2mckee

Quote: Originally Posted by LynnieS How are all you ladies paying for your photographers, especially if you are using one from Mexico? Mine asked for the full amount, in cash, before he even starts. Is this normal? FI says pay only half and the other half when we get our pics. What does everyone think? We paid a $500 deposit up front and the rest is due 60 days before since she is travelig from the states.

Quote: Originally Posted by ChicagoBride2011 So I started contacting photographers and I'm in shock at how expensive some of them are!! I knew it was going to be a huge expense but come on! Anyways waiting for repsonses from a couple others, but right now leaning towards Samuel Luna. Has anybody worked with him? Also, what is everybody doing for welcome parties?? I think that it's ridiculous that in order to reserve at one of the restaurants that it's $15 a person. It's an all-inclusive so I don't understand that at all! Sorry I had to vent. Hi Chicago We are using Nora Bohanon, who I actually found somewhere else and now she has a listing on this site! Shes awesome to work with, LIVES in Chicago and loves traveling to Cancun. Her prices were pretty great when we booked, so imagine they are still pretty good. For a welcome party, we are just having everyone meet in the lobby bar around 6pm the first night for "drinks and hellos" then everyone can go have dinner on their own at all of the restaurants. We were going to do a private cocktail party, but they wanted $40 per PERSON, drinks only. These are all guests of the resort anyway. I tried to neg with them to get it down to 15-20 pp and it was a no-go, so informed them that 50 guests would be meeting in the lobby bar at that time and they may want to make sure they are staffed for it.

Quote: Originally Posted by Lady_Di I guess I am one of few that will have the ceremony on the beach. I stopped caring about onlookers...it is a beach wedding so I'm just going to go with the flow. As long there aren't no nude women sunbathing then I'm good! Wow, I have swamped this past week, so havent been able to to check in. LadyDi, we are on the beach as well, with the cocktail hour on the beach. We are having our reception on the gazebo terrace so we still have an ocean view, but easier to walk/ dance, etc.

Quote: Originally Posted by dianep i like the idea of personalizing the tables. it would be fun to have a picture of you guys or a souvenier from each place on the corresponding table! we are such a small group that i think we'll only have 2-3 tables, so i think the placecards to show entree selections should be sufficient. Oh, I like that idea- Thanks!!

Quote: Originally Posted by duprk452 I wanted to let everyone know that a guest of ours, who is having to book at the Gran Porto due to no availability at the royal, called the resort yesterday to get prices. She spoke to someone about prices for day passes (to the royal) and told them the whole situation with our wedding and whatnot. The person on the phone gave them a price of 20$ a day to come to the royal. This is WAY cheaper than the prices I've received from the WC's and that I've seen on here. Maybe the trick is to call the resort directly to get the information and prices that you need. Now, the other problem. The Gran Porto is almost completely booked the week of our wedding, too! Thats GREAT. Thanks for the info-

What is everyone doing for their tables?? Just numbers or are you naming them? I ahev been mulling on this for awhile now and I think we are going to name the tables after different oceans and bodies of water that we have vacationed on together- i.e. Sea of Cortez, Florida Keys, etc.... Too cheesy or no?

Quote: Originally Posted by Lady_Di just a suggestion, you can go and post in newbie threads to get more posts. there are so much out there to comment on. that's what i did to get the member status. Thanks for the tip, Diana!

Quote: Originally Posted by LynnieS Hey ladies, I feel like I've been so absent lately!! Does anybody know, how do the cocktails work for the reception? Do they have a bar set up right there and is there a limited assortment of drinks? I'm making my menu right now and wanted to include a "signature drink". Taking a fun poll. . . anybody else have a signature drink and what is it? Zulma told me that we could have a signature drink at no charge, but I was told by the Michigan WC's that there was a charge....going with what Zulma said!! Anyway, we are doing a Mai Tai since we are going to Thailand for our honeymoon.... I know its after a Tahitian drink and invented in CA, BUT thought it was a fun play on words.....

