Jena0609

My mom is throwing us a beach shower theme too. The invitations are going to be a "message in a bottle." I am ordering them from oriental trading and we bought sand and small shells to put inside the bottle along with the invite. I think they are going to turn out so cute. She also bought tiki torches for $3 each from Big Lots. Just some ideas.

KellyWinter1-Did you go on any of the free tours? If so, how were they?

Ohiobride-I just re-read your review and saw that you were out there until 10:30. So I guess that is the case for all outside venues. That sucks!!! Our wedding is at 6 and after pics, dinner, we won't have a lot of time for our reception (unless we have it inside) which I don't want. That would the defeat the whole purpose of us have a DW (for us anyway). I am thinking that I might have to change our wedding time to 3:00. That way we can do all of our stuff and then have a private reception from 7-10. OH BROTHER!!

Quote: Originally Posted by ohiobride15 Jena0609: We had our reception by one of the coves on the north side. We chose not to do the mundaca rooftop becuase it was just way too big. I loved our location. We were right on the ocean and we were away from everything so it felt like it was just us. Below is a picture of the location during the day and at night. Its kind of hard to see at night. How long were you able to stay out at the inlet? My WC just informed me that we can only be outside until 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Was that the case for you?

Has anyone purchased their OOT bags, fans, decor in Mexico? We are contemplating if we should order all of this stuff before we leave or wait until get to our destination to shop around. We are getting married in Riviera Maya. Has anyone purchased items in this area? If so can you give us some pointers and where you shopped?

I like the idea of the coloring book to keep them occupied. I might add some type of game for them to play together during the dance. Great ideas!

Thanks for the info. I don't we will send out formal invites...like you said those who are going have booked and know where to find the info. I need to get invites for our AHR though...add one more thing to the list. KatyKo-I hear you in reference to the people that say they are going and haven't booked! We have about 10 people still lingering too! I actually have a friend that has booked but hasn't applied for her passport. She is going to pay extra to have it rushed...but she is going to drive me crazy!!!!! Soon2bepowers-what are you putting on your pre-travel brochures?

That is disappointing that she didn't mention that to you. We are also getting married at 6:00, and I am a little worried about the lighting as well. Yazmin said that the sun sets around 7:30...but we are hiring another photographer and he is going to get there around 4:00 so at least we can get the shots of me and my BM's, mom, etc. That way right after the wedding we can just do our wedding shots. Did you go to the lounge and night club there? How was it?

Thank you so much for taking those pics and for the information. Congratulations also! How does it feel to be married? Did you get an outside photographer or did you use the one from the resort? Were you pleased with your WC once you got there? Can't wait to see your pics!

Ok, is this really bad? I wasn't planning on sending out actual invitations. We sent out our STD's and I figured if a lot of people were attending then I would mail out formal invitations...well it turns out that there are about 24 people going, so should I even send them out? Are you ladies sending them out with the AHR info too, or what is the deal? I still have so much to do! To do: Shoes Jewerly BM jewerly FG baskets/buckets RB shell or something Ipod playlist Gifts...for everyone OOT bags and items for it (oh I bought six deck of cards) Get ring sized Buy fans and ribbon to decorate Welcome letter Readings for ceremony FG dresses-I bought them but not sure if I like them a whole lot! RB shirt I know there is alot more, I just can't think of it right now! I'm freaking out ladies

Like many of you have said it is tradition for some families...not for others. We will not be doing it at the DW reception, but at the AHR. Another idea that I have seen is that the groomsmen come in and "kidnap" the bride, then the BM's go around asking for ransom money to get her back. While the brides away she can freshen up or in my aunt's case go have a few drinks! Sometimes the both the bride and groom are taken.

Quote: Originally Posted by ch2344 I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Lovely Love Story, unfortunately FH did not. We are using an exerpt from a book called "I Like You." It's very long, so I took out lots of parts. Here is the portion we are using (it's typed the way my friend will be reading it) I LIKE YOU I like you, and I know why. I like you because you are a good person to like. I like you because when I tell you something special, you know it’s special, and you remember it a long long time. You say, “Remember when you told me something special?†And both of us remember. When I think something is important, you think it’s important too. When I say something funny, you laugh. I think I’m funny and you think I’m funny too. I like you because everything that happens is nicer with you. I can’t remember when I didn’t like you - It must have been lonesome then. I like you because…because….I forget why I like you - But I do. So many reasons: On the Fourth of July I like you because It’s the Fourth of July. On the Fifth of July, I like you too. If you and I had some drums and some horns and some horses, If we had some hats and some flags and some fire-engines, We could be a HOLIDAY We could be a CELEBRATION We could be a WHOLE PARADE See what I mean? Even if it was the nine-hundred-and-ninety-ninth of July; Even if it was August; Even if it was way down at the bottom of November; Even if it was no place particular in January; I would go on choosing you and you would go on choosing me…Over and over again. That’s how it would happen every time. I don’t know why…I guess I don’t know why I like you really. Why do I like you? I guess I just like you. I guess I just like you because I like you. Here is an amazing reading repository (where I found I Like You) for "non-traditional" brides and badass couples (their words, not mine haha). There are some traditional/sappy but if you have the patience to go through them you are likely to find something. Hope this helps! Kvetch: Vows => Can we make a giant ceremony readings repository? I like this one. I also found a reading on the link that you posted. Thanks.

