bigboponthebeach

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Thanks Beaz! Thanks Nicole, it totally was, I'll put up pix soon! I forgot to tell you that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your siggy pic! So vintage classic! Quote: Originally Posted by ~Nicole~ amcferron - added you to the list! June 2010 July 2010 meghan - July 1, 2010 Meesh – July 10, 2009 momichele – July 24, 2010 Daniepps – July 31, 2010 August 2010 September 2010 Lecreatifbride - Sept 4, 2010 October 2010 amandamarieb – October 10, 2010 chong – October 10, 2010 November 2010 dstinationdrmr – November 12, 2010 – 4pm dirtymartini – November 13, 2010 – Azul Beach December 2010 mzgillis316 - December 3, 2010 jaimeburns – December 10, 2010 rkf1046 – December 11, 2010 January 2011 cjb0arder13 – January 31, 2011 – Azul Beach February 2011 Less is More – February 19, 2011 March 2011 gingerlover36 – March 26, 2011 April 2011 May 2011 JaimeTalis – May 7, 2011 amcferron – May 13, 2011 beaz2be – May 27, 2011 Bigboponthebeach – May 28, 2011 Thanks for keeping us updated on this, Nicole! It helps alot to see who is close to your dates for support purposes. :-) 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? We too are going with the cheapest package and adding on, especially since we have selected an outside vendor photog. I don't know of anyone that has used the resort photog, but then I am also new here as well. I wish I could help you with design/colors.....but I am horrible at that type of thing. :-) But you are in luck and in the right place because some of the other ladies here RAWK at just that very topic! :-)

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Hmmm, is there a way to change it or would you have to get a brand new one? I think if it's something you are going to wear for the rest of your life, you may want to have it be something you like. Just put it very gently. I wish....I don't like princess cut stones (they remind me of my 2 carat from my first FI almost a decade ago when I was a kid) and the side stones are also another cut. Me no likey the mixed cuts. I wanted a cushion cut with possibly a pave band. He created something else that is not what I described. :-/ He is so "proud" of his "design" that I don't know that there is a gentle way to say, "Please return this custom ring and don't ever bring it back here again because it is not anything I would have ever selected." I'm thinking it may have to wait for an anniversary. I sound so spoiled right now. It is what it is.....

This is insightful! A lot of the first DW appeared to have substantially lower photog expenses. Lucky them!!!!

Very interesting topic, Ladies! I can see both sides of the coin. :-)

Hi Sonya! Welcome and Congrats!!! Moons Cancun is really nice from what I've seen. You should check out other brides photos from there and it might help you decide. GOod Luck!

Hi Lauren! Welcome and Congrats!!!! Antigua is beautiful and was one of our top choices. I'm sure your ceremony will be beautiful! Happy planning!!!

Hi Maria! Welcome and Congrats! Knowing your wedding location is half the battle! :-) Best of luck to you with all your planning!

Thank you for sharing this with us! She has a great deal on monograms!!!

I'm sorry you had to go through this!!! No part of a wedding should be negative due a vendor! Thank you for thinking enough of us B2B's to share this info. Best of luck to you!

That is terrible and I'm sorry that happened to you!!! Thank you for sharing this info and giving the rest of us a heads up!!!

I LOVE Etsy and am totally addicted to it!!!! I find myself trying to resist the urge to cruise their wedding section.

I love their work, especially their underwater work!!! They were VERY high on our consideration list. It's sad that they aren't allowed at Karisma Resorts. :-(

I love the photo you said was not "technically" correct. The smiles on their faces were geniune and their emotions were captured beautifully. I dig these pics!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way you have chosen to display these around your home! They look beautiful and add such a glamourous personal touch to your home, not to mention they add warmth! So nice and thank you for sharing!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by carolina24 i've been getting mostly "no's" on our RSVPs and i LOVE it!!! I check our wedding website every other day or so and secretly hope some of FI's college friends and my Mom's friends have RSVP'ed no. Oh, there is also a cousin of mine with 5 children and a spouse that strongly HOPE do not come! I cannot stand her husband and I keep thinking about how OOT bags for a family of 7 would work! LOL

