Veryvalero's Wedding Planning Thread - Grand Sunset Princess

[beckys98]

Ah! This is the ONE thing I've started having nightmares about. For us, everyone is arriving and leaving on different days, and the majority are only staying 4 nights, some only 2-3 nights. So I KNOW there are some people we'll hardly spend any time with and the trip is going to go by SO fast. And I worry I won't even spend any time with my fiance if we aren't careful!

 

Our wedding is on a Thursday and Friday is the ONLY day every one is there, so I'm informally promoting the idea that everyone meeting at the pool bar in the late morning and hoping we all hang out together all day. My sister got married in Mexico and did this the day after her wedding and it was SO FUN to have everyone all in one spot all day. The best part of the trip.

 

I was just talking to a friend over the weekend about this and telling him that I'm already stressing out about spending time with everyone. He said that when he traveled back home to Guatemala he had this long list of people he wanted to see. He said for some he only had about 15 minutes, but he made sure to have a one on one with them and they were super appreciative of it, not matter how long it was. That made me think that maybe we're too hard on ourselves and literally expect the impossible (which is to spend a lot of time with each guest) but people will be happy to get your full attention even if it's for a short period of time. Everyone I've talked to says the same thing, they know it's a very busy week for you and you're trying your best . 

 

@@veryvalentine that turned out really well! Good job

[TinkerSofi]

@ you guys should! haha 

[veryvalentine]

That's a great idea- pool day the day after the wedding.   We have the same issue where people will be arriving on different days as well and some will be staying for different durations. 

 

We are putting together a week program and probably going to include some activities that people can do so that we all do hangout at least once outside of the wedding.  Our wedding is on a Saturday and we were thinking of doing a Tulum day trip for those who are interested. 

 

We were also thinking of doing a pool day either the day before the wedding or day after. 

 

I think that we have to trust in our friends in and family that they will be understanding and that our bridal party will help with making everyone feel part of the group as well.  We have already asked that our bridal party make small talk with our guests if they run into them and just check up on people if they happen to see them.  It's the little things that make a group really gel!

 

@@beckys98

Edited April 1, 2015 by veryvalentine

[TinkerSofi]

That's a great idea- pool day the day after the wedding.   We have the same issue where people will be arriving on different days as well and some will be staying for different durations. 

 

We are putting together a week program and probably going to include some activities that people can do so that we all do hangout at least once outside of the wedding.  Our wedding is on a Saturday and we were thinking of doing a Tulum day trip for those who are interested. 

 

We were also thinking of doing a pool day either the day before the wedding or day after. 

 

I think that we have to trust in our friends in and family that they will be understanding and that our bridal party will help with making everyone feel part of the group as well.  We have already asked that our bridal party make small talk with our guests if they run into them and just check up on people if they happen to see them.  It's the little things that make a group really gel!

 

@@beckys98

that's a great idea! I also like the idea of everyone hanging out together at the pool or beach one day. I know some of our guests are making a huge financial effort to come down, which means they won't be able to do many excursions but this way we all get to catch up and it's free (or rather, already paid for haha) 

 

The fiance and I wanted to plan a half-day boat trip but when I run it by my friends a lot were scared of getting sick so I don't know what's going to happen with that. 

 

I also know Juan should probably plan a day to spend with his mom and sister, whom he hasn't seen in 4 years. I'm excited to see them reunited  

[veryvalentine]

@TinkerSofi  What a reunion!  4 years.  I will be seeing some of my family that I haven't seen in over 7 years.  I'm very excited.  My fiancé hasn't seen some of his family in 15 years so it's going to be quite the reunion. 

You are right, keeping things on the resort is prob the easiest as well.  They have very nice fire shows at night so we could even get a copy of the entertainment schedule and plan to have everyone meet up at night if they are feeling up to it. 

[calgarybride2015]

That's a great idea- pool day the day after the wedding.   We have the same issue where people will be arriving on different days as well and some will be staying for different durations. 

 

We are putting together a week program and probably going to include some activities that people can do so that we all do hangout at least once outside of the wedding.  Our wedding is on a Saturday and we were thinking of doing a Tulum day trip for those who are interested. 

