Jennypert

Agree totally about Lomas prices. Our colors are red and white which is a pretty easy color combination for decorating. I bought red and white organza fabric bolts from Amazon for about $20/each. I ordered red and white paper lanterns and red fans from the Paperlanternstore.com. As soon as I get a better idea of how many people are attending, I will order red table runners, chair sashes and napkins from the Tableclothfactory.com. I am also doing a white menu card with red ribbon to tuck inside the napkins on the table. We are thinking about getting some personalized shot glasses with red bottoms but I'm not sure about those. I like fresh flowers so I will order floral centerpieces (mostly red roses) and large outdoor corsages for the gazebo from Lomas. Our parents are deceased so I am buying personalized Memorial Candle Vases that will be displayed on the cake table with some of the flowers from the gazebo corsages. I'm not big DIY person so I'm not planning on making a lot of stuff plus I don't think I'll need too much else other than some Christmas lights or some sort of candle or light for the tables. All of this stuff will go in suitcases on the plane. I've been told it's not a good idea to ship stuff down to the resort since stuff will likely be 'lost' in Customs. I have a couple of friends who have Platinum frequent flyer status on United. They can carry 3-4 bags for no extra charge and have offered to carry a couple for me. I'll make sure they have receipt copies to avoid any Customs problems in Cancun. I figure I'll save at least a few hundred dollars even after paying the maximum charge for set up to AS. How far in advance are you sending invitations? I sent STDs back in May and already have 17 rooms and 42 people who've put down deposits. But I still want to send paper invites.

Quote:Originally Posted by moniq I chose mywedding.com and bought my own domain name on godaddy.com (for one year w/extra privacy setting - $12? look up discount coupons for godaddy beforehand - i think that's what i did and got a discounted price) - i googled how to set up custom domain name and there's some good instructions some bride posted that tells you how to point your mywedding site to your custom domain name. it was pretty easy! I researched a lot of wedding websites but most of them did not have the unique, offbeat, design-y, contemporary looks i like. i was blown away by wedding window's paid designs and originally was going to go with them and pay $79 for one of their packages when my fiance got a wedding invitation and i saw they used mywedding. i looked them up online and they have awesome, modern and very interesting templates of all kinds for free!! so i'm glad i saved my money! the only thing i don't love are the limitations on layout of pictures and text - i want to have more control - but I was able to look up a little HTML code and put that in the text to control font colors/size, add pop-out links, embed videos, etc. also i wish the pictures you can upload to a page were bigger. it also gives you budget and other planning tools but i'm using google templates for that kind of stuff anyway. bit overall, i highly recommend them!! my site: www.monicaandsasha.com Really, Really Nice! Love the videos. You are right, this is the most creative wedding website I've seen.

I think it depends on the website. I'm using WeddingWire.com. It's free and I haven't encountered any hidden fees. I chose it because I really like the design template which matched my wedding colors and theme. It also has a helpful checklist and guest planner. I believe they make money from ads on the general site but there aren't any on my website. Oh, I almost forgot. You can pay a fee for a private, customized domain name. I didn't bother with it. I am using the website to get information about accommodations and travel to my guests. A few have never traveled out of the country so I include a page to tell them how to get passports and what to expect when they go through Customs in Mexico. I also made it fun by adding music to some of the pages. There are many options and you can make it as simple or as complicated as you like.

I've had other people who've had DWs tell me the same thing. So far, we have 7 'extras'. In two cases, the invited guests wanted to share the room expenses and in another, the invited couple wanted their best friends to share in the vacation. I'm not stressing about it too much and have said, "No problem. The more the merrier." However, we still have 10 months to go before the wedding and 48 people have put down room deposits. We thought we would have between 30-40 people attending. If the total goes too much over 50, we'll have to re-think the stuff we had planned for the OOT bags so we stay more or less on budget. Anyway, I have to think there are worse things then having too many people share in the joy!

Quote:Originally Posted by kaleighMCL That does help! I was looking at the privat event banquet kit provided to me by the WC. I was getting really turned around with the whole thing - the pick and choose and the pre-set menu, i spent so long looking through it all, and the FI decided that buffet was his pick! LOL. I'm torn - i like the idea of a structured sit down, but the freedom of choice of the buffet. We decided on the BBQ deluxe buffet. That way, people have more choices and I don't have to try and figure out what they will like. But, I don't know if I should have assigned seats and tables with the buffet. Suggestions and thoughts from anyone.

I sent out my STD (email only) and wedding website link about a month ago. Both included everything needed to contact the TA and book accommodations. So far, I have 15 rooms and 37 people attending the June 2014 wedding. Do you think I should send paper invitations and if so, when? I have to a final count for the resort by the end of March. Almost everyone I want to attend has put down a deposit already. Or, should I just send paper wedding announcements after the wedding? Confused😕

thanks for the links to the sites. I will definitely check them out. I need at least 26 pashminas. Maybe even 30. I'll order samples from a couple of the sites before I order all of them so I can check out the quality.

Great!! Thank you. This really helps😊

I'm doing the BBQ Deluxe for the reception. It's a buffet and people will serve themselves. I hadn't thought about doing menu cards although that would be a nice touch to the table decorations. Ummm! Decisions, decisions!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97047653/red-pashmina-pashmina-scarf-pashmina?ref=col_view Here's the link to the ones I saw on Etsy. They list at $13.50 but the owner is giving me a discount since I need at least 24. I just did another search on Etsy and the cheapest I saw were $9. I'm going to wait at least a couple of months before ordering. I may end up with more guests since I haven't gotten an RSVP from some people. I don't want to buy too early and end up with either not enough or too many.

