Anyone who has an internet connection or subscribes to CNN has been shivering with fear. Many people have been asking us what’s really happening! Ahh and you are the smart ones! Anyone buying all of the hype needs to get out a bit more! Even the industry self-proclaimed “insiders” have bought into the hype. Causing what we call “BRIDAL FREAK OUT” !

Ok...enough ranting....

The EM Vallarta team of Wedding Planners has been asked numerous questions as to what is really happening in Puerto Vallarta. The clients themselves know very quickly that this is all sensationalized but it’s the guests that can be fearful.

Here is what we suggest all of our clients do. Stick to the facts and let your guests know that they will be safe and sound. Let the information flow.

For example… Puerto Vallarta had ZERO cases of the dreaded “SWINE FLU” errr..... “H1N1” errr….. ‘regular ole flu”. Please… you were more likely to get this in NYC than you were in Puerto Vallarta….a media frenzy, blown out of proportion and now just a faded memory....

Puerto Vallarta is not a border town. Mexico is a huge country….what happens in one state or city is not necessarily happening in another. It would be like asking people in Florida if they are being affected by a snowstorm in New York.

Puerto Vallarta does not have drug wars nor people being kidnapped.

Vallarta DOES offer a chic, tropical, bigger bang for the dollar location than you are going to find anywhere. Ask our brides and their families.

Vallarta offers some of the best Wedding Planners and Caterers in the Country and the level of service and professionalism is on par with any North of the boarder planner.

Here is my “insider” advise on planning a wedding here:

• All the same rules apply.

• Do your research.

• Ask questions.

• Check references.
  
  
  

Review your contracts before making any payments. Ask more questions.

As we always recommend, purchase event insurance no matter where it is. Do you insure your car?

Then sit back, relax and know that the team you have hired is going create the event that you have always envisioned. Magical, memorable and perfect!

Are you behind in your wedding planning? Are you avoiding inviting everyone from you mother’s list of guests. A destination wedding might be your answer. Call us, write us, check out our current clients.

However, if you are like the majority, champagne taste on a beer bottle budget, you have to make choices. There are a number of considerations to any guests list and a destination wedding adds a few more. Here is one way to start creating your list.

1. Each of you, independently start with a blank pieces of paper (or computer screen - which ever tickles your fancy).
   
   
2. Begin with your family and write down everyone that comes to mind that you want in attendance. Remember this is a private list that you are going to narrow down. After doing the first run through, go back and check the list again. Invariably you forgot someone like Mom or Dad, this is totally normal and doesn’t mean that you don’t love them. Just don’t tell them you spaced!
   
   
3. After completing the family list, it is time to start with the friends. This can be the hardest part of all. There are always considerations including the possibility of parental invitees. At this point, put those considerations aside and just start writing. An exercise in free flowing consciousness if you will. Later on we will eliminate the riff raff and get the advise from the parental units.
   
   
4. You’re done! Congratulations. Draft 1 is complete. Now the two of you sit down together and be awed by the guest lists that you have created. If you are like most people, you have everyone from Auntie Ethel to the nice lady you talked to while waiting in line at Starbucks about the new rock on your hand. It’s time for the red marker.
   
   
5. Now you need to start considering the realities. There are a number of considerations but two important ones and will give you a place to start. Independently go through you list and cross out the folks that fall into the “what was I even thinking category”. Do this while asking yourself, “Would I call ______ (fill in name here) and ask them to go out to a dinner and when the $200 bill comes, pick it up?” Suddenly "lady at Starbucks" has lost her appeal. Now while the $200 dollars is an abstract number do keep in mind that weddings are costly now matter how you look at it. For the sake of the list use the $200 dollar figure and see what your reaction is.
   
   
6. Now that you have both completed this level of cuts it is time to start seriously considering the list.
   
   
7. At this point I think it best to compile the two lists, this will automatically reduce the number of invitees as there is generally cross over.
   
