Allie H's EDR (RM, Mexico) 11-5-2012 Planning Thread

[jnitschke]

Allie, this is so super helpful... I'm actually thinking I'm going to pose a set of questions for the brides that have done this already... see what kinds of good info we can compile.

Originally Posted by AllieH 

So I'll hit a few highlights while I wait for my photos. 

 

What'd I'd do all over again: 

--a destination wedding. It was AWESOME. Our friends and family all enjoyed the getaway, and the resort was amazing. It was great to have more time with our guests. The ceremony & reception really flew by, and I can't imagine that as the only time to celebrate this event. Instead, we had a long weekend! 

--DIY. our guests all complimented the small details that I had DIY'd. I can't wait to see the photos of the details! 

--wear the dress I fell in love with. yeah, it was hot. yep, I was a sweaty mess by the end of the night. but damn, I looked good! (hehe)

--have a friend help with my make up, and let the salon do my hair. 

--hire a professional photographer. these memories will be priceless.

--wear wedges for our ceremony in the sand; surprisingly I got a lot of comments on my shoes. part of this is also because of the next item: 

--I had my dress hemmed for flats. I knew I would kick off the wedges and end up in flats, and had seen other brides at their receptions holding up their dresses and trying to dance, because the dress was hemmed for heels. So yes, during the ceremony, my wedges showed a little more, but ultimately it all worked out. 

--marry the love of my life. of course!! 

--do the legal part here at home, and symbolic in MX

--write our own ceremony - it was so meaningful and "us". we wrote our own vows too, and my husband surprised me with his. it was priceless

--not have a bridal party - we felt that all of our guests were our party. we didn't want anyone to have to buy a special dress or suit, given that they were spending so much to be there for us.

--host a private dinner/reception - it was a GREAT party! 

--everything else!  

 

 

Some things I'd do differently (but none of these took away from how special our day was!): 

--4pm ceremony time in November was a little too late; we lost light really fast after the ceremony. I would totally move it back to 3:30 if I had it to do over again

--spring for (or bring) the sheers for the gazebo. My husband was a human shade, because the sun was right in my eyes. I'm sure those squinty pictures will be fabulous.. 

--schedule my hair appointment earlier. we had it at noon for a 2:30 first look, and 4pm ceremony. the rehearsal hair appt only took an hour, so I thought we'd be fine on the day of. day of took 90 minutes, so at 2:25 we were rushing to finish my make up (we had to eat after the hair!!)

--there was no need for cupcakes; the dessert served with our meal was phenomenal! 

 

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. 

 

A couple of the questions I've been asked is about the timing for our photographer. Here's the schedule we laid out for our day: 

11am - shower (hey, I had to schedule or I'd never leave the pool chair!)

Noon - spa/salon for hair 

1pm - order lunch/room service, make up, finish getting ready

2:30pm - first look bride/groom, couples photos

3:30pm - photographer to ceremony site for set up photos

3:40 - guests to ceremony site

3:45pm - groom to ceremony site

3:55pm - bride to ceremony site

4pm - ceremony (BOOM!)

4:30pm - group photo

4:40pm - non-family guests to informal cocktail hour

5pm - family to informal cocktail

5-5:45pm - finish post-ceremony bride/groom photos 

6pm - 10pm - dinner/reception

 

so the hair ran long, and make up was rushed. our first look was about 2:45pm. we did couples photos on the beach for a few minutes after that, and then the cart that came to get me actually took my husband to the ceremony, and we waited for another one from the wedding staff. 

 

the ceremony started a few minutes late - because my husband wasn't able to go back to the groom's room and get his stuff, his friends did. so they were late for the ceremony! 

 

bottom line? there's never enough time. build in twice as much time as you think you need to get ready. 

 

what other questions can I answer while waiting for the eye candy? 

 

 

[AllieH]

so you don't want me to tell you that I wrote my vows the day before the wedding, huh? he wrote his on Saturday I think (but he said he had them thought out in his head already). yup, last minute!! 

 

you will be FINE. enjoy every second of it Shan!! 

Originally Posted by shan0487 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!  I am doing everything the same as you- so you are re-comfirming everything will be okay for me next week!

 

My ceremony is at 4, but we are doing a first look- so hopefully we'll be okay! Fingers crossed!! We do have a bridal party- but I couldn't imagine not having one!!

 

And we are not writing our own vows- ran out of time! Oh well, lol.  I hope we've scheduled enough time on the big day!

 

We leave Monday and I haven't starting packing yet- I'm kind of freaking out, lol

 

 

[AllieH]

Here's the ceremony that I wrote, using a number of sources. It's very much about the reality of marriage - hard work, choosing to be together, etc. 

 

 

Allison & Steve Wedding Ceremony:

 

SONG: iPod playlist “Ceremony Seating”

 

Guests seated

Minister takes place at altar

Groom escorts his mother & sister down the aisle

Groom stands at altar with minister

Mother of the bride escorted to her seat by brother of the bride

MOB & BOB stay standing, and minister indicates all guests should stand

 

SONG: iPod playlist “Bride walk”

 

Bride entrance, escorted by father

 

FOB shakes grooms hand, kisses bride on cheek, places Bride’s hand in groom’s (no formal presentation of bride)

 

FOB is seated.

 

MOB straightens bride’s train, takes bouquet.

 

Bride & Groom face each other and join hands

 

Greeting (Minister):

Welcome everyone.  On behalf of Allison and Steve, we thank you all for gathering here on this beautiful afternoon in Mexico to witness and celebrate their union in marriage. That so many family and friends have traveled great distances to be here today is a testament to the love and support they have.

 

You all have given them much happiness, love, warmth, and guidance through the various stages of their lives. They would like to sincerely thank you all for being here to share in their big day.

 

Ceremony (Minister):

 

Steve, and Allison, your family and friends have gathered here to celebrate the love you have found in each other and support your decision to commit yourselves to one another for the rest of your lives.

 

Your marriage is a union between the two of you and therefore is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly. Our ceremony today is based on the relationship that you, Allison and Steve, share and have built with each other. It is indeed, a joyous occasion when two souls are united in love; when two hearts experience the same feelings and two persons act as one in this most beautiful union. We affirm this love you have for each other.

 

 

You have known each other from the first connections of acquaintance to this point of commitment. Along the way, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes, to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making commitments in an informal way.

 

All of those conversations about what you each hoped to find in a partner, what you looked forward to enjoying in life, the laughter shared at a baseball game or over a meal - all of these every day moments, and more, are the real process of a marriage.

 

The vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things that we’ve promised, and hoped, and dreamed – well, I meant it all, every word.”

 

Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another – acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, cheerleader, even teacher, for you have learned much from one another these past years. Shortly you shall solidify the promises you make to one another by speaking them in front of your friends and family. After today you shall say to the world – This is my husband. This is my wife.

 

Note to Minister: Ask Leslie to come forward, hand microphone to Leslie

 

Reading (Leslie):

Marriage means that you have both decided to live the rest of your lives together as husband and wife, promising to face the future together, accepting whatever may lie ahead. Soon you will be declared man and wife, but you will have to decide each day that stretches out before you, that you truly want to be married.

 

Love makes the burdens lighter, because you divide them. It makes joys more intense because you share them. It makes you stronger so you can reach out and become involved in life in ways you dared not risk alone.

 

True marriage begins well before the wedding day, and the efforts of marriage continue well beyond the ceremony's end. A brief moment in time and the stroke of the pen are all that is required to create the legal bond of marriage, but it takes a lifetime of love, commitment, and compromise to make marriage durable and everlasting. Today you declare your commitment to each other before family and friends, your yesterdays were the path to this moment, and your journey to a future of togetherness becomes a little clearer with each new day.

 

 

Personal Vows: (note to Minister: hand notecards to Allison & Steve):

 

Allison’s Vows

Steve’s Vows

 

 

Marriage Vows (Minister)

(note to Minister: echo style, with bride and groom repeating each line)

 

Allison, repeat after me:

I, Allison, take you Steve

(echo)

to be my husband and my partner in life

(echo)

to have and to hold from this day forward

(echo)

for better or for worse

(echo)

for richer or for poorer

(echo)

in sickness and in health

(echo)

and through whatever challenges we may face

(echo)

for as long as we both shall live.

 

Steve, repeat after me:

I, Steve, take you Allison

(echo)

to be my wife and my partner in life

(echo)

to have and to hold from this day forward

(echo)

for better or for worse

(echo)

for richer or for poorer

(echo)

in sickness and in health

(echo)

and through whatever challenges we may face

(echo)

for as long as we both shall live.

