Victoriabride

Thank you so much ladies for the tips! I think we will keep the ceremony at 4:00 as I don't want to feel rushed and should allot at least 1.5 hours for pictures. I really like the idea of having appys with the toast on the beach and maybe even a mariachi band! I guess I don't have to worry about entertaining the guests during photo time as they may want to head to their rooms to freshen up. I will get the MC to suggest heading off to one of the bars for a drink if there's some unfilled time between ceremony and reception. I appreciate all of your inputs!

Hi everyone!! I am trying to figure out what to do between our ceremony and reception? We have our ceremony booked for 4:00 on the beach, but haven't booked our reception time yet. We are thinking either 630 or 700 for reception. I really want to get some photos taken when the lighting is best and the sun is setting which will be around 6:00. Does anyone have any feedback as to how long the ceremony typically takes? We are planning a toast on the beach, but I am worried there will be too much waiting around for the sun to set after we have our ceremony. I don't want people to get bored or hungry. Any suggestions of any activities or what we can plan between ceremony and reception? I'm even thinking I should change the ceremony to 5:00, but then it might be too rushed!? I welcome any suggestions from you lovely brides Thanks so much!

Thanks for the tips ladies! I am thinking I might want to change my ceremony to 5:00 then as I hear the ceremony is super short and I don't want people to have to wait around for 2 hours while we wait for the sunset for pictures!

Hello fellow Cabo brides! I am getting married at the Riu Santa Fe on Feb 1st 2016. Does anyone know when the sun sets this time of year? We have booked out ceremony on the beach at 4:00 but now I am having second thoughts about the time. I would love to get some beautiful sunset photos and also be down on the beach enjoying a champagne toast with all of our guests as the sun is setting! Any information of advice from anyone who has travelled to Cabo this time of year is greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!!

Yay another planning thread! I love reading these as it keeps me on track, but also makes me feel so behind on so many things! Cute story of how you and your Fiance met And so fitting that you are having a DW! I feel like you are really on top of things... either that or I am super behind! We just put our deposits down and we are getting married in Cabo on Feb. 1st. 2016 and I still have to send out my invitation. We are also expecting about 40 guests... I think that is a really good number I need to start a planning thread too to keep me on track! Thanks for sharing your story and I look forward to hearing more! Happy planning

Wow! That's a great price for the Mayan Riviera! What hotel are you staying at?

Oh yea! That makes sense lol

Can you buy them before you leave and bring them with you? Would probably save you a lot of money! And they are small enough should fit into your suitcase!

We are going to Cabo and it appears that Vancouver is a shorter flight than Toronto, so I don't get why TO would be so much cheaper? Doesn't make much sense to me! We live on Vancouver Island so we also have to mess around with the ferries which is a pain as it adds more cost and travel time! I am still grateful at the prices we were able to find considering how high all the other quotes were. I attended my cousins wedding in PV at a 5 star resort in 2010 and we paid 1200 pp. The prices seems to go up every year.

Yea we totally get the shit end of the stick on this one lol.. it doesn't even make sense since TO is so much further than us!

I must have gotten over 100 quotes from different travel agents for different destinations in Mexico and in Cuba. Cuba ended up being the cheapest (under 1500$) but we decided we didn't want to go there because of the bad reviews on the food. We ended up going with the Riu Santa Fe in Cabo Jan 28-Feb 4th 2016 and our guests are paying 1563$ from Vancouver and about 1300$ from Toronto. Cost was super important to us too. We had a maximum budget of 1500$ pp and only went over but a bit. It can be done! It is tougher though if you want to go during peak season like we did. Good luck!

