May 2013 Brides

[cherany]

Originally Posted by MrsHK 

 

As far as I know there's not really seasonal flowers down here as the temperature doesn't vary a huge amount year round. The only season we have a rainy season, hurricane season, mosquito season and holy moly it is really hot and humid season.

 

The ones she suggested for me are roses, freesias and lisianthus. I haven't been able to find the last two in the flower shops though, only roses. She suggested silk flowers for the ones that I want that would require her to import them from Holland. She also has all kind of tropical flowers such as lilies, cala lilies, gerber daisies, orchids, snapdragons, birds of paradise and a few others. Her prices are of course higher than the flower shops but she will arrange them for you, deliver them and you are guaranteed good quality.

 

If you pick tropical flowers you'll have a better chance of finding them at a reasonable price since we are in the topics, either on your own or from a wedding florist.  Most of the tropical ones I listed are availble at the flower shops in town.

 

I went to a flower shop last night and their prices were a bit higher than Walmart although the quality is probably higher too. You can also pre-order with them via email with the shop I went into. It is called Floreria Sac-Nah and it is on the corner of 30th Ave and Calle 16, right across the street from the Walmart. Their email address is [email protected]. They don't speak English so I reccomend using Google translate if you want to email them to pre order your flowers. I would say you're having a gathering of friends and don't need them arranged, and don't mention they are for a wedding!! I wouldn't do it too far in advance either since "gatherings of friends" aren't usually planned months ahead of time.

 

I took a photo of their price list (all in Spanish and pesos but I translated it) and here it is:

 

Carnation (Clavel): 12 for 60 pesos or $4.70

Daisy (Margarita): 12 for 80 pesos or $6.30

Pom Pom: 12 for 80 pesos or $6.30

Gladiola: 12 for 80 pesos or $6.30

Spider (Spaider): 12 for 80 pesos or $6.30

Alstroemeria: 12 for 150 pesos or $11.76

Roses: 12 for 220 pesos or $17.24

Gerber Daisy: 12 for 220 pesos or $17.24

Cala Lilies (Alcatraz): 12 for 220 pesos or $17.24

Hibiscus (Hawaianas): 12 for 220 pesos or $17.24

Birds of Paradise (Aves de Parasio): 12 for 220 pesos or $17.24

Heliconia (similar to BoP): 12 for 220 pesos or $17.24

 

Iris: 1 for 25 pesos ($2), price for 12 was blocked by a shelf... why they put a shelf in front of their price list, I don't know... the rest of the prices will be per 1 stem since that's the only price I could see

They had a bunch listed that all seem to be coming up in Google as lilies...

Lily (Lili): 1 for 25 pesos ($2)

Tiger Lily (Acapulco): 1 for 45 pesos ($3.53)

White Lily (Casa Blancas): 1 for 45 pesos ($3.53)

Lily (Azucenas): 1 for 45 pesos ($3.53)

Tulipanes (Tulips): 1 for 45 pesos ($3.53)

 

Hope that helps for those of you doing DIY bouquets! Again, I think the prices at Walmart are better than the florerias but you're risking not being able to pre-order and having a limited selection. I'm going to Walmart today so I'll have a look at what the other prices are.

 

Thank you so much for this info! When I started planning, I had in mind simple bouquets made by bunching up 1-2 types of flowers, done at a low cost. I like bouquets consisting only of spider mums or only of gladiolas, for instance, something that seems so easy to me, but seems to baffle florists wanting me to choose bouquets full of varying flowers. 

 

I'm not comfortable spending hundreds on elaborate bouquets that, while beautiful, will be tossed in the trash a day or two later, but I do want fresh flowers. I really just want to order stems of what I like and not spend a fortune. I'm not sure what happened to the simple idea of tying a ribbon around a flower bunch, but that's my idea of a bouquet: beautiful and still cost effective.

 

I'll have a friend help with translation and email this shop closer to my date, because I would feel more comfortable knowing I have a say in color selection versus going to Walmart and perhaps only finding red roses, which I don't want.

[cherany]

Originally Posted by JA2012 

 

What is the name of this restaurant?? I feel like I ate there...more than once because I enjoyed the food. 

Does it have an area that is up high overlooking the strip?  It's in Playa Del Carmen?

