Surfingsara

Congratulations!!! You look beautiful! Can't wait to see more photos.

Hi ladies, i'm getting married at Vero Beach Hotel and Spa in June 2016! I'm hoping to find some inspiration from other Vero bride's.

I have all of my vendors and I'm confident VBH&S will do an amazing job. Now I just need some help to make sure I haven't forgotten to plan anything. I live in NC and won't be able to go back to Vero until the week of the wedding.

We were originally planning to get married in Mexico, and I found this site to be super helpful with planning all the "little things."

Unfortunately, we had to change plans and get married closer to home due to my dad's health. But still planning on Excellence Playa Mujeres for our honeymoon.

June 4th, 2016, Excellence Playa Mujeres, Mexico!!! (Well I have to wait until February/ March 2015 for the Resort to open up their 2016 calendar to confirm my date)

 

Hi How is planning going?Looks like we are planning for about the same time. I'm looking at June 4th 2016 with a back up date of June 18th 2016. I'm trying to figure out how much I should have done by what point. I just finished our wedding website this week. I don't know if it's too soon so send a link out to our guest or not? Some people are already asking for pricing details and what not, but of course I don't have this information yet.

 

It's nice to see other 2016 brides already planning!

Love the shell guest book idea!!! I wanted to do something like this but others tried to talk me out of it. Plus I was unsure what to use to write with on the shells. Now I think I'll revisit doing this.

Enjoy!!

Thanks everyone! I can't believe I leave in 6 days! I'm the worlds biggest procrastinator so I still have SO much to do.

Guestbook:

instead of doing a traditional guest book, we are going to have everyone sign their name on a shell and put it in a vase. This way we can display it in our house. I got the vase for $3 at Michaels and I hot-glued rope halfway up it. Filled it halfway with sand and then everyone can put the shells in. I figured the shells would be scattered on the table in front of the vase. This is the vase full of shells:

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Table numbers:

We have 31 guests so we only need 3 tables (two of ten and one of eleven). For the table numbers I got 3 white frames - sand pattern scrapbook paper from hobby lobby, and stick on numbers!

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I also ordered us these toasting glasses from etsy:

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To do:

Assemble welcome bags

Whiten teeth!

Wax eyebrows

Figure out ceremony music and assign someone to man the iPod

Buy speakers for reception music

Pack!!

Cut out all of the place cards

Buy a new bathing suit!

Figure out makeup (having a friend do it)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

@@veryvalentine Excellence Playa Mujeres. I knew it was going to be more expensive than those closer to Cancun.

For us we didn't have enough people coming to get a group rate. We needed 10 rooms and I think we were going to have about 7 rooms.

Also, we are looking at getting married in 2016. So for a year I've been looking at 2015 prices to get an idea of cost, but apparently, 2016 prices have gone up more than we expected.

This has ended up working out for the best for us. We are now getting married in FL and both of our parents can now come! My parents weren't able to come to Mexico due to health reasons, I understood but really wanted my daddy to walk me down the isle!

Since I had my heart set on going to Excellence Playa Mujeres, we are now going there for our honeymoon.

Also, I'm not sure at my resort that there were many perks for doing a group rate. I know some places the bride and groom get free nights or other things included.

I know its frustrating, but just enjoy the planning process. And my best advice, its your wedding!! Dont change for other people! They will try to get you to change things for silly reasons but if its what you want,stick to it!! This is where most of my stress has occurred.

Recently someone said that my idea for favors wasnt going to work because a few people wouldn't be able to take it home on a plane. Since we are getting married in FL where the citrus trees grow, I was thinking of having citrus fruits as a favor. ( for some reason when people from here go to FL they always bring home oranges and grapefruit.) My fiance was worried that this wouldn't work because a few guest (2 households) couldn't take it home on the plane...well I've made a decision on this as our favor and only acts of God are going to change this plan!! I'm truly sick of changing things for others! This is the 4th different location/city we have picked and we always change because of other people. Someone doesn't like that the venue is small and we can't invite certain people, or and this was said to my face " you can't have your wedding that day and there because that's the day we celebrate our anniversary! And they know someone who has already been married at this location!! " so dont try to please everyone, its your wedding and its about you and your finance, other people are just guest to celebrate with you.

Sorry for my rant... Its been frustrating! Good luck with your planning!

@@Surfingsara

 

Just curious..what location did you pick for your wedding.

 

about 3 months away from our wedding I'm debating if the group rate was worth it.  We have a few guests that will be booking outside of the group rate and last minute and I don't blame them.  When it comes to money, I'd rather someone attend than not attend because our group price didn't drop.

 

so frustrated.

