Samantha S

I have a dumb question that I have wondered when I attend showers-- do you get people a gift for the shower and also bring one to the wedding? Is the gift you bring to the shower considered the wedding gift? I'm not having a shower but I have always been unsure of this and want to make sure I am getting it right. I truly enjoy getting people a gift to start their lives off or upgrade to nicer stuff but I'm not so much down with getting every friend that gets married multiple gifts for each party they throw up to the wedding. Not at this financial standpoint in my life!

Quote: Originally Posted by thomastaci22 Thanks for all the suggestions girls! I think I'll go with the website, since I can do it for free on my knot page...thanks! mywedding.com is free and awesome!! It is just like many of the ones I wanted to get that cost money. It has an RSVP function and you can customize, create and show/hide each page. Our friends and family love it too.

Quote: Originally Posted by Alyssa those sound really cool and unique. can you post a couple pics? Sure, here you go! You can get any color leaf and/or paper for the invites.

I wanted to share about this vendor because their products are so great. I bought my invites from nepalesepaper.com and I haven't seen anything about them on here. They are beautiful, very affordable, perfect for a destination wedding and best of all, they are made sustainably from treeless paper by women in Nepal. They also have a Bodhi leaf that you can have stained in any color that comes forward as people open the invite. It is thought to bring the owner patience and enlightenment. They are only $50 for a set of 25. If you are remotely interested, I would order their sample kit that is $12 because the web site does not do them justice. If you order, the $12 is applied towards your purchase. They also have favors and other random things like that so you can keep a 'theme' for your wedding. The owner is awesome, really nice guy and they are quick. Just wanted to share such a neat service with you gals. I haven't seen invites like these before, they are very unique and 'green'.

Thanks DMarie17, that is really helpful!

I was so in the same boat, I have 8! I would have been completely happy with 3--my sister, niece and best friend since childhood-- but my fiance is a firefighter and has all of his friends in that are 'like brothers'. Some of his groomsman's girlfriends are my close friends so it was really all or none-- with a little of the same situation ==close with most and one or two mostly due to obligation. If you are getting to the point of 10 and who should be the last two in the ten (future family versus close but not best friends) I would definitely go ahead with the 10 and add one or two of those who you don't choose as BMs and have them read. I saw a photo on the knot or some where that they had 10 on each side and it looked fun! (this was in their photos after the ceremony). You could have your maid of honor and best man stand up by you?

I posted a thread asking about honeyfund.com and so far only one gal has just started using them but it looks like a way to 'get cash' with out being tacky given honeymoon registries are very common these days. It is free and you customize what things you want to list-- then people send a check with a printed out gift voucher for whatever registry item they bought you or you set up a paypal account. I think I'll try it out because we have lived together for a million years and don't need anything but some fun adventures on our honeymoon would be fabulous!

Quote: Originally Posted by DougsGirl Hi Samantha! IDK how I missed your hello thread, but I wanted to say we're glad to have more PNW'ers! We might be planning a Seattle meetup this summer for anyone who can make it, thinking maybe a Mariners game.. Keep your eyes out! How fun, definitely let me know!!! I think I am having my bacholerette party in Seattle, my best friend/maid of honor lives up there and I love going out in Seattle. Quote: Originally Posted by M&L2008 Welcome Samantha Our Original Date was 11/21 but we changed it to 11/15 because of timing issues. You'll love this sight it's very helpful!!! I thought about that week too! I ended up choosing 11/20, I liked the 'anniversary date' better, weird I know. :-) We get there on the 17th if you're still around!

That's great she didn't charge you for setting up your decorations and it sounds reasonable to tip the bellperson's for handing out the OOT bags, thanks! And another one, you said that most of your guests got upgraded because of your TA's maneuvering---my TA told me that the hotel will upgrade randomly when they overbook the least expensive rooms-- do you know otherwise-- was your TA able to negotiate upgrades for your guests? Were you and your HUSBAND updgraded and did your TA make that happen? Thanks again!

It sounds like more than myself will be happy to hear your review Stephanie, thanks! I really like the idea of it so I think I'll sign up too. I'll be sure to let every one know about the experience...

Hello, I tried a search and couldn't find this one... has any one used honeyfund.com to register for a honeymoon registry? We were not planning on registering but lots of our older relative who aren't going to make it to Mexico keep insisting on it so we've been looking in to a honeymoon registry since we've lived together for 5 years and have everything. Honeyfund looks pretty awesome-- no fees and really customizable. I wanted to know if any one has experience with them. Thanks!!

What a great review, I have been waiting for you!! I get re-excited everytime I read a review and I CAN'T WAIT! Quick one that I don't think any one asked: Did Claudia charge you to set up your specific decorations on the tables (the ones they didn't provide) and if so, how much? How about a charge for handing out the welcome bags? Thanks again, you pictures are absolutely amazing and you looked gorgeous.

