ok well Jacqueline and Kim, I am having such a bad experience with my travel agent so it'll probably make you feel better about questioning the need for a TA. I really need to vent so I'll give you the whole background. We did a 3 night block for our guests, and then we just let people add a couple nights on if they wanted to stay longer. Oh and an important thing to note is that my FI and I are paying for our wedding party for 3 nights. Thats 10 people (5 rooms). And we're paying for our whole wedding ourselves, so budget is very important. So...Our TA seemed really nice, and we actually found her on this forum last summer before they revamped the whole site and who can be members. Anyway, from the very beginning she told me that for every 5 rooms booked we get 1 free. And her prices beat going through the hotel or any website (for rooms only...we didnt book flights through her) so we signed the contract and booked through her. So our price for a tropical view room for 2 was $734, including the transfer which was $40 per person. So basically the room cost of $654 for 3 nights. So when our deadline came on Feb 18th and we booked 24 rooms in our group, you would think I'd get a credit for 4 rooms, right? Well, my TA tells me TODAY that there is a max credit of 3 rooms. Are you kidding me? She didnt think that information was important to tell me before now. It's 6 weeks until we leave. I've been working with her since June and have brought up the credits multiple times. So we really thought we'd pay for our room, plus 1 room for our wedding party...but now we have to pay an extra $734. Not that it's that much money, but she's telling me so late that I can't really cut something else and re-shuffle money in our budget. I'm just so annoyed!! Sorry for the venting but I'm starting to get really stressed!

shorn, nope don't think it's weird if they dont carry flowers. I was thinking the same thing but then i decided to just have them carry a single flower each. It's still $14 or $15 per flower! Im 2 months away and I'm starting to freak out!! Haha I dont know what's wrong with me. I just feel like there's way too much to do in only 7 weekends.

Wow thanks so much for these reviews

Kara, There are a bunch of locally owned stores/markets in Playa too so I think I'll check them out. I wanted to go into Playa anyway, so i think i'll spend a morning shopping around for cute centerpiece ideas. I'm going down 4 days before my wedding though so I have more time. But if you think you can get into Playa for a few hours I dont think you'll have trouble finding anything. There's also the option of asking Pilar/Ana if you can "rent" vases from them. They'll allow you to do that for a lot cheaper than paying for the centerpieces. Then you'll just to have find flowers or candles to put in them. Amy, It's standard to have to put down a deposit for all the rooms. My FI and I booked 40 rooms in the block because we had no idea how many people would come...so we had to put down $4000. Only 26 rooms booked so we just had to release the other 14 rooms by a certain date to get the money back.

Kara, I'm going to buy vases and fresh flowers down there in Playa, and I'm just bringing aqua beads, which are like those crystal things. There was no way i was going to try to bring vases down with all the other stuff I'm bringing and I think at most it'll cost me $25 per centerpiece.

Yay hammy I am so excited for you! Good luck with everything. Amie your pics are amazing...you look absolutely beautiful.

Yay Mischaka...good luck and congrats!

My ceremony is 5:30, cocktail hour from 6-7, and then reception from 7-11. When I had to fill out the paperwork when I first booked and put down the deposit, I spelled all that out on the forms. No one ever questioned the times I chose.

My ceremony is 5:30. Cocktail hour from 6-7, and then reception from 7-11

Christie, my reception is from 7-11 and so far from my budget sheet im not being charged for an extra hour. If you want the dj for the 4th hour, you do have to pay for that, but i dont think you need to pay for the drink service or for the room.

I dont want any of you girls to go through hard times or stress...but misery loves company. I thought i was the only one going through a rough patch with the wedding. I have lost two bridesmaids now too! One is my cousin who is in her 5th year of college and only has 2 classes this semester but her excuse is she doesnt want to miss class. And then the other is a friend who has recently been fighting a lot with her husband, and she doesnt think she can be around "happy people". I have been really upset but I'm trying to just let it go. But now my FI has 6 groomsman and I only have 3 BMs. I know its not that big of a deal, but i feel dumb. It's just frustrating that there's nothing I can do or "fix".

I got my chair sashes in the mail today. Every little thing just gets me so excited now!!

Congrats Courtney!

Hanna, I thought awhile ago that Ana told me there was another wedding on the 6th, but I'm not positive. I will ask again though, just in case I get an answer before you. And I dont think anyone on this thread is the 7th or 8th, are they? It would be nice if you could do that same weekend. I'll let you know if i hear anything.

Aww I am so sorry about this! Do you have guests who already booked? 95% of our guests already booked and got flights so we would never be able to change the date. I hope it works out for you!

