crystalz

Yup it was that simple although i never had to pay for blood test. My certificate took 4 months to get to me (over christmas) annnnd then i just paid $40 to get it translated.

Originally Posted by Stayathomemommy 

Hi everybody I'm new on here. I was just wondering if anybody has done the legal wedding lately? Is a passport and a tourist card all that is required? I've heard people say they ended up going with a symbolic wedding just because it was easier. I thought all that you needed was a passport,a tourist card, and blood test to be done at the resort for $90. Then they mail you your marriage certificate in 3months. Is there something I am missing that makes this difficult? Thanks for any input!

Oooh ok, I guess that makes sense. Well if you don't mind paying the extra its honestly not a huge hastle, they take care of everything for u!

Originally Posted by gettingwed12 

Hi crystalz,

 

I have to pay for documents translating as my surname on my birth certificate and passport are not the same and we have to pay for our blood tests separately....our wedding package was only around £400 through a travel agent but we have to pay for the legal fee's and blood tests when we get there direct to the hotel. x

why do you need to pay for the documents and blood test? I had a legal ceremony in mexico and didn't cost me anything extra, it was included in the package

Originally Posted by gettingwed12 

 

 

We are thinking of maybe changing to the symbolic ceremony and getting legally married in the UK shortly before or after as the cost seems to be mounting up now for documents, blood tests etc. for anyone who had the symbolic ceremony I know everybody seems to say nobody will know the difference so not too worried about that but what is the difference with the requirements, do we have to marry before we go and do we have to take proof that we are married then or does that not matter and do you still have to pay the legal fee's? And I'm a little worried it won't feel like our actual wedding day even though we would class it as being??

 

Thanks

Wow, I haven't been on here in a long time!! I just wanted to let all the future brides that are getting legally married there that I had no problems changing my name! It took the civil license 4 months to get to me (due to christmas in between) then I got it translated which only costed me $40. I took both the original spanish license and the english one to the bank and icbc (to change my drivers license) the bank was the only place that questioned whether i was getting a "canadian one" i just explained it and then it was fine. Same with my car insurance papers just took the papers in. I mailed both copies to medical insurance to change my carecard, took awhile for it to come back but I have it all done now which is good! Again, if anyone has any questions feel free to email or pm me I try to be on more but with the baby on the way my mind is elsewhere ha ha

Also, photos... WRITE DOWN the poses you want or any u think of and give it to your photographer, the day of is just too exciting to remember and think of poses, I wish I had gotten more poses with my girls but our minds were everywhere that day ha ha either way everything turned out great even though my brain thinks its not good enough!

Not sure when it sets i think around 630ish.. but 5pm is PERFECT lighting for pictures anytime before daylight savings "fall back" ha ha

 

Originally Posted by cheeky26 

Hmm I'll have to find some pretty flat sandals...I like the barefoot ones but my mom is funny about me going barefoot!

Does anyone know what time the sun sets in September there?

Thanks!

FOR THE BRIDES GETTING LEGALLY MARRIED WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF CHRISTMAS:

If your getting married between October and December LEGALLY, be prepared that you might NOT have your license within 3 months. The government shuts down for 20 days in December for Christmas so it slows down all the legal processes. It's been just over 4 months and I still don't have my license. I told my wedding planner and thank god she went to work and got mad at the WC down there because they weren't looking into where it was. She finally called Paloma who finally after 2 weeks checked into it and found out that the government there shuts down for 20 days which slowed the legal process. My license was just sent sometime last week so I should be seeing it this week hopefully. Been so frustrating because the WC do NOT inform you of this they just let you sit and wonder, so thankful for my planner!! So, I just wanted to let all you brides who are getting legally married within that time that it may get delayed if your "3 months" crosses with Christmas as mine did. 

we had coconut and everyone loved it!! so good

 

Originally Posted by aquamaniac 

Ok past GBP brides, let's do a vote on cake flavours! I'd like to hear which one everyone thinks is the best before I commit! 

Ahh thats so good to hear and thanks, it is terrible, now its just getting my dad to go get checked lol thats a battle on its own!

 

Originally Posted by katiemac 

Crystalz,

 

I am very sorry to hear about your uncle.  Cancer is a terrible thing that nobody deserves.  My FI is sitting happily on the couch right now watching curling match after match.  His appetite is good, and he even ran an errand today.  Thank you for your well wishes.  

 

 

Katie,

Thanks for your post, it was sad and happy at the same time. My uncle was battling stage 4 metastatic renal cancer which got to the brain while I was planning my wedding. He was diagnosed with it in Jan 2011... He fought so hard, I was married Nov 2, 2011 and he died Nov 29, 2011. It was so fast. I'm glad your fiance seems to be beating it, and I pray he does!! Good luck with everything I lost my Uncle so fast and will never take another life for granted.