 

We were also thinking of doing a pool day either the day before the wedding or day after. 

 

I think that we have to trust in our friends in and family that they will be understanding and that our bridal party will help with making everyone feel part of the group as well.  We have already asked that our bridal party make small talk with our guests if they run into them and just check up on people if they happen to see them.  It's the little things that make a group really gel!

 

@@beckys98

 

Oh everyone did that naturally, people still talk about how many great people they met and the new friends they made.  My family and friends are very welcoming as are my husband's side.  You will find though people made their own groups, which is also great as they bonded!!     It is a good idea to make up those plans and announce them before you get there because you will forget and get to busy ahhaha!!!   Most of us hung out at the same pool so a large amount we hung out together every day, then the odd ones who preferred the beach filtered in and out. This is totally my guilt and your posts have made me feel better, thank you.

@TinkerSofi  What a reunion!  4 years.  I will be seeing some of my family that I haven't seen in over 7 years.  I'm very excited.  My fiancé hasn't seen some of his family in 15 years so it's going to be quite the reunion. 

You are right, keeping things on the resort is prob the easiest as well.  They have very nice fire shows at night so we could even get a copy of the entertainment schedule and plan to have everyone meet up at night if they are feeling up to it. 

 

That's awesome!   I hadn't seen most of my family is over a year, so it was also a nice big reunion for everyone!

[MrsCtoB]

@@calgarybride2015   I'm sure your guests were totally fine with it!  I have been on the other side of a destination wedding where I was the guest.  I didn't monopolize the bride's time as I knew she was super busy and had a lot of other people to visit with.  The Bride and Groom made dinner reservations with different guests during the week.  They tried to do group dinners with a few couples to visit with as many people as possible.  I'm going to try to do that with our dinners.  Breakfast and lunch are less predictable.  We have room service so I may not bother to leave the room.  lol 

 

We are also staying for 10 days so we will meet with our WC the few days that we arrive early and get all our errands done in those days so when people do arrive we will be more chilled out and prepared.

I can not tell you how much I recommend arriving early!!! I think that is the biggest piece of advice I would pass on to future DW brides. We only arrived the day before our guests and having that one day to confirm everything with the WC and focus just on unpacking etc was perfect!!! I felt relaxed and ready when our guests arrived. I can't imagine that would be the case if I arrived with my guests. 

 

 

Also, we did a chill pool day for the day after the wedding and it was perfect! 

Edited April 2, 2015 by MrsCtoB

[veryvalentine]

Weekend To Do List

 

 

1.  Write out Thank you cards to all guests attending and remind them to pay balance

2.  Print CD labels of our music mix for all guests

3.  Burn CDs for music mix

4.  Get envelops and label them to send out to guests by Monday April 6, 2015

5.  Pick up Wedding dress

6.  Design Flower crown for flower girl.

7.  Pick up more tumblers dollar tree/dollarama

8.  Make Groom make an appointment for Suit. 

9.  Print off Hotel wedding package info and fill out

10.  Finalize dj /music/ entertainment for wedding

 

Oh man, I need to stop here.  It sounds like a lot already.  I would feel so much better if all of this was done this weekend though!

[calgarybride2015]

That is a lot, but it's a long weekend

 

I love reading 'burn CDs'  seems so old school hey?  if only our kids knew we used to make mixed tapes! ha!

 

ps - my friend is attending a wedding next week at your resort!

Edited April 3, 2015 by calgarybride2015

[nadiakat17]

I guess we naturally hung out with most everyone. Now that I think about it everyone ended up at the same pool the day after the wedding without any planning. We also had an impromptu brunch that morning with like 10 of us. I would say the best idea is to have a good balance of planned activities and spontaneity to allow guests to enjoy vacation ( at first I think I was planning too much ) we had an amazing welcome dinner /potluck and a full day catamaran sail ( almost better than the wedding people!) which almost everyone attended. We also had a night out in town with just the "young" people. I did feel torn with hanging out with some groups ( esp dinners... My parents and his parents always wanted us!) and some people liked certain pools or beach . I also didn't realize how much wedding planning would factor in (setting up welcome party, preparing welcome bags, rehearsal stuff, last minute gathering of wedding decorations etc) which took us away.