katnip

Our reception is in Feburary (DW in Jan), so I know how you feel about the chilling temperatures outside and the tropical feel. We worded the dress attire to be beach casual for the reception too...I'm expecting long kakis pants for the guys and the usual wedding dresses for the girls but we'll see. To add the tropical feel we have got a slushee machine for pina coladas etc. We'll see how it goes, not sure how many people are like me and want a pina colada in February.

We just ran into this with our hall. When we got the prices for wine it was $26 a bottle, or $8 corking fee if we provide our own wine...definatly cheaper to get our own.

We are planning on doing a "recieving line" during the cocktail hour and then be introduced by the DJ along with our wedding party..I too I am thinking about the ackward walk to the headtable...lol. We are all wearing our wedding attire again, might as well get the use out of it. We're going to do most of the traditional stuff speeches, dances etc and show the video/pictures from the DW. I think we'll have the pictures play throughout the evening somewhere out of the way but where everyone can see. I like the idea about playing the video before our entrance we were planning to play it during desert...something to think about.

I made seascape gel candles, they weren't that difficult to do just some sand, seashells, blue die and gel. With 50% off coupons at Michaels the gel wasnt as much as I thought. I made 150 of them for $1.74 each. I also made matchboxes to go with each of the candles. Easy to do as well..I bought matchboxes from Dollarama (10 for $1), designed labels with our names, date and logo, printed them off on a full label sheet, cut them out and stuck them on. They actually turned out really well, people who have seen them so far thought I ordered them.

Hi Kat, We stayed in cayo guillermo. The snorkelling excursions were good. We also did the day trip to Moron which is quite a long ride (2 hrs if I remember correctly). There wasnt as much to do in Moron as other cuban cities we have visited but it does give you a more realistic view of "real cuban life". We were annoyed on this excursion however, because we had been told we would be back at a certain time (keeping in mind cuban time) but the tour guide kept adding things to stop at like a crocodile farm to which we had to pay extra. There are not really any good "city" trips from cayo coco area since it is so far off the mainland but I would recommend the snorkeling, catamarans and jeep safaris.

When we go to Cuba along with toiletries I also bring things like suger packets, that kind of stuff they pay a fortune for! Suger, soap etc are seen as luxeries which they must buy with CUC, while they get paid in Cuban Pesos. They must exchange cuban pesos to cubuan convertable pesos (CUC) for those luxery items, therefore losing on the exchange. Just something to keep in mind.

Your pages look great, I love this idea!

I love your brochures, the info in them is very helpful!

I love your sand ceremony reading! Really like the sand frame too, that may have to be my new mission

Just pm'd you

Very helpful! Thanks

Fantastic site, thanks for sharing this will be so helpful!

Where did you get your TTD from? I'm in Canada so probably too much for shipping but I love it

Really curious if your dress came clean, I'm having a reception when we get home. So I'm thinking about getting a cheap used dress for TTD pics

Thanks for the heads up. I'm wondering if we could do the sand ceremony at our reception when we get back...or if thats out of place/weird or just simply to much. Will have to try and get the FI to decide since I like them both so much.