Quote: Originally Posted by dstinationdrmr So Ladies, I just found out this week that I may be able to do a site visit!! I'm so anxious about it it's crazy. My mom is turning 60 this year and wanted to go to Paris but due to my wedding and my sister's divorce we had to downgrade that unfortunately. I suggested a cruise which is her fav vacay and it stops in Cozumel! The cruise is 2 weeks from now. Does anyone know the best way for me to get to AS from Cozumel? The 20 min flight from Cozumel to Cancun was suspended and I hear the bus from PM to Cozumel is very sporadic and I can't miss the boat Also, I know a lot of you are anxious about certain things so IF I can find a safe way to get back and forth AND get back to the boat in time, I'll be willing to scope out things that you guys need. My WC Cecile made it seem like its no big deal to get the site visit scheduled and she offered me a food tasting. I'm just waiting for her to get back to me about the cake tasting. I feel like I've gotten so much info from the ladies on here so the only thing I'm still nervous about is the food. So, I'll keep you posted on all of this. The dat for the site visit would be Tuesday, July 13th. Meredith....I am BEYOND envious that you will have a chance to do a site visit!!! What a way to put your mind at ease! I have been secretly doing calculations in my head about ways to get down there and do a site visit! LOL Quote: Originally Posted by jazz04 Does anyone know what type of dinner is included in the packages for reception? Also, I could not find the additional cost for chairs. If you go on the Karisma site you can download the pdf. wedding package which details all of the wedding reception food menu options. I have attached it for your below. WeddingBanquetKit.pdf

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda Oh thanks!! I was very laid back in planning and did not do a lot of talking to my friends and family about our wedding so everyone was very surprised in Mexico ho much stuff I had planned and how together the wedding was. I kind of liked it like that!! Zip lining was awesome but they only do it in groups of 12 so we had to split into 2 groups. It also ran waaaaaayyy over and we were gone from 9am-6pm. Which would be fine if you weren't staying at an all inclusive resort!... I think the catamaran was better b/c everyone could go - all young & old - so the group was more cohesive. Buuuuutttt if I was watching my $$ spent but also wanted to do something for my guests I would totally recommend the vans into Cancun or Playa del Carmen. If you need 2 vans - so 24 people or less - it is like $220 for both round trip. I used 3 vans into Cancun and it was $336. I tipped the drivers $20 each too. But those group outings are so easy - you can do the nighttime clubbing or a daytime trip. Maybe find a place to all have lunch - do some shopping - maybe even a free museum or art gallery - then back to the hotel. Its very affordable and being driven in an air conditioned van with nice drivers made my guests feel very special!!! Okay, thank you for the advice Amy! As we get a better idea of how many guests we are looking at, I start looking into these activities. It sounds like you guys had the time of your lives!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by meghan We had a guest put a deposit down, and cancel. We also just had 4 guests book in 24 hours of leaving! I think we are at 50...not even sure! Mine is still in my account too! And I am leaving right now! We are leaving right now! The limo is here so my message has to be quick! Can't wait to share when we get back :) OMG, I cannot believe people are still booking within 24 hours of leaving! I'm hoping this didn't cause you any additional preparation stress!!!! Cannot wait to hear all about your special day!!!! Have a wonderful time!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Tam I hear you on that, and I got to choose my ring. It just didn't turn out as I had thought it would... so I might make some changes to it later on. I also confess that I did not enjoy my wedding experience. I want to do it all over again keeping it a destination wed. still but only have my immediate friends/family. There ended up being so much drama from certain people who came down and really ruined the night. That and I felt really sick all night so I didn't enjoy myself from that as well. I hate most of our pictures too and how I look in them. I have said this to my DH and told him I want to do it again, just another symbolic/vow renewal, just a relaxed atmosphere where we can have fun. Maybe for our first anniversary?? Tam, I am sorry that you really didn't enjoy your experience. I can only imagine how it feels to do all of that planning to only have it minimized by others actions and attendance. :-( I feel your pain because although we are still 11 months out, there are people that have received our STD that I now wish we had not invited. I am even contemplating right now how to rescind an invite (STD) to one of my friends/associates. She is a drama queen and her actions at my birthday party 2 weeks ago showed her true colors and I cannot see dealing with her for 3 days straight in a foreign country. I think you have a great idea to do it all again in an intimate ceremony with just the two of you all over again! I think that will be wonderful and will mean even more to you because it will be just the two of you confirming what you believed in all along.......your love. Quote: Originally Posted by angelov321 I feel the same way. Only I designed my ring, but he definitely missed a few details. Im thinking I might change a few things later on. Its been growing on me so I havent been thinking about it lately. Hes crazy about the ring so it makes me happy that hes so proud of it. We looked at photos together and he took a combination of all of them and made one ring. He made it out of love and he is VERY proud of it! But in my opinion it is too busy and looks like a ghetto mess. Everytime someone compliments me on it, I feel embarrased and just kind of shy away from the topic. He is my best friend, I just can't figure out how to be honest enough with him enough to move on to another ring. He has a whole bunch of faith in his jeweler and I personally am not crazy about his work. I'm a simple girl and the ring is not a true reflection of my personality. I guess I'm just saying/venting all this to say.......I do not have the heart to be honest with my best friend to say I want a different ring.

