TaraBinki

Has anyone tried the 24 Day Challenge?! I just completed mine in October and lost 13 inches and 2% body fat!! I kept going eating healthy and taking my favorite products and am down a full pant size!! I'm so happy...just wondering if you ladies have ever heard of it too? Here's a video explaining it !

@Nicole for havana blue we are doing the buyout option ($2500 for site rental) and we also changed the menu around a bit... Starting with a cocktail hour with small plate stations and one served entree and a dessert station 5 Platillos 3 fruit & 2 vegetable @ $175 each Live Stations @ $25 per person Station One - Cuban Sliders and Taco de Filet Station Two - Calamarai & Haute Summer Night Station Three - Habana Ensalada & Lation Trio Entrée @ $35per person Havana Pollo Mojito Skirt Steak Vegetarian Dessert Station @ $10 per person Ice Cream and Fruit Sorbets Our liquor options....are SOOO expensive since we are planning on more than 100 people its rough..so far all we have agreed upon with my parents is open bar premium package for $42 each for an hour & half Hope that helps!! Natalie seems nice so far..I really liked Kate cause we met her and skyped with her

All Inclusive at the marriott is extremely expensive even in low season! For low season they told us it would be around $450-500 per night based on single/double occupancy.

Thanks Beth! I really appreciate it! We knew booking it July would be hot but I dont want it to be unbearable ya know? We chose July cause most people take vaca time off in the summer so we figured people would be more likely and able to come down! Where is your ceremony ? Ours is on the seacliff terrace on the Marriott property. I've been there and its absolutely gorgeousss and so is Havana Blue! I love love it! We are going to have our room block there so for people its all in one place which should be really nice! However I really want to have low room rates but so far hasn't exactly been going that way with the Marriott! We are still far out but I'm hoping to get the block squared away in the next few months. I think we are going to do ceremony program fans I found some on etsy that are really cute. I do like the parasol idea though maybe to just have there if people want them? I'm nervous with the dancing at Havana Blue it will be soo hot but lets hope for an ocean breeze! We looked into geting those lil handheld fans too to maybe place at the tables or around the dance floor at the reception..might be kinda cool!

Hello, You ladies might have missed what I was asking haha...my ceremony is outside and the reception is at Havana Blue which is open aired...so we will be outside the whole time!! We wanted that so there's no changing this haha soooo I didn't know if there was any tips or you could calm my fears about it being too hot!! Any advice I'd appreciate people who have been there Tara

Amy- Wow thats so great about the charter to the BVI's! I love that idea...we might just tell everyone like we are going to Megans Bay like Wednesday if they wanan join us.... and on thursday which our rehearsal is We are going to have the rehearsal on the catamaran for the regular rehearsal ppl but then afterwards have a Welcome Cocktail Thing at Iggie's at Bolongo Bay that everyone is invited too which my fiance and I are paying ourselves..so lets pray we can actually afford that! haha We are hoping to go down for about 8 days ourselves so I'm hoping we can have time to go to St. John and snorkel and relax ourselves and not feel like we have to entertain everybodyy Which I know I will want to do once in that situation anyways I think it could be wayyy too much for me to plan anything else ya know? Everyone will be arriving different days I'm assuming and want them to feel like they can do wahteva they want Havana Blue always opens at 6pm FYI- they do not do any lunch. JQLong maybe they would open up the restaurant early for your wedding! That might be nice ya know? Then you could end up having it to yourselves for a lil while

JQLong - How much is your block of rooms for people to call and book at the Marriott if you don't mind me asking? What are they paying per night for which types of rooms? I'm nervous about the rates since we haven't done that yett! Bolongo has some really bad reviews online so it scares me telling people to go there when other ppl claim its rundown and dirty ya know? Hmpinma- We are having a big reception (estimated 100-150 people) at Havana Blue..its to die for! The food is amazinggg Havana Blue deposit for the buyout requires 50% up front...not sure what it is if you aren't doing the buyout option. We are having DJ Eric Snow for the night..he has great reviews! His Deposit was $250 and we are having him from 5-11 ish. We have booked Elisha! She is soo wonderful so far and our wedding isn't until July 2012! She lets you break up the deposit so we did the initial $1,100 to book her...she is expensive but I think its worth it! We are probably going to add on a photobooth for the night, trash the dress the night day and depending on $ her husband for video.

