would do again/would not do again

[tata2]

Hello ladies I saw this post on another site and thought it would be a great help to ladies getting married all at the same location. What would those brides that have gone before us done the same and what would you changed if given another shot at it?



Do again:





Do differently or do without:

[klawrence]

Do again:
-get married at the barcelo!!!
-LOVED the flowers
-LOVED the arch with the extra flowers
-loved the flute that brought the bridesmaids down the isle and after for the toast
-have Gabriella as the wedding coordinator
-get hair and make-up done at the spa they did a great job
-hire Juan Carlos Magallon as my photographer (he did a great job and even drove to the airport the bring me my pictures before I left for home!)
-get married on the coral grill (LOVED THE LOCATION!!)

Would do differently/not at all:
-extend the time between the reception and ceremony (we only had 1.5 hours not enogh!)
-extend the time of the reception (we did the 3 hours [7-10[ would extend it an extra hour [till 11])
-stay longer after the wedding (got married Thursday came home Saturday) we didn't get any US time
-pay the extra to make it legal when you have to do the same process as getting married at the justice of the peace at home after.
-have a higher budget (there was a lot of things I would have liked to do but did not want to pay the extra)
-NO day trips (we did two in our one week...it was too much with the wedding!)

[april2009bride]

Well, it's all a matter of personal preferences and budget! , but here it goes:

Do again:
- a beach wedding at the Barcelo Maya!!
- choosing the Palace
- mariachi all the way! (wedding ceremony and reception)
- beach reception (I know it depends on budget, but it was amazing to be on the beach, dancing on the sand...worth the cost)
- extra hour for reception (and you do not have to tell your WC in advance, you can with until the end of the standard 3 hours of your reception and decide then if you want to go for it. Our guests seemed to really appreciate staying on the beach for an extra hour - until 11:30pm)
- spent the rest of the evening/night on the patio outside the palace lobby bar - perfect location, great staff, great drinks, great view, and it's open until 2 am!
- bring iPod with music for reception (one playlist for the dinner - smooth/lounge Mexican-style music, one playlist for dancing, one playlist for slow dances including first song)

Do differently or do without:
- not stress as much about the weather and other stuff you can't change anyways!
- was maybe a bit too laid back regarding the photo stuff! we decided to go with the cheapest option i.e. resort photog, and we were fine with the services they provided, it suited our needs. But I would have asked someone in my party to help the photographer coordinate the photo shoot (group pictures...) and would have made a list of pictures I want. It was a bit chaotic at times!
- have the arch of flowers for the ceremony

[alexthegirl]

Do again:
-Get married on the beach!
-Splurge on welcome bags (especially snorkels for everyone)
-Splurge on photographer and videographer
-Get secretly married at home and have a spiritual ceremony in MX but guests don't know its spiritual only
-Have a reception in MX (originally we were only going to do the ceremony bc we had a reception at home)
-Paid for a suite upgrade
-Got down a few days earlier than everyone else to get wedding stuff planned
-Used fake hair clip in for ceremony (looked great, stayed curled, took 3 seconds, nobody even knew)
-going barefoot for the ceremony
-iPod with multiple playlists (like april2009bride)
-Changed into a cute white summer dress for reception

 
Do differently:
-I would get the mariachi band for the ceremony
-I would lose a few lbs (lol)
-I would plan the wedding for earlier in the trip so I didn't have to worry so much about getting burned or tanlines
-Get more face shots and portrait shots of Rus and I - All of our pics were whole body shots except one
-Had group pictures maybe after the ceremony or something... there was a lot of squinting!
-NOT had a big reception for extended family and friends at home- this was my BIGGEST regret. All of the people I really cared about being there were in Mexico and the reception at home was really a waste of time, energy, and money. I would have skipped that FOR SURE.

[april2009bride]

-NOT had a big reception for extended family and friends at home- this was my BIGGEST regret. All of the people I really cared about being there were in Mexico and the reception at home was really a waste of time, energy, and money. I would have skipped that FOR SURE.

Oh gosh....! alexthegirl: you are confirming my concerns/feelings about this! lol we are having our "at home" reception next week with the extended family and I totally expect to feel like it's a waste of time/money/energy and I wish we could skip it as well...! 

