islandbride317

Petals, you look stunning! Not everyone can pull off a birdcage veil, IMO, and you totally wore it with class and elegance! You remind me of an old-Hollywood glam movie star... And I can't believe it was a DIY, either! I've seen veils like that costing into the hundreds of dollars -- awesome job!

Awww, Michelle! I didn't mean to freak you out...I am just psycho-bride enough to do research on things like rain statistics! If you look at it realistically, it can rain at ANY time of the day ANYWHERE in the world, but the good thing is that the rain in the Caribbean usually comes in short, quickly passing showers (instead of hours and hours of torrential downpours, from what I understand). And, if I am not mistaken, I think I read somewhere on here that most resorts will try to wait for about 15-20 minutes if it's raining at the start time of your ceremony to see if it will stop. If not, they usually have some sort of back-up plan in place, usually discussed beforehand with your planner at the resort. Here is the link where I found my rain stats (and on the left side of the page, it is separated by months, so everyone can see what it says for your wedding month, and specific times of day): Rainfall in Jamaica Hope that makes you feel better, girlie!

Thanks for sharing my apprehension about this, uh, delicate topic, ladies! Now, I'm not saying we want to be "swinging from the rafters" like circus performers or anything, but a little privacy is really appropriate for the occasion, right?! And, my mother is totally in agreement that I should see what the TA can do to fulfill this request. (Thanks, TA Maureen for the reminder that I should check with the front-desk staff to see what they can do when we get there!) I need to call my TA in the morning with a few other questions, so I will be sure to post what she says so you all know what can be done in the way of this request! I am hoping that since we booked just under 1 year out, that they will be able to make a note before others make their reservations and they potentially run out of others rooms to switch us to within our category!

Both dresses are AWESOME, Adelaide! Can't wait to see pics of you in the dress you ordered after it arrives! Personally, I am a BIG Fan of ruching on the bodice, so I think your back up dress is stunning, but I also think the dress you purchased is totally "princess" bride -- Love it!

Right on, Jessi -- I SECOND the request for pics of those who got married at the Roman Gazebo! In the reviews of those who've gotten married at SGOR on here, I only seem to have come across pics of ceremonies at the Reef Terrace. Don't get me wrong, that location is spectacular, but I wanna see more of what a ceremony would look like at our fave -- the Roman gazebo overlooking the water! Here are some pics I've seen on the Sandals website under "Testimonials" -- I think since these were posted there for public view, they are fair game for me to post here. If not, perhaps one of the mods could be so kind as to remove them for me?

OH, MISS SAVANNAH! I feel absolutely dreadful for not having seen this thread until this morning...been busier than usual and haven't been able to spend as much time on BDW as I would like! YOU ARE SUCH A PHENOMENAL WOMAN -- you are super sweet, smart as a whip, hilarious and quick-witted as hell, appear to be the ideal wife-to-be and I am positive you are SUPER MOM to those gorgeous, lucky children of yours, to boot! I am sooooo sorry to hear of all of your medical issues (and I thought my stupid root canal last week was a big deal -- geesh!). Might sound cheesy, but YOU deserve to have nothing but absolute joy and perfect sunshine filled days, Miss Lady, and I have you in my thoughts and prayers that things are starting to turn around for the better. Honestly, your upbeat attitude in the face of all this hardship is an INSPIRATION for which you should be totally commended! If more people could strive to be half the woman you are, this world would be a better place. I think I can speak for the rest of the girls here when I say, "We love you back!"

I wouldn't worry, Vikki....as a Sandals Bride myself (and there aren't too terribly many of us on this site, either) I shared the same concern about why more people hadn't chosen my resort, but still decided that it was where we wanted to be and we booked it yesterday anyway! When I first joined, I noticed that there are LOTS of brides going to all types of resorts that I had never even HEARD of before (RIU, Grand Palladium, Iberostar, Dreams and more), so I checked out their websites to see what they were all about. While all of the resorts are positively gorgeous, some were simply out of our price range, and some just didn't feel like they were going to work for what we wanted. I just felt more comfortable with Sandals, since it is an adult-only resort, and that is what we prefer. Plus, there are SOOOO many different places (Jamaica, Mexico, Hawaii, other islands, etc.) that maybe some people wanted to get married in a specific geographic location, and then made their resort decision based on what was available in that area. At any rate, you are booked at an awesome resort, and you and your FI (along with your guests) are going to have an incredible time and a beautiful wedding! If it makes you feel any better, my FI and I are considering going to a Couples resort for a future anniversary -- probably San Souci, too!

CONGRATULATIONS on booking! I just officially booked yesterday and I am going to be a Sandals bride, as well! Originally, we wanted to get married at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian, but discovered it would be more financially "do-able" for us and our guests to go with the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios resort in Jamaica, and then do a short MiniMoon just the two of us at Sandals Royal Caribbean -- we're thrilled! And yes, I also have been told by my TA that if Sandals runs a special (and offers a better price on your room than was offered at the time that you originally booked) that they are happy to ensure you get the best deal. Now THAT is customer service! And, YouTube has some great videos of ALL the various Sandals resorts -- definitely a resource worth checking out! It will make you feel like you already "know" your resort before you even get there! Best wishes to you and your FI -- your wedding is SUPER CLOSE! You must be bursting with excitement!

