****tulum Brides 2014****

[sandall7]

HoyaBeth - this is very helpful!  My wedding coordinator recommended Planner 1, but their initial proposal came back way over our budget.  I will have to make adjustments, but wanted to get some quotes from other places.

 

Florist - I also heard about Cherry Blossom and contacted them and will wait to hear back. 

Make up/Hair - my coordinator also recommended The Make Up Pros.  Did you get a trial from them?  I am not planning to go back to Tulum before my wedding. 

DJ Equipment - Thanks!

Videographer - Blue Lens Caribe was also recommened by our coordinator.  I will contact them. 

Furniture Rental - Thanks!  I will check them out. 

 

Are you planning to bring decorations (e.g. mason jars, string lights) to Mexico? 

 

What about welcome bags (one per couple)?  Ideas for items?  Wedding favors?  I am thinking of decorating my own maracas.  Please share.  Thanks!

[HoyaBeth]

HoyaBeth - this is very helpful!  My wedding coordinator recommended Planner 1, but their initial proposal came back way over our budget.  I will have to make adjustments, but wanted to get some quotes from other places.

 

Florist - I also heard about Cherry Blossom and contacted them and will wait to hear back. 

Make up/Hair - my coordinator also recommended The Make Up Pros.  Did you get a trial from them?  I am not planning to go back to Tulum before my wedding. 

DJ Equipment - Thanks!

Videographer - Blue Lens Caribe was also recommened by our coordinator.  I will contact them. 

Furniture Rental - Thanks!  I will check them out. 

 

Are you planning to bring decorations (e.g. mason jars, string lights) to Mexico? 

 

What about welcome bags (one per couple)?  Ideas for items?  Wedding favors?  I am thinking of decorating my own maracas.  Please share.  Thanks!

 

So funny, we're totally on the same page!  No, I'm not getting a trial on hair/makeup, so I am hoping for the best.  

 

I am bringing *some* decorations, but trying to restrain myself a little bit  I'm actually bringing table linens (tablecloths, runners, napkins and napkin holders), some IKEA candle holders (the lacey looking ones - big and small), and considering string lights.  I'm also bringing those white starfish to use for escort cards (they're surprisingly light and strong).  

 

Having a wedding bag debacle at the moment!  In Jan, I ordered a sample on Etsy that I loved, then when I got my final guest count and went to order, the seller is on vacation until "spring".  Not sure when in spring, but I'm hoping she comes back soon, LOL!  I'm also thinking one per couple, since I'm guessing the ladies will be the ones who actually use them.  I was planning on doing most, if not all, of the shopping for the favors and welcome bags when we get down there.  I love the maracas idea, too!  What kind of guest bags are you thinking of doing?  How big will your wedding be?

[dreamweddings]

Hello Sandall7 and HoyaBeth,

 

Thinking of doing the welcome back shopping, walmart has a lot of goodies you could add onto your welcome bags.  such travel size hand sanitizes , sun lotion and after burn.  

 

sounds like your planning is coming alright and enjoy the last month. 

[Vintage Wedd]

Hi @@Ella2015 Thank you! I just sent you the PM! I'm getting married at a private Villa called Rancho Pedro Paila about 5 miles inside of the Reserve... My parents found the Villa a couple years ago through vrbo.com and we've gone back each year... It seemed just like the perfect spot when my Fi and I decided to do a Destination wedding, but we decided to look into other possibilities since the place is a bit far, and there aren't many hotels nearby... We checked Las Ranitas, La Zebra, and Ahau (Which we decided to offer for our guests).

At first we where a bit scared about the difficulties of getting decor, flowers, furniture, audio & lighting there but I'm telling you, Blanca has made it sooo easy... She does a lot of weddings in the area and sent some pics of one she did inside the reserve... Really cool eco-chic style! 

 

 

 

[sdh8]

Hi ladies!  My Tulum wedding is only 3 weeks away!  I'm so ready to be on the beach like...now.

 

@@sandall7, we are using maracas as place settings.  I'm tying a little hangtag to each maraca and writing each guest's name on the hangtag.  We ordered the maracas online from Amol's...I actually found them through old posts on these forums, and they were fantastic.  They were the cheapest non-plastic maracas I could find and their customer service was amazing. They have plain (colored) ones too if you're planning to paint a design on them. 

