mochamakes3

Brandy it's so amazing that you had a great shower and were spoiled by everyone. Your cake was gorgeous! Totally fits with your theme.

Southern Sweetie, welcome back. We are also on our third Miami contact! And have never been notified of any changes. Thankfully, I already had my Cancun contact. If you still don't have your Cancun WC, I suggest posting something on the Palace Resorts facebook page. They should be able to get that info for you.

JLCarrera, The aisle decorations are included. On a positive note, you can use your entire palace dollars towards the package.

kiwibride: Have an amazing time! We can't wait to see your pictures.

The iPod set up with technician is $220 for groups of less than 40, or at least that's what price I have somewhere. Most previous brides said that the technician ran the whole system.

I changed my mind after reading what you wrote today. IF they promised you a specific amount after you told them your plans for a DW, they should honor it. But I am glad to see that you are feeling better about it.

Oh Erin! Sometimes it's best to just let it all out. I think I would have just taken my dress and not paid her anything. I would also complain to the store that sent you there. Loudly, when there's lots of people there. I am glad to hear that overall it fits well, so I really hope the new seamstress is able to fix the mistakes. Meggers - Life Brand (Shoppers) makes great lozenges with echinacea and honey lemon. They are fabulous for fighting and surviving a cold. It's probably wedding stress starting to weaken your immune system.

Sounds beautiful Georgia Peach! We're probably doing their iPod setup.

Since there is not really a rehearsal we are planning for a welcome dinner at Palapa Frigata. With 30 people, theres not many other places to fit everyone. We are doing our cocktail and reception at Bugambilias Terrace since it is in the Sunrise section closer to our room block.

No solid sale yet.

It's in definitely cheaper to have the complimentary package and choose your own add ons. The packages are pretty much only a better deal if you are using their photography and want everything that is included. Sure it makes planning easier, but it's probably not exactly what you want. The biggest example is for the bridal bouquet. I originally wanted the amber package because of the calla bouquet featured in their promo pictures. Then I found out it isn't an included bouquet and I would still have to pay an additional $250. It's easy to pick up what extras you want to include and add up their costs. It is a pain to wait for the 2012 promos. I know I booked before they confirmed the 2011 promos and thankfully they only increased the amount that we were eligible to receive. Maybe you can ask your TA if she can set up the web page with just deposits. It sounds like you have already pretty much decided that MP is the place.

Georgia Peach, I wanted to do a private cocktail hour at the Caribbean Terrace and there is still a charge per person. I decided to just tell people to meet there and hope for the best. We will only be about 16 people at that time though. There is also a terrace area beside each of the gazebos that you might want to consider. It's great to meet the unlimited private events, but I'm starting to realize that there's not too many places that can accommodate a large group.

Kyndall, we chose the superior hors d'oeuvres but are still discussing the buffet menu we would prefer. Are those vases strong enough to support a BM bouquet? Most bouquets I've had as a BM are super heavy. Here is a source for some similar ones, but they are from China so might not get here in time for your wedding. http://www.dealextreme.com/p/foldable-recyclable-durable-plastic-flower-vase-stripes-color-assorted-40568 Lana, How many rooms are you trying to block? Maybe there is a conference that same week?

I'm sorry you feel this way. We are paying for our own wedding and the AHR and aren't expecting any money from his parents but will probably be getting money from mine. I also expect that most of my family members are in a better position to get us more expensive gifts. You are getting married because you want to officially declare your intention to spend forever together. It shouldn't be about money you may or may not receive. Look at this way, if you got married at home, you would probably spend a whole lot more, still have to pay for an additional honeymoon and even though you would get the "full amount" from your parents, would probably end up with a lot more out of your own pocket.

Laura, that's wonderful. You are so lucky to have your grandmother pass on such a wonderful item.

Tough call.. is the other place in the U.S.? Customs are the killer for most things.

