Sunshine2680

So excited for you Crystal! You'll have to post a boatload of pics when you get back!!

If you have an idea of what you want its best to send them pics ahead of time. Sometimes certain flowers CAN be used in your bouquet but they need advanced notice to order them in. I want a lot of orchids in mine so i'm making sure they have my pics well ahead of time. If you're not picky then maybe just leave it till you get there.

OMG!! I was just thinking about you the other day st.lucia. Thinking that it has been such a long time since we've had an update from you - i figured it was either because things were going fantastic or totally horrible. I'm so sorry to hear its the later. My heart goes out to you - I can't imagine what you're feeling right now. I'm sure you blame his family big-time and rightfully-so. But He's really the one who let the two of you break. They certainly started the whole thing but if he truly didn't want to let it ruin his future with you he wouldn't have let it. As hard as it is to say ..and even worse to hear. Things happen for a reason. You may not understand it all now - i can tell there's a lot of anger and hurt still and there will be for a while. But in time it will all become clear for you. And who knows?..maybe this is fates way of saving you from a lifetime of misery with his family. I guess thats one positive you can take away from all this. Also be glad you found out what your ex-FI was all about before committing for the rest of your life. Unfortunately its circumstances like these that bring out peoples true colors. One of my bestest friends just separated from her husband. Together 14yrs and married 3. He just up and left. Initially she was torn - but now she's seeing all the good in the situation and she's getting her fresh start/2nd chance at happiness. Maybe this is yours too! I'm glad some of us were able to help you through this (somewhat) - even though we're perfect strangers - I think i can speak for everyone here and say we're here for you no matter what. Even though you're not getting married anymore - i think this thread will be kept alive for any brides that have had to deal with crap like this. So feel free to stop by and let us know how you're doing. I know I want to help you get over this the best I can. Chin up!! trust that everything will fall into place as it should. Just give it time. And remember we're here for ya in the meantime!!

Thanks! I'm still deciding if i want my lanterns to be on a string together or separate - not sure where they'll be able to hang them all I've heard that 1 LED isn't enough to light up a 14" lantern so thats a dilemma too. Thanks for the info

Wow! thats a lot of lanterns! Where is your poolside reception at? Where did you get the LED string lights for the lanterns?

She's probably evasive because they want u to use 'their' services. But they can't force you. I'm not sure how you go about actually getting the passes. I'm thinking you'd just let your WC know who's coming in from the outside and you'll need 'X' number of passes. Like I said - i dont think they can force you to use their people/services other than photography. There's A LOT of red tape around that. But I've heard of other brides bringing in their own DJ's..flowers..hair/makeup. Maybe i'll ask my WC at Tulum and see what she says

ha ha - I honestly can't tell you how good/bad the salon is as i've never personally used them. But reading through this entire thread..i've gotten a tiny impression that they aren't the best. When brides have posted their reviews a few have said they went back to their rooms to re-do their hair. But on the flip side i think others have said their hair/makeup were fine. I guess for me- I just didn't want to take any chances. I'm spending A LOT on my photog...but if i my hair and makeup are poopy then its all kind of a big waste. As i'm not confident in my own skills to 'fix' if I need to. Its just one thing i don't want to have to worry about on the wedding day. If i'm not happy with how I look - I know i'll be pretty upset. To me - its more important than if the cake turns out. ha ha

I've been told by my TA that if your photographer is in fact a guest at your wedding - the resort can't really do anything. I think thats why a lot of brides are going this route. The resort just has way too much red tape when it comes to outside vendors. I have to pay $90/pp for a day pass for my hair and makeup people! Boooo. Oh well. Id rather do that than chance the salon and look like a donkey! ha ha

It most likely depends on quality and price. If you feel its more worth your money to bring your friend then go with that plan. The resorts photographers are quite good - but I decided to bring my own photog for more money - because i'm getting more out of it. Keep in mind the resort photog's are just going to be there to do their 'job' and be done. You even have to pay extra for them to shoot at your reception. I want a photographer who's going to make my wedding his priority. Your wedding photos are all you have to take away from the day and remember it for years on end. I'm spending 1/4 of my budget on my photographer and I'm so excited and confident about what we're getting out of it. You basically have zero control of anything else - especially planning your day from such a distance. Now - i have zero worries about my pictures. Everyone's priorities are different. So you have to decided whats worth more to you. You won't get bad pictures if you go with the resort..but as far as value for your dollar its a different story. I'm not sure about the quality of your friends pictures so its hard to judge. I just know for myself...i would never sacrifice quality to save a buck.

