krsmith

WOW! Thats awesome! I knew someone with a leap year bday...we always joked that she was really much younger than us since she had much fewer bdays than us! Also, I finally got my friend to send a pic of me in my dress that she took of me last summer. Its not the best pic since its from the side, but it kind of shows what it looks like at least a little! Now to just lose a little more weight so they can lace me up even tighter!! LOL

I finally got my friend to send me a pic she took with her phone of me in my dress! This was last summer (as we were supposed to get married mast Aug.) Its not the best view (somehow the best pic is gone), but it gives you an idea of what it looks like! I also have a cathedral length veil to wear with it.

So far no answer, but I'm assuming it will take a LONG time...but I'm happy Janina at least forwarded it. Although she says they have a "new department that is assisting wedding couple with their pre wedding arrangements". Who knows that that means...maybe it will be a good thing and they will be better about getting back to people. I just emailed Katie from Deco. Her email is on the website. I believe its [email protected].... I asked a TON of questions...everything from general resort info to events. I'm pretty laid back too, but I don't want to end up wishing I had figured this stuff out earlier, so I'm just going to try and start the process now since I'm sure I will have to do some pushing to get them to respond! Here are my questions. I am asking anything and everything I can so I can get it straight from their mouths and have it documented! Immaculate Conception Package * We are in the final stages of our Pre-Cana and are getting ready to submit our paperwork to our diocese. Is there anything you need from us? * Because the Catholic ceremony is not legal in Mexico and we must do the legal part in our hometown, can we do it after we get back home if we chose instead of before we leave? * Will you be sending us information of what we need to choose for our ceremony (readings, songs...etc)? * We would like to do the Lasso ceremony during the mass. Is that that included? * Will we need to provide our own Lasso? * What is included in your standard decor for the Chapel (as well as aisle bases)? * Does the CD system for the ceremony play Mp3 discs? * What songs does the solo harpist play in the ceremony? * Instead of the included bridal bouquet, can I use those flowers for decor for our cake? * We would like to have a private reception instead of a dinner reservation for 35 people. Can we use that reservation for either the Welcome Dinner or Rehearsal Dinner? * What is the Honeymoon Package that is included? Wedding Day * I don't want wrist bands to be in our pictures, Can we take off our wrist bands on the day of the wedding without being charged a fee for us and our guests? * I would like to get my hair done for the wedding. When am I able to schedule my appointment and who should I call? * We are having Del Sol come and photograph our wedding. Can we please get 2 day passes for them? * What does the driver of the horse carriage typically wear? * We are putting together invitations now. Can we finalize cocktail hour/reception location and times so I can put them on our invitations? * After our ceremony we would like to have a cocktail hour. * Can we choose where we have it? * Can we have the Mexican Trio or Mariachi play during the cocktail hour? * We would like to have a private reception on a terrace. What are our options? * Will you send me all the options for appetizers for the cocktail hour and buffet options for the reception? * At this point, I don't think we will hire a DJ. What are our options for music and what is the pricing? * Can we release "Wish Lanterns" during our reception? (They flame retardant and biodegradable) * Can you send me a list of cake options? * What would standard decor/setup for tables at the reception be? * Do you provide printed menus to place on each setting at the reception since we will not know what the menu is until we meet with you? * Will you provide a Complimentary room for guests to leave their belongings in or to freshen up in close by the reception? * Do you have anything that we could use (basket/tray) to place Pashminas in at the reception? General * We are putting together Pre-Travel Brochures. Can you send me any information that my guests might find useful/helpful to know about the resort? * Do you have a Resort Map that I can use for my brochures or Out of Town Bags? * We would like to have a Welcome Dinner, a Rehearsal Dinner, and a Goodbye Brunch. We don't need these to be private functions, but is there somewhere we can have these semi private? * Can we decide on where these will be so I can add them to our invites? * Can you send me a list of all the different restaurants, what they serve, and what attire is required? * Can you send me a list of the restaurants that we can have our entire group of guests sit together for the meals I mentioned above? * Can you send me pictures of the different places we can have these? * Is there anywhere we could possibly play a photo slide show during the rehearsal dinner? * Will you send me the list of what we can use our "Vacation Dollars" on and any rules/limitations on using them?

