Newbie-Cancun Wedding

[thefuturemrslutz]

Your blog is PRECIOUS!!! And yes, I definitely think you are in line with your budget. Sounds like you have everything in order. LOVE your ideas!!!! Oh and your dress rocks!

[abbypoo]

I'm glad to hear someone thinks that I can pull this off on my budget. Last night the FI and I were sitting down to dinner and seriously wondering if this was a good idea or not! It was much more plausible when we thought we'd have 15-20 guests, but as that has more than doubled I started to get nervous. I think we'll be fine if we can keep it around 40 (50 max) which won't be too hard because my immediate family is small and I am not too close to my extended family.

 

Jon likes the ideas I have, but he hasn't come up with any ideas/input on his own. All he's said so far is that he doesn't want me wearing a giant fascinator in my hair (he thinks I'll look crazy... ha ha), he wants to wear a tux and he wants to take dance lessons. I'm leaving him in charge of the last one, I'm glad we have a year to figure out how to dance!

 

So, I was thinking if we could keep our guest list small, we could have a "rehearsal" dinner for everyone, not just the wedding party. That way it would be more of a welcoming dinner for everyone who traveled so far away to share our day. Is anyone else doing a welcoming dinner? I also really like this idea because I could hand out all my OOT bags then, instead of tracking people down at their various hotels.

 

I'm sure I should post these questions in other forums, but I thought it couldn't hurt to start here. I'm also wondering how early everyone is booking their flights. Am I crazy to book them an entire year in advance?

[thefuturemrslutz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by abbypoo I'm glad to hear someone thinks that I can pull this off on my budget. Last night the FI and I were sitting down to dinner and seriously wondering if this was a good idea or not! It was much more plausible when we thought we'd have 15-20 guests, but as that has more than doubled I started to get nervous. I think we'll be fine if we can keep it around 40 (50 max) which won't be too hard because my immediate family is small and I am not too close to my extended family. Jon likes the ideas I have, but he hasn't come up with any ideas/input on his own. All he's said so far is that he doesn't want me wearing a giant fascinator in my hair (he thinks I'll look crazy... ha ha), he wants to wear a tux and he wants to take dance lessons. I'm leaving him in charge of the last one, I'm glad we have a year to figure out how to dance! So, I was thinking if we could keep our guest list small, we could have a "rehearsal" dinner for everyone, not just the wedding party. That way it would be more of a welcoming dinner for everyone who traveled so far away to share our day. Is anyone else doing a welcoming dinner? I also really like this idea because I could hand out all my OOT bags then, instead of tracking people down at their various hotels. I'm sure I should post these questions in other forums, but I thought it couldn't hurt to start here. I'm also wondering how early everyone is booking their flights. Am I crazy to book them an entire year in advance?

There are so many things you can do to reduce your budget. One main thing is getting "Real Touch" flowers. A ton of girls on this site are using them. I emailed the lady today about them to see if I can get a sample. Also, is it an "all inclusive resort?" If so, you could do welcome "drinks" one night. Just have everyone meet at the bar for drinks and heavy appetizers. If it is not a private function, you won't have to pay for a thing! I am doing that and a "rehearsal dinner." My resort offers me a free party if I book a certain number of rooms. Have you checked into that? So, that party should be "free." Also, if you take a lot of your own decorations, that will help a ton. For example, I know a lot of resorts charge $10 per chair bow. You can find them online for maybe $2 per bow. This site has soooo many DIY ideas, it's crazy. I am totally not a DIYer, but I did my Passport STD's. I got tons of ideas from this site to help me pull it off.

In regards to your FI...it wil be SO funny how he will have ZERO ideas about anything...until he comes across something that it is important to him. If my FI was adamant about something, I let him handle it. So, good thinking with leaving him in charge of the dancing. I think that's so cute!!

I am having my guests book their rooms through my travel agent, but I am leaving the flights up to them. If they want to book them now, then great! But some people may want to take the risk of waiting til the last minute to get them cheaper. If so, that's their problem if they sky rocket!!

[abbypoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefuturemrslutz There are so many things you can do to reduce your budget. One main thing is getting "Real Touch" flowers. A ton of girls on this site are using them. I emailed the lady today about them to see if I can get a sample. Also, is it an "all inclusive resort?" If so, you could do welcome "drinks" one night. Just have everyone meet at the bar for drinks and heavy appetizers. If it is not a private function, you won't have to pay for a thing! I am doing that and a "rehearsal dinner." My resort offers me a free party if I book a certain number of rooms. Have you checked into that? So, that party should be "free." Also, if you take a lot of your own decorations, that will help a ton. For example, I know a lot of resorts charge $10 per chair bow. You can find them online for maybe $2 per bow. This site has soooo many DIY ideas, it's crazy. I am totally not a DIYer, but I did my Passport STD's. I got tons of ideas from this site to help me pull it off. In regards to your FI...it wil be SO funny how he will have ZERO ideas about anything...until he comes across something that it is important to him. If my FI was adamant about something, I let him handle it. So, good thinking with leaving him in charge of the dancing. I think that's so cute!! I am having my guests book their rooms through my travel agent, but I am leaving the flights up to them. If they want to book them now, then great! But some people may want to take the risk of waiting til the last minute to get them cheaper. If so, that's their problem if they sky rocket!!

I will definitely look into the flowers! I don't plan on having a ton of flowers, and since the guests can't bring them home they're not super important to me. I guess I will have to get a sample as well and see what I think.

The rehearsal cocktail sounds like a great idea, but I am pretty sure a few of my guests won't be staying at the AI. If I had to pay for day passes for these guests it would get pretty expensive, so it might be more feasible to go to a little restaurant nearby. My FI's parents might be willing to pay for this (they did at his brother's wedding), but I'm not sure because of the extra costs associated with traveling to our wedding. If it's not in the budget, maybe we could all meet at a nearby bar type place for cocktails to meet and greet and hand out the OOT bags. To me a cocktail sounds more fun anyway, because I don't want to schedule my guests entire vacation. Ahh, so many things to think about!

Yes I was definitely thinking about shipping and taking most of my extra decorations with me. Not only do I think this will end up being cheaper, but I think it will be the easiest way to have the ceremony and reception look like what I want.

Thanks for all your good advice! You and your FI are so cute!

[renee1811]

congrats and welcome to the forum!

[baj]

hi, congrat's & welcoe to the forum

[thefuturemrslutz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by abbypoo I will definitely look into the flowers! I don't plan on having a ton of flowers, and since the guests can't bring them home they're not super important to me. I guess I will have to get a sample as well and see what I think. The rehearsal cocktail sounds like a great idea, but I am pretty sure a few of my guests won't be staying at the AI. If I had to pay for day passes for these guests it would get pretty expensive, so it might be more feasible to go to a little restaurant nearby. My FI's parents might be willing to pay for this (they did at his brother's wedding), but I'm not sure because of the extra costs associated with traveling to our wedding. If it's not in the budget, maybe we could all meet at a nearby bar type place for cocktails to meet and greet and hand out the OOT bags. To me a cocktail sounds more fun anyway, because I don't want to schedule my guests entire vacation. Ahh, so many things to think about! Yes I was definitely thinking about shipping and taking most of my extra decorations with me. Not only do I think this will end up being cheaper, but I think it will be the easiest way to have the ceremony and reception look like what I want. Thanks for all your good advice! You and your FI are so cute!

aww thanks!!! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask! I am not getting married at Azul Sensatori, but we have a great forum going with so much valuable information! You should check it out.

Meeting somewhere sounds like a great idea! I have heard the little restaurants/bars/pubs/etc are really reasonable. You could do some research on trip advisor and on this forum for some places in or near Cancun!

[staceychris17]

Welcome!! Happy Planning:)

[Pastryqueen_Tanya]

Congrats and welcome! This site is so helpful!

[Jenn&Kraig]

Welcome & congrats!! Cancun sounds great!! you'll find tonnes of info on their forum!!! Don't worry you are in the right place!!

 

Best of luck!!!