calgarybride2015

@@MJTK I say try on everything, go alot of places, it's the only time in your life you will go wedding dress shopping!!! Enjoy

@@MJTK Our groosmen are wearing white dress shirts (short sleeved) and black printed shorts -- they aren't formal, but they aren't cargo shorts either. Is chino's the word? lol Nonetheless, the shirts are from Tip Top and the shorts are from Bootlegger. I wasn't keen on the white shirt/khaki short mix, so opted for the darker shorts. I think, for us, it really suits the mood we are going for.

A lot of my ideas were based on what would be easy to bring and also my budget. My maracas were my big thing and will take the most room! I don't want to hail a lot there and have the chance of damage or them being lost (yes I worry about this stuff) so whatever doesn't need to go, isn't!! I was going to use luggage tags as escort cards, then decided to mail them out first -- which in the end I like better anyways. that's the beauty of time, you can change your mind 100 times until you are perfectly happy! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Thanks for your opinions. I'm not worried about the flip flops being cheap as in cost. I'm worried they may not suit the dress. I think I'm worried because I can't put the two together and visualize it. I'm very visual, very!!! Even wedding dresses-if it didn't fit me in the store I didn't consider it lol. My dresses won't be in until November. I could bring them to the dress store and compare with their stock dress or I could stop panicking lol. I think it's just the fact they are stark white Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's very true and all my BM said they are cute and don't care. But I worry cause the dresses cost a lot and don't want to down play them. Can't find anything I like!!! I'm keeping an eye out though. Thanks Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There are awesome sites for those bulk items! I looked into it when I was considering the OOT bags. Do you think it's sad I am agonizing over the girls flip flops? I want them to walk barefoot, but I wanted them to have something just in case, so I got white flip flops... jazzed up a bit with a flower, BUT, I think they are too basic, is white ok? should I get off white? what if they clash with pink dresses? are they fancy enough? Driving me mad, but by the time our dresses come in, sandals will be long gone from the stores. Here they are. Flower can go anywhere on them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The postcards really take up next to no space. I have 40 of them and they will probably be the easiest to pack. I am not going to bring the album to Mexico just put them in it after. I bought a medium sized box (suitcase/treasure box - not sure what to call it), that I want to store all my memories after that I thought I could bring to mexico for the signed ones to be put into. You can get postcards on the resort too if you wanted, but I am more the personality to want to travel with it all there and not worry about wedding stuff needing to be completed. @@MissJen3 luckily I had a friend going to Mexico and she bartered for me. I got 40 for $18

@@linaco80 The flip flops are just from Old Navy, but I made the flowers myself with supplies from Michaels. Glue didn't seem to attach them well so used clip on earring backings, lol, but they work. I am second guessing wanting them in white flip flops, so may get them a creamy/off white color I saw at Joe Fresh. I liked another idea I read on another thread about getting the girls stuff they can use on the wedding day (hairspray, bandaids, mouth wash, etc.) so I am going to run with that idea. I have a few nice pieces, but don't feel I have enough. Anyone ever feel cheap? haha! I have spent a fair chunk of change, but know they are paying to come to my wedding, so there is that small guilt.

It's a tough call. I have a friend who is trying to date, but hasn't been going strikingly well., but she wants to potentially bring a date to my wedding. She isn't even dating anyone, she hopes to find them beforehand. My other single friend had wanted to room up with her to save costs, but she is holding out for this. I finally thought to myself - my guests have to RSVP by July 18, why should she get until the payment deadline in October to find a date, seems unfair. So I told her September 1 is her cut off. OMG stresses me out, but there is a part of me that just realizes by Sept 1 she won't have known anyone long to even ask them to go, so it is probably a non issue.

I totally would be miffed too, and I agree with all the ladies answers. 1. Personally I feel she should have atleast mentioned to you that everyone would be coming, but they understand that they are not invited to the wedding. To me that's just a common courtesy 2. Most people on our invite list knew we only had a certain amount of reserved spots, so then again as a courtesy she should have mentioned it to you -- even said 'maybe I will see if your TA can get us the same deal' I do see one potential benefit - group booking bonuses either with the airlines and/or the resort If you wanted a positive! She did add to those numbers and might bump you up. HAHAH I had my friend who asked if her husband and son could come, when they were already invited. I would have made it known that she may not get the rates if I have more guests that want those spots, but I also have a passive aggressive side.

I have heard horror stories about people shipping stuff to Mexico. I've also been told some resorts don't like the idea because they don't want to be responsible for it until you arrive. I will just pay extra baggage fees if it comes to it. We get 4 bags because I have 2 kids, and they don't need 1 each, so we may be fine. My fiance's cousin plans to move to Mexico this year, so we may get him to take our favors with him.

I am just using the ladies at the resort, I know a few people who have used them and they were happy. They are also largely overpriced, bridal up-do for $140.. I hope when they see my short hair that only needs a roller brush that they go easy on me! I had planned to get a MAC makeup appt in Canada to teach me beforehand how to do my own, but I may just get the resort to do that too - will see what their prices are. I could just do my regular routine but want something a bit more special.

