emmapalmer

Have you check with your resort? Usually resorts offer one or both, however they can be quite pricey. You may also want to consider searching for destination photographers that offer video optionsin your city/province. You would be surprised to find better and more affordable options. It can work out to be a better deal taking your own vendor with the added bonus of not losing on the exchange, and only paying to one room. For example our photographer Enrique from www.decordova.ca is from Toronto. We paid around $1600 Canadian and we did not have to exchange or pay for flight. I don’t know if he offers video but I am sure you can find a good deal like that in your area.

Live streaming a wedding from the beach sounds like a really nice option available for those who can't travel to your DW. Have you considered getting a temporary mobile connection in Jamaica and have someone Skype it? This can work if you can get reception out on the beach.

Welcome @@aculmer and congratulations. You will find that these forums are full of useful information to help in your planning. I discovered this site late in planning but still love to read peoples stories, ideas and help when possible. The people here are so supportive, all you need to do is ask. Both Cuba and Mexico as wonderful places each with their unique cultural and local features. Mexico is more accessible then Cuba depending which city the wedding is held in, and where your guests are flying from. This is just one thing to consider when planning. Price is comparable. Large resorts in the Riviera Maya and Cabos will generally have higher prices. For more affordable options you can look a smaller resorts, boutique resorts, locations such as Tulum, Puerto Escondido, Hautulco or Zihuatanejo just to name a few. Hope to help out, Love Emma

@@MegLeLy congratulations! Having your resort selected and book is half the battle. You will love the Dominica Republic. As @@JamaicaNicole mentioned the Caribbean site is lovely. The food is delicious with Tostones in almost every dish . Now it's all about confirming your guests, choosing your dress, suits, bridesmaid dresses, figuring out the décor, the little details, hair and make up, selecting a fantastic videographer and experienced destination photographer. Love Emma

Welcome @@cycloneusa and congratulations. You will find that these forums are full of useful information to help in your planning. I discovered this site late in planning but still love to read peoples stories, ideas and help when possible. The people here are so supportive, all you need to do is ask. Love Emma

Happy to read that worked out with your friend. I should work on gaining a new skill like photography, hair styling, flower arranging so as to get some free trips on my girls' DWs. For now I just enjoy helping them in the planning, sharing my experience and opinion.

Wow! You did your homework. This is a great share. My organization was a bunch of random e-mails. I wish there were more lists like this to easily compare. Some of those vendor prices look like the vendor fee is built in the price.

I know what you mean. I was quoted prices $5000 USD and beyond. For Canadians you also need to keep in mind of the exchange rates. Your $1500 USD package sounds ok, however, with your credit card's exchange rate you'll be paying around $2000 Canadian dollars or more. You don't have to limit yourself to photographers in the Riviera Maya. Search for destination photographers in your city or country. You would be surprised to find better and more affordable options. For example our photographer Enrique from www.decordova.ca is from Toronto but also has residence in Playa del Carmen. My hubby from Montreal paid around $1600 Canadian and we did not have to exchange or pay for his flight. You can find fantastic deals like that if you open up your search area.

@@vancouverpetunia It may be a good idea to instead ask for their advice on their expertise in what to look for in a wedding photographer. If they then offer to be your photographer you can they offer to pay them or offer to cover their trip/hotel. Otherwise if you ask directly they may feel obligated to say yes and not get the opportunity to enjoy your wedding as an invited guest. A friend of ours had that experience with their hairstylist friend. They asked her if she can do the bridesmaids and her hair. Initially she had said yes to later politely decline weeks before the wedding as she really preferred to enjoy the morning as a guest. It was not a great situation for them to have been in.

WOW! These bridesmaid dresses are so cute. I love the baby blue tone. Your girls are going to look sooo pretty in them. I'm still reading through your thread and loving your ideas.

