sxcT's Planning Thread for Aventura Palace Resort on 11/18/11

[sxcT]

I wanted to get this done before I left but it just didn't happen.  So its 3 weeks after but thankfully I did 95% of this before I left.

 

Background:

I got engaged on 8/11/10 and knew I’d be having a destination wedding right away.  I travel all the time so there was no way I’d be getting married somewhere over here.  It would have to be warm, tropical and have beautiful turquoise water!!  David proposed on a random Wednesday so that I would be totally caught off guard.  The proposal story is so cute and funny so if you’d like to read it check out our wedding website at

http://taryndavid.ourwedding.com/view/7492923452664391/21062193

You can also read our “how we met†story on there too which I think is cute.

 

Picking the Location:

I wanted to get married on a Caribbean island so bad but I knew Mexico was slightly cheaper and a bit closer for most to fly to so I decided to go with that.  I know it’s the Mexican Caribbean and I am ok with that.  I narrowed down the choices to a few different resorts (Secrets, Dreams, Palace) and after doing the cost comparison and showing David pictures I made him decide.  He chose Aventura Palace Resort and I know we made a great decision.

 

 

Telling the Guests:

We figured the quickest way to let people know what we were planning was to send out an email with some details and start up the wedding website (http://taryndavid.ourwedding.com).  Since I’m known for emails with too much info, links, photos, etc., I know the email I sent out wasn’t viewed or read by many.  I tried to provide lots of info but even David says that most people won’t read it, only skim it.  Oh well!  So we sent the email out asking for addresses so we could get our guest list filled in.  Took several follow up emails, FB emails, text messages and even calls to get what we needed. 

 

Wedding Dress:

My dress is Mori Lee #2505 in white

 

 

 

Grooms Attire:

David’s suit was from Studio Suits – all white pure linen.

 

 

Rings:      

All rings are from Robbin’s Bros.

Mine are Coast brand.

His is Gravure brand but we customized it.  We add 4 additional diamonds for a total of 5 diamonds.

 

 

Shoes:

Ahhh my lovely turquoise shoes – RSVP Lovely.  Purchased from Zappos.com  Love love love them!!

“I DO†stickers purchased from Michael’s. Garter purchased from Michael’s and then bedazzled by me!

 

My backup flip flops – Kensie Girl - purchased from 6pm.com

 

 

Flowers:

I had a real touch bouquet made from both me and my sister (MOH) and a bout made for David.  Watermenot.com is responsible for such great work.  I added the rhinestone looking wrap around the stem.

 

 

Jewelry:

Earrings and hair clip purchased from an accessory store in the mall.  Bracelet purchased from Macy’s (Monet brand)

 

 

STDs:

I knew I had to do the boarding pass STD because it was so cute and I loved the idea of it.  Here is a link to the STDS I made.  http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/65992/sxcts-diy-boarding-pass-stds

 

 

Invites:

Since I did the boarding pass STDs I just had to do the passport for the invitations.  I thought the idea was genius and the guests would love it.  Here is the link to my passport invitations.

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/74091/sxcts-passport-invites-finally-done

 

 

Bridesmaids Cards: 

Well I also did a little DIY project to create “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?†cards for my girls.  Here is the link

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/65266/sxcts-very-first-diy-project-bridesmaid-cards

 

 

Pre-Travel Brochures:

I made 3 fold brochures from Vistaprint.  I have to give all the credit to Jessica (jszy10).  She did hers and I copied about 90% of it so she saved me so much time and energy.

 

 

DIY Luggage Tags:

I made the tags using a Word template from here and inserted tropical pictures as the background.  I sent these out with the pre-travel brochures a few weeks before we departed.  I purchased the luggage tags from clearenvelopes.com  (http://www.clearenvelopes.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=luggage )

Here is the template I used.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OOT Bags:

Wow these were fun but time consuming, especially with all the DIY projects I decided to do.

~Bags: I first purchased the small ones from the Dollar Tree but ended up selling them to another bride and buying the personalized ones from OTC ( http://www.orientaltrading.com/personalized-large-nonwoven-neon-color-tote-bags-a2-47_979.fltr?prodCatId=388632&categoryFromSearch=true&tabId=1&Ne=90000&rd=tote%20bag  )   I am very happy with them and I just love the colors.  It helped that lots of the other stuff from OTC also came in the same fun colors.