 

Affirmation of Support (Minister):

To family and friends here with us today:

You have all heard these vows and promises. Will you do your best to honor, encourage, and support this marriage? If so, please say “We will”.

 

Guests echo “We Will”

 

(Minister continues)

Allison and Steve, you have pledged your devotion to each other. From this point on you do not stay together simply because you love; you choose to love because you have made the commitment to be together. What has been joined, let noone separate.

 

 

Exchange of Rings (Minister):

 

Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight. May these rings remind you always of the vows you have taken here today.

 

Steve, place the ring on Allison’s finger, and repeat after me:

“I give you this ring as a symbol as a visible and constant symbol of my love and faithfulness to you, for as long as I live.”

 

 

Allison, place the ring on Steve’s finger, and repeat after me:

“I give you this ring as a symbol as a visible and constant symbol of my love and faithfulness to you, for as long as I live.”

 

 

Closing (Minister):

Allison and Steve, remember to treat both yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty or fear assail your relationship – as they threatened all relationships at one time or another – remember to focus on what is right between you. In this way, you can ride out the times when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives – remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there.

 

And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your lives together, your life together will be marked by abundance and delight.

Give to one another new experiences of joy. Challenge one another so that you may grow. May the love you hold for each other, now sealed in marriage, continue to mature with the passing years. May you never take each other for granted, but always experience the wonder of your union.

 

May the love you now share continue to grow, and may the happiness you bring to each other be a continuing part of your life together.

 

Before we finish our ceremony, the bride and groom request that guests remain in the gazebo area for a group photo immediately following the ceremony.

 

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

 

Steve, you may kiss your bride.

(kiss!)

 

Minister: It’s my pleasure to introduce to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Moore.

 

SONG: iPod playlist: Recessional

 

[AllieH]

My photographer ROCKS!! 

 

Here's a link to her blog post/preview: 

http://www.lotusblossomphotography.net/2012/11/allison-and-steve-el-dorado-resort-mexico-wedding/

 

And a link to the slideshow: 

http://www.lotusblossomphotography.com/index.html#/slideshows-allisonsteve/

 

And here are a few of my favorites: 

For JayKay - Proof that the blue starfish was in the bouquet at some point!! 

 

 

My favorite getting ready photo: 

 

 

First look - yup, I teared up big time. 

 

 

Our ceremony & guests (Gazebo 55, EDR)

 

 

A favorite

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table settings: 

 

 

 

[kard613]

So many great pics, thanks for all the great ideas too and congrat!

[AllieH]

thank you!!!! 

Originally Posted by kard613 

So many great pics, thanks for all the great ideas too and congrat!

 

 

[AllieH]

I haven't said too much about our music, so here goes: 

 

We used our iPod for the ceremony. 

Guest Seating: We used Iz's combination of Somewhere over the rainbow/What a wonderful world

Groom Walk: they didn't tell me I could have a separate song for him, so he walked to the guest seating songs! 

Bride Walk: Just the Way You Are, Silverlake String Quartet 

Recessional: Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder

 

My MIL hired DJ All Music for our dinner/reception. They gave us a spreadsheet to list all the songs for dances, introduction, party starters, etc. They stuck to our list, and everyone had a fantastic time. 

 

Intro: All You Need is Love, The Beatles

 

Dinner: 

 

Harry Connick Jr, It Had to Be You

Jimmy Buffett, Pencil Thin Mustache

Madonna, La Isla Bonita

Maroon 5, She Will Be Loved

Journey, Open Arms

Otis Reding, Sittin on the Dock of the Bay

 

Bliss - John Legend & Teyana Taylor

The Ingredients of Love - Musiq Soulchild

A Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins

Hang On to Your Love - Sade

Summer Time - Ella Fitgerald

Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley

Only if for a Night - Floreance and the Machine

Feeling Good - Nina Simone

Paradise - Coldplay

Islands in the Dream - Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton

Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to have fun

 

They played a whole lot more, but I specifically remember hearing these. Dinner was about an hour.  We cut the cupcake after the main entree, so before their desserts were served. 

