robindepaula

I absolutely love the last image that you posted . . . perfection!!!

Hi . . . welcome to the board. Have fun planning your DW!!!!

Hi Ashley - welcome to the forum!! Congrats on your engagement & upcoming destination wedding!!!! Happy Planning . . . Robin

Welcome to the forum . . . CONGRATS on your engagement!!! You'll have fun pllanning your wedding with the help of everyone on this board. Westin Our Lucaya was a beautiful resort & saw many wedding while I was there to cover a destination wedding.

Welcome, Lauren! Congrats on your engagement & upcoming DW!!!

Congrats & welcome to the forum!!!

Welcome to the forum & happy planning!!!

I'm definetely a child of the 80's. Thats a great list!!! Thanks for sharing . . .

Wow . . . that is an awesome deal for airfare / hotel!!! I want to go there for my 15th wedding anniversary in a couple more years. Hubby doesn't want to go - he hates the beach . . . I love it!!! He's more of a mountain kind of guy!

That is one beautiful & unique bouquet!!! I love the colors . . .

I've never purchased the travel insurance, but we were thinking about it on our last trip to the Bahamas. It's something I'm always nervous about, but have never acted on it. Really just didn't want to shell out money for something else that probably would not be needed.

Hey Kelly - I did a destination wedding at the Polynesian Resort a few months ago . . . it was very nice! My son & I stayed at the all-star music resort which was nice b/c we were hardly ever in the room. I think you'll have a great time no matter where you guys stay!!! Robin

Quote: Originally Posted by leigh miller you can always use a passport expedite service. actually this is something you can do yourself but it was worth it to me to pay this company $200 to not have to drive to LA and spend all day at the passport office. with proof of travel within 2 weeks take all the stuff you need to the office and they will give you a passport right there on the spot. i accidentally washed mine and it was trashed. so last week i sent all my stuff to this place. they received it monday and i had my new passport by thursday morning at 10 am. even if i would have wanted to do it myself i really couldnt have because i couldnt get an appointment. they were all booked. im sure this place has standing appointments. they have offices in LA and DC i believe so they operate nationally. thats good to know . . . I'm going to save that link, in case I ever need it.

I did a disney DW in March, then did their reception they held here - she wore her dress to the reception but only for a short time & then changed into a cute white party dress!

That does sound about right for that amount of coverage. If you have any other photography questions, feel free to ask.

Have fun, Leigh!! Definetely share some of the images when you're finished editing!! Robin

You can always go to the health department & have them issue you a birth card - that will suffice in place of the actual birth certificate.

I can tell you that they are very back-logged on processing of the passports....it took me 15 weeks to get mine in when I was planning on going to the Bahamas for a DW.

Welcome to the board . . . hope you have fun planning the wedding of your dreams!!!

All the ladies have posted some fantastic responses for you to think about. It really is what you want in a photographer. Most all photographers will do a custom package to suit your needs. Don't let posted prices scare you off from one that you really love their work . . . all you have to do is ask - it never hurts.

Quote: Originally Posted by lizz10179 We chose a DW thinking that we wouldn't have to do anything. But now that I'm on this forum, I'm finding out that you should definitely try to research before you go. For example, I found out the prices of the flowers at the resort and they are very expensive and not very nice. So, I emailed the WC and she said I can use an outside florist. I'm in the process now of finding another florist in Jamaica and getting a quote for what I want. It seems like I will save a lot of money! As for the photographer, I am stuck with the one at the resort b/c they don't allow outside photographers, which I'm not happy about and didn't know til this forum. My advice would be to get in touch with the WC at the resort and find out as much as you can about what they offer. Then talk to some brides that are getting married or have been married there and see what they did. Good luck!!! Double check with them b/c I have another bride that I'm in contact with that is getting married at your same resort & as long as your photographer stays there for the minimum # of nights (3), you don't have to use the resort photog.

Congrats, Erika! Your ring is BEAUTIFUL . . . he did very well!!! Now you get to have fun planning . . .

No question is a stupid question . . . I'd definetely want to have input on the important parts of my ceremony - I definetely wouldn't leave it up to the WC. Hiring a photographer or using the resorts: This is going to be your personal preference. Make sure you are happy with the photographer that you will be using. After all, this will be the way that you remember your day. Hiring a band or use resorts: Again - personal preference. If you like the type of music that they play & have at least heard some type of audio this one should be pretty easy. Flowers: If you're using the resort for the flowers, I'd say you can probably give them an idea of what you want & then make final decisions when you arrive. If going with an outside florist, you may want to go ahead & start making decisions now. Songs: I'd definetely want to be in charge of choosing which songs are played & for what. Hope this helps! Robin Quote: Originally Posted by frinzed I just have so many questions and thought this was the perfect place to ask. My TA keeps telling me not to worry about planning anything that everything reception/flower etc wise will be taken care of by the wc at the resort but I don't like that. What should I be doing/planning? Hiring a photographer or use the resort's? Hire a band or use resort's? Wait to choose flowers until we get there? What songs to choose? Walking down the isle/first dances/wedding party... I just want to know how it all works even though the whole idea of a DW for me is the minimal planning.

Looks like a beautiful resort . . . I'd love to travel there!

As a photographer myself, I never expect tips from my clients. I do like it when I receive a thank you for the hard work in the form of a card, testimonial, etc.