Wedding in Medellin... need help

JamieJ says on Aug 12, 2004, 00:10:

Hotels This price seems about 2 times higher than quotes I have heard in BAQ. Did she check the hotels, normally they will cater and give you a room based on the head count. But of course cost can vary depending on the food, entertainment, decorations etc....


Jamie
Engage The Exotic

Jamie

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LarsBrink says on Aug 12, 2004, 01:35:

Don't know a place but.. In 2002 we had our wedding just outside Bogota. We got a good discount but for a finca (hacienda(?)) we paid around 7,600,000 pesos for flowers, place, waiters, food, drinks, music and a carnieval for 100 persons!

I'm sure that you can get a full service wedding with everything and nice as well for the 6,000,000 pesos for 40 persons.

Good luck!

Regards,

Lars Brink - colombia.dk - brink-christensen.dk

~ Lars Brink ~ www.colombia.dk ~

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Roncita says on Aug 12, 2004, 05:24:

suggestions I didn't get married in Medellin, but I think checking out the hotels is a good idea. I went to a wedding reception at the Poblado Plaza hotel (next to Oviedo shopping centre) which was very nice - and not too posh - no idea how much it cost but you could get your fiancee to find out. It's probably cheaper than one of the bigger hotels like the Dann Carlton, Sheraton or Intercontinental. Mind you don't know if they do ceremonies there too because the one we went to was just a reception.

Also went to a ceremony+reception at a place in Laureles opposite the UPB - on that circular road that goes off Av Nutibara if you know the area - your fiancee will anyway! (Sorry, memory fails - have been out of Colombia for almost a year!) Can't remember what the place was called though, but it was like a special reception/wedding/banquet hall. Quite small and although I don't know how much it cost, I know the bride & groom didn't have a huge budget, and they did it up quite nicely and had a DJ, dancing, buffet and the ceremony space complete with aisle and everything.

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 12, 2004, 11:55:

Daver, when I go home tonight, I will go through all the receipts that my wife kept from our wedding - she knows to the penny how much everything cost and who she dealt with in Medellin. I will post again with the details.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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daver says on Aug 12, 2004, 12:06:

Cowboy,

Thanks! That would help a great deal. I hope you're not rich!!

Dave

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vicshere says on Aug 12, 2004, 12:52:

married in 2002 Daver we got married in Bucaramanga in Oct 2002 at the Dann Carlton in the ball room on the top floor...it was pretty squanyy to say the least..... I spend about 2,000 can. which included the room food wine and drinks waiter tips the whole nine yards....except flowers which where cheap anyway....the dress was extra don't know dollars amount....and we had 45 people at the wedding..... if she is from an upper class you can probably expect money gifts ranging in the 25% range so I would say about 500 buck can back...better than nothing...anyway you budget should be more than enough for a very nice affair...good luck Vic


listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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elmodefoque says on Aug 12, 2004, 13:15:

Hey, all you guys went all the way out for your wedding. I spent $13. 50 US in total. 8 bucks for 4 subway rides (hers and mine) to city hall. NYC subway fare is 2 dollars. On my way home I picked up a six pack for $5.50 and asked some friends to stop by, but only if they brought booze. When I hit the lotto I promised my wife that we will have a real wedding. There is this nice Puerto Rican “cuchifrito” (fried stuff) place not too far from me that seats around 20. They sell pigs ear, bacalao and mofongo. Hey, how do you think Jennifer Lopez got that awesome body? Cuchifrito!!

ASK NOT WHAT THE PUSSY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THAT PUSSY!!!!!!!!!! CAT LOVER

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daver says on Aug 12, 2004, 14:21:

Elmo,13.50 US. Hahaha. No Elmo,

13.50 US. Hahaha. No wonder you and your wife's love has stood the test of time... happily ever after eh? Warm nights by the fire place looking at the wedding photos on the subway...

I can't do a subway ride in Medellin... perhaps the Metro. Can you hang ribbons and bells on the back of the Metro with "Just Married" painted on the back.

VICSHERE:

I don't want to count on gifts... Although it would be nice. My sister raked in $2,700 (100 guests...70 adults) at her wedding in Canada (Hamilton) and we are middle-class people from top to bottom (not a welfare leach, or a BMW owner amongst us). I just don't think there is too much extra money floating around Medellin to be given away... she is upper class, but not part of the elite.

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daver says on Aug 12, 2004, 15:13:

Vicshere... I passed on your post to my fiance... one problem

***it was pretty squanyy to say the least***

she wants to know what "squanyy" means, and I really couldn't tell her. It doesn't appear to be english, or even a Canadianizm...

If you spent $2000 and "squanny" means very nice, than I will be estatic. If you spent $2000 and "squanny" means very bad, then I will be no so estatic.

Ps. Thanks for your help, it seems like the wedding train is moving forward again after a bit of a stall. My fiance is very greatful for all the help too.

