2011 Iberostar Brides

[radiochic10]

Tara-

 

 How did the bachelorette party go!?

[Lindobride14]

Hey!  Thanks for asking!  It was such a blast!!  My sister did an amazing job.  The suite was decorated in a "naughty or nice" theme.   Guests either got  me a naughty or nice gift and put it on the corresponding table.  (lots more naughty haha)  We had that spa company come to our suite and give us manicures, pedicures, and facials.  Then we had a sex toy presentattion which was totally hilarious and I got like 200 bucks in free merchandise! 

 

After that we got ready and went to the club.  We went to Enclave, which is a super posh club and played great music.  We had a table with bottle service.  The girls started writing down "tasks" for me to do on cocktail napkins.  I had to perform each of these and get it on camera.  First I had to do the tootsie roll with a guy.  Then get a guy to buy me a drink, kiss a bald guy on the head, have a guy serenade me, have a guy dip me on the dancefloor.  It was embarassing but hysterical.  And in the process we met a bachelor party from vancouver and hung out with them all night!

 

But enough about me, I cannot believe you have broken bones in your back, lady!!  Omigosh.  How did you fall?  Which vertebrae are fractured?  I have never broken vertebrae but I was in a very nasty car accident years back and I had a shattered pelvis (broken in 5 places) and 4 broken ribs.  So I feel what you're going through.  The road to recovery sucks.  I bet it hurts like hell any time you cough or sneeze or laugh, right?  At least that was my experience with the ribs.  I imagine the same would be true if it's your upper vertebrae.  

 

I  laughed out loud about the bride hat at the gym . . . hilarious.  Good luck to you.  You're one tough cookie!

 

Sooo. . . I also quite my job yesterday!!  What is wrong with me doing this 5 weeks before our wedding?!?  But I was offered a position with the State of Illinois and I just couldn't turn it down even though the timing sucks.  I was previously working as a freelance court reporter for a small mom and pop agency and I am super close with the owners.  (They were actually planning on coming to Mexico for the wedding)  As much as I loved working for them, I was in essence self employed, paid my own benefits. save for my own retirement, wouldn't have maternity leave, etc. etc. 

 

So I went over to their house last night announced (shaking) to tell them the news, and it could not have gone better.  They were very upset, we all cried, then laughed, then had a few beers LOL!  They wished me the best and said they understood and that I can always have my job back if I hate it.   Im' just so relieved because this has been weighing on me a long time!  This job I am accepting with the state is a real 9-5 job with government benefits, a pension, paid holidays . . . things I have never had in this field!  So I'm being sworn in by the chief judge tomorrow at 10am!  I can't believe this is happening!  AHH!

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiochic10 

Tara-

 

 How did the bachelorette party go!?

 

[Hanna20]

So we are officially at 27 people booked!!!!! I am so excited by this you guys don't even understand (or maybe you do because you are/were in my shoes)!! The travel arrangements were proving to be fairly difficult at first until I found Becky (BDW Travel Agent). She has been great and as a result we are well on our way. Now I am just waiting for all those people who are procrastinators to come to me and ask if they can still get in on the group rate Lucky for them I am going to be paying for some extra spots so that we can squeeze a few more people in down the road.

 

How are everyone else's travel arrangements coming along?

[Hannah5611]

Tara - Glad you girls had fun...sounds like a blast...post pics!!!!

 

Erin - thank you SO much for the workout...I dont know what it is going to take for me to get in the gym on a daily basis...Im am slacking sooo much!!

 

Hanna - congrats on your bookings - I get sooooo excited every time someone books   we are at 41 people right now, but we didnt do a group rate...I did that with my sisters wedding through Apple but we couldnt purchase insurance that way so I decided to do it different with mine...did you get any free trips from all your bookings??  4 months till your big day, right?!!!  

 

ps - can you ladies believe I have emailed the resort 4 times and my travel agent emailed them too and we have heard NOTHING back?!?  I emailed Reyna too...im so nervous!!

[Kroshka514]

Hi Hannah5611,

 

I initially had a difficult time getting a hold of Reyna. I actually had my travel agent contact her and she immediately returned my email. I also was able to get a hold of Reyna via telephone. I found that the best time to reach her was 5 pm EST. However it is surprising that Lily or Mayra didn’t get back to you. If I were you I would try to call. I purchased a calling card at CVS; I found it to be very helpful, since it’s like 14 cents a minute. If you need any phone numbers, let me know. Good Luck!

 

Originally Posted by Hannah5611 

Tara - Glad you girls had fun...sounds like a blast...post pics!!!!

 

Erin - thank you SO much for the workout...I dont know what it is going to take for me to get in the gym on a daily basis...Im am slacking sooo much!!

 

Hanna - congrats on your bookings - I get sooooo excited every time someone books   we are at 41 people right now, but we didnt do a group rate...I did that with my sisters wedding through Apple but we couldnt purchase insurance that way so I decided to do it different with mine...did you get any free trips from all your bookings??  4 months till your big day, right?!!!  

 

ps - can you ladies believe I have emailed the resort 4 times and my travel agent emailed them too and we have heard NOTHING back?!?  I emailed Reyna too...im so nervous!!

[Hannah5611]

Thanks ladies!!  I actually heard back from them yesterday afternoon....they said that when I booked my date, they didnt have the deposit policy so that is why they did not and are not requiring a deposit from me...so at least I was able to confirm I still have the date...

 

Is anyone else doing their wedding and private reception at the Lindo??  at the begning, they sent me pictures of all the different places i could have my private reception, now they are saying I have to have it at the Jambalya ....and if I want it anywhere else it is an extra $50pp...so much for that mac daddy package including everything....what are you girls doing for the reception part??

[Hanna20]

Hi Hannah,

 

We are also doing a private reception but since we are getting married at Beach (not Lindo) we have a different restaurant choice then you do. But same goes for us and we can only have a private reception in that one restaurant (I think it is the Italian one). The package we chose didnt include a private reception so we have to pay $800 to rent the restaurant and then $20 per person (only 10 are included in the package). In the end it still works out to be less than the "mac daddy" package!

 

Glad to see that you finally got some answers about your date.... waiting is the most frustrating part! Have you found your dress yet?
 

Originally Posted by Hannah5611 

Thanks ladies!!  I actually heard back from them yesterday afternoon....they said that when I booked my date, they didnt have the deposit policy so that is why they did not and are not requiring a deposit from me...so at least I was able to confirm I still have the date...

 

Is anyone else doing their wedding and private reception at the Lindo??  at the begning, they sent me pictures of all the different places i could have my private reception, now they are saying I have to have it at the Jambalya ....and if I want it anywhere else it is an extra $50pp...so much for that mac daddy package including everything....what are you girls doing for the reception part??

[lisanicole]

Hello everyone. I was just married (11/12/10) at Iberostar Maya. Lily was my wedding coordinator. She did an amazing job. I was a little nervous before going as she was not responding to all my emails promptly but everything worked out perfectly. We did the DREAM package and had the private reception at the Mexican Rest. by the pool. We had 69 guests and everyone had a great time.  I believe we ended up paying around 3,000 more than the base price for package due to additional guests (over the included 10), the welcome cocktail party additional people, Mariachi Band, Cigar Roller and we upgraded to Presidential Suite for the 5 days we stayed at Maya (well worth it!)..   We also hired the hotel videographer (who did an excellent job). We hired an outside photographer and did have to pay the 350.00 fee.  

 

We left the Maya after 5 days and spent 3 nights at Grand before going on our honeymoon at Secrets Maroma. The Grand was unbelievable and we plan on going back soon.

 

If anyone has any questions, let me know.

