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Thanks!! My photographer (Cecilia Dumas) just emailed me to say that she has mailed my package to me yesterday, so I should get them sometime next week. Can't wait!!!

I just posted two files that I received from Walter in the Royal thread (pg 13). http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t17108-13 The first one is the reception quotation and the second one is the spa menu for the Royal.

Here are some files for the Royal that I received from Walter a few months ago that might be helpful to some of you who are waiting to hear back from him. The first is reception pricing information and the second is pricing information for their spa. THE ROYAL PLAYA WEDDING RECEPTION QUOTATION.doc The Royal Spa Menu.doc

If you get married at the Royal, all that stuff is included. We got married at the sister resort next door and you can bring whatever music you want. We just brought ours on a CD and they played it. If you have musicians, I don't think they would need amplifiers because it would be loud enough, but I'm sure the WC will give you more details if you really want them to have amplifiers. There is a wireless microphone that the officiant can use. They have the speaker system all set up and everything is included in the cost of the ceremony. The musicians are extra though.

I never intended on having a bridal party because I didn't want the added work/stress of it all. But a week before the wedding we decided to have my sister and his brother be MOH and best man. They really didn't have to do anything but stand up there with us, so they didn't have the traditional roles of planning or doing anything, which was great. I didn't really care either what they wore or if anything matched since it was just the two of them, but it just happened that my sis had bought a dress that matched the colour accent on my dress so it turned out great. I say if you don't have anyone in mind, just nix the whole bridal party idea. It's not necessary and you'll save yourself lots of stress too.

We had a symbolic ceremony and our first WC sent me the script and it was very religious, which was not what we wanted at all. She said we couldn't change it though. But then we got a second WC since our original one moved, and the second one said that the minister can read anything that we prepared. However, I was kind of leery about it since the first WC told me something different. I didn't want to take any chances because the ceremony was very important to me and I wanted to make sure it reflected who we were. So I decided to get a friend to officiate the ceremony. I wasn't crazy about that idea at first, but I really didn't want to take a chance with a stranger saying things that I didn't want to be included in the ceremony. I had heard about ministers adding some religous script even though the couple asked him not to. In the end it was so special to have someone we love marry us and she of course read the ceremony script that I wrote. It was by far the best decision we made. I absolutely loved our script. To me, that was the most important part of the day. I will try to post it when I get back home to my computer. You should definately get the ceremony script that you want. It's the moment you marry your man. You really have to believe in the words. It's so important! Good luck!

For dinner, I think it's $50 per person for hotel guests and then $60 for non hotel guests. This includes open bar. I have that information somehwere on my computer. I'll post it if I find it. Are you sure you can still do the european plan? I think they used to offer it but now they don't...not too sure though. I met Zulma and she is very nice. I think you'll have to be patient for her to get back to you though. Apparently May is one of the busiest months for weddings. Good luck with planning!

We just returned from our wedding and it was absolutely amazing! I haven't had time to write a formal review yet, but will do that after I get settled. I'm still unpacking, but thought I'd pop by the forums and say hi! In the meantime, if anyone has any questions about the resort or anything else, I'm more than happy to answer them. I know there hasn't been much info on the Gran Porto Real on this site - I think I may be the first to write a review about them! I just want to thank everyone for all their help and support - this forum reallly helped me in planning our wedding in less than four months! There are a lot of great ideas here and I'm so glad I found this site. THANKS EVERYBODY!!! I haven't gotten the pro pics back yet, but here are a few pictures from my cousin's camera:

Glad to know I'm not alone! And a few things have happened in the last few weeks too, that really are just bad luck I guess. Like one of our guests had emergency surgery 2 weeks ago, but hopefully she will be better by the time we leave. It was a small surgery, so she thinks she will be fine by then. Last week my dad fell off a ladder and cracked a rib, which takes at least 6 weeks to heal. And last night one of my guest's grandfather got taken in to hospital for some heart problems. I'm hoping no one else gets sick or injured!! Not that I'm being selfish or anything, but I would just feel really bad if someone had to cancel and lose the money they spent on the trip on top of being injured. Well I must start my day and do more wedding stuff. Everyone take care! Will check in later. This forum is a great resource, but also a great distraction, lol!

On the wedding day, when are you supposed to pay the photographer? At the beginning when you meet them? Or at the end when they leave?

Hmmm...good thread. I've always trusted the hotel safes, but now I am not so sure. I also usually lock my luggage up and then lock the suitcase to the dresser/chair or refrigerator handle. Technically they could get into the suitcase by either cutting the lock or damaging the suitcase, which in that case could prove that someone got in there. Would you trust this more than the safe? Wedding rings are a concern too especially because mine is white gold and therefore can't go in the pool (chlorine makes the gold brittle). I'll keep an eye on this thread for any good tips.