 

I was originally planning to bring down mason jars...but with 90 maracas already filling up one entire suitcase, I decided against it.  I was also nervous that they would break in transit!  KatyHK, who has posted on this forum about her own Tulum wedding, lives in Playa and has a lots of mason jars and other assorted glass containers that she rents out.  We are going to rent some items from her to cut down on the things we have to bring down.

 

I probably would have done WAY more DIY if I didn't have to think about how to get stuff down to Mexico...I can't decide if that's a blessing or a curse!

 

@@HoyaBeth, I'm a little jealous that you are bringing down your own linens!   I gave up weeks ago on trying to figure out how long the various tables are...I'll just have to be content with plain white tablecloths.

 

@@Ella2015, Angelina is our coordinator.  If you haven't been able to get in touch with her yet, send me a PM and I can send you her email address.

 

Has anyone looked into getting one of those cute wooden welcome signs that you stick in the sand?  There are a couple pictures on here http://www.destinationweddingstulum.com/gallery/set.php?id=72157626925507912&title=Details#.  The quotes we've gotten are a little ridiculous considering what it is...something else I would've DIYed if we had room!!

[sandall7]

@@sdh8 - Where are you getting married?  Hope everything goes smoothly on the day of!  As for Maracas, I was looking at plain mini ones and painting them my wedding color (aquamarine & ivory) along with our initials and wedding date.  I was thinking this can also be a place card.  What are you doing for place cards?  Thanks for letting me know about katyHK and possibly renting mason jars.   

 

I have some general questions for the rest of the brides planning in Tulum.  I am having my wedding at La Zebra, which provides a coordinator.  However, communication has been quite slow lately.  I am wondering if I need to hire an external planner to help with finding vendors or is it not worth it?  The vendors she recommended are very expensive.  This forum has been a lot of help and I have reached out to some vendors on my own.  Can someone tell me approximately how much it would cost to hire an external planner? 

 

I looked into hiring a string quartet or something similar (classical musicians) for the ceremony and was quote $1200 for 45 minutes.  What are some alternatives?  What is everyone else planning to do?

 

Any input will be helpful.  Thanks!

[sdh8]

@@sandall7 - I definitely, definitely do not think hiring an external planner is worth it!!  Communication with my planner was frustratingly slow until about a week ago (only 4 weeks out!!!).  I was starting to get antsy (and I started having wedding related nightmares!), so I ended up using this forum to price out some my own vendors, and frankly many of the ones I contacted on my own were cheaper than the vendors that my planner has recommended.  Plus, having some quotes helped in negotiating some prices down.

 

We're actually using the maracas as our place cards too...I'm just tying a little card to the handle of the maraca.

 

I'm planning to have a guitarist to play for the ceremony--the quote our planner got us for Camilo Nu (he was recommended on some of these boards but I totally haven't listened to any of his stuff) is $350 for 45 minutes.  

 

We are getting married on Piedra Escondida--it's one of the smaller hotels at the beginning of the stretch...across from Mateo's.  

 

Starting to get excited now that most of the planning is coming together!

[bicoastalimages]

@@Ella2015 Seeing venues firsthand here in the Riviera Maya ahead of time to decide is definitely a plus! If you're looking to get married at a non-resort venue wedding planners will be a huge helper to work out many of the details with some of your vendors and oversee the day of coordination.

 

We have worked with lots of fabulous planners and other vendors if you're looking for suggestions! 

 

@@Vintage Wedd We have worked with Blanca and KL Events...she's awesome! Yes she actually is FROM Cancun just like my hubby! Here are a few images from a recent wedding we shot for a bride & groom who also used her to design their big day...

 

 

 

Edited April 13, 2014 by bicoastalimages

[sandall7]

@sdh8, would you mind sharing Camilo Nu's contact details?  Thank you for the helpful info!  Piedra Escondida looks beautiful! 

 

Also, I saw many brides post about Makeup Pros and it looks like Fernando only does makeup.  Does anyone have any recommendations for hair?  I am planning to have a friend do my makeup, but will need a hair stylist.  Thank you!!!

[HoyaBeth]

@sandall7 -- I'm using Makeup Pros and they're also bringing someone to do our hair.  If you get in touch with him, I'm sure he'll be able to give you quotes for both.  Hope that helps!