Excellence Playa Mujeres Brides Post Here!

[Jass7]

Originally Posted by Jass7 

 

Lynn,

 

How many guests are you going to have? I think that Bose SoundDock could very well work in that area. What we got is this: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Bose%26%23174%3B+-+SoundDock%26%23174%3B+Portable+Digital+Music+System+for+Apple%26%23174%3B+iPod%26%23174%3B+-+Black/8509438.p;jsessionid=DE98F08E023D2FB1265792154136C89D.bbolsp-app02-15?id=1186005749503&skuId=8509438&st=bose sounddock&cp=1&lp=3

 

And the volume can be set to really loud, and still great quality. Try it out at Best Buy, that's where we got ours from. We didn't have it set to the max at Spice, and it felt like a DJ was in the house! Our Bose system just included a sound dock that you attach an ipod/iphone to it. This particular sound dock also has 8 hour lithium battery that you can charge up and not worry about the wires, and can set it anywhere. We had ours set at one table and dance was at the total other side. We really do not regret not going with DJ, but I do regret not having more time to dance. That damn Michael Jackson show! =D

It was also slim enough to travel with it in carry on. We had it wrapped in a tshirt and my husband carried it in his backpack.

[Momoarc83]

Hi Brides!

I am getting married in about 5 months and I have a couple of questions. 

1.  Flowers: Do any of you have pics of your bouquets, bridesmaid bouquets, and centerpieces for reception? 

2.  Music: I am interested in a guitar soloist during the ceremony.  Do you know how much this costs?  I noticed in the Gold Package (which we purchased) it says we get Caribbean or Romantic Trio for an hour.....What if we just want a guitar soloist?  I wonder if this costs extra or if it's included somehow....?

3.  Centerpieces for tables:  Would it be cheesy to have my bridesmaids (9 total) use their bouqets as centerpieces in a vase on each  reception table?  I'm just trying to save $ obviously by using flowers we already would have...

4.  In the Wedding Package, it says that the groom gets a complimentary suite the night before the wedding (SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY), have any of you had a problem with this?....just curious.

 

 

Thanks in advance

-Monica

[ahoff]

Monica,

 

Our wedding is on November 23rd, I am also planning to use the bridesmaid bouquets for centerpieces.  It does cost $10 to rent each vase, but that is still cheaper than a centerpiece and this way we do not have to bring the vases.  I plan to do a large post with photos after the wedding!

 

Ashley
 

[danak71]

Originally Posted by Momoarc83 

 

Hi Brides!

I am getting married in about 5 months and I have a couple of questions. 

1.  Flowers: Do any of you have pics of your bouquets, bridesmaid bouquets, and centerpieces for reception? 

2.  Music: I am interested in a guitar soloist during the ceremony.  Do you know how much this costs?  I noticed in the Gold Package (which we purchased) it says we get Caribbean or Romantic Trio for an hour.....What if we just want a guitar soloist?  I wonder if this costs extra or if it's included somehow....?

3.  Centerpieces for tables:  Would it be cheesy to have my bridesmaids (9 total) use their bouqets as centerpieces in a vase on each  reception table?  I'm just trying to save $ obviously by using flowers we already would have...

4.  In the Wedding Package, it says that the groom gets a complimentary suite the night before the wedding (SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY), have any of you had a problem with this?....just curious.

 

 

Thanks in advance

-Monica

My wedding isn't until May 2013 but I'm planning on doing silk flower bouquets. My aunt makes silk floral arrangements so I'm having her make them. We're still using the ribbon, etc. but this will be far cheaper than paying for all the bouquets I would need for my bridesmaids. She's also making the centerpieces for the reception. We're keeping it relatively simple with vases, floating candles, etc.

 

I did inquire about having a soloist instead of the trio and Nayeli told me that was fine. There was no additional charge if you had the gold package.

[May12]

Hi Lynn!

I don't know if we talked about this, but I'll go ahead and write what I do know, for all to see....

For the ceremony, the system they use is loud enough. We went back and forth on ipod vs. guitarist for months. At the last minute, we ALMOST had our friend who is a violinist come down to play for the ceremony. When I asked Nayeli about if this would work, him needing an amp, microphone or other equipment etc, she said it can work, and we can talk to their audio department to set it up and they can do sound checks ahead of time. Well, it ended up that he was pulled out on tour last minute so we didn't get him, and then just went with the ipod option....they have someone work it for you and I could hear the music all the way from the "pre-walk-down-the-aisle" area. It worked out great, if anyone was wondering.

 

Now as for the reception on the CECO Terrace....It is remote enough to get as loud as you want. We did hire a DJ which was perfect for us. My thought is this, if your friend the DJ can email/chat with someone from their A/V department to see if it could work, then you'd know for sure. I'm afraid with a rowdy group, a Bose would get lost out there, especially with the fountains going.  If you're going with a small, quieter group, it may work. (But I think you've got half of Atlanta going down, right??)    

Hope all the planning is going well!!

-Sheryl

[May12]

Hi  Monica!

We had a full on Mariachi Band at the cocktail hour when we thought we were having a trio (They were a blast!), but I'm 99.999% sure you can have a soloist at the ceremony (or anywhere else for that matter) instead of the trio. We were quoted $550 for the guitarist at the ceremony if we wanted to have him in addition to the Mariachis at the cocktail hour.

