lalanyc

Thanks very much for sharing! I really like the numbering idea. Has anyone seen or personally printed out labels of the recipient's addresses to put on the RSVP? I am also thinking about doing this but not sure if it is a "no no" or whatever in terms of wedding etiquette...

thanks for this! very useful!

ugh, I wish I could have left the visit more confident b/c now I have so many doubts and worries as to how it'll go on the actual day - esp. b/c she did the exact opposite of what I asked her to do on her 2nd try. does anyone have recommendations on things I should definitely stress to my hair / makeup artists? any artists out there who could give tips/advice on common miscommunication items? are pictures really enough? I saw the makeup video posted by clfaidl2 and there are certain face shaping steps that my artist didnt do so now I'm paranoid all over again! sigh

Bumping this thread. I'm thinking of doing a rehearsal dinner on the beach but I am really worried about the wind. Has anyone here inquired into tent rentals or contracted a tent for their own events?? Any idea re: pricing or vendors?

Hello! Getting married on the 6th in the Riviera Maya!

I love this idea! Yes, if you all could comment on where you got your shots done, that'd be great! This weather blows!!!

YEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! I had several relatives who, after receiving the details about the wedding date and location, started inviting their co-workers, friends, neighbors, you name it!! Once I got wind, I immediately prepared a polite but firm email explaining to them that, as much as we love their friends, that we could not afford to have the additional guests and that we would not be in a position to decide about whether we could invite more guests until we received our RSVPs (polite way of saying NEVER). THEN, once word got out that they were thinking of inviting friends and not having them attend our wedding, I commented through other friends and family that we would feel compelled to invite these people anyway b/c how awkward is it to have them so close by and not have them at the wedding?? Thus, it would put us in an uncomfortable position. Finally, once people suggested paying for their friends (my family is very persistent), we pointed out that if we did this, other people may want to do this and we would lose control of our guest list. They are STILL trying to figure out ways to bring friends but so far my explanations have been sufficient. Another point I've been making is that we want a destination wedding so we can have time w/ our guests. Clearly if they bring their friends, that would defeat the purpose. hope this helps!

I'm also debating having different styles or colors on the bridesmaids dresses. Even if I go w/ the same color, I'd like to give them some kind of contrast with, say, a different colored flower or brooch or something to make them all unique! I saw this picture and thought it was cool: I LOVE COLOR!!!!!!!

oh wow, these are AWESOME!!!!!!! I love the colors. I honestly cant decide. hmmm, I'm going to go w/ #1 and #12.

Quote: Originally Posted by Oryx I think I may have a friend do my make-up, or do my own. Or if I do have it done at the resort, I want to leave enough time to do it over, if I hate it! And lalanyc, I just have to say that I love your avatar! lol Thanks Oryx! It reflects how I feel most of the time. haha.

Quote: Originally Posted by mzgillis316 This place is Absolutely Amazing ...i just spoke with Jessica and she was Wonderful in the few minutes that we spoke...i have had so much trouble trying to contact many of the other resorts....and some are very unprofessional, this is by far the best....my only draw back is cost....i initially wanted an all-inclusive resort so...if they are able to give me pretty good rates this will be it im going to visit in May so i'll keep you ladies posted Dont be afraid to negotiate!! I think they had special rates of about $120 (?) in the fall. Regardless, you should push back on whatever rate they throw at you or see if a travel agent could negotiate a good deal. If you find better deal on the internet, be sure to let them know!

This is such a great thread! Thanks to everyone who contributed!

This is a bit of a long shot, but does anyone have creative Spanish RSVP wording suggestions?? I have a few relatives that dont speak English. thx!

shell - there are several affordable photographers reviewed on this site. Offhand, perhaps Cecilia Dumas, Blue Lens Caribe, Playa Weddings (Rachel Schrank) and Moments that Matter might fall into your budget.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jeff Babineau Fly a pro down from out east fro 3-4 . we charge about $750 to $1000 (plus flight and lodging) Give most brides over 500 plus images. Different market down here. Just a thought. Jeff wow that's quite the deal! but out of curiousity, how many hours does that cover?

thank you! this looks great!!

Quote: Originally Posted by finleys7 LaLa, what's your price range I have seen some trials around $70.... finleys- that sounds reasonable to me!

Yes I took pics but the lighting was off so its hard to tell just how much makeup I had on. V-day - I think you're right. I'm going to bring lots of pics and insist on starting early in case I dont like it. Worst case scenario, I'm going to practice a do w/ a BM so that she can step in in case I really dont like the artist's look... sigh...

I agree w/ wedding decor. Ceiba is in a small town in between Cancun and Playa. Overall their service is more upscale and their rooms are definitely more luxurious. This option is good if you are looking for an intimate, secluded reception. Mahekal (aka Shanri-La) is offers more basic facilities/amenities but it is in Playa so your guests would have immediate access to 5th Ave. This option is good if you prefer to have lots of activities near the resort, including a wedding after-party on the strip. Good luck!

So my FI is making the dads dress the same as the groomsmen. Has anyone else heard of this? As for my mom, I am sure she'll want my input/approval but I am encouraging her to dress up and look as good as possible! I love it when brides have hot mommas!!

