Angelfire

Lia! Absolutely stunning! Thank you for the write up and I love your dress (almost bought it myself!!) Glad you had a magical day!

Quote: Originally Posted by Grand Bride I noticed there were some posts on here about vaccinations... Hep A or B.... Is anyone getting specific vaccinations for Riviera Maya? I was thinking the Swine Flu vac once it comes out, but that's it. Should we be worried about other diseases or flu? I have my Hep vacs, but it really depends what kind of traveller you are. For example, if you mostly stay within your resort and eat at fine dining places, I wouldn't worry about it. If you are someone who is more adventurous and really wants a taste of 'real life' in Mexico, I would strongly suggest it. One thing to keep in mind though is the countries thrive off of tourism, they want you to be safe & healthy. Part of my reasoning was I eat at the street vendors and travel places like Guadalajara (which isn't a main tourist destination). I also have family in Puerto Vallarta so I'm eating in their homes, food bought at local markets and washed in local water, not filtered systems. Hope this helps!

Quote: Originally Posted by NPlante Angel- What a great idea!! I've been trying to figure out a way to get the OOT gifts. The problem with the open house for us is FI family is scattered all over! Everyone is driving distance but a few hours away in different directions! I was wondering about maybe shipping them to everyone a week before the wedding but didn't know if that would be tacky...my family who lives around us I could give out at Christmas next year as we're going to be getting married January 11.....I've been arguing with myself over this for a month! I don't think it is tacky...send it with a note saying we are so excited to share our wedding adventure with you...or something like that. People will know you have enough stuff to transport. We have about 3 guests who are out of province & country so I will bring theirs with us. Another reason for sending it early is we want to include some info on the hotel & possible excursions...good stuff that people might want to read before they get there, especially our guests who have never been to Mexico before. I would ship it with more than a week to spare...you know how the post office can be, especially around the holidays! Hope this helps & Happy Planning!!

Quote: Originally Posted by latina77 This is EXACTLY what I am looking for for our wedding favours - where can I get them??!! I would like to engrave them too - maybe you bought them on-line? please let me know! Hi Latina! I ordered from www.leedsworld.ca but off a rep in our city (Winnipeg), my fi has a company he uses for personalized business stuff (mugs, calendars, etc). Not sure if you can order right off their website but it you see something you like, phone or email and maybe they can find someone in your city. Hope this helps!

We also ordered insulated travel mugs for all our guests...with our name & date on them! Filling them with advil, band-aids, lip balm, aloe vera, personalized decks of cards, maybe even sudoku and a scavenger hunt for around the hotel. We have a naturals beauty product location in our city called Tiber River and they will make customized labels on lip balms, lotions, etc. We plan on having an open house the week before we leave, that way everyone has their mug for the first day! (and I don't have to pack them all in my luggage

We're getting married at the Ocean Turquesa, which charges $70 per person to come for the day. But they also provide an additional room the day of the wedding (technically for the groom to get ready in and use for the day), however my fiance will be getting ready with his parents, my parents will be in our room and we are offering the extra room and my parents room to guests not staying at the hotel. We really want them to come and enjoy the resort for the day & its all inclusive drinks, food & activities. Because our wedding doesn't start until 4pm, they have lots of time for fun at our resort. Hope that helps!

Congrats Lin! And many thanks for all the great feedback! Also thinking of BC Bride & hope she had a beautiful wedding!! Update from me: We have cancelled our transat wedding pkg and are going with the Coral one direct from the hotel. What meals did you girls choose? Also did you find a lot of additional expenses? (example: $2.50 USD per chair bow, $25.00 US per person to set up reception outside) As for the dress...most airlines require you to fold garment bag in half and place in overhead compartment. A great tip I got from a friend was..she wrapped dress in plastic (from drycleaner), laid a towel on both sides and rolled it up over a christmas paper tube and fit it in her carry on (that was about the only thing she fit in there) but the dress was perfect, didn't need to be steamed or anything. Q for Lin: what was the sound system like? Are you able to attach an Ipod or are we better off taking our own speakers? It's been awhile for me, but I have finally remembered my password! I'll be on more Happy Holidays Fellow Brides! Amber 104 dias mas!

Wow! I have missed a few posts! Lin& Scott...have a wonderful wedding! BC Bride: great idea on the partyflops! I'm just starting to think about that sort of stuff. Still haven't decided about going with Transat pkg or directly with hotel? Help ladies! I'm having enough trouble trying to add a picture to my profile on here too. I wonder if I can hire a forum coordinator

Quote: Originally Posted by jennib31 Did everyone anticipate the high cost for photography? I guess I anticipated about $1,600 plus an album for $2K total.... Looks like I need $2,600 at least for the coverage then my resort charges $500 for the vendor fee.... That is really expensive and I know MTM are the best but.... yikes! How do I justify the photos cost more than the dinner!!! I was feeling the same as you, however with MTM you do own your prints and can choose to print them off on your own at a cheaper location. There are many places in most cities and online that will create a photobook for you similar to what they offer for a more reasonable price. Lastly, for me choosing a small destination wedding meant I wanted some great photos to be able to show to our friends & family unable to attend. You may not remember the meal, but will you remember all the great moments if you go with another photographer? That's a decision you need to make. I had read a few reviews from last year where MTM paid the cost of vendor fees when you booked a higher package, they didn't offer this to me (I'm still wanting to ask) but it can't hurt to try. Good Luck!