I think it's TOTALLY fine to have the bridesmaids bouquets as centerpieces. They're not exactly holding them all night and they can't bring them home anyway. (Vegetation cannot be brought back into the US) Our centerpieces didn't exactly work as planned because of all of the wind and in hindsight would have done something different.

We had a really full hotel while we were there but Frank still was able to get his own room the night before. It actually worked out well because he was in the pool area suites and I was in our room in Bldg 9. Far enough away that we could do our own things that day and not see each other until I was walking down the aisle. It was really special!

I have been trying to upload some pics for you but the site is being uncooperative right now...I will try again later.

-Sheryl

 

 

Originally Posted by Momoarc83 

Hi Brides!

I am getting married in about 5 months and I have a couple of questions. 

1.  Flowers: Do any of you have pics of your bouquets, bridesmaid bouquets, and centerpieces for reception? 

2.  Music: I am interested in a guitar soloist during the ceremony.  Do you know how much this costs?  I noticed in the Gold Package (which we purchased) it says we get Caribbean or Romantic Trio for an hour.....What if we just want a guitar soloist?  I wonder if this costs extra or if it's included somehow....?

3.  Centerpieces for tables:  Would it be cheesy to have my bridesmaids (9 total) use their bouqets as centerpieces in a vase on each  reception table?  I'm just trying to save $ obviously by using flowers we already would have...

4.  In the Wedding Package, it says that the groom gets a complimentary suite the night before the wedding (SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY), have any of you had a problem with this?....just curious.

 

 

Thanks in advance

-Monica

[danak71]

Originally Posted by May12 

 

Hi Lynn!

I don't know if we talked about this, but I'll go ahead and write what I do know, for all to see....

For the ceremony, the system they use is loud enough. We went back and forth on ipod vs. guitarist for months. At the last minute, we ALMOST had our friend who is a violinist come down to play for the ceremony. When I asked Nayeli about if this would work, him needing an amp, microphone or other equipment etc, she said it can work, and we can talk to their audio department to set it up and they can do sound checks ahead of time. Well, it ended up that he was pulled out on tour last minute so we didn't get him, and then just went with the ipod option....they have someone work it for you and I could hear the music all the way from the "pre-walk-down-the-aisle" area. It worked out great, if anyone was wondering.

 

Now as for the reception on the CECO Terrace....It is remote enough to get as loud as you want. We did hire a DJ which was perfect for us. My thought is this, if your friend the DJ can email/chat with someone from their A/V department to see if it could work, then you'd know for sure. I'm afraid with a rowdy group, a Bose would get lost out there, especially with the fountains going.  If you're going with a small, quieter group, it may work. (But I think you've got half of Atlanta going down, right??)    

Hope all the planning is going well!!

-Sheryl

Hey there Mrs. Napolitano!!!!

 

Thank you so much!!!

 

I don't think we had talked about it and I've picked your brain SO much since  you've gotten married I was trying to give you a break! LOL

 

I probably just need to talk to Nayeli about it because there are several different songs I want played during the ceremony. Certain songs I want played during the prelude as guests are seated, then a different song when they seat my mom and the wedding begins, a different song when the bridal party starts walking and then my Godsister is singing yet another song live when I walk. That's a lot! But our DJ is willing to make that part happen with the right equipment.

 

As far as the reception, I don't think the BOSE will work for us. We definitely are bringing half of Atlanta AND Boston! LOL And they are a rowdy bunch unfortunately! But since our friend is going I'd much rather have him DJ because he knows us and knows exactly what to play and when. However, to rent the sound system is $500 and it just includes a speaker and a cordless mic. Mark and I are thinking it might be better for us to bring a speaker (if we can find one small enough with enough power) and our own mic.

 

I'll try and see if I can get in touch with their A/V folks and find out how many watts is the speaker that they rent and go from there.

 

Planning is going really well. Just got my invitations out a few weeks ago and I absolutely love them! Started getting the RSVP cards in the mail which made it all feel official! :-)

 

We're in the process of doing the rest of the graphic design pieces (door hanger, favor tags, etc.) The girls just ordered their dresses last week. 

 

We had our engagement shoot about a month ago. We actually shot on 2 different days because it started raining on the 1st day and cut our shoot short. Here's a link to our photographer's blog if you're interested in seeing some of our pics:

 

http://mwsphotoblog.com/atlanta-botanical-gardens-lenox-park-engagement-session-lynn-marcus/

 

Hope the rest of you ladies are enjoying your planning! I'm so excited to be only 6 months away!

[Momoarc83]

Thank you so much!

[Momoarc83]

Originally Posted by ahoff 

 

Monica,

 

Our wedding is on November 23rd, I am also planning to use the bridesmaid bouquets for centerpieces.  It does cost $10 to rent each vase, but that is still cheaper than a centerpiece and this way we do not have to bring the vases.  I plan to do a large post with photos after the wedding!

 

Ashley

 

Thanks, Ashley.  Lleny just quoted me back with $25 for each vase.  That seems so expensive!  $10 sounds much better.....I can't wait to hear all about your wedding....3 more days!!!! Have fun and I hope it all goes smoothly!

 

-Monica

[ExcellenceBride]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know how much 'open bar' costs or if it's included?

 

Thanks, Kim