Need Advice

Anjee23

Hey Ladies,

I need some advice on a few things. FI and I are going back and forth on where to go for our honeymoon. I would really love to go to Maui, but I haven't been able to find anything nice below $3000. So either St. Lucia or Grand Cayman are my next choices.  FI would like to go to Riviera Maya.  What are ya'll thoughts? We're getting down to the wire and need to make a decision this month.

My other question is, is anyone using a wedding planner?  I'm trying to decide if I should use one just to make sure everything flows right. 

gnc0988

We are going to Riveria maya. St lucia doesnt have a lot of options as far as adults only all inclusive and airfare can be very expensive. theres a lot to do in riveria maya and shopping in mexico is super cheap.

I vote Rivera Maya just because the cost of airfare to st lucia is so high. I think youd get more for your money by going to mexico.

Anjee23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_need-advice-5?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:96df883f-7b56-4ce7-9075-59f64e7364acPost:3640618c-0201-4c64-8006-2f66018fcfcb">Re: Need Advice</a>:
[QUOTE]We are going to Riveria maya. St lucia doesnt have a lot of options as far as adults only all inclusive and airfare can be very expensive. theres a lot to do in riveria maya and shopping in mexico is super cheap. I vote Rivera Maya just because the cost of airfare to st lucia is so high. I think youd get more for your money by going to mexico.
Posted by gnc0988[/QUOTE]

Thank you!! FI will love that. LOL!  I've been looking at some of the Secrets Resorts...any of you ladies know anything about those?

kitad05

Sorry, I have no advice re: the honeymoon. But as far a wedding coordinator, I am using one. I am the ultimate control freak and I want to plan every detail of my wedding possible but I am also realistic. I know I am going to NEED someone to execute my plan. I hired one in the beginning of the planning but decided that I want more of a DOC/ month of person because I do not want my plans to be countered with her's. I wanted time to decide exactly what I wanted. I will meet with her in 2 weeks (2.5 months before the wedding) to explain exactly what my my expectation of her are and then we will go for there. I also want her to decorate the venue according to my specifications and I need her to deal with the vendors the week and day of. 

Good Luck with honeymoon planning. We are going to Ochos Rios since we both wanted to go to Jamaica. Flights were only $450 each (7 months out). 

keyaira04

Hey lady! I also cant be much help with the honeymoon but I think PP give you some great advice. Im doing what Kita is doing. I started working with my coordinator in Dec. she will focus on the rehearsal and it dinner and the, day of.

gnc0988

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_need-advice-5?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:96df883f-7b56-4ce7-9075-59f64e7364acPost:e4bae8e9-3420-472c-aef5-81d1e46eb102">Re: Need Advice</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Need Advice : Thank you!! FI will love that. LOL!  I've been looking at some of the Secrets Resorts...any of you ladies know anything about those?
Posted by Anjee23[/QUOTE]


we are going to secrets maroma beach. it is one of the best beaches in the world and close to the mayan ruins

M1ssJ

I would 100% use a wedding planner or coordinator. It was so nice to hand things off and not think about anything on the wedding day. it made a huge difference.

We went on a cruise for our honeymoon which was beyond cost effective. It was about $800 for both of us

rowenac82

I didn't hire a wedding planner but my venue came with a day of coordinator and she was very helpful. So I say based on my interaction with her, I would recommend a day of coordinator. 

As for honeymoon, we actually went to Riveria Maya for our honeymoon and I recommend it. Hawaii was also our first choice but soon figured out we couldn't afford it. I say Mexico, you definitely get a good bang for your buck. We stayed at Dreams Riveria Maya not to be confused with Dreams cancum:-)

I think on one of our day trips (well our only day trip), we picked up others from one of the Secrets resorts in the area and looked nice to me. I don't think you could go too wrong with any of the resorts in that area and I liked that they weren't on the cancun trip. On our day trip we drove down the strip area and it almost reminds me of vegas except it is next to really beautiful blue beaches:-) I liked the isolation of Riveria Maya but the water is definitely more blue in Cancun so keep that in mind! 

Anjee23

Thanks ladies.  The advice has been so helpful.  I think I'm going to go with a coordinator or planner when I get closer to the wedding. I just don't want to forget anything.  I also want to make sure the rehearsal and  dinner and the, day of run smoothly.  I don't want to have to choke someone out before it gets started. LOL! 
I already had to deal with a bridesmaid I thought I was going to have to kick off, because she decided she wanted to go with a different dress to stand out.

Well it's decided we're going to go somewhere in Mexico.  I told FI if more of the responses was for Mexico then we'd go with it.  He told me to make sure I thanked you ladies!!! LMAO!! Now just have to decide where....thanks again for the advice.

rowenac82

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_need-advice-5?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:400Discussion:96df883f-7b56-4ce7-9075-59f64e7364acPost:8511b771-e156-4f65-ab8c-65a7401f3602">Re: Need Advice</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks ladies.  The advice has been so helpful.  I think I'm going to go with a coordinator or planner when I get closer to the wedding. I just don't want to forget anything.  I also want to make sure the rehearsal and  dinner and the, day of run smoothly.  I don't want to have to choke someone out before it gets started. LOL!  I already had to deal with a bridesmaid I thought I was going to have to kick off, because she decided she wanted to go with a different dress to stand out. Well it's decided we're going to go somewhere in Mexico.  I told FI if more of the responses was for Mexico then we'd go with it.  He told me to make sure I thanked you ladies!!! LMAO!! Now just have to decide where....thanks again for the advice.
Posted by Anjee23[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>
</div><div>Don't give up on the other destinations. Plant the seed now with FI, that you would like to go to St. Lucia or wherever for your "babymoon" one of the AAW married knotties did that and i love the idea:-) Also don't forget to check groupoon, living social for travel deals and I booked my honeymoon on bookit.com as recommended by another knottie and got a great deal! All the best!:-)

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