clgriffi7

I think it is tough for brides to decide how much expense and effort things are really worth. How much money is a single moment of "wow, that's cute" and one good picture from the photographer worth? I have to admit I have not always made the right decision when faced with that question. The tipping point for the escort cards was the extra concern of the starfish breaking - if it weren't for that I probably would have spent an extra $30-$50 for that one good picture....

This is what my table number and escort cards look like. My fiance is Chinese-American, so we are trying to incorporate his heritage into the wedding. I had originally intended to tie my escort cards to starfish, but I decided that it wasn't worth the extra cost/headache of trying to get the starfish to Mexico without breaking.

I am bringing my photogrpaher from home. There are obviously benefits to each: Using a photographer from Mexico: 1) the photographer you select will likely have photographed weddings at your resort and will be able to take those post-wedding pictures a little bit quicker, 2) if you do a TTD and want to leave the resort, a local photographer will be able to take you to some great spots, 3) potentially less expensive (though not likely if you are looking at Del Sol) Flying a photogrpaher in: 1) you get a LOT more pictures - as they will take pictures the entire time you have them booked at the resort, 2) you will have a chance to build a relationship with this photographer before your wedding day (by means of an engagement session), 3) for the wedding day and TTD there will be no time constraints Things to think about: - You have to find a photographer from home that will give you a good deal. When I went to a bridal show and got cornered by a photographer, she said that she loves to do destination photography and would be willing to travel for the cost of the travel (flight + hotel) IN ADDITION TO her normal wedding day fee. Uh, I don't think so! The photographer I selected ended up giving us what I consider to be a great deal because he is excited about the trip: we pay for the flight and hotel for he and his wife plus an additional sum of money and in return we get an engagement session, bridal portrait session, and photography the entire time he is traveling with us (we plan on having him take picture of: the rehearsal, wedding day, excursion, and TTD) - How long to book the photographer at the resort. I chose to book our photographer and his wife at our resort for 5 nights - which is the length of time family will be staying. That length of vacation will ensure he is there for all of the events I want photographed as well as allow him time to enjoy the trip a bit. I am of the opinion that a photographer that enjoys his or her trip will take better pictures. - If you bring a photographer from home, you should consider scheduling a meeting with them to scout out the resort property. I will be getting married on a Saturday and I plan to spend 1-2 hours with the photographer on Friday to walk around the resort and pick out all of the locations to take pictures for the wedding day and TTD. - You might want to try out a photographer from home BEFORE committing to bringing them to your DW. We had our engagement pictures taken a full year before our wedding so I could see if I liked his work prior to signing a contract. Hope that helps and best of luck. Courtney

We will be doing round tables and I have made escort cards that tell each guest which table to sit at. At that point, the guests can pick which chairs to sit in on their own. I think a seating arrangement that gets as detailed as which chair to sit in is only needed if you are forced to put individuals at the same table that don't get along.

Here is the response I got from my travel agent: "I actually don’t know of any transfer companies that provide car seats, but I have heard of some car seats that you can buy that are good for travelling. I think they might be collapsible or something to make for easier travelling."

I personally don't have any knowledge of the car seat situation, so I sent your question on to my travel agent to see if she knows of any companies that have them. I will let you know when she gets back to me.

post against forum rules

From what I understand, the same per person price applies for either the seated meal or the buffet meal.

We are definitely getting legally married in the US - I just don't want any hassle with the marriage certificate. Originally I just wanted to do the courthouse - to make it less of a big deal so the emphasis will be on the Mexico wedding. However, my fiance wanted our dog to be there so now we are having a weekend outdoor ceremony and we have to pay an officiant. That blossomed into inviting immediate family that lives nearby and that blossomed into a dinner afterwards. Oh well.

I used weddingwire as well...ours is: www.weddingwire.com/paulandcourtney

I will have a few harder items that I can stuff the bubbles inside of to protect them. For example we are taking travel mugs that could hold say 3 or 4 of the bubble wands - another option is we are taking two little metal pails to be our flower girl baskets so we could probaby put all of them in there. But just in case, I would still put them all inside a ziplock bag first! I am getting really excited too - just looked at my wedding website and it said 85 days to go - woohoo. I am not a girly girl at all and I just can't believe how consumed my thoughts are by all of this wedding stuff. I bought a short white strapless cotton dress for the rehearsal that I may chnage into if we end up going out after the reception. I will want all of my reception pictures from the photographer to be in my real wedding dress, so I won't consider changing out of it until after the reception. I know I will be hot and sweaty and I am okay with that... Although putting that dress back on a couple of days later for a TTD session might not be sp pleasant.

I just looked through my stuff and I didn't mention a cocktail hour anywhere. I guess the first my guests will see of that is on the itinerary in the OOT bag. My invitation only mentioned a time for the ceremony. (Although now I will be changing that - oh well - but the new time will be on the itinerary as well)

Will do! I haven't heard back from my PM so I am guessing that isn't a good sign. I can see them being more willing to hang the lanterns for a reception on the terrace since you will at least be there longer. But if she is okay with doing it for your reception, then I can push it a bit further and ask about the cocktail hour. Fingers crossed...

