mrsnova

Muffin, I just realized I can post a picture without me wearing the dress! So even if I do get it altered there I can get a pic around October

For sure! The dress should be in this month or next month, then I will get it altered. I bought my dress in Portland (I live in Colorado) and I am still deciding if I am going to get it altered where I bought it or bring it back and get it altered here. So I might not have the final product until January (with making trips). But I will definitely put pictures up when I do!

No I am not adding a bustle. I am actually taking at least half of the train off and taking out the tulle underneath the skirt so it is more flowy and hangs. Not sure if the makes sense but the bridal consultant showed me how it would look and I loved it! More simple and easy to walk and dance with

Thanks McLecker!

Here is my dress:). I ordered it in ivory and think I am going to take some of the train off so it doesn't drag in the sand! (sorry bad lighting). Mori Lee Style 4862 Chiffon

Can someone help me with my timeline for the wedding? As of now my ceremony starts at 5:00pm and reception starting at 7:00pm. We do not plan to add extra time and will continue the party elsewhere. How long would you say dinner takes? I know there are several different ways that you can organize the reception based on your preference...just looking for ideas! Thanks

Just got outfits for the guys. I am glad we got it done early because the woman that worked at Macy's said they are pulling all the summer clothes (we wanted linen) for fall very soon! Groom is wearing a Perry Ellis light tan (khaki color) linen suit with white lightweight dress shirt. I thought it was the perfect mix of casual and dressy (this without the vest and I think the color we got is a little darker) Groomsmen are a little more casual...with Banana Republic linen khaki colored pants (we would have got the same Perry Ellis pants but they didn't have any long enough for some of the guys, not even to order!) and a casual white shirt with rolled sleeves. (one of the left) Everything we got was on sale (at Macys and Banana Republic) because of the season change. Paid $30-$40 each for both pants and the suit jacket was a little more (around $100) but he will definitely wear it again!

My bridesmaids are walking down to Forever by Ben Harper I will be walking down to Nothing Fancy by Dave Barnes Recessional-You and Me by Dave Matthews Band

Thanks Avens for all the input, its really nice to have brides that already had their wedding on here! I wanted to share a funny and ironic story.. The other day I was getting my nails done and the woman doing my nails was saying how her sister just got married in Mexico. Guess where of all the places? Barcelo! We talked for awhile about her experience and overall she said the wedding was amazing and the palace was gorgeous and so worth the extra money. She said that the staff really treated the wedding guests great and made everything really fun with special drinks etc. It did rain on the wedding day but she said that they quickly changed the location to an indoor one that was still very pretty and they had a great time. Nice to hear how a guest/member of the wedding party felt about the wedding. A little different perspective: ). I am sure the little details we focus on no one would notice haha!

Based on pictures and the privacy I think Playa Azul would be the best place for both the ceremony and reception. The only negative I have heard is that it is pretty far from the hotel and you have to take a shuttle. Do you think it would work to have the ceremony at Playa Azul and then the reception at the Palace or one of the other banquet rooms (I chose the mint breeze package so the reception has to be in a banquet room)? Where is Playa Azul located in relation to the palace? I keep hearing that you can go look at each location and chose when you get there. I would just be worried if there is another wedding the same day and not having my first pick

From reading on here it looks like the menu is different with the mint and strawberry. Here was the menu that my WC sent me and at the top it says "Banquet Room Menu" (sorry it copied weird). And I have been seeing people talk about surf and turf options and lobster bisque, etc which is likely the strawberry package. We aren't too worried about the food because people can eat at the resort elsewhere before/after if they don't like it hehe . Too hard to please everyone with 50 + guests and no option to have choices for them. Also the strawberry package includes a mani/pedi and makeup and hair for bride at the resort spa. Not sure if this attachment will work, but I found this on here somewhere. It is a comparison of the wedding packages done by a very organized bride SALADS Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese Pesto Dressing Cesar Salad Sea Scallops Salad with Lime Vinagrette Curried Marinated Chicken and Tomato Salad DESSERTS Creme Brulee Luke warm half baked dark chocolate fondant Fruit Cocktail with Tequila and Mint Fruit Jelly Milk Caramel Spring Roll VEGETARIAN MENU Mixed greens, Tequila Margarita Dressing Asparagus Soup Grilled mediterranean vegetables with Balsamic Dressing ( Red Bell Pepper, Yellow Pepper, Mushrooms, Zucchini and Eggplant) SOUPS Genovese Minestrone Soup with Garlic Croutons Asparagus Soup Lime Soup with Lime Onion Soup, Gruyere Cheese Crostini MAIN DISH Pesto Marinated Broiled Chicken Risotto, Asparagus and Red Bell Pepper Coulis Glazed Pork Chops in Old Mustard Sauce Beef Tenderloin Pepper and Citric Crusted Rack of Lamb with mashed Potatoes BANQUET ROOM MENUPackageComparison.pdf

Unfortunately the hotel changed their minimum night stay to 3 nights (don't know if this is starting in 2013 or is just the time of year my wedding is). So it is cheaper to pay the $500 than 3 nights. Yea its a bummer to have to have the reception indoors with the mint package but because we will have around 50 guests it was just too much with the strawberry package to add all the extra people! So we decided to make the best of it and hey its only 3 hours of your whole trip and you will be on the beach the rest of the time and it will be air conditioned . The pesto chicken did sound good a safe choice for all guests, unfortunately I have nut allergies and usually pesto is off limits for me.

Okay a couple more questions:) I feel like I am constantly bothering you all! -It looks like the menus are different for some packages. For those doing/did the mint package what would you suggest for food selections? -For a symbolic (non-legal) ceremony did you chose a non-denominational minister or justice of the peace? Besides the obvious (religious) what is the difference? We would like to have a quick prayer but was worried with the minister we wouldn't be able to have our own vows or that it would not be in English. We want our ceremony pretty casual and short. Any thoughts?

Good to hear! Thank you

Yea looks like ill have to pay the $500 fee . On the upside, I have been doing a lot of research and have found some photographers that offer packages that even with the $500 fee would only be a few hundred more and some even had another hour of photography! Has anyone used or heard anything about Juan Navarro or Blue Lens Caribe? They had better portfolios than barcelo experience but still affordable. I loved Claudia and Ivan (which all got good recommendations on here) but they were a little out of my budget:(.

Does anyone have ideas or could share what they did after the wedding for a honeymoon type day/days. We will have a lot of friends and family at the resort for the week (like us) and would like to have at least the day after the wedding for ourselves and trying to think of fun and romantic things to do

I would say that your dad shouldn't wear the same thing the groomsmen are wearing so he doesn't look like one of the groomsmen. I am going to have my dad wear something similar that goes well with my colors.

Weird when I go on directly through Barcelo it says "For the period of dates consulted requires a minimum of 3 nights of stay" (I did different dates surrounding my wedding date). Must be because of Spring Break and/or the time of year. Looks like its cheaper to pay the $500 or go with the resort photographer. Thanks for your help