kerryjbrown

Welcome! I can understand/feel your pain in this situation. I am in So. California and my FI is from Ireland. We offered to do a Florida wedding as it is in the middle but realized that our friend would not be able to make it as all our friends are on the west coast. We opted for Cabo as it was close and afordable for most but unfortuanately we took a lot of heat from the mother (even though she initially told us that it would be perfect as they have never been to Mx). The mom, sister and niece finally RSVP last montha nd booked flights, but both brothers are not coming as they have 3 kids and it is too much. No matter where you do it, people will not be able to make it and that is part of the decision in the destination wedding. Try and do it close enough to the majority of the people you want to attend so you can get some of them. They say only about 30% of people attend DW but in our case we got 43 out of 65 so our wedding that we had planned for 25 double in both size and budget. Good Luck..there are ton of helpful ladies (and men) on this site!

I just found this...I am in Irvine and would love to join! I cannot do the 14th either as it is my bachelorette down in SD.

We have decided at the last minute to alternate favors at the dinner table. One half of the couple with get the crystal heart wine stopper and the other half will get a cd of spanish romantic songs. I wanted the favors to be different so that each half of the couple gets something to take home and use at home and not have duplicates. This way, they can go home, open a bottle of wine and listen to latin romance and remember our wedding and their holiday. I am currently working on designing the labels and doing the music list.

I met with Carlos & Elena at and they do nice work but are more pricey and I had some issues with them getting back to me and showing up for our appointments on time (tried 2x and they didn't call me to say they weren't coming the first day nor tell me they were late the 2nd). I kept getting mixed messages on what flowers were available and what wasn't. My mom is a florist so i was asking very specific questions and she didn't have answers for most of them. For the price, I did not feel she was worth the quality or the service. cdamy@elenadamy.com Elena Damy | Contemporary Floral Design Km. 6.3 Carretera Transpeninsular Plaza del Rey, Local 10 Colonia Cabo Bello C.P. 23410 Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S. I ended up going with Martha at Mazarte and I am very excited about her. She was the only one that had both a computer and book of pictures to show me her work with thousands of pics so whenever I mentioned my vision she showed me examples. I was thrilled with her professionalism, willingness to work with my visions, and responsiveness. She came in on Xmas Eve with 1 days notice to meet with me at hte last minute. Very happy with her! Martha Zarate Mazarte Floral mazarte.ventas@mazartefloral.com

I bought 3 from Vix a couple months back when they posted their spring line (I posted a 25% coupon on this site somewhere that is my VIP discount so other ladies could use). I am still looking for a cute Mrs. suit in white.

Not sure if you ladies that are doing the palm tree theme have seen these, but I just came accross them and thought they were darling. Thought I would post in case no one else has ever seen these either Palm Tree Place Card Holders

My understanding (and this is what I have lived by for all of my cocktail parties at my house) is that you don't want people getting too drunk too fast so you provide them with snacks. Typically you find that they drink less as well if their tummy's are full. We are doing a 1.5 hour cocktail hour so we can be with everyone and do our toast at sunset together before dinner for 30 min. I know my friends...they wouldn't make it to dinner, they would be hammered. My chef automatically assumed appetizers at the coctail hours so I assumed this was normal, but I think it can be whatever you want it to be. You know your guests better than your caterer. Ours is $20/hour for the first hour and $10/hour for each additional hour so $35/person that drinks (we have some non drinkers). Our cocktail menu is: Parrot Fish Ceviche with Coconut, Lime and Serrano Serrano Ham, Arugula and Ensenada Olive Tapenade Crab Churros with Chipotle Aioli Tuna Tartar with Pickled Jalapenos Aguachile Jicama and Mango Skewers with Tajin and Lime Mar de Cortez Seafood Tostadas with Roasted Tomatoe Mango Ceviche, Cilantro and Champagne

I bought the swarvoski ones on ebay so they were almost 1/2 the price. I did see some that were more rhinestone looking in the Now & Forever catalog. Did you try there? Here is the link, they are not in the stem but on the base and are about $50 (much less expensive) Now and Forever

I think it really depends on your crowd. Our crowd is a bit rowdy and for many of them this is their first holiday alone without children so they are planning on a "party" I figure our older people will go home right after cake and first dances but the rest of us will stay and play. Our dinner is from 7:30 to 9:30, which we have a Flamenco dancer with live Spanish Guitarist until 8:30 performing during dinner. We have the DJ starting at 8:30 until the end of dinner with quiet music. we will do first dance at 9:30 and a parent/child dance (we chose to only do 2 dances so everyone can get their groove on). We will cut cake at 10 (we have a desert course with dinner so we wanted to wait a bit) and then the party starts. We booked him until 1.

