TinkerSofi

We started the planning process a bit over a year before the wedding. Nothing is finalized but we just got a list of choices and began to choose things. We need to finalize everything 3 months before .

@@tygrrlily It's really nice. I'm happy I got it! I have a small chest so I'm a bit worried about the fit there but it seems to fit really well. Maybe i'll save it for something related to the wedding? Although I doubt I'd be able to hold my excitement haha and it will also give me an excuse to get a new one!

Awesome. I'm looking for that right away. I really wanted a red dress Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

@@reynbow those are really exciting changes! Right on time for our wedding . I'm super excited about that cenote! Hopefully we can use it I asked Brigitte yesterday whether there's any way to extend the reception past 11. We'll see what she says. Hopefully it's a yes . I'm not too sure what kinds of extra things you would get from an outside coordinator. I don't have one but I just don't know if it's worth having one either. So far i've been ok with how Miami is handling things, just minor hiccups here and there but I think that's expected no matter who you go with, whether you have a DW or a local one. Just a question for you about the hotel, how far of a walk is the beach from the rooms?

I just ordered my first dress off lulus. It's not for the wedding but we'll see how they fit before I order anything else https://www.lulus.com/products/lulus-exclusive-all-good-things-strapless-red-dress/137906.html

I totally know how you feel! Waiting for things to come in the mail is like waiting for Santa when you're a kid haha. I love it!

@@kcole123 love this whole thing!! That dress looks soooo flattering on you. I said it before and I'll say it again, I just love it

Just some food for thought for the ladies who are planning a catamaran. The time when I went with my friend on one in Cancun we both got sea sick. Maybe prepare your guests for that and let them know that if they're prone to motion sickness they might be better off staying at the hotel. It really ruined our night that day that we went and we both agreed that we should have just stayed and enjoyed the beach haha.

I never heard anything about any of these perks . I wonder if they would apply to me. I think the cocktail hour would be nice for us because we only get a 4 course dinner right now with the amount of people that have booked. Although the bridal spa package would be nice too, so many tough choices haha. I think it is only 2 hours at Azul Fives at least. All events that are like cocktail hours seem to be 2 hours. Khmciver seems to be gettling a lot fees waived but she's also bringing 100 people, so if you think about it, she will end up spending about the same if not more than the rest of us with less guests. I will probably still try to negotiate a few things here and there but I'm not getting my hopes up because I only have about half of those guests so I don't have that much leverage haha.

I didn't even know there were gift packages for booking through a GI certified consultant. I haven't heard anything about them haha but that would be nice if it is a possibility . Sorry, I'm not much help, am I?

that's awesome! I'm excited to see them

Twins! That's awesome . I agree, it would be hard to start over after 9 years when more freedom is right around the corner haha . I don't know exactly when we will have kids, or if we will. For now we're more focused on ourselves and enjoying this new stage in our lives. We don't live together so it will be a change that we will have to get used to first. I know his mom will start pressuring us as soon as that ring is on my finger because she's been asking for grandchildren for years now haha. I want to go back to school in a couple of years so if we decide to have kids it will be after that. I'll be around 30-31 by then, which should be ok. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome which might make it hard for me to conceive but it's really out of my control and we won't know until we actually start trying. We've talked about adoption and we're both ok with it so that's our plan B but I told my fiance that I probably wouldn't get IVF. Judging by all my wedding choices I will probably change my mind later on but for now that's the plan .

