TerraDawn

I've shot them both ways!  And really...it might just all depend on what time of the day you are looking to have the session. 

My first couple did their TTD session EXACTLY the way you are talking about.  We got the resort in the evening, and early the next morning (around 6am...if I recall) Becky and John met me on the beach for about a 1 and 1/2 portrait session.  It worked perfectly, since by the time the family and friends got there...they were ready to be tanning poolside and NOT dragging lace through the Carribean.  lol.  

That being said...they ALSO shot with me during the morning time with the sunrise while their guests would have been asleep anyways!  So that might be an option.  Ask your photographer if he/she can get up super early to get the sun AND get the shots before your guests wake up.  Then you can do the session on whatever day is easier. Of course, getting up at 6AM on your post wedding morning might be kinda difficult.  lol.  

My second couple did their session in evening during the sun set on the last day they were there.  Most of the guests had left earlier in the day to catch flights out, so it was just their parents.  The session lasted, again, about an hour and a half...the beach was definitely more populated...but we got some great shots!  

All in all, I would find out from your photographer how easy it would be to fit in a super early morning session since that will probably fit your schedule easier...AND you get some great lighting.  

Good luck and have fun!!   

Hey ladies! 

The norm that I've seen is one per guest...but I've also seen the framed menu per table (if it's a round, then one on each side of the centerpiece).  

The second option also leaves a lot of room for creativity!!  You might be able to get a pretty good deal for a unique menu look on Etsy!  Like little wooden menus on some of the cheap mini stands you can get at an arts and crafts store.  

Of course, you can do way more than wood!  Mini chalkboards. Stone (those don't blow away!!  lol.). Etc. 

Anyways...just a though!  Good luck!! 

Originally Posted by AllieH 

 

I know there are a couple others out there - where are ya?? 

 

We haven't picked the exact date yet, thinking the 9th or 10th. Waiting until airfare comes out so we can price AI packages (including air), confirm available dates and pick the actual Big Day. 

 

Still focused on Rivera Maya. Have the dress, working on the accessories. Have the STD designed, need the resort & text to put into it too. 

 

Where is everyone else with the planning? 

 

Oooo...the Riviera Maya is amazing!!  I was working with a bride at the Hacienda Tres Rios there last year.  Bar none...best resort I've ever been to.  You don't have to fight for beach/tanning time.  The sun sets on right where your photographer will need to (don't judge...IT'S IMPORTANT!!).  The staff, literally, bends over backwards to make sure you have everything you need.  

 

Biggest plus?  The resort let my couple bring in ANY outside vendors they needed.  They had me, the dj, the florist, a mariachi band, fire thrower people....the WORKS!!!  P.S....I am STILL craving the Mexican restaurant they have there.    

 

Anyways...if you haven't picked a venue yet...definitely look into that one!!! 

I JUST moved from Manassas, VA to Seattle. 

I miss DC!!  

Oooo....RIU is amazing!!  I haven't been to the one in Cabo, but one in Aruba is just gorgeous!!!    Have you visited the resort yet? 

Woops!!  It didn't post fully, it looks like.  I'll try this again, shall I?  

Originally Posted by TerraDawnPhotography 

Hey ladies!!!!!!  Becks1581's wedding is officially out in the Best Destination Weddings and Honeymoons magazine!!!!!    The resort did SUCH an amazing job, as did the couple's other vendors (and of course, the couple did an amazing job planning!!!).  Anyways, I'm so grateful to know these two and to have been a part of their wedding day...and so I thought I'd share!!!  Check out the issue on stands now (you can also check out the digital version of the issue on the magazine's website for free!!). And another of their images is being published in a December issue as well!!!! 

 

Hey ladies!!!!!!  Becks1581's wedding is officially out in the Best Destination Weddings and Honeymoons magazine!!!!!    The resort did SUCH an amazing job, as did the couple's other vendors (and of course, the couple did an amazing job planning!!!).  Anyways, I'm so grateful to know these two and to have been a part of their wedding day...and so I thought I'd share!!!  Check out the issue on stands now (you can also check out the digital version of the issue on the magazine's website for free!!). And another of their images is being published in a December issue as well!!!! 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by becks1581 

Hi girls...we got some exciting news last week that I wanted to share with the HTR brides...

 

Our wedding in going to be featured in the Nov/Dec issue of Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine!!  Our amazing photographer submitted our images and we just found out that we were selected   We're obviously SO excited!  I'll keep you posted when the magazine comes out so you can take a peak!

 

Aquabride--Congrats! HTR is a great place to get married.  Let me know if you have any vendor questions.  We used mostly our own vendors that I found through this site.  I'm always happy to help!

