NJBride2014

I'm planning on doing a diy photobooth at my reception. At first I considered booking the company my resort uses but it would be around $600 or 2 hours and I just couldn't add that cost on top of everything else. I just bought a Instamax camera the other day and its basically like a polaroid that takes instant pictures. I bought it as a bundle for $100 and it came with camera, 2 packs of film, carrying case, rechargeable batteries and i think a cleaning kit you can also get the film cheap on amazon. As for props i'm going to make some with cardstock and buy some fun stuff we can use like boas and masks. I found a cute laser cut wood frame from Michaels really cheap and spray painted it gold its light weight so it'll be easy to travel with. I plan on just setting up a table on the side and letting people take pics as they please and putting a book so they can leave us messages with their photos I just need to make sure to buy enough instant film. I was going to use my ipad and do the tripod thing and then set up a printer but seemed like more trouble the instax camera is simple and lightweight to bring with me to Mexico. I'm actually going to test it out at my bridal shower at the end of this month to see how my guests like it.

I just wanted to share my welcome bags and give you a breakdown on the price. I found the image/logo inspiration online and had my graphic artist brother in law replicate it as best he could. He did a great job and loved the way it came out. Then I bought iron on transfer paper at michaels I bought 4 packs that came with 10 sheets so a total of 40 sheets. I found my bags online at bagiva.com for a great price and they are very good quality and a great size for a beach bag. Here is the link https://www.bagiva.com/100-Cotton-Economical-Tote-Bag.html. Then I just printed the image on my transfer paper on my home printer and ironed it on the canvas bag and done. They came out great and I saved some money doing the bags myself. Michaels Transfer Paper 4 packs of 10 = $29.97 (I used a 25% off coupon each pack was $9.99) 40 Canvas Tote bags from Bagiva with shipping = $48.75 (they sent me 3 extra bags) Total for 40 bags = $78.72 so $1.97 for each bag I saw some bags on etsy going for $4 to $10 a bag so if you want to save some money definitely go the DIY route it was very simple.

Another tip I bought aloe vera travel size at Harmons and used $5 off coupons I was able to use 3 coupons on my order. I bought 40 aloe vera bottles, 40 packets of tissues, 40 shout wipe packets and 40 wet naps for 58 bucks. Need to go back with more coupons to get bandaids, sunblock, chapstick, and Tylenol. Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

I know this is an old post but are you still selling this camera??

This is a great site....thanks!!

I would like to know this too I'm also ironing on the log/image but need to find decent tote bags that aren't too expensive. I went to Michaels to look for tote bags but they were coming out expensive I need about 40 bags.

@@tygrrlily thanks!! I'm going to look at both and compare. When you find out from your planner which one is the one palace uses please let us know. Hard to figure out a budget when the prices are different.

We are going to order custom maracas in our wedding colors. Something like this.

@@tygrrlily Hmmm I wonder if the one that is titled catalogo nuevo is directly from Zuniga, which prices are higher the one titled 2014 or nuevo? Could you email me the nuevo catalogue I would really appreciate it. My email is [email protected].

@@tygrrlily The most recent one that my planner sent me was back in Feb or March and it was titled 2014. Does the nuevo one have flowers in it? I can't keep all of my palace paperwork straight I get stuff from my wedding planner and then find catalogues from other brides on forums and facebook that I never recieved and its getting confusing. I just want to know what is the right one and what are the right prices I have 4 months until my wedding so really trying to lock down all my details.

@@chrisandcassie Oh I didn't know that Zuniga also did flowers when I got their catalogue it only showed their decor. I'll have to ask my wedding planner for their flower catalogue and see their prices or do you still have their catalogue with prices?

Did you use their florist or go with an outside vendor?

@@KirstyWass yes contact your travel agent and have them look into it. I'm using a travel agent and I'm getting these incentives. Good luck!!

@@KirstyWass So the 10 rooms will count towards your room block and at 14 nights that's 140 nights so you reach the amount of nights you need for the unlimited events and 7 complimentary nights. I'd confirm this with your travel agent if you do qualify that's a big savings and you can used the free events plan a welcome party and rehearsal dinner plus have the cocktail hour and 2 hours of your reception on your wedding day covered. I'm hoping to get to 75 room nights booked, right now I only have 48 nights booked but I still have 2 months for my guests to book so crossing my fingers.

@@KirstyWass well to reach the 75 room nights its calculated per room so if you have 27 guests staying 14 nights is that 2 people a room so about 13 rooms booked? If yes, then you will definitely be over the 75 room nights and should qualify for 7 complimentary nights and free cocktail hour and up to 2 hours of your reception. If this is the case I wouldn't do any wedding package and just go with complimentary package and add on my decor, etc. I would ask your travel agent about the free amenities.