[radiochic10]

Tara-YAY! for your bachelorette party!  Sounds like you had the best time.  I agree that you need to post some pics.  And congrats on the new job!  That's wonderful!  I just found out yesterday that they want to extend my contract for another 2 years, which is excellent news since it's up Jan 21st.. 

 

Side note: I love that we're all calling it the "mac daddy package" now. LOL. 

 

LisaNicole-1st question-did they make you pay for all things wedding when you first checked in?  Someone said that's how they do it, and I was just wondering. We're getting married at the Del Mar, but doing the dream pkge too & I'm guessing it's similar at their sister resorts...what did you do for decorations?  I had a nightmare *yes, this is sad* the other night that they decorated the reception in all pink...I remember seeing a pink napkin & thinking "wtf?  Pink isn't one of our colors?" but we're getting married on Valentine's Day & they assumed pink would be cute because of that & the whole place looked like one big Pepto Bismol.  Scary.  So of course, decorations are all I can think about now. Ha!  And you had to pay extra $$ for the welcome cocktail party????  I did NOT hear about that?!  Is that $20 a person too?  Oh, these hidden little fees are gonna get on my nerves quickly.  I knew about the $20 per person over 10 fee for the reception, but the cocktail party??  Hasn't anyone informed these people that DRINKS ARE FREE!?!?!  I swear, it never ends.  And I'm at a total loss for what to tip people, who to tip, etc.  I've read a ton of posts on here and I swear these brides must all be bathing in $$.  My biggest problem is what to set aside for the photographer who is doing the wedding in return for all of his travel expenses.  It's a HUGE deal-I'm so grateful-he owns his own company & he offers this to people he's closer to & that's how he goes on vacations.  He is giving us all pictures on color & B&W cds...priceless really.  So what is a good 'thank you' without being too much or too little?  No clue.

 

Hannah-SO glad you are all taken care of with your wedding date! WHEW!  HUGE weight off the shoulders there!  We are having our reception at Don Alfredo's.  That's the only place they offer the private reception for over 30(?) people.  It's included in the Mac Daddy, but normally $800 to rent.  I'm surprising the FI with a cigar roller & just ordered matches to put with them.  Don Alfredo's is an outdoor covered restaurant & from the pics I've seen, it looks really nice. 

 

Travel is coming along well.  People have until Dec. 29th to book under our group rate.  We've got 38 booked but expect at least 4 more.

[Hannah5611]

So besides the fact that you have the same name as my fiances ex girlfriend LISANICOLE...hahaha....I am soooo happy to hear from someone that already had their wedding!!!   CONGRATS to you!!!  Thank you so much for sharing....I am honeymooning BEFORE my wedding...since we have to be down there 4 days in advance...we are honeymooning at Secrets Maroma - we have a swimout but I have been contemplating changing to a room with hottub...suggestions?????  I am glad your wedding was wonderful...and how awesome that you had so many people down there with you to celebrate....do you have any pics you can share with us????  Thanks so much and congrats again!
 

Originally Posted by lisanicole 

Hello everyone. I was just married (11/12/10) at Iberostar Maya. Lily was my wedding coordinator. She did an amazing job. I was a little nervous before going as she was not responding to all my emails promptly but everything worked out perfectly. We did the DREAM package and had the private reception at the Mexican Rest. by the pool. We had 69 guests and everyone had a great time.  I believe we ended up paying around 3,000 more than the base price for package due to additional guests (over the included 10), the welcome cocktail party additional people, Mariachi Band, Cigar Roller and we upgraded to Presidential Suite for the 5 days we stayed at Maya (well worth it!)..   We also hired the hotel videographer (who did an excellent job). We hired an outside photographer and did have to pay the 350.00 fee.  

 

We left the Maya after 5 days and spent 3 nights at Grand before going on our honeymoon at Secrets Maroma. The Grand was unbelievable and we plan on going back soon.

 

If anyone has any questions, let me know.