nicdeb928

  I did look into Octavio, and he was very awesome to communicate with, quickly responding to my emails and answering all my questions...but i ended up booking Juan Navarro...I looked into his work and really, really liked it...he is also awesome to communicate with and that makes me feel very comfortable...he was more expensive, but still reasonable...I booked him for 6 hours and another hour for trash the dress the following day...check out his blog, there are update pictures constantly...i should know, i stalk it all the time Â

I feel like the only brides on this thread are ones that arent getting married till next year we havent had any recent ASP brides on here to write us reviews, answer questions, get us excited....where are all the ASP brides for 2010?!?! im getting married there in 10 weeks from today, wish I had a bride from here going before me so i could hear about it and get last minute questions answered...you 2011 brides are sooooo ahead of the game! good for you ladies in a few weeks ill be posting my planning thread that ive been working on over the past few months, and I will also write a review when I get back...i promise to help you ladies with any info I can  10 weeks!!! 42 people booked!!! = good times ahead

Wow! What an amazing review! and I cant believe how much you were able to do and get married! I have a question, my fiance and I are both certified divers and we definitely want to get a dive in that week...can you tell me the name of the place you used in PDC? and if you liked their services? also, the resort we are staying at does not have a beach (Aventura Spa Palace) so if any of my guests would like to go to PDC for the day can you tell me, if there is a cost to get on the beach there and can you get on anywhere or are there only certain sections that are available to the public? thank you so much, Nicole

lilbuddha can you email me the aventura price list [email protected] thank you so much, Nicole

Hey ladies..did anyone use or is anyone planning to use the salon at ASP to do their makeup the day of the wedding? I would love to not stress and have my makeup done for me, but im scared its going to look unnatural or im not going to like it so i would like to know if anyone else had a good/bad experience with them...thanks, nicole

@lilbuddha...i would love to see any/all the pics you have! my wedding is in 3 months and i still havent decided exactly where I want to have the cocktail hour and reception...i appreciate this so much! thanks, nicole [email protected] Â also, during your visit, was there anything else that you saw/learned/thought of that would help the rest of us? thanks again

Hi...its me again! sorry im being a posting queen tonight...i havent been able to spend alot of time on here recently so now I feel like I have so much to say My wedding is exactly 12 weeks from today...WOO HOO! seriously my fiance and I are very excited...I feel like its so real now b/c its so close...  Approximate cost so far for everything: $1000 air fare $300 ceremony (w/complimentary package) $2500 ASP room for 8 nights (expecting to receive 7 nights refunded back) $2500 photographer for wedding and TTD $0 cocktail hour & reception (included in unlimited private functions) $500 approx. for day passes for guests $500 invitations and STD's $800 approx. videographer of ceremony, cocktail hr and a lil of reception $500 approx. for 2 hrs extra open bar for reception ($60 per extra hr for every 10 ppl) $500 approx. for 25 OOT bags and decorations $ not sure about music yet  Im sure Im forgetting other things, I know my goal has been to keep it under $10k and I think with the free unimited private functions and 7 nights refunded I should be able to do it  As far as things done/things to do: ~I bought my dress (a maggie sottero, 1st fitting in sept); the BM have their dreses (short coral cocktail dresses w/matching gold jewelery and shoes), FI has a tux he's wearing w/ same shirt as GM, the GM have their outfits (Calvin Klein black dress pants & CK white dress shirt with 3/4 rolled up sleeves, not tucked in and no tie and black dress shoes) ~we bought our wedding bands ~gifts for bridal party-i bought my girls their jewlery and bags and he bought his guys their outfits; we are also making all of them big bags of goodies...i want to buy something else for the girls yet.. ~invitations went out end of July with RSVP date of Aug 30th ~photographer hired (Juan Nuverro) ~OOT bags half done, waiting till all RSVPs are in to finish (using mostly vistaprint, discountmugs, & oriental trading) ~bought cake topper, unity sand set, my garter, shoes (satin teal) and jewlery  Things still to do: (it seems like I keep adding to this list) ~ I bought a TTD dress but not sure im keeping it, have to make a final decision ~finish making OOT bags ~decide on the locations for my cocktail hour and reception and decide on menus (i dont think they need to know till 60 days before) ~decide on flowers (no clue yet) ~decide on the readings I want to use and our vow wording ~i have to purchase my veil and headband ~ we have to get all our documents of personal info together that ASP needs ~i have to arrange my hair/makeup appts for me, my girls and the moms for day of wedding ~type up itenarary of trip to put in OOT bags ~hire pianist, mexican trio and dj (decide on songs for ceremony and first dances) ~continue dieting and working out so I can look slamming in my dress  okay im done blabbing i look forward to talking with you girls alot over the next few weeks Nicole  Â

