KLS1982

So we decided to get legally married in the states to avoid having to do all the bloodwork/xray/ceremony in spanish etc etc. We decided awhile back to just do it very discreetly because we want our beach ceremony when were in front of our guests to really feel like that is when we are officially married, even though legally we will have already done it in the states. We even decided that we were just going to have one or two friends come as witnesses and thats it and not even really celebrate it...just making it like getting the legal part done and saving the good stuff for Mexico.

WELL... FI's parents live in Vegas as well, and over the weekend they told us they wanted to do a little party for us at this very small restaurant b.c they are friends with the owner and we would do a small cake etc. At first I was like okay, that sounds good, only because i didn't want to spoil the moment and we were at the restaurant in front of the owner.

Thinking about it later, it didn't feel right to go back on what we had originally planned on since my family (dad, mom, sister) won't be there. I mentioned it to my sister (she is older, 42) and she was very upset about it and said she would be hurt if that happened and she knew my dad and mom would be equally upset.

Both sets of parents actually both mentioned when we first told them that we were going to get legally married here, kind of had the feeling of "so were spending ALL this money and comign ALL this way, for you guys to not actually be legally married there..." they basically felt we were just going down to party...eventually both sets warmed up to the idea and felt it was a better choice.

NOW, FI's mom is "very upset" as my FI told her today that we didnt feel right doing it since my family wouldn't be there, and my FI, being his usual vague self when it comes to something like this, just said she didnt say much but that she was very upset, and from what i gathered, pissed as well.

I am wondering if I am just flat out wrong about this? I am my parents only child, and this is extremely special to them, obviously every parent is, but FI has a brother and sister as well and they will get to witness their marriages as well. I can't just lie to my parents that we never did it, and I can't just blow it off and not mention it becasue someone will end up slipping, and then every still get hurt.

Any thoughts?!

what is daniela's email?

I talked with Jaira and she said there's no way to waive the music ending at 10:30. i was fine with bumping the ceremony up, but I am spending WAY too much money for them to cut short ANY part of the wedding. The reception is already semi short in my opinion at 3 hours. (by the time everyone is there and are given food, that would only leave us with an hour and a half of dancing...) I can just imagine someone saying "yea thats fine, we'll make an exception for you and let the music stay on till 11, and then come July 5th at 10:30 the music goes off and we can do a thing about it....

The situation just sucks because of all the absolute wonderful, positive things that everyone had to say about Marco...

my main reason for being so outraged is that this would have never been brought to my attention had Mara not left the Hilton. oh well... who said wedding planning was easy!!!!! thanks for the encouragement/advice guys!

He got so many positive reviews that I wanted to stick with him. What worries me is that if Mara were still there then she would hve never informed me that the ceremony was actually at 6:30!!!! For most people, they would have already had their invitations made!!!!!! She never told me that the time changed and she blatantly lied about confirming with him about the rehearsal dinner (he sent me all the emails he had back and forth with her!!) I am looking for another officiant as of now! But its so worrysome that this is the way they are operating.

So Mara told me she had Marco Arechiga (officiant) confirmed since December. She told me that he was confirmed for my ceremony which in my contract starts at 6:00 pm and that he would do a rehearsal the day before at 7:00pm.

So Jaira the new coordinator emails me to confirm the times and has my ceremony to begin at 6:30, with the cocktail hour from 7:00-8:00, and the reception from 8:00-10:30.

I write back and state, no that isn't right, the ceremony is supposed to start at 6 and Marco was already confirmed for that.

She writes back and says that he can only do it at 6:30. I decide to email him directly and he says that he was never confirmed for 6:00, that it was always for 6:30 and that he was NEVER asked to do a rehearsal. (I have the saved email from Mara saying Marco was confirmed for 7 on Friday night).

So I am just thinking that Jaira is being stupid about the 10:30 thing and that it shoudl really be 11:00. I decide we'll stay with Marco and move everything back a half hour. So I write Jaira to say that we'll stay with Marco and I go and email all my vendors to say that everything will be pushed back a half hour. Jaira writes back to confirm again that the reception will end at 10:30 so i say if the ceremony is being moved back a half hour then the reception will end at 11:00.

She writes back and says "thats fine, but there can't be any music, it's the Hilton's policy"

I AM LIVID!!! This is getting ridiculous dealing with these people and I freakin emailed all my vendors already, and I'm upset since Marco came so widely recomended.

I feel at this point that I will jsut have to find another officiant and keep everything as scheduled. But i am so upset that they thought they could shave off a half hour of my reception because of THEIR mistake. UGH!

I think july thru september is their off season because it does get ridiculously hot in the summer and then their is hurricane season. May might still be considered the in-season.

my group is going to be just about that and didnt hear anything about it being to small to book, but I also did a room block so all of the site fees were waived. Do you think that a lot of your guests will stay there? If they will, then do the room block

oh super, thanks for clearing that up!!!!!

so i just go in with the cash and deposit it, right?

