RonNMel

Quote: Originally Posted by latina77 Could you tell me where you got the Get ready for CUBA .....idea? I would like to see what sort of things to include as I am planning to do the same thing? How soon should this be sent out? I'm thinking 6 weeks before the trip? Any thoughts?? I got the idea from here. Just do a search for prewedding booklet, welcome booklet, things like that. I haven't started yet, but I want to include things like: - list of all our guests - packing list - Resort, City and Country information, map - Excursions offered over there - Tipping and theft prevention tips - Useful and not-so-useful phrases in spanish (to keep it fun) - Time and date of wedding - Other planned activities (for example a welcome cocktail) - Information about where to share the pictures after we come back - and possibly some puzzles to keep them busy during the plane ride

The Iberostar Varadero has a Gazebo in a beautiful garden.

Congratulations! We too were hesitating between those two resorts. We ended up choosing the Laguna Azul for May 2011. Come join us in the Cuba threads, you'll find plenty of info.

Quote: Originally Posted by miznunu2010 When I invited people I assumed they were bringing someone since out resort is all inclusive and prices are based on two people! Yes, the price for single people ar our hotel is 400$ than double occupancy. Of course if some singles know each other they can room together, but I wouldn't see myself asking my one single female friend to go room with one of FI's single male cousin. Now, if after spending some time together on the beach they decided to room together, that wouldn't be my decision.

Quote: Originally Posted by JNL2011 Hey RonNmel, Just noticed that you asked me a question, sorry about that. I was actually leaning more towards the May 4th 2011. And i spoke with Yahimara and i think she might have misunderstood me. If she told you they are not taking reservations til February, I think i need to email her again and makes sure she knows i was taking about 2011. She confirmed a date, but now I'm thinking she talking about 2010 because a when i said i wanted 2 or 4 o'clock she said only 2 was available on the 4th. i'll have to check into that. Good luck with the planning. Well actually, as I've written in a couple of threads, I ended up booking April 30th to May 7th, so we have decided to get married on the 4th. My TA was able to secure the date with Yahimara, but it will not be confirmed by the notary until sometimes next month though. We asked for 2pm, and plan on eating during the second service, at 8:30pm. Quote: Originally Posted by Mags Hi! I have another question for you if you don't mind My TA told me that I can't book now for April 2011 and that I need to wait till April (2010)...so I was just wondering if you are offically booked on the first week of May or is it subject to change? Thanks!!! I believe the price is set, but that is only for standard room double occupancy. For singles and for kids the prices are subject to change. At first my TA had told me that I would not be able to book before April as well, but then she was able to get group pricing by Air Canada Vacations and Air Transat Holidays.

Not only is it 8 cuc per person to get drinks served at the private reception, but it's 8 cuc per person per hour. So if you want a 2 hour private reception, you have to double the price.

Thanks. Anyway, it probably would've been out of my budget.

Here is the email: [email protected] As of now, unless we somehow win the lottery, we will use the resort photograph as well as rely on our friends and family with very good cameras and a passion for photography.

LOVE this dress!!! Saw something similar at the bridal show two weeks ago and immediately fell in love with it. It was like the green version of the dress, but with a more intense blue/turquoise. Looked awesome!! Hope my MOH likes it...

I will be getting married May 4th 2011 at 2pm. Then we'll have the champagne and possibly wedding cake right after the ceremony (I've read on here by lots of people that if you keep it for after dinner, nobody eats it). We will probably wait until the champagne time is over to leave and go do our pictures. Then we will let people go and do whatever they please for the rest of the day. We are not having a private reception, we will just go to the disco once it opens at 11pm. Because of that we are thinking of having dinner at 8:30pm instead of 6:30pm so that there is less waiting time between dinner and dancing (that way it'll feel more like a reception). Also it lets people have more time to relax and enjoy their day after the ceremony. We haven't decided which restaurant yet. As for decorations, I think the only thing I"ll be bringing are chair sashes. the rest I will just let the beauty of the resort and beach speak for themselves. For those who have already booked the restaurant, do you know when you have to say how many people will take the lobster? Is it the day of, or before?? That is FI's main concern, food. LOL

Some tips posted on the blog of a photograph I'm considering using for my BD shoot: (It's in French so I"m loosely translating) - Get your make-up done by someone who knows how to do make-up for photoshoots. Your photograph may have someone to recommend to you. - get your hair done by your hairdresser if it makes you feel more sexy and confident. - Think about the look your FI likes, even borrow some of his clothes - Bring accessories, even silly ones. Who knows what theme/feeling you and photograph decide to create... - Pluck your eyebrows the night before to avoid any redness - Don't forget to shave! (obvious, but then again so easily forgotten ) - It's better to bring too many clothes/accessories than not enough. And finally, trust your photograph. You may not know how to pose because you've never done shoots, but it's their job and they are there to help you!

- No veil - No bouquet/garter toss - Staying together the night before - No reception (will have dinner at an A La Carte, then probably hang out at the lobby bar until the disco opens. Whoever feels like dancing just follows us) - No programs - Mom and dad will walk me down the aisle (no giving away though) - No wedding favors (will give an insulated travel mug before, and a photo montage on CD after we come back) - Sending out half STD/half invitations a year earlier - No expensive decorations/centerpieces/flowers. Will take whatever is included in the package and the destination will be the main decor. - No rehearsal dinner- Possibly parasols instead of bouquets for bridesmaid And like Chelle posted, I prefer my FI's name to come before mine. Ron & Mel just sounds better than Mel & Ron.