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Bquilla says on Aug 12, 2004, 15:39:

The money bag was quite full by the end of the evening, counted some $850.00 which I thought might make for a little extra on the honeymoon. My wife, however, had other thoughts...she handed it to her mom. Easy come, easy go I suppose. The one bill that really hurt (no vasoline) was when the party passed the alloted time by two hours. The hotel was more than happy to keep the place going and I thought at the time, "how nice of them". Not so when the extra charge of $450 posted on my Visa later that month. In hindsight, probably would have been next to impossiable to push our guests out of the party by the time that we had previuosly paid for anyway. My point, allow for a long reception party. Colombians, as I found out enjoy a good party.

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seattlejames says on Aug 12, 2004, 15:53:

Hola, I can provide you with quotes I received from Barranquilla regarding rooms, bands, dress, decorations, cake, and enything else I have forgot. All are quotes from last month. One thing I have figured out is that the honeymoon is important to Colombians...Try to figure that one in also...

Yo Bquilla, I figure I am footing the whole bill for this wedding and fiesta, will I upset people if I have the Hotel, Puerto de Sol, throw my future relatives out at 2am? What do you think?

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vicshere says on Aug 12, 2004, 16:08:

cant spell Daver
I am like you I cant spell for shit...thank god for spell checker...unfortunately its an English word but my spelling was so bad that the computer spit the word back in my face and called me an idiot to boot.....if I had the guts I would punch the hell out of this computer thing but think I know the consequences

I think I found a better spelling of the word....try this....swanky ...to me is a very elegant affair ...hopefully this is correct spelling...I just wish I had spent more time in English class as I kept dosing off....as a kid in class I always though English ..hell I can speak English..... I take this class time and sleep...now I am paying the price..... but again thanks to computers I sometimes actually look smarter than I am heheheh later Vic


listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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Bquilla says on Aug 12, 2004, 16:11:

depends on how the party is going. 2am to Colombians, least the ones at our party, means another couple hours to party. We had approx 100 guests at the party; half left around midnight, the other half remained until 4am. We really did not force the issue of the guests leaving. I would guess had we asked them to leave they would have done so but I could not have done it as (a: I don't speak Spanish, b: the party was going full blast). The in-laws would probably be best suited to politely inform the guests that the party is over. Even after the reception was finished some of the men met up at my mother-in-laws place and continued to drink...I guess quietly so.

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Bquilla says on Aug 12, 2004, 16:19:

Just thinking... my wife and relatives are from Barranquilla, maybe some Elmodefoque blood in them... could be the reason they did not want to leave the free food and booze!! You are alright in my book Elmo!

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seattlejames says on Aug 12, 2004, 16:21:

aaahhh Damn, you are right, there is know way I can break up a party going full blast...Come to think about it, I would be the one complaining if they tried to throw me out. One thing I was thinking, I have hired a 8 peice band, will the party stop when the band is done? They play until 1:30am...

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Bquilla says on Aug 12, 2004, 16:33:

Probably a good indicator for the party to break up. The group we hired were friends of my wife so they kept on going, plus they were drinking just as much as everyone else so not a problem with them staying. The first couple of hours with our reception were takin up with the photog taking pictures, dinner, toasts, speach or two, etc etc so we really did not have our first dance, yes all eyes on YOU, until a good hour and a half into the reception.

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LarsBrink says on Aug 13, 2004, 04:56:

Keep the party going I agree with the others. Do not stop the party at a given time. Try to get that into the agreement with the place.

We stoped just past midnight and that was probably the only thing I would change regarding my wedding. It was when the party was at the top.

Well on the other hand me and me wife were supposed to escape around that time so I was actually happy to be in the whole party.

Regards,

Lars Brink - colombia.dk - brink-christensen.dk

~ Lars Brink ~ www.colombia.dk ~

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 13, 2004, 17:01:

Ok, Daver, here is what we did. We had a place named Laureles Plaza in Laureles for our reception. It was 4,000,000 pesos for about 100 guests. This included dinner, flowers, the cake, the bar, servers, 2 hours of live music and 15 photographs. We paid extra for many more photographs and a video and a limo.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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stanmoonie says on Aug 13, 2004, 17:19:

Time for wedding daver
Are you getting married in a church and a notary? How much time do you plan to spend down there? I would plan to spend more time if I were you... I spent a month in Barranquilla and it took about 3 weeks to get married... the notary was hell I have never seen nothing like it... I will give credit to my wife because if it was not for her we would not have got married she kept talking to the Notary until the woman broke down and agreed. Plan on giving gifts to people to get things done. I got married in Barranquilla and I will tell you I have never looked back... I am very happy I am just waiting for the day she comes here with her son.... Good Luck with your plans and I hope everything works out for you...

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daver says on Aug 13, 2004, 18:51:

Cowboy... I like the price, and I appreciate the advice! Would it be possible for the person from the notary to perform the wedding at the place of the reception?? There is no room at the notary... would it be OK to get married with just a couple people at the notary, only to have a reception later. Would this be unusual in Colombia?

Stanmoonie:

It has to be a notary. A church wants baptismal papers, and I was never baptised (being a rather proud atheist.... I can't say I'm disapointed in my parents for not doing this).

