foxytv

Quote: Originally Posted by mkdela I looked into this when I vacationed in Punta Cana about 2 years ago. I was told that if you are staying on the resorts, you don't need to take malaria pills but if you plan to venture off of the resorts, you should. Not sure if anything has changed since then... Good to know! I hadn't heard that. We might be taking some excursions during our honeymoon, so I may need to look into the pills afterall...

Quote: Originally Posted by IrieBride08 Hi, I also used dw.com and found them subpar. At the time, I couldn't decide where I wanted to get married. They advertise themselves as experts in the field with connections to several resorts all over. I was looking for someone to give me information on the different types of resorts available as well as cost comparisons to help me choose the best location for my 50 guest wedding in the Caribbean. The first planner assigned to me was very nice and took all of my details and info and promised to get back to me in a week with options. I was soooo excited I could barely wait the week. At the end of the week, I called her and she gave me quotes to resorts that we never discussed previously...and they were WAYYYYY out of the price range we'd discussed. Turns out, she'd confused me with some other bride who was getting married the same day as me! I tried to let that slide, but she had no useful information for me. She called me the next day with quotes that she obviously got online--I could have done that myself! I requested another planner and was assigned one who told me that Sandals properties don't allow non-heterosexual couples to stay on the property--meaning my 2 widowed aunts wouldn't be able to share a room to attend my wedding. It just didn't sound right to me, so I ended up contacting Sandals myself and found out that it wasn't true. After that, I just felt I couldn't trust the information they were giving me and the price quotes they gave me for several resorts were the EXACT SAME as the ones I was researching online. I decided to do things myself at that point and haven't looked back. I guess I expected DW to have more influence among the resorts, have access to better travel deals as well as be more knowledgeable about the various resort properties. They were very nice and everything, but it just wasn't helpful to me. Sorry for this long post, but just helping you be informed! Wow! Sorry to hear about your luck with that company. Its good that you were able to find that out ahead of time though!!! How is the planning going on your own? Have you talked with a TA?

Quote: Originally Posted by cessyboston Wowza!!!! GORGEOUS!!!!!

Good post and good response. Good to know!!!

Yeah! Curls in back look FAB!!!

Blue dress all the way!!!

I've been on another DR forum where there has been a LOT of malaria talk, but everyone in Punta Cana says there have been noissues with it there for several years. If that can relieve any of the anxiety. I do know that there are bugs and people encourage bug spray ... but that's all I'm planning to do...

Quote: Originally Posted by Starfish Sarah and I are planning everything together and I wouldn't have it any other way Cheers all, Myles Great to hear that!! I wish my fiance was able to be more active in the planning process!!! happy to help!!!

LOL. Would be if they served it yet. I thought the saying was "Beer, it's not just for breakfast anymore." I guess til they move to the lunch menu I'm outta luck!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by naughie where in jersey is he from? Bergen County...

Quote: Originally Posted by Starfish Hello and thank you for that great info. Could you please go into a little more detail on the payment plan? Is that something that was set up by AAA or is that something the resort offers? A payment plan would be fantastic! Thank you My travel (AAA) says we are using the tour operator Travel Impressions. She says Travel Impressions negotiates directly with my resort (not sure what tour operator negotiates with Excellence or PPR though -- maybe try Apple vacations?). So, we set up the block of rooms and once we got the nod from enough guests, they all put down their deposits ($150 per person or $300 per room, whichever is more). So, we've got 20 rooms reserved already and another 20 on hold for more guests as long as the pricing holds out. Basically, the guests who have alrady put down their deposits simply have to pay the remaining balance in full no later than 60-days prior to our arrival (the deposits are non-refundable, but if someone backs out ... you don't have to give the resort actual names until 60-days prior ... so someone else could pay them to use that room). We've been upgraded already due to the number of our rooms booked and will be getting at least 1 room, if not 2, for free for a 3-night period based on our bookings. I would contact a travel agent who can help with the Canada/London connection. What I did was go to a TA I knew ... but since she wasn't familiar with the DR, she sent my info to someone who had knowledge ... and its working out great. Plus, my TA speaks Spanish, so she is most helpful in translating wedding details to the WC at PPC and helping with negotiations for free wedding upgrades, etc. let me know any other questions!!

Quote: Originally Posted by naughie aw - tami, i'm just reading your post now, and MAN does that suck!!!! i can deal with a lot of things, but liars, thieves, and cheaters are my BIGGEST pet peeves...hopefully, karma will kick the person in the a$$.... LOL ... my seniments exactly!

Quote: Originally Posted by naughie kate, i think that's awesome! i wish i could convince FI to take lessons w/ me!!!!! nope, bet keith's worse!!!! when he drinks, he's the male version of elaine from seinfeld...if he hasn't had a drink, he's not likely to get on the dance floor, but the few times i've dragged him on, he looks like this: LOL!!! We call Tom's dance (or WHATEVER it is he does) "The Teradactyl" (sp?) Tall bald Jersey guys flailing his arms. OMG. Keith and Tom could have a dance off (but I use the term loosely for these guys!!)

Quote: Originally Posted by beachbride very cute!! and Tami, if it is the brochures you are looking for, Vistaprint does have them on their site, they look pretty simple... awesome! Will be checking out their templates tonight. Quote: Originally Posted by naughie thanks girls!!! hehe, i wish i could get a pic of it, but in the middle of the back are the lyrics to our song..under the lyrics it says "keith and lauren, 2007. do not feed or water after midnight. no valid in kentucky. call within the next five minutes and receive an additional wedding for the low low price of $19.95. supplies limited, act now. eat your vegetables." we're wondering how many people will actually notice the fine print the daisy thing-a-ma-jig came from michaels, in the aisle that has all of the funky scissors and hole punchers. there is no REAL template...keith designed the whole thing himself, using adobe illustrator (i think that's the program)...but if you're planning on having vistaprint print them for you, i'm pretty sure there's a template on their website. i'll ask him if there's any other info he could give you. Cool! Definitely need to spend more time at Michaels. I aven't been there in search of wedding stuff yet ... but go alot for other type projects. Now I guess I should buy stock!