Hiya ladies - actually I got the postcards from zazzle.ca This was the coolest thing ever! U can customize any postcard! They have images already and you can customize them to your liking..or even create your own too! I found some awesome pics of the Mayan and made my own postcards too! They were fairly cheap! Some only $1.30 per card..some up to $1.60. Ok..sorry to be off topic - back to GBP business! Lol

I'm going to have a side table at the reception for everyone to sign. I'm also having a stack of vintage mexican postcards for everyone to fill our wishes to the Bride and Groom. Then the postcards will go to my parents and they'll send them to us randomly over our 1st year of marriage! I'll have those sitting beside the guestbook. Hopefully it won't be windy that day.

Very nice! Where are you getting your lanterns from? Are you bringing them down? I had considered this - but I'm bring SO much stuff down already - I figured the lanterns would be too big and heavy in the suitcases

Ya- thats why we went with the private poolside reception. I just don't like the idea of sharing a restaurant with others But I guess we won't have a choice if it rains..lol The price for the poolside dinner/reception includes a DJ - so we'll just use him and my WC said we can also bring our iPod if we want him to play certain songs

I'm pretty sure they will string them up for you - but I'll have to double check on that there's plenty of places to get them I think - just google 'floating/sky lanterns' I found some here https://www.theskylantern.com/shop/floatinglotusflowerbr/lotuswaterlanternsbrindividualcolors-p-31.html?cPath=48

Wow - so glad this forum has helped out so many brides out there! I seriously thought I was one of the only ones dealing with this crap! Clearly I was wrong - and its sooo nice to know we're not alone in this. Mdcoug - so sorry about your situation also. I truly sympathize. What I hate is that these families don't seem to care that they're $hitting on your wedding vibe/mojo! I started to become very deflated and unmotivated to continue planning my wedding with all the negativity. But somehow you just have to try and look past it all and remind yourself that you're getting married for YOU and no one else. And while you'd like to have them all be there - the most important people WILL be..and thats you and your fiance. We're having an 'open house' deal after the wedding too - and I can already tell you there's some people I hope won't come to that either. Unfortunately you can't pick your family - and you just have to find a way to keep your chin up and find your tougher skin to get through it all.

You're allowed lanterns at your reception - poolside. I'm not sure about the restaurant though. I've seen some pics and the decor is very minimal in the a la carte restaurants. We've decided to have EVERYTHING poolside (even the dinner) - and Jazmin told me Im allowed hanging lanterns as well as floating ones in the pool. Just as long as I bring my own.

Any lanterns that are lit with LED's are fine. It's just the ones lit with fire they don't want. But the ones that float in the pool can use tealites because they're floating on water so its pretty safe. The ones you release into the Sky - you can't control which direction they go and you wouldn't want it to land on anything and catch fire..even if you try and send them out over the ocean.

SKY LANTERNS: Hate to be bearer of bad news but I did get an official response from Jazmin a few weeks ago and she said its not possible. I asked her if we used biodegradable ones if they would allow it but she said no - because of the fire hazard. She said the palapas on the beach are too close and could catch fire. Jazmin is the WC at GBP Tulum - so maybe those at Akumal will get a different response but I highly doubt it. Jazmin did say that you are allowed floating lanterns in the pool for your poolside reception. But you do have to bring your own.

