acw271011

That's funny. The dress I'm considering at the moment is also a Stella York. You're right - the styles are beautiful. It's going to come down to cost of course. Everything does! lol

I agree with @@pddcmc I sometimes think it's one of the things that gets lost in the planning of a DW. They're supposed to be simpler than a big wedding in your home place. Having a bridal party of 12 people doesn't strike me as "simple" somehow lol As much as it's pretty to look at, I think having one person on each side is the best way to go.

Thanks Kim. That's such a nice thing to say! Truly I think part of the reason we're as good together as we are is because we both came from yucky first marriages. I think it makes you appreciate finding love again just that little bit more. Plus, with everything we've been through, I don't question whether he loves me. I've said before there are very few guys that would stick by with what I've put him through. Don't get me wrong - there are times when I'd like to pour a glass of icy cold water over his head!!! lol He can be very bossy sometimes when he wants to be. I just tell him I don't work for him! (he's vp level at what he does and has people that report to him). We've already been together almost as many years as we were both married! Thanks for the bit on the dress. You really don't think it's too much for Mexico? I absolutely LOVE the keyhole back that it has (shoot I just realized I didn't post a pic) but I'm just worried that it's a bit over the top. We're not on the beach - we're on a rooftop terrace, then a restaurant for dinner. I'm hoping to get pictures done through the town of Playa del Carmen. But you're right - Doug's mouth would probably drop open!

There are a lot of factors that can come in to play, not the least of which is what city you're travelling from. Also what type of resort you're looking at, and where in the Dominican. And yes the time of year will factor in as well. May can still be high priced. I've seen over the years prices all over the map for May. It's a very popular month for weddings and I think the resorts are catching on to that. Good luck! Picking your resort is definitely the toughest part I think.

I need another round of opinions please. The love of my life, when I told him about my dress, nearly choked! lol Poor guy. But he asked reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally nicely if there was a way we could get the price of the dress down. It was going to run me $2,000 with the price, tax and alterations. That's almost the price of our trip!! I really can't argue with the logic, no matter how much I want to and when he asks nicely, well I'm just a sucker for a sexy guy..... So....... I need to know what you think of this dress. I posted a new forum last night about a website I found. I've been following it for a couple of months now. This dress I found last summer when I started to look. I love it in the mocha colour. Enter the last minute bride. They have the dress but in ivory. I'm ok with that. I just don't know how low the price is going to be yet. I actually thought about taking at least one layer of the underskirt out to tone it down a little. Let me know what you think. Here are the 3 cards I made to attach to the room key holder. Again, let me know what you think. Three different colour combos. keycard insert for zipper pouch.ppt my keycard holder final.ppt our mexico keycard holder new photo.ppt

lol so you won't share where they're from???? I'm dying to know!!!

Now I know I'm old fashioned, because I would be really upset if someone had the nerve to post photos of my wedding on FB or somewhere else before I even had an opportunity to do it. To me that's just in really poor taste and shows a total lack of respect for the bridal couple. I don't care who you are - friend or family - it isn't your day. It belongs to the bride and groom and I think sticking photos up somewhere without asking them first is just plain rude!

We didn't qualify for a group rate since we didn't have enough people but for October, Azul Fives has just dropped $150 per person. I'm still betting it will go down a bit more. The agent I have said to hold off until about May or June before we book. I've been watching prices and just this week they've all dropped. But I don't know how it works if you have a group rate set up. Your quote may already be cheaper than what's being advertised now. We're going with Transat as well since they're exclusive for AF but we also have air miles travel certificates to use which are through Transat and Marlin Travel.

@acastello2 Congrats and welcome to the site! Azul Fives is definitely a beautiful resort and being Gourmet Inclusive means the food is one of the wonderful things about the resort! The resort is all inclusive regardless of where you're travelling from so I'm not sure I follow your question. The Gourmet Inclusive is the resort standard. As far as a wedding package, that is determined by your number of guests. Generally the resorts will provide for up to about 20 to 25 guests, and you still need to pay a per person rate for each guest above that number. Azul Fives is no exception. The $1700 fee is for the Sky Deck. If you have a small group you can also inquire about the Pier but there is an additional fee for that of I believe they quoted me $275 but it only holds 32 people, so would only suit for a smaller group. The Memorable Moments packages cost about $3000 but do have inclusions so you can go either a la carte or with a Memorable Moments package. The one thing you do need to know is that if you decide you want a better quality photographer than the one the resort uses, you will need to pay an additional fee of $800, which they call an outside vendor fee. That also applies to each and every vendor that you use outside of who the resort works with. The costs for a lot of what they provide or recommend are high. Additional flowers, or lighting or décor will add extra costs over and above so if you're budget conscious be aware. There are a couple of venues for ceremonies - the beach, a garden setting, the Pier, Sky Deck or the Zky Terrace and my understanding is that a new one is either in the process of opening up or is already open, which is another beach venue. Many brides for privacy, and for the inclusions pick the Sky Deck. It does have a spectacular view of the Caribbean from up top. I would highly recommend reading through this thread to get a feel for what the resort offers and what the ladies from the site have said about their experiences. if you don't yet have a travel agent, definitely get one! A TA will become your best friend as you go through your planning journey. They will take the stress from you of dealing with your guests questions and provide support for getting them booked. If you're in the US, your airfare will be booked separately from the resort. In Canada, it generally is a package of air, hotel and transfers. But as @asshtayy indicated, Canadian brides are required to pay the basic ceremony package cost of $950. Brides to be from the US receive that complimentary. Then you can build from there for what you want. As well, US brides have many more options available of free events depending on the number of guests/room nights booked. A travel agent is the BEST person to help you out with what you qualify for. You don't want to miss out on anything that you're entitled to!! There are several ladies here with wedding dates fast approaching so I know they will chime in to pass on more details. Our vow renewal date is in October and we had originally tried to book for Azul Fives but we were a very, very small group (only about 8) and I just found that the resort wasn't geared to small groups. They seem to do well, from what I hear, with larger groups but I just found that for what we wanted I wasn't getting anywhere with them We're now going off resort for our ceremony and dinner but still staying at Azul Fives. It's still a gorgeous resort! If you're in the US, the travel agents associated with this site are Karisma resort specialists and have top honours for being GI certified. They also have a couple of promotions running for bride and groom flying free. I don't know if it applies to you or not but you don't know until you ask. You can contact them through the link on the site - Wright Travel. If you're in Canada, there are several ladies here working with travel agents that they would be happy to provide a recommendation to you if needed. Good luck and happy planning!

