J-me

Welcome to the best (and most addictive) site for any & all wedding planning And we have the same date too!! Congrats!!

I actually did a LOT of research (more analyzing than I care to admit haha) on hair/makeup artists before deciding on Fernando - I just booked him and couldn't be more excited! MVP was my other top contender - both do great work and have positive reviews! Here is Fernando's pricing: bride trial hair and makeup $180 wedding day $350 bridesmaids and family service makeup $120 hair $50 up to $80 His email: [email protected] Website (w/galleries): www.the-makeup-pros.com Good luck!

Sooo excited - I've been searching for the perfect hair piece (not too big, not too small, with right amount of bling) to match my dress. I finally found it!! I got it at the bridal salon when I picked up my dress & it was a bit more than I'd wanted to spend ($130), but I hadn't found any others I loved...here's the flower against my dress:

My TA just got back from a site visit to the Palace Hard Rock in DR and RAVED about it! So much so that we thought about splurging for flights & switching our honeymoon to go there haha....anyway, I'm sure you're focus is 100% on the wedding, but here are her pics should you want some Palace DR eye candy: https://picasaweb.google.com/Shopper1971/HardRockPCAug2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOr43LnQm8GjHQ&feat=directlink#

So exciting Jess! And just THINK how much less stress you'll have planning that trip to ASP vs. the wedding I've heard great things about Cozumel Palace, so it's fun you are switching up the resorts too. Thanks as always for sharing your experience and insight!

I haven't been assigned a wedding coordinator yet - how far in advance before your wedding did you receive yours? My date is April 21st - should I reach out to them or just wait for them to initiate when it's closer to my date? What I HAVE learned from all of you is to save ALL email correspondence from all of their WCs and bring it with me!

Question for you Palace in the Riviera Maya - did you use/are you using their preferred DJ (J&S AV) or an outside one? I keep reading conflicting things on bringing in an outside DJ, so I'd love any insight!

If time and finances allow, I suggest doing a site visit! We made a quick weekend trip out of it and was able to tour four resorts - including two Palace (Playacar and Aventura). While I can't offer advice on the other Palace resorts, I can tell you both I went to were great! Playacar is airy, beautiful, and right on the beach - the downside was it seemed very crowded and we wanted our ceremony a bit more private. Plus, their reception space was a bit limited (but I'm picky and wanted an outside reception). Aventura was gorgeous - more so than the pics do justice - the downside is no 'beach' but they have a great lagoon for snorkeling and it still sits right on the ocean. Plus, they offer complimentary shuttle rides to Playacar so you can still enjoy the beach 15 minutes away! We went with Aventura mainly because we liked the rooms, the venue space, and the overall 'Mexican' vibe the resort has. If you aren't able to make a site trip, utilize the reviews on this site, tripadvisor, etc. Feel free to PM me with any questions - good luck with your planning! It's definitely a tough decision, but I'm sure you'll love wherever you choose

Have any of you Palace brides used their preferred DJ - J&S AV? If so, how were they? I can't seem to find too many reviews on them. I've been looking at Doremixx and Mannia and would love to use either of them, but I'm not sure that I want to fool with all of the day passes and 'displacement' fees (if that exists?) Is anyone able to offer any insight on this?

You must be getting so excited, it's just around the corner! And I'm sure it's a great feeling to have accomplished so much and feelin good about your checklist I'm less than 8 months out...got Del Sol confirmed, picked up my dress, honeymoon booked, bout to send out the invites, just booked Fernando for makeup/hair...looking at BM dresses and still trying to decide if I'm going to go with JSAV for our DJ or one of the others I've read about (Doremixx, Mannia, etc.) - we definitely want a DJ bc we have quite the party/dance crowd lol, but not sure I want to pay more day passes! I'd love to start making OOT bags & favors, but don't wanna start until I have a better idea of who's coming....I have a feeling my guests might be like yours & wait until the last minute!

Lol, sorry - posted this in the wrong thread! Need...more...sleep....

After MUCH research, I booked Fernando today!! So happy to have him and to check one more thing off the list

These are pretty too - where are they from?

Perfect - I'm definitely going to get it then! Thanks!

I've been looking at this exact set!! It's so pretty What are your plans to get it there & back safely?

We are staying in the Riviera Maya, but transferring to another resort after the wedding - staying an extra 5 nights

Choosing a photographer was one of THE hardest decisions so I can completely empathize! I must've poured over their web sites/blogs/galleries for HOURS For me, it was between Elizabeth Medina, Juan Navarro, Ivan Luckie, and Del Sol. Then we narrowed it to Ivan and Del Sol. THEN we finally decided to splurge (for the same reasons many others have said - it's all you'll have left years from now to look back on, long after the cake, dress, etc.) - & went with Juan Jose of Del Sol. But I was so torn and Ivan was so sweet and responsive to my email inquiries & had impressive photos, so I'm sure you'll be happy with whomever you choose! And I'm using another dress to do my TTD - either my mom's old wedding gown (altered to be more 'modern') or one of the $99 dresses from David's... Good luck - I know it's tough!

Thanks for the helpful advice! I've definitely decided to book Fernando - but still going back & forth on the trial. The day passes are $89 per person (so almost $400 in just day passes if I did both trial and wedding day)! You bring up some great points though Congrats on your wedding - your H&M were beautiful!!

My gift to him is his ring engraving and a surprise boudoir album that I'll give to him on our wedding day - but he gave me the same 'do I need to get you a present' spiel, so we'll see hahaha....oh well, what are you gonna do....we'll see

This is beautiful!! I LOVE the detailing on the back!

Well ladies, I can only imagine the stress you're going through but as many have mentioned - those who will book, will and those who won't....won't. Course, you'll have to remind me of this when MY rsvp date gets closer! lol We just booked our honeymoon (Grand Velas, just up the street from ASP) today - yaay! I'm going to pick up my dress this weekend (whoo hoo!) and look at BM dresses. Right now trying to decide between Fernando and MVP for makeup/hair, trying to decide if I want a videographer, deciding if I should go with JSAV (ASP's preferred DJ) or Mannia or Doremixx, etc., and just trying to get in shape for my boudoir present to the FI I would LOVE to start the OOT bags, favors, etc. but I have NO idea how many ppl will be coming - how are you ladies handling this with the guests that are dragging their feet to book?

Thanks for the great advice! You've been so helpful with everything

I am paying for all 6 of my BM's dresses (ouch on the wallet) BUT i figure, as many have mentioned, it's the least I can do since they are paying for flights to our wedding in the Riviera Maya! I have a question for those that are paying for dresses - are you asking that their hair be done/up? If so, are you covering the cost or asking them to? I'm not sure the proper etiquette on this....we are paying for 3 nights of their stay plus dresses, so even though they are paying for pricey flights, I'm not sure I can swing the cost of their hair too....but I'd like it up...ahhhhh going crazy over this! lol...any help would be appreciated

Bumping this thread.... We just booked our honeymoon at Grand Velas in the Riviera Maya for 5 nights - soooo excited!! We are getting married at Aventura Palace and then transferring resorts. What are you ladies doing to honeymoon away from friends & fam, if doing a separate honeymoon at all?

We just booked GV for our honeymoon April 2012 - soooo excited!!!!!!!! In about 8 months, I'll be enjoying a pina colada from this view: