Shelley

Thanks Christa! I'm sure your steps saved me a whole lot of time! I have figured it all out with plain paper now - good suggestion to not start with cardstock by the way. I would've ended up wasting a lot of nice paper b/c it took me several times to get the sizing just right. Now I just have to go purchase the nice paper and I'll be set. Thanks again - you guys are all beyond great!

Thanks Sarah, it does help - Both with the dress code and reassuring me i don't have to do anything beyond this!

Alright yet ANOTHER question (I never seem to run out) does anyone know anything about the dress codes in the Riu's restaurants? Online I've only found long pants for men, but I know other resorts require closed toe shoes for example Alright, after this I'll try to cut back on the questions

Thanks Sarah, I just did the same. I never thought of doing it in the welcome letter. That's a great idea though b/c in the event the WC doesn't respond to me any time soon I can just send out the invites without the info on the welcome dinner and leave that for when we're down there. Are you doing anything special at the welcome dinner - like anything beyond making the reservation? I have absolutely no idea what, I'm just wondering if I should be doing anything other than planning a meal together. I'm still up in the air on OOT bags (the costs keep going up) but if I do then the welcome dinner would probably be a good time to give them to everyone. I was thinking of doing it the night of our first whole day at the resort - what about you?

Thanks everyone! I've e-mailed my WC to see what options she can give me, so now I just have to wait patiently to hear back... I just like the idea of guests getting a chance to get acquainted b/c there's people coming from across Canada now. I was a little worried of taking people's time when it is their holiday too, but I think the suggestion that if someone doesn't want to come they don't have to is bang on!

I like Option 4 - great work by the way! Your invitation day was clearly more productive than mine! What font did you use?

I bought my envelopes (both the outer one and the RSVP one) from Cards & Pockets just so I knew they'd fit and I wouldn't have to worry about it. I got the outer envelope in metallic white and I'm quite happy with it. The RSVP envelope doesn't come in metallic, but it's simple and fits perfectly so I'm happy. They were really cheap too. Any suggestions for getting the RSVP insert to fit into the RSVP envelope? Or am I good if I use your template?

I'm just putting together my invites so the thought of a welcome dinner is on my mind. Are you guys doing one? I think it's a great idea, but I have no idea as to how to go about planning one. Are you having it on the day you arrive or the first full day? We still haven't gotten our flight plans so I'm not even sure when we'll be arriving. Also, I assume I have to make a reservation - it'll be for about a dozen or so people - but I have NO idea how to go about doing this. Okay, so finally, are you doing anything special for the welcome dinner? Just trying to figure out what I'd have to prepare. Sorry for all the questions everyone and thanks for any insight and assistance you may be able to provide!

Hey, are any of you guys planning a welcome dinner at your Riu resort? I'm just trying to figure out if I need to make a reservation (there'll be about 12 of us) and if so how on earth I go about doing that from here. I'm just putting together my invites and want to include something about a welcome dinner b/c i think it's a nice touch, but I have no idea how to go about planning one.

Sarah those look amazing! I just bought the pocketfolders and the envelopes from cardsandpockets and I plan on using cardstock from my local scrapbooking store. I thought it would save some $, we'll see. Anyways, I love the band and the initial idea you used for the outside of the invite - how did you do that and how is it held together? What did you use for the S? Oh so many questions...

Christa - thank you so much for the templates! Your invitation was actually the one I initially saw on here that made me order from them - so I'm psyched to get to use your templates for my own invites. You're the greatest!

Wow Heidi! That was impressive! What program did you use to make that? I never cease to be amazed by the creations of you girls! So inspirational!

I love it! But I have a dumb question - how on earth do you go about making one? I'd love to incorporate a logo like yours but have no idea where to start! You did a fantastic job! Very impressive - and I agree, very Martha Stewartish. Congrats!

Hi everyone, I know I've seen at least a couple of you post your completed invitations from Cards & Pockets. I've just got mine in the mail and am very impressed and cannot wait to get started on them! Anyways, I remember back when I ordered them others said they had templates but now I can't remember what thread that was in so I thought I'd just throw this out there. I ordered the Signature pocket folders (fiance was very impressed he got to pick the type of pocketfolder we got). Here is a sample from the website that I love - does anyone have any templates for this? Thanks in advance! And also thanks for whoever it was (sorry, mind is scrambled lately) that suggested this website! Attachment 566

Okay, I'm deciding not to worry about the contract. We have the confirmation so I think that's enough. Jen, I agree that it probably makes more sense to sign after you've decided on all the extras which doesn't happen until you're down there. As for the blood test, we're doing a legal ceremony and we've been told that the resort has it's own doctor that they just send up to your own room for him to take you and your FI's blood. I've talked to a girl who got married there and she said the whole thing worked smoothly and the dr. was great

Really? I hadn't heard that. My wedding is less than 6 months away and I haven't received a contract. Hmmm... Should I be concerned? I know what you mean about feeling like you're harassing them though! It's just hard b/c I find that I want a lot of reassurances since I can't go there in person to talk to anyone.

