brownsugarbride

Quick question about rates for April/May NJ brides: what kind of group rates are you getting right now? I've also read somewhere that people have gotten free RT transportation from the airport for booking through the website. Can anyone confirm that this is true? Thanks!

I was just scrolling down to ask you if Grand Velas might be it..LOL. Glad you found your resort, but sorry that it won't work for you. Maybe for the honeymoon???

Like most of you, I'm struggling with my guest list, as I have an optimal number of guests that I want to hit for our destination wedding in Playa del Carmen. I know what the expert books say (you can invited 20 percent more than your actual number), but can any of you who have already gotten married give me a sense of what percentage of your invited guests actually came? This information would be much appreciated!

Not a thing unfortunately! I'll keep trying!

Congratulations! I LOVE that bridge and I love Paris and I love your date and I love your idea! You took the words out of my mouth---screw the people that don't want to come---your wedding sounds like it will be a blast!

Definitely get a good travel agent that specializes in destination weddings. Tell them about your preferences and your budget, and they'll be able to recommend some good choices. With less than 25 people, you'll easily be able to do a nice DW package without add ons for $3000-$4000, no problem. (This doesn't include add ons,etc.)

No, you're not too late! I'm planning an April 2014 wedding, and I'm JUST about to sign the contract for an off-site location. I'm sure that you'll be just fine, especially with a small wedding, but I would definitely get a move on! Let us know if we can help with suggestions.

Congratulations Joyous! You and your friends do vacation in style! I really like the colors that you've chosen.

No, I just put in my name and email address! (In fact, I might make FH do it too!)

ETA: My event doesn't need to be private---I just want to get everyone together in one place!

I am strongly leaning towards staying at Now Jade but having my wedding and reception off-site (actually, the off-site event is happening, just not sure about staying at NJ). I would like to do the rehearsal dinner and maybe a welcome reception on site at the hotel. I know that they are doing a free welcome event for people booking at the hotel as a special, but I was wondering if anyone could give an idea of what it would cost to do a rehearsal dinner or welcome event at NJ. I doubt I can reserve a restaurant for 60+ people without paying an exorbitant amount, but I'm open to ideas!

I'm so late, but what a gorgeous wedding. I am planning to incorporate Mexican desserts into my reception, and I love seeing ideas about how to pull it all together!

Congratulations Kaiden! I am having my wedding off-resort, but the (tentative) plan as of now is to stay at the Now Jade.

Thanks so much! Unfortunately, we haven't taken our engagement pictures yet, so we may have to enlist a friend to take enough photos so that we can have some for the book!

Corinne: Here is a great thread for chuppah decor: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/56553/post-your-chuppah-pics-and-inspiration-pics I hope this helps!

MsMine- Congratulations on your engagement! I too, am an April 2014 bride! To answer your questions, if you don't like the travel agent that you're with, there are many other great options out there, including the Wright Travel Agency that runs this board. I'm using them, and they do not charge a fee. I hope this helps!

Did you guys see this one? $200 gift card to Terrain!

Can I ask the other brides who have gotten married here about the lighting? It seems like you'd need a lot of lighting to properly illuminate this facility---what kind of investment did you have to make in extra lighting. Also, I'd be curious to hear from Matt and other photographers if this venue posed a challenge because it is so private (and dark at night).

happywife-I will definitely send you a message with more information later on today!

Thanks so much! Your intuition is absolutely correct---I am not trained nor do I have experience with any of this! LOL LOL Luckily, I have a wonderful friend who has a design background and who used to own a card business. She told me that she could do it, but I assumed she had a cricut machine. Actually, she has a machine and software that sound very similar to what you have, and will be doing my invites. Yay for awesome friends! P.S. Yeah, $400 for 25 invitations. No way for my budget!

Congratulations happywife! I will be an April 2014 bride (need to change my signature) in Rivera Maya. I really like my wedding planner that I've been working with thus far, Joyce Mnguni of Dream Weddings. She posts on BDW and is very helpful. You also definitely want to find a good travel agent who also has knowledge of boutique hotels with the feel and price range that you are looking for. I hope this helps! P.S. If you give us some idea of what you want each guest to pay (e.g. no more than $1500 per person), that might help generate some ideas. This board really is incredibly helpful.

Please don't carry around that guilt---this is your day. I'm sure that you've worked to minimize costs to guests and that's all you can do. It's likely that some people would have had to travel anyway. As for me, I'm starting to get worried about the cost to US! LOL I made up my guest list last night, and came up with over 90 people!!! Since we budgeted for 60 people, even if half of those came, we might be in trouble---especially because FH hasn't given me his list! LOL I ended up cutting a number of people (including family) and my mom says we can have an AHR at her house. We'll also have another one here in the city where we live. Nothing big, just hors d'oeuvres, small favors, and a slide show. I'm not about to go into debt over my wedding (but certainly don't judge other people's choices) and to have the wedding in RM that I want, sacrifices will have to be made.

Maggie Sottero's Love How You Fit contest ends tomorrow. You could win a honeymoon in Hawaii, a Maggie Sottero wedding dress, his and hers wedding bads and an OPI wedding package.

I like it..though I would do a pop of another color---perhaps a soft yellow or pink? You can also play with colors within the spectrum (teal, aqua, etc.) http://pinterest.com/kcfaye817/aqua-gray-wedding/ http://bridalmusings.com/2011/10/what-would-barbie-do-plastic-pink-aqua-wedding-inspiration/

I think a light gray, or silver might be nice to compliment your colors. I LOVE that aqua though.