Our past photographer at Decordova Photography will be covering my friends wedding in Jamaica this October, and is offering his packages at a discount to other couples having a wedding in Jamaica on October 16 or October 17. I don't think it matters which resort as she is already bringing him down. You can arrange those details with him. That package is around $1100 total in Canadian dollars. Hope someone makes use of the savings. You can message him on his website www.decordova.ca. or [email protected]. Please reference my name Emma or my friend Nikki. Love Emma

Happy Wedding!!! Can't wait to hear all about it in you posts.

@@Soon2bmzbrooks that is terrible of the resort to spring up on you. Were you provided with any contracts when you booked your wedding? Is there any clause regarding inclement weather? Unusually it will stipulate what the resort does incase of rain, storm, hurricane. When we researched resorts for our wedding we always asked what happens in case of rain, and they all had a covered location for a back-up.

@@Hydewedding My friend will marry there at the gazebo. I wish I can attend. but already took the days for my own wedding. For hair & make-up she had mentioned that it would cost $900USD to have a local hair stylist enter the resort. Apparently the cost of having it done at the resort's salon was equally high, having several bridesmaids, that she is instead having an aunt do the hair. The resort has an in house photography company called Tropicone that is asking $1000USD for 80 photos. She is currently looking at the option of taking our photographer from Toronto to get higher quality photos and save from currency exchange. I'm digging through my e-mails to see what other information she sent for my opinion. Will post back shortly.

@@missemilym Congratulations! One of my girls getting married is looking at possibly having hers at Le Kliff or Now Amber if she goes with Puerto Vallarta over Cabos. To many beautiful places to select from. A cliff side wedding at Le Kliff would be memorable. Regarding photography I can suggest to you our photographer at www.decordova.ca. For our wedding in the Riviera Maya it was $1600 in Canadian dollars total, and I believe they quote the same for Puerto Vallarta. The price was better then the resort and local quotes with the bonus of savings from not having to exchange.

In Puerto Vallarta there us a market called "Old Town Farmers Market" or "Tianguis Cultural". The market has plenty of little practical trinkets that can be used for tote bag gifts. Some cute gifts could be traditional tin picture frames ( to put a thank you photo ) or a colorful Mexian bowl ( perhaps have it customized with your names ).

Does anyone know what the vendor pass costs for Now Amber? For example to bring your own Makeup Artist, Videographer, Photographer? I would guess It would be higher than the guest pass, however cannot located this information online.

@@Kayla2015 @@amyn @@samantha22 Don't rule out bringing your own photographer. We found that it can more reasonable in price and convenience taking your own destination wedding photographer. We found a Canadian-Mexican photographer who's packages were almost 50% of what our resort or local photographers were asking. We also did not have to pay for flight. Keep in mind that if you're going to have to pay the vendor pass fee, you might as well have a photographer stay at your resort who can provide a more personal experience.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I love that last picture on the sand.

There is a Catholic church in the hotel district in Cancun called 'Parroquia de Cristo Resucitado'. Try giving them a call and inquire id it is possible to do a religious marriage,already having done the civil. Let us know how it goes.

Congratulations!!! Please let us know how it went. Details, Details!!!

Buy them when they are green and still hard. Leave them out for 2 days. You will notice the skin darken. Avocado may start feeling slightly soft. Stick them in the fridge. Eat it within a week. If you want them softer leave them out longer. Avocadossss are yummy!!!!

Wow that is a beautiful dress! Suits you so well. Congratulations! What necklace have you selected?

You may also consider taking your own destination wedding photographer that is familiar with Mexico. You may find the cost of bringing your own to be more reasonable while receiving better service than local photographers. In our situation our resort photographer was asking around $3000 for 6hrs with 24 photos, and local photographers were quoting similar prices. We would have paid more for the full day we wanted. We decided to with Decordova Photography ( www.decordova.ca ) for our wedding in the Riviera Maya whose packages were almost half of what the resort was asking. Shopping around took little more effort but were so content with the results and savings. Don’t be afraid to enquire with photographers that don’t directly reside in Huatulco, Mexico.

Youtube has some cool GoPro wedding video ideas. One was strapped to a File Ball whisky bottle, others in the brides bouquet.