Any Grand Palladium brides?

MyTye2B · January 27, 2013

Originally Posted by claire0701

oh yeah Lauren your bridesmaids jewellery is gorgeous! I love the colours, they'll look fab in the photos and are something the girls can wear again. I really love your bridesmaids dresses, they look gorgeous!

I loved your engagement photos as well and your roots are invisible!

I also feel your pain with the weight issue, I think the idea of spending a fortnight in a bikini with such a large group is quite daunting although it sounds like you're making better progress than me. I started Insanity a few months ago and got through the first month - it was hard work! Work was crazy and I just could't find the time for it then, however Peter and I are determined we're going to start again and see it through this time. We're not specifically aiming to loose weight (although I have a few Christmas pounds which I could happily loose!) we're more looking to tone up and feel a bit more body confident. I'm also just going to try and be generally a bit more health conscious as I have terrible self discipline and eat junk all the time! I was reading last night about eating clean which sounds great although again I just don't know if I could make the time for it. Going to try with less processed foods etc though Every little helps!

Oops I hit submit too soon! Thank you so much Claire for your kind words about the jewelry! It is very different which is why I liked it so much. I am nervous that the colour will be a bit off from the colour of the actual dress (same thing happened with my invitations but I'm trying not to be a stressed bridezilla and just let it go!) but maybe even if it is it won't be the end of the world.

Good for you getting through the first month of Insanity!! That is so tough! I am still doing the Jillian Michaels and bought the banish fat cardio circuits ones today but being at an all inclusive resort eating and drinking like crazy for the next week isn't going to do me much good, lol!! It's awesome that you don't have a lot to lose - Christmas pounds don't count - so I'm sure you'll be able to accomplish your goal no problem. It's really cool that Peter is working on it with you. Tyrel has recently switched to a lower activity job too so he's started trying to work out with me and he eats whatever I make so that just means I have to try to eat healthier lol! Ok well I'd better go finish packing. I'll talk to you guys in a week!! Good luck planning!

Chrestena · January 27, 2013

Ok- kmmathes- here is the e-mail I have for Vanessa, although now that I look at it, it seems to be a rather generic one, but this is what we have been using to communicate. [email protected] Hopefully you can connect with her!

Hi Lauren! We must have both been on last night, but I didn't see the above posts from you! I think they hold them until they review them as we are new to the site. But I hope you have a wonderful time in Punta Cana!!! You can still eat healthy Or try! Most of all, just enjoy your time there

girls, let me know what you can about the sparklers...I would love them too, but cannot bring them from home to Mexico...Thanks all!! Have a great day!

XOXO Chrestena

Chrestena · January 27, 2013

Oh my gosh! I just realized that the loooong post I wrote last night isn't showing up on here. Uh oh! Lol. See what happens when I'm on the computer late at night while having a glass of wine? Where did it go? lol. This is kind of embarrassing...

I answered some questions and had some of my own too for you ladies!...

I'll try to re-write it in a bit. I have to go help Fiance for a bit today with some work. Lauren have a wonderful trip!!!

Chrestena

kmmathes · January 28, 2013

Thanks so much Chrestena!

DanniiB48 · January 28, 2013

Hi Claire!

Firstly congratulations! Sounds like your wedding is going to be amazing with all your ideas! We have exactly 3 weeks until we fly and 4 weeks until the big day!

How are you getting on with the legal side of things? What is your understanding of requirements? I had it all worked out and then Graciela emailed confusing me again! We would like to be legally married in Mexico so I have completed some forms with both of our information along with our parents', provided copies of our passports, birth certificates and my name change deed (as this was changed as a child), I also cleared all of this with the General Registrar and the plan is to have the short marriage certificate that we will receive straightaway translated over here whilst waiting for the apostilled version from Mexico to be posted to us.

Graciela has now emailed to advise that if we are required to have our parents names on the certificate that we need long birth certificates, divorce certs (not relevant in our case) and my name change deed all legalised and translated but if we do not need our parents names on the marriage certificate none of this is necessary. I am a bit annoyed really as I have been asking for information frequently and this is a 'new requirement' which is almost on top of our departure date.

Other than this the co-ordinators have been amazing! Who did you book through?

Any advice you could offer would be helpful!

claire0701 · January 28, 2013

Hi Danni,

I'm actually freaking out a wee bit about the legal paperwork requirements too. I did ask Vanessa a while ago and she just said we had to visit our Church here and do all the necessary paperwork. I'm not sure if you're getting married in the Church or elsewhere - I think it will vary slightly depending if it's a Catholic ceremony or not. I was also wondering about birth certificates etc. So do you need to have your birth certificate translated before going to Mexico as well? (someone mentioned this to me who was married at a different hotel)

And is having your parent's name a choice thing then, I woud have assumed it would just have been whatever they stipulated? I guess I wouldn't be that fussed if our parent's names were on, they're on our birth certificate so not really needed? Maybe it depends on UK requirements for when we get back? Oh I'm more confused now haha! I'll maybe ask here what they would require on our return to ensure it's all legally done while we are in Mexico.

Sorry I'm not being much help with your questions, I'm pretty clueless with all this paperwork side of things. We booked with First Choice, as far as I could find they were the only TA who can book Grand Palladium. How about you?

