hollym

Don't tell your parents how much money his parents are contributing and vice versa. There will be bitterness and tension. Unless both of your parents are supercool in which case, consider yourself lucky!

Quote: Originally Posted by McToasty I have a date and resort picked out. Now i'm at the "inquire about group rates" part. Possibly a weird question: do you have to pay for a TA? how does it all work? and how necessary is one? any experience where we can get the best deals? First I just wanted to say, McToasy, that usually when you use a TA they have certain companies and resorts that they promote who pays them when they book someones trip. For this reason, you might pay a little more than if you booked on your own but you do have the convenience of someone else worrying about your problems!!! And someone for your family to bug! Also, once you talk to a TA I don't think you're obligated to use their services. As far as the process, I think it's a little different for everyone depending on your situation. I'm in the same boat as taratoons that I have to wait for prices THEN pick a resort. It really sucks because my family is driving me nuts about getting this going! If only they knew! I did talk to a couple TAs and they said I'm safe in telling people the week that we want to travel. It is hard because every plan is dependent upon another and the biggest ones are the ones that are most difficult and take the longest but the ones that you need to plan first! Sounds like you got started so keep up the good work!

Sorry your wedding was so complicated but your pictures turned out beautiful. I LOVE YOUR DRESS! Where did you get it?

Do I really need STDs? Can't I just send out the invitations right away instead? People would understand that I'm sending them out early because I'm having a DW right?

That's so exciting! I'm still a year away and nothing's in stone yet. Not gonna lie, it hasn't hit me but I know it will and I can't wait!

I live in Wisconsin so anything above 5 degrees below zero in January will be exciting for me! lol

I'm a hopeful Bahamas bride! We haven't set any locations in stone yet, but I think we're going to get married at Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach in Freeport on Grand Bahamas Island. It seems to have everything I want for my size group. We've picked January 2010. It's just over a year, we didn't want an engagement any longer and it will be winter break for Matt's Law school so he won't have to miss any class. We're super excited!!! I also love the idea of the Bahamas because I've always wanted to swim with the dolphins

Quote: Originally Posted by KellyandMatt08 I haven't gotten all of mine back yet, but here is one from the photographers blog. As sexy as we get I love this picture because it kind of looks like "yes, I have him under my spell! hahaha"

Hi there! So I'm finally REALLY starting to narrow down my location options and Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach in the Bahamas is my top choice. It seems like it has everything I need: all inclusive, relatively inexpensive, wedding package with all the necessities and swimming with the dolphins! I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about it or has any pictures. I searched the forum and only found things on Maya and Aztec. Thank you!

Thanks for all your help, girls! Matt and I have decided to do a DW for sure. I guess it wasn't so much whether or not my family would come, because they WOULD come no matter what, but I know they'll make me feel guilty for it, ya know? So I talked to my mom and she's on board. We're doing this!

Sorry, I made a mistake. They're under renovations through Nov. 2008. If you decide to look into this place further let me know and we can help each other!

Hi! I planning a wedding in Jan 2010 and have been looking EVERYWHERE! One place that I'm really interested in is Villas Sol in Costa Rica. It seem relatively inexpensive for the guests and is all inclusive. I don't know anything about the wedding packages though, I was thinking about contacting them. I also know that they will be doing renovations until Nov. 2009 which means when we get there everything will be nice and new. It also might mean, though, that they will raise their prices.

Wow. Wow. I had to watch your video twice! It made me tear up! What wonderful photos! Because of you, I am seriously considering having my wedding there! I would be so greatful if you could you send me any information you possibly have? It's not all inclusive is it?

I was just wondering, because this is no regular vacation, how do you get everything there? Surely you can't stuff a wedding dress in a suitcase. Or can you? It seems like there would be so much stuff to take and who wants to pay to check a bazillion bags? What's the trick, girls?

How the H is it only $800!? Where are you going and how did you do it?!

I know that my parents will come, I just also know that they'll make me feel guilty for it. So I guess there's really nothing I can do. I think I'll end up talking to her and telling her how I feel.

I'd like to send StD's but don't have a resort picked out yet and since I don't have a resort I don't know what specific dates are available. Does anyone ever do StDs that are just a month so people have an idea?

Thanks for all the help! I talked to Fi and decided that we DO in fact want a DW. My problem was that my mom wants to help pay a little but said she doesn't want to have to give me money AND pay for her and my dad to come. So I think I'm going to find a way to tell her that I don't want her to help at all if she's going to make me feel guilty about it later. I just want her to be there however we have to make that happen. I guess I was having doubts because she was trying to make me feel guilty about having everyone (including her) spend money to come and was trying to convince me to have a wedding here because that what SHE wants. I just realized that she's kind of been doing that with all my ideas. "Well, it's not what I would do, but...." It's super frustrating. I just wish she was supportive no matter what I want.

You poor thing. The last thing you need when you're so excited about your wedding is for your father to basically tell you that he doesn't care. I think you're doing the right thing. Even though I have a relatively good relationship with my mom, she's kind of selfish too. She is already making me feel guilty about a DW. I actually started a thread about it. I say don't even talk to him about it. He obviously knows or expects you to be upset. If you did have a big long discussion/negotiation/fight about it and he did come around and decide to go, he'll probably make you feel guilty about it during the trip and for the rest of your life. Making you feel guilty about paying for college is a good indication that making people feel guilty is what he does. Trust me, I know how it is. Just go and have a good time with the people that really care and love you the most.

So I really thought I wanted to have a destination wedding. Turns out my immediate family might have a hard time affording it (even though they spend on frivolous things...don't get me started) and my mom kind of indirectly made me feel guilty about it. My FI's family is all for it, granted they have the money, so I'm kind of torn. Part of me says it's my wedding and I can do what I want but it's important to me for my family to be there but I don't want my mom making me feel guilty and bringing it up the rest of my life. She's kind of like that. "Well, we can't do this and that because we spent our money on Holly's wedding". I guess I'm considering like a beach wedding or something in my own state then taking off for a honeymoon. Maybe that way I can have a little of both sides. My problem with this though is that we wanted a small, tiny little wedding (20 people) and if I have the wedding close to home I feel like I'll have to invite more people. Having a DW was kind of my way of getting around that. I was hoping some of you kind girls would give me your opinions and help me feel better about doing it one way or another. Thanks

Glad to know everyone likes it so much! Any idea how much it might cost to have about 20 guests stay there?

I thought it would be funny, since Matt is going to law school, if he dresses up as a lawyer (shirt and tie) and I would be his secretary. But the funny part would be if he messed up his clothes a little and had lipstick on his collar and I messed up my shirt and hair a little. Halloween's a good excuse to get a little promiscuous since we're normally pretty innocent people

I wish I would have done preemptive planning! If you know it's going to happen, why not!? I would just be careful not to pressure him... Have fun planning! See you around the forum!

In my searching I fell upon Jade Mountain/Anse Chastanet in St. Lucia. I was wondering if anyone else got married there or knows anything about it. It's looks nice and seems reasonably priced but there are no pictures of where we would be staying. Has anyone heard anything about this place?

Soooo...does everyone get an engagement gift for their fiance? If you do, how soon are you supposed to get it and how much do you typically spend? I was surprised by the proposal so I obviously wasn't saving money for it and I don't want to have to charge it if I don't have to. Neither my brother, sister nor any of my friends are married so I don't really know how this works. Any help?