Hi, Ladies! Ok, so I just posted my thread to announce that we have officially booked our stay at SGOR as of yesterday...and now I have one concern I didn't mention. I don't know if this topic has been discussed a million times before, so please bear with me if it has! My parents have decided to stay in the exact same room category as my FI and I (Honeymoon Penthouse Oceanfront Concierge Room), which are located on the 4th and 5th floors of the Riviera building, and now I am worried that they will be in the room RIGHT NEXT TO OURS if I don't request that we be separated. I mean, I'm glad they are going to be close by, but come on, right? Without being too indiscreet here, I gotta ask: Who wants their parents to be on the other side of the wall on their wedding night?! All I know is that in our apartment, I can hear everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) that goes on in the bedroom of my next door neighbor, and I don't know if hotel walls are going to be any more "soundproof"! Has anyone else asked their TA/Sandals to keep their room separate from their guests, even if they are staying in the same room category/same building and had success? Any input is appreciated!

I L.O.V.E your dress!!! It fits you beautifully, and the sheen of the material will look astounding in the sunlight & water...congrats that everything worked out so perfectly! And you're right -- patience is a Virtue, but in my case it happens to be a virtue I lack, so....way to be so VIRTUOUS, girlie!

Thanks again for the support, my esteemed chicas! And I have some other good news to report: in light of the excitment of officially booking my Sandals wedding yesterday, I think my mom is coming around to the idea of me getting another dress (despite the fact that she paid for the 1st one, which I'm still gonna wear for the AHR) and now she wants to see it! I am going to ask her if she'd like to join me when I go back to buy it in a few months! Hopefully, if she doesn't like the dress, she will have the good sense just to be happy for me and bite her tongue! As I said to my sister, she has already had HER wedding day over 30 years ago, and all I really want is for her to be supportive of my wishes for mine! I really appreciate all of you, my BDW sisters -- sometimes you can find the best support OUTSIDE of your actual family, and with your ONLINE family! You guys are ROCKSTARS!

You look positively BEAUTIFUL in the dress you selected! How much more excited are you about your wedding just a few short months away now that you finally have THE DRESS? And let me just say....Wow, sister...you're better than me with being able to wait to go dress shopping, too! I got engaged last August (and my wedding isn't even until Spring of 2010) and I was in a dress shop a month after my FI popped the question! I was just so excited to finally be in a bridal salon as the BRIDE this time, instead of as a bridesmaid! I couldn't wait for MY turn to be the one everyone was "ooh-ing and aah-ing" over, up on the platform in the pretty white dress! All the best of luck to you....your future hubby will just love it!

Maybe you could go try to find a cheap suit that looks similar to his at a department store on sale or try somewhere like Marshalls, Ross Dress-For-Less, etc. (or somewhere cheaper like that in your area) just for the TTD shots? Oh, and did you consider trying eBay? That is where I found my TTD gown for only $75, and I feel like it was a good way to save money and feel totally comfortable "trashing it", rather than using my actual wedding dress, which I'd like to have preserved. Otherwise, I think the other suggestions to find an inexpensive linen shirt and maybe some khakis or a faded pair of jeans would look amazing in your TTD pics -- I agree with BachataBride...Kelly's pic of she and her husband in her siggy look incredible! My FI will be doing something similar/more casual, since his mom is having his suit for the wedding custom made as a gift for him, and he doesn't feel like it's "right" to roll around in the sand and ocean in it!

Well, it seems that the overwhelming vote is for pair #1...that was my vote, as well! I love that they will incorporate the colors of your bridesmaids, and they have the dramatic, yet romantic, flair you need, especially since you're not wearing a necklace! I say go with #1...you'll be glad you did! I agree that pair #2 is lovely, but pales in comparison to the beauty of pair #1 when they are side by side!

It's phenomenal....truly stunning! The diamond is gorgeous, and has she mentioned that she likes sapphires, or wants them in her engagement ring before? If so, you're right on the money! If not, I agree with the other distinguished ladies of the BDW that you STILL nailed it! I have to second the recommendation of the following points from the others to set your mind at ease: * Check with her best friend, sister (if she has one), co-workers she's close to, or her mom to see what they think before you pop the question. Maybe you could even get another man's perspective when you ask her Dad for permission to marry his daughter, if you're going that route? * Find out the specifics on the store's ring return policy -- worst case scenario, it ends up not being her dream ring, but you BOTH could go back to the store and share in selecting something more to her liking after she's already accepted your adorable proposal?! Personally, I would be SHOCKED if she doesn't love it... but I can understand your concern. My fiance was so apprehensive about selecting my ring on his own that he asked me for help, and I even went to the store to try it on before I gave him the style number and told him what I'd selected within our budget! He went to the store the very next day with the confidence that I'd LOVE it when he proposed just a few months later! Oh, and one more thing: Is asking her for "hints" on what she'd like out of the question? Do you have a guy friend that you could pretend to "SAY" is thinking about buying a ring, and get her opinion on what she likes that way? Maybe say someone at your job is planning to get proposed and is having a tough time finding a ring for his lady, and wants opinions? Yeah, yeah, it's a little sneaky, but often times, it works to get the info. you need without blowing your secret! GOOD LUCK, BUDDY! Keep us posted!