[alexthegirl]

LOL! Yea... it was really just a dance party for me since I don't really know my extended relatives. I didn't even feel like getting my dress back on and doing my hair.. we had been home from MX for 3 days and were just ready to be done with wedding stuff and relatives for awhile. DOn't get me wrong, I still had fun dancing and everything, but I wish I wouldn't have dropped that much money on the at-home reception. It just wasn't worth it.

[april2009bride]

I didn't even feel like getting my dress back on and doing my hair..

I won't be wearing my dress again, it will be very laid back and informal. I'm trying to make it simple but how simple can it be when you have to take care of so many guests! LOL
I am sure it won't be too bad, will have fun for sure...it's just the planning stuff that I don't feel like doing. It was so funny reading your comments on this - Both me and my husband have the exact same feelings...!

[Karen in NYC]

If you've not gotten married yet, it's not too late to go to Las Vegas......

[alexthegirl]

Karen in NYC, that was an odd comment! Mexico is 1000x better than Vegas, IMO.

[jondawn]

why go to vegas to get married when you can go to barcelo, i would much rather have my feet in the sand than on concrete!

[nycgirlkat]

Hi Alex & April, My fiance and I were going to do an at-home reception, but when we crunched the numbers it would have cost us more for that than our wedding package at the Barcelo!  My future MIL is still "gently" pushing us to have one, but we just can swing the $$$ and she won't pay for it.  So we're going to be thankful for those who will be able to join us and will be thinking of those who won't be able to make it and we'll post our wedding video so they can see and be jealous!! 

[alexthegirl]

Yes, our at home reception cost more than our entire 10 day wedding trip in a suite, including the wedding package! It was so not worth it. It I were to do it again, I might consider waiting a few months and doing some kind of informal get together, like in the summertime in my parent's backyard or something. But I think in that case, the people that came would probably be the same people the were in MX, so I just don't know. All I know is that the home reception is still being paid off from my credit card and it just stressed me out more than anything.

[april2009bride]

If you've not gotten married yet, it's not too late to go to Las Vegas......

Hmmm....It's too late anyways, but I would not change my wedding in Mexico (at the beautiful Barcelo) for Vegas wedding (and to get married by an Elvis look-alike)!!

Hi Alex & April, My fiance and I were going to do an at-home reception, but when we crunched the numbers it would have cost us more for that than our wedding package at the Barcelo!  My future MIL is still "gently" pushing us to have one, but we just can swing the $$$ and she won't pay for it.  So we're going to be thankful for those who will be able to join us and will be thinking of those who won't be able to make it and we'll post our wedding video so they can see and be jealous!!  

That's how it should be!! I am sure you will not regret it!  

Yes, our at home reception cost more than our entire 10 day wedding trip in a suite, including the wedding package! It was so not worth it. It I were to do it again, I might consider waiting a few months and doing some kind of informal get together, like in the summertime in my parent's backyard or something. But I think in that case, the people that came would probably be the same people the were in MX, so I just don't know. All I know is that the home reception is still being paid off from my credit card and it just stressed me out more than anything.

LOL! Alexthegirl, you've done it again! What you describe (wait a few months...informal, summertime, parent's backyard) is exactly what we are doing! To reduce the # of guests, we have not invited friends at all, it is family only (uncles, aunts, grandparents, from both sides...). We will show our pictures and video, and there will be a few speeches, and that's it. But still....it is a lot of $$ (but not as much as the wedding thank goodness) and planning!

[Tye]

Do again-
- married barefoot on the beach
- keep it SIMPLE, we loved the laid back casual feel of our ceremony/reception thats why we did it in mexico
- splurge on photography
- organize group dinner night before wedding, it was a nice prelude to the actual wedding
- Mariachi band for ceremony and reception, so worth it
- steak and lobster recption on the beach, yummy!
- have a lunar eclipse the night before the wedding ( really awesome coincidence!!)
- stay a week longer after the wedding, nice relaxing honeymoon
- get a simple, airy, comfortable dress.... its hot out there!


