Just Booked My Cabo Photographer!~Marcel Kaiser of Glez Photography

[mishele81]

Hey Leahnv,

 

Yay, so excited that you booked SDML!!!  I cant wait to see pics. Its just beautiful there!!!!  For my wedding colors , I am doing black, white and my bridesmaid dresses are Cherry Red. I was thinking formal black and white , but now I  am thinking I might throw in some orange flowers for the girls because I Think it will pop!! We will see. I have 4 right now , but one may or may not be prego ( they have been trying for a long time)  so I might have 3.  Time will tell!!!

The videographer is pricey -  $3000 for the base package which is pretty much your 5 hours of service, on top of that you have to pick a finished product which are : a) 3-4 minute highlight video $500) or b.) I think 30 minute wedding film for $1000 . So , in total either $3500 or $4000 depending on what package you decide. We went with the $3500 package, he told us if we decide we want the full video later, we can decide after watching the highlights.

Keep in touch with your planning and ideas!!

Michelle

[kary]

Hi Mishele!

 

Sorry I have been MIA! 

 

So, did you book Marcel Glez for you photography?  I just really liked his work, and he was def the most reasonable priced out of the 20 some photographers I looked at. 

I am so glad your man agreed to book!!

 

As far as the centerpieces...I don't plan on buying the flowers from the RIU since they are crazy expensive.  I think what I might do is buy some fake (but very real looking) orchids, the go to Walmart once I get there to buy some very tall vases.  I want to put either sand or stones ( the pretty colored yet see through ones) in the bottom of the vase, and then put the orchard in with floating candles on top.  I may even end up buying the vases ahead of time and having someone either bring them down in a separate carry on, or ship them to the hotel ahead of time. If I knew how to attach a pic I would show you.-Let me know if you know how.

 

What about you?  Are you buying the flowers from the RIU?  I've just read so many reviews about how there isn't much room left on the tables for flowers and decorations so I don't want to waste the money on the flowers.  I also have 9 bridesmaids and at $80.00/boquet I don't think I will be buying their flowers from the RIU either!  I am also going to try and make my own out of real touch flowers.

 

Damn!  I see you already have 51 people booked! That is great!  Did you use a TA?  I am having a really hard time getting people to book.  I am thinking we will have around 50 people attend, and only 2 have booked so far   What is your secret to having your guests book so far ahead?

[mishele81]

Hey Kari,

 

I haven't booked Marcel yet for the photography as I have just convinced my fiance to hire a viedeographer that  I really really wanted. I will wait a little while before pushing the envelope

What are his rates?  I did peak into his work and it is definetely fab!!!  If it is similar to the Riu rates, I may just have to book him.

 

As for centrepieces , I am going to bring down some black runners for the white linen and have some 5x7 frames of our engagment photos , some vases with one or two long stemmed real looking fake flowers as well. You can insert an image by clicking on the icon above this area where you write ( you will see a little colorful house icon) and that is the ' Insert Image'

 

I was going to bring my own bridesmaid bouquets as well, but I think I will just bite the bullet and get those from the RIu , I am not the most crafty person even though I thought I could be. I did some flowers to get started but I am just going to return them and pay $60 per bouquet ( I will need 3)

Can I have your opinion on flowers? I am doing black and white for the groom and groomsmen and cherry red dresses for the girls, with my dress, I want Red roses ... For the girls do you think I should go with white roses ( to keep it formal ) or go with Orange flowers to make it pop a little more in the pics?

 

With the booking of our guests, we have a travel agent, and I just skipped SAve the Dates altogether and just sent out  our invites super early with all the info on the invite , including our wedding website that I had made , so guests were to just contact our travel agent  directly and that was that..... We had a certain number of seats up until Sept 30 reserved ( for hotel and air) and just waiting to hear from her with more seats to be realeased. You can check out my wedding website if you like : www.pashkoWedding.com

  I am waiting to hear back from her with new seats so it is a little outdated!

Keep in touch!!

 

 

 

[kary]

Hi Mishele!

 

That is great that your agent was able to book so many guests so early.  My TA wasn't able to reserve us a fixed number of seats on the plane since we have people coming and leaving on all different days and times.   Oh well, I did just send out another e-mail on our travel plans, and I think we now have 14 people booked!

I checked out your wedding website, sooo cute!  I am confused on the pricing though...what is the Ocean view room?  Is that a suite?  I thought they are all suites?

 

You guys are very lucky with the prices your guests can pay for 7 days...We live in MI, so 7 nights for our guests in the Jr. Suite Ocean view is $1,827.00 per person!  No wonder you have so many people booked, that is a great deal you have! 

 

As for the table runners, that sounds like a great idea! How do you know how long you will need them? 

 

The flowers: Are you going to incorporate the orange anywhere else in the wedding?  I think if you had your girls carry mostly white roses, but mix a few red in between it would look awesome.  If you are looking for a pop of color, the two mixed together will give you that effect.