Hi everyone, We've been trying to figure out which photograph to go with, and I've noticed that the Riu does have their own on-site photographer with reasonable prices. However, I have been warned that the quality may not be too great with on-site photographers. Unfortunately, everywhere else I've looked is out of our price range! Does anyone know anything at all about the quality of the photographer's work at the Riu Palace Riviera Maya

Oh now I found it! Sorry, I was having problems there... They ship out of Vancouver too! That's great! Thank you so much for the help - much appreciated!

Oh I absolutely love those Dee!!! But Mishi you are so right, I know that's EXACTLY what I'm going to hear when I show my FI. He is far too concerned with the logistics of this whole thing... I figure let's worry about how we'll get it down there the night before when we're packing! I guess maybe we need them to keep us in check...

Oh I love those salt and pepper shakers! They are so cute! As for the cookies, I think if I made a batch of cookies right now I'd end up eating them all and then I wouldn't fit into my dress... But that is a really great idea! I like the personal element. We are still trying to figure out what we're going to do, but last weekend we went up to Michaels (big craft store) and got some stuff that we're going to try to use to make our own favors. We got a little heart shaped jar with a cork in it. We're going to paint our names and the wedding date on the front, and then fill it with different colors of sand, then put these little starfish, pretty shells, glass that matches our wedding colors, etc in it. We'll see how it turns out...

Does anyone know of any online stores with personalized matchbooks that are either in Canada or will ship to Canada without charging an arm and a leg? And I too have spent a whole lot of time on sites just to find out that they don't ship to Canada

Jolene - you're so not alone there!!! I too received my confirmation regarding the judge in just less than a couple weeks after getting my reference number. I was told that after that was all done I'd hear from my WC. I didn't hear anything for several weeks so I sent an e-mail asking who my WC will be so that I can start sending her our ideas. I got a pretty quick response saying the WC usually doesn't contact you until a couple months before your wedding date. I've come to accept that once I accept that Riu runs on their own schedule and I actually don't have to work everything out that far ahead of time I will be a lot better off. I've relaxed now and just tell myself that "it'll all work out."

Hi all, I haven't been back here in a while b/c I've been crazy busy with a trial. Anyways, Dee, it turns out that it's really just my one sister whose causing problems. I too have adopted the dgas motto and am moving on. I really believe that this day is for us (the ones getting married) and anyone that wants to try to drag any of us down b/c of their own issues isn't worth getting upset about. I haven't spoken to my sister in a while, but when I do it's going to be really simple - Don't Come. Simple as that. I've been involved in enough weddings to know that you cannot possibly please everyone so I figure I'm doing my wedding the way I want. I agree too, if they're not footing the bill who are they to tell us how to do things? Dee, I'm sorry you have such a nasty FMIL! For the record, my FMIL is just as difficult, however due to a big spat between her and my FI a couple years ago it's no longer an issue. I don't think I'll ever understand why folk such as your FMIL insist on butting in and pushing their child and future daughter in law away. I think you just have to see it for what it is - her loss!

Thanks for all the great support guys! I knew I could count on you to make me feel better It helps to know that I'm not alone in experiencing this from family.

Alright, I just need to rant a little bit and am thinking that if anyone can relate it would be someone here! So my fiance and I decided from the get go that we both wanted a destination wedding. When we decided on Mexico we honestly thought it would be just the two of us going. Then my family started saying they were coming too and wanting info on our resort, pricing, etc. I said in every group e-mail that we did not want anyone to feel pressured, we understood that this was a lot of money and so we'd understand if people can't come. (we never actually even sent out invites b/c we wanted to exert no pressure). Anyways, last night I "had it out" with my sister b/c she's been let's just say a little difficult in everything. I heard that she'd been complaining about my wedding and that I asked her to be a bridesmaid (even though I'm paying for the dresses) so I called her up to see what was up. She just basically told me that my entire family is angry and resentful that I picked something so expensive and that everyone has said that I should get married here b/c I'm asking too much of everyone and it's just way too much to expect everyone to go to Mexico. I said but I never expected anyone to come and I never put pressure on you and that an at home wedding was not what either of us wanted and isn't it our wedding? She just said I'm being totally selfish that no one is excited about a holiday and all I've done is stressed everyone out. As you may imagine, this isn't exactly what a bride wants to hear and I had a minor breakdown. So I called up my mom and my other sister and just said I'll pay everyone's cancellation insurance and just have the two of us go like we had originally planned but they both swore up and down that they do not feel that way whatsoever and that they are excited to go and that my other sister is completely making everything up b/c of her own issues and there's no way they're cancelling. I of course want to believe them. So anyways, after this very long rant, I'm just wondering if others are also experiencing family members getting mad about your decision to have a destination wedding? I honestly see it as our wedding and we should be able to have it wherever we want (it's not like we demanded anyone to come). Is that selfish