calgarybride2015

What is your RSVP date? It will come soon enough! but I know the waiting is hard. I am super jealous of all the upcoming brides before me. But just think of the bright side, more time to save money! More time to change your mind on things, find better prices, etc.

OHHHHHHH lego centerpieces, LOVE IT!!! now my mind is moving!

We have wi-fi if you pay for it (about $38 for the week) but reviews make it sound like it's only at it's best in the lobby! It's a 5* and I've stayed at lower stars with wi-fi everywhere for free.. sigh.. none the less! I don't think anyone will use their phone as the packages aren't great with Canadian companies (or they weren't, I haven't looked recently).... so I plan to give everyone a list of our guests names at our welcome party, so they can get room numbers for everyone. I am assuming it will go a little like this 'hey want to meet for breakfast at 9am?' or 'hey meet you at the pool around 10, can you save us a chair?' I am really curious to hear from past brides as to how it all went down! We are at a larger resort so it won't be as easy to just run into them.

Ahh ok! I totally understand and truth me told, my single friends who couldn't find a 'date' paid the single supplement and didn't bother to bunk up. I would have personally bunked up for numerous reasons (price, safety, etc). OHHH I think we can all relate to comments about sleazebags and high maintenance people. I am a little worried about my sister and her boyfriend, but as I said above - I opened that door! It will all turn out! Glad you picked a resort and are moving ahead with planning

LOL!! After I lost the weight my sister was like 'wow your boobs used to enter the room first and now they don't' I still feel they do! You are beautiful no matter what! And hey, if you don't think they are big enough, I hear good things about push up bras hehehehehe.. Thanks! I am really eager, but still have just over 4 months. It was nice to find out who had put a deposit down so we could start buying stuff, making a real budget, etc. Now we are close to final payment being due and crossing our fingers our numbers stand!!!

Sorry I think I totally read your sentence wrong - I read it more as 'some will get it, some won't, so this way they will know' I think it is a nice gesture with a destination wedding to keep their costs down. Of course it's personal preference. We talked about this in another thread awhile back! As of course once you open that door you will probably have people at your wedding you don't know! I apologize if my question came out wrong, when I read it back it sounds 'snarky'... wasn't my intent.

I am in Canada so things work a little different ... but I only used this site for ideas, reviews, connect with other brides, and for the thread on my resort - invaluable! What I did was use a travel agent for my package to the resort (airfare, accommodations, transfers, etc.), and she made initial contact with the resort to get their wedding packages, etc. Once I decided on a resort, I have had all contact myself with the resort. Travel Agents who specialize in destination weddings and/or are just good at their craft with certain countries can help steer you in the right direction for resorts that will come back in your price point. She had me looking at ones I would never have thought would be in my price point, but were. She was awesome and so helpful! All travel is booked thru her, so this made it super simple for our guests too. I think you should pick a country first, then a price point to see what area of that country will work best for you (IE - Mayan and Cancun tend to be more expensive than the PV side), then see what is out there in your price range for the week you want. I was very flexible with our week and I chose one solely based on price! Since you are in the USA I think the travel agents associated with this site are VERY good and get great reviews on here. I got engaged in April. We booked a resort in May and are getting married in January! I could have done it in shorter time, as I have most stuff bought - now to complete it all! Just need to move quick is all! Somethings take awhile to come in (like dresses, etc.) Except, I did need to give myself time to save and my guests!!! Good luck! EDIT: I don't think summer is as high of a season as Feb-Apr is due to crappy weather everywhere else. You would just want to look into when exactly hurricane season is. I also made sure to not book on a Mexican holiday as they travel too!

Are you not offering all your guests a plus one? I did because the single supplement was a couple hundred dollars more! Which isn't that attractive to guests who focus solely on price point. Just a thought..... I also offered to help people 'bunk' up to save on that as well for those who didn't know someone to bring/couldn't find someone.

Congrats that is super awesome! When I lost all my weight I went from a 42G to a 34E, so for me they were still big...

I wanted Sunwing but they were too expensive. Not for us, but we had a price point of under $1500 for our guests. This was the best we could do! Thankfully our TA recommended this hotel as I would never assumed it would have been in our price range. I priced out SO many! Could just be the resort. I guess it depends what your price point is and what you are comfortable with. Good luck!

No worries! Couple more thoughts... I am using Air Canada, I found out that they do not have direct flights from Vancouver to Cancun, Mexico, so if the airliner you are pricing does not your price would be higher. Also consider who the airline is for January 2015 - again I am with Air Canada and our flight out of Calgary had less than 10 seats left in July 2014 so they jacked the prices up. Our package right now on Expedia is $300 more! So stuff like that plays a big role in the numbers. Are you working with a travel agent? I highly recommend it. I am in AB, but mine is in BC and she has been awesome!

Thanks! A 3 person Mariachi for 45 mins, at our resort, is about $375 -- my Mexican coworker says that is way overpriced lol. I wouldn't get to enjoy it much as I planned to have them play during the cocktail hour while we got photos done. But I surely would want my picture with them! I totally get you on the budget!! We budgeted a number and then figured out what we needed to save each month to hit that target. I realized in August all that money HAD to now be designated for our flight package and our wedding package to hit that number. So now I am using our 'other' money for the odds and ends (thankfully the big items are all purchased now) and I think because of that I have lost track a little bit of what I am spending. We are basically done now, just a few more small things. If my numbers stand (I sure hope they do! we are so close!) that I will splurge for the Mariachi! I know there will be hidden costs I didn't bank on, but hopefully they won't kill us. My new problem is that I have done most of my shopping now with 4.5 months left, so I sit on here and find new ideas. I have to STOP doing that.