Hello there, my fellow Sandals Brides! It's official as of yesterday afternoon...my fiance and I, my parents, and my sister and a good friend have all booked our trips to Sandals Grande Ocho Rios, Jamaica for our May 2010 wedding -- and I'm thrilled that people are booked and we haven't even sent out invitations yet! Actually, since I am trying to be as cautious in my planning as possible, I didn't want to get anything created with dates on them (invitations, monograms, etc.) until the trip was locked in, so NOW I will have my work cut out for me! There was a little hiccup in the booking: My regular TA Bobbi at AAA Travel (the travel division of the national motorist assistance company) was unable to make it to my appointment yesterday due to a family emergency, and although there was a little bit of confusion (since we had to finalize plans with one of her well-intentioned co-workers because I had my heart set on getting this thing booked by the end of May), everything worked out for the best! John and I will we doing the following for our WeddingMoon: Dates of Stay: May 11 - 15, Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Room: Honeymoon Penthouse Oceanfront Concierge Room (Riviera Side of the resort) Wedding Date, Time and Location: May 14, 2010, 2:00 pm, Roman Gazebo (Manor Side of the Resort) Here is a pic. in case anyone doesn't know what the Roman Gazebo looks like -- I absolutely LOVE how unique and dramatic it is! Then after our guests depart on 5/15, he and I are going to stay in Jamaica for a few more days for a "Mini Moon" as I call it, or a short honeymoon just the two of us: Dates of Stay: May 15 - 18, Sandals Royal Caribbean (located in Montego Bay) Room: Royal Honeymoon Luxury Beachfront Concierge Room I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED, GIRLS, AND I JUST WANTED TO PASS ALONG THE GOOD NEWS! Congratulations to everyone else who has already booked and for those who will be booking in the near future -- it's an amazing sense of relief! And, now we're one step closer to becoming man and wife!

What a gorgeous BRIDE you made.....you should be so thrilled, as everything (including you and your DH) looked perfect!

Congratulations, LISA! You are so sweet, and deserve a totally magical day....hope it was everything you dreamed it would be and MORE! Yay for the new MRS. and her DH!

WE WANT PICTURES! WE WANT PICTURES! And I agree....it's got to be the ring you love since it will be on your finger for the rest of your days! When I originally told my FI what kind of ring I wanted, he said it would be a while before he could afford it and he could propose, so I decided on something less costly (but still sparkly and beautiful!) for now, and we've discussed upgrading in a few years. I plan to have the center stone and 12 surrounding stones on my current ring made into a necklace or something, and have the new stone set on the original band -- we think it's a win-win, and still keeps the sentimental value of being the ring he proposed with! CONGRATS and I can't wait to see your gorgeous new BLING!

Both of my parents will be walking me down the aisle, as well! Although my mom and I have had our rough patches over the years, it's a really important event and I want her to feel special and included. I am getting married at a gazebo at Sandals, and I just hope the walkway leading up to it is wide enough for all three of us (and my dress!) to fit!

Congratulations -- you both looked amazing and like you were having the time of your lives! GREAT TTD and I am glad to hear you are feeling better (and everything worked out in the end!)

I MEAN IT - YOU GUYS ARE TRULY THE BEST! Thanks so much for all of your sweet, greatly appreciated compliments and insight! Just to be on the safe side, I have gone on what seems like every imaginable bridal gown website, from the super ritzy Kleinfeld site to DB's comparably priced competitor site (Alfred Angelo), and NOTHING has jumped out at me as a dress that will be able to top #2 as THE DRESS for me! As I mentioned, I have the standard 15-20 lbs. I want to lose before Wedding Day, so I think I might wait a few months before I purchase the dress, so I don't have to get a zillion alterations. Hey, and if I am REALLY lucky and bust my ass working out, maybe I'll be able to even get a size smaller than the one I tried on in the picture?! Fingers crossed THAT miracle will happen! (Off-topic side bar: And does anybody know off hand when the next BDW Biggest Loser season is? I think I might have missed signing up for it....bummer!) Again, XOXO to you all!

It's utterly MAGNIFICENT! I think it's still completely appropriate for a gazebo wedding...please never doubt that you've gotten the perfect dress! Divine, I say!

I say GO FOR IT! And you know what's another sign that it's YOUR Perfect Dress: You resemble the model in the pic wearing it! I agree that you should look into finding trunk shows in your area or maybe offer to pay a few hundred towards getting the dress of your DREAMS! Good luck!

Let me just say a special thanks to the ever-honest and hilarious Miss Savannah -- if you're not a professional writer, you should consider a career change, because you always make my literally "laugh out loud" and you offer the most spot-on advice next to "Dear Abby"! THANKS FOR BEING SO FANTASTIC, EVERYONE! #2 IT IS!!!