I guess my trip schedule really sucks in comparison! I have to work Friday, FI's parents and 2 GM will be driving to our house Friday night and we are having a limo pick us all up for our 10 am flight. And I still have to find someone to take our dog!

Good luck Kate, I think most of us have had issues surrounding our DWs, at home weddings just have different issues. We also planned our DW around a holiday with hopes more people would attend. I don't think it made any difference. My parents always expected a DW so they weren't too surprised. Although I don't really feel like they have been completely honest with me about their expectations for our DW or all the other wedding related events. His parents were really worried about the cost since they would actually have to spend money to attend our DW. I have had a few fights with his mother demanding certain things like an ocean front and leaving on certain days. My comment was, if you don't like it, book your own vacation. Same thing with my sister complaining about the dates, if you don't like it, you don't have to attend.

I think it's because I look at it this way. We didn't need extra money to buy the house, my parents gave us money to help out with all the expenses (worded as since you aren't getting married here's what we gave your sister when she got married). So with their money, we were able to get some new furniture all at once instead of gradually. We are trying to prepay our mortgage as much as we can since the rates are so low and contribute to our retirement so that we can have a better life early on. But because FI had to bail out his parents, he wasn't able to contribute to the retirement, just the mortgage. So either way, if he had to give money to his parents it comes from our future savings! The deal I had with FI was that I would pay for DW and he would pay for AHR. I'm tempted to just put any of their gift money away for when I'm on mat leave.

I know it's more traditional for the brides family to contribute. But so far any money that my parents have contributed has basically gone towards helping his family out. I guess I just think it's horrible that FI has worked so hard to be successful and then his dad can just sit on the couch half the year and not worry because his son will bail them out. It really bothers me that any time we have all gone out to dinner my dad tries to take the cheque, FI has taken it half the time, but his parents have never even offered to cover a portion. How can you find the money to buy coffee and smokes every day, but then call your son to ask for money to help pay the mortgage? Sorry this turned into a vent.

I haven't really had the time to follow this thread, but here is my input. I keep telling FI that I want to start up a cake business when I'm pregnant or on mat leave. After checking out the pricing on the web site you're using I might consider a fake cake business instead. So much easier to decorate a cake form. I think there' s probably more people using fake cakes at home than for a DW. We are all just so worried about luggage restrictions for all the other stuff!

Wow I missed a whole 2 pages writing my last post. Meggers, love the ring holder so cute. Laura, I'm jealous of your four days. FI is already worried that we will be spending every night between when I get home and when we leave at the mall. We leave on a Saturday, and I have to work on the Friday! At least I will have a few days off after we get home before I have to go back to work.

Erin, I think I will try to pack the OOT bags before we leave so they are ready to distribute once we arrive. I hope they don't take up too much space. I'm having a bit of a moral issue right now. I was talking to my parents about the AHR. They wanted to know how much we were planning on spending. My dad mentioned that they haven't discussed what/how much to give us for our wedding. I told them that since they paid for a portion of our appliances when we bought our house I wasn't expecting anything. My parents are in a much better financial situation than FI's family. I don't think it's right that my parents can give us $5K for our new home and we have actually given his parents about $3K to help meet ends because his dad would rather be on EI than work at a job that pays less than $20/hour. I would appreciate the money, but it's not fair that my parents contribute and FI has taken on his family's responsibilities in addition to our own. I feel bad not accepting anything from my parents, especially since they paid for my sister's dress and part of her traditional wedding. I almost feel like any money we accept from my family is basically just being given to his family because they can't be responsible. So even though we can afford to pay for AHR on our own, we are no further ahead thanks to my parent's generosity. I want to tell my parents not to give us anything.

Great pictures! I love that you are smiling in so many of them. I look way too serious in most of mine.

Tris - that's awesome that your price dropped, do you have a price protection guarantee? Meggers - no bride brain, just a general overworked brain here. I hope you managed to figure out a solution. I used to have a Saturn and you could boost from the hood or the trunk. Thankfully I never had to do either.