Shandalier

Quote: Originally Posted by Allisa Hey ladies... Question to you all... a friend has offed to take our wedding photos for us as a wedding present. Since the photographer dilemma seems to be one of the biggest, I think it would be a great route to go! Since she is offering the photos as a wedding pressy and we wouldn't be paying her, would she still need a permit? Anyone know the process of getting a permit? We are only two months out so time is getting short! Thank you in advance! Allisa Allisa, As long as your photographer stays as a guest for at least 3 nights you don't need a permit or anything. We are paying our photographer to go but they consider them a guest either way. Hope this helps! Shanda

Awesome! I love your rings!

This is amazing! Thanks for sharing!!

I agree with all you ladies about Wes! As an Austinite, he gives us such a bad name. A friend of a friend of mine knows him and said he is a total douche bag in real life (as if he isn't that way on the show). I also really like Ed and I'm glad he came back!

Tiffany told me that if it was easy set-up there would be no charge but they will make that decision when you sit down with them once you get there. I am also bringing a lot of my own stuff so I hope the set up isn't too much!

I am a fellow Texas bride (from Austin) but about half of my guests are coming from Dallas/Ft. Worth area. We really really didn't want to do Mexico either at first. My first choice was St. Lucia! After looking over everything and talking with my FI, we decided that it was more important to have as many of our friends and family there as possible without giving up the DW. Otherwise, they would spend a whole day out of their 4-day vacation traveling. Mexico was just the best financial option for them and for us. We decided that we could do a honeymoon in St. Lucia or just take a vacation there for our 1st anniversary. Now we have 60 guests booked at a beautiful, brand new 5-star all-inclusive resort in Mexico and we couldn't be happier! There are direct flights from DFW to Cancun on AA and short connections from Austin and Corpus Christi (where everyone else is coming from). The Mexico stigma was what concerned me but after reading the Azul Sensatori thread I have been nothing but super excited about it. If you are totally opposed to Mexico, Jamaica is another option with short flights from DFW. We looked into that as well. Hope this helps! Good luck! Shanda

We also have a TA who coordinated everything for the rooms. We told our guests that they could go through her and she would get them the best rates she could, but that they also could find something on their own if they wanted to. Most of our guests have found their own flights. I felt like our TA was really pushing for everyone to book American Airlines - like maybe she got a better commission through them or something - but most of our guests just booked the least expensive flights they could find.

Hi all, We are getting married at the Azul Sensatori resort in Playa/Riviera Maya. Anyone have suggestions on a great all-inclusive in Cozumel for our honeymoon? Our TA has suggested the Cozumel Palace and the Aura Cozumel Wyndham Grand Bay. Has anyone stayed at either of these? Thanks ladies! Shanda

Quote: Originally Posted by jhawkev We FINALLY received the link for our online slideshow to our pro pics, we used Erick from Claudia photo. Here's the link if anyone wants to check them out: http://claudiaphoto.com/slideshows/e...l/erika_jason/ And good luck Shannon, hope you have a great day! Erika- You are such a beautiful bride! I tried on that Magge dress but it wasn't "the one." Looks like it was yours :-) Congratulations! Shanda

Quote: Originally Posted by katken Hey girls! We're back! Everything was awesome. I am going to do a review this week once we unpack. Just wanted to let you know that we had a great experience. Sensatori was the perfect location for our destination wedding. Review and pics to follow in a couple of days. Congratulations!! So excited to hear your review and see your pictures!

Quote: Originally Posted by Hoosierfan Hey brides, Anyone do an excursion from the hotel with their bridal party? I want to do a half-day event with just my bridemaids, so would love to hear if anyone has recommendations! I am also looking to do an excursion with all 60 of my guests. So far, the most inexpensive thing my TA has found is with Lomas travel - $47 per person for a private catamaran tour that includes 2 snorkel spots, soft drinks, water, travel to and from the resort...I think that's it. Let me know if you come across anything! I know you are just looking to do it with your bridal party. Have you thought about the swim with the dolphins? It's kind of pricey - between $105 and $160 per person - but I have always wanted to do it! Check the Lomas website for details on all kinds of excursions.

I jumped the gun a little - I found the subforum after I posted that thread! Thanks for the response!

Hi all, I wanted to get some input on an after-the-wedding reception. Have any of you done this? Are you thinking just dinner or a full blown reception with a DJ and dancing? What did you wear? Is it good etiquette to accept gifts at this event? I have so many questions about it!! Anything is greatly appreciated

Thanks for the review! Today is exactly 4 months until our AS wedding! Looking back, would you have chosen not to have the cocktail reception? We are thinking of saving the money there and using it toward an excursion for our entire group. Just wanted to get your thoughts. Congratulations! Shanda

Jenny, Beautiful pictures!! Where did you get your BM dresses? I have been looking for that color!

