Excellence Playa Mujeres Brides Post Here!

[May12]

We had the same dilemma, but decided on doing it all right there...legally. I'm so glad we did because it was really a special moment and doing all of the signing at the ceremony REALLY made it feel real!

 If you do symbolic, you won't need anyone to sign anything at EPM because you'll technically be married already. You will have to get married at a court in the US, and your wedding date will be different. If you do a civil ceremony at EPM, you need to fill out a simple form ahead of time, do your blood tests and get your witnesses info in a few days before the wedding while you are in Mexico. You'll only need your form that you sent your WC ahead of time, your passports and tourist cards that you will get at the airport. Everything is VERY VERY VERY easy and 100% legal and recognized in the USA. Feel free to PM me and I can email you he form if you like so you'll know what I'm talking about.

-Sheryl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jenna26 

I'm so confused!!! We are planning a wedding at EPM in October and don't know if we should do a civil or a symbolic ceremony. If we do the symbolic do we just bring our marriage license and have it signed by our witnesses at the ceremony? Will the symbolic qualify as a official marriage in the USA or would we still have to do a civil wedding in the US? It takes ages for my coordinator to reply back so any help would very much appreciated!!!!

[May12]

They usually put the dance floor area under the pergola on the Terrace, and you can flank it with white curtains to define the space.

The round tables are not huge. They do fit 10 people but cramped. We had 6 guests at each table at it was very comfortable for everyone. You can easily do a sweetheart table and 3 tables of 6 around you, a sweetheart table with 2 rectangular tables on either side of you, or just 1 big table. They'll make the space work for you. You'll also have a table for your cake, possibly your bar outside, and a signing table if you have that...no worries, they'll fill it up.

How much time you spend with your WC will depend on how much you have planned and set up to do, and also, how much you've already gone over. We spent a few hours going through every detail soup to nuts, and the rain back-up plan. We also had a ton of things dropped off for her so even after our "meeting" we were going back and forth with questions and she was taking pics of our things and wanted to double check to make sure we were on the same page. It doesn't sound like you're doing a civil ceremony so you won't need to meet with her for those things, but you will have a rehearsal the night before at some point as well.

Time will go by SOOOOOO fast once you get there!

Suggestion...do as much as you can ahead of time before you go down there. We had raffia fans and made them all up with ribbon and flowers a month before we left. If you have bows on things like your favors or tying your welcome letter together, either make/tie them before, or cut the ribbon length and label them in a ziplock-easy to pack and easy to hand off to your WC if you have anything for her.  If you have "stuff" sunscreen, aloe, advil, tums, etc, make sure to take the out of the packaging. (It will also help going through customs too) We found sheer favor bags at AC Moore and put them all together ahead of time as "kits". Hangover kit-Advil, Tums, EmergenC...Sun kit-Sunscreen, Aloe, spf lip balm...Pull it together kit-5 Hour energy and starbucks mints.  It looked great in the OOT bags and made it so much easier to put everything together. We also grabbed a couple of our wedding party who were down ahead of time to help.

Just remember to take a ton of pics during this part and enjoy every second!   

Quote:

Originally Posted by KlazNov17 

Hi Ladies!  A few questions for past and future brides...

 

Are any of you doing one big rectangle table for the reception?  We are having a small group of about 20 and the reception is outsite on the CECO Terrace and I don't know if one table will look funny with the dance floor.  But if I do round tables it will only be 2-3 of them which may also look funny.  Or I am totally reading into this too much.   Also, how much time did the past brides spend with the WC to go over and finalize everything?  I am only going down 2 days before the wedding date and will need time to get the OOT bags and favors ready as well as see the incoming guests. 

[Amanda Gardner]

Did you have to ask for them to add the white curtains to define space?

They usually put the dance floor area under the pergola on the Terrace, and you can flank it with white curtains to define the space. The round tables are not huge. They do fit 10 people but cramped. We had 6 guests at each table at it was very comfortable for everyone. You can easily do a sweetheart table and 3 tables of 6 around you, a sweetheart table with 2 rectangular tables on either side of you, or just 1 big table. They'll make the space work for you. You'll also have a table for your cake, possibly your bar outside, and a signing table if you have that...no worries, they'll fill it up. How much time you spend with your WC will depend on how much you have planned and set up to do, and also, how much you've already gone over. We spent a few hours going through every detail soup to nuts, and the rain back-up plan. We also had a ton of things dropped off for her so even after our "meeting" we were going back and forth with questions and she was taking pics of our things and wanted to double check to make sure we were on the same page. It doesn't sound like you're doing a civil ceremony so you won't need to meet with her for those things, but you will have a rehearsal the night before at some point as well. Time will go by SOOOOOO fast once you get there! Suggestion...do as much as you can ahead of time before you go down there. We had raffia fans and made them all up with ribbon and flowers a month before we left. If you have bows on things like your favors or tying your welcome letter together, either make/tie them before, or cut the ribbon length and label them in a ziplock-easy to pack and easy to hand off to your WC if you have anything for her.  If you have "stuff" sunscreen, aloe, advil, tums, etc, make sure to take the out of the packaging. (It will also help going through customs too) We found sheer favor bags at AC Moore and put them all together ahead of time as "kits". Hangover kit-Advil, Tums, EmergenC...Sun kit-Sunscreen, Aloe, spf lip balm...Pull it together kit-5 Hour energy and starbucks mints.  It looked great in the OOT bags and made it so much easier to put everything together. We also grabbed a couple of our wedding party who were down ahead of time to help. Just remember to take a ton of pics during this part and enjoy every second!    Quote:

