modizzle

Hi Josie - I've requested Dahlias and have been quoted $100 extra. I'm also doing buckets of flowers at the ends of the aisles that will then become the centrepieces...they're about $45 each, but they haven't been very helpful in showing me options for what they'll look like, so i have been sending pictures.

I'll let you know where i end up getting them! I'm making a day trip to Cancun to Costco early in the week to get wine for the reception dinner (we're wine snobs and the resort wine is apparently crap) -- so i'm going to source 100 mini maracas somewhere in town

I'm doing maracas as place holders on tables, they shake those to make you kiss!

I've worked it out with them that i'm having the surf & turf menu, and my vegetarians can have the dill salmon instead of the weird Vegetarian pastry.... but they just need to know firm numbers 1 month before so i'm working on that. fortunately all my veg-heads eat fish!

hi there - this is the exact solution i was looking for ... but i'm hoping to find in Cancun. was this picture from Playa Del Carmen?? Think i'd find the same in Cancun? my only fear is that it's actually BIGGER in cancun and ther'es too many options, i need to make it a quick trip in and back to the resort!

Hey brides! I'm trying to avoid PRE-ordering mini maracas as place holders/favours - I'm bringing too much already! We have 100 guests, so i'm looking to do single or pairs of mini maracas. Has anyone found a good, CHEAP source in Cancun that can do this??? My wedding is at OCT resort near Peurto Morales, but I will be getting wine/champagne at Costco in Cancun when we get there - and don't mind picking up all the maracas then, but looking for a quick, reliable source... help!!!

Did you pay extra for your welcome dinner or did they just allow you to reserve a section of the restaurant?

OMG, hilarious that i'm just finding your post about shellac now, i've been thinking about it non stop.. .did it last???? i guess it depends how long you were there before the actual wedding day!

according to the wedding package it says they DO accept packages, but they also charge $4 per room to put the packages in! depends how much you're sending, but might be easier/better to pay for an extra bag, and give out the bags at a welcome cocktail party or something...

Hi Abby, thanks for this! still learning to navigate this forum so i didn't even see this till today! We have 57 booked now - and a few sort of random pairings that COULD make the bathroom factor a bit awkward, ha! adds to the adventure though.. sorry to bug you for more - but for nightlife -did you stick to the resort the whole time? and did you do a rehearsal dinner?? with such a big group I fear how much the actual wedding is going to start costing.... so i'm not sure what to do about a welcome thing or a rehearsal dinner....

Hi Guilaine - People might surprise you. We booked our wedding for Nov 16, 2012. We had a complicated group rate booking out of Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal and mostly Toronto -- in the end the best deal was Deposits ($250 pp) due March 21 - Full pay due Aug 15. I sent the invites out on March 10, and was SO SO worried. But guess what?? 57 PEOPLE BOOKED BY THE DEADLINE! And my travel agent at Blue Petal Weddings in Vancouver got an extension for 26 more seats - deposit extended to April 26 -- but i didn't tell people that ; ) BRIDES: I shared our "save the week" e-invitation here in case it helps anyone - we basically embedded this image in our email. it's actually a photo of the seat holders from another Destination wedding we went to, and i fixed the fonts in photoshop and did it that way.

Hi Guilaine - People might surprise you. We booked our wedding for Nov 16, 2012. We had a complicated group rate booking out of Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal and mostly Toronto -- in the end the best deal was Deposits ($250 pp) due March 21 - Full pay due Aug 15. I sent the invites out on March 10, and was SO SO worried. But guess what?? 57 PEOPLE BOOKED BY THE DEADLINE! And my travel agent at Blue Petal Weddings in Vancouver got an extension for 26 more seats - deposit extended to April 26 -- but i didn't tell people that ; ) BRIDES: I shared our "save the week" e-invitation here in case it helps anyone - we basically embedded this image in our email. it's actually a photo of the seat holders from another Destination wedding we went to, and i fixed the fonts in photoshop and did it that way.

Photography? Hey OCT brides past and present - I'm looking into photographers and am interested in hearing what other people have experienced: I'm not that sure about the in-house photographer - but for those of you who booked outside photographers - any advice? what kind of prices did you get and were you happy? Thanks!

Hi Jan - i just booked for Nov 16 and I have the wedding package with the lists of extra costs -- what's your email? or email me at [email protected]

Hey Jen I have the wedding package - including the list... what's your email? or email me at [email protected]

Hey Sepi do you have photos you wouldnt' mind sharing? I just booked for Nov 16, 2012 . You had 120??!~? amazing!!!! Will private message you with some more specific questions! thanks,

We got GREAT group rates for my Nov 11-18 week from Blue Petal Destination Wedding travel - i have at least 70 guests coming from Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal, so it's a complicated request! Question: any previous OCT brides find that they were upgraded for free on anything great like that? I'm considering booking the Royal Master Suite, but so many other resorts offer a complementary upgrade when you have a big wedding..... any scoop on that? Any previous or future OCT brides explored all the options for reception? Looking at pics on google images, it feels like most people do the rooftop terrace setting. I'm 100% into a beach ceremony - can anyone attest to whether or not it's relatively private? i live in fear of having some banana hammocks hanging around my ceremony, ha! I'm wondering if there's a beach or poolside setting option for the reception - but based on so many people using the rooftop, maybe it's a wind issue?? Would love to hear other bride's experience with reception options and overall advice! thanks!

Awesome, thanks Leah! I booked for November 16, 2012 - the exact date i wanted, let the planning begin!!

Hi Abby V - your writeups are SO helpful, thanks. I'm JUST in the planning process, was offered great travel packages from Toronto and Vancouver for both OCT and Barcelo Maya Tropical -- but Barcelo looks TOO enormous.... I may have up to like 70 guests travelling for our wedidng -- do you think OCT is a good place for that big a grroup? I"m glad you mentioned lots to do at night because i've read a few unfavorable reviews about nightlife since there's not technically a "disco" on site. Any negatives overall to the resort? how big was your group who went with you? Let me know any advice!!!

Hello fellow brides! I'm looking for topics for specifically the Barcelo Maya Tropical - are you getting married there... or have you recently? I see a lot for Barcelo Maya Palace -- but not a lot of recent posts for Tropical - but i may be mistaken, help! I'm looking at doing my wedding there Nov 2012 - but haven't booked yet as I'm not certain it's the resort for me!

Help me oh wise brides I'm planning my wedding for November 2012. We could have as many as 90 people come to Cabo with us, which is awesome -- but also a challenge. Based on some great advice i've narrowed my search to Melia Cabo Real, Barcelo and Dreams (but am open to other suggestions!) They all look beautiful! I'm hoping to do a beach ceremony, and a private reception that LOOKS gorgeous. Based on the packages available i find it hard to know what a 90 person set up would be, and how much it would cost...but i suppose I'll figure that all out. questions with all 3, i wonder where the "party" could continue after an 11pm cut off time.... and anyone who's had their weddings at either location - when it says "3 hour dinnner and open bar" -- do they really give you the boot after?? since everyone's staying at the all inclusive resort, isn't it always open bar?? i find it slightly confusing. Reviews from brides for all three seem so good....!