November 2013 Brides

[MrsHK]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastminbride 

Dina,
Any chance you can ship some things? Customs is going to try to rip you off. Make sure you have we're receipt. The max you are allowed to bring in without paying taxes is $300.

I'm not sure how much the official tax rate is for everything above that. But they will try to rip you off, lie, etc... So do the research, being the receipts, and be prepared to be assertive (not aggressive).

Good luck hon!

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DinaQtobe 
 

Thanks for the advice about the receipts.  It's really not that much stuff, it's just these stupid cups take up so much space.  I will definitely be under $300 in "gifts".  The cups were only about 45$ and the BM gifts were a max of $200.  I don't expect that we will have any excess baggage... I think I am more stressed about actually packing everything and not forgetting anything.  I'm making a big deal out of something that I really shouldn't.  Just stressed all around.

Lastminbride: have you had a previous bad experience with customs?

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastminbride 
 

Hi Dina,

Great to hear you are under $300 and that you'll take the receipts.  You'll be covered then.

I have not had a bad experience, but I know well how the customs officials work in Latin America.  Also, goods are sometimes more expensive there than that we find online here, and so they don't believe the price of things (specially those that come from the $ star).  If they see people with lots of baggage, they don't do the random check system (red/green light button - you'll see when you're there), they just pass you to inspection directly because it's likely you are brining in more than $300.  Without the receipts, they can assign any amount they want to your merchandise.

 

Anyway, good luck with the packing.  The list sounds like a great idea!

 

Sending good juju your way Dina!

 

H

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by TealMarie 
 

What items are they focusing on? I'm assuming it doesn't include clothing, or else all of our wedding dresses would be over. Same goes for shoes, jewelry, accessories. I have receipts for the stuff we got for the OOT bags, except for now I see I may have lost a few dollar store receipts!

 

Hey ladies. Just to calm your minds, the customs officers down here are not that bad, at least not in my experience. My now husband and I moved down here two years ago with FIVE large suitcases and two carry ons. Since then we've been back and forth to Canada and the US about 9 times, and each time I bring back a TON of stuff for our wedding and our house down here, at least three suitcases each time, if not more. I've brought 80 tumbler mugs, 60 tote bags for welcome kits, lots of new clothes (tags off though), housewares, bottles of craft beer, my wedding dress, 50 lbs of aloe vera gel, even 72 yards of burlap for my table runners, and much more.

 

They only look through your bags if you get the red light, after they X-Ray your bags. It is totally random which light you get, and we've gotten both the red and green light on different occasions. They just open your bags, ask what all the stuff is for, you say "Para nuestras boda" or "For our wedding", smile sweetly, and you are on your way. It is a very good idea to bring receipts just in case, but I wouldn't be too worried. I've never had to show any receipts in all my trips through customs down here over the last couple years (knock on wood). 

 

The Mayan Riviera is a wedding factory, and they see hundreds of brides coming through every day with all kinds of decor, dresses and welcome kit items. It is a huge part of tourism and they won't give you a hard time because of that. At least not in my experience! 

[MrsHK]

Oh, and don't try shipping anything. It is when you ship things that there are issues at customs and things get returned to sender, stolen or, if they actually arrive at the destination, you pay around 50% duty on the items. Shipping things ends up being waaaay more expensive.

 

Bringing things on your person is the safest, cheapest and most effective way to get things here. Myself and several other ex-pats down here can attest to that!

[DinaQtobe]

I just finished half of the Thank You cards from my shower.  Oh man my hand is dying.  Feeling accomplished though, as that is something to cross off of the list to do before leaving for the wedding!  Yay!  Not much left to do now!

[MelB2012]

Ahhhh! I leave tomorrow morning for Jamaica. My wedding is next Friday! I hope I did everything I was supposed to. All I have left to do is pack... which I've been trying to do for a week. I have so much to bring. Hoefully I've pawned off enough items to others that everything will now fit. I hope everything works out. Wish me luck!

[Lydia1120]

MelB have fun during your wedding week vacation and may your wedding day be as you planned!!!

[TealMarie]

We leave in a week and we're still deciding on songs for our ceremony. Oh lawd help me! lol. Or more like: Procrastinators unite!!....tomorrow. That's us. We have an eclectic mix of music in the ceremony so far: Cranberries, Sigur Ros, Beatles, Bob Marley. Just need an upbeat recessional song!

 

MelB (I keep imagining you're a badass Spice Girl) - hope you're having fun in Jamaica and that you got everything packed! 

 

I feel like I'm nervous but I'm not sure what to be nervous about? When I think about it, all the important parts are sorted out. We got my FI a white shirt and dress shoes yesterday, despite his protestations that he would go shirtless under his suit as it'll be hot there! hahaha. I love him. We're finishing up our music playlist and that'll be the last item. 

[DinaQtobe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TealMarie 
 

We leave in a week and we're still deciding on songs for our ceremony. Oh lawd help me! lol. Or more like: Procrastinators unite!!....tomorrow. That's us. We have an eclectic mix of music in the ceremony so far: Cranberries, Sigur Ros, Beatles, Bob Marley. Just need an upbeat recessional song!

 

MelB (I keep imagining you're a badass Spice Girl) - hope you're having fun in Jamaica and that you got everything packed! 

 

I feel like I'm nervous but I'm not sure what to be nervous about? When I think about it, all the important parts are sorted out. We got my FI a white shirt and dress shoes yesterday, despite his protestations that he would go shirtless under his suit as it'll be hot there! hahaha. I love him. We're finishing up our music playlist and that'll be the last item. 

 

You crack me up!  I feel the same way - I am super nervous and feel like I am forgetting something huge, but all of the important stuff is DONE.  Everything is all set, it's just finalizing the packing and picking up some minor small things.  But why am I feeling so stressed?  I am having trouble sleeping, I am super tired and just an overwhelmed feeling!  WHY?

 

Your FI sounds a lot like mine.... He wanted to wear shorts he thought it would be so hot.  I have assured him that in November it will not be as hot as last time we went (the end of May).

 

Not too much longer!

[ucfjennifer]

I just wanted to stop by and say best wishes to all of the November brides. Enjoy your special day!

[Lydia1120]

I just wanted to stop by and say best wishes to all of the November brides. Enjoy your special day!

Thank you that is vey kind of you!

[Lydia1120]

Leaving in 4 days ladies........all organized and overall feeling pretty good! I'm not sleeping well either but think it's cuz I'm so excited, not necessarily nervous! Overwhelming feelings about travelling with 80 friends and family members! It is going to be a magical trip!!! Hope everyone here is as excited as I am :-)