Doc2B&LosCabosBride2B

Thanks so much you guys.....I can't believe this has finally arrived....all these months of planning and it is here. Surprisingly I"m not nervous....slightly anxious but not nervous....we leave to go to the airport in about five hours. I'm so excited! I'll have to do my review when I return. THanks again ladies!

Hello ladies, I was wondering if you have a legal ceremony in Mexico and you go through the blood work, etc. is there anything you need to do once you get back to the states to have your marriage recognized as being legal? (particularly in New York)? I went through Maye Cortinas to get the judge and set up the blood work, paper work processing etc. Thanks so much. I leave tomorrow for my wedding on Saturday at the Westin and I had this last minute fleeting thought and was like, oh sh*&....I need to figure this out before I leave tomorrow. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

Thanks guys...3 weeks and counting or actually less than that now!

Hey thanks guys. I think we are actually looking at the Riu Palace. Does anyone have any experience at any of the AIs that Tammy listed? thanks

Hi, can anyone recommend any all inclusives in Cabos besides Dreams? My FI and I aren't taking a real honeymoon until about a couple months after we get married but we did want to hang around Cabos for 2 or 3 additional days beyond our wedding date. We didn't want to stay at our hotel where the wedding is as we would have already been there about 5 days prior to the wedding and also it isn't all inclusive. So, we were just looking for an economical, cool all inclusive place in cabos to hang out for about 3 days after we get married. Any suggestions? Thanks

OK, I know this is a fine time to ask this question being as though my RD is in exactly three weeks but, what exactly are you supposed to do at a Rehearsal dinner? My rehearsal dinner is at the resort that Im getting married at and we are having a buffet dinner. We have a Playlist set up so we can just run the ipod all night. What else do you do at a RD besides EAT? I thought about a slide show but I'm actually reserving that until Sat. during the reception as people are walking in. The fire dancers I'm using during my welcome party the night before (Thurs) so, I'm fresh out of ideas...we aren't giving any gifts because we purchased the attire for our bridesmaids and groomsmen. We are only giving gifts to our parents. So, what do exactly do I do at the rehearsal dinner?

Yeah, I know what you mean about getting nervous about guest booking. I was sweating bullets. My save the dates went out in September. I had like 6 people booked by December! The deadline for booking on my invitations that I sent out in Jan. was Feb. 11th. It wasn't until like the 2nd week of Jan. that the bookings started rolling in and even went like a week passed the deadline. I would say if you have a contracted deadline with the resort to make the rsvp/accommodations deadline that you put on your invitations at least a month before. My deadline with the resort was march 5th and my room block was filled probably by like Feb. 15th or so. So, I escaped that one!

Hey you guys, I actually ordered them from a small sporting goods store in my community. They do a lot of tshirt printing, trophy work, etc..... I can give you their information if someone wants it. Just PM me. Thanks

I'm sorry you guys have been having trouble with the Westin..I too suffered with that but I don't think I've been impacted that much by their slowness. Becuase of all the crap I have going on with med school now and residency (match day is this thursday and trying to move, etc. I ended up hiring a wedding coordinator in Chicago to do all of my corresponding with the Westin. Between her and my mom, things have gotten done. She's also coming with me in three weeks so I know that she'll be on top of things making sure the weekend goes smoothly. I also worked with a travel agent in the states to negotiate my group rates, etc....so, between the TA, my mom and my WC at home, they all are fiesty women and when things were slow lets just say they lit a fire into some folks at the Westin. Unfortunately, with some of my other friends who have gotten married in Mexico, they report the same sort of slowness in communication. I don't know if that is a culture thing with respect to how business is done there vs. here in the States, especially chicago and new york (where I'm hoping to do my residency) things are done very quickly and things are fact paced. Anyway, I've noticed that I haven't answered questions: DJ is DJ Joaquin...we are just using him for the reception and using our IPODs for the other events we are having. We're also using the saxaphonist. He is amazing. I heard him play when I went down for a site visit in December...He is amazing....I remember sitting at the bar thinking to myself, there must be a KennyG CD hidden and playing somewhere because I can't believe this guy is playing live...He was that good. WC is Maira Ceremony locale is the beach right in front of the pool deck....decorations are by Del Cabos Designs Cocktail hour is on the pool deck Reception is Arricefes and yes I did have to do the buy out but by the time you have 150 guest and a sit down dinner for them and alcohol you reach that buy out price....but for that amount of people, I still came out cheaper than if I would have done a sit down dinner with liquor in Chicago. Flowers: Mazarte Florals Things are crazy now with the wedding in three weeks but if anyone has any questions please let me know and goodluck gals.... I'll keep you posted with where I match next week for residency.