Hi, I just received two separate quotes from different travel agents and they are much higher than we expected. Our wedding is June 2016 and I'm shocked at how much prices have gone up since last summer when I started looking. My resort would not start booking 2016 weddings until February 2015. As a result of the prices coming in so much higher than we expected we are now having to change our location.... So if you get quoted a decent price go ahead and take it if you can.

If anyone needs a good travel agent I would recommend contacting TAWindy on this site! She was very helpful and gave us the best price of the two agents I talked to. I've been very pleased at how quickly she responds and was great at following up.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LUYMMNS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3C7UVJW4YF0P9&coliid=I2Q80SX1UB6P1R

This is the starfish one's I was talking about. I've seen a few different people have something close to this style too. I know Tommy Bahama makes one. I'm considering getting these since they inexpensive.

oh yea flip flops are great i agree but i don't want to see them in pictures hahahah

here in new york we wear them only 3 months out of the year bc the rest of the here is cold

Oh we wear them 8-10 months a year, some people even 12 months a year.

If you can't find anyone who needs the whole thing, let me know, I would only maybe need 1 package. 

I'm interested! Do you have any thing left?

I did find some cute starfish ones! I'll send you the link when I get to my computer.. I'm in between classes right now.

I do have nice leather flip flops that I wear as my every day ones. Here in NC, flip flops are standard in your wardrobe. People even wear them in business settings... They are called olukai. Much better support than rainbows.

@@Giocivs88, Well, at least your not alone! I know I want to get married on the sand and I know about clothing and accessories (I have been purchasing them as I find them, have my dress, veil and earrings. I think I know what shoes I want, but I really dont like wearing shoes and if we are getting married on the sand, do I really need them?) We purchased luggage this past weekend at Costco, they had a good deal on Samsonite luggage. I know what I want to transport my dress in, its a Wallybag. I'll find the link for you. It has amazing reviews from destination brides!!

@@Giocivs88, I'm happy to help! I've had many people be so kind and help me. Some tines I wonder how I'm going to make all of this happen... But I know it will all come together. Plus we have some time... But its actually about 17 months!! Squil!!

Have you checked out excellence Fb group?? Its for all 3 resorts. People post pictures and will answer questions. I've found one lady who sent me a pm and has given me a bunch of tips about the resort. Plus she has friends who visit frequently and they have said they would check things out for me too! I think it says something about a resort when people go back one or more times a year ( wish this was me! But maybe I'll be a super successful social worker and professor and I'll get to visit excellence all the time!! Gotta dream big!!) Plus people who visit here make friends with other guest and the friendships continue once they leave the resort!! The Fb group is invite only, if you can't find it, pm here and we can exchange Fb names, and I can send you the invite to the group.

Oh! I really like your ideas for chair covers, and table runners!! I think I may use your idea. After you said this, maybe colored napkins might be nice, so its not all white. I actually told my fiancé about this this morning and he's not opposed to it. This is huge! He keeps thinking the resort will do eveo, all he has to do is show up. Well, he is correct, but I'm not sure he will like the cost if the resort does it all.

We are in wedding savings mode right now. Our goal is to have enough saved by this June to cover the wedding. So wedding budget is a frequent topic of conversation.

Do you know when we will have the final cost of the wedding? I haven't talked to the resort since August. They told me then that it would be February before the 2016 wedding schedule opens. He wants to pay for it all 100% before we go. So all he needs to bring money for is tipping.

We had a very bad experience with a photographer that we paid for the package up front and then after the shoot, I went to see the photos while he was working. Well I was blindsided at this meeting because I was told this was the only time I could view the photos, plus I needed to pay an extra 600-1300 if I wanted any photos!! I called him crying!! I just couldn't imagine picking out photos in less than 30 min. Plus I had not expected to pay extra. Much less 600-1300 more!! The photographer even felt bad! She didn't own the business so she didn't have any control over this, plus the she had no idea the owner had not talked about pricing with me. But out of the kindness of her heart she let me come back to view the photos ( and with out charging me for another viewing!) Plus she worked out a better pricing since she couldn't get in touch with the owner. I only got 10 images, but at a total of $600 for only 10 digital images, this was expensive!! So needless to say we never want to have anything like this again!

I also think I said I would get images of something or a website or something for you... I apologize, its been a crazy two weeks and I completely forgot!! Sorry! Remind me again, and I promise I'll get it this time! I have a few hour break on Wednesday and can do it then. Once again I'm so sorry! Normally I'm on top of things.

How much were maracas from the resort? I found a few suggestions on this site for maracas at a good price. ( I'll try to find the link for you or you can look under my topics/ post and you should be able to find it.) I was thinking of doing these for our at home reception.

Oh lucky you for having him to handle the paper goods! This seems to be what's causing me the most stress. Well this and everyone annoying me over when I can provide them with pricing.

