**Kat**

Quote: Originally Posted by ldeavila Hello Ladies! Ok, so I'm trying to come up with my final number of guests attending and i'm wondering do we include the bride and groom in the final count? I always have. I would assume so since the total is needed to know how much food and things will be needed

Quote: Originally Posted by ebredhawk tricia.. definitely go ahead and send him to kim! she leaves early in april i believe so probably the sooner the better. we live in the same city, so getting it from her once she gets back is no big deal at all! here's the updated list too! looks like we need to fill in some of those summer/fall months! dc22173's clear starfish line-up: 1 ) kimmyg - April 9 - Riu Palace Riviera Maya 2 ) ebredhawk - April 28 - Dreams Punta Cana 3 ) ldeavila - May 10 - Las Caletas, Puerto Vallarta 4 ) future mrs. kt ellis - June 5 - Scottsdale, AZ 5 ) *kerin28* - June 19 - Worcester, MA 6 ) Bahiabride2010 - July 3 - Punta Cana 7 ) breeze616 - December 10 - Iberostar Rose Hall Beach, Montego Bay OOOOOOOOOOOO would it be possible for me to sneak in here? ldeavila is getting married at the same location as me, ONE day before I am. If she agreed she could leave him with our WC and I could send him on to the next lucky lady :) I get back on the 15th of May

Quote: Originally Posted by Lady_Di great pictures, lady!! love the hair piece. Thanks! I actually got it as a "practice" hair piece because I am getting some real orchids for my hair at the wedding. I got it for like... $4 at Claires lol

Quote: Originally Posted by Cindy* Your pictures are beautiful! You both look great. Hey, I think I might have the same jacket, is it from JCrew? Thank you. I got the jacket as a present. So I am not sure. It might be the same as yours

More to come....

We used a local photographer that we actually found on cragslist. She was awesome! Couldn't have asked for better. We got about 60 pictures. I won't post them all More to come.....

These are GREAT! I think I am going to order some! thank you!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by barefootbeachbride i knew what you meant.I was just making a side note:) your date is approaching! isnt this exciting! Im going out of my mind with excitement/anxiety! YOUR date is RIGHT around the corner!!! SO SO exciting!

Quote: Originally Posted by Andi Also too in regards to Kelly taking a bit long to respond.... Remember she is now the only coordinator (as far as I am aware they did not yet hire another to replace Nicole) and on average I think they are doing at least 3-4 weddings per week so of course taking care of those brides who are just days away is the most important. If you are inquiring about a 2011 date or a date that is months away, yes it probably will take a bit longer to get a response. Just be patient, dont worry as your wedding gets closer you will have Kelly's full attention! Quote: Originally Posted by barefootbeachbride thats right andi! she usually responds to my emails by the next day if not the same day now that I am days away..when my date was still months away it would take her 3-4 days which is still not bad! She is awewome! Oh yeah! I didnt mean to sound like "she takes forever" because she is awesome about getting back to me. Usually within the same week, but my date is still less than 2 months away. She is busy busy busy but you would never be able to tell!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by carolina24 thanks for the pics!! it looks really good. cute hubby to be My thoughts exactly! LOL

Quote: Originally Posted by cupishalfempty Thank you so much butterfly4kathy2 for the quick reply! Wow, I didn't realize you didn't get a reception/dance after the dinner with the gold package. I don't think our guests will do a whole lot of dancing but we must have our first dances. Billy Not a problem! I am happy that I saved those emails! Sometimes Kelley takes a little bit to get back to you.. but she is THE BEST!!! You will LOOOOVE working with her!

