May 2013 Brides

[ChocoTaco7568]

Cherany! Where the heck have you been... Happy 6 months and counting

[cherany]

Originally Posted by ChocoTaco7568 

 

Cherany! Where the heck have you been... Happy 6 months and counting

 

Thank you!  I know, I've been a total slacker with wedding planning!  I have days where I feel like everything is so far away, there is nothing to do yet.  Other days, I feel totally panicked that nothing is done!  (Many things are actually done, of course.)

 

Wow, 6 months... I don't know whether to feel super excited, or super freaked out!  It's soon, in general wedding terms, but really far away, in destination wedding terms!  Talking with vendors sometimes gives me the impression these weddings are planning in a few weeks' time!

 

Right now, I'm trying to sort out what needs to be done and arrange things with vendors. One of my biggest concerns is that we're not at one of the resorts that does weddings every weekend, so I have no idea how the major elements like an arbor and chairs will come together. There's no, "Here are your options and prices, choose the one you want" sort of list. In theory, I have more choices, can work with anyone I choose, etc.  But there are days when I feel like too much choice leaves a person unsure of where to begin!  I've just e-mailed the hotel to see if they rent arbors or can recommend a company that does.  I know they have a wedding planner they want to refer all my questions to, but we've decided to see if we can manage without one, because the cost of everything else is really adding up.  The hotel says they are able to help with weddings directly, if you are not working with a planner, so we'll see how communication goes.

[cherany]

Progress is being made with the bridesmaids.  I'm in the unusual position of handling two sets of bridesmaids, since my fiancé isn't great with planning (or remembering what the plan is, once it's decided upon - let's just say more than a few people refer to her as the ditzy blonde, despite her very dark hair ).  She & I decided together the colors and look we wanted for the bridesmaids (hot pink/fuchsia on my side & aqua blue/turquoise on her side, with lots of ruffles on both sides), but when it comes to the actual dresses, especially bridesmaids wanting approval or veto on selections, she's lost and doesn't know how to answer.  She told her girls to talk dresses with me, which I'm fine with, but I feel a little strange when I'm telling her friends no on things. With your own close friends, you know who you can say what to, how to avoid offending or hurting feelings if you need to say no, etc.

 

Her girls are really nice and seem to have no issues working with me, rather than her, thankfully.  I just don't want them to think the wedding is all me, as if she doesn't get a say in anything. Couldn't be further from the truth - her snob face when she doesn't like something I'm showing her... whew, enough to make you feel like you're in a remake of Mean Girls!   I am probably over-thinking it, though. They are her friends, after all, so they probably realize without me telling them that she would rather tell me what she likes, then have me to do the detail work, like searching online for dresses for hours on end, agonizing over exact shades of a color, etc.

 

Because of how much easier I expect finding dresses with my bridesmaids to be (I know more about their taste, budget, shopping habits, etc.), I started with her girls. It took some doing, but I'm happy to report that we seem to have found dresses for her side, so my role in that department is close to being done!  Her side will have aqua blue/turquoise dresses, and these are the ones they are most likely getting (and thankfully, really seem to love!):

 

Maid of Honor:

http://www.lightinthebox.com/a-line-square-knee-length-chiffon-satin-cocktail-dress_p223696.html

 

Bridesmaid:

http://prettybridesmaids.com/Mini-Maids-Bridesmaids-Dress-479F/

 

She also has one or two bridesmen, as we're calling them (1 definite; 1 unsure, due to work commitments abroad), but finding shirts for them will surely be a breeze compared to dresses. We'll have them in white pants and turquoise shirts that match the dresses.

 

Now it's time to work on finding dresses for my girls!  They have much tighter budgets, but also have much better clearance rack/secondhand shopping skills and enjoy shopping much more, so I think things will go much easier. I'll feel more comfortable saying no when necessary,  at least! 

[Tulumbride2013]

Thanks! Fortunately because we booked a group rate we're getting a ton of amenities due to the size of our group. One of them is one free room for every 10 rooms booked. Instead of just giving you a "free room", they actually give this amount back to you as a credit. Because of the # of rooms we have booked we'll get the amount of 3 rooms for 3 nights credited back to us (minus taxes and fees of course). But since the reason we're getting this money at all is because of our families and friends supporting us, we decided to just take it and spend it on them. I think it should be a lot of fun!

That's awesome of you guys to do that. We actually got a similar deal, only ours was every 6th room, you get the sixth free. We only have 10 rooms booked though so to be honest we had planned on putting that money toward the wedding. Now I feel horrible for not putting it toward an excursion for them! Lol... But I bet if I had a bunch more rooms it would be something we would consider. You guys will def have a ton of fun! I think the only group excursion we are all doing is prob the Tulum Ruins. It's really close to our resort and has a very low entrance fee.

[Sophia2616]

Cherany- I will probably see you your wedding weekend, we have the same date and my guests and I are staying at Porto Playa which is part of Condohotels (taj) best of luck!! Are you working with Lourdes?

[Emily11386]

Hey ladies, I was wondering what everyone else has gotten done so far. I feel like I should be doing more. So far I have: ordered my dress, booked the ceremony/reception spaces, chose food, booked our rooms, booked our airfare, booked the DJ, booked the photographer, sent save the dates, purchased our invites (plan to send them out in the next couple weeks), started a group block of rooms, made a wedding web page, started looking for bridesmaids dresses, bought wedding jewelry, and in the processes of choosing flowers. I think that's it, but i could be forgetting something. I just feel like we are getting closer (just under 6 months now) and that I should be doing more, or that there should be more that needs to be done!

