GregsBride

Quote: Originally Posted by Las Caletas Hi Girls, I thought I would join this thread because I'm getting married at Las Caletas on March 31 2010. So excited. This is wonderful that we can all get the chance to talk! We have 52 people booked so far and the number could be close to 60 by the time everyone is booked. I never thought that so many people would end up coming. I know that the price of the wedding goes up with every person but we are so excited to have everyone. Has anyone thought about centerpieces yet? What hotel did you choose? What are you doing for flowers and favours? Amy Welcome Amy!!! Congrats on getting so many of your guests to book... I sure wish I could be in your shoes You are getting married on my BIRTHDAY!! There are a few posts on this thread about centerpieces and even some pictures too! I am doing real touch bouquets as my only flowers and they will do double duty as my centerpieces for the reception. I also plan to bring down a few moroccan lanterns also. Quote: Originally Posted by jenconrad Hi everyone! I am getting married April 29th 2010 at the Royal Playa del Carmen! We have 30 booked so far! Engagement party is tonight, so hoping to recruit somemore of our friends to come along with us. It can be so hard to ask people to pay so much money, but in the end its goingt o be worth it. So excited Jen Welcome Jen!! I hope the engagement party was a success I wish I could say we had 30 guests booked... Maybe some of your luck will rub off on me!!

(caribbeanlover) Tracy from Montreal (echo2_62) Meghan from Calgary (kimmyg) Kimmy from Cincinnati ... April 9 ... RPRM (jerseykitten) Michele from Jersey (Central Jersey by Six Flags) - April 10 - Jamaica (Shan13)Shannon from little rock, arkansas (originally from St.Louis)~April 10,2010 (Chicken764) Martine from Casselman, April 09,2010(Grand Palladium-Punta Cana) (jerzygirl85) Joanna from Jersey City (across the river from NYC) - April 24 Dreams Tulum, Mexico (GregsBride) Christina from Washington, DC - April 24 - Jamaica

Good luck, I'm sure you will find a nice one... Btw, I LOVE DILLARD'S!!! We don't have them here, but whenever I travel and find one I go CRAZY!! The have the most fabulous shoes, for fantastic prices!!

Hi Shan!! Looks like you joined while I was on another hiatus and I never got a chance to welcome you!! I say if you go w/ a fake ring for your pics... I know Macy's and JC Penney have tons of rings that could definitely pass for an engagement ring

Ok, you ladies all have me jealous of your puppies!!! FI is not an animal lover at ALL and won't let me get a puppy, so I have to live vicariously through your new "babies". I thought I wanted a yorkie pup, but after dog sitting for my friend I thought I would go crazy.... The puppy was sooooo HYPER!! My friend says she will eventually grow out of it and calm down... If that's true, then maybe I can convince my FI to get one that a little more calm Bad news... I went to visit my dress yesterday, and apparently I have been doing way too much eating because it was a tad snug in the butt and hip areas The good thing is that I have 6 months to get my act together... So it looks like I need to join in on this fitness trip everyone is taking!!

Quote: Originally Posted by volleygriff Does anybody know any close hotels to the suites im having a couple people think it is too expensive to stay there, therefore im looking for alternative places that are close...any ideas?? Also, i know they say the beaches are re opening, (which would probably solve this issue) how ever, does anybody know for sure what is going on? Hi volleygriff, The IRHS isn't too far awar from the airport so if your guests were looking for a more reasonable place to stay they could choose the RIU MoBay which is about 5 min from the airport or they could always go with the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort which is one of the lower priced hotels in MoBay. But there are also a long list of other hotels that aren't all-inclusive that are much more reasonable that they can choose from. I will cross my fingers that they re-open the Beach in time so that your guests don't have lots of worrying to do!!

Thanks for the printer advice ladies!! I will defintely stock up on ink this weekend Date twins/triplets/quadruplets - Today marks our official 7-month mark!!

breeze616 - thanks for posting these for me... I would have never figured out how to do it!!

Tracy - I totally feel your pain... I want to start order OOT stuff also, in addition to decor items like chair sashes, table runners, etc. Here is another thread that had great e-mail wording: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t43989

So I just realized that my job blocks Photobucket so I can't see any pics until I get home You ladies have totally inpired me to DIY my invites... I need to finalize the design by the weekend and start ordering the supplies!! I have a friend who was a graphic design major, so hopefully I can get him to help me with bringing my ideas to life I do have a question as far as printing is concerned... Are you using inkjet or laserjet printers or does it make any difference?? I still have very few people to book after they received the STD, so hopefully the formal invite will give them the extra push!! I just don't get why people wait until the last minute, it's only going to cost them extra the longer they wait!! Michele - congrats to you for doing all that work by hand!!! I am scared of u I would have been so worrried about making mistakes... mskimmy - welcome and you will be caught up in no time with the help of the fabulous April 2010 girls!!

Hey Nashida! I just sent the samples to you

So I am finally all caught up and I am so amazed at how far you ladies have come... CONGRATS to you all!! Like I told you all before I have been on a wedding planning hiatus for a couple months and I really need to get in gear and get going again. Thanks for all the encouragement on the home-buying process... That has been a whirlwind in itself!! I never knew we were going to move so fast with the process... Within a matter of a week my FI and heard about a program our county was doing that gives up to $20K in down-payment and closing assistance to First-time buyers in order to rejuvinate the housing market. So we met w/ a realtor, looked at homes, found the one, got a pre-approval, and put in a contract in about a week's time!! Needless to say I had to get educated about the process really quickly!! We are still waiting to hear back to see if our offer has been accepted, and we hope to hear something soon!! Before my hiatus I did get a few things accomplished, I hope to soon have a list as long as the rest of you soon. As of now I have: My dress (which is being kept at a friend's house) My shoes My jewelry Ordered flowers Booked photographer/videographer Bought FI shirt and tie Picked out BM dresses Bought most of the BM gifts I'm sure there are some things I'm missing, but all my wedding related info is on my laptop at home!! The next item on my agenda are my formal invites which need to go out immediately... I planned to DIY them, which will defintely be a huge undertaking!! Am I crazy for trying this?? I just don't want to spend tons of cash on them...