That's great that so many people are going! We had the same thing happen to us. Most of our newer friends who we didn't think would make the effort to come are coming haha . Definitely wait until the last minute to count all of your guests! A lot of ours booked the very last day [emoji39] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The dj or the rental of the amplifier are quite affordable. It's the live performers that cost half our budget hahah. With any resort you go through they will charge higher prices than if you were doing things on your own. It will also feel like they try to squeeze every penny but I think that's pretty standard with any resort. One thing about Karisma, they don't have a lot of hidden fees that I've found so far. Everything is pretty clear, there are surcharges for certain things but they don't try to hide these things from you. We're not going with their packages for the ceremony but we're paying for the tables to go with the package (vintage elegance). I think our wedding so far is turning out to be around 6000 or 7000 with Karisma, that's without the photographer, dress, suit, etc. We have almost 50 people coming. I know the prices for food have gone up so it might be more for you, or less if you don't pay for a lot of upgrades that we are paying, but just to give you an idea Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was going to do one as well but it turns out most people are coming to the wedding and it's really not worth the money to do an AHR for a few people who couldn't make it. If I was getting married locally I wouldn't do a second wedding for people who couldn't attend the first one. If you really want to avoid the topic right now and be kind of evasive, tell them that right now you're focusing on the DW and you will think about having an AHR haha. Then if they ask just tell them that you just didn't have the money for it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I sent them one anyway. I thought it was the polite thing to do but I know that not everyone does. I personally wouldn't get offended if someone doesn't send me an invite after I got verbally invited and said no but I know some people just love to create drama over that. My fiancé didn't want to send them one haha Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The same happened to us. My friends and family were on board right away as well as our common friends. My fiance's friends were a different story and they're either not coming or not staying at our hotel . I felt really bad for him but at the same time I guess it will give my fiancé a good chance to be with his mom (whom he hasn't seen in 3 or 4 years and older sister) they're both staying at our hotel [emoji16]. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Same here! Haha Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think all of the azul resorts have a sky deck. I'm sure about azul fives and azul sensatori but I don't know about azul beach. It was one of the reasons we booked with them haha. There is a surcharge to have your wedding there ($1700 for the ceremony and $15pp extra on top of the food to have the reception there too). You do get some perks with the $1700 such as a welcome cocktail when guests arrive, programs, live online streaming for those who couldn't make it, among other things. The prices for wedding at the karisma hotels vary depending on what you want to have. You can go really cheap or super expensive. You can start with their complimentary package and then add on things a la carte like flowers, upgrade the chairs, decorations, etc. or you can bring decorations from home. you can also get one of their pre-made packages for the ceremony and that costs another almost $3000 (this is on top of the $1700 for the sky deck btw) For reception it's all on a per person basis and it depends on what menu you choose. I know the prices have changed since we booked so I couldn't give you exact numbers. With what you pay it includes the food and open bar for 4hrs. You also get a basic white set up for the tables so you can again bring stuff from home or choose from their already made packages or add on things a la carte. I hope that helps but let us know if you have questions! We're more than happy to help Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm so sorry to hear that . I think walking alone would be fine. I've seen other brides do it . As for the security in Mexico, yes, quite a few people fall off balconies but if you've seen the state some people are in it's not surprising. It's still sad, but people need to stay off balconies if they're super drunk! There's also the random crime, but every city has a crime rate, whatever country you go to. Actually the riviera maya in Mexico is extremely safe. Bad luck can strike anyone wherever you are and bad things can happen to good people in any place at any time, but unless you go to Ciudad Juarez or Tijuana you probably won't come across the cartel stuff.

@@MrandMrsBonitto2016 I know there's another 2016 bride here . I'm August 2015 !! Can't wait

@@mazarin We're flying out the same day as our guests. We're from Canada though and our tour operator only flies once a week in the summer, which means I'd have to be a week in Mexico before my guests make it down there, it's just too much extra money for a few things that I need to do. Our wedding is still 4 days after we arrive so i'm hoping that will give us enough time for all the final details. I had a horrible dream the other day, basically it was my wedding day and I realized my dress wasn't altered, people didn't know where they needed to go, nothing was ready, just awful hahah. Hopefully it doesn't happen

I'm the same way as you. I haven't really asked anything of my MOH's, well one is in Argentina so she can't help me with a lot over here although I know she wishes she could. The other one is up to her eyebrows between school work trying to finish up her degree and work so I don't want to pile more stuff up on her. I've been doing most things on my own or with my mom and I really don't mind . I did go with my Canadian MOH to pick out my dress and it was fun/awesome but I really don't expect much from them. Maybe once we're at the resort it would be nice if they could help me out with the final details. So far so good and no drama, but that's why I wanted a really small bridal party. I really shouldn't jinx it haha!!

It wasn't a bad experience but I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I would have had I been really close with the bride. I felt like I didn't have the liberty of saying "oh let's work on centerpieces" or whatever it is they needed me to help with. She never asked for me to do anything but I also never took the initiative to help her with anything because I was afraid of overstepping my bounds. So that might account for part of your SIL behavior. However, it doesn't explain her bitter comments and I really think you need to stand up for yourself in that regard and just put her in her place. At any rate, no one will be paying attention to her on your wedding so don't let the little "attention grabbing" behaviors ruin your day Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

this is such a tough position to be in. I was a bridesmaid once even though I wasn't really close friends with the bride. I almost felt like I got asked to balance the numbers (my FI was good friends with the groom so he was a GM) or to spare my feelings. I would have been fine had I not been asked. I wish I could be of more help but unfortunately I don't think that cutting her is the best approach at this point. Maybe call her out on those things next time. You would think that's it's being confrontational but actually sometimes setting limits and being assertive is a better way of dealing with issues like this rather than trying to ignore them. If it bugs you, don't stay quiet. Don't make a huge drama about it and start a fight, but let her know that you don't appreciate those comments because you're as much part of the family as anyone else.