I booked our guitarist and he wants me to put a 50% deposit and he gave me his account # for bank of america...uhhhhhh how do i deposit the money?

Do you put last names on inner envelopes or just the first names?

Thanks for the quick response ladies, that was the original one so I'll stick with that!!!! y'all rock

Saturday, the fifth day of July

Two thousand and eight

At sunset on the sands of Mexico

OR

Saturday, the fifth day of July

Two thousand and eight

On the sands of Mexico at sunset

i have not heard this. in fact I just told Mara, who apparently has left abruptly, that i was using my own florist and guitarist. She didnt say I couldn't do it. She obviously discouraged me because she wouldn't be responsible and couldn't help me in case they didnt show up the day of the wedding. I'm mad that I didnt find this site sooner and i probably would have booked every vendor on my own!

How did your site visit go?!

seriousssllyy. this is ridiculous! how is jaira? has anyone actually talked with her or emailed her? I dont have an outside wedding coordinator and now i'm just gettin a little freaked out. ugh!

for the mother son dance we're doing could not ask for more by sara evans, it could work either way though ...

Lyin here with you

Listenin to the rain

Smilin just to see

The smile upon your face

These are the moments

I thank God that Im alive

These are the moments

Ill remember all my life

Ive found all Ive waited for

And I could not ask for more

Lookin in your eyes

Seein all I need

Everything you are

Is everything to me

These are the moments

I know heaven must exist

These are the moments

I know all I need is this

Ive found all Ive waited for yeah

And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together

Could not ask for more than this time with you

And every prayer has been answered

Every dream Ive hads come true yeah

Right here in this moment

Is right where Im meant to be

Here with you

Here with me (yeah)

These are the moments

I thank God that Im alive

These are the moments

Ill remember all my life

Ive found all Ive waited for yeah

And I could not ask for more.

I could not ask for more than this time together

Could not ask for more than this time with you

And every prayer has been answered

Every dream Ive hads come true (yeah)

Right here in this moment

Is right where Im meant to be (oh)

Here with you

Here with me

No, I could not ask for more

Than this love youve gave me

cause its all Ive waited for

And I could not ask for more

We are doing Just The Way you Look Tonite... the lyrics are...

Some day, when I'm awfully low,

When the world is cold,

I will feel a glow just thinking of you...

And the way you look tonight.

Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm

And your cheeks so soft,

There is nothing for me but to love you,

And the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows,

Tearing my fear apart...

And that laugh that wrinkles your nose,

It touches my foolish heart.

Lovely ... Never, ever change.

Keep that breathless charm.

Won't you please arrange it ?

'Cause I love you ... Just the way you look tonight.

Mm, Mm, Mm, Mm,

Just the way you look to-night

when me and my fiance went home over the holidays, we went with my parents to our neighbors Christmas party. Most of the people I didn't know, but others were people i haven't seen in years. Granted me and my FI are young (23), but the comments we were getting when we talked about our wedding (keep in mind, they brought it up) were unreal. One lady just shook her head and said "they could use that money on a down payment for a house." I WAS SO PISSED. I actually responded back, as polite as i could, "well we OWN our condo so we've already taken care of that." Another lady was like "so you're expecting to have people just fly out to Mexico to see your wedding." uhhh, yes master of the obvious, that is how it would have to happen. but thanks for pointing it out! UGH, people are just plain rude.

hi guys,

who is everyone using for their videographer. i just got a quote from mara and it seems ridiculous... mango productions 1800 for two hours and 600 for extra hours. and i'm not sure the dvd are even included in that price.

Any recomendations?

Thanks guys!

I asked jen hatton the same question. this is what she said:

I have all experience when it comes to heat and Fondant, as one year I thought HA! I will use Fondant instead of butter cream and avoid the weather problem as it will not melt. Well, I was half right, you see Fondant cannot be refrigerated at all and it is a little scary having your cake out for up to 8 hours depending on your design work it can take that long to make. So it is out that long, and the inside can get very squishy, and the fond can get wibbley if it is not held by a cool cake.

I do fondant now from end of November to March end.

The reason you would want to do butter cream is,,, I can freeze your cake for 2 hours before your reception/delivery. When It arrives it can sit out without dangers, or minimum. If the wedding is behind schedule which is common, you can always have your cake waiting in the fridge nice and safe. So these are the option and reasons for my madness!

Its funny, i really do think she focuses on one bride at a time. I have been back and forth with Mara about 4 times within the last day and she wrote back almost right way. have faith ladies, there are a few people i have spoken with that absolutly LOVE her!

mara also said you have two dinner options of you are doing a plated dinner

The 2008 menu is definatly different from their 2007. It seems a little more "upscale to me". Mara said that they can stil use the 2007 menu, but there will be a 6% increase in price. Also, if you are doing an open bar, the domestic includes soda and bottled water.