JQLong - Our wedding is exactly two months after yours at the Marriott! aha July 20, 2012! So excited and I totally hear ya on the marriott prices.. have u booked your hotel block yet? We haven't either...we are doing a welcome reception at Iggie's (bolongo bay) the night before and a sunset catamaran through them for the rehearsal dinner just for wedding party, parents etc. Havana Blue is expensive I agree and we have been working with Kate for a while so I agree with ms.foxxy! They just opened a new bar below Havana Blue called Sandbar I'm SOO excited it looks amazingg! Ms.Foxxy how many ppl are u expecting at the reception at havana Blue? are u doing the buyout? I'm a lil worried about hte dance floor but I'm hoping we can open up the provado room so its more space

Hey Ladies, I'm starting my first workout tonight! Does anyone recommend how many times a week to do it to make it worth it? I'm working full time and going to grad school so my time is a little tight. I'm hoping I can do it like 2-3 times a week? The other thing is the $$..it seems really expensive! Especially at a time where your saving and budgeting everything for the wedding...has anyone else seen it to be really expensive?

Just a thought... I'm thinking of having people close to me maybe take a bag like my brothers and parents..they totally wouldn't mind ya know? If we just give them the $ for the extra bag and then they will just have the normal two bags..I'm nervous bout certain things for shipping that I would be like devastated if they got lost or UPS was too slow!

Kim, For the Virgin Islands this is what it said bout shipping... Easy shipping is available through the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express, DHL and United Parcel Service. We had to send down our contract for the reception and since its a US Terriotory u can just use normal US rates at the post office! So I'm hoping this will help us as well when we ship boxes down with flat rates? ~Tara

OMGGGG they are stunning GORGEOUS perfectt just like how you looked!! I lovedd all the details..honestly incredible all the colors omgg..did you use islandbliss for your coordinator? wow you have a ton of amazing pictures! the water ones are unreal!! Congratss

Hey girls! I'm getting married July 2012 but want to get cracking early. I am such an emotional eater so I'm nervous when the wedding gets closer I will just be pigging out! haha but I'm serious.Of course I too want to be in the best shape of my life...not only look amazing in my dress but the whole week in my bathing suit! I signed up for a 1/2 marathon this May 1st. I've been running about 3 miles a couple times a week and now my long runs on Saturdays. I haven't seen like anyyy results...I eat fairly healthy for years now..love fruits & veggies..I'm thinking I need to actually write down my calorie intake ya know? That I am hoping will help so I don't reach for the extra bite or piece. The weekends kill me like in social settings at friends houses and out. You girls have trouble with weekend eating too?

Hey Flybird! The Marriott is very very particular and won't allow any outside vendors for like flowers, photography everything so I highly doubt you can hire an outside WC for your wedding there But I'm not sure cause I've never directly asked about it. I got them to allow me to bring my photographer on site which they never let but I was very persistent on this! So you never know! Let me know how it goes if you ask!! Thankks!

Hey Everyone, Just wondering if anyone has been to St. Thomas in July? I know its suppose to be one of the hottest months there...we went last August and I was simply dyingg in the heat haha Not sure how I can avoid this and do lil things so I don't look and feel sweaty on my big day? Thanks!! Tara

MoeMarx, We did our site through weddingwindow! I loved it because there are sooo many things you can include on it and personalize it youself! I think we paid like $175 but we did the 2 year most expensive package with unlimited storage but its well worth it! Great way to have people stay informed. You can even include a rsvp on it too! So funny we are totally doing a semi formal theme as well this is why we have decided to stay away from any type of beach theme since most people think casual like that. I even will be including like a suggested attire on the website too. Like more of a cocktail party. We arent even getting married on the beach..I;m just not into that hahaha The girls will be wearing cocktail type dresses instead of like standard bridesmaid dresses ya know? They are going to wear bright tangerine very difficult to find but even if I just find them at nordstroms I will be excited! I want like really high open toed pumps for them as well with fun funky jewelry! we originally wanted chocolate brown suits since our color scheme is like brown, bright orange with some like champagne but we will just have to see! I have seen that site for the $99 site for suits too!! haha so funny we had the same exact idea to have my FI order one to see the quality first before the 6 groomsmen order with the 2 fathers as well. I figure I'm going to go the mens warehouse route first see if I can find those since the groomsmen can physically go there ya know? If we cant find anything then we will be ordering one from that website too! So you will have to keep me updated when u order it. For flowers all I know is the Marriott forces you to order through them They are about $100 each so I have 8 bridesmaids..thats A LOT...and flowers arent like my thing..they are just okay to me in general but arent a super top priority to me ya ..know? etsy is the best ever..ive ordered a bunch of things on there last night I ordered invitation samples...I got my Will you be my bridesmaid cards in there!