So I went on a site visit to Mexico this past weekend and scheduled a trial w/ the hair and makeup team recommended by my WC. I loved the pictures from the makeup artists' website so I figured everything would be fine but the day of she had to do my makeup over THREE times b/c I thought it was overkill!!!!!! As for hair, the woman did a great job of copying one of the half dozen pics I brought with me, but it started falling apart after about 1 hour. Am I overreacting or is this normal to go through a few rounds of makeup in order to get it "just right"? Should I lose my $175 deposit and take my chances on another artist that I've never met before?? In the artist's defense, I did not bring any pictures so she didnt know what I wanted exactly though I did say "natural" a few times. As for the hair stylist, she may have kept my hair loose on purpose b/c I mentioned I'd be traveling later and was going to wash out my hair anyway. She did do a nice job overall but I would prob need to give her an EXACT picture next time to make sure nothing is lost in translation. sigh, disappointing to say the least... but maybe I'm just not used to wearing so much makeup!??!

A little off topic question - can any NY brides recommend a cheap but decent place in Manhattan for a hair and makeup trial run? I just got back from Mexico and did a trial run w/ the girl I thought I was going to hire but... it didnt go as well as planned. Now I really want to get another trial to at least have some pictures in hand of a style I really like!

I have seen instances of projectors set up on the beach for karaoke purposes, so I'm sure you can have a slideshow too. The wind makes it harder to hear though... Perhaps you can choose 2 sites and once you get there (assuming you arrive a day before the rehearsal dinner) you can see if you think it's still practical/preferable to have your dinner on the beach? If not, you have your plan B?

Oh boy, I've been meaning to upload my site visit questions sheet but here is an excerpt. We had a blank set of questions for each hotel, along w/ our little clipboard. They must have hated us! haha Dont forget to review their packages closely and push back on items you think are too expensive. Also, dont forget to take lots of PICTURES! Of course, we tailored our questions based on the information we had for each hotel but this could serve as a primer. Planners How long have you been a wedding planner? How many weddings have you overseen? Have you ever seen a wedding through a storm? What did you do? Will you be present on the wedding day? Do you work with anyone else? Who is your supervisor in case of emergencies? Would your role include directing people from cocktail to the people to dinner, etc? Whowould take your role in case of illness/emergency? Reception facilities What are the room/area options for reception? What is the maximum capacity of each reception area? Is there a fee to rent any area? How late can the reception go in each reception area? What is the rain plan? At what point in time can the reception be moved inside in case of rain? Days or hours before? Is there air conditioning in the reception area? If outdoors, is there air conditioning nearby? What does the physical set up look like? Where will dance floor go? Where is the cake and coffee placed? Where does the place card table go? How many people can dance floor accommodate? Where is the DJ set up? How is the DJ moved indoors if we need to change location after a certain hour? Where is the bathroom for the reception? Is it private for wedding guests only? Have hotel guests ever intruded on party? Will you provide an area for the bridal party to relax? Will there be any other receptions (wedding or other) during our wedding? Pictures Where on the hotel grounds do couples typically take pictures? Do you have photos we could view? Decor What décor comes with the reception? How flexible are you with décor? Can we provide our own decorations? What kind of lighting options are available? How much do extra items cost? (e.g., colored linens, lights under tables, etc.) What types of tables are available (rectangle, square, round)? What are your tableware choices, chairs, plates, table linen, etc? Would the hotel put out place cards and favors as well? Do you have pictures of different decorations/wedding set ups we can view? Servers What is the staff to guest ratio? How many servers during the cocktail hour? How many servers are there per table the day of the reception? Who coordinates/ manages the servers? What do the servers wear? Are they full time hotel employees or contractors? In what order are the tables served (i.e., is there enough staff to serve everyone at once or do waiters go in phases)? Is there a service fee for going late? Does the fee include service tip? Are there any additional fees we have not discussed? Transportation What transportation do the couple and guests typically use to get to the church (if applicable)? Can you provide transportation to/from the church? Are there taxis available for guests who do not stay at hotel? Other Do you have a backup generator in case electricity goes out? How does it work? Food •Set up Is the reception area set up prior to the cocktail hour or during? Do you provide glasses for champagne toast? Is this an extra cost? How far in advance is the food prepared? To order? 1 hour? •Reception dinner menu What are the courses for a 3 course meal? Is the first course a full appetizer or salad? Do you have childrens menu? How much would those meals be? Can you offer special order meals (vegetarian, peanut free) at no extra cost? Are there any foods in season that might be cheaper/better to use in dishes? •Cake What cake options do you provide (do you have "fake" filler cake options)? Is there a cake cutting fee in addition to the purchase of the cake? •Other How experienced is the chef? Will he be here a year from now? Do we need to order food for the on site vendors (photographer, band) or does the chef usually prepare extra meals at no charge? Bar •Cost What are the package options for bar service for the reception? For the cocktail hour? What liquor/beer does each option include? What is the rate for children? What age is the cutoff? Can we bring our own liquor? If so, what is the corking fee? Are there any additional fees (e.g., bar set up fee)? •Location Where is the bar set up for the reception? For the cocktail hour? How many bars will there be? How many bartenders will there be? •Time limits Is there a limit on how long we serve? Is there a limit on how late we serve? Is there a fee for longer or later service? •Other Can we do a specialty cocktail? Is there an extra cost for this? Is the champagne toast complimentary?

I am bumping for the video!!!