selassie11

I don't plan on doing invites either. I sent out STD magnets along with a full color brochure (thanks Vistaprint - FREE!) and a FAQ sheet. I also sent a RSVP card because guests are required to pay a 50% deposit on acommodations by July. We have a website set up and I plan on sending guests info on flight sales, updates etc! So I was thinking that since the wedding is in April, I'll send a pre-travel brochure, a JA Tourist board brochure, and a "Things to Do" sheet out to confirmed guests in February. But I really like the sound of a newsletter instead...and I have some great templates on my Mac. Hmmm...

Congrats and Welcome! I'm also a Jamaica 2011 bride! YAY! Be sure to check out the JA specific forum...lots and lots of info! You've found the best forum - EVER! Careful though...it can become addictive :-)

Congrats and Welcome! You've found the best forum - EVER! Careful though...it can become addictive :-)

Congrats and Welcome! You've found the best forum - EVER! Careful though...it can become addictive :-)

Congrats and Welcome!!

Congrats and Welcome!

Congrats and Welcome! Oh how I love PR!! Your wedding is going to be beautiful!!

Congrats Kera! Please post pics!!! And it'd be great if you could do a review. For whatever reason, there's not a lot of recent info on TP on BDW. I myself had originally planned to marry there but ended up changing locations. I'd love to hear in detail how everything turned out!

Welcome! This is the best forum - EVER! It will truly be helpful

These look great! Where'd you buy your cardstock?

My daughter is my maid of Honor - she's 16 and my best friend is my Matron of Honor -she's 36. All of my bridesmaids are in the early 30s range. I had the same concern so I picked a style that I think looks appropriate for everybody. They are all wearing knee-length one shoulder dresses, but my daughter and best friend are each wearing diff versions of the one-shoulder. The all look absolutely GREAT and the chiffon is the perfect material for the setting! Daughter- (in knee length) Jasmine Bridal Best Friend - (in knee length) Jasmine Bridal Bridesmaids - Jasmine Bridal

So my fiance just told me that he does not want to spend the night before without me. "That's no way to start the morning of your big day - without your love laying next to you?! I'll be traumatized!!" LOL! Jokes and all, I think we'll spend the night together and just part ways to get dressed.

duh! i see that you're way past the save the date stage...you're getting married next month!! pardon me...

I actually put together a packet that included a folded notecard announcing our engagement and plans to marry in JA, the brochure, a STD magnet, and an "in case you were wondering" (FAQ) sheet with answers to some preliminary questions we assumed folks would have. we also included a rsvp card because we want to get a sense of who's coming for sure so we can plan accordingly. Our guests are actually going to be booking through us -- since we chose a private villa, we'll be charged the costs and guest are essentially reimbursing us. so with the rsvp card we're asking for a 50% deposit. i got the brochures and notecards from vistaprint for free (just paid s&h) and the save the date magnets from an etsy seller. everything turned out great! our guests are already raving!

I know exactly how you feel. I've been all over the web, talking to my WP and Jamaican friends about the weather - when's the best time to go? when's it least likely to rain? I've even gone as far as to look through old threads trying to find JA brides who married during my month to see if it rained on their wedding day! My Jamaican friends have all told me that I'll worry myself to death if I try to predict the island's weather. The reality is that the chances of rain ANY time of the year (other than pure hurricane season) are no different than they would be here in the States - we can't predict it or control it. And coming to that realization is the only thing that eased my inclination to worry. All that to say, though it's easier said than done, "don't worry." Some cultures see rain on your wedding day as a blessing. Put out good energy and intentions and no matter the weather, your wedding day will be magical!!

Yes I am getting married at VSM next April! So far so good - everything looks divine and compared to other non-AIs on the cliffs it seems to offer the MOST amenities. Not to mention Ari is the best!! I'm actually glad my original plan didn't work out! Someone told me to imagine the W chain of hotels but on the water. Once I heard that, I was sold! Please do post pics soon PALZ - can't wait to see them!

Check this site out! Paper Lanterns, Party Supplies and Chinese Paper Lanterns - PaperLanternStore.com

Thanks for the info PALZ! I'm also getting married at Villa Sur Mer next April. Ari is the best! How was everything? I'm curious to know....have you done your review yet? Do tell!!

@theend903, that's exactly how it works. if you let her know what you will be using the monogram on/for she can tell you what type of file(s) you need. since i'll be using mine on a variety of things with a variety of backgrounds, i paid $5 for a .png file - one where the background is transparent. so for example, my STD info brochures are a cream color. the original file she sent to me had the monogram on a white background which i didn't want on the cream brochures. so the .png file, with the transparent background was what i needed for that. but for our website, which has a white background, the original was fine. you should definitely check her out!

I would have to agree! She did ours in 6 days and it's exactly what I wanted!

:-D I'm pretty sure I'm going to be working with Ari and moving to Villa Sur Mer! But that means our twinship will have to end because Ari is booked already for the 30th :-( Of course I won't know anything for sure until the money is on the table and I won't have that for another couple of weeks - but I will still be an April 2011 bride! Yay!

Aw! Y'all are so cute! Reading your posts has me rethinking...it could be cute... and fun! All depends on how our accomodations work out - don't think it's worth spending more $ on a room or my FI crashing on someone's couch and not being well rested. He's no help with the decision making at this point. I think I've tortured him with wedding plans (still have a year to go)...poor baby is at the "whatever you want dear" phase already LOL! Thanks everybody!

Having a DW certainly turns a lot of "tradition" on its head. So I'm curious...how many of you are planning NOT to sleep in the same room with your hubby the night before the ceremony? And how are you handling that? Are you paying for two separate rooms the night before? For those of you who are following the "he can't see me before the wedding" tradition, how are you navigating your time before the ceremony (getting dressed, pics, etc.)? My best friend is trying to tell me that my fiance and I shouldn't sleep in the same room the night before and I should do whatever it takes to build up to the big reveal. Seriously?

Thanks Ladies! QueenDiva you are so on it I might just have to bow to the queen ;-) If I go with Villa Sur Mer, I will have to change the date because Ari's booked! (Hmm...QueenDiva is that you?!) This too funny!

Hi L&J, interesting you mention Villa Sur Mer because I'm considering changing locations to there. I've been having some "issues" with Tensing Pen...can't seem to get a straight answer on many things and it's making my anxieties rise and red flags wave. For similar prices, Villa Sur Mer has soo many amenities and looks equally beautiful. I'm going to check it out and decide soon!