LindseyM

SO, what are everyone's song choices?!

Such a relief and I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!! Yamina is my planner too. How was the pool deck at night? Was it nice or humid? I am so happy for you!!

Aimee! You should see a Travel Agent. We didn't do a room block but she did give us guaranteed pricing for a certain amount of time. It's much easier and will take the stress off of you!

I think we're dancing to Whatever It Is by Zac Brown Band. We're pretty obsessed with them and Kevin doesn't mind that it is more about the guy singing to the girl instead of an "us" song...so we'll go with that I think!

I am working with AlexisGraceDesigns on Etsy. She is AAMAZINGGGG. Check out her work. She assured me that she packs them so that they will not be damaged and that the way she packs them will keep them safe on the flight. Each bouquet gets its own box inside a bigger box and sits right side up on a tube so that it does not get messed up. Check out her stuff herE: http://www.etsy.com/people/alexisgracedesigns I am so excited!

Kad, Thanks! My fiance says I should work in the stock market because I can't stop researching things to get the best deal. I don't know about the outside vendors. Originally I wanted to bring in my own photographer but I think based on what I've seen from the resort photographer I am going to stay with them. I did like the idea of having real flowers, and I think customs might be a pain in the butt....but I also like the price cut... I am getting TROPICAL FLOWERS, like orchids which are my fave, for $300 less than I would if I used the real ones at the resort. Plus, they feel waxy like real flowers. I still like the idea of keeping my bouquet too. I am pretty much sold on the fake flowers. This entire wedding is surprising me... I never thought I'd do a destination as opposed to a church, buy my dress from David's Bridal, or be searching for the best deal. I am surprising myself with my decision making skills, haha.

I found a description of Real Touch flowers for you here: http://www.hibiscusflorals.com/silk-flowers-101 I am using a designer on Etsy called Alexis Grace Designs. So far she seems great and is very prompt in her responses, which makes me feel secure. I emailed Yamina to discuss shipping procedures. I'd hate to check my flowers in a suitcase.. I am super nervous about bringing them on the plane with me but I don't know. At first I thought I wanted a real bouquet....with orchids and lilies and ahhh it was gorgeous...but they quoted me $300!!!! The bridesmaids were $199. I just think it's absurd so I am exploring alternative options. There's also a good youtube video about real touch flowers: I love the idea of having my bouquet in my house for years to come in a vase and always looking back at that day! Hope this helped you!!

Thanks!!! We paid for it for 2 years but after that it was a fill in template basically. I am super excited about it and I feel like I add to it daily. You can even import your guest list and have them RSVP to acitivites or even the wedding online!! Whats on your list and you sub bullets? I'm just curious because I feel like I can't organize my thoughts. I know I did a lot already but I just don't know what else there is!! When is your wedding? I am bringing my own chair bows and actually considering bringing my own flowers now.....there's several artists on Etsy who make their own bouquets with "real touch flowers." They look grogeous and SO REAL. I am thinking about doing it if I can ship them ahead of time. I am anxious to hear back form the girl. Also those of you who are doing OOT bags...look on Etsy for ideas!!! They have a whole bunch of crafters who hand paint bags and such. I am excited.

It depends on your package but an outdoor private reception is included on the pool deck. Ours will be private, probably a buffet. Our wedding is July 20, 2012. We have made two different guest lists and the one for Mexico is 194 people. Yikes! I am hoping it's 80 people max. Fiance really doesn't even think it'll be that much...which is a relief. When is yours?

Our Save the Date is a post card made to look vintage. I don't think I can post on here because I am a Noob? The front says, "Join us in Riviera Maya, Mexico Save the Date 07.20.12" Then on the back it says "Calmly gazing at the Caribbean Sea on the coast of Quintana Roo, Mexico lies the multicultural and cosmopolitan Riviera Maya" [i got this line from a brochure] Then it says "save the date for the wedding of Lindsey ******** and Kevin ********* July 20 2012" insert our website address and "formal invitation to follow" then in a handwriting like font "We hope to see you there! Love, Lindsey & Kevin" I figure most info can be found on our site.

Deeeeep breaths!! Our Save the Date is just a simple post card that has the link to our website on it. [The link is in my signature. Feel free to check it out!]. I like the idea of sending a big one though but my fiance was worried about printing costs. Our invites with be boarding passes and our rsvp cards will be luggage tags. I am excited!! As far as what you need to get organized, once you're in contact with a planner at DRC, things come together quickly. Your wedding is two months before mine and I could have it tomorrow. My planner sent me some questions that I pasted in a word document and added photos of what I want. I am currently considering bringing my own flowers, but I go back and forth on this repeatedly. I would definitely recommend getting in touch with Ana asap to get working with a planner. I am also bringing my own chair bows, OOT bags [though not sure from where yet or filled with what ha], The arch on the beach is provided but the drapery costs money...mine is going to be about $300 because I want 3 different colors. I hope I helped!!

OMG, Kad, we're inviting 195 people to Mexico. I think I want to cry when I think about all those people potentially saying yes. My fiance doesn't think any of his aunts and uncles and first cousins will come [those are 50 people alone] and we're really only expecting about 60 people. They said we can do the sit down with 60 but it is not recommended so I guess we'll choose a buffet. Jorge explained to me during the tour that the South Jacuzzi is often used for the bamboo gazebo but the North for the North beach. I would definitely clarify with Ana though because the North is definitely more private. One of the things I loved most about Dreams too is the covered reception area for if it rains. It's still open air but with a glass roof. It looks really quite beautiful. It's the Desires Terrace. You can check it out in my video. Dreams is probably the best decision EVER!