Originally Posted by katiemac 

 

Hi Everyone again!

 

This will be a different type of post...

 

My FI has been battling cancer since April of 2012.  He has had chemo, one minor and two major surgeries.  We were under the impression he was in the clear.  We picked our resort, ordered STDs, made our wedding website and picked our bridal party. My FI began experiencing headaches that were abnormal.  I emailed his oncologist and an MRI was ordered. On Valentine's Day, we were called and told that he had a 4cm brain tumor and to go to the hospital immediately.  We have been so positive, but when you hear brain surgery, I thought the worst.  He still made an effort to make me smile and happy on Valentine's Day even though we were in the hospital.  The surgery was this morning.  He looks great.  They got the tumor.  He has no side effects that we were warned of.  It is amazing.  The neurology team is amazing and sensitive and patient.  We are waiting for the pathology to confirm that the tumor is cancer, and he has to start radiation if so.  

 

I am sharing this because I searched BDW site for a group for the people that are planning their wedding in the midst of illness.  There didn't seem to be any.  Not to preach, but cherish your health, and the health of your partner.  I felt like the luckiest woman on earth today when I saw him in recovery.  I share my story, because I know people will wish him the best.  And we need that!

 

On a lighter note, I am pumped to go back to planning.  I came back from the hospital today to find my STDs delivered.  It looks like I will have something to keep me busy while I keep him company in the hospital--carefully print the addresses of my favourite people on the planet to invite to my DW in Mexico.  

 

Keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that this is nearly the end of our journey with cancer.

 

I hope this was inspiring rather than depressing.  

 

Katie

ahhh oh no! Yeah maybe click the last one before view more then flip through like a slide show then you can see the rest! hopefully it works!!

 

Originally Posted by Tlseege 

I'm so sad Crystal!  Every time I try to look at your pictures Facebook says "view more" and then it errors.  I only get to see up to the group pictures on the rock wall and then no more

I didn't do a seating chart since my group was fairly small and they all seemed to get along by the time our wedding came. Myself, my hubby and wedding party sat at the same table though, we had 2 long tables set for 10 and a round table set for 6 or 8, you can look at my pics (link in my signature) near the end are the dinner photos you can sorta of see it lol

I'm sure if you had a seating chart or table names the WC will have no problem setting it up for you, just give it to her in your meeting and explain where you want it or if it matters.

Originally Posted by stylishmeNC 

Crystal and Fally (or any other bride who had their wedding dinner at Dolce Vita recently),

 

Were the tables set up as long 10 tops? That seems to be the consensus....

Did you use a seating chart or place cards at all? If so, did you just give it to the WC and let them go for it or did you have someone else help set that up for you?

Did you have a sweetheart table?

 

Our group is rather mixed and I think it would be beneficial to have a chart to ensure that like people get to sit at the same table as one another. My thought was to just make a board that shows people's name under a table number and then just have the number on the table and then they can sit wherever they want at the actual table. It seems easy and efficient. That being said, I would like certain tables to be near each other (our friends span 2 tables, my family spans 2 tables... you get the point). Also, I think it would be nice to have a sweetheart table to have that time to just be with my new husband and "catch our breath".

 

I would love to hear what other brides did

 

Thanks,

Jill

And it was funny because when we looked through arrecifes shots a lot of them had Vina in their way ha ha

Maybe but she also had her husband as a second shooter to take any angles she couldn't get, did you take a look at mine? At least what she told me she said she had no problems getting all her shots. I had Martin, maybe he was different but he was everywhere, so when he was on one side of us Vina was on the other lol we felt like super stars

 

Originally Posted by Tlseege 

Quote:

I wonder if Vina would think differently about that.  He is only in the three photos that I posted above for Cheryl's pictures, but because he was there I had to change the way that I photograph weddings.  Had he not been there, I would have gotten different angles and photographs. 

 

Great review Fally!!  I have added it to the official thread, it'll be helpful and fun for other brides to read.  Thanks!
 

 

 

Dinner was at 5:30. we had more than enough time, we were rushing at first for photos to not lose light and be back for dinner when we were almost done photos it was only 4:30 ha ha
 

Originally Posted by fraggle42 

Then what time was your meal?

 

 

This probably isn't the right way to go about it but myself and my wedding planner just didn't tell any of them that i was bringing my own photographer... We had arrecife for the 10 free photos and wasn't in Vina's way, only a couple pics out of 536 he was in.

christy- your good to go!! My ceremony was at 3pm
 

Originally Posted by christy12 

Crystalz, your photos look awesome! I was wondering what time you had your ceremony at? The lighting is perfect!