Thank you for that! I too am searching for a bargain! I am certain I will be buying either a used or sample dress and the savings are so worth it to me. I actually found my favorite dress on an online site and it was 400$ (1900$ brand new). I tried it on as the girl selling it lives in the same city as me and it was wayyyy to short I was so disappointed as the dress was in mint condition as she had gotten it dry cleaned and taken such good care of it. My wedding is 10 months away and I am hopeful I will find another sweet deal and the perfect dress! I'm checking out that new site right now! Thank you and I hope you find your perfect dress too!

woah! You ladies are sooo lucky!! My FI is the complete opposite and I wish he showed even a slight bit of enthusiasm.. It makes it so hard for me to make decisions and plan things when all he says is "you got this."... "My job is to show up."...The only time he voices an opinion is when I talk about how much something is going to cost then he tries to say we don't need it! LOL! I envy you... I wish my FI would step up to the plate and take charge of at least one thing! Our wedding is 10 months away, so I have a feeling he might show a bit more enthusiasm as the date approaches

Riu Santa Fe in Cabo! Waiting on the date still but will be sometime in Feb 2016!

Hi Amanda!! Welcome to the forums I see you are from Victoria, me too! Your wedding is coming up so soon! you must be so excited. My wedding isn't until next year (either Jan or Feb 2016) and we are getting married at the Riu Santa Fe.. We are still waiting on some quotes to come through but I'm hoping to be booked by April 1st. We wanted the palace but we love the idea that kids stay free at the Santa Fe as a lot of my cousins and sister have young kids. Are you flying from Victoria or do you have to fly from Vancouver? Who are you flying with and how much are your guests paying per person if you don't mind me asking? I can't help you with any of your questions as I am so early on in the planning process. Try searching "Riu Palace Cabo" on this site and go through the forums for the resort. I have found so much information by doing this and am so grateful to have found this site. The ladies on here are very supportive and helpful. I have also read in a few reviews to try and relax and let things just fall into place as they seem to just work out perfectly the way you want them. The Riu hotels have a great reputation and I think you will be really happy with the way you wedding turns out one way or another!! Devon

Ohmigosh!!! I had the EXACT same issue as you.. you are not alone.. I went to visit my sister in San Diego and we went dress shopping as they have way better selection/prices than where I live in Canada. I bought my dress (first one I tried on). As soon as I tried it on I felt so beautiful in it.. like a princess and had that feeling like it was the one. My sister loved it and told me it suited my personality perfectly. The people in the store said that it looked great on me too. I was so happy and excited to have found my dress. I was disappointed to hear that the dress had been discontinued and there weren't any more in size. So, I bought the one a size up off the rack and they had it cleaned and fixed up so it would look new again. It would take them a week until it was ready for me to pick up...I was really happy leaving the store that day until... I got back to my sisters house and started searching the dress online and was really disappointed in what I was seeing. The dress really didn't look that good on anyone I saw it on (not even the models).The pictures did not do it justice.. And the pictures that my sister took of me weren't that good either. I started loosing sleep over it and obsessing that I made the wrong choice. When we went to pick up the dress the following week, I tried it on again and liked it again when it was on me. So, I took the dress home with me to Canada... through 3 airports...12 hours, 3 flights, stuffing it in the overhead compartments. I got home and tried it on right away and had second thoughts.. tried it on for my mum, friends, dad, brothers.. I needed all the input I could get and everyone said it was a nice dress... Although my mum did say it seemed a bit heavy for a beach wedding (ballgown dress)... I then started noticing that it looked warn and that started to upset me. I started to feel like I was missing out on dress shopping and went to try on others that I liked way better and looked better in pics.... I'm rambling here.. long story short, i ended up calling the store and although it was a final sale they accommodated me and i sent the dress back for a full refund. They were so accommodating and even paid the shipping (78$). I should have thought about it more before rushing into buying that dress... I think you should go back to the store, try it on again with friends/family and get them to take pictures of you in it.. then go home and look at the pics and think about it some more. Maybe try other dresses on too? I think if you are having doubts about the dress you should try on others dresses and get one of your friends to take pictures of you in them!! Just don't rush into buying anything if you are uncertain.. I hope this helps! Good luck

Thanks for sharing Good on ya girl for being so independent and working so hard for the things you want. Hearing your story makes me feel even less inclined to want to ask for help when it comes to our wedding. I feel that my FH and I made the decision to have a destination wedding, and as adults we should be paying for it on our with without expecting any handouts!

