Simistar

Congrats!! I know the whole photographer thing can be STRESSFUL!:-)

LOVE them! But for some reason the link won't open for me...anyone else having this problem...? Can I ask how much they were since I can't open the link..? :-) Thanks!

All I can say is...wow. Brilliant:-)

Thanks SO much for posting that review! The reviews on Trip Advisor are driving me nuts...one review I think we have nothing to worry about...the next review I freak out:-)

Just a suggestion for girls looking for some "beachy" stuff to put on the tables, or in hurricanes etc... Yankee Candle makes a boxed potpurri called "Beach Walk" that is essentially a clear plastic box (so, easy to transport!) that is FILLED with starfish, shells, stripped white bark branches etc in the baby blue/white/tan kind of colour scheme...and it smells good b/c it's potpurri :-) I plan on spreading some around each table, around the candles... Here's a link, if anyone's interested, to the Yankee Candle, potpurri section on their website...you have to scroll down a bit until you find "Beach Walk".... Yankee Candle - Potpourri

holy drama!:-) I also don't have kids (yet), so maybe I am being totally insensitive here, but I do have LOTS of friends who have kids and I've never heard of ONE of them turning up a FREE trip b/c it interfered with their child's nap time... I think she just didn't want to go...I think anyone who really wants to be there for you (and your FI) will find a way to be there...at least that's what I have found with the people who have RSVP'd to come to our wedding... But no matter what, you're going to have an amazing day and IT'S YOUR FREAKIN' WEDDING and you'll have a great time and so will everyone there and you'll look beautiful and in the end...you won't even notice the people who didn't make it:-) At least, that's my 2 cents:-) Sigh

Wow --- thanks so much!!! I'll PM you my e-mail address right now! Hope you had a good trip! I bet it was quite a whirlwind...soooo appreciate you taking the time to help out those of us who can't go on a site visit!

I went to the downtown Vancouver Bay today and found light/baby blue linen table runners for $3.99 each! Whoo-hooo! Thanks for the heads-up on the sale:-) They didn't have much left downstairs by the luggage by the time I got there though... I got the linen table runners on the fifth floor...I think they have them in white, tan/khaki, and baby blue...and maybe an off-white as well (can't quite remember) if anyone's interested:-) I also found something that was really cool and NOT on sale (of course:-)) that someone else might be interested in... On the same floor as the table runners (fifth), there's a section for Yankee Candles...and they have boxes of Yankee Candle potpurri. One of the types of potpurri is called "Beach Walk" and is PACKED with starfish, shells, little stripped bark branches and other "beachy" items that are all in the white/tan/baby blue colour-scheme...I'm going to spread it out on the tables around the candles! And maybe even put some inside the glass candle holders too. Anyway, it all comes in one neatly packaged clear box for $21. (and it smells good b/c it's potpurri:-)) Oh, here, found a link with a pic: Yankee Candle - Beach Walk

At some point I found this link on this forum and saved it... Floralytes, floralites, flora lytes, floralights, florallytes, LED lights, LED candles I THINK maybe it was from a post from Sol Tamargo when she was looking at decorations for her wedding... I'm not sure if she ever reviewed them (or even used them!) -- but they seem reasonably priced... Maybe send her a message and ask...? Good luck:-)

Quote: Originally Posted by kisskissmd Thank you Simistar! Very helpful...I think I might just stick with the "let's all meet down at X restaurant" option for Friday night then...that is getting pretty expensive for my guest count of 50! Ugh, destination weddings do not save money after all...what a crazy time. But I am super happy to be having one, nonetheless! Oh, yes -- if we were having 50 guests I don't think we'd do it either! (We only have about 20)... You'll probably have to wait at one of the restaurants to be seated with that many people, but at least it's no extra cost!:-) Actually, maybe if you give the restaurant a heads-up, they can accommodate you better...? Good luck:-)

me too! Might have to take an extended break at work:-)

Quote: Originally Posted by MsSunshine Hi, I've been searching around for possible resorts to renew my vows. I just looked at SMB's website and pics from one of the posts. This place looks amazing! Thanks for sharing information you received from them. No problem! That's what we're all here for:-)