I am going to get red pashminas for all of the females. I found a company on Etsy that will sale them for $10/ each if I order 24. Where did you order your's?

Hi Murmel, at least they can read the instructions ahead of time. Thanks. JennyPert

Quote:Originally Posted by DeeP10 Hi I've posted a few times but have mainly been lurking. Lol. Trying to become more " active" . I got engaged last month in Paris. ( on the love lock bridge) awwww. Lololol! Everyone's been doing that so I had to. It was a total surprise. Wasn't expecting it for another few months or a yr. but here I am, planning a function I've really never given much thought to. I did always know I'd want a DW. If I could find someone who'd want to marry me. Lol. I used to be in event planning, mainly wedding years ago before I became a flight attendant . I've always disliked the idea of 400 ppl coming to eat and drink on my tab. Lol. Especially since I'd see a lot more ppl show up to receptions than to the actual ceremony. So DW it is!!! I wish we could keep it small but it looks like small is inviting 100 of our closest family and friends. We have a huge family and inner circle. We have decided to do it @ the jellyfish restaurant in Punta Cana , not sure of the resort yet but leaning towards Dreams palm beach. Going scouting in September . So my wedding date is... Ready? October 31, 2014 ... Yes Halloween! We initially wanted Nov 1 but it was booked so I thought. Why not? It might be fun, we can make it a masquerade . Lol. Plus there will always be a party going on for our anniversary and he can't forgot it! Lol I'm getting a bit of negative comments and flack because its Halloween and because its a Friday. What do y'all thi,. I'm very much the screwem all type of gal.lol Have fun and do what you want to do!!! Halloween will never be the same for you!

Absolutely love your logo. Where did you find it? I'd like something similar but in my red and ivory colors and with Riviera Maya instead of Punta Cana. Did you say you bought hats for your OOT bags? I thought about customized baseball caps for the guys but it would be nice to have a hat. JennyPert

Hi Murmel, Can you take a picture of the front of the Mexico custom's form? This will be very helpful for guest who have never traveled to Mexico before and who do very little/no international travel. I know some of my relatives will be very overwhelmed when they get to Cancun airport. Anything I can do to prepare them will be appreciated. Thanks, Jenny

Hello Happy Wife, I'm getting married on June 6, 2014 at Azul Sensatori Resort in Riviera Maya Mexico. It is very family friendly with about 440 rooms. You can probably work out a contract that will be less than $1000 per person for 5 days. You should also look at Azul Beach and the Playacar Palace. I visited both before deciding on Azul Sensatori. They were very nice but I felt AS was better for my family. Have fun with your planning. I certainly am!!

I hope there's not a problem with having extra people around on the wedding day. I don't plan to use the Spa and will need help getting dressed. Besides, I know I will be nervous and will need the support.

Someone on the forum said you really don't need the extra light especially if you are having a DJ. I ordered 12 x 12 inch and 12 x 8 inch lanterns all in white but I think the small ones are too small. I'm going to order another 12 x 12 inch in red. 24 should be enough but you might want to go with 30 to make more impact. I didn't get fishing line yet but maybe you should order some. They are going to charge you for set up (probably about $250) but I don't know if they have the line for hanging. Yeah, I started early and learned a lot from reading the various postings. I was a Project Manager in a previous life and the skills are very transferable to planning a destination wedding. LOL. 😀 But, from everything I've read AS does a great job with weddings and will have everything under control.

Most of my family will not be in the premium section. It won't be a problem to hang out at another pool and I like to have my quiet time away from them 😠If you know what I mean. Does anyone know where the Connecting rooms are located? Are they in the Azul or Family section?

I bought paper lanterns with LED lights at http://www.paperlanternstore.com. Price was pretty reasonable at $3.75 each for the 12 inch round. They have a big assortment of other styles and colors.

There's a forum about Frugal Brides OOT Bags. The author has posted lots of pictures and links to websites for items for OOT bags. It's a great resource.

Thank you so much. That really eases my mind. My TA raved about the Premium Swim Up but I wasn't sure. We will likely only qualify for one 'free' event which I want to use for cocktails after the ceremony and before the reception. Zocalo Terrace sounds nice and I believe on the way from the Sky Terrace to Zavas Plaza where we're having the reception.

I am still interested in the paper lanterns. How many do you have and now much do they cost?

We booked the Premium Swim Up room for me and my FI. I am not totally sold on it but figure we can downgrade to a premium ocean view when we get there if we are not happy. Does anyone know if privacy is a problem with the Premium Swim Up rooms? Our contract is for 15 rooms in 5 categories - Luxury Ocean View, Family Suite, Connecting Luxury Room, Premium Ocean View and Premium Swim Up. Our wedding is in June 2014 and we've already booked all 15 rooms with 37 people so far. We think we'll have around 42-45 people when everyone gets around to making their plans. I've already started talking to the Wedding Planner in Miami who is urging me to make a lot of decisions. But, for me, it's too early to decide what to serve for dinner at an event that's almost a year in the future. Has anyone else started planning so early?

I found a lot of nice pictures just by doing a Bing search for Azul Sensatori and looking under Images. I also had the good fortune to see Azul Sensatori in May in person when we went for a site visit. Some of the pictures I took look almost like the professional shots since the resort really does look like the photos! It is one of the most beautiful resorts I've seen.