Quote: Originally Posted by jesmcan 2Mckee and others - I sent Zulma what I wanted played at the ceremony. I am doing Ave Maria and I was able to find a clip on solo guitarist which is what we are doing for our ceremony. I did not have an issue sending them this. Marvin from Maya Diseno is great there is also Euphoria Eventos Y Arte Floral Euforia Cancun Wedding Planner - Outdoor Events and Lighting Design They are a bit pricier but do amazing work Thanks, jesmcan. I just emailed them as well for a quote. As far as music, we are wanting more relaxed music, (not as classical although Ave Maria is a beautiful song!) so I was thinking something like a guitar cover of "Here comes the sun" by the beatles. Thinking I may just have the soloist play before we all come in and use tracks if they are going to be difficult about it.... Thanks to EVERYONE for all the input. I think I would be going absolutely nuts right now if I had to rely on the Michigan WC's for everything.....

Quote: Originally Posted by aerazo Here is the information for the lounge furniture, i forgot to mention they charge a $75 delivery fee. Jennifer Smith Turtle Bay Cafe & Bakery Akumal, Q.Roo [email protected] She is a wedding coordinator but also does rental furniture, you can google Turtle Bay Cafe & Bakery - its also a restaurant... Pricing starts at $175 per set and delivery will be on top of that. they can also have made pillows in your colors- pillows will range from$15-30 depending on sizing and fabric.they also offer rentals and complete wedding coordination 1 set are 2 sofas, 2 ottomans y 1 table you can seat about 8-12 people depending on size of people and how you are using them. Delivery would be $75 usd. We can also have pillows made in your colors. Pillows range from $15-40 depending on size and material. let her know I referred you! =) Thanks! I just emailed her. Looks like she does edible favors and cakes as well....

Quote: Originally Posted by Lady_Di cool, thanks...let him know i referred you! I did! Thanks for the tip- he already emailed me back and the pics and prices look amazing!

Quote: Originally Posted by Lady_Di I am using Marvin from .::: Maya Diseño Floral Profesional :::. Flores y Plantas Exóticas His prices are reasonable so far. I am interested to know about the music at the ceremony! Can you let us know when you get the answer? Oh, thank you!! I looked all over the internet without luck. I'll let you know if I hear anything.

Quote: Originally Posted by luna1923 Hello Ladies, This is my first post. It has taken me almost a month, but I think I have finally read through all the posts! I wanted to make sure I did not ask questions that may have already been answered several times, lol. This forum, and the ladies on it, have been so helpful! I initially wanted to do a DW so I would not have to plan anything, doesn't seem to be the case! My FI and I are from different religious backgrounds so we are having a religious cermony of three hundred guests in Vancouver, and aprox 35-50 guests in Playa. I went from not wanting to plan a wedding to having to plan two weddings! To add to that, we too have had to change our wedding date from April 2011 to Nov 2010 due to price difference for our guests. I'm sure you can imagine that mad scramble I'm going through now trying to plan two weddings in seven months! I have stayed at the Royal before so am familiar with ground layout, etc. Some of the questions I do have: 1. Re lounge furniture - I saw a post that mentioned that they used the Royal's for $250-300. I was initially going to rent mine from another outfit that charged aprox $2000 (used by several other posters). Can someone give me more info about the Royal's lounge furniture and how it compares. 2. Re DJ - does the Royal use DJ Doremixx? If so, is it cheaper to book him privately, even while paying the $350 vendor fee 3. I have not received any communication from an WCs. Everything was booked through a travel agent. Is this normal? 4. I'm in the same boat as many other ladies - the Luxury Package is what I initially was going to go for, but there are alot of services - mani/pedi, hair/makeup, photo, etc, that I will not use - are we still able to book a four course private reception? Lastly, I have not posted enough to open the attachments. Can someone be kind enough to email the wedding and price checklist, and this cake list that everyone is talking about, lol. [email protected] Thanks a bunch ladies! If I were you, I would call the Michigan office and/or go online to submit your info through their wedding site. I did this after we changed travel agents and someone contacted me. Last I heard, if you wanted to use Ivan with Doremixx, you HAD to book through The Royal. When we booked him, he told me that anyone in the future had to go through the resort, per The Royal. Maybe thats changed in the past few months though?? Good Luck with everything!

