Jennypert

I do not pack anything in the checked bags that I cannot afford to lose. I've traveled quite a bit and have had my bags not show up when I did more times than I want to remember. It is always very stressful. Put your rings in your purse (carry-on) and keep it close to you.

Hello Mystique517, Thanks so much for sharing your decoration pictures and comments. I am now re-thinking my decision to buy decorations from the resort and am searching Etsy for luminieries and pomanders.

I love the changes to the Sky Deck and don't miss the roof on the Zavas Plaza gazebo. My wedding ceremony and reception are scheduled there also. Everything you have looks beautiful and it's so simple and elegant. How much of the decorations did you bring with and what did AS (Lomas?) provide? I don't really want to bring crates of chair covers, sashes and table runners but . . .

Congratulations! Sounds like you had a great time! Can't wait to see the pictures. We're having our reception at Plaza Zavas so I'll be excited to see your decorations.

Hi June7BeachBride, Our date is June 6, 2014, the day before your's. We have about 45-50 people in Plaza Zavas for the reception. I've booked the DJ without the MC just because I don't want to be bothered trying to figure out a playlist. If you have friends who can bring music on an iPod and work it during the reception, you may want to save some money and just rent the speakers. But, I've read where other brides are very adamant about getting just the right DJ to make the party. Just depends on how you want to party.

I was strongly advised to not ship anything to the resort ahead of time. It's likely to get held up by Mexican Customs. I am planning to ask several friends to take a bag with them on the plane since a few of us are traveling together and they don't have a lot of luggage. I've seen several posts about using Real Touch flowers to save money but I like the te, natural flowers and plan to pay for them.

Congratulations on your wedding! It was great to hear that everything went well. Please send pictures since I am sure it was lovely. :woot:

We are planning a Welcome Mexican Fiesta Party for the evening when most people arrive. It will be a private event with cocktails and will cost a bit for 50 people. We have a dinner reservation for 40 for the day after the wedding and reception but it is optional. I think a lot of people will opt to go to either another on site restaurant or into Playa del Carmen. Most people are only staying 4 nights so we want them to have time for their vacation.

I wish you all the best for your wedding next week! You will be beautiful and happy no matter what the weather is like. :cheer2:

Were you planning to have your reception there? Have they told you about alternative sites?

Quote:Originally Posted by LilPumpkin Here is a picture of what the dessert portion of the BBQ buffet looked like. Of course I have do not have pictures of the actual buffet. Sorry. And a picture of our 3 tier cake. All our guests liked both. Some people had 2nds on the cake. I will tell you that both the cake and the desserts that come with the BBQ buffet were way too much for a party of 50ppl. I think a much smaller cake would have been better. It just all went to waste. These are beautiful pictures!!! I'm so glad we chose the BBQ Deluxe. I ordered the smaller 3 tier cake (for 30-40 people) so I hope we won't have a lot leftover. Knowing my family, they'll pack up any leftovers and take it back to their rooms. LOL

Quote: Originally Posted by m8chow Hi Jennypert, that sounds like a great idea about adding the salmon. I always worry that there won't be enough food. We'll be getting a 3 Tier Cake. I haven't heard back from our WC yet about the costs of cupcakes or cakepops but we were originally sent the cake costs and have a cake chosen. We're doing the 3 tier cake also. I have not had very many wedding cakes that taste good but what's a wedding without cake!!!???

Finally, heard from my new wedding coordinator, Christine! She found the emails I sent to Karla and has answered my questions. She seems a bit more forthcoming with information so I am pleased.

Quote:Originally Posted by m8chow Pick 'n Choose.... oh man, I better go back and review that again because that might be the way to go. Thanks for the input KayaWasTaken!   We're thinking about the BBQ as well, but just weren't sure because we have some guests that won't eat food off the grill if Pork or Beef have been cooked on it. Which is all new to me because I eat everything. I never even thought about what would happen to the centerpieces with a family style dinner. Thanks for bringing that up!  Time to revisit the menu choices again. Thanks for all the ideas and input girls. Hmmm! Guess I better check to make sure no one will be upset if pork and beef are cooked on the same grill as the fish!!! Hadn't thought of that since, like you, I eat everything!!!

We're doing the BBQ Deluxe Buffet also and adding salmon fillet. We wanted a lot of variety since we have a very mixed crowd including Baptists, Catholics, Muslims, vegetarians and people who just like to party. It would be too hard to find a meal to suit everyone. Are you getting a wedding cake?

Oops! Typo. It is www.minimus.biz.

You can also try www.minmus.biz and staples.com or a Staples store.