 

~ Welcome tag: Created and purchased from Vistaprint.

 

~ DIY Room Key Holders: Used a template from this site but added in my own tropical pictures

Here is the template

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Lanyards: From OTC in colors that match my OOT bags (no longer seem to be available on the website – sorry)

 

~ DIY chapstick: Purchased the chapsticks at the swapmeet.  I started to use one of the templates on here but then I decided I was going to save some money.  I grabbed the shipping labels that we have here (Avery 5163) that no one uses and inserted the Avery template into Word and created my own design.  I printed two to each label and then used a paper cutter to trim them.  Worked great!!

 

 

 

~ First Aid Kits:  Purchased them from eBay.  I used the first aid heart image from this board and then inserted them into the Avery 5164 template (another shipping label).  I had to trim the sides slightly but they fit over the first aid kits pretty good.  I received a lot of Band-Aids when I purchased the kits so I put an extra 5 Band-Aids in each one along with antibiotic ointment and hydrocortisone cream (both stolen from my work….ssshhh).

Here is the template

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Survival Kits: These were the fun ones.  Just about everything is from either the $.99 store, Dollar Tree, Walmart or the grocery store.  I grabbed one of the templates on here but once again I used shipping labels so I just copy and pasted the images into my Avery 5164 template.  I used a storage Ziploc bag to put everything in and stuck the sticker right on the front. 

 

Contents:

• Chapstick
• Shout Wipes
• Wet Wipes
• Wisp
• Gum
• Hand Sanitizer
• Tissues
• Tylenol / Advil /Aleve
• Antacid Tablets
• Crystal Light

 

 

~Gummy Flip Flops: Purchased from OTC.  So cute!

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?requestURI=processProductsCatalog&sku=34/1134

 

~ Flip Flop playing cards: Purchased from OTC.

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?requestURI=processProductsCatalog&sku=34/1214

 

~ Tropical Notepads: Purchased from OTC.

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?requestURI=processProductsCatalog&sku=34/1819

 

~ Tropical colored Pens:  Purchased from the Dollar Tree

 

~ The Big Day Timeline: Created in Word.  Printed on brochure paper (had tons left over from STDs)

Here is the template.

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Wedding Week Itinerary: Created in Word and printed on brochure paper.

Here is the template.

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Do Not Disturb tags: Created and purchased from Vistaprint.  Punched two holes at the top and used turquoise ribbon to make the loop.

 

 

~Riviera Maya Brochure: Asked my travel agent to get these for me.

 

 

~ David & Taryn’s Word Puzzle: Created my own word puzzle using this website

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp

 

 

~ “A trip to remember†magnet: Purchased from Vistaprint.

(sorry but none of the pics came out good.

 

 

~ Welcome Letter: Used the already created letters that are floating around this site.  Printed on tropical letterhead paper from Vistaprint.

Here is the template.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe that’s it for the OOT bags for my guests.

 

Here are the OOT bags for my bridesmaids

 

Each girl received a silver wristlet and rhinestone bracelet to use/wear the day of the wedding.  For the wristlets, I purchased brooches online and pinned them on the front of each bag and then I be-dazzled the wrist strap myself.

 

 

This leads me into the BMs gifts/dresses.

 

So in addition to the special OOT bags with the wristlets and bracelets inside…

 

purchased the girls dresses for them as a present.

 

 

Bridesmaids:

Pretty Maids #22424       Fabric:Satin         Color:Mermaid

http://prettybridesmaids.com/Bridesmaid-Dress-22424/

 

 

I also made the special flip flops and matching tank tops to wear on the plane and throughout the week.

 

(second pair wasn't completed when pic was taken)

 

 

 

 

Groomsmen:

The groomsmen had their pants and ties purchased for them. Pants from Stuido Suits and ties from solidcolorneckties.com

 

They also received personalized knives while the best man received a personalized clock and pen holder along with a business card holder from Things Remembered.

 

All the young male attendees received a Team Groom shirt with their nicknames on the back.

 

 

Wedding Décor:

I brought my own table runners, napkins and chair sashes.  Purchased from weddinglinensdirect.com

Color: TiffanyBlue/Aqua50618

I brought all the supplies for my own centerpieces as well.

