sinesbride

I just started the planning stages last week. LOL We decided on Summer 2014 but have not pinned a ship down yet. It will probably be a carnival, but so far only one ship and one company has their summer 2014 schedule out of Galveston right now so waiting for the spring to see what others pop up before booking.

Ok - so I joined this forum quite some time ago and was suppose to be married this spring, but due to purchasing a new home, having another baby (yes we did it all backwards and now have a 4 year old and a 8 month old) and changing careers...things got in the way and there was never a good time. NOW - we are starting the planning process over again. After weeks and weeks of going back and forth from All-Inclusive to Cruise Ship wedding, I think I am set on Cruise Ship wedding.We are planning summer of 2014 and nothing is getting in the way this time. LOL For logistics reasons, we are doing the cruise. I now have 2 kids to pack for and we live in Dallas area so driving to the Port of Galveston to hop a cruise is much easier for myself and I'm sure my guests. We chose the summer so people with kids can come, but I didn't realize how much more expensive summer cruises are. Yikes! Anyway, I want to thank you all in advance for advise, help and everything I know I will get from this board. -Catherine

Ok - so I joined this forum quite some time ago and was suppose to be married this spring, but due to purchasing a new home, having another baby (yes we did it all backwards and now have a 4 year old and a 8 month old) and changing careers...things got in the way and there was never a good time. NOW - we are starting the planning process over again. After weeks and weeks of going back and forth from All-Inclusive to Cruise Ship wedding, I think I am set on Cruise Ship wedding.We are planning summer of 2014 and nothing is getting in the way this time. LOL For logistics reasons, we are doing the cruise. I now have 2 kids to pack for and we live in Dallas area so driving to the Port of Galveston to hop a cruise is much easier for myself and I'm sure my guests. We chose the summer so people with kids can come, but I didn't realize how much more expensive summer cruises are. Yikes! Anyway, I want to thank you all in advance for advise, help and everything I know I will get from this board. -Catherine

Who did you guys book your Beaches Turks and Caicos trip through? Did you use a travel agent or online booking engine? I can't seem to find it anywhere on expedia or orbitz. Is going through the Beaches website the only/best way to book it? Just curious.

So a friend of mine is planning on a cruise wedding before mine, however she said she is doing the vow renewal package on carnival since it's cheaper than the regular wedding pkg. She is getting "legally" married prior to going at the JOP i think. I was kind of shocked to hear she was doing this, but I'm curious...how is she getting away with it?

I think divinding into thirds is very reasonable. I don't think you can compromise any better than that.

I plan on it as well. but I don't know what. I have 2 yrs to figure it out though.

Do what makes you comfortable. My dad will be walking me down the aisl, if he goes to my wedding...but if he doesnt make it for whatever reason, I will have my 3 year old walk me down the aisle. lol. I won't be doing the father daughter dance though. I'm not into all that...and it takes up too much time from our limited reception on the cruise...LOL

we won't be doing anything at home. The purpose for us to do a destination wedding was to keep the cost down and frankly...we only have a handful of really great friends and if we did something at home...it would turn into...us having to invite our extended relatives. coworkers, etc..people we don't really see much or know well. We didn;t want that. Now, what we MIGHT do...is have a casual bbq at home...I'm talking casual...hamburgers/hotdogs in my backyard...with booz...for some folks...or to thank those who did make the trip with us that live in our area. but honestly...the home reception is not something we are considering at all.

Either she trully has a phobia of flying...which some do...ME included, however i still fly, but the poor soul sitting next me has claw marks and bruises on their arm from me grabbing a hold of them during flight...LOL...I sweat my azz off the whole plane ride. hehehe...However, if it's not really a phobia...then maybe she is just embarrased top admit she can't afford the trip...you did say she is getting married too. Maybe the cost of her wedding and the trip are just too much for her. it'ss no excuse though for the attitude.

Don't be scared to post. I have a 1 yr old and although the mexico wedding we went to did not say we couldn't bring him, we though it would be easier to do the trip without him so he stayed with my mom. Now, I can honestly say...that it WAS easier as far as doing things such as excursions and dinners without him...I MISSED him the whole entire time we were there and it was a family friendly resort and wedding group. We, personally, just chose not to bring him. When we got back, I decided never to leave him again so we brought him to my brother's vegas wedding. Yea, we should have brought him to mexico instead of vegas...LOL. Although, it went well in vegas and he was good for the most part...his schedule was so entirely off...that he cried the first 2 mins of the ceremony until my aunt, bless her heart took him outside and let him walk around...I was in the wedding so I couldn't go "handle" my son and my fiance (his dad) ws also in the wedding...i felt so horrible, but thankfully, my brother and sister-in-law were such good sports about it..they didn't care. I could see the looks on HER family's face though from watching the wedding video. You could see that they were wondering if someone was going to do something. LOL. So...it's totally your call. I can see it both ways. For our wedding, we chose a family friendly place since my best friend and our brother and sisters have children and we wanted everyone to be there...mainly because the babysitters that we usually leave our kids with are our parents...who would also be at the wedding...We don't mind having them there...as a matter of fact...we really want our son there...he will probably be 2 by the time we have our wedding so hopefully...he will be over the crying lol Do your wedding how you dream it to be. Those with kids..will figure out what to do that is best for them...

I hope to have a secret stash of cash to. Unfortunately, I'm not working right now. I was laid off but still looking for a job...I get to be a stay at home mom temporarily...LOL. I may get a part-time job though and have my mom watch our son for a few hours a day while I work and am able to set aside that cash for the wedding "extras" that are usually basic items...like DJ, Flowers, etc..that are not included in most wedding packages. So yes, it's a great idea. I'm hopingto even have enough to help pay our parents' way if needed or having a really great welcome dinner etc..

Some people are still budgeting. That much I do know. We RSVP'd yes to a friends mexico wedding by the deadline they gave which was a month ahead of time, but we didn't actually book the trip till two weeks before the wedding. We cut it really close. It was more finances for us and trying to decide whether we were taking our 1 yr old or not. I'm expecting the same to happen for us when we finally send our save the dates. However, I hope to send ours out a year and half ahead of time giving people plenty of time to book and pay...I will give them a fake deadline first and then those who don't make it I will give them one final deadline...which will be way before the actual deadline again...LOL...I just don't want to be stressing out about things I shouldnt be...the whole point for me having a destination wedding.

I think November is a great time to do it. We haven't set an official wedding date, but I know when I was pregnant, my due date lol was February and we did my baby shower at the beginning of November since most people would be worried about xmas expenses at already by the end of november. LOL I know totally different than a bridal shower. lol but i would certainly avoid doing it in the middle of the holidays.

Well I think you handled it properly. If you're friend isn't being understanding then maybe this friend isn't too much of a friend. Besides, traditionally, where I'm from, unless the person is engaged or married, you send the invite to the person as a single invite...LOL...of course, not many people do that, but I recently knew someone that did just that. As a matter of fact it was one of the owners of a company I use to work for. She got the company list and those who were married received and invite and she counted for 2 guests and those who were not officially married...she counted as 1 and they were not allowed to bring a guest/date///no ifs ands or buts about it. Worked for her.