Hi Gals! We are doing July 20, 2012. We picked this date cause its pretty cheap to fly and stay in St Thomas So we are only doing the ceremony at the Marriott on the Terrace..the gazebo area wasn't big enough to fit our group..still gorgeous though! So we only picked the lowest tropical package which is $1,000 for ceremony and will add on if we want an archway or flowers for aisle etc. Their flower prices are outrageousss and I have 8 bridesmaids so not sure what to do about that? anyone have ideas of other things for them to carry instead? haha I also negiotiated to have my own photographer as well. I had my heart set on Elisha Orin so I told Patricia Telemaque from the Marriott who we met with when we were down there..that Elisha was a family friend hehe and finallyy got them to write that on the contract! It was Elishas idea too! Shes really great. The marriott forces u to use them for flowers, photography etc. but hte pictures are super important to me so we worked it in..gotta be persistent though. Ceremony at 3:00 So then Havana Blue starts at 5 o clock! Food is legit unreall..its very modern and upscale! and when i say that its wickeddd expensive as well. We are doing the buyout option of hte whole restaurant we are working with Kate Atwell who has been really great. We are doing our own proposed menu ( my dad is wicked into food & wine) so she can work with u to estimate costs way before you even give as deposit I definately want my Fiance to wear a blended linen suit..when we were down there last August- holy moly was it HOT!! sweating yikes so we are going to search for a tan ish colored linen suit..I have heard mens warehouse sells them only around Feb-April and they are decent priced whats everyones colors? flower ideas? dresses? anythingg you want to sharee haha this is SO fun!! Irishbabe sending you some pictures now

Hii! omg its soo nice to hear from someone else getting married in ST Thomas 2012!! haha We booked Elisha Orin!! I have her rates if you want me to fwd them to you I love herrr and are so excited! We are going too book her husband for video and I hope hope hope do a photobooth as well she said that would be $500 extra! We may even do a trash the dress on St. John her suggestion I have created a wedding website already..its www.taraanderik2012.com - check it out any feedback I would love love love to hear from a fellow destination and St Thomas bride We sent out a engagement announcement this November just to inform people We are planning a destination wedding in St Thomas to get the word out..We are inviting around 210 people! Estimating around 100..We want to send out a pocketfold invitation or save the date this July/August so its about a year in advance. not sure when they need to book their room by or give them a deadline to rsvp? We went to St Thomas this August and fell in love with the island! I have plenty of pictures and video if you want to see We stayed at the marriott which I thought was gorgeous and now they are doing a $70 million dollar renovation I'm just nervous the room rates are gonna be real steep! That's why we were thinking of doing a block at the marriott and block at bolongo bay..they are only 2 miles from each other. Ceremony is on the Marriott Seacliff Terrace Reception is at Havana Blue We are looking into doing a catamaran boat for the rehearsal dinner From Iggie's so Lorena should be sending me information Waht elsee? Oh yes and we booked DJ Eric Snow..he has great reviews and does a ton of weddings how many people are you inviting? Waht about wedidng party? did you decide on colors yet? I cant wait to do welcome bags! haha

MoeMarx- Wow the Stardust Villa looks amazingg! That's going to be so so pretty! Congrats!! have u decided on a photographer or dj? or any other details?! Has anyone received 2012 rates from any resorts or hotels yet for the rooms? How are they looking if so? I'm super nervous the rates are going to be outrageous for the guests... I just want them to be like semi affordable for the people who really want to attend! I also have been hearing mix feedback from the cleanliness of Bolongo Bay...has anyone else seen this either? We were thinking of doing two blocks of rooms at the Marriott & Bolongo to give people options and Yesss 2012 seems SOO FAR Away somedayss! haha Especially July! Has anyone set up wedding websites? Or decided how to do the whole invitation rsvp thing? when its so far away ~Tara

Hi! I'm getting married July 20, 2012 in St Thomas at the Marriott. I wish I could help with the Wyndham or Bolongo but we went down in August and fell in love with the Marriott. We didn't end up even checking out the other resorts. We are going to have a welcome cocktail reception at Iggie's but havent started talking to them about it yet. I have plenty of pictures from St Thomas if you want some and video haha The ceremony is going to be at the Marriott SeaCliff Terrace and then the reception right on the resort at a privately owned restaurant Havana Blue. I don't know your style but its very modern open and amazinggg! The Marriott also has a gazebo too you can have your ceremony. We are going to have a fairly large wedding approximately 100 guests so we went with the marriott because of this! Feel free to PM me with any more question! Tara

Ridley, I haven't had any experience with either... But we are planning on booking Elisha Orin and DJ Eric Snow for our wedding. Both have been super responsive and sooo nice so far and I haven't even booked with them yet! Thought I'd pass it along

Great Job!!! Those look awesomee! Also if you could email those to me as well I'd appreciate it

Anyone have any pictures from Iggie's? We were down there for a site visit to see Havana Blue and the Marriott in August but never made it to Iggie's I was thinking of having our rehearsal at Iggie's....does any have any feedback at all about their experience with them? Thanks!!

Mee too! Can you send me a copy as well Thank youu

WOW Gorgeous!! We are getting married in St Thomas 2012! But at the Marriott..Magen's Bay is gorgeousss! LOVE THE PICS!!  Where did you find that bright orange BM dress? That's the exact color I wantt  Thanks for sharinggg AMAZING pics