tygrrlily

@@NJBride2014 - I agree - Marvin's quotes were really reasonable. I want high centerpieces which is why he'd have to come in to set up. I'm thinking now about switching them to low, but it's something I always envisioned and wanted. He did tell me that he can drop low centerpieces off in the lobby, so it is something I am thinking about. The picture examples he sent me are a lot more impressive than the ones the resort did What type of tables and centerpieces are you getting? I have 4 round guest tables and wanted high centerpieces for them, then low ones for our rectangular head table

Who are people using for centerpieces/florals? I've gotten quotes from my WC (I'm assuming the in-house floral department?) and from Marvin of Maya Floral. Of course Marvin is the way better bang for buck, but I'm wondering if a day pass or vendor pass would be required for him? I'm 100% fine with paying a day pass for him to come in and set up, but I don't want to get hit with a $800 vendor pass - esp. since he'd only be there for not even an hour to set flowers up? Any advice/feedback on this? Thanks!

I do like it. I paid the extra $20 to have the custom domain b/c it was easier to put on invititaitons and have people remember it. If you want something super custom and personalized, it might be too standard. But if you just want an easy to place to lay out your information in a very straightforward way, it's great. We've gotten a lot of compliments on ours. I think Wedding wire is pretty similar in features - you should look into that one too

@@pddcmc - I definitely will when I get them in December! I never considered silk flowers before, but I looked at the prices of the ones offered by the resort and was not at all impressed with the price for quality. Happened to come across the Bloom Bridal site and ordered immediately after seeing how beautiful they look! I also really wanted peonies in my bouquet, and I know they're super expensive and hard to get in Mexico

Maybe you could tip your WC to do it or see if you can negotiate some type of move fee? $14 just seems ridiculous. If not though, the white chairs for the ceremony will be nice too. If our change fee wasn't so reasonable, I wouldn't have bothered with the ceremony chairs

We ordered our personal flowers from Bloom Bridal. We get them in December so can't review them on quality yet, but she gets fantastic reviews and the pics look great. Judy has also been really nice and responsive, so I'm excited to receive them I ordered a bride bouquet, 2 bridesmaid ones, 7 boutenieres, 2 mother of the bride corsages, and 2 hair flowers. Came out to under $400 including shipping (I also had to pay 13% tax too because we live in the same province - that was about $50 extra) Just send her an email for a quote on prices

@@kmk2016 - I was so pleasantly shocked at the price! It comes out to like $7/chair... not bad at all. My mom HATED the white chairs and insisted we upgrade... I wanted to anyway, so I was like sure! Haha Definitely beg them... another $14 is nuts. I'd even maybe rope in the groomsmen to move them if you wouldn't think they'd mind!

Not a huge fan of the chair sashes either. We're upgrading to the gold Tiffany/Chiavari chairs. Luckily our resort is actually reasonably priced for it - $6/chair and only a $50 move fee to use them at the reception as well. I'm still figuring out what I want, but I think we're going to add flowers like this to the back row for the ceremony or every other row of aisle seats: And I love this for the bride/groom chairs during the reception, but I have to price it out first. We're thinking about maybe bringing silk flowers and do it ourselves, but not sure about the greenery So we might do something simpler like this, and maybe still hang some type of Bride/Groom sign on it:

@ - It bummed me out for a long time to be honest. For a few months, I was kind of unhappy and not excited about the wedding because of things like that, and people bailing, etc.. Finally, I kind of had a screw it mentality and decided that I was going to focus on all of the amazing things. We are tying the knot in Mexico! How amazing is that? And we have almost 40 people wiling to come with us! So now I'm really focusing on making it the best wedding and best trip I can for all the people that do come. I also look forward to December when we get back to cold, snowy Toronto, and everyone that went has had a blast and there are a ton of pics because I know people will regret not coming . I love my BMs, but I'm realistic about them. And I do now know if I really want something done, I have to do it myself

@@VegasBride121314 - When we were choosing a date, 12/13/14 never even occured to us haha. I saw someone else ask about the date later on, and it finally clicked and I was like OHH that makes sense haha. So we're 12/19/14 - based purely on pragmatism

@@VegasBride121314 - I think most photographers would arrange your first look to be in a more romantic way than beside the elevator . I think they usually make a bit of a production out of it, so you should still get that same special feeling!

@ - I feel for you! I'm very type A with planning, and this would drive me crazy. Hopefully they order soon! I don't really understand that mentality of waiting a few weeks when they're going to have to order them anyway. If money isn't an issue either, I don't get it.. I think I'd be a lot more annoying with direct messages and emails asking them if they had ordered yet. Could you maybe just order them yourself, then tell them you ordered them and they cost $ amount? I personally took a much more controlling approach haha. I don't expect a lot out of my BMs to be honest. I know their personalities, and of the 3 of us, I am the organizer/planner of the group. They're used to me planning everything from parties to vacations together, etc. because I know if I don't do it, it won't be done. I was my best friend's MOH and I had her bachelorette, bridal shower, dress dates, etc. planned immediately. Made her a slide show, got all the girls involved, we went to Cancun, etc. I was honestly a fantastic moh. I've realized though as @@VegasBride121314 said above, my wedding isn't important to anyone but me (and the FI ). I've barely heard a peep about my wedding from my BMs, they don't ask me for details, and I'm not one to talk about it incessently either. All I really expect of them at this point is to show up in the dress I want, stand with me, and take pictures that day. So I actually decided to just buy their dresses myself. I chose 2 inoffensive dresses in styles I know they would like, and I just paid for them myself. They both like their dresses, and they're both glad they don't have to do any work. They also can't complain this way because they didn't pay for them. One in particular can be super picky/drawn out, and I just wanted to avoid that whole process. They said they would plan a Bachelorette and Shower for me too, but I haven't heard much about them and we have 4 months to go. We'll see what happens with those. I think planning a wedding, and a DW in particular, really makes you think about your friendships and relationships in new ways. Some people have really amazed me with their support and love, while others have been so disappointing. I think I've become a lot more cynical through the whole process! I really hope your BMs shape up!!

