nibsmom

For people wondering about receipts and customs - check out the customs threads in the Riviera Maya and Cancun section of the forum. It explains a lot. For those of you leaving tomorrow - HAVE FUN!!!! We'll be so excited to see your pictures when you come back!! RIUMB - Yes! I think I'm going to be super hot, but I love that dress, LOL...so I wouldn't have it any other way!

I pref'ed the Nizuc side because it's quieter, closer to wedding stuff, and seemed to be better to meet up with people. I figured with the group I have going, it would be better not to stay on the party side. I actually didn't know about the Grand side when I booked - I'm not sure if I would change it if I went back though. I haven't been there, but it seems like the Grand might be too quiet - maybe a little too remote??

Quote: Originally Posted by CANCUN09 OOT-bags--- my contract person in MIA (Katherine) who is AWESOME!!! recommended to not ship anything because 75% of things never make it she said. Needless to say bringing 120 of each and everything is going to be a hassle and I'm sure a real adventure to get thru customs. Any recommendations?? I heard someone say to pack receipts I will definitely do that. Flowers-----I'm getting the rose bouquet included in the complimentary package and I have asked to buy 10 gold, 10 orange, 10 mini gold, and 10 mini orange loose calla lillies the only thing they are offering is to paint them? What gives Can they not get the flowers. One of my BM's works as a florist so wants to doctor the things up ourselves instead of paying their enormous prices. TinaM2b- I think it was you who mentioned being able to mix and match some of the menu items. I just got a response from my WC that I had to choose one or the other. I was trying to combine some of the hors d'ouevres from Intl 1 and Intl 2 list and she told me I couldn't? Gonna push definitely. I think that's it for now. We are staying at MP Tues-Sun and checking in Sun Palace away from our enormous party Sun-Tuesday. Woohoo!! Another July bride! There are so many of us! I wish you luck with the OOT bags going through customs - I only have 25 guests! There is a thread somewhere in the Riviera Maya section of the forum that talks a lot about going through customs - I would check that out to see if anyone has brought that many bags. As far as the flowers go - I would do it yourself if you can - it will probably be cheaper. I know they can order some flowers though - they have ordered orange peonies for my bouquet! As for switcheroos - I really feel like it depends on your WC is what I'm beginning to think. I'm also having an issue with my WC telling me I can't have long tables at my reception unless she applies with her supervisor for an exception - yet I KNOW other brides on the forum have easily gotten long tables at their receptions. So, I don't know....I feel like it really depends on your WC for some things. I know cutierosie also have switches in her menu for her events, and didn't seem to have any problems getting them.

Quote: Originally Posted by honey740 Hey, did you guys know we should have receipts for everything in the OOT bags? Ughhhh just read this in passing on the forum. I downloaded a word template and made my own though Yeah, I am super nervous about going through customs. I have already broken down everything into little ziplocs - I am wondering if I shouldn't have done that. I'm not sure now how to navigate the receipts because I bought some of items in the bags from another bride on the forum and I don't have real receipts for them...I guess I can just print my paypal receipt...do you think that will work? Tina, I can't believe how soon you are leaving. I'm leaving in less than two weeks and I have SOO much I have to get done for work and the wedding. I would kinda be freaking out if I was as close as you! But, I'm super excited for you too!!!! Have fun at your shower!!

pyxystyx, I think it depends on your contract. Some of our contracts state # of rooms OR room nights. Some people's don't. I know another bride a while back had the same issue. You should take a look at your wedding contract and see what it states - one criteria, or both.

Quote: Originally Posted by TinaM2b Leanna, If you are getting married legally in Mexico, one of the sheets I received does state the witnesses also have to be there early. Unfortunately, I don't remember how early. We are only doing the symbolic. I just checked my wedding contract. It states, "Witnesses must arrive two (2) working days prior to the ceremony. If witnesses are not available, Palace Resorts will provide them free of cost." Clears that right up! Cha-Ching!

