AmyG

I'm on day 3 and this place is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My guests must have all thanked me at least once a day for choosing such a remarkable place to celebrate.....stay tuned....

Just wanted you all to know that I am leaving for the airport in 7 hours....it has FINALLY arrived. I'll let you all know how it goes!!! Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Hey ThomasK, I did the same as RFinger and guests got their airline reservations on their own, especially since a lot were coming from different cities. I was also given an 'estimate' for airfare and it was about $300 off of what I actually paid....it was off not in my favor :-( ....so beware that airline rates are going to be unpredictable and there is No Way a travel agent can predict it now since they are not available yet and since your guests are going to book their flights at all different times. As far as the resort, my guests are payng $172/night (that is tax included and transfers from the airport to resort and back). I am not sure if that is considered a good deal or not compared to other people on here that are going but I was happy with the rates and my guests haven't seemed to complain. If you buy one of their wedding packages...the Eternity or Divine....then you will have a lot included in your wedding up to 25 guests (and then you just pay the difference for the rest of them). I am having my ceremony on the beach and cocktail hour and reception on the Beach terrace (the concrete area in between the pool and the beach). The Tequila Terrace is what I think you are referring to and that seems to be a lovely location as well. :-) I have not done any 'negotiations' for our wedding. I sent in all my documents to the wedding planner, Anel, and I am just waiting to hear back from her and possibly we can work out a few things but overall I am pleased with what I am getting for the cost I am paying.

Hey ThomasK, CONGRATS on your engagement and chosing the Now Sapphire. I have had a great planning experience with this resort so far....I will surely post a review when I return I did go with a local travel agent in my town and he was great! He really took over the planning for all travel arrangements for my guests. In my Save the Dates I put my travel agents info and let people know that if they didn't already have a travel planner, they could use my guy. My agent was able to negotiate better rates then what the resort offered at the time and he also held a block of rooms for me which I don't think I would have been able to do myself. I just personally went with a travel agent because I knew that I did not want to be the 'go to person' for everyone's questions aboout travel and stuff. I'm sure which ever you choose will work out fine. Happy Planning!!!!

I am on my 16 day countdown!!!! ....sorry I just had to shae it with someone!! HeHe!

ps31, CONGRATS!! I am so happy for you! It's great to hear that you had a great time and it all went well. I am sure I will have a question, or two...or three for you but I think I'm set for now. Enjoy being married!!! :-) -Amy

Okay Perfect!!! Thanks Sandy! I was thinking the same outline. I appreciate your help!! -Amy

Great Job for your best man!! That all sounds very famiiar....we have 14 rooms booked and one actually JUST booked today. Luckily I don't have to deal with last minute reservations, I left that up to my travel agent! hehe! We also have exactly 25 adults going (+ 1 infant) so I am very happy we won't incur the extra cost either. That's awesome you found the chair sashes you wanted especially at that cost. I am just finalizing what the tables will look like at this point and try to figure out what exact decor I am bringing down on my own. I have absolutely no nervousness at this point, I am very confident that the resort can handle anything and it will go smooth. I do have a house under contract right now so that is taking up a lot of my spare time but I am back to the wedding planning!

Hi RFinger, That's a good idea about utilizing the cocktail hour another night! I am already planning a non-formal meet and greet at one of the bars two days before the event. I guess the only reason I wanted a cocktail hour on the wedding day is because photos after the ceremony may take a while and I don't want my guests standing around and scattered, plus I wouldn't want the reception to start without me. :-) At this time I don't have a signature drink yet. If I come up with one I may let her know when I get down there but I don't really care about it too much since everyone has their own preference of drinks. I saw your ideas for yours, did you finalize your pick? Also, don't stress too much about the Planning Form. Anel told me she doesnt really need it until one month before my wedding date....so yes of course I am waiting till the last final days to complete it, lol. How are your other plans coming along?

Hi joda, It is so exciting that we are at the same points in planing!! My ceremony is at 5:00pm, so at this point I was thinking kind of the same as you and having my cocktail hour start at 6:00pm...to allow time for the ceremony, champage toast, pics, etc from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. So if my cocktail hour ended at 7:00pm, I think that would be a good time to start the reception...I also don't know if they serve dinner right at the beginning or do you wait. I don't really have a preference, but my guests might get hungry. How are you doing with the rest of the Planning Form?

Hi Sandy, Maybe you could assist me with this as you have a lot of experience with the weddings at the Sapphire...I am filling out my Wedding Planning Form. My ceremony time is for 5:00pm on the beach and it asks what time I want the cocktail and dinner reception to start, do you have any recommendations for the start times of each of them? I would not want to go over an hour for the cocktails. Thanks!!!! Amy

Hi Joda, My wedding is right before yours (March16) and I am also getting a little stressed out too trying to figure out what I am doing, lol. I am having approx. 26 people, no kids. I am going to use the dj that the resort uses because a lot of people in my group love to dance. How are your other plans coming along?

Thank You Natalie!! I love to save money too! :-))

After I sent mine out a year in advance, so many people told me that they appreciated me giving them so much time to plan so I think if you want to send them out over a year in advance that would be great for your guests! :-)

All great ideas, thanks!!! :-)

I was going to send out my formal invites earlier but my STD's and my website had all the information my guests needed, so my invites are just protocol I guess, lol. I basically know who is coming and who is not. I also just figured I would save a stamp and send them out along with my at home party invites.

My wedding date is March 16, 2012. I sent out my STD one year in advance...so I sent them last March. My STD's included: The date The resort name My website My travel agent's info My formal invites are at the printers now and I am planning on sending them out with my AHR invites at the same time by the end of next week. Hope this helps!

Hi everyone, I am not sure if anyone already has a thread on this...I apologize if there already is one. I have two dogs that are me & my FI's life!!! They obviously can not travel to Mexico with us to be a part of our wedding ceremony and celebration. Does anyone have any ideas on how pets can be honored at your ceremony and during your trip?? I have been trying to think of a way of incorporating them that make my FI feel better about not having them there. :-) Thanks!!!