The next few weeks will really fly in for you! Are you staying for the fortnight? Are you mostly organised (apart for the paperwork side of things)?

claire0701 · January 28, 2013

Oh my goodness, I just noticed I'd missed like 3 days of chat! Sometimes I get e-mail otifications and other times not, very strange! Lauren, I'm jealous of the thought of you heading off to enjoy the sun and a lovely wedding - our weather is dull, dreary and windy at the moment! I hope you are having a ball and the rest of you girls, time sure is ticking!

I'd love info on the sparklers as well, I didn't realise I wouldn't be able to just pack these in my hold luggage - thank goodness you mentioned it! I love all your engagement photos as well Christina, you make a lovely couple!

I can't remember who was aksing about cocktail hour but yes, there is an extra cost, but it's pretty low, I think around $5 per person for drinks only and maybe $14 (if I remember correctly) for drinks and appetisers. I've read that the canape's are very filling though and lots are provided. We've opted for drinks only seeing as we'll all have had dinner before our 'cocktail' hour. I hadn't really thought about the wind, hoping it wont be too bad as we have reserved Las Rocas, I loved how it looked in the pictures Vanessa sent. We'll also have our first dance here.

I must make a note to e-mail Vanessa about all the legal side and paperwork requirements, but also about reserving an area at the white party on the Monday night for those who want to join us.

Are any of you girls having full legal ceremony in Catholic Church?

Claire

Mikeycelle · January 28, 2013

Hi Ladies!

I love reading your wonderful ideas and your posts!

Vanessa Roldan is getting the sparklers for me in Mexico. I just have to give her the payment when I get there. She really is phenomenal!

We've got small Out of Town Bag burlap bags ( To Have and to hold)

- minitube of sunscreen ( For better, for worse)

- deck of cards (for richer, for poorer)

- mini ziplock of bandaids and packets of ointment( In sickness and in health)

- Our itinerary

- a few brochures to excursions we may be doing in case they want to join us.

Since I'm getting married in the church, there is no additional $20 per person.

Bought lace tank tops for my 'maids and me from Etsy.com to wear during our makeup and hair time.

I plan on having my hair and makeup done at Zentropia Spa. They use MAC products. I'd love a dramatic look and updo. I hope they can pull it off!

Rehearsal dinner will be at the

Vanessa will set up my postcard carousel (postcards of our engagement shoot at Xcaret- Vistaprint is awesome!) at Las Rocas bar along with a framed memorial poem with pictures of my dad and our grandparents who've passed on. The kids get a coloring pack wrapped with their names and table number.

The Nuptial Mass is from 4-5 PM

While we take pictures and do our video shoot, our guests have an hour to freshen up in their room,

to change outfits or shoes or dip their feet in the pool- 5-6 PM

We have cocktail hour at Las Rocas Bar with Mariachi band from 6-7- no appetizers just drinks ($5 USD pp)

Golf carts will take guests who have difficulty walking.

Reception at La Laguna 7 PM-12 AM ($60 USD per adult, 5 course dinner surf and turf)

Vanessa will set up the sparklers to be lit as the party walks in. Bridesmaids with their bouquet and the groomsmen will be holding the sparklers.

Guests will be welcoming us with sparklers. Oh gosh! I just got a chill thinking about it!

Speaking of weight issues, I have 3 months to drop 15 lbs! How am I doing it? Bikram Yoga! I've lost 6 lbs in 1.5 weeks. The 105 degree heat and 50% humidity loosens the muscles allowing to go deep into the poses without hurting your body. Sweat? I've never sweated so much in my life! I drink so much water now and juice. I eat in moderation. Eat a chocolate now and then. Still, I burn off 800 calories in a 90 minute session!

Since I'm always hydrated,my skin is glowing and my hair grew out fast! All the toxins get eliminated through skin.

I am not a gym person at all. I have back issues and knee issues but lately I haven't felt any pain this cold snowy, rainy winter. Do I love it? I HATE IT! It's torture! But when I see the numbers on weighing scale dropping, I feel happy and encouraged!

Happy Planning!

claire0701 · January 29, 2013

Mikeycelle,

I'm so excited to hear how your sparklers work out after your big day ... i think i'll definitely be e-mailing Vanessa to ask for that bit of magic too!

I love your OOT bags with the vows incorporated, I hadn't thought of the actual bag for 'to have and to hold' and had only managed to come up with travel mugs, although they are quite bulky for our luggage, and I don't know how much our guests would actually use them either.

I'm glad you mentioned the additional $20 not being charged because you're in the church, I didn wonder that as we are in the Church as well. That's a wee bit off the amount I had in mind then

Your postcard carousel sounds lovely too, is it all different pictures? I love the memorial ideas as well, it's so nice for the family to know you are acknowledging those who can't be there in such a lovely way.

Is Zentropia Spa the one in the hotel? I can maybe get a review once your back with some advice about their make up and hair, I'm still not 100% on what to do there.

The Bikram Yoga sounds great and good for you for sticking to it even though you hate it! I noticed Christina said she eats clean and had a look into that. It sounds like a great way to eat way more healthily, I'm definitely making more of an effort now to eat more 'clean' foods!