I have contacted Marvin for flowers, and will be using him since he seems to be WAY cheaper than the resort. I am asking MP if I can use the flowers for my complimentary bouquet as either wedding cake flowers or another table arrangement. I haven't decided on a Dj yet. It really depends on how many people end up coming. I don't want to shell out big bucks if we only end up having 15 people. If its small we will just rent the ipod system with the tech that comes with it. Its almost like having a Dj! But of we have a lot more people and its really a PARTAY then I think a Dj will be needed! I just sent a HUGE list of questions to Janina, and she emailed me back saying she would forward it to the wedding dept. So hopefully I will get my on site coordinator soon and maybe have a lot of answers about things soon that I can share! So far I have done: Bought my dress, veil (last year), and pink crinoline for underneath Bought my shoes Bought the BM's dresses Working on our Passport Invites with Rebecca Created our luggage tags on Zazzle Ordered barefoot jewelery for my BMs with Red-i by Chelsea Ordered personalized towels for lounge chairs on Etsy for girls and moms Booked our Photographer for our wedding and TTD (Del Sol) Working with Katie from Deco Cancun on centerpieces and decor Requested to book my locations for all the events at MP (welcome dinner, rehearsal, reception, etc) Buying dresses and attire for the wedding week Lost 10 LBS haha Thats all I can think of off the top of my head, but there is still a lot more to do!!!

SOOOOO CUTE!!! I might just have to use that! Thanks!!

I totally want to do this too!! I'm just trying to figure out a fun/cute way to give them to people at the reception and maybe a short poem/reading about them. Any thoughts?

Me too! I'm DYING to just even see a couple! I'm just relying on her expertise to make me look better than I felt! LOL I don't even know what to put on the brochures! Vistaprint is like $30 too, so I want to try and DIY with Word, but I will probably end up scrapping it and going with Vista anyways! THANK YOU for the loops! I was trying to figure out what I was going to use for that! Haha! You are the best!

This is so great! I actually have a HUGE list of questions I just emailed to Janina, and I will post them as soon as I get a response...so maybe next year! Haha!

I totally hear you! I had such a hard time too! When there are a ton of amazing resorts, its hard to pick one if you've never been there or seen it for yourself. One thing that really helped was this site of course (wedding reviews BIG time), and the Del Sol Wiki. There are pictures of a ton of weddings at the different resorts all around the Riviera Maya. They all show lots of pictures of the resort itself, rooms, ceremony and reception locations, decor...etc! It was helpful being able to actually visualize what a wedding might look like at a particular resort. And I of course got lots of ideas for my own big day! Just make a list of what your TOP priorities are then go down the list and check things off as you see them. I made a little spreadsheet of the different resorts and used columns and had check marks in the boxes of things they had that I wanted. Once it was all done I was able to compare the resorts side by side. It was a little bit of work, but totally worth it! Happy Planning!!

Well after COUNTLESS reschedules due to the crappy weather, we finally got our engagement pictures done yesterday! I'm so excited to see how they turn out! Our photographer was awesome and even though the location we chose ended up being PACKED (since it was like the first hot sunny day we've had), we worked it and I think got some amazing shots! I didn't get to wear one of the main outfits I was planning on wearing though which was a bummer. We brought 3 changes of clothes (the 3rd set was a last minute "casual" clothes grab) and ended up only getting in 2 changes. I actually wore the last minute outfit that I wasn't planning on wearing...and I was having one of those "fat" days, so I'm hoping I don't look lumpy/uncomfortable! LOL I have made my business cards that will go inside our luggage tags, and will be ordering those soon. HOWEVER, I'm not sure what to use for the string that they will be able to attach to their luggage! I bought some of the hard plastic tags, and they don't come with anything! Any ideas? I'm also trying to work on our Pre-Travel brochures, but I'm having a hard time being creative enough! I have to say I am not the best when it comes to Office or Word! Other than that, I'm just trying to compile my list of questions for Janina! I'm trying to cover EVERYTHING so I can have all the questions answered in one email. Any questions you can think of that could be helpful??

Rae- I have wondered that too! I'm more interested in if they will LET us have wish lanterns there....either way I think I read somewhere that they DO NOT accept shipments because of the liability. I don't think it would be any more difficult to fly with them than anything else you would be bringing.

Great job! I can't wait to see your pictures!

Oh NO!!! I'm so sorry to hear that! I hope everything is ok with you and your FI. Good luck with your planning at home. I know it will all turn out beautiful! We will be praying for you guys!