[LKocelko]

Originally Posted by Emily11386 

 

Hey ladies,

I was wondering what everyone else has gotten done so far. I feel like I should be doing more. So far I have: ordered my dress, booked the ceremony/reception spaces, chose food, booked our rooms, booked our airfare, booked the DJ, booked the photographer, sent save the dates, purchased our invites (plan to send them out in the next couple weeks), started a group block of rooms, made a wedding web page, started looking for bridesmaids dresses, bought wedding jewelry, and in the processes of choosing flowers. I think that's it, but i could be forgetting something. I just feel like we are getting closer (just under 6 months now) and that I should be doing more, or that there should be more that needs to be done!

 

That sounds great...now I feel behind! Haha. Is your resort handling a lot of stuff? The thing that I didn't read was decor for the space. Flowers, linens, etc. Or maybe planning the ceremony? For example, I know we're doing a sand ceremony.

[cherany]

Originally Posted by Sophia2616 

 

Cherany- I will probably see you your wedding weekend, we have the same date and my guests and I are staying at Porto Playa which is part of Condohotels (taj) best of luck!! Are you working with Lourdes?

 

Oh, that's exciting!  Would be cool to see you there. 

 

My e-mails were passed to Linda Burchett, the in-house wedding coordinator, so I guess that's who we're working with.  When we first booked the hotel, they had no wedding coordinator, just recommendations for outside planners.  Up until this point, we've just had contact with the hotel staff, who mainly put our names down and told us we had the reservation.  We want to do as much as possible ourselves to save money, but e-mailing front desk employees with questions about chairs isn't really cutting it, so an in-house coordinator is probably for the best. 

[danak71]

Originally Posted by Emily11386 

 

Hey ladies,

I was wondering what everyone else has gotten done so far. I feel like I should be doing more. So far I have: ordered my dress, booked the ceremony/reception spaces, chose food, booked our rooms, booked our airfare, booked the DJ, booked the photographer, sent save the dates, purchased our invites (plan to send them out in the next couple weeks), started a group block of rooms, made a wedding web page, started looking for bridesmaids dresses, bought wedding jewelry, and in the processes of choosing flowers. I think that's it, but i could be forgetting something. I just feel like we are getting closer (just under 6 months now) and that I should be doing more, or that there should be more that needs to be done!

I think you've gotten a lot done!

 

So far I've done engagement pics, ordered bridesmaid dresses, selected my dress (not purchased yet), selected groomsmen outfits and where to purchase them (haven't purchased yet), sent save the dates and invitations, booked DJ, photographer, videographer, selected menu, booked excursion, booked rooms, completed wedding website, booked spa appts. for bridal party and participants, purchased sand ceremony frame, and some of the items for OOT bags.

 

What we have left to do is purchase my dress and jewelry, groomsmen attire, airfare, wedding bands, foot jewelry for bridal party, thank you gift for my mom, select sand colors and purchase sand for sand ceremony, figure out and purchase reception decor (center pieces, lanterns, etc.), complete remaining graphic design pieces (favor tags, thank you cards, wedding weekend timeline, door hangers, etc.), write vows, put together song list of "Play" and "Do Not Play" for DJ.

 

I started feeling the same way recently. I got a lot of things done early because I didn't want to be frantic at the end but I started feeling recently like I need to pick up the pace!

[ChocoTaco7568]

Originally Posted by Emily11386 

 

Hey ladies,

I was wondering what everyone else has gotten done so far. I feel like I should be doing more. So far I have: ordered my dress, booked the ceremony/reception spaces, chose food, booked our rooms, booked our airfare, booked the DJ, booked the photographer, sent save the dates, purchased our invites (plan to send them out in the next couple weeks), started a group block of rooms, made a wedding web page, started looking for bridesmaids dresses, bought wedding jewelry, and in the processes of choosing flowers. I think that's it, but i could be forgetting something. I just feel like we are getting closer (just under 6 months now) and that I should be doing more, or that there should be more that needs to be done!

Okay, so I don’t know how much detail you were going for but here it goes (believe it or not, I can actually get more specific than this):

 

COMPLETED/PURCHASED:

• Deposit paid and wedding date confirmed
• Wedding Package selected
• Ceremony, cocktail hour and reception locations confirmed
• Cocktail hour and dinner menu selected
• Signature drinks selected
• Group rates and room block secured
• Bride and Groom airfare purchased
• Photographer contracted (no videographer)
• Photo Op List made
• Wedding day timeline drafted (coordinated with photography)
• Mariachi band contracted (no Dj)
• Flower selection made (bridal and MOH bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres)
• Wedding website live
• Invitations sent
• Bridal attire purchased (Dress, shoes, pre-ceremony “getting ready†robe)
• Wedding look determined (hair and make-up; all make-up has been purchased)
• MOH dress purchased
• Groom/BM Attire Purchased (Suit, tie and shoes)
• Wedding Bands Purchased
• DIY crystal monogram cake topper made

 

 

REMAINING TO-DO LIST

• Finalize bridal accessories: jewelry, sash, veil? (options narrowed down, waiting for dress to come in 02/2013)
• Fitting/alterations (03/2013)
• Finalize ceremony script and write vows (already drafted)
• Purchase remaining ceremony/cocktail hour/reception décor (+/-70% purchased)
• Complete décor mock-ups and photos for wedding coordinator use
• Complete wedding planning form required by resort WC (due 45 days prior)Assemble and purchase remaining pre-travel package items
• Custom guestbook alternative (design chosen but need final guest count)
• Complete remaining DIY (place cards, menus, misc signage, etc…many done, more to go)
• Create Ipod playlist for ceremony and reception
• Purchase BM and MOH gifts
• Schedule apt for wedding day couples massage
• Boudoir photo shoot
• Chose thank you cards and wedding announcements/AHR invites
• AHR 07/2013 - FMIL is coordinating in Fi’s hometown won’t start think about this until 03/2013