Quote: Originally Posted by twixygrl No, it was not one vistaprint had. My graphic artist friend did the entire menu in his design program and then emailed me a pdf to upload. I will ask him if he can do the document in another program that we can use as a "template" to share around the forum. As it is now, I do not think you can edit the PDF. Love, love, LOVE your menus! So much so, that if you ever figure out if it can be uploaded as a "template" -- I would for sure use it! Let us all know about that when you find out:-) Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by kisskissmd Hi Simistar and all other SMB ladies, I'm writing to see what kind of package you booked with SMB in order to receive the on-beach bonfire option for (free). We have the Silver package, and so have the private cocktail reception and private dinner reception included, but I ws under the presumption too that we would need to pay more for a private beach or poolside "rehearsal dinner" type of event. Hey kisskissmd! Yes -- you DO have to pay extra for a private event. (Your reception and cocktail hour are included in the package you bought...) BUT, if you want to do a private event on the Friday before your wedding, it's $25 US /pp.(The menus to choose from are posted on page two of this thread...the attahment is labelled "welcome dinner menus") So, for us, we're having our welcome dinner on a Friday night too! And we've decided to do a bonfire at the beach...so, it' still $25 pp, UNLESS you want to add any extras...different seating, different dessert, music etc. The $25/pp includes food, servers and seating for guests.... Hope this helps!

Quote: Originally Posted by adias.angel Thank you everyone!! sdbtrflygrl, can't wait to hear your report when you get back. I do have a question. I believe it was at dreams the WC was happy to decorate with items your brought with you, like the chair bows. Is that true for secrets too? I just heard back from Cecilia (the WC) about this...and posted some info... Basically,she said YES, they WILL decorate with items you bring! Whoo-hoo!

Quote: Originally Posted by Kits55 Simistar: i asked Cecilia the same thing about having a beach bonfire for a welcome party and she never gave me any further information than what she gave you. I also asked about having lounge furniture for the cocktail hour and she said it could be looked into but also never came back with anything specific. Hey again! So this was another thing I heard back from Cecilia about... She said YES, we can do a beach bonfire and even though I asked like ten different times and ways, it seems there's not actually an extra cost for this.(that is, no an extra cost ON TOP of the $25 pp for a private event that you have to pay...) That includes, food and servers and seating. So, we'll do the bonfire with the "BBQ Theme" menu (you can see all the menus I posted on page two of this thread...called "welcome dinner menus")... We also asked about having s'mores (you know..the "camping" dessert? :-) Graham crackers with toasted marshmallows and chocolate chips?:-)) She said YES they can do this, but it's $2 extra pp. They provide seating, but it's just the regular seating they provide for any vent...not "lounge" furniture...(which I think you CAN get, but once again, there would be an extra charge...) Hope this helps!

Quote: Originally Posted by Kits55 Ouch! That tax really kills the price of everything! Do you know if they'll let you mail stuff down there to put together on the days before the wedding? I've been thinking all along that I'd like to make my own center pieces, invites, STDs, favors, gift bags, bouquets (natural touch flowers) and flower arch. That's too much stuff to bring into MX I think so I wonder if they'd hold that stuff for me? I JUST heard back from Cecilia about a lot of things I've been having trouble getting info on..and this was one of them:-) So, I asked her if her/her staff would be able to put on chair bows that I bring, as well as putting out placecards and placecard holders, and menu cards that I'm planning on making etc...and she said no problem! That her staff would be "happy" to do it:-) Of course, she didn't mention a fee, so who knows if they charge extra...but really, how much could they charge for putting on a chair bow? :-) So, bottom line, I don't think it will be a problem... Also, I'm packing a lot of crap in an extra suitcase...BUT, my mother-in-law (who lives in a different city than we do) is going to UPS a box to the resort ahead of time so she doesn't have to bring a lot of stuff with her...(To be honest I have NO IDEA what she would be shipping ahead of time..) So, that's a possibiity, though of course, I'm not sure how much that would cost... Quote: Originally Posted by Kits55 ATTN: EVERYONE ON THIS POST I need some help if you have it! I started the whole process of booking with Secrets Maroma when they were having a promotion (or at least I think it's a promotion because I can't find it on their website anymore). The promotion was if you book a minimum of 10 rooms the bride and groom would get a free room upgrade, giving them a room with internet in it. We are going through Luxe and the girl I'm working with now says that Cecilia says that she's completely unaware of that. I emailed back and forth with a girl that got married at Secrets the first weekend it was open! So i don't know how she CAN"T know about it, she must know about it. So my question is if any of you have gotten that deal, have heard of the deal, or have any emails or information about it. If you do and don't mind sharing I would be forever grateful. Thanks! This is SO my favorite since now I don't feel like I'm alone. We booked in July and to be honest, I hadn't heard of this promotion...that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, I just probably didn't do my "homework" :-) Our TA certainly never mentioned it, but b/c we have people coming from everywhere (US, Canada, England...) she suggested that we NOT do the "block room" thing b/c it would be difficult b/c everyone would have to book at the same time, in the same room category etc... As for Internet being available...I know I've read on TripAdvisor that there are some free computers & Internet to use in like the business centre or something...I think I also read that all rooms will at some point have Internet access included...but don't quote me on that. I think some random poster on TripAdvisor said that..your TA should be able to find out though, no? Good luck!