Sorry! Correction: *DON'T do them normally*

Hey ladies! I know some of you are working with Del Sol/La Luna or are thinking about it...I just thought I would share a link to a wedding done at another Palace resort (Xpu-Ha). Its just another reminder to me that I don't have to worry about bringing my own photog since Del Sol has such a good relationship with Palace. I feel so bad for some of the brides out there that get stuck with the Resort Photogs. Anyways, thought I would share since I know how much we all love looking at wedding pictures! This place looks SOOOO cool! I might have to stay there if we ever go down to Mexico again. I love the Bungalow look to the resort! http://delsolphotography.com/blog/post-1010/Jenna-Gary-Wedding-at-XpuHa-Palace-Photos-by-Vincent

Hi Ladies! So I when I was looking through resorts once we decided to do a DW we came across Xpu-Ha Palace! We really liked this resort for the super cute Bungalow style rooms and that they were PET friendly (our 2 dogs are our babies, and hate the thought of leaving them behind), but it didn't look like they had done ANY weddings there. So we just ended up checking them of the list since we couldn't seem to find much info on them. I am a client of Del Sol's and I like to keep up with their Blog. I never get tired of looking at their pictures and of course I love getting ideas for my own wedding. When I got on today I saw pictures of a wedding at Xpu-Ha! I was so surprised! I contacted Matt from Del Sol because I was curious...turns out it was pretty much a ONE and ONLY type wedding! I guess they do them normally! I know Del Sol has an amazing relationship with Palace Hotels (which I love!!) and this is the first wedding they have ever done at Xpu-Ha! Anyways, it was a Mayan ceremony and I guess they even have a cenote/lagoon on the property! I just loved looking at all the pictures. What a COMBO!!!! The Mayan ceremony is so beautiful...you can really see the culture in this wedding especially with the beautiful lush property! Check out their Blog Post here and the full slide show HERE I just loved it so much I thought I would share! ENJOY!!

AWESOME!!! Thanks so much!

Hi Ladies! I was wondering if any of you know where to find Black or White short silky robes that say "Bride" on them (like the one pictured)? Even plain ones too since I was thinking I would give my girls one too so we can all wear them as we get ready on the big day! Thanks!!

Also I bought my shoes yesterday! I found them on Ebay for $79! I LOVE them! I did want pink originally, but I couldn't find my size, and I worried it wouldn't match the pink crinoline I got from Vgirl! I will just have to add a little more pink somewhere else too!

YES! That is such a good question! My little sisters are 18 and are DYING to do a bachelorette party down there since they can drink legally! I will have to make sure we do it WELL in advance of the wedding though...I'd hate to be hungover!

I did notice them actually! I couldn't find them in my size on sale though.... I have SUPER tiny feet (5.5) so whenever I come across anything I like in my size, I just go for it! I bought these on Ebay for $79! Can't go wrong with that price. I will have to keep my eye out just in case though. I am wearing Vgirl's pink crinoline under my dress, and wonder how hard it would be to match the pink...I don't think they'd have to be EXACT, but I'd hate to have 2 completely different shades of pink.

Oh and I JUST found and bought my shoes off of ebay! I'm super excited since they will be my first pair of "designer" shoes. I was hoping to go for pink, but I decided it wasn't worth the hassle (and I wasn't finding ANYTHING I particularly liked)

I totally understand! Since we ended up deciding on a DW, I have pretty much been on my own. I did all the research on the location, the resorts, and all the details so far. Anytime I would ask for his opinion it would be a "sure" or "that looks fine" or "I don't know, whatever you think". It has been driving me NUTS!!! He did help me assemble our MIB STDs, but pretty much complained about it the whole time! He tells me that if he were the one doing all this it would be simple and easy and he wouldn't worry or deal with the small details (such as programs, place cards, table decos etc), but I wouldn't like it anyways. While that might be true, it would still feel nice to have a little more input or enthusiasm with the planning process. I am pretty laid back and don't get stressed easily, but there are times when it all seems to start adding up quickly and I feel like I am being crushed by all the things that we still have to decide/purchase. He says I take one simple task (like centerpieces) and spend hours and days and weeks "researching" it and looking at hundreds of pictures, when I should just pick something and stick with it. To make it worse, we are on a really tight budget, and any time I come home with clothes he freaks out! I'm constantly explaining that I need to shop for clothes for the wedding NOW since there is still summer clothes available. He just asks why I can't wear what I have already. HELLO!?!? I'm the bride! I have to look EXTRA good while we are down there! I swear its a guy thing, but sometimes I want to smack him! All my BMs and my mom also live elsewhere and won't be able to be much help. So I'm also completely on my own. I just have to remember to enjoy it while it lasts since I'm sure one day I will wish I could do it all again!

AMAZING dress tori and of course happy birthday! Bride2012 we are date twins! Yay! Another Vday bride!

I am a total shoe FREAK! I can't even count how many pairs I have! It has been my goal to get every single color of heel imaginable! I REALLY want to wear fuschia shoes since I am wearing Vgirl's pink crinoline under my dress and PINK is my signature color! I haven't been able to find a pair that I like yet though...guess I will have to check out that site. Another good site is http://myshoes.com . They have a great selection there too!