I ditto everyone above. We also had some people who weren't supportive - my fiance's dad - and it had him in tears. It was more things like 'we can't afford it' 'what if I don't want to use my holidays for this?' 'what if I don't want to go to Mexico' We stood our ground and decided that this is what we wanted, what would make us happy, and if people can't come it would be their loss, not ours. In the end, his dad is coming. Another side thought about making OTHERS happy - let's say you planned your wedding in Vegas to appease your sister and she STILL didn't come, how would that make you feel? There would be resentment I am sure, so I would stick to your guns. I had no issues hearing people's suggestions on my top resorts, on their dates, etc. but in the end we made the final calls. Every country is unsafe. I have a friend that is hugely anti-Mexico because of people dying, but lets be honest -- more people die in Canada each year than Canadians die in Mexico. Our resort even had an incident at it. It's life. If you stick to the safe areas, if you don't get yourself into shady business, and you mind your own business you are pretty sure to be safe. Crap happens everywhere, you can't dodge everything, even in your own backyard. That's the way I see it anyways. Good luck.

Thanks!! The beading on it I loved, it goes around to the back and down the train! The pictures do it no justice Hopefully the photographer can capture it's beauty! @@MJTK It was soooo much fun, and what I found I totally wanted was nothing that I wanted LOL That was me though, I was DEAD set on straps, but I preferred the sleeveless, thankfully I tried on both. I also found in the higher end stores (not necessarily more expensive) the ladies had more experience and they could recommend things you wouldn't have envisioned would look good but ended up looking awesome.

There are so many neat ideas!!! Then you have to worry about transporting them and the like! I would be worried noone would send me the postcards back, so I will hope this one works too!

@@MJTK ... wow, they are that full? That's crazy. I really have no idea how it works, all I know is the week I am going in January I had my pick of dates. Maybe there are other weddings, but the location I wanted was open? not sure, but I bet at this point they are filling up with less than 6 months left. You'd think some weeks would be a lot more quiet than others too just due to the seasons, holidays, etc.

Welcome and congrats. I have no feedback on the resorts, but you could do a search on here for each individual one and you will find brides from each Good luck!

That's a great idea... if you did dinner, then cake, then your dance it might work?? except where do you dance with your dad? heheh so many things to consider. Did you venture out that far? I heard its like 15 mins from the resort by the disco? but they offer golf cart trips to the disco... I love that it's private because a hot pink speedo in my wedding photos doesn't intrigue me heheh

I warned everyone it was a big resort, and to expect some walking. We also know alot of people who have stayed there, and one who married there this past March, so we are super excited about our wedding. I priced the Palladium out in PV, their wedding packages were awesome.

\Thanks, that was the one I googled too when I looked into it. I am happy with our 3:30pm time frame, as lets be honest -- nothing starts on time hehehe

The Grand Sirenis is only 10 people but the minute you upgrade to the private reception areas you pay per person for everyone, no more 10 free.

Gorgeous!

I certainly will when I get them.... I may wait a bit, haha, sometimes I feel like I ask to many questions when I email her once a week or once every two weeks I may also ask my friend who just attended a wedding there in March.

Can't speak for your resort (and yes I am a January 2015 bride), but my resort asked me to send that form back approx. 3 months before my wedding. I think they just want an idea of what you want, which will be firmed up when you meet the WC in Mexico. At our resort the ladies we speak with now aren't the WC and they will get in touch with you 1-2 months before to really get things rolling! You could always email her and make sure she received it!?!

I believe the GS and the Bahia properties are very close, if not next door to eachother. Any place in the Mayan Riviera will be a long bus ride because you have to fly into Cancun, but I agree it goes quick and there is so much to look at. It didn't phase me, but lets hope my kids do ok with it.

We did ours 9 months in advance. With Air Canada you get your quote for 30 days. To hold the 30 seats/15 rooms you have to pay your deposit, which for us was $300 each (although guests are only $200 each). That holds them for 90 days while your guests decide to come or not, after the 90 days they release the seats back to whoever. If you wanted more spots at the get go, you could get people to pay with you (IE if you have 4 total pay with you - so 6) that leaves you still 30 seats on the plane, but you have 6 already taken care of. Hope that made sense. Then from your deposit deadline the guests get another 90 days to pay their whole fee or they lose the early booking bonus price. Which after 90 days for us is still better than anything we can find listed. My only issues I have ran into, which I hear is very common, is that airlines change their schedules. If you book in Spring for Winter, they are quoting a spring schedule but it may change. Ours did GRRR, but I think we have it all sorted out now, which in the end I think I like better anyways (leaving Saturday not Sunday). We went over our 30 seats/15 rooms as we had alot more people book single than I imagined and Air Canada hasn't put up a fuss. Hope we have no problems at the resort! Prices seem a bit higher right now than in the past, and I hear that's the dollar. We are at the Grand Sirenis which is listed as a 5* for $1565 PP out of Calgary and $1465 PP out of Toronto. When doing my searches the only price I could find under $1500, was $1250 at the Grand Palladium in Puerto Vallarta, but then again I didn't price every resort.