DESTINATION WEDDING CALENDAR

MUST DO'S BEFORE AND AFTER WEDDING.

9 to 6 months prior to wedding:

• Compile all documents that you will need for your wedding, as well as making sure that you have your passport to travel to Mexico. Consult with your wedding coordinator about requirements for different kinds of weddings.
• Plan the ceremony style according to your beliefs and start pre-wedding counseling if desired. Examine family wedding customs and traditions that you might want to include in your wedding ceremony or reception. Once decided, discuss with your wedding coordinator.
• Finalize any special ceremony events such as songs, readings or rituals with your guests who will be performing them.
• Order your invitations. An option that will save guests and you the trouble of traveling with gifts is to include a small card with the invitations stating that it is possible to receive gifts prior to the wedding. You can coordinate your invitations to your save-the date announcements or use a different design.
• Order your wedding gown and accessories and schedule your dress fittings, keeping your ceremony location and the weather in mind. Make sure to read your wedding dress contract before you sign it.
• Select and order your bridesmaid dresses. Search photos, magazines and websites and ask the girls' opinions. Compile the measurements of your bridesmaids and choose accessories (shoes and jewelry).
• Buy and insure your wedding bands.
• Sign your Wedding Contract and make a 50% deposit of the total wedding costs.

6 to 4 months prior to wedding:

• Make sure that you have received all of your travel and required legal wedding documents.
• Plan a trip to meet your wedding planner, venue, vendors, menu tasting, etc.
• Confirm optional wedding services with your coordinator, such as private events, music and special décor.

2 to 4 months prior to wedding:

• Send your wedding invitations
• Submit final 25% payment to coordinator.
• Grooms, time to decide what you will wear for the wedding: suit, tuxedo, button-down and slacks or resort wear. Check the internet, magazines and previous wedding photos for ideas. Make plans to buy or rent what you will wear.
• Grooms, choose groomsmen attire. Give all of the groomsmen the info they need to buy and/or reserve.
• Bride, buy gifts for maid of honor, bridesmaids and child attendants. Wrap gifts and write each attendant a note.
• Groom, buy gifts for best man, groomsmen and ushers. Wrap gifts and write each attendant a note.

2 months prior to wedding:

• Buy a guestbook to bring to the wedding.
• Work on ceremony vows (especially if you will be writing them yourself).
• Work on a list of must-have photos for your photographer
• Brides compile your wedding beauty plan with examples of your ideal hairstyle. Make an appointment at your recommended beauty salon, or hair & makeup artist for hair, makeup, manicure and pedicure. Don't forget to plan for a luxurious bridal spa ritual before the big day. Or a very deserved mayan spiritual spa celebration. (consult for options)

2 months prior to wedding:

• Confirm all Wedding-day details with your coordinator. All payments to the vendors should have been submitted by now.
• Make sure everyone in the wedding party is aware of their roles and duties. Provide a list for the maid of honor and the best man.
• Schedule final dress fitting along with bridesmaids, with correct shoes, veil, accessories and undergarments.
• Review final guest list and contact guests who have not confirmed.
• Consult with your wedding coordinator about possible wedding favors, or assemble favors that you will be bringing or shipping to the resort.

3 weeks prior to wedding:

• Leave emergency contact information as well as the resort contact information with a trusted friend or family member who will not be attending the wedding.
• Pick up your wedding dress and obtain a secure bag for travel. Call the airline in advance to ask about the possibility of hanging your dress during the trip instead of checking it in. Do not ship your dress.
• Make sure you have your "something old, something new" or any other customary touches you would like to include.
  Practice walking in your wedding shoes.
• Shop and pack for your honeymoon.
• Double check that you have all necessary documentation for travel and your wedding in Mexico, and that they are packed safely. Prepare your wedding toasts or thank- yous.

1 week prior to wedding:

• Confirm your airport transportation with the resort concierge.
• Confirm all details regarding your wedding with your wedding coordinator
• Confirm your beauty salon and Spa appointments.
• Grooms, get your final haircut.
• Grooms, pick up your formal wear and try it on. Make sure you have all necessary accessories for your wedding day: shoes, cuff links, jewelry, etc.
• Make sure groomsmen have formal attire.
• Check weather forecast.

Day before wedding:

• Enjoy your manicure and pedicure at your resort
• Groom, give the best man the bride's wedding band.
• Enjoy your rehearsal dinner.
• Brides, pull together wedding gown, veil, shoes, stockings, and a last-minute emergency kit (aspirin, makeup, safety pins, mints, etc.).
• Get a wonderful night's sleep.

Your Destination Wedding Day:

• Eat breakfast
• Enjoy your bridal spa ritual, hair and makeup session.
• Get dressed.
• Enjoy your beautiful destination wedding!
• Take a special moment aside with your parents.
• Take a private moment aside as newlyweds to congratulate each other and/or exchange gifts.
• Confirm with those people you expect to give toasts at the reception.

Day after Wedding:

• Compile a preliminary online photo album from friend's and family's photos for Facebook and other social media. These will most likely be the first photos available.
• Within two months of your wedding, write and send out your thank-you notes.
• Relax and enjoy you are MARRIED!!!

Don't let rain ruin your wedding day

This weekend we had tons of rain here in the Caribbean, so I decided to do a POST on Rain. Its very important for the Destination Bride to have a list of all the WHAT IF's of her location/venue so everyone is fully prepared for Back Up plan.

The most common What If in a beach Wedding is always RAIN.

So I have 5 Options for your Back Up Plan

1. Consider renting a tent as your back-up plan. Make sure you know were are the right places to put the tent; because if it's a Rainy day with a lot of wind then you need to consider putting the tent in a place were wind does not hit that hard.

2. Consider moving the ceremony to the space where your reception will be held. If the Reception is at the same Beach or at the same Venue check out if they have an indoor facility or "Palapa" in case of rain.

3. Check to see if the beach you're planning to marry on has "pavilions" for rent.

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   4. You have the option of changing your ceremony time or ceremony date, this is necessary if we are talking tropical storm or hurricane.

5. If it is not raining to hard, consider doing the ceremony under the rain. Let your Destination Wedding Planner know you will be needing lots of BIG umbrellas for the ceremony and for your guests.

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ALSO REMEMBER THIS VERY GOOD WEATHER TIP.

Rely more on the seven-day forecast for accurate weather prediction.

As you get closer, the predictions will become more accurate.

The three-day forecast and forecast for the night before

the wedding will certainly be the most conclusive.

IF YOU KNOW FOR SURE THAT IT WILL RAIN ON YOUR WEDDING, BRING A PAIR OF NICE UMBRELLAS, WHITE OR TRANSPARENT FOR BRIDE AND GROOM TO WALK DOWN THE ISLE. This special umbrellas are difficult to be found here but very easy and cheap back home.

Another good idea is to have a tent at least for the DJ and dance floor this

way even of it rains a little your party will never be over.

Get some lounge tables and chairs to put near the dance floor.

AND THE REMEMBER THE MOST IMPORTANT THING:

Your attitude must be always positive

and you need to be happy no matter what

DON'T LET ANYTHING YOU CAN'T CONTROL

(specially rain) mess up your wedding day!!!

BE HAPPY!!!