bambaleo

You wear bracelets depending on what hotel you're in (different color for beach/del mar, Lindo/Maya, and Grand), but the bride and groom and bridal party can get the bracelets snipped the day of the wedding, just go to your front desk. Make sure you don't lose the bracelet b/c you'll need it to show it before you get a new one the next day or else they make a big deal of it and charge you $$$ for a "lost" bracelet.

I had my hair & makeup done by the resort (did not outsource) and they actually had a lady come in just for me, so it's not even someone that works there everyday, she works at a few resorts. She did an INCREDIBLE job. I was very impressed and relieved. We did the hair trial a few days beforehand - I brought pictures, explained what my concerns were, and she was very professional and the result was just perfect (I have long wavy hair, so you gotta know what you're doing with it!). Unfortunately, I don't remember her name, but they can probably look it up at the Spa or if you ask Lily (the WC) - my wedding was on November 23rd.

OMG our wedding was amaaaaaaaaaazing!!!! Everything went incredibly well (except for a number of nitpicky things I can name, but don't affect the overall feeling). I cannot say enough how true it is what everyone else on this forum has said about destination weddings: difficult upfront b/c of communication barriers and w/e else... but once you're at the resort you dot the i's and cross the t's and the wedding runs super smooth!!! I'll be writing a more detailed post later on, but any upcoming brides, feel free to ask me specific questions!!!

I'm getting married on Friday and will have a response for you shortly after But if you read the forum, you'll see how satisfied and ecstatic all the brides are Anyone else get married recently? It's been quiet here recently!

Yea i've done that and the time is 5:04. but not really sure what that means, is it pitch black at 5? When does the sun start setting? What's it like between 4:30-5 versus 4-4:30.

Was the sun setting during your ceremony? We' originally deicded on 4:30 and now we're getting suggestions to do it earlier- one week before hte wedding!!! Was it totally dark at 5?

Is anyone working with Lily at Lindo/Maya? I can't say the responses I'm getting are particularly helpful. Feels like I have to come up with options or alternatives myself...after a 3 day wait for an answer. Is anyone getting their reception venue (one of the restuarnats) decorated or illuminated? She only offered me these chinese lanterns that don't come in my wedding colors and don't have lights in them. I'm ok w/o decor b/c the restaurnt is already decorated, but was curious if anyone else is getting it done. I'm counting on just getting there and working everything out in person!!!

To do: Finalize seating arrangements Write guests names into their favors Decide what to do about menu cards (or incorporate into their favors, which double as escort to table) Pick up 2nd favor next weekend and attach little cards to them Figure out how to pack 2 sets of 125 favors Choose photos for table numbers, edit photos, process at Kinkos Find table number holders (our resort is actually making us bring them ourselves) Purchase cake topper Iron out first dance Talk to DJ about song list Talk to wedding officiant Finalize wedding day itinerary Choose a location for rehearsal dinner based on WC's answers to my questions Nail down first dance Last dress fitting Then there's a lot of of other items that are somewhat decided but need to be confirmed - but I think we will do all that when we meet in person w/the WC.

Not to go off on a tangent, but I've always thought the "first look" concept is kinda strange b/c I feel like the first time the groom should see the bride is when she appears in the distance and walks down the aisle. THere's so much anticipation about it with the music and other family members and bridal party coming down before that!!! Myabe it's b/c I have this perspective as a wedding guest and it's MY first time seeing the bride all done up. But, I guess w/having to take pictures before the ceremony, that idea doesn't work out Having said that, we haven't discussed the first look but I would like to do it. We're almost finalized w/the photographer. He's coming at 2pm, taking the last of the getting ready shots until 2:30 (and I will have friends take the other getting ready shots - good idea!) Family Photo shoot 2:30-3:00 B&G Photo shoot 3-4:15 Ceremony 4:30-5 Cocktail hour 5-6 Reception 6-10, but photog leaves at 9pm, so we will just pay for the extra hour .... since there will probably be more toasts and videos and cake cutting right up until 9pm. We may reconsider and do the cake cutting at 8 so he only stays till 8.

Do photographers typically stay the whole reception? Our photographer was initially only going to stay for the first hour of the ceremony, but we're probably going to pay extra for the additional hours. Seems strange to me to not stay the whole time since there's so much going on during the whole reception to capture on film!

Yep, look at the attachments Vegetarian_options.pdf

To those of you having your formal pix taken during the cocktail hour, did your photographer say anything about the lighting at that time? Our ceremony is from 4:30-5 so my photog says b/c of sundown at 5pm, he thinks we should take the formal pix before the ceremony. Thoughts?