I made my decision based on pragmatism. We are not because our ceremony is at 2pm, and we have a lot of time for pictures after (sunset at 5:15pm). We almost got a 4pm ceremony time, and if we had done that, I would have did a first look for sure just to make sure we had enough time for pictures I can see the pros of both. Either way, I think the first look will be incredibly romantic, whether it's at the actual ceremony or before

Eek that's awesome. We have 10-15 or so extra invitations - Going to see about htis haha

You are so on the ball! You definitely motivate me to get moving Everything looks great!

@@LauraM - Good to know! Haha yes, people keep saying to me "planning a DW is easy, right? You don't have to do anything?" And I'm like errrrr not really haha

@@LauraM - Oh I am jealous! I have Abril who started off okay, but it takes me about 2-3 emails to get 1 response from her. I'm also not sure we're having the same conversation haha... :S. I'm basically waiting to hear from the on-site coordinator, and just have everything ready to go

Yes and yes! Told my FI I don't like the untucked look either. We still want to maintain a certain level of beachy formalness (well I do - FI doesn't care what he wears now that he has his nice suit!) We really do have the same taste haha

Thank you! Yes, but I don't mind if they roll them up Our wedding is in December, so we're lucky it'll be a lot cooler

We're doing the suspenders and bow tie look too! FI will be in a full light grey suit, white shirt, striped suspenders and a black bow tie. The groomsmen will be in dark grey pants, white shirt, plain suspenders and a seer sucker striped bow tie. Our ring bearers will be in mini versions of this too, but with khaki and a white shirt

@@esahunnie - Thank you so much for the in depth review! I'm going to take note of all your tips, and make sure to keep all of my paperwork in line. I can't beleive they sent your guests elsewhere. I'd be so so upset by that too. I'm glad your wedding otherwise seems like it went well Do you have any pics of your Pure reception tables? That was my fave of the collections Also, you said your reception went to 11:30. Did you pay extra to this time? I was told they only go til 11 Thanks! With Palace resorts if you get over 75 room nights you get "free" events. Otherwise, depending on your room nights you get certain events free like a cocktail or dinner. Otherwise, you have to pay per person for a private reception. I think it's about $80/person if I remember correctly for the cocktail hour and 2 hour reception. We have about 105 room nights so far, so we qualify for the free events and won't have to pay the per person fee. We are paying for upgrades and to lengthen our reception though So the price really ranges, depending on how many guests you have.

Do you spend time with these women outside of work? I agree - I wouldn't personally invite them either. I take polite interest at things people talk about at work, but id never get offended if I wasn't invited. I actually find showers pretty boring and would prob be grateful I wouldn't have to go and spend money on a gift. I prob just wouldn't talk about it, or if I did, just briefly in passing

I went to most of my appointments with my mom and best friend. That was the perfect amount and not too overwhelming w opinions. I also knew that both had my best interest at heart and would also be honest about what looked good. I also went by myself once and actually really enjoyed it haha - but by then I had a fair idea of what looked good and what didn't. Some of the say yes to the dress episodes make me cringe. But I'm not sure why you'd want to come with an entourage of 10 people

These gifts are all really lovely! I agree - it's not about the cost at all, but what you know your ladies will like . I'm going to give my girls things unrelated to our wedding. As a BM, I personally disliked getting things engraved with the couple's wedding date, etc. so I'm avoiding any of that. For the wedding I bought their dresses, and told them they can wear whatever shoes, jewelry and makeup/hair they want - also so I don't have to pay for them haha They're getting our OOT bag, and also Kate Spade bracelets so far, and I'm looking at adding either a nice Tory Burch or Kate Spade make up bag/wallet or cell phone thing, or I might just do gift cards to Sephora or a spa certificate b/c I know they'd like that. I'm also going to do a sentimental thing and make a photo book of pics and a nice card. My FI is giving his groomsmen headphones. We got these awesome headphones from a trade show as a gift, and we never opened or used them, so we're going to give those. Kind of bad i know to regift, but they retail for over $200 each and we think the groomsmen would love them.

Those are great covers! I really love the ukelele, esp. for a beach wedding. I'm going to use Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's Somewhere over the Rainbow/It's a Wonderful World mix to walk down to And this is mega cheese, but I'm also kind of considering a piano or instrumental version of A Whole New World or Tale as Old as Time haha... just because Disney is a big thing between my FI and I and I think if I walked down to it, he'd be super emotional