~ Silver Plates – Michael’s

~ Vases – 12pk from the Dollar Tree

~ Acrylic Ice – OTC

~ Turquoise Pebbles – Dollar Tree and Michael’s

~ Submersible LED turquoise lights – 100candles.com -  http://www.100candles.com/items/item_9529.htm

~ Orchids – Michael’s

 

 

Cake:

We ended up getting a 3-tier cake. Top was strawberry, middle was marble and bottom was cheesecake.  I brought my own cake topper, the I DO letters and the cake cutting/toasting set.

 

 

 

Our Honeymoon Spot:

Sun Palace - absolutely beautiful!!  All Palace resorts are amazing and I can’t wait to visit one again.

 

 

Well i believe that is all.  I hope I could help some other brides out.  Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[leigh2011]

Taryn -

 

Everything looked fantastic.  You did a fantastic job with all of the details and I can only imagine your guests loved it.  Congratulations on being a Mrs!  (I love the picture of David carrying your train...showing some real teamwork there )

[Bride2012]

Taryn, did hubby like his grooms gift?

[shan0487]

Everything looks amazing! Congrats!

 

Who was your photographer?

[yunric]

Taryn!

 

Absolutely beautiful!  My fiance and I got engaged in the lagoon at aventura spa, and we are getting married at Playacar Palace and honeymooning right after at Sun.

I LOVE our brochure.  Eaxactly what I want to do and I hope you don't mind if I totally copy some of it.

 

Shoot me a pm if you want to unload some of your decorating items.  They are FANTASTIC!  Looks like you had a blast- Best wishes!!!!!  (great photog!!)

[sxcT]

Thank you!!  What a relief to have it done and up.  Haha I thought that pic was cute too and it shows my adorable shoes!!
 

Originally Posted by leigh2011 

Taryn -

 

Everything looked fantastic.  You did a fantastic job with all of the details and I can only imagine your guests loved it.  Congratulations on being a Mrs!  (I love the picture of David carrying your train...showing some real teamwork there )

 

Oh boy did he LOVE it!!  Funny thing - he didn't open it until after the wedding.  Long story short - the guys ran into me during the day when I was running around the resort and getting ready.  They were supposed to be on the other side of the resort ALL DAY.  Ugh guys!  So David knew I would be pissed about that so he was so afraid to screw up doing anything else that when he saw the "For Your Eyes Only" note he figured he shouldn't open it yet.  All the guys (even my dad) were saying the same thing - since we already screwed up today lets not screw up any more LOL.  So he ended up opening it later that night when it was just me and him.  It was cute to have that moment together.
 

Originally Posted by Bride2012 

Taryn, did hubby like his grooms gift?

 

Thank you!  My amazing photographers were Melissa and Jonathan from La Luna.  I have no pictures from them yet but I know the ones they took were amazing.
 

Originally Posted by shan0487 

Everything looks amazing! Congrats!

 

Who was your photographer?

 

Thank you!  Wow how romantic.  I didn't get to make it to Playacar because it poured the day were were going to go.  Sun Palace is awesome!! 

Please take take take.  I took almost all of it from Jessica so I am not taking credit for it.

I definitely have stuff I need to get rid of - just not sure what yet.  We have our AHR in Feb and I think I may be using some of the stuff - but probably not all.  I'll PM you.

Also none of these photos are from my photog.  These were all from guests.  Still trying to wait patiently for La Luna to send something my way.
 

Originally Posted by yunric 

Taryn!

 

Absolutely beautiful!  My fiance and I got engaged in the lagoon at aventura spa, and we are getting married at Playacar Palace and honeymooning right after at Sun.

I LOVE our brochure.  Eaxactly what I want to do and I hope you don't mind if I totally copy some of it.

 

Shoot me a pm if you want to unload some of your decorating items.  They are FANTASTIC!  Looks like you had a blast- Best wishes!!!!!  (great photog!!)

 

[chrisdior]

woowww everything looks great!! thanks for sharing all your templates, look forward to see them once i hit 150!

[JoanneIreland]

Taryn, congrats!!!! Everything looks so beautiful, this is a fabulous thread! You look so gorgeous girl!

[sxcT]

Thanks my dear!!
 

Originally Posted by JoanneIreland 

Taryn, congrats!!!! Everything looks so beautiful, this is a fabulous thread! You look so gorgeous girl!

 

[DRPrincesa]

Everything is GORGEOUS! Did you find your train on your dress to be too long?   I LOVE your dress but don't want the train dragging.  This forum has been a God send!