ElDorado2012

I'm sorry to hear you aren't getting a response! I've been using Valeria (emailing her directly, myself) and she's been great... I wonder if you can switch??

Thanks for all of the information. Can't wait for the review! We were thinking of doing koozies, but if they weren't a big hit for you, we might decide against them... Just one question - were they serving beer in the plastic cups too?

Congrats!! I can't think of anything super important to ask if you are planning on heading down ahead of time. You'll likely come up with a ton of questions while you are down there! I'd def. check out the resort though and restaurants, bars, pools, etc. so you can tell your guests where the best locations are for good service/food, fun, or whatever

Also, we are debating just going to the courthouse here for the ceremony before we head down to Mexico. If that is what we decide to do, we def. won't share that info. with guests, because I wouldn't want them to feel like they are making the trip for nothing... The thing that is keeping me from doing it in Mexico is the idea that we have to have a blood test at the hotel. That just seems a little shady and weird to me... Obv. it's fine or else we'd be hearing about it from other brides, however I'm a weirdo with needles and blood and stuff, so it's freaking me out.

We are planning the separate party back here for guests who were unable to make it to the wedding. We'll likely have it about a month after we get back. My fiance's parents are hosting it. It will be for mostly family and family friends, so they'll prob. just do a bbq at their house.

OMG I can't believe people would expect you to cancel their reservation for them!!!!!! That is insane!!!!! The $40 differential in flight cost is ridiculous too. If you are already spending $1,000+ to go on a trip, $40 is a deal breaker??? That is so strange... It's so hard not to take this stuff personally! ::SIGH:: Thanks for the moral support ladies!!!

He was actually supposed to be staying with another guest who has booked, so now I need to figure out what I'm going to do with that other guest. We are either going to have to pay the difference for him to have a single room now, or try to triple him up with another two single guys. Grrr.... Your groomsmen story is so frustrating! It really is hilarious to see how people behave... I can't believe you leave next week! YAYAYAY for you!!!! Do you happen to have a time line of your reception that you might be able to send me, or post on here? I'm still trying to figure out the best way to time everything (speeches/toasts, first dances, garter, etc.)...

So, I just have to share a story related to many of our posts regarding frustrations with guests backing out... My fiance's cousin, (who is our age and lives 15 minutes from us), and has recently told us through email that he was going to come to the wedding and that he was hoping we could find him a roommate. For several weeks, we emailed around to some of the other single guys, asking if they would be willing to room with him. We were able to set him up with a super chill roommate (both of these guys can get along with anyone), who was traveling on the exact days my fiance's cousin wanted to go, and who was in the same profession, so we figured there would be plenty to talk about. All set, right? Well last night, we open the mail and receive this individual's (my fiance's cousin) 'NO' rsvp in the mail. There was no note included on the sudden change, nor phone call or email. Just the card with the "declines" box checked off and his name. Um...WTF?! Three weeks ago, he told us he was amped to go, had us do all this work in trying to find him a roommate, etc., etc.; then, when he decides to not go, he just sends in his rsvp card with zero explanation? This guy makes a ton of money (more than my fiance and I combined) and has no trouble getting time off of work. There is nothing I can think of that would cause him to suddenly change his mind. AND to simply return the card and not even call/email/visit us to give an explanation or, at least write one on the card?? This is seriously getting to be ridiculous... (sorry for the rant, but it's fresh on my mind)

By the way - March 3!!!!! That's so soon!!!! Yay! When do you leave??

Alright - I'll keep the DJ then - thanks for the words of support!! Our reception is at the Tucanes Bar. I like your idea of seating five or six to a table to fill it out more... Murmel had the great point that because of the lower guest count, we will be fortunate to have time to hang out and spend time with everyone who came. There's nothing we can do about the number of guests, so we have to just relax and have a blast with those who are there

Also great advice - thank you

Great advice - thank you

Another thing I am struggling with is the type of music to play. My fiance and his friends all like 50s doo wop/Frank Sinatra/60s-70s rock-and-roll music and really won't dance/have a good time to anything other than that. (Literally, when we have a party at our house, as soon as the "girly" music comes on the boys leave the room. It's like a 7th grade dance where the girls and boys are separated.) The girls in the group don't mind the kind of music the boys like, but we also want to dance to pop/dance/hip hop songs. I just know once one of the "girly" songs come on, it's only going to be us few girls dancing, which I think is really awkward. I also feel like the adults of the group will lean more towards dancing to the oldies music, so I'm wondering if I should just not play the pop/dance/hip hop music at all, or limit it to only a few songs...? Why can't anything be easy...

