nylalany

If you're having a bouquet of red flowers or of mostly reddish flowers, and you are getting them in the Riviera Maya area, would you please post pics of your bouquets? I wanted red calla lilies but my WC says that in the area they usually paint Mexican white calla lilies red and that it doesn't look so great. Then she found the mango calla lilies which I also like, but I believe those are orangeish (I'm waiting for a photo) -and although I wouldn't mind some of those mixed in, I wanted mostly red, so I'm trying to get other ideas from you all just in case . Thanks!

I met the wedding coordinator Damarys there in late November so I know she really does exist (although she was very disorganized at the time, had no information for us, and missed our meeting (we found her on the way out). I don't know what happened to Damarys after they opened though! My TA called the hotel and they told her to have me contact Damarys using the email I'd already used and that email had be done for a little while and now it is back up, but after writing her again, I have yet to hear back from her. So I dont know what is up! People are getting married there next month (according to tripadvisor) so somebody has to be working!

It is also a matter of being way over my capacity at the venue and now having to have tables outside of the palapa, down on the sand. I guess you just have to go with the flow?

The people involved will all know people. They would have had to travel to our wedding if we had it in LA and Mexico is actually a shorter flight and cheaper stay for them. I've traveled and stayed 2-3 nights for MANY other people's weddings without being invited with a guest (even when I was dating people) b/c I cared about the people getting married. But it is hard to say no when people ask b/c it is rude on my part, right? I guess I'll just not invite them with a guest and if they ask, I'll say ok. And everyone we invited knows someone at the wedding, and the rates for a single are very inexpensive.

So this has happened to me a few times already, especially since I haven't sent my invitations out yet - I've only sent email STDs. My FI neglected to tell my one of his friends has a serious girlfriend. Obviously he needs to be invited with guest, now that I know but... His other friend is about to break up with his girlfriend but is considering bringing her, even though somehow we didn't even know he had one and he wants to break up with her! My FI's cousin asked if she can bring her boyfriend that we didn't know about, but at least she's been dating him on and off since May I guess. Or they used to date last spring, and then just got back together recently... Another of my FI's cousins has been dating someone for a couple months and I fear he is going to think since the other one is bringing her boyfriend, he can bring the new girlfriend, even though it has only been a couple months... A friend of mine said she isn't sure if she is going to bring a guest or not, even though she just started dating after her FI broke their engagement. I kind of steered her towards rooming with a mutual friend of ours. I've been invited to several weddings without a guest as I wasn't invited wiht guest even after dating someone for 6 months, since weddings are pricey and most people only invite with guest if they know you are serious - so I think this is all really weird. And at $150+ a plate/drinks, and being way over my venue capacity already, it is getting a little worrisome... Is there a polite way to deal with this?

Yeah, I even heard the grooms's family paid for the band, but these days, I only hear about rehearsal dinners. Most couples I know pay for their own honeymoon. Money issues are all tricky. I guess take what is offered with gratitude and do what you can on your own otherwise! And it would have been destination for most of my family no matter what, since they are on the east coast, and if I didn't have it in Mexico, I would have had it in Los Angeles, so I ended up saving them some $$ in travel expenses, as LA is pricey these days. And ye

If anyone has recommendations for platform or wedge sandles or flipflops for the beach - cool ones that wrap their way up your leg or just regular ones - I'd appreciate it. I love the barefoot look, but I'm 5'3" and my FI is 6'6", so I think I need at least 3". Obviously no heels though, since sand is everywhere at Al Cielo!

amyh - imagine i'm really stupid (which i'm feeling like right now, even though scarily enough i work in the tech industry - can you explain this in a little more detail?

I went to Men's Warehouse last weekend and the cream lightweight 100% silk suit was on sale. It was definitely under $300. But it looked bad on my FI, and we both decided he's going to go for linen instead. Unfortunately that means getting it made because he is 6'6" and there aren't many linen suits out there for men that tall. Hopefully we can find an inexpensive yet good tailor!

neen - yes, I decided on May 4, 2008 - Wedding at Al Cielo, guests at Grand Sunset/Riviera Princess I'm glad I can be of help to you. I decided that Paradisus & Azul & even Barcelo Maya Palace (with its amazing beach/ocean cove area) were just too pricey for some of our close friends we wanted there, and so we decided to go with the resort with the cheap opening special rates to encourage them to come and to stay longer. Of course, there are still people who aren't coming b/c of price, and others that are coming b/c it is cheap that I hadn't counted on, so who knows! But at least it makes it easier for our loved ones who are making an effort to go. I would have loved something smaller and without worries relating to a new resort that doesn't write back to me, etc., but it is too late now! I'd definitely encourage you to spend more time than I did down there! I'd say if you have time, and this is my personal advice based on my research, visit: All Inclusives: the Karisma resorts (Azul & El Dorado properties) Paradisus Barcelo Maya (it has a beautiful cove beach/ocean) (Palace is beautiful but service & food reviews bad so far (new resort)) Dreams Tulum (since all the other brides seem to love it and I didn't get to see it during the day) Grand Riviera Maya Princess / Sunset Princess (if you want inexpensive option) I'm sure there are more but these are the ones I know. I'd love to hear where else you plan to go! If you like rustic little venues: Al Cielo (if you can get married at the end of 2008 instead of 2009, they estended their lease) Ana y Jose Petite Lafitte If you like non-AIs and your guests are rich Maroma Fairmont Mayakoba If you have time, maybe you can go to Isla Mujeres or Cozumel too. I wish I had. I heard Cozumel has nicer water, and Isla Mujeres is supposedly really cute. Cozumel Palace (with options to go to all the Palace resorts and free trips to Tulum, etc., tho no beach, just nice water), or Presidente Cozumel (5* non-AI). I'm sorry if I'm missing anything!