To get a Catholic Church to baptise me up here is out of the question... too long of a process (must attend classes) and I really have personal reasons against it. I'm not about to lie to one priest about accepting Christianity, only so I can have another Priest wed me in a nice building (I'll admit, Catholic churches are quite beautiful). My fiance is not religous either... she would have liked a church, but I just don't have the baptismal papers, and she wasn't too disapointed. She cares a bit more about finding the shoes to match her dress I think.

I am assuming the notary will accept me, as I will have a marriage VISA with all the documents the Colombian Consulate said I needed (also approved and stamped by the consulate). IF they give me a hard time at the notary, my gift to them will be me leaving to find another notary.

I will be in Colombia for only 3 weeks. I need to get up to Canada to work in early October, else my fiance and I will be broke... excuse me, my "wife" and I will be broke.... hmmmm my feet are getting a little chilly all of a sudden.....

Thanks for the help and support.

Dave

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Canadian Ice Cream says on Aug 14, 2004, 07:31:

Congrats Dave! Been away for a little while and coming back to this forum I see that Congratulations are in order. I hope everything goes very well for you and your future wife, and I hope that the trip to the alter will not become as stressful an event as securing the Visa to be there. That said I wish you the very best and much happiness in your new life. I hope one day to be in your position as well...

Cheers eh
Ice

Ice

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daver says on Aug 14, 2004, 11:46:

ICE ***I hope one day to be in your position as well...***

Be careful what you wish for!! LOL!! Still not married yet, but it would seem its moving forward.

Just got a great deal on a ticket to Bogota. Toronto to Bogota direct (yes, no USA customs!!!) for $700 CAD (Air Canada just announced a direct from Toronto to Bogota and are giving deals to get peolple to go...). Just need to hop-skip-and jump to Medellin and I'm set! Almost fell off my chair when I saw the price.

And Ice, you have been gone a while, there was a whole debate on ice cream in Colombia, and I thought for sure you would jump in at any time!

You're from Alberta, but I'm not sure where. I am coming out to Calgary in October. Are you from that area? Just wondering.

Daver

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utopiacowboy says on Aug 14, 2004, 11:55:

Daver, it sounds like you have your ducks in line. They only permit a few people at the marriage ceremony in the notaria's office. I think we had 6 people there. I don't know if you could get them to perform the ceremony at the reception hall.

Normally the real wedding in Colombia is at the Catholic Church - we had the civil ceremony with the notaria on a Thursday afternoon and the church wedding followed by the reception on Saturday evening. For US (and I think Canada as well) immigration purposes you have to have the registro civil from the notaria. A friend of my wife's married a Canadian and they did the same thing as we did - civil ceremony followed later by Catholic wedding and reception. They had theirs at a chapel at a club near Rio Negro - quite elegant but a lot of people don't have cars so transportation kept the number of their guests down to about 40.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Canadian Ice Cream says on Aug 15, 2004, 10:19:

Good air fare! Hay Dave that is a heck of a price for a flight to Bogota, was checking flights Calgary through Toronto and saw I could get one for $938 plus taxes of course and I thought that was exceptional...
Not married yet, yes I guess there might be a little adventure yet but I am confident that all will go as planned, I am happy for you and your fiance and as I have said I am hoping to be in that situation as well soon, wish it were yesterday sometimes.....lol

Calgary in October, well I am from a place 3 hours east Medicine Hat but could always find an excuse to go to Cowtown if you would like to get together.

Looked up the ice cream debate, looks like I missed a bit of opportunity...hahhaha no matter what though I have not seen my beloved maple walnut there anywhere..
Cheers eh

Ice

Ice

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vicshere says on Aug 15, 2004, 13:59:

daver hey daver we got our notary to come to the hotel and perform the wedding service and we paid something like 40 or 50 bucks CAN$ and then she stayed as a guest and ate and drank and partied with the rest of us.

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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daver says on Aug 15, 2004, 15:40:

Ice:Flights leave Toronto Ice:

Air Canada Flights leave Toronto (direct to Bogota) on Wed, Fri, and Sundays. They return to Toronto Thurs, Sat, and Mondays. If you pick any other day, they will quote you a price, and will not let you know that if you had picked one of the other days that you will save money, and time.

Of course, you will have to be directed through Toronto, so I would imagine that it would be a bit more expensive coming from Alberta. I personally hate Air Canada, but I hate US customs even more, so I'm really happy about the direct to Colombia.

Also, I need to go to Medellin, but I can get a one way from Bogota for about $50 US...

Try

www.cheapflights.ca

Its a pretty good resource, although you will have to navigate a bit to seperate the wheat from the chaff. (they are no help with flights internal to Colombia)

Vicshere...

For only $40, or $50 Canadian, I'll let the notary come on the honeymoon too! I'll let my fiance know, and see if she can pull it off. It would seem more normal to let the guest actually see us being married...

Thanks,

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JT says on Sep 24, 2004, 17:37:

Daver or anyone, who did your document translations? I am getting my paperwork in order and will be getting married in December in Cartagena. Just wanted to know who is doing your translation work? How much? The Chicago Consulates office told me over the phone that the translation didnt have to be done by anyone specific, and just had to be a good translation. I could do an ok job myself, but if its not expensive I'll leave it to the professionals. Thanks! -JT

JT

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