OFFICIAL NOW Jade Wedding Thread

[Stack02]

Congratulations to you as well! We will have 3 checked bags (it's myself, my fiance and my 2 sons who are 12 and 13), plus the 2 carry-on bags (so far anyway!) I envy you for having way more room than I do in the totes! Ha! Go figure.

 

We arrive on October 21st around 1 in the afternoon-I can't wait!! We went to my best friend's destination wedding at Dreams in Tulum last October, and it was an amazing trip-so I'm extra excited for this one!

 

Our colors are peacock blue and orange-what are yours? And how long will you be in Mexico?

I have never been to a destination wedding (go figure!) so I am pleased to hear you had a great time at Dreams.

 

We have 40 guests coming so I never could have fit all the stuff and things into suitcases. I am bring mostly everything down to candles.

 

We leave on the afternoon of the 20th (nuts)

 

Our colors are blue, (Aqua, Turquoise, and teal). I did that so everthing wasn't to matchy matchy because I ordered mostly everthing online and thats how it worked! I also am so super indecisive that I just started throwing in a little green so if I went white/ green for the flowers is would "go"

 

Are you having a kissing game?

 

Are you all ready to go? I got up super early today to still cut the menus, name tags, and finish the rafia fans.

 

What was I thinking?

[Blondiefish26]

I have never been to a destination wedding (go figure!) so I am pleased to hear you had a great time at Dreams.

 

We have 40 guests coming so I never could have fit all the stuff and things into suitcases. I am bring mostly everything down to candles.

 

We leave on the afternoon of the 20th (nuts)

 

Our colors are blue, (Aqua, Turquoise, and teal). I did that so everthing wasn't to matchy matchy because I ordered mostly everthing online and thats how it worked! I also am so super indecisive that I just started throwing in a little green so if I went white/ green for the flowers is would "go"

 

Are you having a kissing game?

 

Are you all ready to go? I got up super early today to still cut the menus, name tags, and finish the rafia fans.

 

What was I thinking?

 

Lol! I got up super early to do wedding stuff too!

 

You have me stumped-what is a kissing game?? Now I am intrigued.

 

Your colors sound pretty! Ours aren't exactly "matching" either, as the peacock blue color of the bridesmaid dresses is almost impossible to match.  Most of the other blues I'm using (table runner, lanterns) are more of a teal as well. I threw orange in there too to brighten things up, and I think it will work out well!

 

I do have one question that keeps coming up between my fiance and I.  Tipping!! What are you thinking about tipping the wedding coordinator and waitstaff for the dinner? We keep going back and forth on that one. Any thoughts?

[A7Xtrish]

Hello ladies! I can't even believe it-our wedding is in 20 days! Although I've only posted here a few times, I read all of the posts, which have been very helpful-so thank you everyone!

 

I was also working with Isela, and now am working with Carmen. I haven't worked with her too much, since she first began as our coordinator after I sent in our wedding forms, but so far so good. I started packing everything up yesterday, to be sure it all fits! As of now, I am using 2 carry-ons, one with all the decorations (paper lanterns, table runner, personalized fans, chair bows, bridesmaid and groomsmen flowers, and one for all of the "wedding day stuff" (bridesmaid gifts, my jewelry, etc.) I was able to fit the welcome bags themselves into one of the carry-on bags as well, but will be putting all the items for them into our main suitcases. I swear, worrying about fitting everything has been the most stressful part now!

 

We are using the sound system for 2 hours after the dinner for dancing on the terrace (there are only 17 of us, so I was hoping that would work). I've seen some mention on here recently of the "sound link"-can I ask for more information on that?

 

Thanks ladies!

My wedding was a week and a half ago, Carmen was my coordinator! I was originally working with Pilar and Isela, but when we got there we found out that Isela has been sick and Carmen is her replacement. She is absolutely phenomenal! SO sweet and on top of everything! no worries!! Xo

[Blondiefish26]

My wedding was a week and a half ago, Carmen was my coordinator! I was originally working with Pilar and Isela, but when we got there we found out that Isela has been sick and Carmen is her replacement. She is absolutely phenomenal! SO sweet and on top of everything! no worries!! Xo

 

Thank you so much! That's really good to know...I'm actually on coordinator #3 with them now, so it's a bit stressful. Your comment helps! Congratulations!!

[Stack02]

Lol! I got up super early to do wedding stuff too!

 

You have me stumped-what is a kissing game?? Now I am intrigued.

 

Your colors sound pretty! Ours aren't exactly "matching" either, as the peacock blue color of the bridesmaid dresses is almost impossible to match. Most of the other blues I'm using (table runner, lanterns) are more of a teal as well. I threw orange in there too to brighten things up, and I think it will work out well!

 

I do have one question that keeps coming up between my fiance and I. Tipping!! What are you thinking about tipping the wedding coordinator and waitstaff for the dinner? We keep going back and forth on that one. Any thoughts?