I had a tank made that says "I'm the Bride" which I will wear until time for hair/makeup. I also bought personalized robes from SmartyPants for all of my girls (friends as we have no BM's) and the moms. Mine has the wedding date and crystals on the back Thanks for the tip on the bra....I don't wear one a lot around the beach but now I know not to just in case!

Amy you look gorgeous! Looks like you had a wonderful trip!

I am wearing blue shoes. I just receive blue lace "I Do" panties for my shower, but as they don't match my shoes tone of blue I think I will just wear the shoes.

FI and I did not want a traditional first dance (we are not the ballroom/waltzing type). We really don't want to do any solo dances so we are merging the mother/son and father/daughter into one parents dance adn after our first dance. We wanted to do a Paso Doble, but he doesn't love the music. We are looking for something that is very sweet & romantic but has some lively parts to it. We have someone that will choreograph a salsa or something to it for us but I cannot seem to find a site that has latin songs for first dances that are not a slow rumba. Any ideas? Thanks

I stayed at the Grand Lido in Negril in 2001 right after the hurricane and it was amazing! We loved the food and the staff was so friendly and accomodating. I would recommend it. My best friend also got married there the week of the hurricane so her guests did a no show but the pictures were beautiful and they had a wonderful time and no regrets. The property is split where one side is clothing optional. It was an interesting experience as we opted for that side as we wanted to be away from the main area and children for that trip. We had a blast!

You look wonderful! I love the tiers of the gown. I choose the 2nd veil...the length and slight detail is gorgeous

Such great ideas! I love all of these. I will have to talk to my Photog and see what my book is like, I never even thought about hte cover love how you all make me think outside the box!

I have not been to the RIU but when we made our decision my FI said something that made sense....why have everyone spend all this money to come all the way to Cabo if we are going to put them indoors. After thinking about it that way, I moved our to the pool area at our resort. Good Luck...either way, it will be amazing!

The lingerie I bought at Bloomingdales as they have a AP store in it here. They have a website: Women's Lingerie | Online shop | Agent Provocateur The dresses I bought in the last 2 weeks. The ivory tafetta one I bought at Macy's and the White LInen I bought at Bloomingdales. Thanks all!

Thank you ladies so much! I feel so much better now about the bustle. The other option which the sales lady showed me was one point under with tiers but I understand what the seamstress and all of you mentioned is that if I don't do french it will cover up all of the beautiful beadwork which I would prefer to showcase. Also, they would have to add hooks to the outside of my dress which was why I said to try the French instead. She is putting 12 ties under it. She said she would color code them and to always tie right to left and middle one last. I am hoping it is not that difficult! I can wait to see it in 2 weeks at my final fitting!

Frames to hold the bar menu, camera instructions, guest book instructions as well as this photo of FI and I on the beach in Cabo where we are getting married (in the 8x10) Guest Book is Elegant Chiffon Guest Book & Swarovski Engraved Crystal Pen. It will be on it’s own table with a solid blue silk table cloth which matches the dinner runners sprinkled with diamond confetti, accompanied by pictures of us in the crystal frame 8x10 along with a 5x7 frame with instructions to write their thoughts and wishes for us Guest table and place card table will have candle flower displays like this, except with mini green cymbidiums instead of dendrobiums Toasting Flutes-Swarovski crystal with crystal filled stems Cake: design to replicate the details of my dress, 3 tier. Each tier wrapped with peacock ribbon and Swarovski crystals at the bottom of the tier. Green cymbidiums on cake. Servers (from my mother, my Great Gma gave them to her on her wedding day) Cake Stand-already owned it, crystal Table Names as we only had six tables we opted to use some of our favorite places we have been together instead of numbers. I made these exactly like I did the invitations. Name card will be the blue paper backed to the ecru with name calligraphy in blue like the invitations as well. I think that is all for now....I will add any final items I realize I forgot in coming weeks. Thanks again!