Thanks ladies! You are super helpful! My ceremony starts at 4:30 with the cocktail hour from 5-6 and reception starting at 6, as well. 4 bridesmaids - but not all will get their hair and makeup done at the spa b/c $200 for both is crazy...I've had my makeup done for a wedding by a MAC artist for $50 and the salons at the resorts probably have cheaper quality makeup and are not as artistic. I'm considering brining in an outside makeup artist, but haven't looked into that yet (or paying one of my friends who'se really good at it).

Does anyone have their agenda set for the day-of? Just curious what time everyone is starting the rounds of hair/makeup for the bridal party...and other tasks.

Holy Crap, I just got the spa prices from my WC - attached here. Is anyone using an outside vendor for hair/makeup? ~$100 for updo and makeup (EACH) seems outrageous!!! LISTA_PRECIOS_SPA_CENTRAL_PARA_BODAS.XLSX

Good solution - we did the same. I talked to a friend about a month ago and she said she didn't know she had to RSVP if she was a "No".... I'm not sure how to make sense of that comment b/c I really like this person and they are very smart in most regards. Everyone has their own life and priorities and I really don't think anyone will understand the importance of every communication we put out there until they plan their own wedding.

I totally feel the same way!! Feels like there's more to do, but everything seems to be under control (minus the responses from the WC whose answers will spur more questions lol). Steaming is included with our wedding package, but my bridesmaids would like to steam their dresses as well and I don't have that question answered either... some are coming in the day before so I wonder what the cost is and what the turnaround time is.

Super helpful, thank you!!

WOW that is really amazing!!! Same here... the to-do list is knee deep... and really depends on the WC getting back to me, its been over a week! What's annoying is that it's simple questions that have a domino effect on other decisions that I just want to be done with! Does anyone have to have menu table cards for each of their guests? Like a card that says what that person is having? I'm kinda confused with this concept, I've never heard of this before, when the guests order their dinner choice in advance, don't the waiters just bring the food around and ask who got what? Maybe this eliminates the asking part, but I feel like people will move that card somewhere or put it away and the waiters will have to ask anyway, lol.

That is so ridiculous!!! This forum is definetely the number one suggestion for brides...no one understands what we're going through unless they've done it themselves. It's so frustrating when people don't understand that they were chosen to attend the wedding...made the commitment to come... and don't follow through on requests, no matter how big or small. You'd think a destination wedding makes some aspects of planning easier....like...no last minute changes in attendance, but NO even over a holiday weekend people are still deciding!! Something to keep us all "afloat" is that in the end, it will all be amazing and everyone is there to celebrate our special day with us and these stupid road bumps will be a funny story that we look back and laugh about!!

We've been in contact w/our WC since 2 months before the big day, but it's been a week since her last response and I've already sent follow-up questions, kinda annoying! We also have a few people that are undecided, or undecided about their kids....but if you order extra favors, a few extra plates of food, and hold off on seating arrangements until closer to the day, it should be OK

Same executive decision here! BTW Vistaprint is having a great deal on Groupon: $17 for $70 worth - we ordered the thank you cards for the local event we had, as well as 1 part of our favors (we're writing a cute note to describe one of the favors, that's gonna be attached to each favor and used the Vistaprint "business cards" to create it... super cheap idea btw since you get 250 cards for like 10 bucks or so and its under $10 bucks to add a fancier card stock or a series of other customizations).

We're gonna have live music at the ceremony - choices are I think mariachi, saxophone, harpist, trio band, or violinist.... I think we're gonna go for the trio band (guitars, bongos/other rhythm instrument) and play the wedding march for when I walk down the aisle. We still need to decide on the song for when parents/bridal party walk down and recessional. We're thinking a slower Latin song (something by the Gipsy Kings or Buena Vista Social Club) to fit with the theme of our First Dance..... but since it's instrumental, maybe they could play a more popular song like the ones you ladies are listing... if the instrument-only version is recognizable enough.

OMG that sounds incredible!!! We're having ours at Maya and we were given menu options from the different restaurants at the complex (Italian, Japanese, Mexican, etc.), so we went with the Italian b/c it had the most diverse options (and had both filet and lobster) for the entree. It's pretty cool that they dont force you to eat from the menu of the restaurant where the reception is held. So the way it works for us is the appetizers with be served buffet style, with plated entrees, and a dessert buffet. I'm attaching the different restaurant's entree options and the vegetarian entree options (which surprisingly look good) Fixed menu for Private Dinner.pdf

For sure, pics when we get back....but let's keep updating the forum with concerns or successes that we encounter in these last weeks...this feels like the most critical time!