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@@smileitseb I found the robes on Piyama on etsy. I ordered a white robe with french lace sleeves while my girls will wear the print version. The downside is that the company is in Australia, so given your time crunch, you may not get it in time. Victoria secrets seems to have some nice white ones and I think their semi-annual sale starts soon - check Macy's and Nordstrom too - they always have random cute stuff on sale. I just sent an email to the Maracas Mexico team - Are the prices reasonable? Dreams is charging waaaayyyy too much for their maracas favors ($8) - seriously?! LOL I am still conflicted about bringing decor with me...chargers etc...Did you find that you will save a bunch? I guess I can stuff our things in the wedding party's suit cases.

@@Sheaka BTW, I love your lanterns! Seems like your concept will be so romantic! So did you determine that you will save way more by bringing your own things versus using the resorts items? What will you do with the items once you are done? If I decide to bring some items, I would consider trying to sell my stuff. I saw an ad for a company that buys your stuff once you are done. I think it was on this site - I need to double check though.

@@smileitseb Love the ideas!!! I have never seen the welcome booklet concept before! I need more deets! is it a DIY project? I am so taking that on! I spent so much time our our wedding website and love the sentimental details, that's why I have to do the welcome booklet...it will go with everything! I attached some pics of my shoes, veil concept and gifts for my bmaids. Let me add, I am not a Mary Kay fan, however, one of my coworkers is a rep and offered up her wholesale discount to me! So I decided to buy the peach satin hands collections for my girls - it smells amazing and it actually works! I was surprised - I was able to get the whole set for $17 a person! @@Sheaka Wow!! i need to borrow your ideas too! I am sooo happy I found this blog...There is a very distinct bride who plans a destination wedding...not everyone can relate. Regarding customs, my travel agent had a bride who was taxed event thought it was apparent that she was travelling for her own wedding. She explained that her items were not for sale and that all of her items were highly customized (guest names, etc), she even had her wedding dress in hand..and the customs guys still taxed her because she didn't have a receipt. If I were you, I would cover yourself and try to bring as many receipts as you can find just in case you get a bozo who wants to be difficult.

@@Sheaka @smileitseb I am bringing my own videographer / photographer as well. Dreams rates are ridiculous! It actually turns out to be cheaper to fly them to mexico have and pay them a low rate than it is for us to pay Dreams rate. Also, we are thinking of bringing a mac laptop to have our own version of a photobooth. We will bring our props etc...it's the same concept..but free essentially! @@Sheaka You should inform your travel agent about the outside guests. My travel agent is full service, she is a travel agent and wedding consultant, so she is handling the correspondence between me and the resort as well. So in those instances when someone else books, just have your travel agent talk to the resort and ensure that you have X number of rooms (whether she booked them or not)..either way, they are there to attend your wedding. @@smileitseb hmm...so you are opting out of the cocktail hour and mariachi band? Does that save a bunch? I may consider that...I didn't think of sending them to the lobby bar as an option. @Sheaka @@smileitseb What are you doing for gifts (i.e. party favors, welcome bags, wedding party gifts)? I am running through tons of ideas but need to determine what makes sense. For the bridesmaids, I will treat them to a spa day (I am still expecting them to use their spa vouchers received when they confirm their reservation), metallic gold thong sandals, dressing robes, EOS lip balm and some peach hand creams. I wanted to get them earrings to wear to the wedding as well, but that will take me over the budget.

@@smileitseb so I meant to send the reply above to you!!! sorry for replying to you. I'm still getting used to this system...LOL @@Sheaka I feel you!! no sand in my toes or in my dress! We have to be ready for pictures!!! LOL. How many guests are you expecting? The budget is our big concern...we honestly did not think so many people of RSVP and submit deposits for the wedding. We are honestly still in shock! I am a project manager so I think I was too organized by giving folks notice so far in advance - but it should be fun to have 80 guests. I am glad you all mentioned that folks may still be attempting to attend even up to the wire. We will have to make a decision on how many others can attend the wedding without breaking the bank. We are now telling folks that the guest list is closed but they are still welcome to travel but cannot attend the events as they missed our April 15th deadline to submit deposits and RSVPs. I'm thankful that we set a deadline so we don't lose ourselves...We think there will be a few exceptions but overall, we locked down the guest list.