April 2009 Fudgie - April 13, 2009 - Sol Palmeras, Varadero Sarafish (Sara and Jeff) - April 18, 2009, Playa Pesquero, Holguin Erin0409 (Erin & Stuart) - April 29, 2009 Superclub Breezes, Jibacoa Pardisia (Karen & Mark) - April 22, 2009 Occidental Grand Playa Turquesa, Holguin May 2009 jax_the_beach_bride- May 8, 2009- Blau Varadero, Varadero BlissfulMsMiranda - May 12, 2009 - Melia Cayo Guillermo DWbride09 - May 21, 2009 - Sirenis La Salina, Varadero June 2009 Amelia & David - June 18 2009 - Iberostar, Varadero Virg – June 30 2009 – Melia Las Dunas Ash -- June 30, 2009- Melia Las Dunas, Cayo Santa Maria (TWINS!) July 2009 sweetie_bri - July 8, 2009 (7-8-9), Playa Costa Verde, Holguin maryyy -- July 28, 2009 - Melia las Dunas Oct 2009 LIW - October 28, 2009 - Melia Las Dunas Nov 2009 itsfinallyhere - November 16th, 2009 - Sirenis La Salina, Varadero Blooroze (Beth) - November 25, 2009 - Iberostar Varadero Jan 2010 Melissa & Kent - January 5, 2010- Playa Pesquero Kat & Daryl - January 17, 2010 - Tryp Peninsula C & I - January 22, 2010 - Playa Pesquero Feb 2010 Mark and Lolita Feb 12 2010 Iberostar Laguna Azul. Lori and Travis-February 14th, 2010-Barcelo Marina Palace March 2010 jackobelle - March 18th 2010 - Blau Varadero Michelle and Jason- March 17th- Location to be confirmed soon!! May 2010 Krista & Josh (K'osh) - May 4, 2010 - Playa Pesquero Lisa & Paul - May 5 (ish), 2010 - Iberostar Laguna Azul June 2010 Stephanie&Luke - June 2, 2010 - Melia Las Dunas, Santa Clara Oct 2010 Crystalballl - October 20, 2010 - Playa Pesquero April 2010 Lana&Craig- April 28th, 2010- Iberostar Varadero

Thanks so much Amy! That is beautiful! I really like the hand ceremony...now I'm torn between that and the sand ceremony. So many decisions to make!!!

I agree with everyone else, anytime I have been in Cuba or any resort for that matter teens are always drinking (some obviously intoxicated) and no one seems to mind. I wouldnt worry about it.

We also put down a $2000 deposit to hold 10 spots. Our rate for Tryp Peninsula Varadero Jan 10-17 2010 is $1488 taxes included for all inclusive. We found that after dealing with a ton of travel agents this was our best quote for that time of year, considering its prime time. As PaulsGirl said once our guest put in their 200 deposit the rates are secure and will not change, except for those booking later. We were told to have our bookings in by June 30th which is coming fast!! Also once people pay their deposit the amount goes towards our trip (from the 2000 we paid to hold).

Hi all, We are getting married at the Tryp Peninsula in Jan 2010. We were able to get our rates from our TA in April/May...invites are out just waiting for replies now. If anyone needs an excellent TA specializing in destination wedding let me know, she is in guelph

Thanks for the tip! We're getting married at the Tryp Peninsula

I would say walmart, or canadian tire. But if you decided on mugs instead WeddingStar has some nice insulated travel mugs

Hi there, Congrats on the wedding! I hope everything went as you hoped. Just wondering if you could share how everything went we are down to Barcelo Marina and Tryp in our choices with Barcelo being the most reasonably priced.Any feedback would really be appreciated

That's the reason we choose Varadero as well since there is more to do, yes cayo coco is beautiful but the nearest town is 2 hours away with not much to see. To get info on the wedding packages I emailed the wedding coordinators for each resort, however if you choose a melia, sol you can go on their website Cuba Hotels - Hotels in Cuba by Sol Meliá Cuba and they have the wedding packages listed....tryp is considered a melia. The wedding coordinator for this chain based in Toronto recommended going with the free package and then adding the extras you want (she said it was more cost effective). Thanks for the update on Tryp, that is exactly what I have heard and that the food is good there (having been in cuba i know what to expect). If fact when we spoke to the wedding rep for SolMelia she lit up when we said we were interested in Tryp, she has been there and really recommended it with a good layout, good food and beautiful resort! Good luck again and if you need any ideas let me know, or email addresses for the resorts I listed before. Cheers!

Thanks for posting the legal portion of the ceremony, now I can think about what to add in. I was wanting to do the sand ceremony, and its good to know I can do that after the legal piece. Does anyone know how the sand travels back to Canada?