 

If you go on Marcel's website/blog he has an excel spread sheet that will give you pricing based on the number of hours you want.  I think it ends up being somewhere around $300.00 per hour.  He ended up being $300.00 cheaper than the RIU photographers, but you also have to pay the $300.00 photo vendor fee if you are going to use him.  I think that is such a dumb fee the RIU charges.  We are paying a good amount of money for the wedding package and should be able to use whoever we want.

 

I attached a picture of what I would like to do for the centerpieces. I am thinking of using hot pink flowers since my colors are fuchsia and kelly green. I think I will fill the vase with water and put a floating candle on top too.

 

 

I love that you are having the reception at the Baja Norte.  I really want to have it there also, but I don't want to pay the per person rate for food, since we are having a huge AHR when we get back, and have to feed and provide booze for people all over again  

 

Did you set up the cocktail hour with the wedding coordinator yet?  Or is that part of having the private package? 

 

I have been reading all of these blogs about rehearsal dinners...Do you have one set up yet?  I wonder if they cost extra?  I know that the info sheet I got from my coordinator has the rehersal dinner listed as the buffet.  That makes me feel like if you want to have it elsewhere then you have to pay for it.??

I also feel your concern on having other weddings the day of your wedding.  There is one planned 2 hours after mine...but I know I booked first because I remember having all of the times open as options to me.  I wonder who the coordinator will contact first...EEEK!

 

 

 

Keep me updated!

 

-Kary

[mishele81]

Hey Kari,

 

For the rooms -   for our options there is an oceanview room which is basically a hotel room, and the next step up is the junior suite which has a few steps going down into a living type area with a couch. It costs about $100 extra I believe.

 

For the table runners, I will just see how much it will cost to rent them for  week and get one of our guests to return them ( because we are staying our second week at Dreams)

 

 

Flowers- I like your idea of mostly white and a few red ones , since I am not using orange anywhere else in the wedding! Thanks

 

I am still undecided on the photographer, Marcels work looks great, I may hire someone that my videographer recommends now, so many decisions to make, its stressfull wondering if you are making the right ones being so far away!!

 

Your centrepieces are beautiful~!  How do you plan to get the vases down? just bring in your luggage? Or purchase when you get to Cabo?

 

I don't have a rehearsal dinner set up, I tried to contact the coordinator a while ago and she told me that they would contact me a few months before the wedding.  I'm hoping that is something we can do when we get there. Did you get a sheet regarding the rehearsal dinner?  Because I don't think I have any info, can you send it to me if you do have something? P.s I heard the fusion resturarant is a good choice for rehearsal dinner from a previous Riu bride.

 

I am such a nerd right now, on this site super lots to get ideas , keep me posted , I'm waiting anxiously for Crys to come back on , I want to see how her wedding went !

 

Are you bringing any paper lanterns or anything? Do you know if they supply any?

 

talk soon!

 

 

Originally Posted by kary 

Hi Mishele!

 

That is great that your agent was able to book so many guests so early.  My TA wasn't able to reserve us a fixed number of seats on the plane since we have people coming and leaving on all different days and times.   Oh well, I did just send out another e-mail on our travel plans, and I think we now have 14 people booked!

I checked out your wedding website, sooo cute!  I am confused on the pricing though...what is the Ocean view room?  Is that a suite?  I thought they are all suites?

 

You guys are very lucky with the prices your guests can pay for 7 days...We live in MI, so 7 nights for our guests in the Jr. Suite Ocean view is $1,827.00 per person!  No wonder you have so many people booked, that is a great deal you have! 

 

As for the table runners, that sounds like a great idea! How do you know how long you will need them? 

 

The flowers: Are you going to incorporate the orange anywhere else in the wedding?  I think if you had your girls carry mostly white roses, but mix a few red in between it would look awesome.  If you are looking for a pop of color, the two mixed together will give you that effect.

 

If you go on Marcel's website/blog he has an excel spread sheet that will give you pricing based on the number of hours you want.  I think it ends up being somewhere around $300.00 per hour.  He ended up being $300.00 cheaper than the RIU photographers, but you also have to pay the $300.00 photo vendor fee if you are going to use him.  I think that is such a dumb fee the RIU charges.  We are paying a good amount of money for the wedding package and should be able to use whoever we want.

 

I attached a picture of what I would like to do for the centerpieces. I am thinking of using hot pink flowers since my colors are fuchsia and kelly green. I think I will fill the vase with water and put a floating candle on top too.

 

 

I love that you are having the reception at the Baja Norte.  I really want to have it there also, but I don't want to pay the per person rate for food, since we are having a huge AHR when we get back, and have to feed and provide booze for people all over again  

 

Did you set up the cocktail hour with the wedding coordinator yet?  Or is that part of having the private package? 

 

I have been reading all of these blogs about rehearsal dinners...Do you have one set up yet?  I wonder if they cost extra?  I know that the info sheet I got from my coordinator has the rehersal dinner listed as the buffet.  That makes me feel like if you want to have it elsewhere then you have to pay for it.??