Hey ladies! Last I heard from Tiffany at Azul, they weren't allowing ANY outside photographers (even with the $500 fee) unless they were a guest at the resort for at least 3 nights. It is still listed on the website, though, that you can hire someone else with that $500 fee. We hired a photographer to come with us from Fort Worth. We agreed to pay $1100 to cover her airfare and her resort stay. She decided to bring her husband and they are paying for that. She is in the process of working out a package for us where she will photograph a welcome reception, getting ready before the wedding, the ceremony, and the reception. I'll let you know as soon as I get the details of it. I wasn't really that impressed with what I had seen on the websites of the two listed photographers but I hadn't heard anything (good or bad) from other brides. Plus, the package I wanted with them would have been $2500-$3000 and I think we will be able to stay at or under that with our photographer. Another plus is that between now and then we can tell her what we want, what we don't want, send her pictures that we like, etc. Hope this helps! Shanda

I am also curious about the paper lanterns. We bought some from Garden Ridge but I have heard that the battery operated ones don't last long. Any suggestions?

Where did you buy the lanterns? We just bought some from Garden Ridge and now I am thinking I need to test them out before we get down there. Thanks for that tip!

Quote: Originally Posted by trayce2222 I posted a thread of our non-pro pics and thought you guys may want to see them. Here's the link: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...554#post801588 Tracy, How pretty!! I love the blue - I think we are doing the same, just a little darker. Did you have to bring the cover for the beach gazebo or did they provide that? Thank you so much for sharing! Shanda

Quote: Originally Posted by lilmisssunshine Hello Everyone- Although I have not received all of my photos, my amazing photographers Nels and Anna Akerlund sent over a slide show to our first song. Its awesome and I love every picture. My photographers are a husband, wife team who were such a pleasure to have along with us on our weddingmoon. I would highly recommend them to anyone. It was the best decision we made and are so happy with our choice. You can also see some pics of our ceremony set up on the beach at the sensatori and our reception at the new plaza. We were the first to have our reception there:) Some of our TTD photos are included as well. i just want to warn you there is a semi nudi pic but all of our parts are covered. There is a nude resort down the beach and all the girls had a day of pictures and one we were pretending to be on the nude resort. Hope no one is offended. I think they are cute and funny. Enjoy. http://nelsakerlundweddings.com/cont...ord/index.html hope this link works, Im horrible with computers:) Beautiful pictures!! You are a gorgeous bride!

I finally posted a picture! Just wanted to make sure it worked :-)

Try Piperlime.com. They have a great selection!

Quote: We gave everyone travel candles in their oot bags, but I would recommend bringing an air freshener for everyone so that they can leave it in the toilet area constantly. Quote: They checked and came back to say that the new plaza area was available. We were more than thrilled with the outcome. Quote: The day of the wedding the bridesmaids (3 of them) and I had appointments at the salon starting at 1pm. I was surprised to not see any other wedding parties there, but it was just us. We did not reserve the special bridal room, but it was great how it was. Quote: Next we had the cocktail hour at Palapa Yoga. We had our guests go over that way while we finished photos with the bridal party. We did the Mexican cocktail with the 8 canapes per person and it was more than enough. What I did have of it was very good. We had the mariachi band for 45 minutes. Everyone loved that and they took requests. Jenny, this is fantastic! Thanks for the review - we have all been waiting for yours! Great suggestion about the air fresheners. I will be on the lookout for those starting now. I have a few questions for you: 1. About the new Plaza area - that is where we are planning our reception. Do they/can they remove the gazebo? Or did it add to the ambiance & pictures? The picture I saw of the old Plaza set up for a night reception was amazing without the gazebo (see below). I guess I need to see one with it to decide if we still want to have it there. 2. How much did it cost in the salon to have your hair and your bridesmaids hair done? 3. Was it worth it to go with the cocktail hour while you were finishing up pictures? I am thinking of doing that but I don't know if we want to spend the money there. Otherwise, I was just going to list in their itinerary that they can use that time to get cleaned up (if it's been too windy during the beach ceremony) or all meet at one of the bars for cocktails then be at the reception at a certain time. Again, thank you! Glad you made it back okay without the Swine and I can't wait to see your pictures. Shanda

Hi Ladies, I heard on the news this morning that Mexico officials said they think the Swine flu hit its peak last week and is declining. My heart goes out to all of you that had to cancel and I am excited for those who are still going! Keep us posted with reviews Shanda

Quote: Originally Posted by Julessarvari K...so first off...I am not a Bride...but this is the best way to get information. I have 2 questions One on Flowers, Second, on Music 1...are any of you planning on using a vendor for the bouquet? and if so which ones? 2. Are any of you planing on bringing a Bose Sound Dock...or have you opted to use the system there? Anyone able to add some clarity would be greatly apprciated? My mom is a florist and after looking at some bouquets from the Caribe (photography) website, she almost had a fit over the plastic holder thingys that they come in. We got the ok for her to do the flowers herself which is pretty great because she is AMAZING and I wouldn't trust anyone else to do it. Does anyone know if we can order flowers from another vendor and have them delivered to the hotel? I would love to order them from this Cancun flower shop if we can.