Look on Party Packagers website....they have some lighting options that you could set up in the corner and it would be like a strobe light effect with the colour of your choice.

Also, you could do something simple like string some lanterns with bulbs in them overhead or ask them about uplighting.

If it's the same place I think it is, I recall that it was dim at night but not too dim. It's a nice ambience. I had both lunch and dinner there on different occasions. 

 

Thanks! It's La Casa del Agua, suggested to us by our coordinator, Leanne Marie. She knew we were looking for a place that was welcoming to DIY brides, had excellent food, and had an upscale look & feel. They have no problem with us bringing along an iPod and speaker rental system and were actually quite excited about it, a very welcome change from our original venue, where they were appalled by the idea. (One of several reasons we chose to switch just 6 months before the wedding.)

 

They do have a terrace overlooking the strip, which is our private area for the evening. They also have a rooftop garden, but it's not large enough for our group to have dinner and dancing, although we are heading up there at the end of the night to release paper lanterns. 

 

After emailing my coordinator about lighting, she had a positive reaction and said she'd check on price for me, so I'm feeling better about it. I tend to worry about things not being just right before I've had a chance to find a solution (e.g. feeling disappointed that the place isn't colorful and worrying it will ruin the experience before considering some simple uplighting). I really ought to bounce these thoughts off you guys more, because the reality check that everything really will work out fine is often what I need! 

 

I'm just not a fan of hands-off planning and not being able to control everything myself, despite those traits not gelling well with a destination wedding. I've never regretted our decision to have a DW (don't think I would want to go through all this planning if it weren't one!), but it seems harder in as many ways as it is easier. 

[cherany]

We're following pretty closely along with the timeline given to us by our photographers at del Sol - they say not to let anyone talk you out of having your ceremony 1.5 hours prior to sunset, a suggestion turned gospel for us. We feel so strongly about ensuring perfect lighting, we switched ceremony venues after our original decided to offer evening/night ceremonies only (a painfully harsh lesson that hotels can change the rules on you at will).    The photos are what we get to take away from a day that will surely pass way too quickly, so getting that part of the wedding just right is one of the most important things to us.    Photo timeline from del Sol: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Getting Ready 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Ceremony 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Cocktails + Sunset Portraits 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Dinner + Toasts 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM | Dancing + Reception Fun   Since we are traveling to our ceremony site, we'll be making an adjustment for that, and we'll likely be done with hair and make-up when the photographers arrive, since we want to do a First Look at our hotel. I'm thinking it will go more like this for us...  

 ?:00 AM - 4:30 PM | Hair & Make-Up (start time determined by hair/make-up team)  4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Getting Dressed + Final Touch-Ups on beauty (I'd like a few pics)  5:00 PM - 5:15 PM | First Look photos  5:15 PM - 5:30 PM | Travel (it's just a few minutes away)  5:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Ceremony  6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Cocktails + Sunset Portraits  7:00 PM - 7:15 PM | Travel (short drive)  7:15 PM - 8:30 PM | Dinner (skipping toasts, to everyone we've told's delight)  8:30 PM - 9:30 PM | Dancing + Reception Fun

 

We have 5 bridesmaids & 2 brides, so whatever amount of time the make-up/hair team says, I'm going with. In my everyday life, I'm the queen of starting the getting ready process too late, and that is not an option on my wedding day. It may sound crazy to start in the morning, but I know we'll need every bit of the day to ensure everyone looks fantastic.

[RNtoBe]

Originally Posted by PuntaBride 

 

Slowly I am checking things off my to-do list.  Tonight I finished my seating plan for dinner.  I'm now wanting to figure out the order the bridal party will stand at the alter, as well as the order the bridesmaids come down the isle (5 all together).  I am not having a maid of honour (too hard to choose), so it is hard to pick who should stand beside me, sign as witness, etc.  

 

Any ideas?  Someone I know said I should think of a fun contest and let them battle for the role! lol  Anyone heard of this idea before?

 

I'm in the exact same position, no maid of honour but I have 4 bridesmaids. Choosing the order is tricky! I love your tumblers and guestbook- they look great!!!