Lil Pumpkin - your pictures are fantastic. Who was your photographer? JennyPert

Quote: Originally Posted by KTBeach2014 Hi Ladies, I'm glad that I make it a point to read these updates once a week, and I'm now starting to panic for the first time. Karla was my wedding coordinator also! I e-mailed her weeks ago and have yet to get a response and I haven't been contacted for a replacement either. Our wedding is not until May, but this definitely does not ease any tensions... HELP! Thanks. DON'T PANIC! I am in the same situation with my wedding in June. I guess no one is monitoring Karla's mailbox. I plan to call them next week. When I actually talk to someone, I'll post the results.

I was advised to send another email to Karla. Someone will read it and respond with your new coordinator. I tried using the new chat line on the website and they told me to wait for Karla! LOL!!!

I spent a lot of time looking at the Memorable Moments packages this weekend and have pretty much decided to stay with our plans for the Sky Terrace ceremony package. I've already bought the organza fabric for the gazebo, the sand ceremony kits and Memorial candles to represent our deceased parents. I will check with our new wedding coordinator (Karla's replacement) when she is named and find out if we can use some of the other elements from the Sophisticated Soirée package for the reception. But, the packages are very beautiful and very tempting!:shots:

Quote: Originally Posted by VanessaBB I personally think the more people you invite the better and have told everyone to treat it like their own vacation as long as they participate on the wedding day. We sent out aprox 100 save the dates and invites, even to people we knew wouldnt come cuz guess what the people who can't come will buy you gifts if you have a registry or send you money! Vs the people who come to your wedding will probably not give you anything since they are already paying to attend! I allowed my family to bring friends if they wanted because after I hit 30 guests my fiancé and I only had to pay our taxes on our trip and the rest is all free we also qualified for the free wedding at the resort after 15 rooms book. As for your OOT bag my wedding is 40 days away and I have now finished ordering everything if anyone ( like my aunt who's been acting like she is coming) decides to come well sucks to he her for OOT and gifts the payment deadline was in September guests who book after that should hopefully understand they will not be getting all the same gifts as the other guests! Keep positive ladies ! You are so very right!!! Thanks for keeping it real!

Quote: Originally Posted by TrooDIVA LOL...I feel your pain. Wow, the resort is booked already? Did you offer room options for another resort? Azul Sensatori in Riviera Maya, Mexico is very popular for weddings and not very large. I want them to stay at AS since we'll get extra discounts for more rooms. There are only 3 people I really want to book who haven't yet. The Best Man (my FI's nephew) who says he's going to book 'soon' plus a very good friend and her husband. My friend and her husband had some family troubles recently so I haven't bothered them about the wedding. Oh well! I need to remember - Que Sera Sera!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by TrooDIVA Hmmmm...a "c" list. We may need to add that. I would send an invitation to those who just want one, but I know a few family members who would invite others to come along. Uh no! This is our wedding not a bring your ratchet friends and make it all about you trip. LOL Did you give your guests a cutoff date? I don't want someone to decide at the last minute that they want to come. I had 30 days from the day we signed the contract to get commitments/deposits for 15 rooms. Otherwise, we would have to pay $200/room to keep our contracted rates. I called and emailed after sending the Save the Dates. We had 13 rooms booked by the deadline and so far, we have 17 rooms with 43 people. I had at least 3 people who asked to bring friends and I said OK. It helped me get the rooms booked and I know most of them anyway. We still have at least 2-3 couples who have said they want to come but have not made their reservations. But, I got an email from my TA yesterday telling me the resort has sold out already for several days in April and May 2014. She warns that if people don't book by Nov/Dec. they may not be able to get a room in June. So I sent another email today. We'll see!! I'm trying to be patient but it would help to have a final count so I can start buying stuff for the OOT bags.

Quote: Originally Posted by TrooDIVA Reading this thread has me nervous. My wedding isn't until 2015, but I know how my family operates. LOL I'm on the fence about reserving a block of rooms b/c I don't want to get stuck with paying. It has been a struggle getting some of my family to apply for their passports. I'm praying this will not be a nightmare. We have two guests lists. One is for those that we are sure will be on the ball and the other is for those who just may get a wedding announcement instead of an invitation. Sounds horrible, but I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions? Sounds like a good plan to me. My wedding is in June 2014 and I sent Save The Dates in May 2013. I only reserved rooms for those we were pretty sure would come. I've split my guest list into 3 parts, A, B and C - the ones I know will come, the ones who may come and the ones I know won't come but will want an invitation anyway. Almost everyone on the A list booked within the 30 days per my contract. A couple of the B list have also booked. Of course, some of the people who have put down deposits don't have their passports yet. I'll send them reminders with the formal invitations I plan to send in January. Plus, I'll send another reminder in mid-March since payment in full and a final count is due April 4th. I decided to only send out invitations and skip the announcements to save money. My family operates like yours. LOL!!