I also feel your concern on having other weddings the day of your wedding.  There is one planned 2 hours after mine...but I know I booked first because I remember having all of the times open as options to me.  I wonder who the coordinator will contact first...EEEK!

 

 

 

Keep me updated!

 

-Kary

 

 

[kary]

Hi Mishele!

Good to know that there are additional options on the hotel rooms…I just thought that they were all suites. 

For the table runners: You are having the reception at the Baja Norte so you will have round tables correct?  I did find a website, www. tableclothsfactory.com that has the table runners for $1.65 on sale from $2.19…I think I will probably just order them off of there since we are having a AHR and we will need them anyways.

 

Also, I am wondering about the bows for the chairs at the ceremony…Do you know if they also use these for the reception dinner also?  If not, then I am also going to buy some bows for both the ceremony and reception to use. By the way, we are staying our second week at Dreams also! 

 

Centerpieces: I am undecided on what to do with these.  I guess it will all depend on where I get to schedule my reception.  I want round tables, vs. the one long table.  If I get the round tables then I will probably bring the vases and flowers down myself in my carryon, or go to Walmart once I arrive in Cabo to see what my options are.  I assume they carry similar items in MX as they do in the states.  If I have one long table then I will probably just use my 9 bridesmaid’s bouquets as the centerpieces and rent vases for them.

 

Rehearsal Dinner: Adriana (WC) said that since I have 50 or more people that I have to have the rehearsal dinner at the buffet.  I have since then sent her an e-mail inquiring if I have 49 or less people if I can have it at one of the specialty restaurants.  I really wanted to use this dinner as a welcome reception, which will also give me an opportunity to give a speech to say thank you to all of my guests for coming.  I never received anything on the rehearsal dinner, I just figured its never too soon to start planning it.  I would like them to set up one long table on one of the terraces.  Michey also said that her WC just recently asked her where she would like to have hers.  I guess it’s one of those things you plan as you get closer to the date.

 

I am obsessed with this website!!! Its great though, because I am getting so many ideas.  However, I think had I never found it, that my wedding would be much simpler, and much cheaper!

 

I definitely want paper lanterns.  I am not sure if the resort supplies them.  If not then I have found tons of websites that do, and I will bring them myself.

 

Keep in Touch!

-Kary

[mishele81]

Kary,

 

 

Thanks for the info on the runners, I will definetly check that site out  , as the special event rental places here charge $7.00 per runner, and I am not sure if it's more if I keep it for the week as I wil need to !.

With regard to the bows, I have heard that , yes, they do just switch them over to the reception venue for you. I know they only have certain colors so make sure they have the color you need or you will prob have to buy some and bring down.  I think I will just take advanteage of the the white chair covers and keep it at that.

 

For centrepieces, it was defintely racking my brain too!  It's hard to visualize without seeing anything!  Another bride told me on here that the Walmart down there is a little dated , so just keep that in mind, I am sure you will find vases there if needed, but I wouln't rely on them for many things just in case!

I think I am goin to do two long stemmed roses ( one white and one red)  in a skinny vase with some black ribbon. I did find an excellent store here in Edmonton that carries very real looking silk flowers ( as a matter of fact, I have some in my home, and most people comment on what  a wonderful man I have for having such nice taste in fresh flowers)   I even keep them in water to throw people off.

 

With paper lanterns, if you know your venue, make sure to ask Adrianna  , because I emailed her last week and she told me that paper lanterns cannot be hung in the Baja Norte becasue there is no room, so just keep that in mind before spending the money!

I like the idea of the paper bag lumanaries ( just google it on google images ) if you haven't heard of them . I was going to do them as well, but for the Baja norte , I think it will be overkill, she sent me a nice pic of the reception set up and   I dont thnk they are needed now.

 

Have you heard from Crys  yet? I am waiting to see how her wedding went!! I keep checking on here soo often!!!!

 

talk soon!!

 

[kary]

Hi Michele,

 

$7.00 for each runner?  Holy crap!  That’s crazy…you are much better off buying them yourself.   Do you know how many tables you will have?  Are you going to do black or red ones?  I did look at a lot of pictures from the reception dinners and it doesn’t look like they put the bows on the chairs, but maybe the brides just didn’t request them to.   They don’t have the color I want so I think I am just going to go with the white ones.

 

Thanks for the heads up on Walmart.  I guess I can always rent the vases from the flower place if needed, but they seem to be really expensive.  So are you bringing your vases and ribbon down with you then?  What is the flower place by your house called? 

 

As far as the paper lanterns...Why can’t you have them hang them on the lights?  Not over the bulb, but most of them come with a little hook attached and should be able to attach to the light string.  I will not be very happy if Adriana tells me that I can’t have them, especially since I really wanted sky lanterns and she said no to those.  Do you know if they allow giant sparklers?  I want something fun!  I have never heard of anyone hiring fire dancers there either…I wonder if those are allowed.

 

I have not heard from Crys…I think I am going to PM her  and tell her we are dying to hear about and see pics of her big day!!!