Is anyone using a local florist? If so, can you post that info? I am having a heck of a time getting what I am looking for from The Royal via my WC. Thank you! Also, I just asked about playlists for the solo musicians.... (included in the luxury package for the ceremony) and I am confused. I am pretty sure they are telling me that we dont have a say over what they play when we walk down the aisle.... not sure I like that. Has anyone dealt with this?

Quote: Originally Posted by aerazo ladies- I am using an outside comany for my lounge furnture but i do have to pay $100 vendor fee for this. The reason i am using an outside company and not the royals furniture is because I didnt like the furniture that they use, its like two long sofas... the company i am using is charging $175 per set which includes a table, two ottomans and two sofas... this way its more of a lounge feel rather than two long couches. If anyone wants there information let me know and i'll send it.. it turned out to be cheaper even with the fee to use this outside company. Adriana Sounds like a great price!! Would you mind posting the info for all of us? Thank you!

Also, what level do they need to stay in at The Gran Porto to have access to The Royal? The Master suite or The Master suite upgraded? Thank you!! - We have guests that are trying to book and cant get into The Royal and are calling me to fix it..... yikes.

Has anyone heard if they will give us discounted passes and/or waive the pass fee for our guests if they arent able to book at The Royal due to being sold out several months before the wedding?

Great thread, everyone. I'll post our choices when we decide!

Quote: Originally Posted by Lady_Di so, i asked for a quote for a flower centerpiece without a vase...it's all hot pink roses in a vase. they are $70 each WITHOUT the vase. that is really crazy so i am going with a local florist who is quoting me $55 each with a vase rental. i had wanted this style of the cake but they said no on that. i'm really annoyed...it is my wedding, not their wedding. its starting to feel like a wedding factory to me. i am starting to think that i should have just booked my wedding at non inclusive wedding resort so i can have control over the details. oh well. Sorry to hear that- I am running into the same issues. If you want to change anything in your package, it seems like the included option is completely void and they want to charge you an arm and a leg for anything different. Doesnt make too much sense!!

Quote: Originally Posted by duprk452 These are the shoes I bought. Poetic Licence 'Mint Julip' Sandal - Flat - Nordstrom These are WAY Cute!

Here is the etsy link for the page of many different personalized canvas bags- I am doing each couples last name as a beach bag instead of first names.... personalized canvas bags on Etsy, a global handmade and vintage marketplace.

What is everyone doing for shoes?? We are doing the barefoot on the beach thing, so I am planning on wearing flat sandals at the reception. I have been looking for sparkly sandals for months now!! Any suggestions?

Quote: Originally Posted by abcabc At one point Angie told me they charge $5 per welcome bag - not sure if that is to have them delivered to the room or is just to have them waiting at check-in. Hey Everyone, On OOT bags, I heard that it is $5 per bag to have them delivered to the room. You can leave them at the front desk the day of arrival at no cost. Not sure if this has changed as this was from Kimberly. Lady Di, I have been looking for that etsy link for the personalized bags. I'll post as soon as I find! I ended up going with the canvas ones from theknot.com. They havent arrived yet, but I will let you know how they come out when they do!

One more thing for all of you girls asking about flowers outside of the flower catalogue. I just sent a couple pictures to my WC of bouquets I really liked and she got back to me with the quotes- not cheap, but definitely not $500! More like 175-200. Just FYI.

Quote: Originally Posted by ~Stephanie~ I know, we are not big dancers either and I feel like my reception will be awkward now. But I don't want to give up having my "first dance" kwim?) Do you have a cousin, sister, friend, etc. that loves to be the center of attention and/or dancing?? My suggestion would be to enlist them to be the "party person" and ask them to get the dancing going, etc..... I've been to a very small wedding before and the brides sister grabbed their grandfather and started boogying and everyone followed pretty quickly! And/or do something super cheesy like play "We are family" and get everyone to get up and start dancing that way. Sounds interesting, but I have seen this as well and its pretty dang effective!