COCKTAIL RECEPTION: The property has a large Palapa right above the beach where we will hold the cocktail reception while we take photos. The mariachis will line up around the outside of it (there are 10 of them). Seats will all be removed and high top table with silk blue and green alternating table cloths Personalized water bottles I made and assembled Dinner Reception: This will be held on the area surrounding the pool overlooking the ocean. All pool loungers will be removed and this is where the tables will go. The area right next to the pool will have those loungers swapped out for couches/chairs for people to relax during the party after dinner. The Jacuzzi will be surrounded by different sized candles and will have floating candles/flowers in it (couldn’t do in the pool as it is an infinity pool). Location for dinner (ignore the beach loungers) I bought all of my vases, candles, submersible lights, etc at FSS (wholesaler) and took it down in December. Mazarte is charging us a loose flower fee for the dinner table arrangements as she only has to add one single stem. I bought silk fabric and made all our linens as they did not have the right colors to match our wedding colors. Turned out less expensive, higher quality and a perfect match. Here are the sample tables I set up (ignore the bed sheet table cloth and fold up table/chairs I was using as my work area). I bought the chargers at ZGallery (they have me a 15% discount for buying in bulk) and it ended up cheaper than renting and they were a better match for our crystal theme. Flowers being placed on the arrangements are green cymbidiums, belles of Ireland (Fi is Irish), white cattaleya’s. Place card holders There will be a camera table with disposable cameras, just in case. I bought the ivory ones and my girlfriend did crystal designs differently on each one and more...

FI OUTFIT: This is the 2nd suit we bought him and LOVE it. He will be more comfortable. FG Dress (our only wedding party). His daughter is 4. This is before I had it altered and the green embellished ribbon was just tied on (added this and green sashes to the back to match the chuppah. Ceremony: will be on the beach, it is our legal ceremony We will have white chairs with lime green sashes. I took my fabric down for our chuppah to keep costs down. I bought it all at the fabric mart in LA for $1/yard. I am using ivory, lime green (same as chair bows which we made), and peacock blue in the middle. These will be tied back with fresh green cymbidiums on the posts. Mazarte is our florist and is assembling for us. Fans will be on the chairs wrapped in our wedding colors: Peacock Blue, Lime Green with hints of aqua (the white was removed) There will be two 4 foot vases with 2 stems of green cymbidiums, standing in the sand at the beginning of the aisle and two at the alter. I brought 8 stems of real touch green cymbidiums down to keep costs down as they are $180 each fresh. I paid $24 each at Orchid Affair in LA flower mart. From a foot away you cannot tell they are not real so I figured they would be fine for being placed on the sand. I have a basket my grandma and I made with left over fabric to hold the pashmina’s (not sure yet if I am going to put these out for the ceremony or the reception yet. The harp Trio will play for the ceremony more....

Veil from the back (I had an extra 18†added to this) SHOES: Christian Louboutin. They are my something blue. I loved them as they are my Peacock blue which is my wedding color (nothing comes in this...it is all baby blue, Turquoise or royal blue). It must have been meant to be (and they have a little wedding button on the top. and I got these to wear in the sand after the ceremony for photos so i don't ruin my pretty ones prior to the reception. Hair/makeup being done by Beauty Lounge (purple flower will be replaced with a feather/jeweled flower) Handbag was given to my mom on her college graduation by her great aunt Pennies for my shoes. I have the 2 pennies from my grandfather (who passed away) that he put in my mom’s shoes when she got married. And a 1945 gold Peso my mom bought in Mexico in 1973. JEWELERY I am wearing a necklace FI had made for me for the wedding. I showed the jeweler the dress and he designed this to match the lines on the dress. I am going to wear plain matching studs FI had made for me for my birthday. No pics yet as they are not finished until next week with our wedding rings. I will post when I get them. yes, there is still more....

Moms and best Friend Gifts (we are not having bridesmaids). Special bags with extra items, personalized robes, jewelry boxes with Silpada margarita earrings and each gets a different Silpada bracelet or necklace. Earrings Welcome Party is a Spanish Tapas dinner at Capella’s private Yacht Club on the marina Thurs. before the wedding as most guest arrive that day. We will be having a live Chicken and sausage paella serving station and lobster taco/sea bass taco station along with passed Tapas and a consumption bar. Guest will be served signature margaritas upon arrival, have Spanish wine tasting station and red/white sangria with a full bar. My Outfit BCBG white linen embellished dress with silver mirrored Jimmy Choo’s Tank for day of the wedding Dress: Lazaro with an Ines Di Santo veil On the Model On me at the first fitting (more alterations to go) more...

Pre-Travel brochure & Luggage Tags. I borrowed this from BDW ladies (thank you!). Each guest received 2 luggage tags each, there were four in total so with a couple there were no duplicates. All photos on luggage tags were taken by me except for the palapa. Co-Ed Shower: I have the cutest girlfriends. They started a checking account and have been depositing money each month to pay for our shower (party as he doesn’t like the word shower and it is co-ed) and my bachelorette. They have been meeting in secret 2x per month to arrange it…so sweet! Especially as we are not having a wedding party. My Outfit (BCBG) & Shoes FI Outfit (the original suit we bought for him for the wedding and then changed) OOT Bags (see Thread http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t34310 ) Towels with keycard holders First Aid Kit Lip Balm