- No veil - No bouquet/garter toss - Staying together the night before - No reception (will have dinner at an A La Carte, then probably hang out at the lobby bar until the disco opens. Whoever feels like dancing just follows us) - No programs - Mom and dad will walk me down the aisle (no giving away though) - No wedding favors (will give an insulated travel mug before, and a photo montage on CD after we come back) - Sending out half STD/half invitations a year earlier - No expensive decorations/centerpieces/flowers. Will take whatever is included in the package and the destination will be the main decor. - No rehearsal dinner- Possibly parasols instead of bouquets for bridesmaid And like Chelle posted, I prefer my FI's name to come before mine. Ron & Mel just sounds better than Mel & Ron.

We are planning on making a photo montage with music of our wedding + week there and include our thank you note in it. We'll either mail it after we get home, or give it by hand if we end up having an AHR a couple months later. I'm still debating whether or not to make OOT bags. I'd really only have the bag, a stadium cup with our monogram and a pre-wedding booklet in it, so maybe I should just scarp the bag and spend a bit more money on getting just insulated mugs instead of the stadium cups...

My FI and I have both been divorced before, so that is making it much more expensive for us to get married in Cuba. I have thought about getting married here before, but my FI absolutely HATES the idea. He feels like why have a destination wedding at all if we are to be officially married here before? He doesn't want to lie to our families and friends, but if we tell them the truth we think they might not agree with it...

Quote: Originally Posted by bholthof If you do decide on real flowers - any flower that comes in white (roses, daisies, gerbers, etc) can be done in blue. I would advise NOT to do this. I wanted to get blue roses for my previous wedding and a florist told me it might stain my wedding dress.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mags Hello!! I'm getting married in April 2011 and I have a hard time choosing my resort...I'm stuck between Mexico and Cuba! As for Cuba, this resort is the one that I found the most interresting!!! Does anybody knows if there's a gazebo? Is there special spot on the beach for weddings? Do they have nice decoration for the ceremony?? I would love to see pics!!!! Can wait to hear about a wedding that took place at Iberostar Laguna Azul Mags I don't know too much about the decoration, except a few pictures that have been posted online. There is supposed to be a beach gazebo, but it hasn't been built yet. Hopefully it will be soon, but we have to remember that the hotel only opened last September. Quote: Originally Posted by Mags Hi!!! I'm also getting married in April 2011 and I see that you're from Montreal...I'm from New-Brunswick...I was just wondering, if that's ok with you, how much per person it is to leave from Montreal?? ThanKS The price for May 2011 is around 1400$ per person. The price in April will probably be more expensive because A. the low season starts in May, and B. Easter is in April and that usually jacks up the price.

A few questions. For the divorce certificate, it says it has to be certified, translated, then the spanish copy certified as well. Can it be certified somewhere other than the consulate? If so, would it be less expensive? Also, does the birth certificate need to be certified, translated, then certified again?

We went with Club Voyage as the travel agency, and the tour operator I believe is Air Canada Vacations (not sure of the exact name).

Quote: Originally Posted by Raykel Thanks Reya! I ordered my bags yesterday. I have been on so many sites all over Canada and the US and at the end of the day I used cheap totes. One of the other girls posted it a while back and no one could touch their pricing. Canvas TOTE BAG Shipping and handling with taxes they are $1.29 each. I ordered these totes for everyone, but for parents and wedding party I also got bigger totes from this site for $3.40 each Awesome find!!!! Thank you! :-)

The price for the whole trip is only slightly less expensive than if I had been booking online. However, I do get a few perks like free seat selection for the entire group, and the best thing, one eprson is free for every 15 people that pay. All that 16th person has to pay are the taxes (just over 200$). We can either decide to not have a free person and pass on the savings to everyone (about a 70$ discount per person), or have us be the free people.

CarribeanLover, hope your ring is better made than mine and will never break. :-) Ewok, I hadn't thought of that place, that's a great idea! So close to my house too!

Ok, so I told FI about what I wrote here and apparently I lied. We didn't talk on the phone before we first met, we only chatted. LOL Also, he wants me to tell the back story of why we started chatting that particular night. We had both sent each other a smile and exchanged 1 or 2 emails through Lavalife, but I was going to be busy all week-end with a friend from out of town visiting. She arrived Friday morning and we were gonna go out dancing that night, but on our way back from the beach late afternoon we got hit by another car. None of us got too badly hurt, though she did have to spend the night at the hospital. I only had to stay a couple of hours at the hospital, so here I was, home alone on a Friday night. I sent another email to the guy and he too was home so we went on MSN and started chatting. He thinks if it wasn't for the accident the timing might have never been right. As for knowing he was the one, no I didn't. I actually thought he was too nice at first, but turns out he is just nice enough. :-)

If it's the one I'm thinking about, then I did go there years ago to buy my e-ring from my previous wedding, and it broke (one of the claws holding the diamond opened and the diamond fell). So I'm a little worried about going back there, or any other mall jewelry store.

I'm a pretty simple bride too. The flowers will also be whatever the resort offers, and he won't even be wearing a suit. Just a white shirt and beige pants. As for the ring I might just go in and buy whatever is there. But in some cases it might be cheaper to get it custom made. I'll be sure to post pictures.