coppergoddess13

I was looking between the two resorts as well. The main reason I chose the Palladium was, as Jennifer said, its cheaper for our guests. The wedding package at PA may be a little better than what the GP offers, but overall, I'm happier with the resort. Also, GP is much larger, with more amenities to offer our guests, and for us that was a plus since our wedding is doubling as our honeymoon- more space for us to get away from everyone at. Good luck choosing, and I doubt you can go wrong with either resort!

Thank you! Great info! I think we are going to do our cocktail hour over by the saltwater pool for a great location (we are planning on getting married at the gazebo). However, depending on the temperature, we may move it inside so that our guests are more comfortable- who knows! I'm looking into getting a photog to cover from about 1 or 1:30 until at least 5:30, possibly 6 or 7:30. We aren't having a hugely formal reception, but I want the first dance and father/daughter dance caught on professional film, hence the cocktail hour idea:). We'll see!

Mexicobride- which photographer have you chosen? I'm debating between flying in my own or having a local photog- I can see advantages to both, and I just haven't decided yet!

Yeah- I'm planning to have my photog take pictures of the cocktail hour (like a mini-reception) in case they have to leave before my actual reception (depending on how much coverage I get:). We'll see how it works out- so many photographer options!!

I've simplified it to this- we are staying together the night before, and up until preparations for the ceremony start. I'm not very superstitious- I just don't want him to see me as a bride until the moment I walk down the aisle. Hence, once I need to start getting ready, he gets kicked out of the room, goes to one of his gm's rooms and gets ready over there:). jcarson- I'm right there with you on booking a photographer. There are so many options, but I don't really know who I want, really! I'm thinking about flying one in, but I don't know about that, and I'm worried about a local photog just not showing up! *sigh* so many decisions (besides deciding on a private reception or on just doing one at the a la carte, which I haven't decided on yet either!).

Mexicobride- Our ceremony is going to be early as well, 1 or 2 pm (Rocio has said both to me!). We are planning to do the ceremony, and then have a cocktail hour, possibly do our first dance and father/daughter dance (so its done while the photog is there), and then have a cocktail hour from 2:30 to 3:30. We haven't quite decided if we will do pictures before or after the cocktail hour- I want my hair to still look good for them, but I don't want to abandon our guests while we do pictures! We may do pictures from 3:30 til 5:30 (when I think the dinner reception will be), and then cake cutting at dinner, followed by dancing at one of the bars where live music is played, etc. I'd be interested to hear how all you ladies are handling these choices!

AGI Tours came very highly recommended to me as a shuttle service to and from PDC. Their website is: Cancun Tours - Cancun Airport Transfers - Cancun Ground Transportation You might give them a try.

I don't really have too much done, but I just wanted to say hello to all my fellow Memorial Day brides! I'm getting married May 22, 2009 at the Grand Palladium resorts in Puerto Aventuras. So far, I have bought my dress, sent out STDs, booked the resort and wedding package, and... thats about it. I really need to get in gear! I almost have a photog picked, but its so hard to decide!

I am not getting married there, but I did look into it. The overall cost is what made me look elsewhere (for the wedding I want, which is relatively small and laid back, they quoted me over $15K, which is twice what I'd have paid at home). However, that being said, they did send me some amazing pictures of weddings they have done there, so they come out amazing, if you have that kind of budget. I'd let you see them, but I deleted them a while ago (why tease myself!). Good luck finding more info- its a gorgeous location!

Thank you! I tried to do a search, and I apparently search wrong b/c I didn't find those threads! You rock!

I'm nearly set on a a photographer, but then, of course, I found another photog whose work really appeals to me. I found Cecilia Dumas's site and love nearly all of the pictures on there, but I was wondering if anyone has worked with her, and what your experiences were? Thanks!

jcarson- We are trying to decide what to do for our reception as well! I want a semi-private area, and they've assured me that they can do that, so I'm not too worried about it. I'd really like to do the private reception, but that extra $45pp for it just prices it out of my range! Good luck in your planning, and if I get any interesting tid bits, I'll be certain to post them here.

