Billandstina

Has anyone had Elsa as a WC? Thoughts?

Yes...and it wasn't a pleasant experience unfortunately! Lol!

I see a lot of people creating their own mini bags, like hangover kits, or first aid kits etc.  They are making them with clear bags, and then stapling their own template to the top.  Where can you get the clear bags?

I just used clear ziplock sandwich bags without the ziplock logo on them.

M

My fiancé wedding band and my. I spoke to some women who refused to let their men get a black band. My opinion is he likes it and will wear it than I couldn't care less if it goes with the style of my or not !

My husband chose a blank band and it honestly looks amazing on him! He wears it with pride and it looks great with his watch and black metal bracelet he wears sometimes.

We had the Chicken and it was seriously one of the best meals we had the whole trip!

How big is your group? The ferry over to Cozumel can add up depending on how many are in your group.

I've been discussing what to put in my bags with my frequent cruiser family and all agree that meds are a must. On our first family cruise, we all got some stomach bug on last day, so pepto would have been very welcome there. On my brothers last cruise, they hit some rough water for a day and everyone got seasick. Doctor, guest services, and gift shops all ran out of Dramamine. Those are things you hope aren't needed, but are definitely good to have nearby if they are needed.

We did put band aids in there and most people used them...that's an easy one though...just hit Dollar Tree for those. Electrolytes were LOVED by everyone as well so the Zip Fizz and Propel went quickly too. The other surprising thing most women used were the nail files we put in there!

OMG!!! Not the crying man in speedos!

It was hysterical!

I w

Thank you for the feedback!!  I really like to know what people used.  Did you have meds in your mini kit?  That is what I'm debating about now.  

I would highly recommend the meds! Just about everyone used at least two things or more out of our survival kits! Lol

I sure did!! I'll post some as soon as I get them from our photographers

From what I understand as long as you meet them outside and then place flowers where you want them there's no problem. But your wedding coordinator won't "legally" touch them if they're from an outside vendor.

Hi Ladies! It's been a while since I have posted and I have less than 4 months to go.  I am starting to panic, I dont have bridesmaid dresses picked yet and only have half started my OOT bags and centerpieces! Yikes! Time to get my bum in gear! I just have a quick question that maybe one of you lovely people can help me with becasue Elsa hasn't gotten back to me yet.  We are doing our legal wedding ceremony here at home before we leave (not at our house, but in Red Deer) and so when we are in Mexico it will be a "symbolic ceremony" but still technically our wedding. It will be the date we use as our anniversary and everything, of course.  Since it will not be a civil ceremony I was just wondering if any of you know if we have to pay the extra $600 to have a commissioner, JP or Minister present?  I have been reading in some other forums that it's not required for a symbolic ceremony as we will just be exchanging our vows, and that we could have someone (a close family friend) do the speaking of the ceremony.  I have emailed Elsa to ask her about this situation and haven't received any replies so I was wondering what your opinions are or if any of you have dealt with this situation before? Thanks girls, Amie

It depends on what package you get...ironically the "free" package includes a JP and I believe the others you have to pay. I'm sure you could have a family friend "preside" over the ceremony if its just symbolic. We qualified for the free JP and she was fabulous...especially because we secretly did the legal stuff at home first. Everything in Mexico looked legit though and she even had us sign a certificate so our guests didn't know that it was the symbolic ceremony and we'll have a secret anniversary and a "real" anniversary (our Mexican ceremony) date! Good luck! (Also Elsa takes quite a while to respond...and that's putting it nicely...so if you have questions feel free to ask)

Oops...they WEREN'T staying at a rival resort...they have houses there

We paid for our guests day passes (they're actually locals who live in Cancun so I argued the cost because they weren't coming to hang out at our resort for the day and we're staying at a rival resort) because technically it's their reception meal etc... You're not asking your other guests to pay for their reception meal so you wouldn't ask them either. Now if they come and choose to hang out and use the faculties all day perhaps figure out the difference between the prices of the reception etc (food, cocktail hour) for your guests staying at other resorts vs the guests staying at your resort and suggest they pay the difference? They don't have to know the cost per person...you figure that out and then say "hey, are you planning to come use the pool and restaurants all day? The resort requests you pay $10 in order to take advantage of all their facilities" type of thing...and you pay the rest. Does that make any sense? Lol

STICK TO YOUR GUNS!!!! You have your contract! Who's your coordinator??

