January 2009 Brides Post Here

If you're having a dinner/dancing reception where are you having it?

I'd LOVE it outdoors, but I'm afraid it might get too chilly once the sun goes down. So as of now (and it might change) we're talking about doing a 2 hour outdoor coctail hour and a dinner reception to follow indoors. (wedding at 2, coctails from 3-5, dinner 5-)

MY JANUARY 2009 WEDDING UPDATE:

So far We've: ordered my dress, sent STD, received RSVP's booked all hotel rooms, booked airfare for us and all our family members, Sent out MIB invites to those who are attending and close family who's unable to attend, are in the process of booking photographer. WC emailed me our 4 course meal options this morning. Also gathering items for the sand ceremony, OOT bags, ect. I think the most important things to do next are FINALIZE and pay the photographer, & order Bridesmaid dresses (they are already picked out After that, just the little ins and outs. Our wedding package made things very easy I think I find a new idea on here everyday too LOL so much do do so little time. To answer your question: we're having our wedding and reception on the beach!!! Where is everyone at so far? Anyone stumpped on anything?

OMG- Davematthews16 can you do my stuff too? You are WAY ahead of me. Haha, we just sent out our STD's. People started receiving them yesterday and I'm getting calls! How exciting! And, we booked our photographer yesterday, which other than marrying my fiance is what I am looking forward to most. Oh, and I have my dress, but it needs to be altered.

We are getting married on the beach. Having a cocktail hour on the beach and then dinner/dancing on the deck of one of the restaurants. So outside the whole time. I'm an outside kind of a girl...

Still need to book flights and no guests booked yet...

Whoohooo...I got brides maid dresses today Well, I went and decided on a dress (we ended up with th first dress I fell in love with), picked the colors and three of my bridesmaids ordered Once I get the other 4 girls in (or at least get their measurements in) they'll send in the order for the dresses I'm so excited!

How exciting! That's a project we have yet to start...

Yay! I am so excited to have this thread going!

I too am a January Bride!!!

Engaged: November 8, 2007

Engagement Photos: December 2007 (done by photographer as below)

Photographer: Booked - it is my wonderful friend and professional photographer Kellie and her husband Jamie who will be joining us for the first week

Research Trip: to find a resort - February 2008

Resort Chosen: Barcelo Marina Palace, Varadero Cuba

Travel Agent: Megan Crouse of Oceans Travel and Cruises Megan's Brides by Oceans Travel - we got an amazing deal with Air Canada Vacations with incredibly cheap connector fares (as we live quite a ways away from the nearest internation airport) - we deposited and are holding space for 80 pp... hopefully that is enough.

Wedsite: We chose to do a free wedsite with mywedding.com - I can't believe how useful it has been Chad & Amy - wedding website by mywedding.com

Save the Dates: These were created by my best friend (who is also an accomplished graphic designer! They were sent out around the end of March - total of @275 people are invited

Dress and Veil: ordered in April 2008 from The Dressroom on the Danforth in Toronto - expected delivery is late summer 2008

Groom and Groomsmen Shirts: Cuban Guyaberas from Old Navy (of all places) they are fantastic and exactly what we were looking for $30

Invites Sent: These were mailed out @ the last week of April, the results are amazing and we couldn't be happier with them - they were also created by the same graphic artist mentioned in the save the dates!

Wedding Date Confirmed: We received confirmation from the resort that we are scheduled to be wed on JANUARY 28, 2009 @ 2:00PM

Currently waiting on the July 31st booking deadline to see how many people are indeed coming!

Still to do....

Groom's Suit, Groomsman pants, Bridesmaid Dresses, wedding bands, decide on flowers (whether or not to bring artificial), out of town bags (obviously dependent on the guest count at July 31), attendant gifts, ceremony, vows, newsletter, wow....

Lots on the go yet!

Our Save the Date:

Engagement Photo Sent with STD:

My Dress:

Our Passport Invites:

Hey!

We're getting married on January 28th, 2009 too!

We've sent out our invites (included in the envelope was the travel info and travel agent contact info) and skipped the STD because the deposits are due on June 30th so those people who know there going need the info asap. Our agent has blocked 20 rooms and 40 flights for us until the end of June, and any rooms/flights that aren't booked will be released in July. We sent out about 75 invites, to about 140 people. We are expecting 40 people from the preliminary calculations, but everyday we hear of people we thought for sure are coming aren't able to anymore, and those who were not coming are now making the trip....so we'll have a better idea when the deposits are in, but I know there are going to be some last minute bookers...so I'll probably know the final number the week before.

We have booked our room for 2 weeks and put down our deposit back in March. I am going dress shopping for the first time next Thursday with my whole crew - mom, grandmother, MOH, MIL, and my brother's GF.

I put my MOH on the case to find a dress she likes. I don't really care what she and my other bridesmaid wears except that it needs to be aqua/teal and I have to approve the final choice cause I'm paying for it.

We've looked for wedding bands, but no decision yet.

That's it...that's all I've done...I feel so behind compared to you other January brides!

Way to go ladies!!! It seems like we're all on a pretty good roll! I mailed my MIB invites today and put the $250.00 deposit down with Jill Murillo who will be doing our photography. (CANCUN STUDIOS) After researching TONS of photographers we finally decided to go with Jill. I am very pleased with the package she arranged for us and LOVE her work! FYI if any of you want to bring out side photographers in my WC told me you just have to get them the day pass and its not a big deal. (I know it's stated everywhere that there's absolutely NO outside photography, but apparently it's very easy to get around it) I have a little notebook where I have ALL my wedding notes. I made a "to-do" list for each month so I don't get over-whelmed. I have found this to be SO HELPFUL! Here's the one I came up with. Depending where you are on your planning, each month will vary. ANDREA'S WEDDING TO' DO's

• • JUNE: Mail MIB invites, book photographer, chose dinner menu, decide about bridal shower.
  • Mail announcements, begin gathering, wedding favors for OOT bags, Decide on shoes/barefoot sandals, look at wedding pic. poses we like, look at flower pics. we like, Email them to WC. Confirm who's watching our animals while we're away.
  • JULY:Continue gathering OOT stuff and decorations, Gather any legal documents needed, (July is both our birthdays, sis' birthday and parents Anniversary so I kept the list small for this month)
    • AUGUST: My dress comes in! Get alterations made, purchase BM dresses, (they are already picked out) Create Wedding program, OOT booklet, Resort info, Thank you cards, finish OOT bags, make/buy barefoot sandals (we'll see how making everything else goes LOL)
    • SEPTEMBER: Mail all bachelorette invites (the guys all just call eachother lol) Arrange sand ceremony, Buy FI's ring, FI'swedding attire,Groomsmen attire.
    • OCTOBER: BACHLORE/BACHLORETTE PARTIES (end of the month)
    • NOVEMBER: Remaining hotel cost due to Elaine Flick, Check in with photographer,Confirm colors, menu, cake, flowers, wedding set-up.
    • DECEMBER:Send "Travel Brochure" to all attending guests. Create/finalize my personal wedding list, Arrange Photography schedule, create schedule for wedding day, make seating chart for reception, Get "legally married" at Denver Courthouse, Make sure dress fits, check ALL reservations, paperwork, vows, get paperwork ready to change name.
    • JANUARY: GET MARRIED ON JANUARY 4, 2009 at 4:00pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OOops, we LEAVE January 4, and are MARRIED on January 7, 2009!!!!

Question: We're having the wedding/reception directly on the beach. We are going with the ultimate wedding package (Ocean scents I think) but had a question. Do you dance in the sand after the reception, or do they provide a stage of some kind? Any feedback would be great!