LCB803

Now that's something I hadn't thought about...great idea! I will check it out when I am down there this weekend for a pre-wedding coordination visit

Thanks, mae! I have heard other people talk about Marvin, too... I will look into it If you wouldn't mind sharing contact info, I would appreciate it!

Thank you! These cakes look amazing!

Since everyone in this threat seems to be crafty, does anyone know how to stamp or imprint a logo onto fabric (specifically, jute or canvas)?? Thanks!!

mrspfafftobe-- great job! I love all your DIY projects and the personal touches. Congrats!

To my fellow Riviera Maya brides, We are getting married near Playa del Carmen in Nov 2013, and will be going for a site visit next weekend! I also plan to iron out a few details, like flowers and cake. Looking for any suggestions and recommendations for florists! Thank you so much. ~L.

Hi everyone! We're getting married next fall near Playa del Carmen. A few vendors for wedding cakes have been suggested by my wedding coordinator, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these, or others? What experiences have you had? The coordinator has suggested: http://direri.com/?p=82 http://www.arteenpastel.com/gallery.html http://floreriavarsoviacancun.com/ Any and all suggestions are welcomed! Thank you!!

Hi Sara, Do you know much about airbrush makeup? Do you use it? I believe MAC makes a variety of air brush makeup? What about eyelash extensions? Thanks! Lydia

1) We love to travel! Having a destination really is just so "us". 2) We have so, so many people to invite! This is one way to whittle the list down to our closest 60-70 friends and family. 3) We are paying for the wedding ourselves, and we believe a destination wedding will be cheaper than the equivalent affair in expensive Washington, DC! 4) Our guests come from a variety of different parts of our lives, and the groups don't really know each other. I like the idea of having several days leading up to our wedding date (a Sunday on a long weekend) for everyone to get to know each other before the Main Event!

Thanks, Tanya!

Anyone have any recommendations for what would make a good outfit combination for our engagement photo session? Because there will be four of us -- me, my fiancé, and his two young boys (5 and 9) -- I don't know if everyone in the exact same outfit (i.e., khakis and white shirt) would just be too much. Also, we're pretty preppy, but the shoot will be in Mexico... too weird a mix of styles? Would anyone recommend mixing it up? What has worked for some of you out there? Anyone in the same situation? Photos appreciated!! Thanks!

Thanks, Spunkimo! I appreciate the update, and will consider Zaida Marcos.

Congrats! I looked at Le Blanc, too; how gorgeous! Enjoy every moment

Thanks to both of you-- I am having a similar dilema. I'm still not decided, but this has been excellent food for thought! Congratulations to you!

Thanks, Melnryluvco! That is great advice.

Thanks for sharing! I love Martha, too, and am so glad she's marketing her wonderful stuff to Michael's for the masses TheKnot.com also has some useful planning tools, and my FI got me a copy of Real Simple's Wedding Planning guide when we got engaged, which also has some very useful tools and tips... I just wish there was a one-stop-shop!

Hi Liz, We met with two wedding coordinators when we went to scout locations in July, Denise Courtney of Euforia and Joss Morales, owner of Unique Cancun Weddings. We didn't mean to double-time our coordinators, but it just so happened that we arrived in Cancun a little disorganized, so the hotel concierge staff was helping us to find a coordinator. Due to a mixup/miscommunication between us, we ended up with two appointments with two different people. Although accidental, it turned out to be a good strategy (although we felt really bad about it!!); we got to see two very different styles and personalities, and they each showed us two very different types of places and ranges of possibilities. We decided early on that if we didn't have an overwhelming reason to go with one or the other, we would pick whoever showed us the venue we liked the best as a tie-breaker. Reflecting back on it now, I know Denise would've brought her own strong qualities to bear for us. She's a very hard worker, knows a lot of people in the Riviera Maya, and seems to be an expert contract negotiator. Euforia is very well established. But it all worked out for the best, because my FI and I both just adore Joss and feel that she really "gets" us as a couple and was more sensitive to and in-touch with our budget. No right or wrong answer, but I would advise you to consider personality as well as how big or established the company is. There's no substitute for someone that you just click with! If nothing else, you might try our approach of testing out two different coordinators ;-) Good luck! Lydia

Not to worry-- I've had several friends say how it really came down to the wire for them. The more on top of your guests you are, especially the stragglers, the more gray hairs and wrinkles it will save you though. I would just (nicely) pester them, explaining why you're bugging them so much. Good luck!

Hi Ladies, Any pros/cons to using a travel agent to book the honeymoon? I travel a lot so I consider myself pretty savvy with booking travel, and in this day and age, it seems really rare to use a TA. However, we have a bit of a complicated itinerary planned (multi-city itinerary to the Maldives via Dubai and Sri Lanka, returning via Paris), so it may make sense to use one. Just wondering what your thoughts are. Something else to consider though, is that we plan to use almost all hotel and frequent flier points for the the whole she-bang, so not I'm sure a TA would even consider working with us. Thanks, and happy honeymooning!

Santorini-- would you say then that we should definitely not consider a honeymoon to Maldives in, say, June or July??

My fiance and I were deciding between Bora Bora and Maldives when a friend, who works for Hilton, told us that the Maldives are sinking! They won't be around in another, say 50 years, so that clinched it for us. We want to see them before they're gone! Haven't decided where to stay, although it will be a Hilton property since we are using ALL POINTS :-D Any recommendations for pros/cons of the different Hilton-owned/affiliated properties would be appreciated, as well as any tips for specific room type to go for. It's hard to tell online what the rooms are really like. Thanks!

We're honeymooning separately from the wedding. Since it's a DW, we figure we will drag the fun out for a couple months The wedding is in Mexico in May. We will spend about a week there for the DW, and then do a 12-day honeymoon a month or so later. We're going to the Maldives via Dubai on the way there, and via Paris on the way back, and all using Hilton points and Delta frequent flier miles! (Except for a $600 RT tickets from Dubai to Maldives). We both travel a lot for work, and will have been saving points for almost two years by the time the honeymoon comes around. We know we're lucky-- we could never afford this (or any) honeymoon without points, at least not with the wedding budget what it is.