Quote: Originally Posted by pyxystyx Just so you guys know, I have confirmed twice with my membership reservations person on which tours are temporarily cancelled, and she said they are the Chichen Itza and the Tulum tours. (Of course, the ones I wanted to deffinitely try and do) : / I looked yesterday and that is deffinitely not listed on the website, so just wanted to throw that out there for y'all. She did say though that it was some kind of transportation issue they were trying to work out, and the tours MAY be restored by the time we get there in August, but no guarantees for the foreseeable future. BOOOO. Oh well, we'll just go during our honeymoon at the Excellence. I guess we'll just wait and see what is offered free when we get down there and decide if we want to do one of them then!

Quote: Originally Posted by Leanna35 Ladies- Our guests received the $100 spa credit when they booked, does anyone know how this works? Hey Leanna! The 100 dollars just comes off your bill automatically. I emailed to book a massage and she sent me back the total price less the $100. Just remember it $100 per ROOM, not per PERSON, so if guests are sharing rooms they will need to figure that out....

Quote: Originally Posted by Leanna35 I am also concerned about witnesses!!! Does anyone know if they have to be in Cancun 3 days early as well? My TA said they didn't but then I was told they did!!!! If so, I have a problem because all of my guests arrive the day before the wedding. No one has mentioned anything to me about witnesses being there early, and it doesn't say anything on their website as far as I can tell. The resort also provides witnesses though, so it shouldn't be a problem if you're guests don't arrive until later.

Quote: Originally Posted by BBtoB I got waxed today too...did my eyebrows and umm, lip? Never did that before...just went in for the brows and she asked if I wanted it...I am not at all hairy,just peach fuzzy, but I heard your makeup goes on really smooth, so I said WTF. Not bad. No bikini wax tho...I just shaved, darn it! I should have planned that one better. Ooo...I can never get my lip done in the salon, for some reason, it always makes me break out there. My eyebrows are always just fine though! It's so strange! I don't think I'll venture a bikini wax. With my sensitive skin, who knows what will happen! I can't believe you all are leaving in 2 days!! How exciting!!! Good luck with packing and all...I know I'm gonna need it when it's my turn! How many bags are you going to end up bringing??

Shinbinea, I haven't heard anything about flower vendors - I'm sorry! I would ask maybe your Miami coordinator? Honey, congrats! We are getting legally married in Mexico, so we'll have to wait. You must be so excited!

New York, it depends on where you are traveling to - I need them because I'm going to Mexico!

Oh, MayBride, I hope you're okay!! Waxing just kills me! I only get my eyebrows done when I absolutely have to - I always bleed. Sensitive skin stinks! I still have so much to do, and we're leaving so soon! Two weeks from tomorrow! I also have TON of stuff to do for work....ehhh, but who wants to think about that! I bought a ton of maracas, and I hate the way they are painted, so I'm undertaking a huge project to repaint them all. LOL....and I don't even know how I'm going to get it all down there. I started packing trials last night, and it DEFINITELY looks like we are going to have to pay to check extra bags. I'm also REALLY nervous about going through customs! I feel like I shouldn't be, but I am! I just worry that I won't have a receipt or something, and I'll get yelled at, LOL. We aren't bringing down anything expensive...it's not like they'd harass me for 24 packs of tissues or whatnot, so hopefully we'll get through without a problem!

I would also check ebay! There are a ton of dresses on their for super cheap - usually under 100 dollars!

Eureaka, I leave on the 14th and return the 25th. I'll also have my laptop, so hopefully I can check the forum once in a while! The second week is going to be at a different resort though!

Holy poop! I can't believe you're leaving in 7 days!!! You must be so freaking excited!! I'm leaving in like 17 and I'm so freaking excited!!! I will be completely crazy by the time I get down to 7 days I think! I will continue on with the tables. I just don't like being argumentative. I just don't understand why she's telling me I can't when I KNOW other brides have. Oh well. It won't be the end of the world if I have circular tables I guess. So, I've continued to have nightmares about the wedding. I had a horrible one last night that I missed the wedding entirely, and then I had no make up or dress and my hair was a mess. LOL. It was crazy! I've also have had nightmares about driving...LOL. I'm learning how to drive, starting yesterday. Yes, I am 27, and I have never learned to drive. I drove on the road for the first time yesterday though! It was a big accomplishment! Yay for me and all the 16 year olds of the world! LOL!

