Only 6 Months To Go?!?

I guess that's right. 6 months. And a week.

Okay. Well, I haven't heard back from the hotel about special rates, but will start looking for cheap deals online and posting links to them as I find them.

I have printed out a couple of pictures of some of the alterations I'd like for my dress, but haven't called anyone yet to take the dress in for a look and opinion on what can be done and what it will cost.

Found a beautiful dress for Kate online, but think I will wait until we are a little closer in so she doesn't outgrow it!

Okay, I'll start looking for great travel deals and keep you posted!

Some Details

Here's a lovely picture of the wedding gazebo at the Paraiso Maya. We have decided to get married at the gazebo as opposed to the beach beacuse it will be more private. (The beach is not private, so other guests at the hotel can walk right up to your wedding set-up at the beach in ther Speedos and bikinis and watch you get married while they drink their pina coladas. No thanks.) Knowing me, I might just feel the need to yell at gawking rubber-neckers during the ceremony and ruin my own wedding! Not really. Well ,maybe. :)

The wedding package and extras we got will include all the decorations, flowers, wedding cake and champagne, dinner, reception with DJ, open bar at the reception, pictures, video, live music at the ceremony, etc. This would all costs tens of thousands more here in the States. Gotta love the Mexican economy! Seriously, I'm sure it will be just beautiful, and hopefully minimally stress-inducing. Seems to me like once we get our paperwork all in order, we just show up with our outfits, for the most part. Neat.

The only catch seems to be for anyone who does not want to stay at the Iberostars Paraiso Maya or the Paraiso Lindo: there is a $100 day pass charge for anyone who comes, or a $70 night pass charge (not sure what the time cutoff is.) Ouch. Hopefully everyone can stay at the hotel with us or next door at the Paraiso Lindo so they don't have to pay a fortune.
Fountain at the Paraiso Lindo
One of the pools at the Paraiso Lindo


So, the live music can be a mariachi band, a Mexican trio, or a Mexican violinist. What do you all think? (To leave your comment or ask questions, just click on the comment button below. you may have to choose a name and create a profile, but then it will be easy to chat back and forth!) :)

The Date is Set!

Okay! It's all underway now! The wedding will be on the 12th of August 2006 at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya Hotel in Playa Del Carmen at 3 PM. Here are a few pics of the hotel and the grounds. Click here to go and take a look at the hotel and see how beautiful it is for yourself. I will be looking for the cheapest deals as far as room and airfare go, and will keep you all updated on what I find. I will also elaborate on the wedding details themselves in the days to come!

One of the types of rooms at the Paraiso Maya. It is an all-suite, all-inclusive hotel, so no worries about the cost of food and drink, or enough room to relax a little between visiting and festivities.



View of the beach




The pool at the Paraiso Maya



This is an aerial view of the four Iberostar hotels that are all adjacent to one another. I'm not sure which one is the Paraiso Maya, but it seems guests can o back and forth between all of the restaurants and facilities at the four hotels. Viva variety!