Oh that's so pretty!! And it looks perfect for Jamaica! Your date is so close!! We were married in Jamaica 3 and a half years ago and fell in love with the island. Hoping a trip back will be in the cards sometime. We've tried twice and it has bombed both times so we'll have to see what happens. Good luck! Hope you post a review and pics when you get back!!

Congrats and welcome to the site! I'm sure you'll find something here that will be of help. The ladies here are great and always willing to share their ideas! Happy planning!

Hello brides to be! I wanted to let those of you that don't yet have a dress for your wedding know that there is a new shopping spot!! I discovered this facebook page a few months back and they now have an online shopping website! Just like Tygrlily did with the dress of her dreams, I have been scouting around the website http://Preownedweddingdresses.com There are some great deals there if you're on a tight budget, and it isn't all used dresses. You can find a great deal on either a sample or someone selling a dress who's wedding was maybe cancelled or changed their theme. Anyway, the FB page that I was checking out finally got their online website up and going as of today and for the next 3 days they're offering 15% off what you buy. PLUS if they get 1800 likes over the next 3 days, they'll extend the 15% off for 2 extra days!!! Not a bad deal depending on what you're looking for. They do have some nice styles that would work for a beach wedding. I really thought my dress was done. It was totally what I wanted, but hubby asked me oh so nicely if we really had to spend that much money on it. He's right (gosh I really hate admitting that!!). It isn't our wedding. It's special but it isn't the main event so I'm back to trying to either find what I want at a really great price, or something else that will work just as well as what I had picked out. I've said before I want his jaw to drop! lol I really hope The Last Minute Bride can do that for me. So here is their new website: http://thelastminutebride.com Check it out. You have nothing to lose and might save some money! Heaven knows with the cost of some of the things the resorts charge for, saving is definitely an option!! Good luck and happy planning!!

Is there not a website for the court house or wherever you get your marriage license that you can check for information? I know nothing about the processes in Texas so can't help out, but maybe there is another bride to be here that can help. Or take a look and see if there is a website. Good luck!!

Well it actually turned out ok!! Too tired tonight to post pics but I'll try and do it tomorrow. I've done 3 different cards, two with a picture of the resort and one without. So now it's just to pick which one to attach. Even the hole punch worked out ok! Thinking about it, people will probably take the card out of the inside anyway if you're putting your room key and tip money in there. So it does sort of make sense to just attach the card on the outside. Thanks again ladies!

Oh Kristy I feel so badly for you. Just at a time when you don't need extra stressers, to have all of these things piling on really sucks!! I'm sending all the positive thoughts that I can but you need to TRY real hard to keep thinking good thoughts!! See - hubby's rash is getting better! That's a good thing! Don't worry about your posture or sad face!!! Not at all!! That's just putting more stress on yourself!!! You'll be so happy on the day of that a sad face won't even be a factor!! Your face will hurt from all of the smiling!!! The dentist will do his best and you need to believe in that! Just keep hanging in there!!! You're so close now. Once you're there, you'll pass out from the beautiful weather and the makeup person won't have anything to worry about!! Just like you won't either!!!

Oh my goodness you're so lucky to still have her dress! My mom passed away when I was fifteen. More than 40 years ago now. Understandably you would want part of her with you on your wedding day. Just curious - are you planning on wearing the dress for something else? Like an at home reception, or a full church ceremony at home? If not, is there a reason why you wouldn't be able to wear it for your wedding? If it's that special to you, I want to say do it. Once the wedding is done, keeping it flat and carefully packed might not be as important and you could always pack it up and then have it cleaned when you get home. You'll still be in a resort so once you get to your honeymoon spot, you could just pop it in the closet until you leave. If you're planning on wearing it for another occasion then I would say find something maybe tea length or short right off the rack before you go and wear that. Then you don't have to worry about anything happening to that very special dress and you would still have something nice to wear for your wedding and in that case I would completely agree with TA Kathy and say take a little clipping from the inside of the dress where it won't show and maybe attach it to a bouquet or pin it on the inside of whatever you wear, next to your heart.

gorgeous!