Hope that wasn't confusing...she held the microphone why secretly whispering in my ear what I needed to say out loud into the microphone for my vows. She was very professional and sweet! You'll meet with whoever you pick before the wedding (ours we met two days before) and they go over everything with you!! These are professionals who know what they're doing I was impressed at the fact that even though she must do a million of these a year she still made it very personal towards us which to me was very important...nobody wants to feel like a cookie-cutter couple during their ceremony! 😉

Billandstina, I am so glad they make it like the real thing. I am FREAKING out because I don't know what they say at symbolic weddings. We are getting legally married here in Vancouver but just seemed cheaper and less hassel. Can I ask did you guys have to come up with everything for them to say? Is it just someone from the resort? Do they help you come up with what to say? LOL We are doing our on vows.

Don't freak out!! I had planned on re-writing it all with a knot tying ceremony etc. and by the time we rolled into Mexico I had zero energy left (or budget...which is why we legally secretly did the paperwork in Texas before we left) and left it all up to the officiant. She was fabulous...not too soppy or overly religious (we're not overly religious). She had met us once but had figured out who we were and made a point during the ceremony of pointing out that we make eye contact through everything which shows that we share a love that has communication etc. She also had everything memorized and recited a poem about our hands that hold each other through the years etc etc etc...but it was sweet and not soppy. Then she asked for two witnesses to come forward to sign our paperwork...everything looked very authentic, she proclaimed "by the power invested in me and the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico" etc etc. Very official looking all of it!! She had asked us if we wanted to recite our own vows which we declined, and at that point we also vetoed the knot tying ceremony since I was completely burned out and didn't want to waste another second planning/rewriting things when I could be relaxing with our guests. She was also a rock star in that she asked if we'd like to hold the microphones. I declined knowing I wanted to hold Bill's hands and I would be nervous, so she held it for me while whispering what I needed to say into the microphone during the vows. Couldn't have gone smoother and I'm happy we paid for the simple ceremony video just so we can watch and hear the words forever. And of course we will forever have the Speedo man standing behind us during our vows as a hysterical memory for the rest of our lives as well!! Lolol!

Everyone's pictures are sooo beautiful and yes- every single bride is stunning! I love your rustic shower Natalie! My girls threw me a shower at the resort as well and it was wonderful. My girls really outdid themselves! Here are the only two teaser my photographer has posted so far: Keep the pictures coming girls!!

AMAZING teasers!! You're making me wish I had done a trash the dress!! Hmmmm...how weird would it be to do on our year anniversary?? Lololol

Hi girls! These are three photos that I have now...I ended up turning around at the altar thanks to the wind and my veil! Lol! I agree on the crying part! It all seems like a dream now! First dance: Dancing with my dad:

I'm so jealous you all have photos already! I have a few teasers but our photographers took over 6,000 photos over the 3 days!! It may be years before we get them! Lol

You may have a problem...I don't know if its any consultation but we had a symbolic ceremony and signed a certificate with our father's as witnesses and nobody knew it wasn't "the real" thing...the person who performed the ceremony said exactly what we wanted her too...so IF you run into a problem you could probably have your priest or officiant say what you previously wanted and sign papers and nobody would know any different! Good luck...it'll all work out (and may save you some money in the process too)

A

Thanks for the advice!  In other words, it's easier to ask forgiveness then permission.

Absolutely These people are used to brides and a smile and sweet tone goes a long way

You don't have to say anything about skin allergies...my point is, don't OFFER info in the form of claiming them...and tell them they're for your personal use during your WEDDING week

I'm taking 5 towels for my OOT bags. I wonder if I can claim them as personal beach towels for me, my husband & son.

My advice to y'all is don't offer any of this info!!!! Don't "claim" anything...IF yes get the red light or are stopped just say its all for your wedding! If they further ask say you have a skin allergy and need these towels...but I highly doubt you'll be stopped if you play stupid (never claim things like this!) and IF you are the wedding explanation should suffice!

We never exchanged money...the dollar is EXTREMELY appreciated down there and is accepted everywhere

Don't worry about the weather in Playa...it cleared up today before we left and two days ago it rained sporadically but even with clouds in the sky you get a tan It'll all be ok! So sad to be heading home