MsBlissMpls

Here was my flower inspiration (photo I gave to the resort): This is what they made for me. I knew that the size would be smaller, but didn't upgrade to a larger size, and I'm glad I didn't! It was really heavy just the way it was. Overall I really liked how it turned out

Here are a few photos of my hair. It was really windy but I was determined to have at least some of my hair down. Here's what we came up with... This is right after it was done at the salon. SOOO much hairspray and sizzling with the curing iron (I was cringing but stuck with it because the ladies at the salon are professionals), it was a little crunchy looking for my taste, but it held up in the wind (for the most part) and was still pretty at the end of the day (I thought). Walking in the wind for the first time (a few strands of hair decide to let loose). Curls start to let down and I liked the overall look better than the fresh crisp curls. Full on intense wind on the beach. WINDY WINDY WINDY After the windy beach! Curls still in place and hair overall still pretty good I give the salon at Excellence Playa Mujeres an A+

YEAY Ally! So excited for you! Can't wait to hear more about it

This is SO CUTE!! It reminds me of the characters on Wii.

Thanks!!

Here's my Allure 8862. Photos by Victor Herrera Photography - Adrian Herrera, and one of the only photos we've received from our underwater photo shoot by Del Sol Photographer Debora.

Thanks Ladies! It was such an amazing day. We have 402 photos from Adrian Herrera and I can't even get close to picking my favorite. As you can see I was stubborn with having my hair partially down. Common sense would have me put it in an up-do but I just couldn't do it, so I compromised (with myself) and did it half up. It worked for me even though it was blowing all over the place. I think some of the photos look extra cool with it blowing in the wind. Sharon99: Your day looks so beautiful!! Can't wait to see some of your Moments that Matter photos! It looks like MTM were everywhere taking awesome shots. We were stopped with our OOT bag stuff at customs in Mexico as well. I had all of my receipts, but they did not even ask for them. Just said it was for a wedding and they let us through. They did dig through every inch of every bag which was annoying because they just push it aside and I had to figure out how to get it shut back up again.

I ordered it 1/18/12 and received it on 2/8/12. During that time she did adjustments for me based on me changing my mind about certain things and shipping only took 13 days from Israel to Minnesota.

It seems that our cake topper got around Mexico and Minnesota. Here are the best shots of it at both celebrations. If I had to do it over I'd pay twice as much for this topper from Mudcards on Etsy! Everyone loved it, but most importantly we loved it!

okay a few more.... Sorry I can't make them smaller so they take up less room...

Just got some of my photos from Adrian Herrera. There are so many and they are all my favorites. Here are a few random ones

We just had our AHR and got to use our cake topper a 2nd time (First time was on our actual wedding cake in Mexico - No photos yet)! Here it is in action

Hey Jass7 - We purchased all 14"

It's hard for me to answer this because everyone has different opions on these things. My experience is necessarily the best answer, but I'll try. Beach is beautiful! It's white and soft. I only went in the water a few times and it was fine. Didn't spend much time in there. Favorite restaurant was Agave. We did not visit every restaruant, and Agave could be my favorite because it was a time after the weddign that I was the most relaxed, so I actually had an appetite and the mood was romantic and fun. We had a Swim up and we LOVED it. It was really close to everything and yet, still pretty quite and private. Yes, you see people across from you sometimes, but during the day no one can see in your room because of the lighting and glare. I walked around naked confidently in our room I'm sure the rooftop are more private, but we loved jumping in the pool whenever we wanted and our family came to lounge at our area a lot. I loved spending this time with them so it worked perfect for us. It depends what you like to eat for the food. I think the caprese salad is the best and wish I woudl have had that instead of the salad we picked. The avacado soup is reallly good. I didn't really eat much that night, so I can't say much on the subject. Also, we had the Silver package so I'm not sure about the Gold items. Yes, decorations and upgrades for centerpieces are charged above the package prices and for any guest meals over 20, but you get a great wedding just sticking to the items offered in the package. Hope that helps

Thanks lliaPSU - I thought it was you that did this We did not have to pay the $100 to hang because of the bad communication before the wedding (regarding if I needed to buy them or could rent them there) I had to pay for extra fast shipping on my lanterns instead of getting to order them with regular priced shipping, but it all worked out.