[May12]

I did ask for them as well as tiki torches and white flags down the path leading to the CECO Terrace. We had this planned out a year ago and at that time it was all included. I would double check to see if it is still included in your package, but it looked awesome and might be worth it to do even if it's not.

y Posted by Amanda Gardner 

Did you have to ask for them to add the white curtains to define space?

[KlazNov17]

So helpful.  Thank you May12!

Originally Posted by May12 

They usually put the dance floor area under the pergola on the Terrace, and you can flank it with white curtains to define the space.

The round tables are not huge. They do fit 10 people but cramped. We had 6 guests at each table at it was very comfortable for everyone. You can easily do a sweetheart table and 3 tables of 6 around you, a sweetheart table with 2 rectangular tables on either side of you, or just 1 big table. They'll make the space work for you. You'll also have a table for your cake, possibly your bar outside, and a signing table if you have that...no worries, they'll fill it up.

How much time you spend with your WC will depend on how much you have planned and set up to do, and also, how much you've already gone over. We spent a few hours going through every detail soup to nuts, and the rain back-up plan. We also had a ton of things dropped off for her so even after our "meeting" we were going back and forth with questions and she was taking pics of our things and wanted to double check to make sure we were on the same page. It doesn't sound like you're doing a civil ceremony so you won't need to meet with her for those things, but you will have a rehearsal the night before at some point as well.

Time will go by SOOOOOO fast once you get there!

Suggestion...do as much as you can ahead of time before you go down there. We had raffia fans and made them all up with ribbon and flowers a month before we left. If you have bows on things like your favors or tying your welcome letter together, either make/tie them before, or cut the ribbon length and label them in a ziplock-easy to pack and easy to hand off to your WC if you have anything for her.  If you have "stuff" sunscreen, aloe, advil, tums, etc, make sure to take the out of the packaging. (It will also help going through customs too) We found sheer favor bags at AC Moore and put them all together ahead of time as "kits". Hangover kit-Advil, Tums, EmergenC...Sun kit-Sunscreen, Aloe, spf lip balm...Pull it together kit-5 Hour energy and starbucks mints.  It looked great in the OOT bags and made it so much easier to put everything together. We also grabbed a couple of our wedding party who were down ahead of time to help.

Just remember to take a ton of pics during this part and enjoy every second!   

Quote:

[Jass7]

Thank you May12! It's a tough choice, and wind can really suck. I haven't gotten a veil yet, but next week when I go to pick up my dress, I might try on some, and see how I feel about it. I probably will forgo a veil, since I have a really nice flower clip.

 

Originally Posted by May12 

I did not have a beach wedding, but everyone does take pics on the beach. I loved the way my veil looked, BUT, it had to be tucked into the back of my dress for the ceremony even at the gazebo and most of the pics where it wasn't, I had to face the wind to keep it from being in my face. Worth it, yes but still a pain in the butt. Luckily I didn't have a low cut back dress or I would have had to take it off. The one thing you can't bank on is the weather, so whatever you decide, have a back-up plan!

Quote:

[Jass7]

Can anyone share their wedding timeline?

 

I'm not sure how much time to leave for hair and makeup at the Spa.

[Amanda Gardner]

I did ask for them as well as tiki torches and white flags down the path leading to the CECO Terrace. We had this planned out a year ago and at that time it was all included. I would double check to see if it is still included in your package, but it looked awesome and might be worth it to do even if it's not.

Do you have any pictures of it?

[Jass7]

I have been getting a really really slow response from the coordinator. I assumed this was okay months away from the wedding, but two weeks away and still slow response? I'm really disappointed!

 

The minister and the spa response time is great! And I was wondering has anyone done their nails at the spa? I don't know if I should do it few days before I leave or on the day of. Hmmmm.

[KlazNov17]

Originally Posted by Jass7 

 

I have been getting a really really slow response from the coordinator. I assumed this was okay months away from the wedding, but two weeks away and still slow response? I'm really disappointed!

 

The minister and the spa response time is great! And I was wondering has anyone done their nails at the spa? I don't know if I should do it few days before I leave or on the day of. Hmmmm.

How frustrating!  I wish they had more people working for them so we could get answers faster.  I keep telling myself that every bride comes back after they have gotten married here and says that for the most part everything was under control.  Hopefully that will be the same for you!  I think I am planning on getting my nails done the day before we leave with a shellac mani so it will hold up a bit better.  I will bring my own polish so if I do get a chip I can fix it myself.  Are you using the ministers script or did you write your own?  And do you by chance have his email address??