Thanks for the info...one less search I have to do!

Ladies, I am very skeptical about buying shoes online. Have you ladies found that the shoes you have purchased online fit just fine? My shoe size varies...depending on the shoe. It ranges from 9.5 to 10, and it is narrow! I have found a few shoes online but I am unsure about purchasing them. I need to find some shoes fast...the day is creeping up on me. YIKES!

Quote: Originally Posted by Dez921714 I wanted Aqua shoes to match my BM dresses, but no one would let me......It's ok though, I just ordere these and I LOVE them I know this post is from awhile back...but where did you find your shoes? I love them.

Danielle, My WC told me that we can bring our own rose petals for our flower girls to throw, so I am sure that you can just do that for the decor. I can't remember which bride it was but I know that she told her WC that she didn't want the red-runner and they told her that they wouldn't put it out...well on the day of the wedding it was there but her FI had them remove it. So I am sure that you can just let them know that you don't want it and have them (or bring your own) rose petals put down. I would bring down your own...if you don't mind using fake petals because the price is around $35 for them to provide rose petals for the flower girls. Rbarzu, The red runner is part of the old packages (which I think a lot of us have). But if you selected the Amber package then you will get the color that goes with it.

Quote: Originally Posted by BillysBride Believe me, I understand. Billy started out the EXACT same way. Everything I would mention, he would say "That defeats the purpose of doing it in Mexico." See, it was HIS idea, HIS dream to do it on the beach in Mexico to begin with. I'd never even thought about such a thing. But here's the thing that helped me with him. I told him that as much as it was HIS desire and his dream to have a beach wedding..it was also MY wedding too. And I asked him if he didn't think I should be able to have my wishes and dreams about it too. That shut him up and down and he hasn't said a word more about it since. My situation was the same as BillysBride. It was my FI idea to have a DW. I wanted a traditional wedding here at home. But after much persuasion we agreed on a DW, but I told him from the beginning that as long as I was able to have our first dance, father/daughter dance, cake cutting...well I guess all the traditional wedding stuff that I would be fine with having a DW. I expressed to him from the beginning that even though we are having a DW that I still wanted my dream wedding and he promised me that I would have everything that I wanted. We are a little over our budget but we are both getting what we want. Be upfront and don't settle, make this the day that you have always dreamed of. NO REGRETS!

We are going to have at sort of AHR. It is going to be right smack in the middle of where I am from and where my FI is from. It is going to be in a small, and I mean a small town...or should I say ghost town (FMIL home town). Let's just say that our guests will either have to camp out...or stay in the next small town over. I contemplated even doing it, but my FMIL and her sister (future aunt) are paying for it and I know that it is very important to my FMIL. I am not sure how many people will be attending, and that is why I am contemplating wearing my dress again. I also doing a TTD session and I am wondering how my dress is going to look after I get it dry cleaned. I am leaning toward having everyone wear their dresses and attire...shoot they are paying enough for it might as well get some use out of it. But do you think that the number of guests should determine if we do/do not wear it?

Ok, I finally booked a photographer! I went with Sascha Gluck! Another bride on the forum used him and her pics were awesome. We booked him for six hours on our wedding day and for two the next day for TTD. His prices are reasonable...compared to what I have seen. I really can't wait to the TTD. He said that he knows of some awesome Cenotes and that he is a cave diver...I think that is what he said...so I am taking that he knows which are the best Cenotes to do the TTD. Yay!

Also, did it get really cold at night?

My WC sent me a picture of the inlet...I think we are going to go with that area. Mundaca is way to big...nice...but big! So they set up the lights for you with no extra cost? One of my concerns is not having enough light. Also, you just brought your Ipod dock station right? Obviously there is an outlet for all of that stuff right? What about a restroom, is there one near by? Once I get a drink in me...I have to go...all the time!

I plan on wearing my actual ceremony dress. My mom bought my dress and I talked to her about it. Right away she said "It's your dress, and asked when would I wear it again anyway?" I had thought about wearing it at our AHR, but I am still not sure. Either way a few girls have mentioned that once they got it dry cleaned that it looked brand new. I am so excited...I heard that some of the best pictures are taking that day. Yay!

Wow! $5 bucks isn't that bad. Did you have your reception on top of Mundaca's? My WC finally emailed me the picture (which she said that she had all ready reserved it for us), even though I only asked for the pic and not that I wanted to reserve it. It's awesome, but it's big. If it's not you who had their reception there...where did you have it?

Awsome pics ladies! I may have missed this in the thread, but when are you giving these to your FI? I read that someone is giving it to him on their 1st anniversary, but is anyone giving it to them on their wedding day as the "wedding day gift"?

Quote: Originally Posted by KLC77 Jena, we used our ipod with the dock and it was definitely loud enough. Our reception was outside overlooking the beach and there was no problem with the sound. We had 28 people total. Thank you.What kind of docking station do you have? We have one, but we are looking into getting a different one.