   
8. Using a red pen, or other obvious color, go through your combined list together and next to each name label them with one of three letters, A, B, C. “A’s” come hell or high water (including paying for them to be there yourself) down the “C’s”, people who you would like to see there but it wouldn’t kill you if they didn’t show up. Do also consider that this is a destination wedding. Someone who might be an “A” may also be a person who is horrified of flying and won’t come, they would get a “C” rating. Also consider people who have time restrictions, like teachers. Or money restrictions. While the decision is up to them it can make a difference in the possibility of their attendance. Remember this list will be destroyed later on. The worst thing is for someone who considers himself or herself an “A” list person is in fact a “C”. Especially given that the “C” rating has many factors added in. And yes I personally learned this the hard way.
   
   
9. Now tally up each category and you can quickly get a glimpse of where your numbers are going to be.
   
   
10. If you are like many of clients, your list totals will come in between 80-100 people. Of that your attendance will fall into the 60-70 guests that will actually be bale to make it for various reasons. Unfortunately there is no true formula as to the number of guests who come vs. the number of guests invited. You really must look at the demographic of the group and determine if you think they will come or not.
    
    

Now that you have spent hours mulling and culling this list, it’s now time for the two of you to have a discussion. What is the tone of your wedding? Do you want a blow out bash and celebrate with everyone that is on your list? Or do you want to create a smaller more intimate event that focused on quality rather than quantity. Or do you want both? Can you afford both? Is both what you want? Talk about it. Talk about what aspects are important to you. Are you going to focus on the Food and Beverage or would you rather go more simple and have an over the top venue? Is having a live band key? Or do you want a super star DJ to come in? Are you happy hooking up your iPod to a speaker system? Talk about these things. Talk about what you both want your day to be like. This is not a conversation that will lead to any immediate conclusions but it will help you both to define what the day is to be like. It takes weeks of discussions, thoughts and getting quotes to see what your final decision will be.

This season alone, EM Vallarta will have completed 52 destination weddings. Ranging in size from 25 people to 200. Money aside, we have found that events that are under 80 people tend to be the most intimate, unique, memorable and quite frankly the most fun for the bride and groom and their guests. You have time to see everyone. You have time to thank each and ever person for coming to share this special day with you. Everyone in attendance speaks to your heart. The memories are solid. The “investment” is truly that. Imagine yourselves standing in front of all these people thanking them and honoring them for sharing this day with you. This is what a wedding is about. This is what a destination wedding produces. Memories that will last a life time.

NOW WHAT?

As the old adage goes, one decision leads to another.

The first and most important aspect to ensure that your wedding day in Paradise is as you imagined, is to begin the process of finding that perfect person or company that is going to guide you through the numerous stages…aka THE WEDDING PLANNER.

“ Well why do I need a wedding planner? I’ve read every Martha Stewart Wedding Book, Modern Bride Magazine and I even planned my high school prom! How hard can it be”???

This is no time to find your inner party planner! You go to your doctor to find out if you are healthy. You go to your lawyer to make sure you have all your ducks in a row. You hire financial professionals to manage your money, why oh why would you spend all the time and money you are going to spend on the most important day of your lives and not hire someone who knows the ins and outs of what you are taking on.

Prior to becoming an event and wedding planner, the biggest regrets I had ever heard from brides and grooms is that their families and friends had too many responsibilities. They couldn’t enjoy the festivities because they were so tired and worn out from running around and dealing with all the months and months of details leading up to the big day. You want everyone that has taken the time to fly down here to enjoy every moment of their trip. Not be running around making sure that every candle is in perfect position. Honor them as they have honored you by making the time to spend with you on your day.

The second biggest consideration is that, while you are a very well traveled couple who has trekked Mt. Kilimanjaro and spent night after night wandering the Left Bank in search of the perfect cabaret, you have never planned an event in Mexico. You have never created an itinerary for 75 people all arriving at different times from different locations. Your idea of a dinner party is calling the Orchid Garden and having the party platter for 10 delivered, let alone planning rehearsal dinners, menus, specialty cocktails, cake flavors, hotels, villas, ground transport (a.k.a. automobiles) etc. Did I mention the additional factor that you have never planned an event in Mexico!