I am curious about the buffet dinner because Walter never gave us that option. Is it the same price as the plated dinners?

Well okay, I'm not REALLY freaking out, but I have gotten very anxious lately, just worrying about the little details. I have been totally calm and cool up until last week. The wedding is in less than two weeks and I am so excited, but also feel so rushed doing all these last minute things. I have been having wedding dreams almost every night now! I have been doing so much work for the wedding the past four months and I just can't believe the big day is almost here. I'm really glad now that we're getting married the second day we're there so less time to be nervous and will be able to relax shortly after. I'm definately looking forward to the wedding day, but will also be glad it's finally over so I can stop working, living, and breathing wedding. I don't remember what life was like before wedding planning - I must have had a lot of free time, lol! How are the rest of you May brides feeling? Please tell me I'm not alone!

I totally had not thought about this until my mom brought it up. I never thought of getting a purse for the wedding day because I didn't think I would really need to carry anything around. But I guess it would be good to carry makeup for some touchups. What else did you put or are planning on putting in your purse for the wedding day? My wedding is coming up in less than two weeks so I am going crazy over these last minute details!

This is a good thread because I was thinking about the same thing. I am thinking though, of doing the cake cutting right after the ceremony, before we take group pictures. That way, it will be like a mini cocktail hour with cake and champagne. I'm still undecided on this though.

Thanks for all the input! I have made a hair appointment this week and will drop by the makeup counter sometime next week. Do you think I can get them to put fake lashes on me if I bring them?

I got one and it is so cute! I love that it's personalized too. Can't wait to use it!

I am wondering if I should do a hair and makeup trial at home first. I won't have time to do a trial in Mexico. I have my inspiration pictures and am wondering if it would be necessary to get trials done by people that won't be doing my hair and makeup on the actual day. At the same time, I've never had my hair or makeup done before, so maybe it's a good idea to go in and see what it would look like? Not sure what to do!

I thought it was pretty amazing and I recommend getting a guide. The information about each of the buildings made it even more interesting; we would have missed out on a lot if he didn't point out and explain things for us. It would be great for your guests who want to do more than just be on the beach the whole time - I know I get bored of that pretty fast. However, I don't recomend booking through the hotel. I think our hotel charges about $95, but you can get it for $35 from the shops in Playa del Carmen. Tulum ruins also have a beautiful view, but it is very different from Chichen.

FI is insisting that he wear his full black suit, but I'm just worried because I know he will be way too hot, wearing it all day, with a tie and everything. I suggested he go more casual, but he really wants to wear the full suit. So I am just wondering how your guy coped with the heat and full suit (if that's what he wore). I am thinking we bring him a second, more casual outfit for the reception or something. I know his suit will be sweaty and stinky after the ceremony and pictures.

Totally agree. We're not having an AHR and it never even crossed my mind to do so. We're doing the DW because we don't want so many people there. To me, having an AHR would just be like having an at home wedding, which is what we wanted to avoid in the first place. There are no rules; don't be obligated to do anything you don't want to do.

Yea, you girls are absolutely right! You've confirmed what I thought. I will return the white one for the ivory one. I'm bought from ebay because I just wanted a very simple veil and it was much cheaper online. My dress doesn't come in until close to my wedding date, so if I wait until then to get the veil online, I might not have time to order a different one or exchange. Anyways, I know you ladies are right and I should get the veil that matches my dress. By the way, that picture helped too, I don't like how that white veil goes with the ivory dress. Thanks so much for all your help!

Thanks for posting this! As soon as I saw this I knew it was perfect for us. Thanks again!!

Do you think a white veil with an ivory dress would look 'off'? Problem is, I don't have my dress yet, so I can't really see how they go together. Since the veil material is so thin, do you think it will be that noticeable? I might end up getting a diamond white veil, which is the colour between white and ivory. I just don't really like the ivory coloured veil for some reason and would like a bit of a whiter colour. But I don't want it to clash with my dress either. Wish my dress was in already!

We're getting married at the Gran Porto Real, sister hotel to the Royal. We chose this location because it is right in PDC town and our guests can choose from a variety of hotels, all within a few minutes walk to ours. We let our guests know that they could get clean and decent hotel rooms from $40 per night all the way up to the super expensive. We've done this before ourselves, so we know that there are good deals to be had, especially in May (low season). I love staying in the non-AI's, but ended up at an AI because it was just easier for my family that doesn't travel much. Most of our guests ended up booking at our AI, but told us they liked that they had a choice of where they wanted to stay. Also, the Gran Porto is much more affordable than the Royal and they allow kids.