petunia

We just bought some personalized M&Ms for my fiance's daughter's wedding. We bought four bags and one candy dish from them to put on their table at the reception. They are in her wedding colors and say "Jen & Joe 7-11-08." Not as cheap as plain candy, but a nice touch. You could even get these and mix them in with other candies, to keep the cost down. Just an idea. If you are interested I have a coupon code for one free bag. Go to My M&M's® - Custom Printed Chocolate Candy Messages The coupon code is SPRING3 It expires 8/1/08

My fiance's daughter is having a huge, lavish, very expensive Long Island wedding in two weeks. Her FMIL is soooooo into the wedding scene. She has been a terrific support to the bride (whose mother is not in the picture at all) giving in to all her wishes and paying for anything other than the reception that my fiance's daughter wants. Well, when so many of the guests on her side of the list declined, she was livid. She keeps talking about all the weddings she went to, all the gifts she gave, and now when it's her turn people are not coming. It's a case of Mother-zilla. Lucky me. I just get to sit by my sweetie's side and be pretty. :-)

Lillie, from one New Yorker to another.... An elaborate wedding is often a matter of prestige among parents. Gift giving is expected to be reciprocated. Perhaps your mom feels cheated out of what her friends and family were able to have for their children's weddings.

Robert's is a lovely beachside restaurant. I've had dinner there, and always enjoyed it. I wasn't aware that they do lunch, but looking at the website they have great lunch choices at reasonable prices. It seems like an excellent post wedding ceremony location, with a touch of class, right on the beach, and good food.

Maura, Where are you having your wedding ceremony? Your island tour sounds like a great idea, and the price seems very reasonable. How many guests will be with you? Do you have a preference for the luncheon? Waterfront? Cuisine? I can't really imagine you will be able to find too much for $15 per person if you include drinks and tip. My first thought is Iggie's www.iggiesbeachbar.com a beach restaurant that is very casual, not too expensive and easy. Another suggestion, if there aren't too many in your party, is Wikked, in Yacht Haven Grande, right next to the cruise ship dock and overlooking a marina with mega-yachts in the harbor. Other good lunch spots, if you would like local cuisine, are in downtown Charlotte Amalie. These are Cuzzin's or Gladys's Cafe. Both are enclosed restaurants, not beachfront, but both have great lunches. For a little more upscale, also beachfront, you might try Blue Moon Cafe Blue Moon Cafe - St. Thomas US Virgin Islands at the Secret Harbour Resort. You mention you want a quick lunch. Well the word "quick" doesn't usually fall in the same sentence as a discussion of restaurant service on St. Thomas. But all mentioned are among the better ones for service

I know that Sherri, who posts here, is also a coordinator with Weddings the Island Way. If you look through this thread you can find her information

Does he have a maternal grandmother with whom he could dance, instead?

Very very nice. At the bridal shower for my nephew's fiance, the hostesses made a generous donation to beast cancer research in lieu of giving shower favors to all the guests. The MoB is a breast cancer survivor. Instead we all recieved pink ribbon pins. I appreciated it much more than yet another candle.

jkny23, Are you working with a wedding planner? If so, that's who I would ask for recommendations. If not, and if you get no response here, I suggest you go to a site like USVI Vacation Message Board :: Virgin Islands Now and ask there. Many St. John brides and local residents post there and will be happy to help out as needed.

August, 2010, in St. Thomas for me. It'll be a three-year engagement. There is a series of family circumstances that have to occur before we can get married.

Beautiful beach! It's going to be a stunning wedding. And the location on the East End makes July09's suggestion above very convenient with all the boats going out of Red Hook or Sapphire Beach Marina. A private charter can be oh, so romantic. Are you using a wedding coordinator? If so she can help find an arrangement for you. If not, you can probably talk to the charter company and they might be able to arrange for a wedding luncheon/early dinner on board. If you prefer to stay mostly on land, perhaps a ferry ride over to Caneel Bay on St. John. I would guess you could get a lovely luncheon there. If you plan on bringing your swimsuits you could have an afternoon swim at Caneel Beach. Sherri's suggestions above for restaurants on St. Thomas are great. I would add East End places as well, such as Agave Terrace (not sure if they offer lunch) or Blue Moon Cafe or, for a treat, go hang out at the Ritz. It's hard to recommend places the tourists don't visit because, well, so many good places cater to tourists. Most tourists don't go to the movies....you could see what's playing that day....LOL. I hope you've got a few ideas. Aah, Lindqvist. I sure would be eager to see some pictures after the wedding.

Where is your ceremony going to be?

Maybe Fungi's caters... July09, I sent you a p/m. Don't suppose the other St. Thomas brides want to read all our lsland chat.

