AshleyNicole84

Yes, liked it and going to get it. We knew we didn't want to do American style and wanted to do something that incorporated local flavors and cuisine, but wasn't too far out there for those with pickier palettes. I think it is a great choice.

Sorry I haven't put any information up yet; all of the photos are on my fiance's phone and just haven't gotten them on my computer yet. We did a tasting of the Yucatan menu.

We are also having a large wedding, looking like it will be around 100. I think I am going to go barefoot for the ceremony and then put on some heels for the reception since we will be on the deck where it is flat.

We decided to do it on the beach there as well. Although I would have preferred a more private beach, it was going to add 1,000 to 1,500 for the cite and transportation. I'm hoping in November (it is low season) it won't be quite so crowded. I don't mind people watching really, just hoping people have courtesy not to stop in front during ceremony.

Who is your planner? We had the tasting with our planner, Maria Tripaldi, and she mentioned she was sending photos to another couple who were planning on having their wedding there. The food was great, I'm waiting on uploading the photos to post the full review, but will post the link here once I get it up!

The designer is Marchesa and I believe it is from their 2010 collection. Thanks!

Hey ladies! Just got back in and am going to post a review of the places we checked out in the general Maya Riviera forum sometime this week. It was amazing and cannot wait until the wedding!

Yeah- as much as it sounds scary, I think I prefer male photographers for things like this. They tend to bring out more of the sexy side. With a close friend and a glass of wine, you will feel great! And your FH will love it!

Just bought one; thanks so much for posting ! I only get the DC Living Social info (this one was NOVA) so I wouldn't have seen it. I had been considering doing a BD shoot, but our photographer is a long time friend of my fiance and I was a bit concerned about doing one with him. Although he has seen some photos of me like this (I cheer for a pro team and have to do bikini calendar shoots), I think that this one being for him personally will really make it special. Thanks again for the heads up!

My save the dates are going to go out next week (although most people already know the information and I have been passing around our website) and I will probably send out the invites in July.

I think we need an e-happy hour for all the 11/11/11 brides!

Thanks! Sometimes I feel bad "stealing" ideas, but some things are just too lovely and perfect for our visions to pass up! I am thinking about doing the robes too! I already bought them all a little necklace when I asked them to be BMs, so I thought robes would be a nice touch for the gifts there. Where did you get yours?

Kristi and Jen- Thanks! I also tried on a trumpet style that I loved. It was lace and looked very Spanish/Mexican. My mom gave it a veto, so it made the decision easier Right now we are planning on getting married in the sand. There is a chance we may switch and do it on the deck of the beach club, but I am 90% sure it will be on the actual beach. I am going to check the location out this weekend to finalize that...

Thanks Deanna! I was kind of shocked with my choice; I originally said I wanted something with sleeves and NO BLING... but I guess sometimes the dress picks you

Thanks, Tris. I knew I wanted them to be able to pick their own dresses out and was thinking to just do it with different shades of the same color-- that might work with just two people. Have one wear a more mutes shade of the same color than the other.

I am having my bridal party do dresses like the wedding below. We had already decided on muted shades of blush/sea glass and neutrals for the wedding and then I saw this! They are going to pick out dresses from wherever as long as they are of similar fabric/look. It should be pretty and hopefully they will be able to get something they love.

I just ordered my dress and I am in love! It is going to be miserable waiting for the first fitting.. and the wedding! I have a photo on my phone, but was having trouble uploading.

If this is a double post, sorry! I thought I hit send but the post never showed up. Not sure if it has something to do with the photo. If it is missing again I’ll try sending without photo! We got luck with the site visit; the hotel we are staying at comped us two nights and gave us a discount on the third. And my fiancé got a bonus in work that was to be used through expedia, so we didn't have to pay for the flights. clgriffi- Re: wedding size... We wanted to keep it around 60, but both of us come from large families (his huge). We have managed to get the invite list down to 170 from 200, but I don't know how much more we can cut. There are certainly people I know can't make it, but still. We expect it will be around 100. Don't feel bad about the high five- I have already done the same when talking with friends and family. Joanne- Don't be stressed. Part of the beauty of destination weddings is people tend to be much more "go-with-the-flow" are things aren't booked as far in advance as they are here (at least on the east coast). We got engaged in December and since my fiance and I knew the low season was the fall and we didn't want to wait two years to get married, I hit the ground running. Not everyone has budget room, but if you do, I really would recommend getting a coordinator. Ours has already been priceless and negotiated deals with me with vendors that is saving us money. Re: STDs- I need to send them off to a printer next week, I am thinking Vista Print. I think I will probably do the invitations in July. I designed the STDs with InDesign and will do the invites and all of the menus/programs, etc. I may want the actual invite on slightly higher quality stock than Vista Print, so if you all have any recommendations, let me know! I bought my dress this past weekend, unexpectedly. I had a trip planned to NYC at the end of the month, but a dress I tried on here in D.C. was amazing. And they offered us 13% off. It was a bit over the budget, but when I factored in the savings from not going to NY it worked out. I am obsessed with the dress and these next months are going to be torture!