Most of my friends and family's parents paid for their weddings or at least contributed heavily, and they were all adults living on their own at that point. I do not think it is outdated and I don't want to feel guilty just because people on this board are not in that situation. I've been otherwise financially independent and have not relied on my parents for anything else home, car, or living related, and I've thrown them many parties (60th birthdays, anniversary parties, etc.) with my own money, so I think it is just a tradition that some people continue to follow. By choosing a destination wedding, I've cut our guestlist in half of what my sister had, so I'm definitely being considerate and not taking advantage! I'm aiming for 1/2 the budget they offered, just because I think it is ridiculous otherwise.

I loved that place - can't wait to hear about it and see the photos!

My count is 1 per couples and 1 per single person (lots of people seem to be coming w/o their husbands or wives and of course I also have single friends). I have a lot of guests...

Oh and can we bond over the big destination wedding thing - I haven't seen many other brides with over 100 guests . You can probably relate to my situation with a baby/toddler/preschooler guestlist! Are preliminary rsvps just by mouth vs. bookings? Or bookings vs. response cards?

I wasn't sure either but I didn't include them. I figure I'm going to have about 7-9 little kids and I am close enough to all involved to call them if they end up responding for their kids in addition to themselves and confuse me. The kids are all 4 and under anyhow - when do you start ordering for kids, do you know? My friend with a 1.5 year old told me his kid eats more than him, so... I only liked one of the choices provided by my venue - fish sticks, but I may ask them to serve it with pasta since all kids eat pasta, right? Or is that gross?

albrosious - I guess it depends on what they are used to in your extended family and friend circle, and what his is? Maybe I come from a traditional east coast situation, but I'm 33 and I guess I could afford to throw my own wedding (which is definitely not that cheap, even in Mexico), but my parents can also afford it and they threw my sister's so they are going to throw mine too. I mean, if they didn't have the money too, then I would throw it for myself I guess. Neither of us really have to worry but if they have to worry in the future, it isn't like I wouldn't spend my money on them. I mentioned a rehearsal dinner to my FI and he mentioned it to his parents, and they said they'll do & pay for whatever we want. Since I picked a cheap enough resort to stay at, they are also paying for all their close family (aunts/uncles/nieces/nephews) to come due to their extended family's financial situation, so they are definitely doing their part. I'll pay for our wedding party gifts (no clue yet what for the bridesmaids, but probably groomsmen's shirts and maybe something else), and for our separate honeymoon (since my parents are already paying for our wedding.) Just to offer another perspective. I think most people pick destination weddings b/c they are more affordable, which may be why a lot of the brides on here picked them (no help from family and can afford to do it themselves). I picked it somewhat b/c Los Angeles is expensive for weddings, but also because staying in Los Angeles is expensive for guests and I wanted everyone to stay at the beach together, and also b/c I wanted a more intimate wedding (100 instead of 200+), which is also keeping down costs I think.

I'm wondering if anyone found natural canvas (not white) tote bags made out of cotton (not synthetic) with color straps that go the whole way down the bag for a reasonable price? I'm trying to figure out if I can find slightly sturdier bags that are more like beach totes, with color straps that will match my logo (red or aqua or turqouise or dark brown - or maybe just natural). But all the ones I find online are a little pricey consider I probably need 50+, I'm guessing probably closer to 70. I was hoping to spend $5 or less per bag before printing (without the stuff inside of course). Any input from brides with this type of tote?

I think it is great deal too - I was just trying to help out everyone by seeing if they would go lower, considering I ordered 66 more! But I'm happy with $2.75!

So the new place, for a logo screenprinted, with set-up charges, quoted me approximately $2.60 for 1 color and $3.70 for 2 colors per bag, based on 50 (though I think I'm going to end up needing more!). So I may go with that. Now I'm trying to decide on the bag itself...

Thanks all. Now I just hope my WC at Al Cielo can find the flowers!

Ok, I've decided: May 4, 2008 nylalany 33 Aqua IS00AQ 33 Dark Brown IS00DBR

Please let me know what time tomorrow you are ordering so I can get my exact order in in the morning - I'm trying to pick 2 or 3 of my 4 colors and I'm going to order 66 in total I believe.

Please let me know what time tomorrow you are ordering so I can get my exact order in in the morning - I'm trying to pick 2 or 3 of my 4 colors and I'm going to order 66 in total I believe.

Please let me know what time tomorrow you are ordering so I can get my exact order in in the morning - I'm trying to pick 2 or 3 of my 4 colors and I'm going to order 66 in total I believe.

So are you telling me I can't get the Sarongs online ( - they are so perfect! Help!