heathersierra

Thanks ironman! I don't know why but Mexican customs scares me so much lol

When it comes to customs in Mexico, I know that each person can bring down $300USD worth of goods in their luggage duty free. My question is, do decorations count towards this total since it's something I'll also be bringing back (how is it different from the clothes in my suitcase or other person items). I understand that anything I'll be giving away like (welcome bags stuff) has to count towards this total. When I looks on the Mexican customs website it said that "wedding party" items were exempt from this... I assume that means dress and rings, but I was curious if it also meant decorations. Any feedback would help! I leave in 9 days :)

Haha I never would have thought of this!! Kinda smart if you have a lot of people and a large wedding party.. Kinda genius

For any past brides that have had a reception and a DJ, did you ask someone to MC for you or did the DJ just introduce you as a couple/first dance/cake cutting/etc??

Thanks! That's good to know

In the Devine package it says that 2 bridesmaid CORSAGES are included. Was anyone successful at getting either a flower credit for bridesmaid bouquets instead or the corsage turned into something else (ie: single flowers or boutenieres) I've asked Pilar if I could get 2 extra boutenieres instead of the 2 corsages and haven't heard back from her yet.

Me and my fiancé are both gluten free, which Pilar already knows because she's told us that they can make us a gluten free wedding cake. (Awesome!) In filling out my 45 day prior sheet, I realized that I have a choice in cake and filling flavour. I'm unsure if they can make any style cake gluten free. My question is if anyone else on this thread is GF and what was your cake like? Also, how accommodating was the resort I general to your food allergy?? Thanks!

I figure if we have the opportunity to take over and say our own written vows to one another at some point in the ceremony then it'll be all good and worthwhile

Hahaha that's kinda what I figured would happen!! They probably read the same couple "standard" scripts over and over so they can ace them. When you throw in something different, they probably don't even know he words they're reading! For simplicity, maybe I'll stick to their "standard"

Hi!! We're having a non-religious symbolic ceremony at the Now Jade. Has anyone been giving the script that the officiant reads or have you spoken to any of the wedding coordinators about it?? We're legally marrying before we leave Canada and since we're paying for a wedding commissioner in winnipeg, she offered to write us a script for the Mexico portion if we wanted. I thought this was a great idea (since she's basically doing this for free for us) but I'm unsure if the Mexico officiant will want to read someone else's work (or if their English is good enough to read something they haven't already memorized!) Also, did you girls find the officiant hard to understand at the Now Jade? I'm really not picky either way with which script is used, I'd just hate for her to do all this extra work if we're not going to use it. Also I'd hate to get excited about her script if it's not something that can be done down south! Any info would help!! Thanks

Did the tables with 6 seem awkwardly empty??

We're there from January 11-18 and getting married on Thursday the 16th! I'm going to keep my seating chart as originally planned. I'm not even sure how I'd change it.. so it'll have to work! I have 44 guests and that'll be the final number. Thank god!! Lol My FI and I have a rectangular table for just the two of us. It'll be a sweetheart table and we'll both sit on the same side facing our guests. I'm not having a head table because I want the wedding party to be able to sit with their dates. And by having a sweetheart table, we don't have to pick a side of the family! Hehehe win win for everyone!

Hmmm I'm getting married in January and have my seating chart basically done but I've only put 6-8 at a round table. I'd love to hear from others brides to see what they've done. I'd hate to have to redo my whole seating chart now grrrr!! Lol

Well that's simple I'll be adding that into my schedule. You say Pilar usually shows up for the rehearsal if I pick a date to do it with her? (Hopefully the night before the wedding)

Mind if I ask what you have planned for the rehearsal & dinner? Like are you getting people to meet near your ceremony location to run through everything? Is pilar planning on attending? And have you booked/are you paying for a special dinner or just going go he buffet? I wasn't going to plan a rehearsal dinner at all but thinking I should now... Hmmmm

I have the Devine package and was thinking of using the guitarist all along for the ceremony. After thinking a little bit about it, I thought it would be nicer to have the live music at the cocktail hour (one of the reasons I thought this was because we didn't get our first choice of cocktail hour locations. I really wanted the beach bar but we ended up with the orange lounge.. I heard that the orange lounge isn't very private and there will be many other people possibly hanging around.) I thought that the live music would keep my guests in one place and make it seem more "cocktail-y" and as if it's part of a wedding. Hopefully people staying at the resort would respect the gated-off area this way. I only plan on using the live music for the cocktail hour if it's free to have a sound system at the ceremony. I don't plan on spending more money for music. I'll let you know what I find out!

Thanks I'd really appreciate that. Probably faster than waiting to hear back from the ladies at the resort

Hey all, I've booked the Devine wedding package which comes with the hour of live music. (Guitar or sax) If I chose to use the guitar player for the cocktail hour instead of during the ceremony, do you know if there will be speakers set up at the ceremony (im booked for the pergola) to play any music I'd like played during the entrances or is that going to be an extra fee to have speakers??

Do you happen to know the dimensions of these sashes/runners?? My colors are silver and mint green and these look like they'll match, except they look two different colors in the pictures you posted. Do you happen to have any other pics showing them?? Heather

I have luggage tags for wedding favors so instead of having place cards, I'm putting their names on their luggage tag (as you would fill out the address portion of the tag) and having them already placed at their seat. The papers that I use to print their names on are two colors: mint and silver (my wedding colors) so each color wil represent a main course. If it turns out that the colors paper isn't noticeable enough for the service staff, I'll just tie a colored ribbon around the luggage tag. That's the plan in my head. I'll post once they're completed. Complete products could be a total different story LOL

I ended up booking enough rooms to get 2 "free rooms" worth of credit to be used towards either my wedding package, my own room, or to distribute however I wish (either split it equally, or give all or some of it to one person, etc) Me and my FI put it towards our stay. I don't think that's selfish at all! We got enough of a cost wi the Devine package and add ons. I was a big help towards out final bill. Heather

I think it's only 4 too. I think it's set up so that guests will get to eat 6-8 total appies each.

Also, did you pack your OOT bags before going or once getting there? I'm concerning about not having receipts for things that require receipts....

For past brides who brought lots of extra stuff down with them in their suitcase (OOT bags, OOT bag contents, decor, etc) what did you say you had in tow when you went through customs??? With most of my travel experiences, I've realized that the less you say the better, but I'd hate to get searched and have to pay taxes and/or fines on these contents if I don't declare them!! If a bride is bringing down a large amount of anything, should we be declaring it at customs and how much (in value) are we allowed to bring into the country?? I'd say I'm bringing less than the average Jade bride, however things add up $$ quickly. I've read about brides splitting the content between all suitcases and getting the bridal party to help out too,but how much can each person bring and be safe?? Also are receipts needs for any of the bulk purchases?? Any info would help Heather

That's so great to hear. My second thought was to use him for the cocktail hour as well but I think hearing your great review of him I'll keep him for the ceremony now. I just love live guitar music. So romantic!!!!