Most of us have selected the Dreams Ultimate Wedding Package and the cocktail hour (for 20 guests) is included in that price. With the cocktail hour you get 4 different appetizer selections to go along with drinks. Some brides select to trade out the cocktail hour for 10 more guests ("free") at the reception with the idea that it is an all-inclusive resort and guests can just go up to the bar and get drinks for themselves during that hour.

Sorry Jill - I don't think any of us have too much info on the renovations. I checked with my travel agent back in March about this (because some brides were worried about their anniversary nights) and at that time she said: "I talked to Claudia and she said they are not closing in 2012, just doing renovations. It's possible that something could change regarding that, but as of right now they don't have any plans to close."

I would say not to send out invitations to others because you could explain that you and your fiance decided about getting married on the vacation after it was already booked. One thing you could do is to plan some sort of party (as expensive or inexpensive) as you want to celebrate with other family and friends when you get back home and you could send out an invitation for that. The ladies on here call those AHR (At Home Receptions) - I am calling mine at AHP (At Home Party) because we are not serving a meal and it will just be a fun party. As for the friend - is there a second person that could stand up with your fiance? I know it isn't what you wanted, but if this lady is a good friend and you know she will be hurt if she is not asked then you will save yourself a lot of drama by just asking her. One possibility is to ask her and in the same breath say "I know you may not be able to stand up as part of the wedding because you will have to look after your daughters and just know that I would completely understand." In that scenario she wouldn't be hurt because she was asked and you would get to keep it at just one BM. Best of luck.

I have been compiling pictures in word files to show my photographer what I want and I just remembered that I had copied these first look photos. This whole picture is from a BDW bride's photo album, and it is a great way to see how the first look "story" can be told after the fact. I am sorry I didn't record this bride's name - but whoever she is she did a great job! Hope this helps to visualize!

Great memory - thanks!! I just sent her a PM.

I would like to have a separate song from the mothers/MOH/flower girls to feel a little more special. I would just expect the songs to be cut off before they are finished. We are having our microphone/speaker system operated by a resort staff member, so hopefully he/she will cut them off at a good point in the song. Do whatever makes you happy - it will work out either way!

We will be doing pictures before the ceremony as well. We are getting married this November and the sun will set at 5:10 so if we wanted to get pictures in after the ceremony but before the sun goes down then we would have the ceremony around 3:30pm. However, I don't want my guests to have to entertain themselves for a long time before the reception at dinner time. So that means pictures before the ceremony and the ceremony starting at 4:30pm. So I will definitely be setting up a first look. I have seen first look pictures staged in a resort's garden area, on a pier, on decks, etc. I plan on scoping out the resort the couple of days before the wedding to pick the best location. You want to find a place with a nice walkway for you to approach but also a nice backdrop for the pictures. The pictures that I have seen are a series that include the following: 1. photographer taking a picture of the groom's front while the bride walks up in the background - you will want pictures with both of you in focus, then the groom in focus (bride out of focus), and lastly bride in focus (groom out of focus) 2. photographer moves around to behind bride and then the groom turns around so the groom's expression is captured - you will want pictures of just the groom's reaction along with some looking over the bride's shoulder at the groom 3. photographer moves around as the bride and groom embrace & kiss (would be a nice touch if the groom holds the bride's had and spins her around to see the whole dress) Sorry I don't have pictures to show now, but as my wedding is in November you will get to see mine before your wedding day.

here is the picture I was thinking of (had seen it on Juan Navarro's website): For my later cocktail hour I would need to hang lights in them (there is a good thread on BDW on how to make the lights), but I am not sure if Claudia would be willing to do all that...

Another question for past/planning brides: Would you recommend bringing paper lanterns to decorate the Terrace for the cocktail hour? I believe I have seen a picture from a previous bride where she had paper lanterns hanging from the terrace. Does anyone know if Claudia & crew are willing to hang these for you? Based on the lighting already at the terrace, do you think this is worth the effort & money? (my cocktail hour will be after sunset) Thanks!

Sorry - I had intended for this picure to paste in on my last post. I got this picture from the Walmart website where it was selling for $14.11

I think the photo shoot is a fun idea - but I would caution you against going the extra step and buying swim suits for them. A lot of women are self conscious about their bodies in bathing suits, so either they might feel more comfortable in one of their own (which they would have selected to look best on their body type) or they might even prefer to do the photo shoot in fun (or sexy) dresses. Regardless of what they are wearing, I am sure they will find the photo shoot to be a ton of fun!

This is an example of the tags I have been making. I make my tag in powerpoint with lines drawn for the edges, then I use a paper cutter that you find in the scrapbooking section of a Michael's-type store. Hope that helps. Quote: Originally Posted by JoanneIreland I havn't printed out any tags yet, but wondering what everyone has used to cut of their tags? I ordered extra large square and circle punchers online but they are WAY too small. Are you hand cutting?