MsSmithtobe's picworthy Iberostar Rose Hall Suites planning journal

[MsSmithtobe]

First, I wanna thank Tammy and all the people who have helped my day come to life with your help and advice.

My FI and I have been together for 8 years, we met in college and 5 years later he proposed.

The proposal-  http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/thread/60055/semi-surprise-engagement

The ring- (I designed it and sent the design to him but I was still surprised)

So now to the planning!

 

We are both from NY, so we had always planned to marry there.  Until…. We saw the prices! I don’t know how people do it.  So I started looking into destination weddings.  At first, the plan was Europe, but I realized that would be a budget buster for most of our guests.  When we thought about the Caribbean, I had no choice but to end up in Jamaica.  My family is Jamaican so it made the most sense.  I scoured the internet for weeks looking for resorts that would be affordable and beautiful, I narrowed it down to four. We vacationed to Jamaica that year and hired a driver to visit the resorts so we could make our pick.

Riu Montego Bay- Nice resort, very spring breakish, didn’t like that they did more than one wedding a day.

Royal Decameron Montego Beach- drove up to it and didn’t even go in.  Not very resort- like on a main street.

Holiday Inn-After looking at pictures online decided it was too family friendly.

Iberostar Rose Hall Suites- I was impressed.  The grounds were immaculate and it had such a laid back atmosphere, I knew my guests would love it.

This is one of the pics we took on our visit.

I contacted Nicole as soon as we got back and booked our date, that was about a 2 week process lol. 

 

On to the dress,  I am not very picky, didn’t need a name brand or anything.  I just knew I wanted a mermaid dress.  After trying on several dresses at David’s Bridal, I found it and nothing else I tried on could compare. 

I love my reception dress, purchased online.

We got caricatures done for our save the dates, they were too cute.

Everyone loved them!

We hired a photographer from Craigslist to do our E-pics and they were great also  http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/thread/60275/engagement-shoot

 

My invites were done by Sproullie Designs and Sarah was awesome to work with.  I got passport invites and everyone thought they were so unique.  Lol, not for us BDWer’s.

I can’t figure out how to include them here, but they were great!

 

I did my own pre wedding brochures and luggage tags.  Both from Vistaprint!  I added elastic string to the business card to make it a luggage tag.

 

I also got my placecards from Vistaprint, just plain old business cards.

 

I purchased a white pen, to fill in the placecards.

 

Shoes

 

 

I’m a budget shopper, I purchased all my things online.  My shoes were great for the reception.  My ceremony shoes won’t be seen because of my dress, but they serve their purpose for walking in sand.

 

 

Reception

Ceremony

 

I purchase shirts for my girls and I bought the dresses as gifts.

Shirts

 

 

I’m planning on using silk flowers for the girls, less expensive.  I purchased the bouquets from Etsy - ASpring Wedding

 

As far as the hair this is my inspiration.

 

And for make-up

I bought the cutest cake topper from Etsy

 

 I also did wedding cd's as my favors.  The wedding playlist is

1.Bob Marley-Is this love (prelude)

2. John legend- So high (processional)

3.Robin Thicke- Sweetest Love (recessional)

4. Shabba Ranks- Ting a ling (bridal party intro)

5.Method man & Mary j. Blige -All I need (Bride and Groom intro)

6. R.Kelly- Looking for Love (first dance)

7. Raheem Devaughn-Mo Better (last dance)

8. Raheem Devaughn- Believe (dinner music)

9. Parachute VA- She is love (dinner)

10. R. Kelly- When a woman loves (dinner)

11. Jah Cure- Love you (dinner)

12. Taurus Riley- She's Royal (dinner)

13. Erykah Badu ft. Stephen Marley-I'm in love with you (cake cutting)

14. Fat Man Scoop- Baltimore club ladies anthem (bouquet toss)

15. Marvin Gaye- Sexual Healing (Garter removal)

16.James Brown- it's a man's world (garter toss)

2

We plan to get married on the beach in 35 days!  I know I’m probably missing stuff, but this is what I have for now. 

[CBREWSTER]

Love it!  I am wearing my hair similiar for my welcome reception. Where did you find the shirts for your bridesmaids? Every thing looks great and I love your brochures!!

[mochamakes3]

Your cake topper is gorgeous! The dress is so exact! 

 

The quality of the picture on your cd is great too. Did you have them made?

 

[ashaun]

Love it!  I have to admit I had to youtube some of those songs but I love them!  I just recently got into Raheem DeVaughn but I love his voice - so soulful.  I may steal a couple of those

[Janet1480]

Amazing, congrats on everything.

Do you mind sharing what website you shopped for your reception dress and shoes? I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!

[Islandgirl910]

Nice thread. Your wedding is almost here! Whoo hoo!! Can't wait until ours is as close...almost 7 months to go for us!

[burnison09]

I love your bridesmaid's dresses where did you find them?

[MsSmithtobe]

 

Originally Posted by CBREWSTER 

Love it!  I am wearing my hair similiar for my welcome reception. Where did you find the shirts for your bridesmaids? Every thing looks great and I love your brochures!!

I got them on ebay surprisingly.

 

Originally Posted by mochamakes3 

Your cake topper is gorgeous! The dress is so exact! 

 

The quality of the picture on your cd is great too. Did you have them made?

 

I did have them made, I'm sorry I don't remember the site, I think it was CDPostershop

 

Originally Posted by Janet1480 

Amazing, congrats on everything.

Do you mind sharing what website you shopped for your reception dress and shoes? I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!

The dress Uniquevintage.com and the shoes shiekhshoes.com.  Thanks!!!

 

Originally Posted by burnison09 

I love your bridesmaid's dresses where did you find them?

GoJane.com, everything runs small so be prepared.  I had to send all 3 dresses back for larger sizes.

[MsSmithtobe]

Go ahead, Steal away!

Originally Posted by ashaun 

Love it!  I have to admit I had to youtube some of those songs but I love them!  I just recently got into Raheem DeVaughn but I love his voice - so soulful.  I may steal a couple of those

[mmcst38]

Everything looks great! Your BM dresses are beautiful!