Quote: Originally Posted by nashidab I did a search and found a thread on this site regarding cake bakers in Montego bay. One bride used Sheila's bakery and she attached pictures of her cake in her post. The cake looks very nice and modern. I haven't contacted Sheila yet but her email address is [email protected]. Here's a link to the thread. http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t37890 If Caryn ever gives you the other baker's contact info please let me know. Hi ladies!! I contacted Sheila yesterday and she responded within a couple hours. She sent me a couple samples of her work as well as pricing and flavor options. The file type she sent the pics in won't allow me to post them here, but I can forward the e-mail to you if you like. Here are the flavor and pricing options: Sponge cakes range from 50 - 100USD Vanilla, choclate, carrot, coffee from 60 - 120USD Traditional Jamaican Wedding Cake from 70 - 220USD We offer fillings in guava, strawberry, lemon and apple which are additional cost if you if you choose to use filings Fresh cut flowers are not included and the sizes range from 6" - 12" in all flavours I hope this helps!!

Wow!!! I took a BDW break and the April 2010 thread is so popular!!! It's gonna take me a while to get caught up to speed, but in the meantime I hope everything is going well with everyones planning... As for me, I haven't done anything wedding related, just have been trying to transition back from student mode to full-time employee mode again along with searching for a new house. I will try not to stay away so long again, I missed you ladies!!!

Hi ladies, I have been thinking about hiring an outside coordinator as well, but I really wasn't sure how much more money I want to add to my budget. Do you mind sharing what their fees were for their services? Thanks!!

Hi Ladies!! I was just coming on to post the info about the Beach Resort closing but you beat me to it!! I hope this doesn't affect anyone, because I would hate for anyone to have to experience any added stress!! daifje, I think you are speaking of TTD which means trash the dress. Lots of brides on here are having day after photo sessions on the beach, in the pool, out in the local towns, etc.

Heather, Most brides do their TTD session the day after the wedding, that way the dress is perfectly fine for the reception and you aren't worried about having to re-do hair, makeup, etc. Maybe you can work out something with your photographer to do an add-on day after session.

Quote: Originally Posted by Taylorbride Okay I have a question about TTD pictures. Are you ladies planning on doing this? If so, are you planning on wearing your actual dress? I want these pictures but there is no way I can wear my actual dress b/c I plan on wearing it again for the AHR and I am not going to take the chance of ruining it. So, any other suggestions? I guess I could buy another dress but won't it look like a completely different dress in the pictures? What do you ladies think? What are you planning? I plan on doing TTD pictures, but I am using another dress. It's nothing like my actual wedding gown, and I was lucky enough to buy it from another BDW member for $50!! I don't mind that it doesn't look my my dress though, and I actually think the style of it will be more appropriate for the TTD pics.

Quote: Originally Posted by sperger erin, i'm having a bouquet sent from shavon's silks - i've seen her stuff online, and she's sending me a bouquet as a sample. I could have sworn i saw star gazers on her site, fresh real natural touch artificial silk wedding bouquet flowers , but i haven't seen the quality yet. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one dealing with the flower issue. As of now I am torn between Shavon's and Hibiscus... Shavon's prices are a lot cheaper but I love the finished streamlined look of the Hibiscus bouquets and they look so much more realistic. Maybe I should ask her to send me a sample as well. Is the sample she sending you similar to what your actual bouquet would look like? Also, can you tell me the price and how long it takes to receive the sample?? Thanks!!

How are you handling your guests that live there coming to the wedding? Are most of them staying at the resort or will you be purchasing day passes for them?

Quote: Originally Posted by mobayjabride Hello everyone, I am new to the site but I have read a few of the posts prior to joining. Our wedding will be held at the Suites next August but we have already started planning decor, music, etc. We will be bringing our own chair sashes and table runners as well. I can't wait to hear from Mrs Meyer again regarding their move to the Grand. We were planning on booking at the Suites and then moving over to the Grand for the honeymoon. Were you upgraded? Welcome mobayjabride!!! Congrats on becoming an IRHS bride

edSweety, My FI has family living there so I plan on sending my items to them sometime in January so that I don't have to worry about bringing everything down with me on the plane.

Quote: Originally Posted by mrs.meyer73109 Hey Ladies! We survived our wedding at the Suites last Friday and I just wanted to jump on here (during my honeymoon) and say everything was perfect and I can't think of a better place to have a wedding. You are all in good hands with Nicole. I will post a complete review with photos next week when we are back from our honeymoon. Please feel free to shoot me your questions. Congrats on becoming a Mrs!!! I am really looking forward to your review and it is really comforting to know that Nicole is working well for the IRHS brides I have a few questions for you, but I will wait for your review because they may be answered there... Enjoy the rest of your honeymoon have a safe trip back home!!

I think the taffeta would do fine in water, but look at this post from one of the forum photographers about the material floating during the TTD sessions. http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t32621

Oh sorry, they both have large buses that would be used to lots of passengers for group outings. I know JUTA is the transportation union in Jamaica so you may want to see what they offer for taxi services, or I'm sure the concierge will be able to help out. Here is the JUTA website just in case. Tours & Taxi Service - Page 1 - JUTA Tours Jamaica - Taxi and Tour Company – Services offer: Transfer, Sightseeing, Group Tours, Limousine, Taxi Services – Jamaica's premier and largest ground transportation provider - Jamaica Taxi and To