It looks great! I remember seeing the thread when you were designing it and it's great! Which service did you use (I am sure you already answered that but I'm at the airport and browsing while I can before my flight). :-)

Yes, great way to keep the mood casual for the wedding. It sets the tone for ... FUN!!!

Wow ... those are awesome. Where did you get the daisy thing-a-ma-jig? And I'd love to see a template of the pamphlet. I'm still struggling with mine...

Quote: Originally Posted by cheese_diva Hmmm mine is set at AAC Encoder hhmm... then perhaps I should keep mine set ohat for now too. I changed it to MP3 earlier today, but will change it back and see what happens when I download anything new since updating my other settings per your advice!!

Just found out my whole immediate family (Mom,Dad, SIL and 2 nephews) just booked flights for the same dates as us. AWESOME! Most everyone else is coming in at least a day after ... but it will be nice to have Mom there to help me scout out locations and get our OOT bags put together, etc. Plus, I want to treat Mom to a day at the spa ... so the timing will be perfect!

Quote: Originally Posted by Nrvsbride I'm so late to this but Susan I am so glad you found it. I think I stopped breathing the entire time I was reading it and I was silently praying, "please tell me that at the end of this post she tells us she found it or I will die for her". ~Tami that is just awful I want to cry for you. Here you are a person who always returns things that you find and your FI is sacrificing himself for the good of a lot of people and someone is awful enough to take the one thing you have of his right now. Its so unfair!!!! I have lost my ring like 3 times. Once I had it in the ring box and it fell out of my overnight bag and rolled onto my FI's living room floor. I can't even remember how I lost is the second time. But the third time was really scary b/c when I first got it I wasn't used to wearing it and I would take it off all the time to wash my hands. Well one time I was wasted and I took it off in the girl's bathroom of a bar and left it there! By the time I ran back in it was gone. I was in tears. Then this girl came up to me and was like "Did you lose an e-ring?" And I said "yes" and she took it out of her pocket. Apparently her best friend (who was with her at the time) had lost her e-ring at a bar 2 weeks ago and they kept saying that if they ever found an e-ring they would return it and they couldn't understand how people could be so cruel. I was soooooo lucky she found it and not someone else. All I kept thinking was that I hoped I was lucky b/c good karma followed me since I always return things. Tami I am going to have lots of faith that the ring will turn up somehow. Have you tried going to local jewelery shops or pawn shops? It's possible whoever took it sold it to a local store for cash. Hey Nrvsbride! I am keeping the faith after your stories. Wow ... You have some luck (good and bad ... hehe) ... I'm so thankful it was returned to you (did the red eyes from bawling give you away as the girl who left it??) Yes, I've filed a police report, checked the pawn shops, put up CASH REWARD signs, and consistently ask at the tanning salon. I'm hoping one day it will still turn up... but I've given up on the tears, only because my eyes went dry.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mrs.B 2008 so i stayed up until 3am last night on an insomniac STD mission take a look at what i came up with ... (couple of notes) i put xxxxafter our names to block them out so i don't get so many stalkers like Heidi the backgroud image is a little bigger than the actual boarding pass but i will cut them to size i am planning on individually personalizing each one with the guests name and departure city - (top right) does the font look too small? our website is locked because the inner pages are all crazy and we have to make the time to finish it - i will send the password when it is up and running! overall, i am thinking of 100lb cardstock, a natural blue/teal top seal #10 envelope, pre-printed with our return address on the back and the guests address on front with our logo on there as a decorative element. i am also considering custom made stamps from zazzle.com! WOWZA!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! I am ssoo jealous I didn't check out this forum before getting mine sent out. They are ssoo FABULOUS!!! I wouldn't change a thing!

Quote: Originally Posted by starchild We ended up using "The Air I Breathe" by Teena Marie which is such a romantic love song, I'm teary eyed just thinking about it. I can email it to anyone who wants to hear it...it's on one of those hard to find albums. That would be great! I can't find it on Limewire.

Quote: Originally Posted by LALA We are taking "Wedding Reception Survival 101" in Seattle and it is SO much fun! It is 4 classes and we learn the basics to get through a reception - waltz, foxtrot, swing. We have our last class next week and I want more!!! Anyway, just wanted to tell anyone thinking about doing something like this to do it. We are going to be so much more comfortable on the dance floor...and now we can dance together, not just in the same area as each other. That is SSSSOOOO awesome! Tom is the post child for "White Men Can't Dance" ... but I asked if he'd be up for secretly taking some lessons before the wedding so we can "busta move" for our first dance and he is ssoo in!!! He loves Frank Sinatra so if we can learn one of his songs, it would be so cool! I wish we had a "wedding reception survival" course here! That has got to be hilarious!!! I might have to call some dance studios and recommend it!!!

It's so hard to narrow it down ... because reading this forum makes you thik of so much. But I would say the most important thing that I have gained from this forum ... aside from the online friendships ... is the notion of DIY. There are so many things I can now DIY that I never even thought of before or would never have attempted on my own The help with templates, wording, etc that is offered and given on this forum is indescribable ... so I say think about things you'd like to do and think you might not be able to afford ... and try DIY ... and read trough the DIY and get sssooo many new ideas that you hadn't even thought of yet!!!