Good Morning Fellow Brides to Be, I just want togive everyone a 'heads up' about the Transat packages, although we chose one and think it is a great deal...I am finding they include very little which is allowing the hotel to make even more money off of you. For example we have to pay another $450 US for a minister to perform our symbolic ceremony, the decoration included in the package is white chair covers for the ceremony and 4 tiki torches...that's it!! My travel agent has complained and is trying to negotiate some more details for the packages and it sounds like Transat is having this difficulty with many of the hotels involved. We are finding Ana helpful, but we already have added over $800 US of 'extras' that I feel should be included when we've paid that much for our wedding package. Lastly, the hotel/Ana have not completed putting together the details of each package so they have no clue what flowers are included in the Transat pakgs for bouquets, etc. I strongly suggest if booking one of these packages, make some decisions about what you want and negotiate before you get there. Hope this helps!

Quote: Originally Posted by bcbride Here are some sample pictures taken by the resort photographer (Ana sent them to me): If you PM me your email, I can email you the wedding packages file that includes a list of extras and their costs, however, I do suggest emailing Ana with the specific extras you want and she may be able to work out a price for you too... which wedding package from Transat did you choose? I am looking at getting the Bliss one Sorry, I don't think I have enough points to PM (or I just can't figure it out) My email is [email protected] We are going with the Bliss package! Additional costs so far is photography & minister, but I wanted to know what decorations are included in that package and possibly having some appetizers and cocktails on the beach for family & friends while we take our pictures (in between ceremony & reception). I'd also like to know if the Transat package gives us only one option of bouquet or can you choose your flowers....oh boy< I am a newbie. Still feel like this is a dream

Quote: Originally Posted by bcbride Congrats Angelfire! That's very exciting! I was also considering hiring an outside minister, but just remember the resort charges an outside vendor fee, (from what I remember it was about $400?), I know it seems like so much money to pay $450 and were having a symbolic ceremony as well. BTW, if anyone else was waiting longer than usual to hear back from Ana, apparently she had a fall and she was off for a little while, but she is back now and has replied to my emails Thank you!! I can't wait to hear all about your special day (and see pics!). We have booked a wedding package with Air Transat and got a great deal. That is a point about outside vendor fees. We are paying for an outside photographer already so maybe I will use their minister. I haven't talked much with Ana yet about options, etc but I figure I have time yet. I was going to email her and ask if the restaurants have a dress code in effect so men coming to the wedding know if they need to have on long pants and closed toe shoes. Its the small things I have questions about right now. Did you get any information on costs for additional items? Thanks, Amber

Quote: Originally Posted by Paige2010 Are any of you getting good group discounts or reduced rates for having a large group book? I haven't been offered any by my travel agent and now am wondering if I should have all my guests book through a different TA that can offer some sort of large group special (or even get my room discounted?) Do you have Air Transat or Nolitours in your area? We got some great deals with our rep from there. Got a discounted group rate for all inclusive air/hotel package, every 16th person is free AND>>>they now offer wedding packages at select hotels at a discounted rate! Worth looking into! Hope this helps

I have just booked MTM for our March Wedding and although I have not worked with them yet, Lori & Lincoln are so easy to communicate with. They have taken time to answer all my questions and have always responded in a timely manner. I think their work speaks for itself, but it is always nice to have people with personality too. I will let everyone know how it goes!

I'm not much help, but we just booked our wedding for March 2010 and are starting the process. There is another thread on this hotel, about 30 pages long but not too much action on it

I am offically booked! March 30th, 2010! Anyone hire a minister privately? We are having a symbolic ceremony but hotel charges $450 for a minister...this seems kind of steep to me and I'd rather use that money elsewhere.

Quote: Originally Posted by aeaston Hey everyone, we're getting married in December 2010 and right now we're trying to pick between the Sandos Playacar, the Ocean turquesa, and the Grand Sirenis (my Fiance really likes this one)...it's such a big decison...so many factors.. We've just booked the Ocean Turquesa! Let me know if that is what you & your Fi decide and I can send you information as I recieve it. Our wedding is March 2010

Hi Everyone! Lots of great info in this thread! My Fi and I are planning a March 2010 wedding in Mayan Riviera. Looking forward to sharing details and information with all you fellow brides to be !!

Hi Everyone! I am a newbie and my Fi & I are looking at having our March 2010 wedding at this resort. I've read all your great pages of information, that is so helpful!! If anyone can send me pics from here and the wedding pkg information, that would be greatly appreciated! I think because I am new, they don't open. Thanks! Amber [email protected]

We too are coinsidering the Grand Sirenis for our March 2010 wedding!! Were you able to find any other information that helped your decision?