maggiemaylou

This is the best to-do list ever! Thank you so much!

Update on my situation with Monica: She tried to send me an "updated" contract for me to sign today. The timing is unbelievable. She also included the following in her email: "The Mexican Government has implemented a new policy for foreigners working here in Mexico. If your photographer is not a Mexican Citizen, and she's receiving payment for her services, she must have a Mexican Government permission to work in this Country. If they are professional photographers (With professional equipment, lenses, tripod's etc) Karisma is charging a 500 usd fee to allow these services at the Hotel. Please let me know the name of your photographer. In case you are brining someone from Canada /US, if your photographer is a Mexican Citizen, we will request for him / her to show the Hotel their working documents is called “RFC†(in order to declare taxes) I apologize for the inconveniences this may cause you, unfortunately this are new Hotel & Mexican Government policies, the hotel has been sanctioned for permitting professional foreigner photographers working at the Hotel, with no working permission from the Government." Stange thing is, I have never told her that I am bringing a photographer. She just sent me this email out of the blue. Part of me wants to just pay the $500 and put it behind me. But part of me is really mad about this because I know this money does not go toward "taxes" and my photographer is a Mexican citizen. Therefore, I firmly believe that I should not have to pay the $500 fee (a.k.a. extra revenue) to Lomas - who claim it is Karisma requiring this fee. Sorry - I am ranting.

I am not sure what we are going to do at this point. My next step is to ask Monica for our details spreadsheet (which at this point doesn't have much on it). However, from the beginning I told Monica that I wanted to use our "free" dinner at El Cocotal on the Thurs before our wedding, and this week she asked if we would be using our free dinner. She has done little things like this to "irk" me, but I do understand that she is in charge of a lot of weddings and many details. So I have decided to include all of my confirmed details in every email and ask her to confirm them EVERY time!

Do you mind if I ask where you got the bags, cosmetic bags, jewelry pouches, luggage tags, necklaces...well everything! I have bought a few things, but need ideas for some more things to buy for my bridesmaids. Are you bringing all of this with you, or giving it ahead of time?

Marcy, where was your reception? How did you request the white sitting furniture for the reception and about how much was it? I love that idea! Was it $150 to have someone operate the iPod, or rent the equipment? Thanks!

No - she hasn't said anything about a fee or sent a sheet with fees. I am still in the process of making decisions. I am REALLY behind. She has only listed in the emails where I asked what was left to decide, was Photography services, DVD. I guess she needs to know if I will need their services. I have never mentioned an outside photographer. I was considering using their videographer for the ceremony at least. But she will then ask about photography. I was going to say that family members would be taking pictures, because my uncle and father both have very large cameras with big lenses and will be taking pictures. However, they will notice Elizabeth taking pictures with her assistant. I have thought about booking her room under another name and dealing with it when I get there...

I have a slight problem - Monica sent me a contract back in Nov 07 and I just realized she never asked for it back. It is also my fault though for not sending it back. I recently asked her in three different emails what was left to do and what she needed from us and this was never listed. But since all this outside vendor fee talk has come about, I wanted to go back and look at my contract, and that's when I realized I never sent it back signed. I am freaking out now because I don't want to bring this to her attention, because she will probably try and send me a new contract. Here is the language from my contract: Entertainment / Photographers / Décor "Outside Vendors Not allowed. Musicians, Photographers, Flower arrangements, not booked by the Hotels Wedding department are subject to a surcharge." This is so non-specific and I don't think they should even be able to charge the $500 fee, much less the 3-night stay based on this language. Part of me doesn't want to address this and just bring this signed with me to the resort and let my dad handle it when we get there. He is also a member of Exotic Travel Club, and he will REFUSE to pay this. What are your thoughts on this situation?

Just thought I would post something else to fuel to the outside vendor fee fire! I am not excited about this at all, and don't want my photographer to be faced with any hassles from hotel staff. SO I guess I am going to have to pay the $500 and for a 3 night stay, even though she is only staying 1 night! This gets more ridiculous everyday! Does anyone have any correspondence from Monica or any other WC that they would be willing to share to help me try and bargain with Monica? Thanks! "Outside photographers and videographers are not allowed on property unless pre-approved by the hotel in advance. The hotels reserve the right to deny access to the property to any unauthorized photographer or videographer. Please contact your wedding coordinator for more information on approved vendors. Outside photographers and videographer approved by the hotel will incur a $500 photo fee and a 3 night minimum stay at the hotel. El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels, by Karisma abide by all Mexican governing laws which require foreign workers to obtain proper licensing and work certificates while in Mexico doing work for themselves or on behalf of others. We reserve the right to request proof of such license and/or work certificate.'