Ok I just finished a first draft as mine. As Mandy said, i have to thank everyone on here who has posted their ceremonies. There were so many great ideas and vows, and I got everything I used directly off this thread. I hope no one minds! We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to cherish the words which will unite Shane and Erin in marriage. I now ask, who gives this women to be married to this man? (Bob answers “Her mother and I doâ€) Thank you Bob Everyone please be seated. Opening On behalf of Shane and Erin, I welcome you and thank you all for gathering here on this beautiful day to witness their marriage ceremony. The fact that you all have travelled 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 all for being here to celebrate their big day. By entering into this marriage, Shane and Erin are stating publicly the feelings and commitments they have held privately between them. They are proclaiming their love for, their trust in, and their loyalty to the one they cherish above all others. Shane and Erin, You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. Along the way, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with “When we’re married†and continued with “I will and you will and we willâ€- those late night talks that included “someday†and “somehow†and “maybeâ€- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a marriage. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “ You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed, well, I meant it all, every word.†Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- best friend, companion, lover, ski partner, and teacher, You have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now 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 these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife. Shane and Erin, please face each other and join your hands. Vows Shane please repeat after me: I, Shane take you, Erin, to be my wife my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and respect you; I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully and unconditionally through the best and the worst, the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come, I promise I will always be there for you Erin please repeat after me: I, Erin, take you, Shane, to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and respect you, I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully and unconditionally through the best and the worst, the difficult and the easy. Whatever may come, I promise I will always be there for you Exchanging of the Rings The wedding ring is a symbol of the unbroken circle of love, as it has neither a beginning nor an end. It should always remind those who wear it of the sacredness of marriage and the love that feeds it. Shane and Erin, your rings are intimately associated with your intent to honor and treasure the vows you have made today. By exchanging rings, resolve to live your vows and not to let them drift in shallow promises. Believe and trust that the words you have spoken have the capacity to create the marriage, family, and life of your dreams, and that the rings you exchange will have the power to return you to your vows. These rings mark the beginning of a long journey together, wear them proudly, as they are symbols which speak of love that you have for each other…. Shane, as you place this ring on Erin’s finger please repeat after me… Erin, I give you this ring, as a sign of our marriage, and a lasting reminder of the vows we made today. I give you this ring, as a reminder that I will love, honor, and cherish you, in all times, in all places, and in all ways, forever. Erin, if you accept please say I do… Erin, as you place this ring on Shane’s finger please repeat after me… Shane, I give you this ring, as a sign of our marriage, and a lasting reminder, of the vows we made today. I give you this ring, as a reminder that I will love, honor, and cherish you, in all times, in all places, and in all ways, forever. Shane, if you except, please say “I Doâ€. SAND CEREMONY Today, this relationship is symbolized through the pouring of these two individual containers of sand. One representing you Shane and all that you were, all that you are, and all that you will ever be The other representing you, Erin and all that you were and all that you are, and all that you will ever be. To symbolize this union and the importance of the individuals within the marriage, two separate colors of sand will be combined. Each one holds its own unique beauty, strength, and character. They can stand on their own and be whole, without need of anything else. Shane, pour some of your sand, which will represent you as an individual. Erin, pour some of your sand, which will represent you as an individual. Now, when these two are blended together they will create and entirely new and extraordinarily more intricate entity. Each grain of sand brings to the mixture a lasting beauty that forever enriches the combination. Please pour the sand together into this common container to symbolize the union of your two lives. Shane and Erin, just as these grains of sand can never be separated and poured again into the individual containers, so will your marriage be a molding of two individual personalities, bonded together forming one heart, one life, and one family. Pronouncement Shane and Erin, as you have consented together in the union of marriageand have pledged your faith to each other in the presence of this company, I now pronounce you HUSBAND AND WIFE Congratulations, you may kiss your beautiful new bride Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to present to you for the first time as husband and wife: Mr. & Mrs. Shane and Erin King

Hey sorry I haven't checked this thread in awhile because we weren't getting many posts. So I jumped the gun last summer and bought a whole bunch of stuff for the OOT bags, and then we had about half of the guests actually book. That means I have some extra little things, if you girls want them. I was going to try to sell some, but to tell you the truth it's more of a hassel than its worth. Then i was thinking of just taking it to goodwill, but i figured i'd offer it here first so you girls could save a little money. I bought water bottles...which are kind of bulky but good if you only have a few guests, hand sanitizer, spf lipbalm, tums, advil or tylenol, and i think i may have some extra sunscreen as well. Oh and I got these little backpack things to put everything in. To tell you the truth I was slightly disappointed in those because they're paper thin but then i figured I'm doing something nice for the guests so I'm not worrying about it. If you are interested in anything, just PM me and I'll get an accurate count of what I can give up. As long as I dont have to ship it anywhere, it's yours for free.

Rosie everything looks great! I need to get the motivation to start some of my DIY projects, but I keep coming up with excuses. I want to do my own ceremony programs, welcome books for the guests, and "survival kits" for the OOT bags. But I got my invites finished today and they'll all be out the door tomorrow, so at least I'm getting some things done 91 days for the May 6th brides!!

Jen, they're definitely there on weekends because they do weddings on weekends. Im sure thats enough time.

Congrats on the pregnancy Mishaka! Amie, Mishaka, and hammy...i am so excited for you ladies! I can't wait to hear the reviews!!