Hey you guys....so I'm getting married three weeks from this Saturday at the Westin and my ceremony fan proofs came back last week...I'm so excited about them I thought I would share...enjoy! We're getting married on the beach so I thought the fans would be a nice thing to have. I thought about parasols but I didn't want anyone's view to be blocked....I have over 80 guests so a ton of parasols I thought could have gotten way out of hand. Ceremony Fan Draft.pdf

"I love your dresses! There is a store in toronto right near me - mind me asking if they were super pricey?" Hey thanks guys...I'm super excited so many people like the dress.....one of my bridesmaids actually found it for me. It was kind of pricey...I ordered through a bridal store in NYC and they gave me a discount because I was getting more than 4 so it was like $164 plus tax....I didn't ship them so I saved cost there. I went to pick them up when I got them and distributed them myself.

Does anyone know of any good on line websites to look for necklaces for bridesmaids? This is the link to my bridesmaid dress below. I have 6 bridesmaids of them. Yale Strapless Dress - Siri Thank you.

Hey, I was hoping someone could give me suggestions on fun places to go to hang out with my girlfriends in cabos a couple of nights before my wedding? We're all staying at the westin los cabos and I know we probably need to head to cabos san lucas for the night life...any suggestions on a nice dinner spot and hang out places for afterwards? I leave April 1st and most of us are staying the entire week and a couple of days after my wedding on the 5th. thanks a bunch. LaKesha

WHEH!!!!! My room blocked filled and then some....Man, I was sweating major bullets....anyway gals, goodluck with your planning process....my wedding is in 4 weeks and I'll be sure to do a detailed review of everything when I get back......right now I'm just doing detailed crap like seating charts, place cards, menus, welcome bags, blah blah blah. I'm so super excited but also super stressed hoping everything will be executed according to plan! Sorry I've been MIA for a while...I have a licensing exam in three weeks for med school. Feel free to ask me any questions. Happy Planning!

Yes, the Westin only does one wedding per day...often you are the only wedding the entire weekend. That's why I chose it.

Hey Maura, so the website for the decor company we are using is: Del Cabo ~Event Design~ The florist is: Mazarte Floral As far as guests, we are expecting around 75-85 people. I am praying the number doesn't go beyond that...my mom went a little nuts on the courtesy invites and save the dates.....Our RSVPs are rolling in so I should be able to have a more accurate count in about 3 weeks. On my invites I put the RSVP and room booking deadline 3 weeks before the deadline I have in my contract just to give me a little wiggle room so I would suggest doing that as well. As far as other vendors, they are from Chicago......oh my gosh wait, so are you: Let's see, my save the dates and invitations came from a lady named Kim. Her company is Kustom Kreations......website isn't that great but her work is phenomenol....I went to her with my own ideas and together we perfected them and she brought them to life. Kustom Kreations - Custom Designed Invitations My photographer is Robin Sloan...she has a destination wedding package...... www.riverbendphotostudio.com She's coming along with her best friend whom is a professional photographer out of Michigan so I'm having two...they team up to do destination weddings. This is fun, I'm so excited that there are other westin brides on here....now we can compare notes and make sure each other isn't getting screwed. However, my over all impression is that they go out of their way to make your day just the way you want it and make sure everything goes smoothly. I think that personal touch is why I chose them. I wanted to stay away from places that do weddings all the time and have multiple brides in one day. Plus the architecture is bananas.

Fowers I'm using Mazartes Florists...she is pricy but her work is great...you can cut down costs based on the types of flowers you choose. For example, orchids are crazy expensive. We have a room block too and went through the same thing you are going through. Now, I'm just sweating bullets hoping the block fills. Photographer I chose to bring from home because she does awesome work and I know her personally plus I wanted to chronicle the entire weekend of events and not just the wedding ceremony and reception. Decor is with Del Cabo Designs....they have a website. That spanish speaking trait is a good touch....my wedding planner is from puerto rico so when we were there in Dec. for the site visit, she was shakin' and bakin' with getting things done for us and making sure we didn't get taken advantage of.......that is one major recommendation I would give to anyone planning in Cabos is to have someone on your side who speaks spanish. How many guests are you having?

Hi, I'm thinking of having my rehearsal dinner at Edith's in Cabo San Lucas. I ate there this past December during my site visit and it was phenomenal and a great atmosphere. Does anyone have any experience with them and group dinners? By the way, if anyone goes, I recomend the sea bass.

That audiovidual quote isn't bad....are you guys finding things cheaper with outside vendors? We're doing some logo projections during the reception as well and some uplighting. Are the outside vendors you're finding capable of something like this? So far the only outside vendors I have is the florists, photographer, decor for ceremony and reception and we're doing our rehearsal dinner off site. Ceremony is on the beach and reception is in Arricifes. We're doing a welcome reception on the beach as well.....using La Playa and the beach area right in front of it. Do any of you have room blocks with the Westin as well? What other outside vendors is everyone else using? Thanks

Crap, I forgot the real reason I submitted a post: The sound system.....I am using the sound system their audiovisual department provides and yes there is a fee. I'm in the process of negotiating but I'm using a basic package......speakers, wireless mic, CD player for the ceremony and then we're having a welcome reception and we're just renting speakers to hook up to our IPOD docking station.