Be Smart. Make a wise investment. Hire a Wedding Planner!

Now that you have come to your senses you ask, “How do I know whom to hire?”. Years ago there was only one choice in Vallarta. Times have changed and as one of the world’s top wedding destinations, Vallarta has also attracted some great wedding and event planners as well as some duds. Your planner needs to a person or team that is keenly aware of what your needs are going to be. Someone that is going to provide you with the level of service you are accustomed to. You need someone who you trust to guide you down the road. Someone who you can trust to have a conversation with your mother of father or better yet, someone who can deal with the inter-family politics: THE MONSTER IN LAW! Most importantly, someone who has the resources to handle the scope of your event. This includes staff, reliable vendors, a solid business, and above all happy clients.

Ask the right questions. You are going to be spending a lot of time with your planner. Choosing a wedding planner is like choosing a lawyer or any other kind of professional. The reality is you need someone who can get the job done, on time, on budget and they need to be on page with you. They need to be accessible, and not just on Fridays because that is the day they send email! It is also key that you trust this person. There is a lot of money, time and responsibilities being given to this person. Do your homework. Choose wisely.

Check REFERENCES. Check References. Check References!

Listen to what their past clients have said about them. What were their strengths? Weaknesses? How do they look back on your big day? If someone has the huevos not to honor your request for references or just refers you to their web site “praises” page, MOVE ON! They are not worth the salt on the table next to the empty Tequila glass!

Bottom Line:

I’ve never known anyone who walked away from their wedding experience and said, “WOW, you know what? I really didn’t need a planner. I sooooooo could have done that on my own”. Now go ahead, start searching. You will regret not doing it.

Come back next week when we start looking at “Choosing the Perfect Location”.

You both have been to so many weddings at Yacht clubs, hotels and quaint B&Bs that you can’t bare the thought of your wedding day being like every other. You want it to be memorable, fun, casual yet elegant, and most importantly a day without a lot of stress. A day that your friends and family will remember for a life time and most importantly a day that set the stage for the rest of your lives together.

As a thoroughly modern woman; the first place you go to start doing research is the Internet. Your palms begin to sweat as you click through the numerous choices. You begin to realize that the “Bank of Ma and Pa” has set for you or what your savings account can handle, is not going create the day of your dreams.

“ 8 dollars for a piece of wedding cake? Are you kidding me?” That is the reality of hosting a wedding in a major US market that meets all of the criteria you and your honey have determined. This is when the depression sets in. “How am I going to have the day of my dreams when all I can afford is Burgers and Chips at the local Burger Barn!” Then one night, as you commiserate over a tall Cosmopolitan at an even taller bar, your future maid of honor reminds you of a coworker she had that got married in Mexico.

" Do tell!....."

There are a number of places in the world that specialize in destination weddings. Mexico and specifically Puerto Vallarta has become one of the world’s top destinations. Why? Easy, besides the obvious, natural beauty, amazing sunsets, a Hollywood legacy, world class cuisine and accommodations, you also have the necessary infrastructure to create the wedding you have always dreamed of. And if you live in San Francisco, New York, Seattle or any other major metropolitan city you will save about 30% off of what you would have spent at home.

So now you are warming up to the idea of getting married on the beach with the sunset behind you, the sand between your toes, or below the Minolas pumps you bought just for this occasion. You ask yourself, do I really want to do this? You couldn’t be asking a better question.

If you are a micromanaging, hyper planner, turbo-Martha, who must be clear as to every detail 18 months before the wedding day, who requires that everyone from the office is there, and who will have the day ruined by one of the cocktail umbrellas falling out of the Mother of the Groom’s Pina Colada, a destination wedding might be considered a challenge for you but one well worth investigating.

If you and your fiancé want your wedding to be an eventful experience that reflects the inner world traveler and wants a memorable night filled with laughter, memories, amazing food and drink, awe inspiring sunsets, lush flowers, close friends and family, mouth watering cuisine and don’t mind that mom’s umbrella fell our her drink you very well might be a candidate.

Tune in Next week when we discuss how to choose a wedding planner and why?