Sandy Borie

Welcome DalChrisWedding!!!!! I am also having a cocktail hour on the beach with the mariachi band!!!! Our wedding date is July 13, 2012. We are soooo excited. Do you have the prices for the cocktail hour? There are four cocktail hour menu choices. I have a document with them if you want them. Just let me know. Can you send me the website for the florist? That would be super helpful for me! Ana does take a while to write back but I heard she is super organized and wonderful when you are there so I try not to worry about that. We decided to go with an outside photographer as well and are paying the outside vendor fee as well as the day pass for both the photographer and their assistant. Ugh.. . but from what I read, this is completely worth it! We ended paying about 2500 usd for our photographer. It depends on your budget but that was a place both my fiance and I were not going to cut costs. Are on facebook? Would you be willing to post your pics to FB and friend me so I can see them? Thanks! Sandy Borie

@AnaS- almost forgot to ask you. . .On your printed menus, are you writing both of the main entree choices that you chose? (Surf & Turf or Vegetable Strudel) so that guests can decide between both? We want to do this too for our vegetarian friends. Does Ana have to have a count of how many people want the Vegetarian or can people decide at the wedding which one they want? I hope they can decide at the wedding because I would like to give our guests an option between the two. Right?

@AnaS- Thank you again for giving us a detailed review of the menu. I sat down and spoke to my fiancé and we are going with almost the same choices as you except for the dessert option. Both my fiancé and I are big Creme Brûlée fans so we are going with that. . Your input really helped to make the decision. I would wait till we got there to do the tasting but like you we want to have printed menus at the table. I also wanted to share that we are going with the Tres Leches cake as our wedding cake. It is a traditional Mexican cake that my fiancé and I love and Ana said they could definitely do that. I have some questions as far as the cocktail menu, I know that you had mentioned that you picked 2 of the hor d' oeuvres from the Carribbean menu went with the Mexican menu. Did you have to substitute 2 for d'oeuvres from the Mexican menu to get the 2 from the Carribbean menu and price wise how did she quote you? Also how was the Guacomole and mexican salsa and chips served? Was it dressed up fancy or was it just chips in a bowl with dip on the side? I am having a hard time picturing that for a cocktail hour. Thank you in advance for your help! Sandy

Wow Ana! Thank you so much for the detailed menu review. What an enormous help for us! I am going to sit with my fiancee and go through your review to decide what we want. We have not gotten our rsvps back yet but we are also anticipating about 8-10 tables too so that might work out lovely! Thank you! I am feeling really good about being able to pick and choose from the different menu options and also being able to pick for our vegetarian friends. My fiancé and a I count the days till the wedding. SO EXCITED! I wish we could get away from this cold weather and go to Mexico. You must be counting the days too!

@AnaS- You are so lucky to be able to go down and taste the menu options! Tell us what were the best options? and also for the cake, what did you guys end up deciding? Did Ana talk about the clear vases in reference to the flowers? or are you deciding to go with getting it at Walmart? Ana quoted me a price of 48usd per 3 clear vases with the submerged orchids and floating candles. At first, I thought that was high until I started inquiring around at home how much it would be and that is actually kind of a low price since it is an orchid. I am leaning towards going with the price that was quoted but let me know what you decided. Also did you and your FI decide on favors? My fiancé and I might just get the favors while we are there or we might have them mailed directly to the resort. I asked Ana about having a local bakery make traditional Mexican cookies and putting them in little gift boxes and giving them as a favor. She said she could certainly do that because that is actually a Mexican wedding tradition. She does seem like she will try to do whatever it is you want. :-) Happy you enjoyed your trip to OCT! My fiancé and I count the days until we are there again! :-)

@CountryBride- Thank you so much for this post! Another satisfied OCT bride! I always get excited to read these kinds of posts! Congratulations! and if you have any pictures, please post.:-)

@JBandDJ- I also struggled with whether or not to bring down my own centerpieces then I realized, there are so many other things I will be worried about that the last thing I want to think about is lugging centerpieces to Mexico. There are just way too many variables that can interfere like what if things break or don't go through customs. I basically would send Ana a picture of something you have in mind and I am sure she can get it for you. Remember to always negotiate with her. I am not positive that the what you want she will be able to replicate exactly but I think it is still better than bringing things down there on your own. If you are going to be down there a week before your wedding you can even go the Walmart in Cancun and see what you can whip up for centerpieces (glass bowls, vases etc) but why chance it? Hope this helps.

