Sheree10

Polkadotdesign- great website - found some reasonably priced escort cards. Thanks for sharing.

I love your STD's... very cute, your guests will love them. You chose a great location for your wedding. There is so much to do in Montego Bay.

Oh no, I hope it all works our for you. Why can't she just go with the flow and have a good time at the dinner? Why cause such a disturbance over seating? After all it is your event, not hers! I read your other post about the events surrounding your DW and your MIL. I hope that you continue to be patient and don't let her drive you crazy.

I could understand having the DW and AHR right after can work for some, especially if the bride and groom have hectic schedules. You can do it all and get it over with. I just wish there wasn't so much pressure from others to have it THEIR way.

We're not so lucky. We only get one free bag and hand luggage. It's $25 for a second suitcase one way. I always over pack so I'm waiting before I make too many purchases.

Ginger is a sweetheart! I can't wait to start working on our passport invites in a few weeks.

I agree with the other posters. I have only shared the information with those who are invited.

Quote: Originally Posted by aprilmay Hey guys, when you use a TA and get a group booking, does everyone have to leave from the same airport at the same time? I used group booking only for the resort since all of my guests will be leaving and arriving at different times and from different locations. We signed up for the Wedding Program with American Airlines which give guests a code to buy their air tickets for a discount.

Quote: Originally Posted by vlynnw That's way to soon after you get back, you need time to relax first. We're planning on having ours a month after the wedding. It gives you some time to get settled back in. It will allow you to have your wedding photos ready and everything to so that the guests that didn't make it to Aruba will be able to enjoy them. I know... it would be a great idea to show the guests pictures of the wedding or our video.

Hockeymom... thanks for sharing, at least someone else is going thru this. I had no idea planning a wedding would entail all of this extra stuff!!The main reason for us going away to get married was to keep it simple. We didn't want hoopla of an at home wedding. This whole AHR seems like it's going to be more than we wanted. It was really supposed to be a casual event with about 20-40 ppl in MIL's backyard, since a some of her family/ friends may not be able to make it. Now it seems like it's turning into a second wedding reception. i'm okay since we just have to show up but that's not how I wanted it all to happen. If it's not one thing it's another. I understand about the whole control thing, I think my FMIL's planning of the AHR has to do with her not being in total agreement of our DW. Well, there I go ranting too!! I just want this to be over with already!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by August2010Bride I definitely would need space to unwind... that's why we are having ours 3 weeks after the wedding. Not too close, but close enough for the excitement to still be there from our wedding. Most of the people invited to the AHR are friends that weren't invited to our wedding. That all makes sense. Three weeks later is enough time for you to relax and still be excited after the wedding itself.

I've read that also but we don't plan to pay for anyone's travel arrangements. In the beginning I spoke to FI about it and he said everyone should pay for themselves. We've given them over a years notice. Plus we're only having one BM and a MOH- we didn't want to put the pressure on anyone else.

Thanks for sharing the review. Your pictures are beautiful ... you did a great job putting it all together!

Beautiful pictures... it all turned out so nice... you were a blushing bride. Congrats to you and hubby!!

SO sorry to hear about your father. I saw a picture of favor somewhere with a label attached to a roll of candy- Lifesavers. It said something like "Thanks for being a lifesaver... a donation has been made in your name to ______ or in memory of_________" and had a blurb about the charity with the bride and groom's names and wedding date.

very nice, I like how they turned out!

It depends on your situation. Have you sent out Save the Dates yet? If no, then you should probably send out the invites before Thanksgiving/early December. If you sent STd's and your guests already know about the wedding then send invites in January and with RSVP requests for 6-8 weeks later. We sent out STD's one year in advance... travel details nine months prior and will send formal invites out 3-4 months before.

You were a beautiful bride, what lovely pictures, thanks for sharing. Where did you buy the flip flop guest book? or did you make it yourself?

Initially FI and I agreed that we didn't want to have a AHR. We just wanted to have a DW and be done with it. We would only have a AHR if we had a small guestlist. In the end we invited 150 people. FMIL, from the beginning has been asking us if she can have a AHR. We both said no then changed our mind since she wants to plan and organize it, pay for it- on a small scale- not a huge event. This way she can invite about 50 more ppl we didn't put on the guestlist. SO now she wants to have the AHR a week after the wedding or TWO days after we arrive back home. I'm trying to explain to her that we should have it spaced out. We need time to unwind before doing something else. Plus, I would like some of my family there and it may be too much for them to go to Aruba and a few days later have another wedding event. It wouldn't be too bad if it was a casual event but FMIL wants to rent out a space for the event. I wish she would just respect our wishes so I don't seem like the Evil one! DO I seem too unreasonable by asking her to have it at least one week or more after we return home? She wants to have it sooner so guests who are coming to the DW can also attend the AHR before returning home. But the AHR should be for those who can't attend??!!

Quote: Originally Posted by lrdavis23 For me I had planned the budget, reception location, decor, gifts, excursions for our guest, a welcome dinner etc.... so the reason it affects the budget is not just the reception food, because when you add more guest it affects the cost of everything such as OOT bags, favors, reception cost, ceremony and reception decor, entertainment, excursions, the welcome dinner, etc... we had planned on making this a fun filled event for our guest by doing alot of extra little things for 50-60 people so we have to definitely adjust. I will be rearranging some things lol..... I have already started looking at ways to do things differently and how we can cut cost in other areas. I have discussed this with my family and they are willing to help with anything necessary to make this work. I do think it will be super fun with alot of people and we will have the time of our lives. I don't want anyone to think I am not happy or grateful for all the love that are family and friends have for me and FI... and it truly is a blessing. It is just very stressful sometimes when plans change, whether its money, location or details, etc.... I love this forum because it allows us to encourage each other and helps us get through the stressful times. thank you all for the advice it really has help me. I feel confident that things will work out and I will not be cutting booking off. I agree with you, it's not just about the reception meal. The DW can be be much more intimate with a smaller number. I would make a list of things that you must have and then one with things that you would like pending the number of guests that attend. Iniatially, I wanted to do a welcome dinner and a farewell breakfast- that's too much especially since our resort is not all inclusive. So I've put a hold on some of the extra stuff until I get a final count. If we have have a huge number I'll keep the welcome event low ley- meet up in the lounge or bar the night before. ALso you have to think about the Oot bags... transporting more items. The airlines have changed their rules only one bag allowed and you have to pay for a second. SO much to think about!!... the list goes on and on.

Once you send out the STD's it would be poor etiquiette to not to send an invite or turn away a guest.

Destination weddings are a little tricky. We sometimes invite people just out of courtesy even if we know they can't/won't attend. But we should all be careful... we may in for a surprise. We invited about 150ppl and we plan to have around 50 people attend. We won't request the RSVP's until the spring so we have to wait and see. I say, "The more the merrier" but I also feel the more we have the less we can do( welcome dinner vs. welcome reception, oot bags, nice favors, etc.) So if we get half of our guest list=75/80 we will have to pay more and I will have to save more but if people are willing to travel and pay so much for us, I will have to make it happen( I already got a second job).

We just finalized our hotel and air tickets....nine months before.

Quote: Originally Posted by CancunBride71010 I'm using a travel agent. Much less stress for me. Yes, we are too! Same reason... one less thing to stress about.

The TA's on this site specialize in destination weddings. Maybe you can try one of them.