June 2011 Brides!

[Donie Jordan]

Knbell22,

I started on my OOT bags really early...in fact I think the bags themselves may have been the first thing I bought for the wedding. I had always planned on about 50 guests and as of today we have 37 confirmed. Not sure if that number will go up or not...I think it really depends on what happens with flight prices. So, I will probably have OOT stuff left over, but I really focused on getting everything when it was on super sale, so I don't consider it a loss to have some extra stuff. I know what you mean with the guest numbers though. We sat down the other night and realized that every single guest is costing us about $200 just for the welcome dinner and wedding dinner and OOT bag, etc. While I'm ecstatic to have people there with us, that really adds up quickly!

 

Our actual invitations just went out a week or so ago, and our RSVP date is April 10th. For the most part I think I already know who is coming, but I needed to get meal choices - so I guess that was the main purpose of the invites. I ordered sea urchin shells on usshell.com that should be getting here any day now. My plan is to paint them all white and cut slits in the top to use as place card holders - then each meal choice will have a different color background for the actual place card. So, that's my next big project.

 

I have not had my dress altered, but it's the next thing on my to do list. I really need to set up the appointment for that. I purchased my dress at a sample sale and it fits really well, so besides the length there isn't too much to be done, but I would like to check that off of my list! I bought my shoes before I even bought the dress ironically, so I'm good on those. I also bought a beautiful hairpiece on etsy - but I still am trying to decide what to do for jewelry.

 

I've heard wonderful things about both the one & only and Esperanza, so I'm sure you really can't go wrong there. I'm glad to hear that you are switching hotels - I think it will make for a great honeymoon experience! I don't know about you but I am so looking forward to a week of only myself and my fiance after spending a week entertaining 40 guests!

 

We're getting so close! I can't wait!!

[susanna.hanson]

Hey Girls! Okay Im officially back in the planning process. My semester ended on Friday and I feel like I can finally take control of the wedding planning again. After my finals I drove straight to the invitation place and picked up our invitations. (They look amazing and were SO worth those weeks of stressing to get them just right.) We spent Friday night stuffing them and mailed them out Saturday morning. I walked out of that post office with the best feeling.. I spent last night organizing all of the wedding stuff in our office (boy did that feel good). The only thing that I am concerned about is how I am going to get everything down there. How are you girls planning on transporting your dress and grooms suit? I was even thinking about making a trip down there a couple weeks before just to drop some things off. I want to make things as relaxed as possible.

[Donie Jordan]

Glad you're back Susanna! I was beginning to think Knbell and I were the only ones left! Congrats on finishing classes and welcome back to wedding world! We also sent out our invites recently which was a huge load off my back and we've already begun getting RSVPs back everyday which makes going to the mailbox very exciting!

 

Knbell and I have also discussed getting everything down there. Every time I look at the boxes and boxes of wedding stuff it makes me worry! My plan at this point is to send a little bit with all our close family and friends that have some extra room in their suitcases. If worst comes to worst we'll upgrade to first class on American which gives us 3 free bags. For the wedding dress and suit I'm hoping to just convince the flight attendant to let us hang it in the first class coat closet. My dress is basically a lace shell over a sheath so it's really light and small. I'm hoping it won't be a hassle. But, if you have the means to fly down beforehand that sounds like a great idea as long as your wedding coordinator will let you store things. I've heard too many horror stories about shipping.

[brittanyb]

Hi Ladies,

 

I am back too!! I started a new job in December and it has been so crazy busy that I have had zero time for wedding planning.

 

Sounds like you are all doing amazing!

 

Here is the info I have found on shipping. From everything I have heard, don't ship through Fedex or UPS as it will most likely get caught in TJ and never make it. For our OOT bags, I am going to work with a customs broker. It is expensive but worth the piece of mind that it will arrive safely. Here are two that have been recommended and ship to Cabo often:

www.exhibitionscargo.com

http://www.aliser.com.mx/ 

 

I am also planning to carry my dress on the plane and ask friends and family to bring extra stuff.

 

So far we have 32 flights booked and hoping to get around 60.

 

Good luck!

Brittany

 

 

 

[brittanyb]

Hi Ladies,

 

I am back too!!! I started a new job in December and it has been so crazy that I have had zero time for wedding planning.

 

It sounds like you are all doing amazing!

 

Here is some info I have found on shipping. From everything I have heard, don't ship via Fedex or UPS as it usually gets held up in TJ and won't arrive. I am going to work with a customs broker, which is more expensive, but at least I know it will arrive safely.

Here are the two that have been recommended.

http://www.aliser.com.mx/ 

www.exhibitionscargo.com

 

I am also going to carry my dress on the plane and ask friends and family to bring extra items.

 

So far we have 32 guests who have booked flights and hoping for around 60.

 

Good luck!

Brittany

 

[IdOinCABO]

yea im pretty sure you can use one of your carry on's to take the dress (that is what im planning and had a gf recently do it as well). I wouldnt take anything down and leave it esepcially if your resort is so busy and constantly doing weddings, it would be way too easy to mix stuff up and Yes shipping to Mexico is not a good idea at all. I would say only 50% or so ends up where its supposed to be.

 

we are trying to take the imporatant stuff down carry on between us and then split the rest up with family who is going.

 

June is coming so quick

[susanna.hanson]

Thanks Donie! It feels great to get back to the wedding world.

My fiances Dad and stepmom will be flying out there early with us so hopefully they can vouch for some of our extra baggage.

How are you girls planning on distributing your OOT bags? The majority of our guests will be staying at the Sheraton with us but we do have a couple guests staying other places.

[Donie Jordan]

Luz maria originally thought we had all our guests staying at the Sheraton and offered to distribute timelines, etc to their rooms. With that being said I'm thinking either she or the hotel itself may be able to distribute the bags to each room.

Our plan is to meet the guests in the lobby of Estancia when they arrive. We'll have cold beer and water and an OOT bag ready for them. Since we have guests coming in on several different flights for the first few days we'll see how well this ends up working out...but for now I have the best of intentions! We do have one group staying at another hotel so we'll likely just drive down to give them their bag when they arrive.
 

Originally Posted by susanna.hanson 

Thanks Donie! It feels great to get back to the wedding world.

My fiances Dad and stepmom will be flying out there early with us so hopefully they can vouch for some of our extra baggage.

How are you girls planning on distributing your OOT bags? The majority of our guests will be staying at the Sheraton with us but we do have a couple guests staying other places.

 

[brittanyb]

The Sheraton can definitely do a room drop of the bags. I think the cost might be $3 per bag, but maybe you can get them to comp it

 

Originally Posted by Donie Jordan 

Luz maria originally thought we had all our guests staying at the Sheraton and offered to distribute timelines, etc to their rooms. With that being said I'm thinking either she or the hotel itself may be able to distribute the bags to each room.

Our plan is to meet the guests in the lobby of Estancia when they arrive. We'll have cold beer and water and an OOT bag ready for them. Since we have guests coming in on several different flights for the first few days we'll see how well this ends up working out...but for now I have the best of intentions! We do have one group staying at another hotel so we'll likely just drive down to give them their bag when they arrive.
 

 

 

[IdOinCABO]

do you guys all have really big famillies? im hoping for actually 15 but could be less. ive gotten a lot of flack for having the destination wedding and a lot of people (older family) say they will get shot if they go to mexico...lol... i feel like the only one with a small wedding. kind of jealous about you guys with already 35+ people booked. Wish my family and friends could afford it. All my girlfriends are prego and expecting if not having it in the next few months and everyone else says that its expensive and they cant make it happen