Do differently-
-STRESS over everything, it all works out
-loose/curly updo... too windy and humid for my limp hair!
-had more pics with my immediate family, we got some at the resort but we rushed off with the offsite photographer so quickly, that it was a bit chaotic, and I didn't even think of it. make a mental list of pics you want. be vocal.
- getting fancy shoes that I barley wore.. lol
- stay even longer on the beach, didn't want the night to end!

can't think of anything else right now..... as for the at-home reception, we did one, it too was casual. i didn't really care to do it, but in the end SO glad we did.
we did wear our wedding clothes, but it was a very casual atmoshphere and i am happy that we still got to celebrate with family and friends that were not in mexico. we have friends that own an emporium/bistro with a lovely outdoor court yard and gave us a great deal on food etc. we tried to give it a mexican theme, and it was actually a lot of fun.

we had a social previous to the wedding, and that was HORRIBLE, too much stress! never, ever do that again!

[alexthegirl]

Do differently-

- getting fancy shoes that I barley wore.. lol

SO funny. I did the exact same thing. I though if I got platforms they would be fine on the beach - nope! Took them off as soon as I stepped foot on the sand! Now I have these shoes I can never wear again. Haha!

[shockerbride]

Would DO again:
-Marichi band for sure
-Wedding at the Coral beach(beautiful location and did have some shade for guests at 5 PM)
-Take all of our together pictures after the wedding so we first see each other then
-Barefoot for sure!
-ipod for the reception
-surf and turf gala dinner---definitely worth the cost
-welcome bags for guests they are still using the bags we see them at our receptions
-legal marriage in mexico(it only took 2 1/2 months to get the official one back and it is our official wedding day)
-bring our own photographer
-the arch with flowers (so beautiful)
-welcome dinner with family earlier in the week and a dinner the night before
-light weight wedding dress!!!!!
-wear hair half down with curls (updo not so good for the wind)
-reception in the open air grille (very nice atmosphere)
-rent a golf cart for the day of to help everyone get around and to go around for picutres


NOT DO:
-well, i don't know if this is not do but i would make sure all family would be leaving a day or so after the wedding and allowing us more alone time after the wedding.
-stress about the wedding (hmmmmm common theme here)
-buy shoes for the wedding
-only an 1 1/2 for pictures ( i would have liked more time for pics)
-also probably not plan the receptions at home (we had TWO one in Kansas and one in Canada and just got done with the most recent one so we have been planning and celebrating our wedding for 3 months!) too much time/energy/money/stress and traveling!
-use the resort videographer (video was okay but not worth 350 dollars)

[Mamalovesthebeach]

shockerbride: what did you put in your welcome bags?

[shockerbride]

we got canvas boat tote bags off of ebay and had them embroidered with our names, the date and the barcelo maya palace
we put in them hand sanitizer, tums, ibuprofen, a deck of cards, chap stick with sunscreen, a blow up float or frisbee or splash ball, bug spray, first aid kit(everyone used the band aids!!) and an itinerary of the trip with when we wanted to meet as a group and where for dinner, the wedding day plans (we had picked our location for reception and wedding) and some FAQs about the resort things to do, how to turn off the LED light on your tv, what to do if your fridge isn't cold, where the good snorkeling is on the resort, how to use a collectivo, and some places to eat in Playa del Carmen.  also laminated some cards with simple spanish phrases for the maid service such as please leave more beer and water, please leave face cloths, thank you for your service, and this tip is for you.  

hope that helps and good luck with the planning!

[BeachWedding]

I love this topic!!!!!  Do any newer brides want to post their would do again/would not do agains?

Thanks!!!

[tata2]

Since I started this thread and now I have had my wedding and can put in my two cents!!!

I would do again:
I would get the extra hour for the reception
I would get my hair and makeup done at the spa, hair up is a must as it is HOT!!!
I would have the Marachi band for wedding and reception
I would only wear foot jewellary no shoes(feet were blistered and swollen anyway)
I wish I would have booked extra week for honeymoon

I would not:
have spent so much money on the welcome bags, bought purses in Mexico for $15 each then put things in them way too much
have worried so much that things would not be perfect !
Have let it end as it was the best day of my life!!!!!!



 

[JanBride2009]

Just want to say thanks to all you past brides for posting your would do again/would not go again comments. I have enjoyed reading them all and will take it all into concideration when I get married next week!