@@smileitseb Love Love Love your headpiece!! I have a short pixie do (so I will wear my hair super wavy / curly) so I think I will do both...whereas I wear an elaborate veil for the ceremony and then switch it up for the reception with a jeweled headpiece. Where did you find yours? I am looking for a headpiece that has a mix of gold and silver to push the vintage look. I am getting my cathedral veil custom made as they are super over priced in the stores. I am adding iridescent crystals to the hem to pick up the colors in my shoes and my girls' dresses. How do you add attachments? I want to share some pics

@@smileitseb Ok...so I am in the boat regarding make-up. I was thinking of meeting with a make-up coordinator in Atlanta to learn to do my make-up, buy each and every product recommended and possibly record the artist applying to my face. I am super skeptical about the salon at the resort so I want to dot my T's and cross my i's. Who is doing your hair? I am bringing my hair stylist so she can give me some fun looks for the weekend activities. I just wish she did make-up too...ugghhhh!!! Make-up is so important for wedding pictures so i feel you on having a back-up plan.

@@Sheaka Oh my gosh!!! I absolutely love this concept!! If only you could see my pinterest page...I think we are soul sisters!!! I was hoping they would have this type of chair for me and my future hubbie...and my hope was to incorporate metallics (silver and gold)!! Did the wedding coordinator put all of this together after you met with her a few times? I cannot wait til month 3 so I can jump in!! I guess we are similiar because of the Atlanta in us!!! LOL. I am definitely looking forward to your pictures! Are you wearing a veil?!!

@@smileitseb Thank you so much for your response and the great tips!! I hope the resort will change our pool terrace to the pool deck as well. What is the theme of your wedding? You seem to be super glam which I love! We are doing a mix between vintage glam. So our colors are blush and gold mostly - with pops of a soft magenta/berry. Though we having a destination wedding, I decided to splurge on my gown and my girls are wearing long gowns as well. We want to create a nice juxtaposition with the casual beach and our glam theme. Did you manage to keep your budget reasonable? We decided to plan a destination wedding because it is super expensive to have a nice wedding in Atlanta considering the number of guests we would end up with (possibly (350+). we just bought a house and renovated it last year so there was no way that we would finance a super expensive wedding just a year later. I must say though, the wedding in Mexico is starting to add up, but I am wondering if we need to exclude some details that we are planning for.

Hey girls! I must say that I am sooo happy I found this blog! I stayed up the past 2 nights reviewing a few threads and realized many of them were helpful but originated in pre-2014..eek. But then I found your thread specific for 2015 brides!!! I am so excited for you all! My wedding will be the day before Labor Day - September 6. I must say, I found this blog because my fiance and i saw a few youtube videos with a few weddings at DRC and we were a bit disappointed. The videos showed that the gazebo is in the mix and that was the main feature we were sold on! It looks like there is no element of privacy which makes us nervous...Folks standing around in bikinis etc is freaking us out.Our wedding consultant / travel agent is trying to calm us down but we are seriously contemplating moving the ceremony to the north beach (but then the wedding party won't be able to wear our fun shoes). Does anyone else have concerns with privacy? Our cocktail hour will be on the beach and our reception is supposed to be on the pool terrace - we are in the process of trying to get it changed to the pool deck. In addition, how many guests are you all expecting? We recently had 80 people submit their deposits by our pre-established deadline.

Hello! I am planning my wedding at Dreams - September 6, 2015. I am very excited! Since your wedding recently passed, can you tell me how many guests attended your wedding and what it felt like to have your wedding at the gazebo? I was a little worried that the gazebo is too exposed to the public. My fiance and I were watching some youtube videos of other couples and some looked a little weird with tons of people watching on the side lines with bikinis. We are considering the beach as an alternative ceremony location, but do not plan to change anything until we arrive a few days before the wedding. Like you hubbie, we both plan to wear some nice shoes and I don't think my 4 inch heels will cut it in the sand.