 

Cake cutting song: Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard

 

First dance: I won't give up on us, Jason Mraz

 

Father/daughter dance: I had the DJ announce that it wasn't a traditional father/daughter song, but it was the song I remember listening to with my dad as a little girl. This really made everyone mushy over a totally inappropriate (but personal) song choice!! The song was Luckenbach, Texas by Waylon Jennings

 

Mother/son dance: Just the Way You Are, Billy Joel

 

Dancing songs (Now that I think about it, several of the slower songs were moved back to dinner - like Piano Man, Cross my Heart, and some of the others): 

Party Starters: I'm Comin Out, Pink & Let's Get It Started, BEP

 

Our last song was Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer - one of my all time favorites. 

The rat of the dancing was a variety of these below: 

 

You Shook Me All Night Long  - AC/DC

Brick House - The Commodores

Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

1999 - Prince

Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners

Copacabana - Barry Manilow

Dancing Queen - Abba

Everybody Have Fun Tonight _ Wang Chung

Funky Cold Medina - Tone Loc

Get Down Tonight - KC & The Sunshine Band

Getting' Jiggy With it - Will Smith

Grease Megamix - Soundtrack

Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

The Twist - Chubby Checker

Love Shack - The B-52's

New York, new York - Frank Sinatra

Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner

Shout - Isley Brothers

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynard Skynard

We Are Family - Sister Sledge

YMC - The Village People

Wild Thing - Tone Loc

The Time (Dirty Bit) Black Eyed Peas

Firework - Katy Perry

Raise Your Glass - Pink

Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

Sir Mix a Lot - Baby Got Back

George Strait - I Cross My Heart

Billy Joel - Piano Man

Edwin McCain - I'll Be

Rihanna - Don't Stop the Music

Rihanna - Umbrella

 

Bob Marly - One Love

Jayz & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Warning)

Elton John - Your Song

Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun

Kool & the Gang - Celebration

 

Rihanna	Pon De replay
Ellie Goulding	Lights
Justin Timberlake	Headsprung
Jay Z	Run This town
M.I.A/Diplo	Cutty Ranks
Madonna & Party Rock	Give me All your Luvin
Nelly Furtado	Big Hoops
Nicki Minaj	Pound the Alarm
No Doubt	Push and Shove
Sean Paul	Got 2 Luv U
Sean Paul	How Deep is your Love
Smokey Robinson	I second that Emtion
Diggy	Do it like you
Kid Cudi (steve Aoki Remix)	Pursuit of happiness
Flo Rida	Jump
Jimmy Buffet	Margaritaville
U2	beautiful day
Michael Jackson	PYT

 

So we had a ton of songs, and we didn't hear all of them, but it doesn't matter - the ones they picked were really great. I had lost my voice by the end of the night from singing and dancing!! 

 

I have spreadsheets of these if anyone wants them to help with your planning. it had spots for bridal party intro, garter toss, bouquet toss, etc. which are all things we didn't do/have. 

 

[ChocoTaco7568]

I think I might steal your recessional song....I love Stevie. Thanks for sharing, lots of good songs to use!

[mrsnova]

 

 

Table settings: 

 

I love your table setting! I am going to do something similar with the sand/candle and starfish:) Good to see it all put together nicely!

 

 

 

[Feb2013]

Do you have the Spreadsheet of what you filled out??? I am so overwhelmed with trying to figure out the song list for everything. I know it should not matter but every time I sit down to focus on picking out songs my mind goes into panic mode thinking I can't come up with a good variety. Why I don't know I have always done very well in the past with house parties putting together a music flow.  

 

I was just listening to the Jason Mraz song that you had for your first dance and put that on the list of potential songs. I was also looking at Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat Lucky since it talks about Best Friends and in my FI proposal in his nervousness said the line "Your my best friend" three different times. So Best Friends has held a special place in our hearts. 

 

Thanks for all your feedback it has been super helpful and has help eased my fears of what to do tremendously! Our budget has gone up a little b/c one of the couples that originally said they were coming and were the first to put their deposit down have now backed out. Which lost us some pretty good incentives that we thought we had. I know that I should not be upset but this is the same person (a friend of my FI from college) that promises him that she will be there and that he is one of her best friends and then always backs out on him and lets him down. So I am more upset that I know he is hurt by her actions and her excuses. So I am doing everything in my power to still have all the things we wanted for our wedding along with fitting in the budget! 

 

 

Originally Posted by AllieH 

I haven't said too much about our music, so here goes: 

 

We used our iPod for the ceremony. 