Wow. Your concerns are EXACTLY what I have been stressing about recently. We also had 60+ guests who had confirmed coming, many of whom had made reservations. Then, one-by-one, they started dropping off and now we are down to 32! It's extra disappointing/frustrating/confusing as well because I know a lot of these guests can totally afford the trip, and many go on one big vacation a year, so I too am questioning why they wouldn't make their vacation our wedding (selfish, I know, but I can't help it). (By the way - many have just sent "no" replies on their RSVP cards and canceled their reservations without giving us a reason...) Also, I paid the deposit for a DJ when I was thinking the number was in the 60's, and just as you said, I'm feeling weird about having a DJ for such a small number of guests. It's seems excessive and kind of embarrassing. I feel like the dance floor is going to be empty! I am definitely considering eating my deposit and canceling the DJ I really don't know what to do at this point. I actually wouldn't worry that much about the DJ thing if our guests that were coming were wild dancers. I feel like our group is really divided as far as the music they like (and would dance to), so I'm envisioning only some guests dancing to a certain style of music and others only dancing to a different style. Does that make sense? So really, we'll have about 10-15 people dancing at any given moment. UGH. I'm embarrassed just thinking about it LOL

These pics are great!!! Thank you!! Did you notice how bad the wind was around the resort? Specifically Gazebo 55, Tucanes Bar, and the Beach Bar? Thanks!!

Can't wait to see any pics you can share of your trip Murmel!!!

Darnit! I guess I'll have to start buying the songs and planning ahead. That Pandora app has gotten me so spoiled with not having to purchase music! Oh well... Thank you!!

I can never make a decision either!! LOL Like The Wolferts said though - everything will come together and people will have a blast no matter what!

For anyone who has been to the resort before - I'm wondering if you get wifi/wireless internet service one your cell phones around the resort. I know you can pay to have it in your room, but I would want it on my phone when I am by the pool. I always use Pandora (does everyone know what that is?) to listen to music on my phone, which requires there to be some kind of wireless internet service around. I want to bring an ipod hookup for beside the pool, and I'm wondering if I have to actually purchase and download all of the songs I want to an ipod before I go, or if maybe that's not necessary because I can just get Pandora and listen to all of the music I want for free. If anyone has an idea, let me know. Thank you!!

Your dress is beautiful!!! I got Jenny Yoo's Hannah dress: http://media.preownedweddingdresses.com/images/dresses/26999/1024x768/Jenny-Yoo-Mermaid-HANNAH-212B-White-2011-130061.jpg I wanted a flowy, more low key one, and the Jenny Yoo collection is super reasonably priced! This one is definitely for me Yay! seeing these pics is making me so excited!!!!

I feel you on that one. Two of my bridesmaids can't come; one got pregnant and will have a 3-month old baby, and the other will have a 7 1/2 month old baby at the time of the trip, but doesn't want to leave him I definitely understand the frustration/disappointment... We also have quite a few guests who initially were 100% positive they were coming, but have bailed out for various reasons. It's come to be about 20 guests so far So frustrating, but to be expected I guess with destination weddings...

Thank you!

Another question - How strict is the dress code at the restaurants for dinner? No jeans, right? Can we wear flip flop sandals if they are paired with dresses? What about the guys? Anything else you encountered that would be good to tell our guests?

For whomever has traveled there before - can we tip in US dollars at the resort, or do we need to change our currency when we get there? What about in Playa or Cancun (if anyone went out there), can you pay for things (drinks, food, souvenirs) with US cash, or no? Can anyone give me an idea of average or appropriate tips for waiters, bartenders, room service, etc.? Also, are there safes in the rooms for us to leave valuables and cash? If so, did everyone have a good experience using them? Thanks

That is adorable - I am so making a note of that to look out for. Thank you!!