@JBandDJ- I would add centerpieces. It just creates more of an ambiance! You don't always have to do flowers too. You can do sand filled in clear bowls or vases with candles and shells. I hear Ana is really great at this kind of stuff. She might even be able to use your flowers from your arch to create really pretty and simple centerpieces at the tables. I would ask Ana about how many centerpieces does she think you would need given the amount of guests you are anticipating. Also, I think it really depends on the type of table set up. I've seen the round table set up that I am guessing usually seats about 8 and then the long table set up as well; whichever you and your FI prefer. I would ask Ana how many centerpieces you would need if it was set up with long tables. I'm guessing about 3 right?

Sorry everyone for posting the same post a hundred times! LOL That was a mistake. Has anyone heard from our November brides? I am counting the days until my wedding! ;-)

@JBandDJ- I was at the resort in this past July and saw a wedding with the pink color. I remember it being a hot pink color for the bows on the chairs. Here is a picture that has a picture of the color pink.

@JBandDJ- I was at the resort in this past July and saw a wedding with the pink color. I remember it being a hot pink color for the bows on the chairs. Here is a picture that has a picture of the color pink.

@JBandDJ- I was at the resort in this past July and saw a wedding with the pink color. I remember it being a hot pink color for the bows on the chairs. Here is a picture that has a picture of the color pink.

@JBandDJ- Here is the picture I have. When I was there this summer, there was a wedding set up with pink bows, I I remember it being a hot pink color. Hope this helps. If I have any other pics I will send you them. :-)

@JBandDJ- Here is the picture I have. When I was there this summer, there was a wedding set up with pink bows, I I remember it being a hot pink color. Hope this helps. If I have any other pics I will send you them. :-)

@TriSportBride- I don't have a picture but rest assured that when they say Lobby Terrace, they mean the huge wrap around terrace outside of the lobby. The lobby is very big and the part where people check in is just a small part of the lobby. Ana does a good job of sectioning off the terrace so that outsiders know there is a ceremony taking place. The only people who will be able to look in will be through the see through windows on the inside lobby where there are couches and recliners for relaxing guests. :-)

Just wanted to share something I just came across. . . I know some of you were looking for some excursion ideas. . . My fiance's uncle emailed me this link: http://www.tours-cancun.com/mayanriviera/corona_aerial_rally.htm#included I think our group plans on doing this! It looks fun.

@ AnaS- The pics look gorgeous! Ana just got back to me about the price for the cylinders, she said that 48 usd would be for the entire arrangement with theyellow rainbow pahlenopsis orchid included! Phew! Thank God. I think that is a good price considering they would have to ship the orchids in from somewhere else since it is not locally grown. I am still on board if you want to share the cost. How many sets of 3 cylinders would you anticipate having? I think we might have from somewhere to about 5-8 sets depending on our RSVP's which isnt until mid February. By then, I will have a more accurate estimation of how many I would need.

@AnaS- Sorry,. I just saw that you are going down in December. :-) Let me know how that goes. What kinds of flowers are you going to put in the cylinders?

@AnaS- I would soooo be on board to share the costs with you for the cylinders. What if you get to Walmart and they dont have it or enough? I am attaching the kinds of cylinders I am talking about I think you have the same idea.

Hi guys, My fiance and I were just there in July and I don't remember there being a disco but every night there was dance party by the lounge area pool/bar where people always went to party and drink. I think the music was done by 1am. We plan on continuing the party there after our reception. Sandy