Hi Billy!! ok, I have booked the platinum package.. when I was considering what package to get I emailed Kelley to ask the differences as well and here is what she said Hey Kathy, Here is the information for the Gold package. If you would like me to make a cost proposal for this package, just let me know and I will be more than happy to do that for you…… Your afternoon begins when you board when of our inflatable Zodiaks (group of 20) or one of our luxury sailboats at 3pm in the afternoon, (pictures attached). This would take you privately out to Las Caletas where you arrive at approximately 5:00pm. You would then have plenty of time to prepare for the ceremony at our very own hill top spa and bridal casita. At approximately 6:00pm / 6:15pm we would commence the ceremony directly on the beach. This would be a completely private ceremony as our regular Rhythms of the Night guests will not arrive until approximate hour and half. Following the ceremony you would have plenty of time for photographs, music and cocktails before retreating to a private terrace for dinner. Dinner is a first class buffet that features a number of different entrees to suit the tastes of everyone. It includes grilled steak, grilled chicken, fish, a mushroom alfredo pasta, rice, freshly cooked and grilled vegetables, panela cheese, and several salad options. A dessert buffet is also included which features brownies, pie, a traditional rice pudding dish, and plenty of fresh cut tropical fruit. When it is time to go home, you would then have the option or either returning by Zodiac or by catamaran with the other guests. Returning by catamaran can actually be quite fun as they do a bit of a show on board with music and dancing, etc, but of course you also have the option to return privately with your guests on the lancha. I also wanted to give you some information about booking a wedding date at Las Caletas. To ensure the quality of your wedding, I will only do one wedding a day at Las Caletas, so to reserve and confirm your wedding date, we require a non-refundable deposit of $500 USD. In the event that the wedding location needs to be changed, I am happy to offer you a company credit for this deposit (so you could use it towards tours, scuba diving or dolphin programs). Ok, so that being said.. I think the biggest difference between the 2 packages is that with the Gold Package you dont really get a "reception". You get to the wedding location, get ready, have your ceremony, have dinner and then watch the Rythm of the Nights show with the rest of the guests that come over for the show... This is what she had to say about the Platinum Package (she sent them in 2 different emails) Hola Kathy, Thank you for your email and interest in getting married at Las Caletas, and CONGRATULATIONS on your engagement!! I have prepared a quote for you please find it attached to this email. I will send you a separate email with information pertaining to the Gold package, and hopefully that will help you tell the difference between the two. Basically, the Platinum package is completely private and the Gold package is more semi-private and does not give you the option of having a full on reception. I would like to take this opportunity to give you more information about what your wedding in Las Caletas would be like. Las Caletas is a truly magical place to exchange your vows and celebrate this special occasion. It is our private beach cove in the south bay and is only accessible by sea - giving it the seclusion and ambiance of an island hideaway. Las Caletas covers an enormous area and features several beaches, a pyramid amphitheater built into the tropical forest and mountain side, various facilities/buildings (spa, kitchens, eating areas/restaurants, bars, restrooms, etc), and several hundred acres of tropical forest. For all Deluxe Weddings at Las Caletas a private catamaran, beach, dinner and reception area are included - making half of Las Caletas completely private for you and your group all night! During the wedding, the rest of Caletas will host our regular evening tour there, called Rhythms of the Night. This is a quiet evening that includes dinner and a show at the pyramid amphitheater. The area where your wedding will be is completely separate and private from where the other guests will be and it is unlikely that you will even know that they are there, especially as you will arrive well before them and depart after them as well. Your evening would begin when you and your guests board one of our top of the line catamarans from either Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta (whichever is most convenient to where you and your guests are staying). You will then cruise south along the Puerto Vallarta coastline, past Los Arcos and Mismaloya to Las Caletas. Upon arrival, your guests will be led to the beach where they will enjoy cocktails and appetizers while you and your bridesmaids prepare for the ceremony at our very own hill top spa. Your fiancee will also have a separate area where he can change if need be, that also features a lounge with full drink and appetizer service for him and his buddies. The ceremony would follow, taking place directly on the beach. After the ceremony you would have time for photographs with your photographer, before you and your guest would sit down to an absolutely lovely dinner on the terraces surrounding and overlooking the beach where you've just had your ceremony. While you and your new husband have your wedding photographs taken, your guests would again be able to enjoy additional appetizers and cocktails. Dinner is a first class buffet that features a number of different entrees to suit the tastes of everyone. It includes grilled steak, grilled chicken, fish, a mushroom alfredo pasta, rice, freshly cooked and grilled vegetables, panela cheese, and several salad options. A dessert buffet is also included which features brownies, pie, a traditional rice pudding dish, and plenty of fresh cut tropical fruit. Sparkling wine is served towards the end of dinner for toasting, and before you head down for your first dance you will be able to cut your wedding cake (it will be available to eat throughout the reception). While you and your guests enjoy your dinner, the ceremony set up on the beach is broken down, and a dance floor laid out in the sand (so you would have something sturdy to dance on), tables and chairs are set up around the dance floor for your guests to relax in, and the torches, candles and bonfire are set out/up and lit. After dinner you would have approximately two to two and half hours of reception time before reboarding the catamaran at 10:45 to head back to Vallarta. The boat ride back is a continuation of the reception and you and your guests will be able to enjoy music, dancing and an open bar all the way home. If you would like to extend the time you have at Caletas and make the reception time you have there longer, extra hours are available at $10 per person per hour (charge for extra hours begin at 10:30 pm). Most of the time, I have a hard time getting the wedding parties to leave, because Las Caletas, and the beach there are an absolutely incredible location for not only the wedding ceremony itself, but also the reception, and people just never want to seem to go - but it is important to keep in mind that it is an hour ride back to Vallarta! I also wanted to give you some information about booking a wedding date at Las Caletas. To ensure the quality of your wedding, I will only do one wedding a day at Las Caletas, so to reserve and confirm your wedding date, we require a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 USD. In the event that the wedding location needs to be changed, I am happy to offer you a company credit for this deposit (so you could use it towards tours, scuba diving or dolphin programs). I wanted to let you know that your requested date of May 12 and 11th are both currently available in 2010. If I can interject something though…. Wednesdays is our busiest day in the company because there are normally three cruise ships in port, so if you can, I would recommend the 11th over the 12th……. Here are some links to past weddings….. I hope that this helps!

