kevsgirl

My e-ring Love it! Picked it too Any more yellow gold brides to be out there?

Thanks, girls! riviera, I think it's going to be perfect I love the place and the wedding coordinator there, Christine, has been amazing. She is in touch very quickly via email and answers all of my questions, no matter how crazy. They have about 2 or 3 wedding packages available. All of the reservations are made through the Turquoise Reef group/Mexico holiday, so if you go to their site, you will see much more info on the hotel and the rooms and you can check availability as well. You have to put down a $500 deposit to hold your date. Crap! I should have mentioned immediately: They are closing eventually, because the site is going to be razed and they're putting up condos. Christine told me April 2009, but it could be later. That said, I don't think I'd want to have a wedding much past January to be safe.

Congrats, Scharke! That sounds awesome. There are so many hotels nearby, I'm sure that my guests will have options if they choose not to stay at Shangri-La. I can't wait to see it all in December!

OMG this is a nightmare I can't believe what they've done... This is like a wake-up call for me: in a way I've been really upset that one of my best friends said she wasn't going to come, the minute I told her about the wedding, but at least she's up-front about it. It also re-affirms our decision to just do our own thing and let everyone else piece together their trips. We were goign to go the group route, but FI's family was driving us insane (they already made us change the date once), so we backed away and are now letting everyone else do their own thing. Man oh man. I feel terrible for you. I hope that they step up and figure out a way to pay you back so that you all stay friends and you don't end up paying back their trips for years to come...

Hi! We were just there in April this year, so it's really fresh in my mind: Jeep: approximately 80 pesos The jeep tour was really fun - you need a driver's license and to know how to drive standard to actually drive a jeep, but it's 4 to a jeep, so if you can't, likely someone else will be able to. Bring lots of goodies for the kids - they line the roads - we brought stuff we picked up at the dollar store and we still ran out really quickly (pens, paper, fun stuff like mini toys, etc.) Swimming in the cave pool was totally awesome too and you see a sugar plantation, etc. Catamaran and dolphin: about 80 too, i think. Heard great things about this, but ours kept getting cancelled because of rough seas. We didn't end up getting to go Havana: Ranges I think between 100 and 160 pesos? And even more, because one is overnight. We did the Havana Special tour, which leaves in the morning and returns around 2am. The tour itself was not good (too much time on the bus and way too little actual "guiding" in town - I know, because FI had been years ago and thought this tour was terrible and some of our friends went on the same tour by a different operator on the same day and saw way more than us. We got the impression that our guide just didn't care. He was keeping us on the bus, etc. so he didn't have to do much. And then when we had lunch they brought us to a Middle Eastern restaurant! The Tropicana show was the highlight of my whole trip, I think. It was worth being out for so long and being tired. It was totally incredible. And the guide couldn't mess this up. Hope that helps! Oh yeah and you can snorkel for about 30 pesos too.

Yes! It feels great... but I'm still doing just as much research and planning... lucky for me, I love this kind of stuff and FI thinks it's cute (so far!)

Well, it is finally official: we're booked in at Shangri-La Caribe for Friday, December 12! There is still so much left to do and I keep getting emails every day from one of the websites I subscribed too, counting dow the days! Anyway, thought I'd re-introduce myself, since I will probably be online a lot more in the coming months. Let the real planning begin!

We're booked!!! And the wedding date is.... (drumroll)... 12.12.08! Friday, December 12, 2008. I can't wait! The wedding date is booked, the judge is booked and our room is booked. Phew! Now we have to book our airline ticket. We're hoping some cheaper flights open up (the charter airlines should be posting any day now).

Neen: No worries! We're all different and have different needs for our weddings. Ours will only be about 10-20 people too. 100 is a completely different ball-game. I read the posts to FI and he admitted he hadn't thought about that (the repairs on the property - or them not doing them).. but I think we're still good to go with the Shangri-La. Thanks for the good luck wishes and same to you! A

Neen - the place you've picked (Dreams Tulum) is sure to be amazing. Just thought I'd say that If we go ahead with our wedding at Shangri-La I"ll be sure to post a review and pics!

Absolutely - thanks so much for sharing what you've heard. That's the point of these forums, right? FI was worried about the service as well, but we hadn't thought about the state of the buildings... Another sad thing is that we'd never be able to revisit the place for an anniversary in future. That all said, all the reviews have been outstanding and Christine has been really great too over email... plus, we have a very small wedding of very low-key people, so I'm not overly concerned... Ack! I'm definitely concerned, but I think my love of the place is overriding it!!! We just discussed the room reservations and then went to see how much flights would be and were told $1,000 each! I checked online and came up with flights for $750 all taxes included each, so I think we can do it... Ah, what we do when we have a favorite place, right?

FI and I are looking into Shangri-La for our wedding in December 2008. I have read that they've been sold and are closing either this summer or next summer. At this point, I have to assume next summer, because the coordinator, Christine, has been working with us to create a wedding package that suits us. I'll ask her tonight and post again if she gives me a definiative answer re: the selling of the resort. Apparently condos are going to be put up on the spot (I read this on Trip Advisor). Seems like a major shame, because it looks absolutely gorgeous. And it really suits us in terms of the vibe and size, etc. There are 3 different types of accomodation: pueblitos (basic rooms in an apartment-style building furthest from the beach), beach bungalows (on the beach) and other beach-front houses. Here are some pics from Trip Advisor. I hope they work - it's my first time trying to post pics! Aventura Section View from one of the beach-front rooms' balconies Children's pool Lobby View from the restaurant Pueblito section A wedding pic someone posted on Trip Advisor:

We're going to do the same thing (probably - it's not nailed down yet). One thing that we were offered though is if we want, our guests can have lobster for $15 extra each. Maybe they'd let you personalize it a bit for a little extra cost. Just a thought. Even if you don't do that (and we might not either), I think it's totally fine. Just thought I'd throw in that option.

Alyssa, I am so sorry to hear about what you and your family are going through at this time. My grandmother passed away in October and was put under hospice about a week before she passed away. They were wonderful - we had a worker with us to help and provide support, I flew down to be at my mom's side. The great thing was that my grandmother was able to be in her own home and as comfortable as possible. It was sudden for her too and very shocking for us, but it's comforting in a way that it was so quick. I hope that your aunt has the best care possible and that you are all able to be with her. All the best, Andrea

Congratulations! Your dress is so romantic. I love the bottom - how flowy and soft it looks. You look stunning! Glad it all went so well.

Those are really awesome! What great work. I love how you worded your letter too.

Kevins are awesome, aren't they Saraha? It's so exciting to see all of you who have only a month or so to go! Congrats! I'm already getting more excited. We are very close to nailing down a location and date... I'm such a keener that I'm planning the invitations tonight. I should be going out - it's Friday! THanks again for all the warm welcomes!

Thanks all of you! I'm sure it will get better. When we had a date last week everything was great! Jamaica Bride and Lizz - you're big days are really soon! Woohoo! You must be really excited! Ok - I'm off to look around at the other forums now

Hi everyone! My name is Andrea and I'll be marrying a wonderful man, Kevin, this December, 2008. We had decided on December 18 at Viva Wyndham Maya AND put together all of the Save the Dates! and then his mom is now not able to attend. SO, we are now (sort of) back at the drawing board. We have 3 possible sites - all fairly small and all on the Mayan Riviera area - and are looking into the 2nd week of December now. Wish us luck! Planning can get pretty insane sometimes!