I've actually gotten quite a lot booked already. Ive got 31 people put down their deposits already. I've already been put in touch with our WC Jazmin - so we've picked the ceremony location...as well as the reception/dinner location. I've already booked my photographer as well as the hair and makeup Even though its so far away we've gotten a lot accomplished

I think you're referring to LaurieLee Rosser from Tier One travel. We were on the verge of booking with her but ended up going with Amy Wood at Romantic Planet instead as we got a much better price. LaurieLee seemed very nice and knowledgable but in the end - for me anyway- it came down to price. I didn't want my guests having to pay upwards of $1700/pp for a week in Mexico. And thats what LaurieLee quoted me. Romantic Planet came through HUGE - and for me..its also that DW and Honeymoons is ALL they do. They're not just any regular travel agent. I've also heard through the grapevine that some travel agencies will take a higher cut from the tour operators (Sunquest, Sunwing, ACV etc) - and thats why the prices can be higher. I'm not saying go with Romantic Planet..I would just check out a couple of different ones before you decide.

I see you're from Edmonton, I am also bringing down my own photographer. Mostly because the resort charges ridiculous prices (in my opinion) for what you get. I'm not sure what your budget is, but I've chosen to go with Andras Schram - he's fairly pricey - but he's only a couple thousand more than the resort photog and instead of a couple hundred pictures - I'm getting a couple thousand. You can check him out if you like.. www.adrasschram.com Another fantasic photographer out of Calgary is Vitalia Daza. She's very good and quite a bit cheaper. www.dazaphotography.com

Hi all - just got a response from my WC Jazmin (GBP Tulum) - and she mentioned its possible to have a chuppa/arch for our ceremony on the beach. She sent me a bunch of pics - they look pretty decent! Has anyone ever had one for their beach ceremony? I know that Akumal uses the hammocks for their background..but Tulum just has a couple of palapas and Id like to dress it up a bit more - so just want to make sure its worth the extra $

Great thread! Thanks for all the hard work u put into this! I'm getting married at GBP Tulum November 30 2012!!

Glad things are good between you two but you're right - this will have to get addressed sometime..and sooner rather than later. Going on and pretending like everything is perfect is not realistic and its going to catch up with you two. I'm so glad you've reconnected again - but ya - you're gonna have to face the fire at some point. Give it a couple more days like you said - hopefully he'll have come around a bit by then too. Approach the subject with humbleness and without hostility or high defenses. When one person goes on defense - others sense that and their defenses go up and no resolution is found. But ya - remind him that this wedding is for the both of you - and not his family. Nevermind the financial side of it and this completely A$$inine to forfeit more cash to accommodate his family. I'd also be pointing out to them how much money YOUR family has lost in this whole mess! Unless of course they're willing to foot the entire bill! If that were the case - I'd be like "cool - I'll get married wherever you want as long as your paying for it!". It is completely ridiculous that all this drama is over such little money...and you mentioned inititally that they're fairly well off..even paying for your FI's sisters wedding. Cmon..I'd love to throw that in their face and see what they come back with. Just remember that you're NOT being unreasonable with your expectations. I find when there's tension and differences of opinion - and you need to talk it out - your approach 100% reflects how the conversation will go. If you approach him and his family with the intention of mending fences to make everyone happy - they'll see that you're not the enemy and you're trying to find a solution that works for everyone. I think you also need to give yourself some time to 'cool down' too. Because if you come at him and/or his family with anger and hostility - you'll find yourself no better off than you are now. Best thing to do is work things out with your FI first before even considering talking to his family again. You two have to be on a united front and you have to address that with him too. Explain that you respect that they're his family but you're supposed to be his family too and you feel like he's not on your side with any of this. Maybe ask him flat out what he WANTS...not whats right for other people..but just simply 'How do you want to marry me?'. Ask him to pretend there's no issues or drama and imagine what his perfect wedding day would be like. I think if you make him realize that this is all about you two..it might make him turn around and actually FIGHT for what he wants..and not adhere to his family. Wish I could offer more advice - I honestly don't know all the answers here - its a very complicated and ridiculous situation. But it is what it is and you just have to deal and move on. Keep us posted! Good luck when you do decide to finally talk to him.