@@KirstyWass Are your 27 guests staying each 14 nights? How many rooms do you have booked through your wedding block? If you reach 75 nights or have 25 rooms booked from your wedding block you qualify for free unlimited events and 7 nights room credited back to you. I would definitely find out this could give you a lot of freebies. This is on the Palace resort site. 7 COMPLIMENTARY NIGHTS unlimited private functions (one hour cocktail + two hour dinner. MAX three hours per day. Non cumulative)^ + 1 room upgrade for the bride and groom to the next available room category up to Concierge Level.* When you book 25 rooms for 3 nights or 75 room nights

@@tygrrlily that's what we did. Went on our site visit to check out our resort and had our photographer take engagement pictures. We loved our pictures and got to work with our photographer beforehand which was great. You're going to have fun! Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

I think its a good idea to have a casual party to celebrate with people who may not be coming to the wedding. I'm doing something similar, we are getting married at our church in our hometown 2 weeks before our destination wedding in cancun and we are planning on having a small celebration after the church ceremony. Not sure exactly what we will do but maybe just dinner with family or just host an informal bbq at my mom's house this way we get to celebrate with family and friends who aren't going to cancun and we get the church wedding/legal wedding done before we do the beach wedding in Cancun. Wow now that I think about it we are doing 2 weddings but the celebration after will not be a fancy reception, no first dance, cake cutting or speeches just celebrating our church ceremony. Cancun will be where we go all out with our own personal vows, cocktail hour and full on reception. It's your wedding do whatever you want to do and have fun!!

Wright Travel Agency does that I'm using TA Wendy Hicks you can find her on here. It has definitely been easier on my guests to pay in installments than pay the whole amount at once. Some paid all at once but there are others that are paying a little at a time. I would reach out to Wright Travel Agency for quotes on the resort you are looking at.

This is the timeline my photographer sent me for my wedding that starts at 4 just so you have an idea. This is for 6 hour of photography but my reception ends at 10 pm. 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Getting Ready 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Ceremony 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Cocktails + Sunset Portraits 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM | Dinner + Toasts 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM | Dancing + Reception Fun

My dress is in and I got to try it on this weekend. I was very scared not to like myself in the dress because first of all when I bought the dress it wasn't my size it was probably 3 sizes too small so it took some imagination to really get the look of the dress on me. Secondly I didn't quite lose the weight I had hoped to before the dress came in so I didn't think it would fit right and lastly I just wasn't sure it was still the one since I bought it 7 months earlier. Well I got to my appointment saw the dress again and fell in love with it when I saw it hanging there then came the moment of truth trying the sucker on. It fit!! I could still lose some pounds and definitely need to go buy the right undergarments for the dress to smooth some areas out but I did love the dress on me and that's what matters. I think I also picked out the veil I want to wear with it. Here are some photos let me know what you think.

Ok, great thanks! That's what I thought, that there would be no extra charge on top of the day pass. I did email my wedding coordinator and I'm just waiting to hear back from her so she can confirm. I can't imagine having to pay for the day pass then pay again for cocktail and dinner.

Was your wedding planner Elizabeth Yanez?? That is who I have but haven't been in contact with her in about a month I hope they don't switch me to someone else. Also a question about the day passes past and future brides. So if you purchase a day pass for an outside vendor and a wedding guest is there an additional charge of $25 for the cocktail hour and $55 for the dinner on top of the day pass fee? I don't have this stated anywhere in my contract or was ever told there would be an additional charge from either my wedding planner or on site wedding coordinator but on a Facebook forum the brides on there said that this was the case. I emailed my onsite wedding coordinator to clear this up but just figured I would ask on here as well.

I agree with everyone else and let your mom plan everything if she is still willing. Maybe your sister will feel bad and realize that should have been her job in the beginning and finally take charge but if she doesn't then oh well at least your mom and other friends will still be involved and be more than happy to plan and make this a fun time for you. I am the opposite of you I didn't want anything but my sister took charge and has been planning a bridal shower and bachelorette party and now I'm excited for it. It sucks that your own sister doesn't want to be involved or take initiative but don't let that bring you down you should be enjoying this time. Good luck and remember to have fun!

I have two dresses one for the ceremony and a part of the reception and then i'm changing to the fun party dress for the end of reception and dancing. I say go for it, its your day and if you are more comfortable in the second dress and like to dance why not. Here are my two dresses.