Our Save the Dates are done!!!! Off to the printer they go!

I hadddd to see it in order to plan our wedding there, which is why we took full advantage and visited on our vacation! We are using both the jacuzzi and the pool deck. We're getting married on the north beach, doing cocktail at north jacuzzi, and reception on deck. We found the north jacuzzi to be a bit more private because the flowers and other foliage are taller than the south jacuzzi. Just something to think about! The ones in my videos are the south jacuzzi though. I did get the quote for the dance floor. We think it will rieally add to our reception so I think we're gonna go for it! They quoted me $500 for it. I am wearing like...satin wedges and I think I will have my girls do the same. We thought about going barefoot on the beach but then didn't know where we'd put our shoes. I guess to answer your questions heels on the pool deck and jacuzzi would be fine but I think you would sink in the sand! I will fwd you the emails from Yamina.

Diana, Not to worry, I planned mine in like a week! Just tell them what you want, send a lot of pictures if you want to be specific and let them handle the rest! They're professionals and destination is so easy [well, for me anyway!]. I could have this wedding tomorrow!! So far, I have not had any problems, Yamina is on top of everything for me and gets back to me within a few days. Try to remember that most weekends there are like 9 weddings!! So the coordinators do most of their emailing during the week. I'm jealous your wedding is so soon!

Hi Kad! When Yamina first contacted me she basically gave me an empty email form with items such as location, time, dj if needed, flowers, table linen color, etc. I then copy and pasted it into a word document with all of these pictures of things I want. I basically scoured the internet looking for things that fit into our wedding color scheme and put them in a document with Yamina's questions and then sent it out. She sent it back with price quotes for everything and I've adjusted accordingly. One thing some other brides have pointed out is that it's good to save every email...so my thread with Yamina is soooo long and has a zillion different versions of my word doc, but I think if a price is quoted in am email, they honor it...so print them all out and bring them down with you! FLOWERS Selection of bride´s bouquet: Additional Bridesmaids bouquet: Boutonniers required: Corsages requiered: Centerpiece for ceremony: Centerpieces for reception tables: Cake top flowers: Chair corsages required: Flowers for hair: Flower girl: (quantity of bag of petals) Flowers for the center aisle at the ceremony: Floral corsages for the Gazebo or Huppah: LOCATIONS: Please find attached the wedding locations. This are subject to availability. CEREMONY Location & Time: Do you require an upgrade photo package: Do you require an upgrade video package: (please find the price list attached) Minister: English or Spanish - Sound system: we recommend you to have it, because the ceremony is outdoors and a microphone will be very useful and its nice to have some music for the ceremony. Please confirm us if you require it, it is $180 usd plus 11% tax. You´ll have to bring your music selection for the technician to play it (3 songs preferably) If you require other musicians (guitar player, saxophone player, violin, etc,) you may find options in the wedding guide. Cake: please select from vanilla, marble, chocolate or tres leches (three-milk) flavor. The icing is white with no decoration, round or square shaped. For a cake design upgrade, please select from the file attached.(None of the flower decoration is included. If you require flowers to decorate the cake, they are $40 usd + tax) Thats just an example of some of the things she asked. I can show you more if you want. I just assumed everyone got it. My wedding is also less than a year away so maybe that's why she sent me all that? I saw the AA discount thing but I also kind of assumed my TA would take care of that. Maybe I will look into it more!! US Air is my fiance's client so maybeeeee we'll use them. Who knows!!! I just want my Save The Dates to be finished so I can get them out! Our website is up and running, though!

Congrats!! Almost 2 months before us! I'm jealous.

Hi Ariane! I booked my date in person so I chose the time and ceremony location right then and there. Shortly after I was contacted by my planner and I told her where I wanted everything. Once you book, if it's far enough out, they will send you a bunch of questions to answer and photos to pick from. We specifically wanted the North Beach and wanted it at 6:00 PM only. We ended up needing to choose a Friday vs. a Saturday to get that. I agree with the pick them ASAP thing. You can absolutely do that. My coordinator, Yamina, has been amazing with and reserved all of our places within the first week. I recommend shopping around. One thing my business savvy fiance and I found was that smaller TAs - i.e. mom & pop sorts of places - don't always get as good a rate because they generate less revenue to resorts like Dreams than bigger agencies like Liberty Travel. Hope I helped! Lindsey

This time next year I will get getting ready to walk down the aisle!!!

Melissa, Our AGENT is a go to for guests so tthat my fiance and I are not bombarded with RSVPs and travel questions. She set up individual bookings but at a guaranteed rate for us and they have price match so if it goes down after they book, they get the lower price! She also is taking care of airfare, transfers, and already upgraded us to the honeymoon suite... just some things to think about!

Sarah, the light up dance floor isn't included. It's $500 and holds 50 people. Yamina just told me this!

Desires isn't a nice enough place for cocktail if you are me! I've seen both in person and the cocktail will be gorgeous at the jacuzzi!

Sounds like you're all the ball! THAT'S AWESOME! I considered sick flowers but our friends did it for their wedding in Jamaica and customs was a BIG PAIN in the butt with it. Just something to think about!

Ashley, I would love to but it has some personal information on it that I'm not really comfortable emailing. I would just discuss with your TA upgrades based on room blocks. That's all we did. You can tell them what we were promised if you'd like but I don't think my fiance would want me to scan it in and send it. I'm sorry.

Have a BLAST!!! I know you will love it! Happy Wedding!