[ScoBBride]

Would do again:
Everything - It was uh-MAZING!! More specifically-
-Sooo glad we booked the Palace while our guests stayed at the Colonial.
-Soooo glad we had the first week with our guests and the second week to ourselves.
-I loved that we piggy backed a pre-reception with our shower rather than having a big reception when we got home. I also loved that my bridesmaids created an assembly line for opening gifts at the shower - they opened the gifts and handed them to me and hubbs to hold up and announce what it was and who it was from. I HATE going to showers because it's kinda boring watching someone open all the gifts - takes forever. Having an assembly line made it go way fast, but still allowed everyone to see what you got. I will do this for every shower I have for the rest of my life.
-I am glad I changed my mind at the last minute and decided to put all of my hair up. I originally planned to do half up/half down. I would have been a sweaty mess. Even after dancing all night and sweating all day, my hair still looked great at 2 in the morning!
-I'm so glad we paid for my friend (who is a freelance photographer) to take our pics. It was great to have a MILLION pictures to choose from, including the "rehearsal" dinner the night before, rather than be limited to a package. I'm also glad I used this website to make our wedding album. (www.myphotoalbum.com) It has so much flexibility - I made our wedding album, two parents albums and our honeymoon album. Very happy with how everything came out.

Would do differently:
-I would have had more pictures of us taken around the resort. The problem is, it was SOO hot. We took pictures on the beach and then walked to the Palace gazebo to take a few more. By then, you can tell my make up was runny and my face was shiny. My photographer had asked if we wanted more around the resort, but I would have needed to freshen up before round two - which I could have easily done, but I was just beat, and we still needed to walk back to the Colonial for the reception - not a long walk, but after a long day, it was exhausting.  It may have been worth it to take pictures the next morning after the wedding - maybe re-pay to get my hair done again, so we would be fresh and be able to wander around the resort and take pics at our leisure.
-I would totally have rented a golf cart the day of the wedding. With us at the Palace and our guests at the Colonial, it would have been nice to have this to use whenever we wanted throughout the day.
-I would not have gotten a 3 tier cake! Haha! We had 38 people, but still had 2/3 of the cake leftover. It made for pretty pictures, but I felt bad having to throw all of that out.
-I would not have settled on one of my bridesmaids. I had decided to make my hubby's best man's wife one of my bridesmaids. None of my friends really had the money to go to Mexico, and I didn't want to burden them or make them feel obligated to go and dish out that money, so I never even asked them. I made her a bridesmaid since I knew she would already be there anyway with her hubby. I totally regret it - not only are we not that close, she caused soooo much drama that I was ready to kick her out of the wedding. I should have just paid for one of my other friends to go - a true friend that I would have felt honored to be by my side.

OH, and re: the comment about getting married in Vegas - My BFF got married in Vegas. She was there for 4 days and her wedding budget ended up being $10K. We had the same budget, but that also included TWO WEEKS at Barcelo. Four days in Vegas, two weeks at Barcelo. Decisions, decisions...

[Soon2bMrsMc]

OH, and re: the comment about getting married in Vegas - My BFF got married in Vegas. She was there for 4 days and her wedding budget ended up being $10K. We had the same budget, but that also included TWO WEEKS at Barcelo. Four days in Vegas, two weeks at Barcelo. Decisions, decisions...

!!!  My BFF wants to get married in Vegas too...I should fill her in

[acwedding]

sounds like the marichi band is popular ... wasn't one of the options (violin, flute, sax, keyboard/bass)
does anyone know where you can see pictures of each of the locations for wedding ceremony, cocktails, reception?
i would love to have the reception on beach, but worry about wind, cold and bugs ... what's it like beginning of november?
i also really want to wear a traditional dress / ... i know it will be hot, but its my day?
our wedding time is 3pm, sound ok?
do you need to order lights in order to dance on the beach, or are the lights from the dinner enough?. Do you really need to pay for a dancefloor on the beach?
thanks for your suggestions!

[april2009bride]

Regarding the dance floor, in my opinion it would be a waste of money. We were happy we did not have it -- it was very expensive, and it was great dancing in the sand.