Oh that's a SUPER idea!!!! I didn't even think of that! It might just work! Everyone will probably take the card out anyway once we're at the resort so realistically the card wouldn't be around for too long. And I got hot pink raffia ribbon from Hobby Lobby in the US delivered to Dustin's as well to tie around the maracas so I could use the fuschia ribbon to tie the tag on. I did buy a 1/8" hole punch so it would make a smaller size hole. yep - that just might work!!! I'm going to try it tonight and see how it comes out!! Cool!! Thanks @@Meandhim!!!

I got Doug a watch on our way home from Jamaica. We didn't do gifts the day of. There was just so much that had happened right before we left it sort of got forgotten. but I picked up a beautiful Movado for him at duty free in the airport thinking it would be something he would wear but nope. Only wore it for about a month then that was it. He just doesn't wear watches, doesn't really even like to wear them. He received a beautiful gold one for his 35 years service at work and it sits in the box on his dresser collecting dust. I would love to do a gift for him for our renewal with something special engraved on it or in it to let him know that the fact that he stuck with me through all of the hospital stuff, even holding a bucket while I threw up, that it means the world to me. There are a lot of guys that would NOT have stuck around through it all. For someone that loves watches it's a beautiful idea and a good one! And so are the cufflinks for someone that wears them! Great ideas for sure. And the photo shoot is awesome but I'm too old for that! lol You young ladies would be perfect for that kind of thing. The chain is also a good idea. For me though, lol none of it works!! Doug is mr. techie and loves his toys!! And it bugs the heck out of me because every time I get an idea, or think I have an idea for his birthday, or Xmas - he just goes out and buys it himself! So I would also be in the market for any ideas!! I'm getting him a new ring because his wedding ring is so big now that he wears it on his middle finger (no don't go there! lol) We can only have it sized once because it's tungsten so I thought about having a ring engraved but the space is so limited.

I went back to last summer when I first contacted the company about having a small number of the pouches - I only ordered 10 - and it looks like without me realizing it, the order defaulted to blue. I know I did ask about a clear and looking at the company's website now, there isn't one. Only a smoke grey colour. But I think because it was a special order and not through their website, that's where the mixup ended up coming from. The minimum order is 150 but they said I could order the small number and they put it together. I look at the quote now and see what I missed about the colour being blue. Thanks for the suggestions. I'll play around with the colours this weekend on my cards to see what I can do, if anything. I really hate to let them go but I was so proud of my little design to put inside the pouch. Thankfully I have a TON of time to figure it out.

I want those blue shoes!!!! They are fab!!

Oh that sounds so romantic! And totally fun!! We got married just the two of us in Jamaica almost 4 years ago. No people for different reasons but it was still exactly what you said - about our love, and we very nearly lost sight of that. Or rather I did. Hubby reminded me. We're renewing or vows in Mexico for our anniversary in October and 4 people have already changed their plans, so now it's just 4 of us, which is totally fine. We've dealt with some big stuff since we got married and this will be our first time actually being able to "celebrate" our wedding anniversary! I can't wait! I'm so excited to visit Costa Rica for the first time, which we're planning for January of next year, likely in the Guanacaste area. Couple of resorts we've looked at but we need it to be sort of a "jump off" point to go looking at towns and places to live. We'd like to buy before we actually retire and while the prices are still reasonable. Absolutely please post pictures and a review when you get back!! I know the ladies here love to see the reviews and photos, and I definitely want to see the area where you were!! All the best!!

wow sexy guy! Love number 2!! that will really pop in your pictures!

Woohoo! Hey Mrs!! Congrats!! Happy "hubby" is doing better. What the heck. McDonalds is fine for now. Just think what you'll be eating in a bit more than a week!! That will more than make up for it!!!! All the best!!

Toes and fingers crossed!! The joys of AC. I know @@calgarybride2015 had absolutely the best thing with them but my experience sucks. I hate them. With a passion and only fly them when there are absolutely NO other options or when we have to use Doug's business points. Otherwise - FORGET IT!!!! lol I feel so bad for you. I really hope you get it all sorted out. Thank goodness we're going Transat. Have always had great luck with them. Touch wood. lol We did the ten year anniversary thing. I tried everything to have our wedding on our tenth but in the end it was a few days early. What the heck. It was close enough. We're at 14 this year so I know what you mean about the time going by. No idea where it goes! I loved reading your thread. We've had some similar ups and downs! lol November was our original wedding date. Not what I wanted either so in the end it worked out just like it should have! And I know your will be awesome! So what about Costa Rica for a honeymoon? They have really good pricing on packages and a couple of new resorts. I can't wait to go. Jamaica is for sure always an option and has tons of excellent resorts! Or Antigua, but it can be a bit expensive. Looking forward to reading more!!