Shea - question - what did you do with your dress after the shoot? With it being wet (and having saltwater on it) did you have it cleaned there, or did you just rinse it and hang it to dry? Did you have it cleaned when you got home? Did it ruin it? Just curious. Thanks.

Shea - your pics are awesome! We are also doing a photo shoot the morning after. What time did you do yours and about how long did it take? We, too, are worried about being too hung over to get up and do this, but I couldn't tell at all that you partied the night before. So we will see! Great pictures!

Bre - your photos are amazing! This makes me so excited! It really shows how all these details that make us so crazy for months come together in the end to create a beautiful and memorable wedding to last a lifetime! Congratulations and thank you for all your helpful information for those of us still going through those crazy months!

I agree! I love the bright ones!

Welcome Julia! I am a fellow Riviera Maya bride - June 2008. Let me know if I can help! This forum has been my saving grace!

Happy planning Jessica!

Welcome Sarah! You will find everything you need on this forum! Let us know if you have any questions! Happy planning!

Hi fellow EDR brides. I am at that planning moment where I need to choose all the "little" things. The cake I have been struggling with. We too only need a cake for 20-30 people, but I really want a two-tier, square cake. I am glad to hear that they can possibly duplicate a cake. Question: Do you have to pay to rent the music equipment for iPod twice, or is it just a one time fee? Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by BandE2008 Hey I am thinking about changing because of all the small/hidden fees ... with outside photographers, outside vendors etc. Also, that they don't really offer private receptions. I really want a reception on the beach for a private dinner followed by a dance, with a DJ etc. The big thing is all the small, hidden fees. That and I am feeling REALLY discouraged about 1) the beach sucks and I like the beach 2) there isn't any nightlife close by or on the grounds for our single guests. I don't know I'm just second guessing and feeling really discouraged! HELP! Are you referring to EDR? I agree there are a lot of small fees, but I don't think any of them are "hidden". I have added up everything we will spend on this wedding and I am amazed at how little it is costing us. And we are having a private reception! Yes, they do charge the $500 for outside vendors (or a 3 night stay I believe), but you don't have to tell them about your vendors up front. We are listing our photographer as a guest, and if they catch it, then we'll pay the fee. I figure I would rather have her take my pictures than the resort photographer. Plus, I don't want to sacrifice the quality and service you get at EDR for $500. About the private reception, they do offer them. We are having one. You can really do anything you can dream up, and if you want a big private dinner on the beach with dancing and a band and all that, they can do it. I suggest you email the wedding coordinator and ask about what they offer and pricing for the specific things you'll need. As for the beach, I visited this past summer and the beach is very long and very nice. There are other parts of Mexico that have no beach at all! Don't let people talking about the sand bags discourage you. They are there to help build the beach back up, and to prevent any more erosion. The beach is very big and beautiful. And you can swim in the water. There is night life on the grounds from what I have heard and read. There are MANY bars, and the martini bar is open til 2:00 am. And if you are looking for nightlife away from the resort, Playa is a very short cab ride away. I would do some more research on these things that have you second guessing because I think you got bad information. Good luck and let me know if you need any help!

I agree with Bre. We were there last June and visited EDR and RPDC. The RPDC is right in the the middle of town, and while you are laying on the beach, you are next to a public dock for the ferry and cruise ships. So it is not very relaxing looking at all those people or they looking at you. I found it very crowded and not run as well as EDR. For the money you pay, I think EDR is the better vacation. Ours is at EDR June 20, and we have been happy so far. I tried changing from EDR to the Royal Cancun, and I had MAJOR problems. I quickly realized I needed to stay with EDR, and happy I did so. Hope that helps!

Congratulations on your engagement! This is a great place to start planning! Let us know if you have any questions.

Welcome to the forum! I too am a fellow EDR bride - June 20, 2008.

Congratulations! Hope your planning is going smoothly!

That dress is beautiful!

Welcome to the forum! Cabo is a great place for a destination wedding!

Welcome to the forum! Choosing a place is the hardest part. Once you do that, it will be easy planning!

FI bought e-ring setting and wedding band as a matching set and bought a diamond for the engagement ring separately. The two rings have pave' stones on the top of each band, but the sides of the bands (facing each other) are smooth metal, so they sit flush against each other. I will probably wear them together for a while, but will probably buy a plain white gold band to wear when I have everyday tasks (cleaning around the house, working in the yard, etc...). We are also ordering one of those fake wedding sets you see in the back of the tabloid magazines that looks like my set to use when we travel on vacations (after the wedding). Sometimes insurance doesn't cover theft in other countries.