Holy poop! I can't believe you're leaving in 7 days!!! You must be so freaking excited!! I'm leaving in like 17 and I'm so freaking excited!!! I will be completely crazy by the time I get down to 7 days I think! I will continue on with the tables. I just don't like being argumentative. I just don't understand why she's telling me I can't when I KNOW other brides have. Oh well. It won't be the end of the world if I have circular tables I guess. So, I've continued to have nightmares about the wedding. I had a horrible one last night that I missed the wedding entirely, and then I had no make up or dress and my hair was a mess. LOL. It was crazy! I've also have had nightmares about driving...LOL. I'm learning how to drive, starting yesterday. Yes, I am 27, and I have never learned to drive. I drove on the road for the first time yesterday though! It was a big accomplishment! Yay for me and all the 16 year olds of the world! LOL!

Hey Tina and all! We are doing our welcome dinner at Arrecifes. It should be a good time! I'm excited for that! Right after our ceremony, we are having a cocktail reception. We chose the mexican menu. This should run until about 2:30ish. Then we are going to have an informal meet up for those who want to keep the party going at the Nizuc Lobby Bar. Our reception will start at 6pm. We are having the Polynesian buffet. We also are getting a small one layer vanilla wedding cake. We figured since we get dessert with our buffet (like three of them!) not everyone would want wedding cake. We probably won't do any substitutions or additions to the menus. We really like them both. The only thing I was super die hard about was that there is plenty of guacamole and chips at the cocktail reception, and that's already on the menu. An update on the tables: my WC told me I could RENT rectangular tables if I wanted to. I'm like WTF!? I know other brides have done this and not gotten charged. I sent her an email last night indicating the picture in the Reception document with the U shaped table, and asked her if I could do something like that. Part of me wonders if this is a battle worth fighting, but I don't want to be unhappy at my reception either!!

I was planning on just putting my two dresses and FI's garments in one garment bag. I THINK it will all fit. LOL. I was told by Mexicana that I could carry on my wedding dress as long as it weighed less than 22 pounds (but I doubt they will weigh it), and it is on a wooden hanger. I thought I read somewhere that they have no closets on their planes, but when I chatted with an agent today, she told me that they did. I'm prepared to put it in the overhead too anyways, just in case! I'll also be able to bring a personal item (which will be a LARGE purse...LOL) and FI will have a rolling back and a backpack! I hope we get everything to fit!!

I've been hunting like crazy for starfish necklaces too!! I came across those and considered ordering them too! They are really cute and a great price!! I didn't because I was worried that the wouldn't come in time before I leave (18 days), and I had read that a lot of ebay sellers from China sell silver plated jewelry as solid silver. I ended up just getting five of these: 18" Sterling Silver .8mm Fine Singapore Necklace 2347 - eBay (item 200346970415 end time Jul-27-09 01:39:41 PDT) And five of these: Sterling Silver Star Fish Pendant Charm 5128 - eBay (item 200346980133 end time Jul-27-09 02:38:10 PDT) They were more expensive, but at least I know I'll get them on time! Hopefully I can get the charms on the chains without having to get jeweler's pliers. gulp!

We are honeymooning at the Excellence. It's close to the Moon Palace, so we'll just take a cab down there the day after our wedding. It's adults only, which was important, and it looks really nice and luxurious, which is something we wanted. I'm super excited!!!

I hope everyone is feeling better and you escaped unscathed! My mom and brother both have the swine flu, but they are both just about over it. I told them at least they had some immunity for when they are in Mexico! HAHA.

Hey Eureaka! Thanks for the document - I'll take a look. I totally just switched my welcome dinner from Barracuda to Arrecifes. I read the food was much better. Since there was already another dinner booked, I'm out on the terrace, but I think it will be nice anyways, as long as there's a breeze!

Oh! And I know that someone on here was also wondering about the cost of votive candles at the MP - they are $4 each! I think we are going to bring our own tealights...

Tracy, I know it's not that...we are on the huge Moon Light Terrace - it holds like 200 people and we only have 26. LOL. I sent her another email saying I had seen and talked to brides who had done long tables - I know that cutierosie did them...and asked her if I needed to pay extra. I just don't see the point of having 2.5 circular tables, especially when 4 of the guests are children under 4 years of age. I feel like it would create a separated feel.