I ordered the "no frills" lanterns from Luna Bazaar.com. They were awesome to work with when I called to talk to them a few times about fast shipping, being we needed the lanters fast. Here is a link to the site and the battery operated LED lights I bought for our 14" lanterns. They worked out wonderfully. The only bad part was that the WC did not return all of the LED lights to me, so I'm buying more so we can hang our wedding lanters in our 4 season porch. http://www.lunabazaar.com/triple-led-light-for-paper-lanterns-makes-any-lantern-battery-operated.aspx These were nice because no cords were needed. Also, I did read that one bride paid to have the lanterns put up and the resort lighted them for free - I'm not sure how that worked out for her becuase that was not offered to us. Maybe someone else could chim in if they know about that option. If you do not want to rely on the resort (which I suggest) I'd get the LED lights and make sure to tell the WC you want ALL of them and the lanterns back after the reception. I hope that answered your question. Happy Planning!

Brenners you look AMAZING!!!! The photo style is so romantic! You are glowing in this photo. Beautiful.

Good idea about checking and getting reimbursed for missing items. Also, I think your story was awesomely honest. It may be too soon for you to hear this, but it made me smile to hear your story because it's just the way things go. It's one thing to always say "It will be perfect and it will work out" but it's good to know what happens in the background to make it all work out. It's a lot of work, and if you know ahead of time what to expect and not to expect (no help from the WC), you can prepare and delegate little things to your close friends, even then expect to be flexible - then everything will be perfect. If got to do it all over again I would be there in a split-second - and things would still turn out with little mishaps and I would still love everything about it. I was told I'll get sneek peaks from Adrian on Friday night! - less than 24 hours before our AHR! I'm so grateful and happy we'll have them for the reception!

Oh I am so jealous. I can hardly wait another 11 months before we go back. I would ask Nayeli about the "day of" wedding coordination. She may shake her head and say "Yes it is all taken care of" but on the flip side some of the recent experiences haven't been getting really high marks. Also, ask her about the communication before the wedding. If you check the EPM thread on this site it is a nightmare trying to get any answers from the WC at this resort. I've read other resorts WC getting back to brides withing 24-48 hours. We've gone MONTHS without hearing an answer to 1 or 2 simple questions. Before we left on our trip we did hear from the WC for 3 weeks and we didn't even have our meals or anything confirmed until 2 days before we left for Mexico. This is coming from an EPM bride that LOVED her wedding day, and at the same time if I had to do it again - I would definately hire an outside vendor "day-of" wedding coordinator to take care of the details (or the big items). From my experience and what I've heard from other EPM brides we hardly saw the WC the day of the wedding, and when your decorations/flowers are missing or you need help there is no WC to be found it's just really hard to give the WC a shining review. This really stinks because the resort itsself gets an A++++ but the wedding coordination in my opinion gets a C-/D+, on the other hand being your wedding is next year you may have a new coordinator at that time and everything could be a lot smoother! As my finace said of the wedding coordinator afterwards, "She just barely threw that one together" - not something super fun to joke about after the fact, but it may be really funny in the anniversaries to come Just some things to make sure to ask about being you'll have her undivided attention for a little while during your visit.

Rather than go back and get my wedding dress from the cleaners, I decided to buy a reception dress. Here it is! More of a cocktail dress but it's still bridal

Thanks dominiqueamber and sbg75! So we're 60%/40% that we are going to do name tags. Here's a sign that we made explaining it and also the black name tags that we made. I figure black will blend in better with people's clothes for the evening. The only reason we would not do it at this point is if I do not feel like wearing a name tag If I don't want to then I do not expect anyone else to do it!

My dad was not able to make it to our Mexico wedding. The AHR is a great way to include him in the festivities. He is very excited about it.

We did 50% on paypal. There is a 5% charge and we did pay that as well.

"I'm going to wear my dress to McDonald's if I want." I love it! So cute! We are having an AHR this Saturday! I just dropped my dress of at the cleaners so wearing my dress is out unless I go grab it back from her. I'm trying like mad to find and appropriate dress white dress that does not cost to much (to much for me is anything over $200). All the really cute white dresses are basically like buying another wedding dress. I'm considering just picking my dress up from the cleaners! It would be pretty, it fits like a glove (or custom tailored dress - because it is and I wouldn't have to worry about what to wear.

On, Brennas you look amazing! I have to say your story sounds about right as far as the "day of" wedding coordinator service. I'm glad it all worked out in the end. We had the same types of things happening at the ceremony site while i was in the room. I still think they did not tell me everything that was happening because they didn't want me to be sad about it and if I didn't notice it they sure will not tell me for years to come. I'm still a little bothered that I did not get all of the decorations that I brought to Mexico back from the WC. Not only did they not put up some of the items, but then I didn't get them back to bring home (to possibly re-sell). Your flowers look great. I'm happy for you that you stood your ground! Congratulations!!!