Hi ladies...I just read all your posts about worries with the group contract...I guess I now feel very lucky to be working with the travel agent that I am...she is awesome..In January I booked my trip with her, at that time I sent a STD to all our family and friends with all the wedding info and Valerie's (our travel agent) information....our guests started contacting her and she booked their trips first as individual bookings, then once she had enough deposits from everyone she notified the resort that she had a group booking, put everyone trips into one and had enough money with their deposits to cover the group contract booking deposit, so my fiance and I didnt have to dish out any money to hold other peoples rooms...it has worked perfect for us, i believe we are currently at about 63 rooms booked, so im pretty confident we will get to the 75 and then we can receive our free unlimited private functions...our guests are coming and leaving on different dates and some are staying for 4 nights, others 7, that didnt effect the group booking at all...also from the beginning Valerie told me not to worry about putting out money and reserving a block of rooms for our guests, she said if we were getting married at a smaller resort she would advise that but ASP is HUGE and there is no way they will be sold out...sorry for the long rant, hope this helps someone, it has worked great and easy for us Nicole

Hi Mia! of course I will be posting many pictures when I get back and I will give everyone a full reveiw too I booked Juan for 6 hrs the day of my wedding and another hour the following day to do a TTD session...Im very excited to work with him and have confidence that he will do a great job...Im buying him and his assistant a day pass for the wedding and for the TTD we will probably meet him at a beach somewher in playa del carmen so we can get actual ocean shots..hope this helps nicole

Hi! I have Juan booked for my November 5th wedding...He is nice to work with, quick to respond to my emails and affordable...I love his work, ive read reviews on him and i always check his blog on his website b/c he updates his pictures pretty frequently...check out his blog, it might help you with your decision...good luck! Nicole

Hi ladies! just wondering what everyone is doing about a dj? im thinking about hiring DJ Mannia or DJ Doremixx...does anyone know what ASP policy is as far as having an outside dj? do i just hire them, pay for day passes for them and see what happens? do i tell/ask ASP thats what im doing? i dont want to pay $1700 for 4 hours for a dj and sound system (thats what ASP charges) i think thats ridiculous...AND i dont even know if they are good...whereas i've read so many good things about Mannia and Doremixx...any suggestions?

i havent tried making these yet...but i did make the brownies with a can of black beans...they came out so delicious...didnt taste the beans at all..believe it was 2 points a brownie...

Jenise..they look beautiful! and the perfect size to me...i love them!

JENISE you look stunning! so beautiful! your FI is going to have a heart attack! im so excited...my date is in August with Jen...please, if you have any advice/suggestions for me...please please email me and tell me..thanks so much...Nicole [email protected]

i thought it was very cute and creative....i understood what it was for instantly

dont even get me started.....so far since our engagement, the ONLY stress during our wedding planning has been a result of family issues, on both of our sides...its really stressful, hurtfull and depressing....I dont know why this happens, but it really is a shame...

Hi Ladies! Im Nicole from Ocean County...were getting married this November 2010 in Riviera Maya, Mexico...im so excited and time is passing so quickly! I got my dress at Nicole's Boutique in Brick, its beautiful and she is awesome to work with!

Jannae your pictures are beautiful! every single one of them! were doing a TTD session too this November...the only thing im concerned about is my makeup...i plan on getting wet and I dont want my makeup running down my face...do you have any suggestions of what to use?? thanks..nicole

me again...transportation question...has anyone/ or is anyone planning to use Cancun and the Riviera Maya Mexico - Hotels, Pictures, Beaches, Information for private transportation to/from airport and resort? i was thinking about hiring it for our bridal party and parents this way they dont have to stop at other resorts...the price isnt bad...for roundtrip private transportation the cost is $135 for a van that fits 8-10 people...let me know if you have any thoughts on this...thanks, Nicole

Hi ladies...transportation question...has anyone/ or is anyone planning to use Cancun and the Riviera Maya Mexico - Hotels, Pictures, Beaches, Information for private transportation to/from airport and resort? i was thinking about hiring it for our bridal party and parents this way they dont have to stop at other resorts...the price isnt bad...for roundtrip private transportation the cost is $135 for a van that fits 8-10 people...let me know if you have any thoughts on this...thanks, Nicole

Hey ladies! does anyone know what flowers are in season in November in Mexico? trying to decide on my flowers and I know it will be cheaper for in season ones..thanks..nicole

cristi your pics are awesome..ill be honest, i really loved the friends/family album ones, it truly looked like all your guests really enjoyed themselves and thats awesome of course i have some questions that picture 14 in the friends/family album, is that the conceirge only section? also, same album..pic 18 is that area a place you can have a private function? it looks really nice...it looks like you went into town with your guests, is that playa del carmen and if so do you recommend any places to go? thanks so much and congratulations! you were a beautiful bride nicole

It looks beautiful Janine!!!

a little off topic, but Im curious...did you handwrite the people's names and addresses on your envelopes or did you print it on a computer? i was going to write out everyone's b/c i thought it was more thoughtful but i dont want it to not look formal enough?

are you serious with all this!?!? im sitting here reading your posts and now I want to punch somebody!!! what in the hell! one, I wouldve lost it on that woman, and I mean completely lost it...two, how the hell do you have the wrong stamps, is it that difficult for these people to get things right, dont brides all over the damn world mail out invitations on a daily basis, i just dont get it..now im nervous b/c i have 80 invites sitting in front of my that need to be mailed...oh well, guess ill go start my saga tomorrow at the post office...good luck janine! i hope everything works out for you