This is a wedding cake that my clients Becky and John had at their wedding reception at Hacienda Tres Rios in Playa del Carmen, MX. (Which is a resort I am madly in love with, BTW...). The cake was VERY tasty, but not very decorative (most resort cakes aren't).  So the couple brought this adorable little cake topper to make the cake more tailored to them.  The resort was more than happy to accomodate the couple's mini decoration.   

My sister recently had a DIY destination wedding here in VA.  We live about 4 hours away from the venue and only about 10 guests were from the area. Most flew in from Texas, Tennessee and Oklahoma!!  

Since she was a wedding planner from the St.Louis area and I am a wedding photographer from the area, we had a pretty good idea of how we wanted the wedding to look....and the cakes were a HUGE focal point.  

Each small cake was a different flavor with a different pattern created in the buttercream icing.  My sister had her fiance make these wooden boxes (super cheap...about $4 a box!!!!), which we THEN covered in pretty papers from Paper Source.  YES!!!  NOW YOU HAVE AN EXCUSE TO GO THERE AND BUY PAPER!!!!!!!!!!  lol.  

As a wedding photographer who tries to get everything published....I totally understand the value of the cake display!!!  This is cheap and super fun, and is PROBABLY something you can assemble on location at your destination of choice!!! 

Originally Posted by Ravywedding 

Anyone have information about AHR venues that are nice and nearby? I don't want to do a whole wedding thing, just something like a dinner...maybe Maggiano's?

Great....now I'm craving Maggianos!!!!!!  lol.  Soooooooo tasty. 

I just posted this in another thread...but I COULDN'T RECOMMEND IVAN MORE!!  So I'll post it again here.  lol.  

This man was AMAZING!!!  I'm a wedding photographer, so I KNOW my DJ's and vendors.  This guy was just....cool.  He knew exactly what to play to get the party started and the light up dance floor going. He didn't do much (if any) talking... LOVED him!!!  He was great with requests...but also really great at turning down requests that might hinder the mood of the night.  He was really great to me and the other vendors, and even let the groom get behind the spin tables (is that what they are called??) to check out what he was working with.  

I REALLY couldn't recommend him more.  I just wish I could work with him on more weddings!!!  

I JUST worked with Fernando Fuentes from The Makeup Pros.  They were AMAZING!  Very elegant.  Very quiet (except when they chimed in and laughed during the morning's conversation).  

I've worked with A TON of make-up artists and hair stylists...but these guys are definitely at the top of my faves list.  I just wish I could work with them on more weddings!!!  

I've attached a few of the images from the morning.  Becky's hair was VERY elegant and her make-up was incredibly natural.  I've photographed her a ton over the past year and a half, and she looked very natural and herself on her wedding day.  

This man was AMAZING!!!  I'm a wedding photographer in the DC area, so I KNOW my DJ's and vendors.  This guy was quiet and just....cool.  He knew exactly what to play to get the party started and the light up dance floor going.  LOVED him!!!  He was great with requests...but also really great at turning down requests that might hinder the mood of the night.  He was really great to me and the other vendors, and even let the groom get behind the spin tables (is that what they are called??) to check out what he was working with.  

I REALLY couldn't recommend him more.  I just wish I could work with him on more weddings!!!  

Hahaha....thanks anyways!  If you find them...let me know!!  

This is what we are looking for, btw.   

http://worldofgood.ebay.com/25-Pcs-Wholesale-Lot-Mexican-Wooden-Bobble-Head-Toy-Pak/280458836795/item

OK.  So I am kicking myself right now.  I literally got back from Mexico early this morning and brought back about 10 of those little toy bobble heads for friends and family.  (I bought each of them for about 1 US Dollar).  My sister FELL IN LOVE with them and wants to use them for her Mexico inspired wedding coming up in October!

I thought they would be easy to find, since every store in Mexico had them in mass quantities....but every batch I find online is either double or quadruple the price.  Does anyone know of a Mexican Market online or even not (I can call and try to get them shipped!!) that would sell these little critters?  We are looking for around 100 of them....

Thanks in advance for any leads you can get me!! 

Off to hunt through google some more!

Terra

I am actually at Beaches Boscobel RIGHT NOW!!  lol.  The brides wedding was at the Venetian and she had 21 guests....it was perfect.  It was SUPER sunny (which Jamaica tends to be), but the small gazebo gave the perfect amount of shade for gorgeous pics with the ocean in the background.  SO glad she chose to get married at that spot.  I've seen the little pier....it's beautiful...but very small.  Not much room to move around.  