 

The only ceremony time I was able to get was 3pm and I am worried it will be too bright and too hot..has anyone had this problem?

 

Thanks!!

We were at dolce vita, I liked the way it was set up without any extra decor... you can kinda see it in my wedding photos. the link to them is in my signature!

Thanks Emily! I haven't received anything from you yet though!!

Jemma, your photos look great! We had Martin too for our 10 photos, he is really good. I was wondering how you got pink calla's ha ha then i saw you paid for them, only white callas are included in the package unfortunatly. Glad your day was awesome!

hey guys!!! The moment has finally come!!! I have posted my wedding photos We got 536 but I only posted 324 lol A lot of the ones I left out were doubles just slightly different or one black n white and one color etc. Anyways, here's the link to my photos and I hope you all enjoy I will be posting them on my review too

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150512597966050.367143.513216049&type=3&l=b750a4669c

My brother and 2 of our friends went to the Coco Bongo... said they had the best time of their life, it was the best club they've ever been to, it holds like a 1000 people and its incredible. When you get to mexico watch channel 9, it shows highlights of the coco bongo and my bro says its like walking into the commerical. They paid $60 each which got them a ride to the coco bongo at 10pm and a ride back real real late i think and all drinks included. Something to consider, but I regret not joining them, I will go back and I will go there! ha ha

 

Originally Posted by Cynlee143 

Ladies, I need your advice! FI and I were thinking about doing our stag in Mexico and going on a pub crawl since majority of our wedding guests are coming from different areas of Canada and the US. BUT since that whole mexico incident, I'm not quite sure if that's the best idea. What do you guys think??

Heather - Yes they all accept visa!

 

Originally Posted by Heather 2012 

Hello 

I'm getting married in 2 weeks at the akumal hammock location! Getting very excited...

Im canadian and am going to get USD to take with me, I'm just wondering if anyone knows  if the spa, photographer and most excursion tours accept visa? I'd like to bring down as little $ as possible.. 

 

Also I have the Portifino booked for 5:30 and the jacuzzi pool at 7:30 for the poolside party, I know a few of you have had a similar layout so I'm just wondering is two hours too long for dinner? Or will this flow smoothly? 

Thanks! 

Just get the free photos included in your package then they don't ask questions! I brought my own photographer and had arrecife do their thing. They were there JUST for the ceremony and I picked 10 free.
 

Originally Posted by stylishmeNC 

Like most brides, I am bringing down my own photographer... that being said did any of you previous brides that did this, send anything to Arrecife before getting to the resort to let them know that you didn't want anything additional besides what was included in the wedding package? The reason I ask is I keep getting emails from them...

 

Thanks,

Jill

LADIES!! Keep watch this weekend, I get my wedding photos back on Saturday so I will be posting them this weekend!!!!!

Nope! We had the resort photographer and my own photographer and videographer and no one was in anyones way. Videographer stays on one side then for the ceremony he was right beside the judge filming, he didnt really move til it was time to go back down the aisle

 

Originally Posted by AD2012 

Thanks for the info Crystalz.

 

Jazmin gave me their contact info a couple of weeks ago and I emailed them, but haven't heard back yet.

 

Did you find they got in the way your photographer?

 

 

 

AD2012- I got a video done by Arrecife and it turned out amazing!!! I only got a 15 minute edited DVD of just the ceremony, I had to get my TA/Wedding planner to help with the emails and talking to them, they wanted to charge me $780 USD cause they werent understanding what I wanted. SO anyway lol I got them down to $400 USD. Just had video of my wedidng party walking down and then me then the entire ceremony all the way through as is then they shot the walking away and bits of the toast and stuff, they used my songs I had for the ceremony as they were played and edited it to beautifully that I teared up while watching it and I didn't cry during my wedding ha ha They let you view it before they give it to you in case theres something you don't like. I loved it though
 

Originally Posted by AD2012 

Has anyone used Arrecife for videography? We're flying in our own photographer but are interested in getting a video of the ceremony as well.  I recall reading that someone thought the video was really corny. If anyone has any examples, it would be greatly appreciated!!

 

 

I would also have to agree with the other girls, what Arrecife is charging for 180 photos is extreme! We're paying $2500 flat fee for our photographer which includes the wedding day and TTD.

 

If you feel that a 100 photo's will be enough, then go with them. I personally don't feel like a 100 photo's would be enough, I hope to have hundreds of special moments that are captured throughout the day. I think it will be hard to put a number on it.

 

Don't sell yourself short, look into it more.  You never know what you will find.

 

You have to do what you feel is right though!