Quote: Originally Posted by catandcleo you lucky girl... for my work, i make and use Excel spreadsheets daily. I sometimes see them in my sleep. (I think i might need to change careers!) I am glad you found something to help you out! Haha! Yes, well, I purposely chose a career that does not require me to add or subtract or make any sort of spreadsheet that would involve math:-) I think barely passing Math 12 was a hint that it wasn't my niche:-)

Quote: Originally Posted by kevsgirl EEK!!! Talk to your wedding coordinator/resort and ask about this. My impression is that usually vendors do not eat with you and they have a different/less fancy meal? I don't know. Maybe they eat with the catering staff, KWIM? So in that case, you'd just have to ask to arrange a place for them to eat and meals to be ready for them for a set time. I would seriously hope that they wouldn't charge you $100 each. That is crazy! Yeah I know -- crazy...but that's what the WC said...I think maybe b/c we're using outside vendors, and not the hotel's... I am starting to think my resort's going to charge extra for the plates we eat our food on -- since they seem to charge extra for EVERYTHING!:-) If anyone else has this issue with providing vendor meals...what are you doing...?...anyone...?

Hi ladies, I'm a TOTAL Excel-dummy...had NEVER made a spreadsheet before in my life...but wanted to make one to calculate all our wedding costs, vendors etc all in one place, with one grand total. This site was so great! There's a video that plays and the girl talks you through each step and shows you each step along the way. And I now have a wedding budget excel spreadsheet! Thought any other Excel-dummies out there might find it helpful:-) Wedding Budget Spreadsheet - Organize Wedding Budget in Spreadsheets Video - About.com Good luck!

Oh my. I just heard back from Cecilia with prices on those candle center-pieces.. $100 US plus 10% service/tax EACH! So I've now asked her if there are any simpler options...as in, just a candle:-)

Hey ladies, Just though I'd pass along these pics Cecilia just sent me of candle center-pieces...she hasn't actually sent me the PRICE list for them, but when she does, I'll post that too!

Quote: Originally Posted by kevsgirl Etiquette is that vendors are supposed to be fed/offered a meal, but they usually take their meals somewhere else when they're on a break. They're meant to have at least one break too, even if they're playing during the reception. It's a bit more difficult for those who are just playing for an hour during the ceremony. Here's what we're doing: 3:30 ceremony - 4pm cocktail hour - 7pm dinner Photographer: 2:45-6.15 - I invited her to stay for dinner, even though she'll be done almost an hour before. She said yes, she'd love to! So i'm glad for that. Mariachis: playing during cocktail hour for 1 hour from 4-5pm - I expect them to help themselves to the hors d'oeuvres and have a drink on us. Want them to be happy and hydrated! That's it. No more vendors. Oh - I completely forgot our minister. I will ask him in advance if he wants to have dinner with us. If not, I"ll ask him to come up for some hors d'oeuvres. Andrea Do you have to pay extra for the vendors' meals...? (or maybe your wedding package includes this...?) For our reception, we have to pay about $100 per extra plate over 20 people...and having our vendors to dinner would put us over 20 people... So I'm not sure what to do b/c paying for all our vendors to have dinner would be super expensive! Maybe, since the photog is supposed to leave before we start dinner, I can just tell him to help himself to the appies and booze during the cocktail hour (I guess he can take a break for a few mins!:-)) I think we'll do this with the musicians for the ceremony and cocktail hour as well... I don't mind paying for dinner for the DJ since he's there for four hours! Does this sound okay...? (And are you tipping your photog...? I've read some of the etiquette postings that you don't tip the photog if he's the owner...and that's the case with ours...) Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by lapperloo Thank you so much for replying I have been in contact with the WC, she is soo great. Way faster than the girl I was struggling with at Dreams Tulum. I tried to open your threads but I dont have enough point to do so. Im still new at this thing..sheesh lol Oh -- sorry! PM me your e-mail address and I'll just e-mail it to you directly... (do you just want the photog price list -- or the menus as well...?) I can send everything when I get home from work tonight... (as usual, wasting company time on BDW:-))

Quote: Originally Posted by syl1115 I know that everything will be fine. I, of course, had a horrible experience but that would only happen to me. Everything will be fine, don't worry. Seriously? What happened??! Is it all okay now Yeesh!