Quote: Originally Posted by Vallarta_2009 Yeah we just responded to the email they sent to us. If you don't hear from them today re-send your message to confirm if they got it. They usually respond within a day or two. I havent heard anything yet, but I resent it. Thank you!!

Have you tried maybe gently reminding him that your wedding is over that date and that he is still welcome to come? I dont want to make excuses.. but maybe for some reason they forgot the date of your wedding? I know it is a long shot.. but it seems weird that they would say no to your wedding and then ask to come see you over those days...

Quote: Originally Posted by Vallarta_2009 We also got an email asking us to re-measure one of our groomsmen for the jacket because based on their charts the numbers didn't jive. We re-measured and sent them in via email and they responded right away to say thanks and that it was in production. I think a lot of their emails will come in later in the evening because of the time difference. Did you just reply to the email that they sent you? I replied to them on thrusday the 4th and I havent heard anything. I just hope that I did things right

I didnt get all of the measurements that they needed when I first placed the order. They emailed me to let me know that I needed to get them. So I was going to contact them to get them the rest of the info but there is no phone number, so I just replied to the email that they sent.. but I have no heard anything since. Has anyone else had to do this also?

I love the first one too!

Quote: Originally Posted by ldeavila I too was concerned about not havign enough time. I am having the mariachi band play and was concerned about the timeline so I email Kelley and this is her response: I would love to be able to provide you with a timeline. Can you first give me a better idea of how many guests we are working with. The mode of transportation affects the timeline. So, for instance, if you take a Sailboat, you leave the marina at 2:30 pm…. If you take the faster boat, you leave the main marina terminal at 4:00 pm….. Ceremony, initially in both cases is at 5:30 pm – and dinner starts around 6:45pm…… With the mariachis, I would have them start probably a little after the boat arrives, give your guests a moment to use the bathroom if they need to and freshen up, then start them. So they would play before the ceremony, after the ceremony and into dinner. Does this help Ceremony then usually lasts 15 minutes….. OK! So I think that I figured out why we have a different time line and why your ceremony starts so much earlier than mine. I was reading up on the different packages and I think that we have just booked different wedding packages and the time line is different because of that. I booked the Platinum..or "premiere" package. Did you book the same one? Or one of the other packages?

Man! you are good at that!! Best Man.... On So Many Levels! That cracked me up!!!!!