The bride had her ceremony at the Venetian, cocktails in the Piano Bar, and then the reception (with an outside DJ) back on the re-set up Venetian.  It was PERFECT.  Couldn't recommend a better set up.   

Hahahaha.....SOOOOO CUTE!!!!!!    Your manatee photos made me smile. 

I hate to say it, but I seriously just sat here reading your whole story and stuffing popcorn down my mouth.  THAT READ LIKE A HORROR NOVEL!!!!  You poor, poor thing!! 

 

At least it looks like some of your guests shots came out great!!  Like you said, maybe between those shots and the few good shots that the ummm......photographer.....man.....thing took, you will have a beautiful album.  I will cross my fingers for you!! 

 

I would love to say that this story helped me to know exactly what not to do for my destination wedding clients....but really, it just sounds like this photographer was missing common sense and people skills. 

 

Thank you for all of your time and consideration for the brides on this forum!!  You've done the destination wedding community a HUGE service with this review. 

 

I hope all works out in the end (for you AND everyone who ended up using this guy...)

 

Terra Dawn

I have TOTALLY  run into a similar situation before (from the photographer's stand point...).  I had a SUPER sweet couple book me for their e-session a few months ago.  The session took about 3 hours (your less than an hour session was definitely waaaay under what it should have been) and I thought it went superbly!  The next week, the bride contacted me and said that although the pictures were lovely, they just weren't their style.  They were also not a lovey-dovey type couple.

 

Although I hated to lose their wedding, I knew at that point that no matter what they loved I just wasn't going to be the perfect photographer for them.  (For their e-session I gave them exactly what they saw online with my other couples...so there were no surprises.)  I think recommending another, more suitable, photographer was probably the best thing I could have done.  We parted on great terms and they still email me with questions about vendors and whatnot!  Win-win!

 

I guess what I am trying to say is, if your photographer is a professional...they will understand that the most important thing an engagement session does is to make sure the photographer and client are a perfect match.  I would recommend NOT even trying to get your photographer to shoot the way you want her to.  A photographer will always see with their artists eye, no matter how many photos you show them of your preferred method.  I guarantee you, this photographer (although super talented) will most likely not give you what you want on your big day. 

 

I would start talking about getting a refund (except the e-session portion, of course).

 

Whew!!  I hope that helps!!  And good luck with everything!!

 

Terra Dawn

Oh wow!!  I think that's LOVELY!!  The seahorse cake topper is SO going to make it, though!!    And your right.....when it comes to the cake, it just needs to TASTE good!!! lol.

Awwww!!!!  That is adorable!!!  Do you know what you want your cake to look like?  

Gah!!!  Too cute!!!!  I happen to be an owl lady maself.....but if I weren't, I think seahorses would be where it's at.    I hosted a workshop for photographers earlier this year and had a game where I strategically hid owls in slideshows, marketing materials, products and even on cookies.  Whoever found and documented the most number of owls throughout the day got half off the next workshop. It was super fun (and funny after a few of them didn't realize they were eating the clues....). 
 

 

It's could to be like the Where's Waldo of seahorses (ummm....only without the red and white strip shirt and beanie hat)!!!!

 

 

Originally Posted by Brandy 

Yes, I am doing coral dresses for my BM's, I know I love seahorses, Im using them everywhere I can!

 

 

Ummm.....this inspiration pallet is AMAZING brandy!!!  And I adore those seahorse invites!  Are you doing something like the coral bridesmaids dresses for your bm's?

Originally Posted by Brandy 

Yes, Im from southern maryland! So weird, small world, I live in Mechanicsville.

I actually dont really have any inspiration pics, I do have these inspiration boards but they arent really as colorful as the colors Im using but its close enough, the coral Im using is the bright colored coral, orange and the aqua is close to like a tiffany blue aqua.

OMG...That dress is AMAZING!!! My sister is getting married next October (not a destination...we're thinking possibly Shenandoah or even some of the stunning venues in WV) and she might just LOVE that dress. 

 

Do you plan on doing a TTD??   
 

Originally Posted by BethHeppert 

I am in Northern Virginia and getting married at The Royal Cancun on November 27th, 2010! So excited!

 

I got my dress from Demetrios (Macy's Bridal at Tyson's Galleria):

http://www.demetriosbride.com/us/index.php?page=collection_illusions&styleID=2705
http://www.demetriosbride.com/us/index.php?page=collection_illusions&styleID=2706
http://www.demetriosbride.com/us/index.php?page=collection_illusions&styleID=2704

 

I love it!