This one has been the big topic in my house because we have no idea what to do. We ended up adding on quite a few things (flower centerpieces, tiffany chairs, bridal bouquet, outside vendors, and extending the reception) so brcause of those things the 15% auto gratutity that gets added on to our bill is in the neighbourhood of $1100. I would assume that gets split between the coordinator, kitchen, wait staff and bartenders? I thought it would be appropriate to tip Carmen but I don't know what is a good amount?

 

I have heard that if you get Darius as the bartender he really gets the party started, so him? But how much?

 

The guitarist for cocktail hour?

 

The wait staff? Again how much?

 

Our external DJ? But we had to pay big money as an outside fee?

 

I am really torn on this because things can get out of hand quickly. If I was getting married in our city the auto gratuity covers most of these things and I worked as a banquet waitress/bartender years ago and very rarely was I tipped additionally?

 

What are other peoples thoughts? I don't know what is customary?

 

In regard to the kissing game it use to be at a wedding reception you would clink your wine/drink glass with cutlery to get the bride and groom to kiss. Now a days people have gotten much more creative or glasses will be clinking all night. I was thinking that if you want the b and g to kiss you have to answer a trivia question?

Edited October 5, 2014 by Stack02

[Blondiefish26]

Thanks for clarifying the kissing game! I have also seen couples make someone sing a song with the word love in it before they will kiss.

 

I am looking at my contract/invoice from Carmen, and see nothing on it about gratuity...I think that is why I am so confused. I've heard it's added as well.  Ugh.  Maybe someone else will have suggestions!

[chi city]

Hi ladies!

Congrats to all the upcoming brides! Try not to stress too much.. once you meet with the coordinator its smooth sailing

 

I'm trying to get rid of some chair bows I used for our summer wedding at NJ. I have 77 total (12 new, 65 used) CORAL satin chair sashes (8x108). The used ones just would need ironing or dry cleaners, but they are folded nicely to avoid too many wrinkles. First come first serve. Please let me know if anyone is interested!

 

Thanks and happy planning!

[candle23]

@@Stack02 @@Blondiefish26

 

We arrive on October 18 and are staying until November 1! It is coming up so quickly now!!

 

For tipping, this is what I understand...you don't need to tip the external DJ as you are paying him directly. I am not sure about the waitstaff but we are going with no but we have 80 people, so with all those extras they add on gratuity which is in our contract. I think we will give the wedding coordinator a tip(how much though?!!). We have Ariadna. She is awesome, very quick to respond and easy to deal with!

 

I am getting so excited to leave! I really need to get the last things done that I have procrastinated so long!

 

I have the wedding fan programs to print and assemble, table numbers to assemble, card box to decorate, and diy wedding hangers to make....hmmm...seems like quite the list now! Then I just have to pack everything....

 

Been dealing with our travel agent as well....she is a little frustrating. The company we went with offers the bride a groom a room upgrade and flight upgrade. Both of which she did not do. So now I am going back and forth with her to change it. As if now, she can't change our room, and the flight she can do 24 hours out, but only based on availability.

[nala2009]

Tipping!!! This confused me too for the longest time. The general rule of thumb is you tip people who work for a company but not those who work for themselves. So if your DJ owns the company, then no do not tip, but if they work for some company (and thus aren't actually getting all of the money you are "paying" them), then yes you should tip. As for the wait staff and bartenders, their is a 15% service fee added to all the food and drinks so I would not tip the bartenders or servers (unless they are exceptionally good!).

I'm planning of tipping the wedding coordinator (personally I'd say a few hundred...), guitarist (maybe $50... depends on how good he is :-P), person preforming the ceremony (again maybe $50, we're a symbolic non-religious ceremony so it will be short and sweet, if it was more complex I'd probably tip more). We're flying our photographers down with us (it's actually very cheap because their trip is their payment!) and they own their own business so no tip needed, but most hire theirs through a company so I'd tip a couple hundred to them if they were with you all day and did a good job.

 

 

 

This is what I've been thinking anyways.... I am a little scared that I'm being too cheap...

[Stack02]

Tipping!!! This confused me too for the longest time. The general rule of thumb is you tip people who work for a company but not those who work for themselves. So if your DJ owns the company, then no do not tip, but if they work for some company (and thus aren't actually getting all of the money you are "paying" them), then yes you should tip. As for the wait staff and bartenders, their is a 15% service fee added to all the food and drinks so I would not tip the bartenders or servers (unless they are exceptionally good!).

I'm planning of tipping the wedding coordinator (personally I'd say a few hundred...), guitarist (maybe $50... depends on how good he is :-P), person preforming the ceremony (again maybe $50, we're a symbolic non-religious ceremony so it will be short and sweet, if it was more complex I'd probably tip more). We're flying our photographers down with us (it's actually very cheap because their trip is their payment!) and they own their own business so no tip needed, but most hire theirs through a company so I'd tip a couple hundred to them if they were with you all day and did a good job.

 

 

 

 

 

This is what I've been thinking anyways.... I am a little scared that I'm being too cheap...

I think this sounds like a solid plan. I also got charged the 15% service charge on everything not just food and drink. I wonder if that all gets thrown into the mix as well?