Vickie-- thanks for posting all the info and for the update on your process for getting people to commit or not commit! It is some what of a relief to hear that not as many end up going and I'm starting to see more people saying the same about their guest list. Not that I wouldn't be elated to have lots and lots of family and even more friends to celebrate with-- we just see our price tag growing and growing. We initially wanted to only have 40 people at our wedding and now about 80 are invited. We got so tense about it, we were like: "so, we can't invite many of our friends because basically, we can't afford to buy them dinner one night". My fi wants to tell people that we are providing dinner at the reception for our wedding party/their dates and our families (about 40-50 people) and then if others would like to join us it is $50 a person. I feel tacky about it so I am holding out to see how many actually book their trip! But I feel equally tacky not inviting people because we can't afford to buy them dinner one night. Guess we'll see...

Quote: Originally Posted by lucy106 Here is what Daniella sent me for payment options... Thanks for posting this Lucy!! I have seen that most girls paid through wire transfer, did anyone pay through credit card in addition to Paula? How did you have it securely done Paula? In this attachment, it has a credit card auth form-- do you fax it or email it?

Oh my gosh, I am so glad I read this thread! I was planning on tipping my WC but I never would have thought to tip my photog or the minister. I used to be a server during college so I am huge on making sure I tip in tipping industries but I wouldn't have imagined tipping in the latter two instances. I doubt I will tip our photog based on the reasons described by photogs and people in this thread but not sure about the minister...?

That is tough!! I have to agree with Anniem-- plan on keeping them but give them the opportunity to 'opt out' if they want. I have way more BM's than I initially wanted because of feeling 'obligated' to have a few of them. Speaking of etiquette-- one of my BM's has insisted on being in my wedding since I've known her and I really wouldn't have without that pressure--very awkward. I just gave in and have a bunch because it's not a big enough deal to me to risk hurting people's feelings. Don't get me wrong, they are all my close friends but I would rather have 3 or 4, I feel like Bridezilla.

Quote: Originally Posted by sodria Wow! All of you are very generous. I got my all my bridesmaids A Cole Haan summer Tote... is that enough? should I get them something else? I would be MORE than happy receiving a Cole Haan tote, that is a fabulous and generous gift. :-)

Quote: Originally Posted by twelve_piece My bridesmaids will be getting everything in the OOT bags plus: I paid for their dresses, I'm getting or making barefoot sandals, jewelry for the ceremony, a terry cloth swimsuit cover-up with thier monogram or nickname embroidered, and then I'm either going to cover their costs for Dunns River excursion or get mani/pedi before we leave home. I offered to get thier make-up done at the hotel salon but they all want to do thier own. Where did you get the monogramed swimsuit cover ups for your BM's? Great idea that I must borrow!! Quote: Originally Posted by Betsy Hey gals - I just ordered these robes from Target.com - they are on sale for $13.99 - I only have 3 BM's so it wasn't pricey at all! But I figured they will get tons of use out of them at the Resort! By the pool, lounging around the hotel room, I even got one for myself!! Awesome idea-- stealing this one too! I have 8 BM's. it was all or none.

Quote: Originally Posted by PaulaV Claudia put me in touch with him, through the cigar guy that is in the lobby in the evenings. The cigars we got were $10 each. That is really awesome!!!! I thought I read some where that they charged a base of like, $100 or something crazy. It is great that it is just a minimum amount of cigars for $10 apiece! I am going to do it, especially after seeing your pictures-- fun!!!

Paula, were there any unexpected fees that you were unaware of or did you manage to have it all figured out before hand via the forum and email correspondence? Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by lucy106 I was going to use my actual wedding dress but I am concerned that because it is a little poofy (has that crinlin underneath) it will not look right in the water. So I think I will be buying another dress, oh darn HA!!! I cant wait for the TTD!!!! Hi Lucy, I'm wondering when you are doing your TTD since you are having Cecilia do it for you seperately? I guess I am unfamiliar with TTD in general like many of the girls, I imagine you schedule this for a different day regardless?

Quote: Originally Posted by JoannaR Does anyone have any pricing or information on getting a cigar station at their reception and a way to display pictures on a screen or a video? (not sure what the proper name for that is)? Sorry guys but i just really sat down and focused and its a bit expensive..lol Anyways thanks for anyones help!! Joanna Kathi is right, it is $350 + tax to rent a screen and projector. Claudia or Daniella can take care of it.

We are lucky enough to have two DJ's in our wedding party. One of them is bringing all of his gear, we just may need to buy a speaker at Walmart or something down there. If this wasn't the case, we would use an iPOD or burned CD's. I know Paula and Susan had good experiences with their hired DJ's but I have heard of one or two not showing up to Dreams Cancun, especially for one girl who just posted her review recently (can't remember her name off the top of my head).

Quote: Originally Posted by Ana Cerda I have not seen any photo from the resort photographer, or de video, but most of the girls seems to hire an outside photographer. I am planning to use Claudia Rodriguez. Jilly mentioned in the other Dreams Cancun thread that the resort uses Juan Navarro and the website is: http://www.juanphotos.com. We are having so many more people than expected coming to our wedding that we cannot afford a different photog and are using the resort photographer despite anyone I know of actually using them. I hope it goes well!

Quote: Originally Posted by M&L2008 Mirna 11/21/08 Hey, I am the day before you on 11/20/2008! Neat!