Hello Riu Santa Fe Brides, I have seen a lot of talk about bonfires on the beach for other resorts in Cabo. Does anyone know if this is something that can be done at the Riu Santa Fe? I think it would be so fun to organize a bonfire night on the beach while keeping the drinks flowing! what a fun way for everyone to meet each other and mingle on the beach!

ohhh very good tips.. thank you! I feel like a 4pm ceremony would be perfect! Maybe have a nice sunset for some pictures and the dinner/reception!!

thanks for the info again! I emailed them a week ago with questions but still haven't heard back! Its making me anxious as I want to get everything set up asap so things don't get all booked up! how far in advance did you have this all decided on? We don't have a date picked yet, but are hoping Jan/Feb 2016... I feel like I'm running out of time here!

Thank you so much ladies! Boy am I glad I found this website! it has helped me so much with the planning process and more! I feel so much better after getting that off my chest and hearing what you all had to say! Sometimes it helps to just vent! It looks like all of you are on the same page. I did feel wrong about asking them, so now I have to talk to my FH and hopefully he can open his mind and realize that not all people are traditional, well off, and that all family situations are different!! We are grown adults and should not be asking for financial help!.. I do feel that their presence at our wedding is all we really need! ahhh.. I feel so much better..! thank you all once again

Hello all! I need some advice here, or even just hearing of others who are in the same/similar situation as I am.;.. So, my FH and I come from very different families.. his parents are very traditional and well off and mine are far from traditional (my dad is an old hippie and they didn't have a wedding, just a quick court house wedding as my mum was immigrating from England. Here is my dilemma, my FH's parents have a large down payment for us when we decided to buy/build our first home (we are so greatful for them as we would not be able to do it this soon in our lives if it weren't for them). Seeing as they are making such a large contribution four our house, we obviously don't expect them or would even consider asking them for any help when it comes to our DW. My parents, on the other hand, have 4 kids and do not have the finances to help out in that way with a house. They can lend us the money should we need it for a down payment. Both sets of parents have been on board 100% all the way with a DW and will be there no matter the cost/place. Since my FH has come from such a traditional upbringing, he thinks that it is "weird" and "uncaring" and "cheap" of my parents not to offer to help out in some little way (dress, photography, flowers, anything at all). He thinks the gesture shows a lot. I see his point and I know when I have kids I would be so quick to take my daughter dress shopping and help pay for as much as I could. I know my parents have money, they aren't wealthy but they definitely are comfortable and able to enjoy the luxury of traveling a couple times a year. So, my FH wants me to ask them to help out with the photographer. I can't help but feel out of line, awkward and bratty if I follow through with this. Isn't it enough that they are spending 3000 plus dollars to come to our wedding? Or should they be doing more as mother/father of the bride (I know my FH sure thinks so)! Ladies, if anyone has any advice or insight on this, please share... I am losing sleep over these torn feelings and welcome any thoughts/suggestion, or even someone who can tell me I am not alone here!!! I do understand every family/situation is different, so would love you hear from any of you brides!! Thanks so much and happy planning!!!

where are you having your reception?

thanks so much for the information! we 100% have decided to go with the Santa Fe..it took me forever to choose a resort! The Santa Fe seems perfect for our needs! Most of us are flying for the west coast of Canada so its a shorter flight. The beaches look beautiful there too! Good luck to you with planning.. you only have a few months to go!

Thanks so much!! Have you been in close contact with the wedding coordinator? I hear so much about resort coordinators being hard to communicate with. Where are you flying in from? We are coming from Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna and Toronto. We are hoping to get a few free seats. Did you get any free and if so what did you do with those freebies? I have so many questions lol.. I appreciate any feedback you can give! Thanks