Mauraw, did you bitch via e-mail or via phone call.....I'm getting married at the Westin as well in April....time is drawing near, stress is pilling up, etc..... So far my planning process with them has been really great....I am bringing my own photographer but I'm using thier DJ and videographer person......I am using an outside vendor for flowers and for decor as well so they are pretty flexible....The thing I love about them is that you are allowed to be as unique as you want and are allowed to do as much as you want and they work with you to make it happen because you are the only wedding that day and most of the time that entire weekend. The down side is the expense of everything because it isn't all inclusive but it's a trade off. You girls can PM me as well and we can trade notes, etc about the Westin. I can't believe I have less than three months!!!!!! Oh and in that time frame I'm supposed to take Step 2 for my medical license and I find out in March if I match in a residency program.....It's like the rest of my life literally unfolds in two months.....I'm bananas right now!

I agree with everyone too....it's your special day...do what makes you happy. I'm having my aunt as my matron of honor and my best friend as my maid of honor and my fiancee has two best men so it works out.

I soooo know what you mean Brandoo...I have a travel agent and a local wedding planner to help with everything and to interface with the on site coordinator.....It has helped out more than I ever imagined....I'd hire them both again in a heart beat....I agree, let someone else stress out for you with the wedding....you have enough stresses in med school. Sometimes I have to take a step back and re-evaluate myself becasue I find that I allow my stress to exude itself as bitchiness or lack of patience and I'm sooo not like that. But after working like 14-16 hour days (that's not even an on call day) on top of flying every week to an interview, studying for boards and rotation exams, dealing with family drama & illnesses and then wedding planning on top of that, I would go bananas if I didn't have tons of help........but the most hilarious part of it all is that I VOLUNTEERED FOR THIS! I crack myself up when I think of it that way.

Hey Michelle...congrats, I'm so glad that everything is coming together for you with your date and all. I too am a medical student and just wanted to say hello and to let you know that if you have any questions to feel free to PM me. I don't get on the site much but I try to check it at least once or twice a week. I'm a fourth year student and I'm getting married in April 5th 2008 in Los Cabos.....I'm kind of crazy right now with residency interviews, step 2CK, rotations, praying the match lands me where my future hubby is, etc....! The best advise I can give you if you can afford it is to get a wedding planner and/or travel agent that is local who helps you to interface with the coordinator at the resort......a lot of people may say this is a waste of money but you know what our schedules are like as medical students...especially as a 4th year during interview season. That was the best money I have ever spent. All I do is tell my planner my vision and what I'm going for and she coordinates everything with the resort, does all the negotiations, waits for people to get back to her so I don't have to stress about how long its taking for someone to get back to me...She sets up phone conferences between vendors, myself and the on site coordinator/planner...she basically makes my life a whole lot easier with what I've got going on. We talk at least once a week either via telephone or in person and during the rest of the week we are e-mailing back and forth on a daily basis. It works better for me because in the beginning of my planning stages, waiting to hear back from the on site planner and Cabos vendors, was driving me nuts and not to mention I had no time for it......when I got engaged I was on my surgical Sub-I so you can imagine. I honestly don't know how I could have done it without her (my local planer) and of course without e-mail! Let me know if you have any questions. Goodluck with everything and with medical school,etc.! LaKesha

Hey Michelle...congrats, I'm so glad that everything is coming together for you with your date and all. I too am a medical student and just wanted to say hello and to let you know that if you have any questions to feel free to PM me. I don't get on the site much but I try to check it at least once or twice a week. I'm a fourth year student and I'm getting married in April 5th 2008 in Los Cabos.....I'm kind of crazy right now with residency interviews, step 2CK, rotations, praying the match lands me where my future hubby is, etc....! The best advise I can give you if you can afford it is to get a wedding planner and/or travel agent that is local who helps you to interface with the coordinator at the resort......a lot of people may say this is a waste of money but you know what our schedules are like as medical students...especially as a 4th year during interview season. That was the best money I have ever spent. All I do is tell my planner my vision and what I'm going for and she coordinates everything with the resort, does all the negotiations, waits for people to get back to her so I don't have to stress about how long its taking for someone to get back to me...She sets up phone conferences between vendors, myself and the on site coordinator/planner...she basically makes my life a whole lot easier with what I've got going on. We talk at least once a week either via telephone or in person and during the rest of the week we are e-mailing back and forth on a daily basis. It works better for me because in the beginning of my planning stages, waiting to hear back from the on site planner and Cabos vendors, was driving me nuts and not to mention I had no time for it......when I got engaged I was on my surgical Sub-I so you can imagine. I honestly don't know how I could have done it without her (my local planer) and of course without e-mail! Let me know if you have any questions. Goodluck with everything and with medical school,etc.! LaKesha