July09, Lattitude18....good thinking. Oh, and Poor Man's is now called Fat Boys. You and I are pretty much in the same place regarding a casual beach wedding. I don't plan on sending invitations, but will welcome anyone who is vacationing there at that time (and hopefully some friends and family will). OK, his kids and mine definitely have to be there. We're not having a "reception" but like you, a party for whoever shows up. Even without invitations I think I'll have lots of folks around. We're getting married on Limetree Beach. I own a timeshare at Bluebeard's Beach Club. He proposed to me on that beach and it's only fitting. Besides, it's truly my favorite. We could easily have a barbecue there, with a huge stonework grill just built. But I don't think we want to do the work. I also like the idea of local food, and wonder if Cuzzin's caters. Yum! I'll love hearing more about your plans. My wedding isn't until Aug. 2010

July09, Will you be having your ceremony on Honeymoon Beach? That would be such a beautiful, romantic setting. Are you having a reception or dinner or party after the ceremony? If so, where will you be holding it? Yvette, If you take the Red Hook ferry back to St. Thomas after your dinner on St. John you will find yourselves right near several good places for an afterparty all within walking distance of the ferry dock. A must is Duffy's Love Shack. There's also the Caribbean Saloon, XO Bistro, Molly Malones, and the place above the Chinese Restaurant and Senor Pizza that used to be the Poor Man's Bar but has recently changed names. Heck, it's your wedding day. Go to them all....LOL. As I said, they are all within walking distance. Where will you be staying on St. Thomas?

I've never been to St. Croix, but I do frequent a USVI message board, USVI Vacation Message Board :: Virgin Islands Now where several St. Croix residents regularly participate. Someone there might be able to make a suggestion. They have always been very helpful to everyone who posts questions.

I really like the Alfred Angelo destination wedding collection. Perhaps a bit less formal, but several short ones. I'm 5 feet 1 and a quarter inches, and if I decide to go with a traditional wedding dress, I'll probably get something like one of these. Alfred Angelo... Find the perfect Wedding Dress, Bridesmaid Dress, Prom Dress, Flower Girl Dress or Mother of the Bride Dress at Alfred Angelo.

Carly, Thanks for your response. I've talked to a few of the younger women at work, recent brides, who received lingerie gifts from their mothers. I also talked to friends who had given these gifts to their daughters at their showers. So, a romantic lingerie set is still an acceptable gift. Now the hard part is to find something. I've looked online to get an idea of where to go and there seems to be nothing on-line at all. All that are shown are the short, sexy baby-doll types. I guess I'll have to hit some of the stores in person.

I'm very interested in this thread. Even though I'm going to have my own destination wedding in a couple of years, my future step daughter is having her wedding this July, and I have some questions. It's always been a tradition here that the MOB provide the wedding night lingerie. In my day....yes, I'm old....the bride was given a beautiful, yet sexy, white peignoir (nightie and robe) by the mother. I only have an unmarried son and have not been to many showers/weddings to know what goes on. It's apparent from reading this thread that wedding night lingerie is not a big thing with brides. Would a such a gift be completely old-fashioned and unappreciated? Do none of you have this tradition? Is this a gift you would like? This is a tense relationship as it is, and I'd hate to make it worse. BTW, her father, my FI, thinks it's a wonderful idea and thinks his daughter would love it. I'd love to read your thoughts. Thanks

Quote: Originally Posted by sherri If I can get my girlfriend's permission, I willl post another pic. of a wedding I did in that spot in actual use, if you all would like that! Sherri, I hope you can get permission. I'd love to see a picture of a wedding ceremony under those palms.

Amanda, Super report. I know the Ritz is very expensive if you want to stay there, but how were the reception prices? Are they more willing to work with you in ways the Wyndham would not? (your own planner, ceremony at a different location?) The beach at the Ritz is absolutely beautiful as well. Not too far away from the Ritz is Lindqvist beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, which you might also consider. To be honest, I've never really liked Magen's Bay beach. Of course the crowds are a deterrant, but also, since it's a protected cove, it gets very very hot there, with almost no breezes. One good thing about Magen's is there's a place, Udder Delight, right at the head of the road leading to Magen's that has the most phenomenal ice cream shakes. Angela's folks seem like wonderful people. What a special treat for you. You will find some of the most wonderful helpful people down there. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Quote: Originally Posted by LadyP Couldnt it get costly without the AI becuase they include liquor as well. I might change my mind if it isnt that much moren expensive. LadyP, The one thing that is not expensive on St. Thomas is liquor. I think you would have to drink a tremendous amount for there to be much of an impact on expenses. If you were to drink that much, you'd probably be so wasted you wouldn't even care about leaving the resort so you might as well stay in an AI. Realize that all inclusive resorts are charging you for the liquor. It's just not "per drink." They most likely charge you as if you were drinking a large amount. They certainly don't want to lose out on the liquor costs.

Coquetayloca, There's lots of information about St. Thomas out there. Again I'll recommend you go to USVI Vacation Message Board :: Virgin Islands Now and ask some questions there. It is a travel message board, but lots of the posters who frequent that board are residents, and brides, past and future, often post there as well.

Here is their website: Virgin Island Wedding Photographer, Island Wedding Photography

I don't understand why it's so important to have an all-inclusive resort on St. Thomas. There's a reason so few places offer that alternative. There are just too many good restaurants to go to on St. Thomas. Going the AI route just provides you and your guests with mediocre food and denies you the opportunty to try all the other great places. AI is a reasonable option on islands that aren't as open to tourists making their own way around, such as Jamaica or the Dominican Republic. They are also wonderful if they are super resorts, such as a Sandals. None of the AI resorts on St. Thomas provides an experience like that. St. Thomas has so much to offer in the way of activities and dining, in addition to being a 15 minute ferry ride away from St. John, another beautiful island. I would never ever want to go all-inclusive on St. Thomas. I'd miss too much. Just a thought.