Guest Seating: We used Iz's combination of Somewhere over the rainbow/What a wonderful world

Groom Walk: they didn't tell me I could have a separate song for him, so he walked to the guest seating songs! 

Bride Walk: Just the Way You Are, Silverlake String Quartet 

Recessional: Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder

 

My MIL hired DJ All Music for our dinner/reception. They gave us a spreadsheet to list all the songs for dances, introduction, party starters, etc. They stuck to our list, and everyone had a fantastic time. 

 

Intro: All You Need is Love, The Beatles

 

Dinner: 

 

Harry Connick Jr, It Had to Be You

Jimmy Buffett, Pencil Thin Mustache

Madonna, La Isla Bonita

Maroon 5, She Will Be Loved

Journey, Open Arms

Otis Reding, Sittin on the Dock of the Bay

 

Bliss - John Legend & Teyana Taylor

The Ingredients of Love - Musiq Soulchild

A Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins

Hang On to Your Love - Sade

Summer Time - Ella Fitgerald

Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley

Only if for a Night - Floreance and the Machine

Feeling Good - Nina Simone

Paradise - Coldplay

Islands in the Dream - Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton

Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to have fun

 

They played a whole lot more, but I specifically remember hearing these. Dinner was about an hour.  We cut the cupcake after the main entree, so before their desserts were served. 

 

Cake cutting song: Pour Some Sugar on Me - Def Leppard

 

First dance: I won't give up on us, Jason Mraz

 

Father/daughter dance: I had the DJ announce that it wasn't a traditional father/daughter song, but it was the song I remember listening to with my dad as a little girl. This really made everyone mushy over a totally inappropriate (but personal) song choice!! The song was Luckenbach, Texas by Waylon Jennings

 

Mother/son dance: Just the Way You Are, Billy Joel

 

Dancing songs (Now that I think about it, several of the slower songs were moved back to dinner - like Piano Man, Cross my Heart, and some of the others): 

Party Starters: I'm Comin Out, Pink & Let's Get It Started, BEP

 

Our last song was Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer - one of my all time favorites. 

The rat of the dancing was a variety of these below: 

 

You Shook Me All Night Long  - AC/DC

Brick House - The Commodores

Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

1999 - Prince

Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners

Copacabana - Barry Manilow

Dancing Queen - Abba

Everybody Have Fun Tonight _ Wang Chung

Funky Cold Medina - Tone Loc

Get Down Tonight - KC & The Sunshine Band

Getting' Jiggy With it - Will Smith

Grease Megamix - Soundtrack

Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

The Twist - Chubby Checker

Love Shack - The B-52's

New York, new York - Frank Sinatra

Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner

Shout - Isley Brothers

Sweet Home Alabama - Lynard Skynard

We Are Family - Sister Sledge

YMC - The Village People

Wild Thing - Tone Loc

The Time (Dirty Bit) Black Eyed Peas

Firework - Katy Perry

Raise Your Glass - Pink

Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

Sir Mix a Lot - Baby Got Back

George Strait - I Cross My Heart

Billy Joel - Piano Man

Edwin McCain - I'll Be

Rihanna - Don't Stop the Music

Rihanna - Umbrella

 

Bob Marly - One Love

Jayz & Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Warning)

Elton John - Your Song

Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun

Kool & the Gang - Celebration

 

Rihanna	Pon De replay
Ellie Goulding	Lights
Justin Timberlake	Headsprung
Jay Z	Run This town
M.I.A/Diplo	Cutty Ranks
Madonna & Party Rock	Give me All your Luvin
Nelly Furtado	Big Hoops
Nicki Minaj	Pound the Alarm
No Doubt	Push and Shove
Sean Paul	Got 2 Luv U
Sean Paul	How Deep is your Love
Smokey Robinson	I second that Emtion
Diggy	Do it like you
Kid Cudi (steve Aoki Remix)	Pursuit of happiness
Flo Rida	Jump
Jimmy Buffet	Margaritaville
U2	beautiful day
Michael Jackson	PYT

 

So we had a ton of songs, and we didn't hear all of them, but it doesn't matter - the ones they picked were really great. I had lost my voice by the end of the night from singing and dancing!! 

 

I have spreadsheets of these if anyone wants them to help with your planning. it had spots for bridal party intro, garter toss, bouquet toss, etc. which are all things we didn't do/have.