OH! that is a good point! I would not have thought of that!

Cute!!!! Heels in the snow! you are brave

Glad I could help!!

Hey everyone! I was reading this article on CNN this morning and I thought I should pass it along in case anyone heading to your wedding has not applied for their passport yet! Proposed passport fee hikes draw ire - CNN.com (CNN) -- Get ready to open your wallet a little wider to satisfy your travel bug: It may soon cost more to apply for a new U.S. passport or renew an old one, and the news is not sitting well with some lawmakers. The State Department is proposing fee hikes that would require adults applying for their first passport book to pay $135 -- a 35 percent increase from the current $100 fee. (The cost of the wallet-size passport card, which Americans can use on certain trips closer to home, would rise from $45 to $55 for first-time applicants.) Want to add more visa pages to your passport book? It's free now, but you would have to shell out $82 under the proposed fee schedule. The renewal fee for passport books would rise to $110 -- up from the current $75. There's even a new fee if you'd like to formally renounce your U.S. citizenship -- it costs nothing now, but the price tag would be $450 if the proposal is approved. Officials recommended the hikes after a study found the current fee structure wasn't covering the government's costs for the services, the State Department said in the proposal outlined in the Federal Register. All of the increased security and the anti-fraud measures added to passports in recent years come at a cost, said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services Brenda Sprague during a news briefing at the State Department on Wednesday. "New technologies for use in our U.S. passport books and cards must be an ongoing priority if we are to keep one step ahead of the resourceful and technologically savvy criminals, terrorist groups, and subversive elements bent on doing our nation harm," Sprague said. "The cost of the passport book [also] includes the cost of maintaining our presence overseas to assist American citizens," she added. A 'burden' for travelers? But two lawmakers from New York -- a state where cross-border travel with Canada is an important part of the economy -- are expressing concern over the proposed changes. Rep. Chris Lee, R-New York, last week sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking her to scrap the plan. "These fee increases could not come at a worse time," Lee wrote, citing regulations put in place last year that require Americans to show passports when returning to the U.S. from Canada and which Lee said have "exacted a heavy toll on trade and tourism at U.S.-Canada border regions." The fee increase would only "further burden American travelers," Lee wrote. Meanwhile, Rep. Brian Higgins, D-New York, is urging the public to voice opposition to the proposed fee hikes. "We need to literally and figuratively build bridges that encourage cross border tourism, commerce and economic opportunity and this move would do just the opposite," Higgins said in a statement. The State Department is concerned about any impact on travel the fees might have, Sprague said. "Nevertheless, we have to cover our costs," she added. There is also concern about the proposal on the Canadian side of the border, where newspapers have greeted the news with headlines such as "Higher U.S. passport fees could put a damper on local tourism." "It's a total surprise, and under the circumstances, I'm rather shocked," Niagara Falls Tourism chair Wayne Thomson told The Toronto Star. "It's very difficult to get our American visitors across the border for so many reasons right now. This is certainly not good news for people in the U.S. who may not be able to afford a passport and it's certainly not good news for tourism destinations." The State Department intends to implement the proposed fee hikes "as soon as practicable" after it considers feedback from the public, but Sprague said the fees probably would not go into effect before April. You can weigh in and submit your comments via an online form until March 11. You also may want to apply for or renew your passport now. The State Department is anticipating that there might be a rush of passport applications from people trying to beat any possible fee hikes and it's ready to handle it, Sprague said.

Quote: Originally Posted by carolina24 I'm getting a hoodie embroidered with "mrs tompkins, est 9.24.10" and going the DIY route a "bride" and "property of the groom" tank and "just married" bikini (to wear on the HM) I also saw some yoga pants that said "wifey" on the back and thought that was cute and of course i'm doing the MOH and BM tanks for my girls OOOOO where were the yoga pants! they sound CUTE! Quote: Originally Posted by negrilbridetoo I have seen (and purchased) :-) lots of sundresses on sites like Ruelala.com and Hautelook.com. I have pleased with what I have received. I saw cute white dresses today on Hautelook. If you need an invite, just send me your email address. Thanks for the ideas! I am going to check these sites out!