My confession....... I don't like my engagement ring and it is not my style. I also don't have the heart to tell FI because he had it specially made. It is a great thought, but I DO NOT like it!!!! :-( What a relief to finally say that.....I've been pretending since March!!!!

Sorry to hear this happened to you.....in the end, don't sweat it.....those who know you and love you know that you would never intentionally make them pay for ANY portion of your invite. It was an accident and as nerve wracking as it can be for us brides who want everything to be perfect, some minor mishaps will happen. Chin up!!! :-)

That is a really unique and creative idea!!! I like that! Your guest will love your thoughtfulness!!!

Go for it! It's all about the two of you anyway!!!! Enjoy yourself and bask in the intimate moment!!!! :-)

Quote: Originally Posted by MaggieandJay During the webinar they talked more about the food in general. Nothing particular but they interviewed the chef and they talked about the wine a TON and the alcohol choices. Also ladies I am working on something in writing about the donkey for you! I emailed the peeps that put on the webinar to see if i can get you something. Thanks so much for putting this together, Maggie! I really appreciate it! I just want to make FI happy and I know the donkey will! LOL I'll buy you a drink when we are at AS for your troubles!!!! ;-)

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda So they way the Catamaran works is that you put 25% down on your estimated # of people going. The day of you can confirm numbers and pay the balance based on how many came in cash. My in laws did not want to keep $2k in cash on them, so I had to confirm #s the week before via email with all of my guests. Here is the invite email I sent to everyone and then I followed up the week before to confirm everyone still wanted to go: Can you believe our wedding date is only 2 months away!?! We need to get numbers finalized for some of the activities we are planning for the week of fun in the sun in Mexico. 1) Wednesday May 26th - Ziplining, Snorkeling in cenote, and touring the Tulum Ruins Cenotes are natural freshwater pools with underground caves and caverns, formed because of the porous limestone ground that makes up the Yucatan. Cenotes are found in only a few locations on earth. Combine Snorkeling in Cenotes and Zip Lining above the jungle canopy with the history of Mayan Ruins. This is a unique experience you will never forget. (you can always just "watch" one of these events if you want to do the other 2) Approx 6 hours round trip 2) Thursday May 27th - Cancun Clubbing Trip - in 2 private transfer vans, we leave the hotel at 8pm and start with a posh tequila bar on the Cancun strip. From there we will go to all the classics and crazies: Carlos & Charleys, Daddy Rock, Coco Bongo, etc! There will be an early bird shuttle pick up back to the hotel at 12am and a late night partying pick up at 2am! Note: each way is 30 mins drive. 3) Friday May 28th - "Rehearsal Dinner" Mexico style - Catamaran with reef snorkeling All ages will be able to enjoy this relaxing boat ride, hosted by the groom's parents, xxx. We will be picked up at 2pm and will enjoy the 46ft catamaran "Paso Doble" for 4 hours: open bar and snacks included! Please let me know what activities you are up for! Don't worry, last minute changes will probably be OK if you chicken out And don't forget our website for updates and other stuff. And for those arriving Monday or Tuesday - we still have our Welcome Dinner Tuesday night the 25th followed by the Wedding Texas Hold Em Tournament. Amy, it sounds like you and your DH (and in-laws) were the MOST gracious DW party ever!!!! I would have LOVED to have been invited to a wedding with activities planned like yours! I bet your guest not only had fun but were also impressed and will attend every function you plan from here until the moon! LOL Anywho, thank you for sharing this email! I have put it in my guest coorespondence file for a few months down the line. So out of curiosity, did you enjoy the cenote, zipline, ruins day or the catamaran trip more with your guests? I don't think we will be able to afford both for our guests, but I'd like to do one with them for the memories. Let me know what you suggest please.