Congrats!! What week in January are you getting married, because I have not considered January high season! Feb - April moreso is, due to spring break and holidays, etc. I don't have much experience with Moon Palace, but that price seems steep to me! I am staying at the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya - January 17-24 2015 from Calgary, AB and we are paying $1565 per person. Maybe see the thread on here for 'Moon Palace' brides and see if you can compare pricing. Also play around on Expedia. I booked about 8-9 months out, but we have girls getting married in 2016, so maybe they can chime in on pricing that far out. I picked my week solely based on pricing for that week !! Good luck!

I haven't heard any bad reviews but could have missed some in this thread. To be honest, I have a short bob, so I don't need much done so I am not overly worried. The companies you can hire are cheaper for my BM's, but not for me. I am debated a trial but with my short hair not sure it's a big deal. That's awesome for you! Who did you chose for photos?

Playa Del Carmen was cute - they had the local touristy shops, then high end shops too! Mexico does cater to us that is forsure. The thing about the Mayan that is unlike other areas is that you are out in the jungle, off what I call the 'super highway'. So you can't just walk off your resort to the towns, etc. In Cancun I believe you can and in Puerto Vallarta but not as easy in the Mayan. Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but I wouldn't have been comfortable doing it. You went a long way! In Cuba we just walked wherever.

Kenya is super quick! I inquired about the cost to bring a makeup/hair team on site and got a response in under 5 minutes. It's too expensive so spa it is! Which is ok, was just not wanting to bombard them as I need 5 hair done, and not sure who else is marrying that day! She told me the coordinator would be assigned 1 month before (I thought it was 3) but gave me a list of things they could coordinate for me, so more to think about!!! You have guests for 40 nights? I must have read that wrong. This is my assumption - with my booking package I got a spreadsheet I had to fill out with all my guests, who is in what room, their bed preference, and what table number they would be at. I assume they use this to check their system to ensure these guests are all truly in the hotel.

I plan to ask my hair dresser next week!!! Not sure if the products my friend's hair dresser recommends is keratin treatments, but will figure it out asap. This would be my second choice, but I think I should be safe to order the first one as she said 90 days.... https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/60412287/ivory-bridal-feather-crystal-flower?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=flower+hair+clip+feathers+wedding&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_locationQuery=6251999&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&sent=1

It seems Andrea and Maria are both gone now, and I have Kenya I'm emailing!

I am totally opposite, I like the men more casual! Making fiance wear a suit seems mean as it will be hotter than heck! But I totally understand both sides, thankfully that's why we all get to choose ourselves So I brought fiance out last night. OK we didn't go for the golf shirts, I realized they were just a bit too casual. He had a white patterned shirt and something about the white drove me nuts. It's such a beautiful location and he's just in white - how boring!! He also felt it was off balanced as girls in pink, Kim in white, then the whole men's side in white. So we chose the same shirt but in a bright/turquoise blue. It still isn't 100% my vision, but it's a lot better than the white shirts. I am content with them as we have no other options. Summer is leaving us and you can't find short sleeved shirts much anymore. Now to decide is bouts will look good on the shirts!

I think there are plenty of special ways to include her. You could have her give a toast after the ceremony or at the reception. You could have her do a special reading, as above, if you are doing that. You could make her in charge of favors, or something important you need done, etc. I think you should speak to her about it. Or leave it a bit until she tells you. I hate when we have to hear things thru someone else. You still have enough time to sleep on it for awhile. Hugs! These situations are never easy, but the right thing to do will come to you at the right time. PS - I know it would be hard to ask someone else, as you feel they would be a 'second choice'. I totally understand this 100%, but I don't think the person you are asking would be offended. I think they would be honored to be able to help out. I am not in the situation though, so I may feel differently looking outside in.

We have 3 kids ( 8, 9, 9) then 2 teenagers. They will all be dispersed amongst the normal tables. I hadn't thought to bring much for them to do as they are older and can dance/run around, etc. But may bring some travel games, coloring, etc. We will have that anyways for them on the plane so will just ensure I ask someone to make sure they bring it along to the reception for me. Also considering glow sticks for everyone, loL!

Thanks ladies! I am on like page 40 of Etsy and haven't found one yet that comes close. The ones that do are the same price! Just wish it didn't take 90 days to come in! Gotta order it asap!

They are called barefoot sandals, a lot of ladies on here used them. Some make them themselves or look on Etsy!

Awesome, super jealous! We did a Catamaran trip in Cuba and it was a highlight!! We are considering doing a bachelorette on one in Mexico for those who want to come..... booze cruise!!

Personally, if you feel people booked on their own and didn't RSVP I would send a quick reminder to all of them! Your numbers are already high and I wouldn't want a surprise. Chances are you would have heard from them, but you just never know, you know? EDIT: hang on - your wedding is next month, I would probably feel fairly safe noone else is coming. But doesn't hurt to ask. Your paperwork, as in - dinner choices, number of guests, cake, songs, etc? Mine is due 90 days before and I have to send it in, in October. Should get working on that too. HAHAHA MEN!!!! No care in the world hey? You are getting so close!