Hey everyone! My fiance and I are going to Playa del Carmen Friday-Monday for a site visit. We already have some things planned; meeting with the planner, doing a walk through and tasting at the venue (Kool Beach Club), a hair trial (my sister does makeup), and going to a pastry/cake shop (we haven't decided if we want a cake yet). We haven't chosen a rehearsal dinner location and will probably try out a few places. We want something super casual, like a fish fry or taco shack. Any suggestions? I also will probably go to the local gift shops/maybe walmart to see what I may be able to get for OOT bags there. We will be staying at our hotel; any thing you suggest asking them or checking out? Is there anything you wise ladies suggest that may be overlooked? Thanks for all your expertise!

Big3n09- Hi! Nice to meet you online and congrats to you! I just bought a dress and will be getting it altered at the store where it was purchased. I do have a friend who gets everything she owns tailored, I will ask her if she has any reccomendations!

Joanne- Don't stress- one of the good things about a destination wedding I think is that people seem much more layed back and it doesn't seem like people book quite as much in advance (at least compared to the East Coast here). I just got engaged in December and hit the ground running because we knew the off season for Central America was the fall and didn't want to wait two years. Once I got the venue booked, it all has started coming together. Not everyone has room in their budget for a coordinator, but having one has been priceless thus far. Well worth the cost if you have some wiggle room. I know lots of people use Vista Print- can anyone comment on the quality of paper? I'm not too concerned for the STDs, but want to make sure the invites are done on nice stock. I want to order them ASAP so I can get the out by the beginning of March. I will probably do the formal invites in July. Re: guest size.... We can't get the invite list less than 175 which is extremely frusterating. My fiance comes from a HUGE family and my family is pretty big as well. I am expecting around 100, we wanted it to be much smaller, but it just doesn't look like that is going to happen. I haven't uploaded my dress from my phone yet, but this is the dress. I fell in love as soon as I started walking in it; it is super flowy and I just imagined the beach wind... I am obsessed and it is going to be torture waiting for it to come in!

Good luck Angi! Don't be surprised if you like things you didn't think you would like, I bought a wedding dress this past weekend and a few things I said before I went were: "Don't bring a mermaid dress near me." I ended up trying some on that were actually lovely. One I really loved- it felt very Vintage/Spanish with lots of lace, but my mom gave it the veto. "I will cut you if you try to put me in bling." (joking, of course) and "lets try to avoid strapless"... The dress I ended up choosing has some "bling" and has a strapless sweetheart neckline. HA! I am in love with the dress, it is this super flowy chiffon Marchesa sheath gown that made me cry- I felt like a princess/moviestar, a million bucks. Have fun at all of your appointments!!!

Hi ladies! I am getting married November 11 in Playa del Carmen. The past couple weeks things have really started coming together; we have booked a planner, videographer, photographer, and tentatively booked a venue. We are going down this weekend for a site visit and will put our deposit down as long as we are OK with the venue location! This past weekend I bought a dress as well- I had a trip to NYC planned for later in the month, but found something I love here (D.C.) so pulled an audible and scrapped the NYC plans! Our wedding website is up and I have designed the STDs. Once we get back from our site visit we will get them printed and sent out. I am also doing a hair trial and tasting while we are down there this weekend. I think the planner and I may visit some florists and gift shops as well to see what I can get down there for the OOT bags. November seems like an eternity away and I can't wait! How big are your weddings going to be? One of the issues I am having is that we *wanted* a small wedding, but due to the size of both of our families, it isn't shaping out to be so small...

Hi! I am having my reception there in November and going down this weekend. I will be doing a tasting and will share my thoughts and take some photos as well! -Ashley

Hi! Newbie here-- planning a 11/11/11 wedding in Playa. I live in D.C. and my family is from the area. Fiance's family is from outside of Detroit. Most have understood that the crime rate in Mexico is grossly exaggerated and no worse than cities in the U.S. There were a couple relatives that voiced a bit of concern, but once we spoke with them things were all smoothed out. Don't let anyone make you second guess your decision- it's the day/place you and your fiance chose, and those who love you will be there.