Hi guys! I haven't been on here in a while but am excited for some soon to be brides getting married in November!!!!!!! How are things going so soon towards the wedding? Keep us updated, I love coming on here and reading the posts from brides who just got back. Also congrats TriSportBride! So Ana finally got back to me with a price for just the 3 cylinder glass vases for each table. . . Are u ready for the price? 48 dollars!!!! For 3 glass cylinders, no flowers or anything! I nearly fell over. Am I being unreasonable? I think it is awfully expensive. I am going to try to talk her down. Here in the states, I found a site that would ship it to me for way less but do I really want to fly down with who knows how many glass vases? Anyway, hope everyone is having fun planning. I am totally in my element with the planning. I am having soooooo much fun. Next project is sending out invites in January. I found this great website- weddingpaperdivas.com. I used them for my save the dates and they came out wonderful! You can customize them any way you want. Shipping was fast and I was super impressed with the service. I will post some pics later this week. We went with the artistic orchid STD and invites because it fit with our yellow orchid island chic theme but you can customize the color to your wedding colors. Happy planning! Sandy

Dear Clarissa, All of your information was super helpful!!!!!!! Thank you so much. My fiancé and I are getting married in on July 13 th 2012. We are soooo excited. Your do's and don't's were very helpful. Would you be able to send me some pics of your wedding to my email. It is [email protected]. Thank you, Sandy

@Tropic Lover Ana told me that the florist can provide the 3 cylinders (tall, medium and short) at each table. She has yet to get back to me with a price for just the cylinders. She did get back to me with the overall price for my centerpeice if they can find the yellow orchid. It was 70.00 per centerpeice, like I said a bit expensive! That is why I suggested our plan B be me bringing the fake flowers and the floating candles and tealights. She would provide the cylinders at a cost from the florist. Honestly, I might go with our plan B since it will be cheaper and you cant tell the flowers are fake when they are submerged in water! LOL. Right? I am going in November for my first fitting! I am soooooooooooooooo excited I can hardly wait! My shoes are Benjamin Adams Charlize Crystal shoe. Everytime I see them, I am in heaven! I am only 5ft. 1' so shoes are a big deal for me! LOL. I was originally thinking about walking in barefoot for the ceremony and of course having the shoes for the reception but since the heels are 4 inches high it might be hard for them to hem it at the right length for walking barefoot for the ceremony and then having it the right length for the reception right? Would it be completely selfish of me to walk down the isle with my heels on when my guests will be barefoot on the beach? Ana said that they can put up a walkway down the isle if I wanted to wear my heels. LOL. I will have to take off the heels anyway for the cocktail on the beach.

Hi guys! Haven't been on here in a while. Everyone seems so busy! I have been busy but wanted to respond to some posts I have been reading. DO NOT USE THE RESORTS PHOTOGRAPHER!!!!! The pictures are soooooo cheesy and if you are at all anything like me, you will not be happy. Pictures should be important on your list and leaving it to the kids at the resort is not something you want to do. I say kids because that is what they are! They are not professionals at all. They basically go around all day and take pictures of the resorts guests and then later on try to sell the pictures by their little shop in the lobby. When there is a wedding taking place, they then report to the wedding and take pictures only of the ceremony taking place, nothing else! They dont even have a resident photographer for the weddings, it is whoever is on staff that day. I saw this when I was there, believe me, dont go with their photographers. Enough said. The money you will spend on an outside photographer is WELL WORTH IT! and the outside vendor fee is too. You also have to pay a day pass fee for your photographer and their assistant. Try to negotiate with Ana. Just think of what you would be spending at home. I am going with Juan Navarro. He is reasonably priced but Sascha Gluck is too and his work is also nice. As far as candles, i am bringing floating candles for my centerpeices and also tealights. Also, about the florsits, Ana has taken a while to get back to me about the florist prices. I dont know if it is because the flowers I am requesting are hard to get or what but the price she did get back to me was a little expensive. I might bring fake yellow orchids I saw at Ikea and have Ana bring me just the cylinder vases so my friend can put it together for me while I am getting ready. Honestly, it will probably be super cheap this way I recreated the centerpeice yesterday at home and you coudn't even tell the flowers were fake! Tropic Lover! I love the idea of two shirts for the groom! I am going to suggest that for my fiancee! Has anyone bought their dress already? I did and I am seriously on cloud 9! I just bought the shoes and headpeice yesterday! So excited!

Loving this arrangement. what kind of flowers are those? The back of my dress has this kind of flower. I am thinking about carrying this as a bouquet. :-) but dont know the kind of flower.