They'll also let you book part of one of the a la carte restaurants for up to 40 guests at no additional charge. If you go over 40 guests, you must do the private reception, so we are trying to stay under that number (it gets pricey after that, though there are definitely some advantages to it!). I'm looking into the cocktail hour and what all it includes- I'll let you ladies know:)

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Now I have a lot of additional research to do!

Just heard back from XCaret- the rep said that they try to reserve on-site photo sessions for those who are getting married there only. However, if you pay a $1000 fee, they will allow you to take pictures at the site. Needless to say, that puts Xel-Ha high on my list, and totally removes XCaret- thats about 1/2 my photography budget right there!!!

My FSIL wants to go to a more 'authentic' Mexican city either before or after our wedding, and she has invited FI and I to join them for a fun trip extension. I'm not really wanting to pay extra for a multi-city plane ticket (flying into one place, out of another), and for a flight within the country, as would be required if we went to Mexico City, so I'm looking for options along the RM that allow for a less tourist-y experience. Any suggestions? We are going to be in Puerto Aventuras for the wedding portion of the trip, but we are willing to go farther down the coast, if there are any great cities farther down (or a bit inland as well). Thanks ladies!

Awesome! Thanks for the suggestions- I spent about 15 minutes in Michael's today just kind of staring at all the supplies, unsure of how to start!

Those templates are fantastic! Thanks for posting them!

I'm looking around trying to figure out what all I need for getting my 40 boarding pass invites done. However, I'd appreciate some tips and hints on what tools you found that worked best for making the passes, getting them glued/stuck together and perforated, etc. I don't want to buy too many little extras to get this done, but I want them to look good, so any tips would be REALLY appreciated! Thanks!

Adias- yes, I'm nearly set on doing TTD at Xel-Ha- if they'll let me, why not? My wedding isn't until next May, so it will be a while until pictures are up, but don't worry, I'll happily share afterwards!! So many great options there! I haven't heard back from XCaret yet, but I've heard they are a little less lenient on wedding pictures, so we'll see. I'll be sure to update you:)

I've been looking all over town for starfish hole punches, and I can't find ANY. Plus, the only place I found online that had one I like has a $20 minimum order, and then $10.99 on top of that for shipping, so... I'm hoping one of you ladies has one that you are ready to part with! Please PM me or respond here and let me know! Thanks!

I was strongly considering Barcelo Maya for my wedding. We ended up going with another resort, but the Barcelo had some great wedding packages! My TA was really pushing for the Azul Sensatori- she said it should be a great option for those who want the elegance of an adults only resort with the flexibility of allowing kids. I think that, depending on what you want, either will be a great fit. Barcelo was more affordable and will have a greater selection of activities and foods, and a drawback for us of the Sensatori was no buffets (my family loves them), but it all depends on what your priorities are! Good luck picking!

DRod- TTD is short for trash the dress- its when you wear your wedding dress (or a nice white dress similar to a wedding dress) and take fun, crazy pictures in random places. This link has lots of TTD ideas. Bio For those who are interested, I received a response from a person at Xel-Ha, and they do allow pictures at the ecopark. You have to sign a form before you go in, but otherwise you are free to do as you wish, so long as you don't interrupt the enjoyment of the park for others! Yay!!

I'm a bit scared... There are a variety of things that make me worried about the next few years, but I currently have a pretty stable job (I work in a university- once you are in, you're set). As long as we keep an even keel with our saving, I think FI and I will weather out the financial issues well enough. It just frustrates me how much food costs now! As Cayo mentioned- the emphasis on ethanol has driven corn prices through the roof- so more farmers plant it, and so everything else gets more expensive. The sad part is that ethanol is not the gasoline savior that the gov is touting it as, and in the next decade, they will most likely have to pull funding from the program... which will effectively shut down all the older ethanol plants... which will punch a huge hole in the corn prices... Cheaper food for us suddenly, but thousands of farmers will be struggling. So, sadly, even if we cycle out of this current oncoming depression within the next couple years, its likely that another one will appear fairly soon due to this. *sigh* I wish I wasn't in the animal industry where I'd hear about that- then I'd have less to think about!

out of that:: time to buy groceries!