Kim, congratulations!! Sorry to hear about your dad, hope he recovers soon. Y'all looked beautiful in the photos! Can't wait to see the rest of the photos!!

You may also want to post this on preownedweddingdress.com, this is where I purchased my dress.

I'm so excited for you Kim!

Thanks ladies!! I've never heard of mywedding. I'll definitely pass this info on. Password protected is a nice thing!

@@Giocivs88, I'm not exactly positive about linens. I know they did tell me that for a beach ceremony, the love package included chairs with white chair covers. I specifically asked about this because one of the pictures I was sent from the resort didn't have chairs in the photo. Ill try and find you the photo they sent me. I have it saved on my computer, and I'm writing this from my tablet right now. ( it may be a few days as I have a bunch going on right now, but I will get it to you.) As for the reception, I'm not positive of what's included, I didnt ask any specific questions about. From what I have gathered from the website, this site and the pdf's from the resort, the reception is usually at one of the restraunts, so I assume they have tables and chairs. Also, every photo I've seen has white table cloths, so I assume this is included. If you are interested in chair sashes or colored table cloths I think its extra or you can bring your own. I saw a photo posted on the excellence playa Mujeres page here that showed some of the terraces available for a reception. I'll try to find this for you too. I know your at erc, but the two resorts are similar when it comes to wedding stuff. Also you may want to post this question to TripAdvisor. I found a lot of information there. Plus I had many people respond to my questions. I even found a few people who visit excellence playa Mujeres multiple times a year and they checked on something for me, as I won't get to visit the resort before my wedding.

I know from this site, people talk about bringing decorations. ( for all different resorts) Im still trying to figure out what, if anything I'm bringing. I'm in school right now and will graduate I only weeks before my wedding. So I only have time to think about this kind of stuff during my breaks.

Hi Ladies!

What do you think is the best and/or easiest and/or most user friendly wedding website host? Or what did you use?

(examples: weddingwire, the knot, weebly, WIX and so on)

I'm helping a friend who recently got engaged with her planning process, as I've been researching at home weddings and destination weddings for about a year now. (I personally started with having my wedding at home, but then quickly learned destination wedding was a better fit for me and hopefully less stressful.) Anyways, she asked about a wedding website. I made mine, but did it from scratch. I can't recommend this to her as she has no prior website design knowledge and I don't have time to do it for her. 

Thanks!

@awc271011, I'm so glad to hear that not everyone has weird dreams right before their wedding!! I was starting to get worried.

Great job!!

@@Giocivs88 I'm getting married at excellence Playa Mujeres.( just north of Riveria Cancun).

Have you looked at the flowers and center pieces from the resort? I was sent PDF catalogs when I contacted the wedding department. I would start here. Your inspiration photos are beautiful, but check if they can get those flowers during your wedding month. They dont have every flower every month. Plus, some colors of flowers are more expensive. Also consider the charge for outside vendors.

You could probably bring all of the supplies for the second from the bottom photo. But glass vases can get heavy in suitcases.

I'm not planning on bringing many decorations. My package (Love) has a center piece included. I may bring a few things but I dont want to have to bring tons of stuff with me. I may do pretty flower center pieces for my at home reception.

I was overwhelmed thinking about what to do too. One think I've heard many times is not to try to recreate images from Pinterest ! They are not DIY, they are done by professionals with unlimited budgets. This goes for finding dresses on the site too. I have a friend who fell in love with a dress on Pinterest, when she went to get it, it was discontinued.

Hope this was helpful!

FYI, Microsoft clip art ( also Publisher's clip art) is no more. Microsoft did away with this in December 2014. They now use Bing, but I found it unfriendly and I didn't find what I was looking for.

Publisher is still around, and user friendly, just clip art from the program no longer exists.

@@Surfingsara

I actually went a bit of a different route. Made my flowers from streamers instead of even looking for fake flowers.

I'm not sure how to add pictures to my post? But if you would like to see them I will happily send you a picture

@@Kayla88, that's cool. I've seen on Pinterest about making flowers from streamers. I was wanting to try to make these.

@@beckys98 I saw a really cute thank you card on Esty today. It was one that you print yourself, so it keeps cost down. Ill try and post a link in the morning.

I also like your fan idea! Your right about the heat. I saw a parasaw today that looked interesting. They were $5.00 each. I'm not having that many people coming, so I may do this. I'm still undecided.

Chair sashes are a nice touch! My resort has white chair covers as part of our package, and they kinda look plain to me. I'd rather bring them than get them from the resort as I believe they were very expensive. Where did you get yours? Or have you gotten them yet?

I'm not doing an escort card or table numbers as we will have less than 15 people. Maybe only 13 people.

Congratulations!!

Your not the only procrastinator, I should be studying right now, but this is so much more fun!

I'm so excited for you MRS Kim!