AmyG

This is such a great thread!!! Thank you for sharing. :-)

I can see why you fell in love with the second dress, it is Gorgeous...you look amzaing in it. The first dress is definitely beautiful too, but you gotta go with your gut feeling. :-)

Wow! It is Stunning on you!! Congrats on finding this great dress!

Welcome kath1072!!!! You are going to get soooooo much useful information on this website! Have fun planning! :-)

Wow, this is a GORGEOUS dress! It looks great on you too!!! It reminds me of my dress, maybe that's why I like it so much! hehe ;-)

Hi jamieirene, I Love your STD's....soooo cute! I just sent out my STD's for my March 16, 2012 wedding in Mexico, so I do not think it is too early at all. I also included my TA's info and resort rates so people can book this early.

You all look so great in your dresses!!! Mine comes in this June or July...I can't wait to post a pic so I can get some opinions. :-)

Hi TropicLover, I narrowed down my top 3 resorts, just like you did, based on their wedding packages and online reviews. Then, I shopped different travel agents to compare their rates for each resort. Since I went to different TA's in the past few months, I was able to get 2012 rates. I chose the Now Sapphire because my TA could get me a good rate and I just liked it the most. After I made the decision for the Now Sapphire, I contacted the WC there and confirmed my wedding date and locked that in. Then my TA contracted my rates with the resort and locked those in. Those contracted rates will not go up at all as long as my guests book through my TA. My Save the Dates are going out this weekend with my TA's info and the group rate info. It is only the resort rates at this time because airfare rates are not available yet. For guests that know they are coming, regardless of the airfare rates, they are able to put down a $100 deposit with my TA to secure their room at the resort. Guests have an option to book just the resort through my TA or both the resort and the airfare. I did not want to wait for the rates to go down because I wanted to give my guests one years notice of my exact wedding date so they can start planning accordingly. I can't say that I am 100% happy with my contracted room rates, but I love the resort and the wedding package so I moved forward with it. Let me know if you have any other questions and I will try to help you out! :-)

Sharon99 I'm glad I didn't confuse you, lol. I saw that my WC requires a final count 2 months ahead of the wedding date, so you're right I know some guests may procrastinate in sending back their RSVP's so maybe I will do it sooner than 4 months and then send out my at home reception invites later. I am sealing the envelopes with the save the dates tomorrow with the TA info and rates (& our website with plenty of info) so I also hope that people start to book or at least put down their deposits in the next few months. :-) My airfare is not available yet, but my TA said to send out what I have now for the resort rates and he will update my website with airfare prices when they are available, plus I know a lot of guests will shop airfare on their own.

Sharon99, I just saw that you said you were going to send out your invites when airfare comes out....I included my travel agents contact info and the discounted group rates already in my save the date package...my airfare comes out at the end of April but my TA said he would just give my guests the resort info for now and let them know they have to wait for airfare info. I was 'advised' to still send out an official invite a few months prior to my wedding just so I get formal RSVP's back because some guests may be booking through another TA so I would want a final count. I'm sure I have confused you at this point....sorry :-(

Sharon99, You know I was just thinking about the invites the other day and I am stuck because I was going to send out my invites for my DW together with my invite for my home town reception....I figured for those who RSVP No to the DW can have that opporunity to RSVP to the home town reception. Now I am not sure when to send out that 'official' invitation. I originally planned to do it 3 months before my wedding date (so send them approx. Dec. 15, 2011) BUT that seems so far in advance for someone to RSVP to my home town reception/party....what were you thinking of doing?

I am exactly one year away and I am so excited!!! My wedding is booked, I got group rates from my TA set, my save the dates are going out this weekend, I ordered my dress....I guess I can relax now!

I'm sending out my Save the Dates this weekend! Once that is done, I can sit back and relax for a while....at least I think I can. ;-)

Thanks 82turtles! I did go over all of the details with my TA after I posted on here and he made me feel better by saying basically what you told me about how I would get the money back as each guest paid towards their deposits. It just seemed like a lot to put out, but I'd rather be safe by having the rooms put aside and the better rate for my guests. I also got the absolute final deadline, which I believe is 100 days prior to the event, to drop the rooms to get the remaining balance back. I am going to go forward with paying the deposit. :-)

Welcome kmm8984!!! Congrats on getting your confirmnation from Sandra! I am a March 16, 2012 bride! This forum is AWESOME! I have gotten so much help and feedback on here that it has really made my planning a lot easier! :-) -Amy

Thank you girls for easing my mind about the deposit. I have been asked to put down $5500, it's a lot of money to put out so I just wanted to be sure everyone went through this same situation. I'm going to go ahead and put down the deposit to be sure I can get the good rate for my guests and have the rooms set aside. Thanks!!!!!

Wow that's awesome, my quote was for 80 rooms being held (that's too many rooms, but my TA wanted to be on the safe side) and my deposit required by the resort was $5500. Something is not right. Are you working with a travel agent or doing it on your own?....also, did you book your rooms when the resort was under previous management, the Paradisus Resort or was it recently through The Now? Thanks!!!

Question....I have been working with a Travel Agent to help organize all of the travel info for my DW. My TA just told me today that in order for me to hold a good number of rooms I have to put down thousands of dollars for a 'hold deposit' with the resort. Has anyone else had to go through this yet?...I was just wondering if this is normal.

Question....I have been working with a Travel Agent to help organize all of the travel info for my DW. My TA just told me today that in order for me to hold a good number of rooms I have to put down thousands of dollars for a 'hold deposit'. Has anyone else had to go through this yet?...I was just wondering if this is normal.

jystar13, Have a GREAT time and enjoy yourself...CONGRATS!!!! :-)

Are there any other Now Sapphire brides to be on here?

Thank you Maritza919!....I hope you enjoy your stay at The Sapphire. I have never traveled there, so I am going in blind, but I'm not too worried. I hope you can post a full review when you get back!!

YAYYYYY!!!!! I just got my confirmation from Sandra at the Sapphire....so it is official! My wedding date is March 16, 2012. I have a lot of time, but I feel soooo much relief that I can cross this off my list! Thank you all for answering all of my questions about the resort, I appreciate all the feedback!

Thanks LHD8, I just emailed you back! :-)

LHD18, I do not have the Now Sapphire wedding book, can you please send it to me....I really appreciate it! My email is: [email protected] THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!