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by MrsHK 

 

Are there any Playa Del Carmen or Riviera Maya brides that are curious about finding flowers down here for DIY bouquets, or wondering what sort of flowers are available? I got a PM inquiring about it earlier and I can paste my reply here if anyone is interested. Just let me know!

I would LOVE to hear about this! Our resort charges $60 per "mini bouquet" and with 4 BM's this is just laughable. I don't need anything huge. I was think like a few gerbera daisys or something "yellow" for each girl. I'm mean they will be hold the darn things for all of 20 min so I don't want to spend an arm and a leg!

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by cherany 

 

We're following pretty closely along with the timeline given to us by our photographers at del Sol - they say not to let anyone talk you out of having your ceremony 1.5 hours prior to sunset, a suggestion turned gospel for us. We feel so strongly about ensuring perfect lighting, we switched ceremony venues after our original decided to offer evening/night ceremonies only (a painfully harsh lesson that hotels can change the rules on you at will).    The photos are what we get to take away from a day that will surely pass way too quickly, so getting that part of the wedding just right is one of the most important things to us.    Photo timeline from del Sol: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM | Getting Ready 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Ceremony 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Cocktails + Sunset Portraits 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Dinner + Toasts 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM | Dancing + Reception Fun   Since we are traveling to our ceremony site, we'll be making an adjustment for that, and we'll likely be done with hair and make-up when the photographers arrive, since we want to do a First Look at our hotel. I'm thinking it will go more like this for us...  

 ?:00 AM - 4:30 PM | Hair & Make-Up (start time determined by hair/make-up team)  4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Getting Dressed + Final Touch-Ups on beauty (I'd like a few pics)  5:00 PM - 5:15 PM | First Look photos  5:15 PM - 5:30 PM | Travel (it's just a few minutes away)  5:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Ceremony  6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Cocktails + Sunset Portraits  7:00 PM - 7:15 PM | Travel (short drive)  7:15 PM - 8:30 PM | Dinner (skipping toasts, to everyone we've told's delight)  8:30 PM - 9:30 PM | Dancing + Reception Fun

 

We have 5 bridesmaids & 2 brides, so whatever amount of time the make-up/hair team says, I'm going with. In my everyday life, I'm the queen of starting the getting ready process too late, and that is not an option on my wedding day. It may sound crazy to start in the morning, but I know we'll need every bit of the day to ensure everyone looks fantastic.

This is so awesome! Thanks for sharing dear!!!

[PuntaBride]

I am so excited!  I finished my barefoot sandals. Eeeek!  Now that I know how to do them I am going to help the rest of my girls do them.  So fun!!!

 

 

 

[cherany]

I am so excited!  I finished my barefoot sandals. Eeeek!  Now that I know how to do them I am going to help the rest of my girls do them.  So fun!!!

Great job! I think one of the bridesmaids in our wedding is making her own, since she hasn't found any she loves. Nice to see someone here turn out a good looking pair; eases my mind about them looking like a craft project. I would never think yours weren't made by a pro.

[PuntaBride]

Originally Posted by cherany 

 

 

Great job! I think one of the bridesmaids in our wedding is making her own, since she hasn't found any she loves. Nice to see someone here turn out a good looking pair; eases my mind about them looking like a craft project. I would never think yours weren't made by a pro.

 

THANKS!!! I'm really proud and love doing arts and crafts lol

 

I never had seen anything like this until Pinterest.  I've always been a beader so I thought I would give it a go.  Maybe I will start an etsy account lol

[cherany]

Originally Posted by PuntaBride 

 

 

THANKS!!! I'm really proud and love doing arts and crafts lol

 

I never had seen anything like this until Pinterest.  I've always been a beader so I thought I would give it a go.  Maybe I will start an etsy account lol

 

You could definitely sell them! How kind did it take you for one pair?

 

A lot of my projects prompt people to suggest selling on etsy to me, which is a great compliment, but I am such a perfectionist, I find it impossible to complete anything in a reasonable amount of time I could comfortably charge for. My items would seem overpriced if I wanted to make even a few bucks an hour, which is a much lesser amount than I'm willing to work for. I guess on the bright side, it reminds me why things cost what they do when made by hand. I'm quite frugal and don't usually want to pay the prices I see on etsy.