Aphrodite

I think we have all gone through bridal party drama. When I first chose my bridal party I knew I wanted it small. So I picked 3 BMs (one being the MOH). One of my close friends LOST IT because I didn't pick her. She was telling me how shocked and offended she was because she couldn't understand how I could pick them over her since I have known her for 7 years. Well it's pretty easy actually - my MOH has been my friend since we were 13...that makes 15 years of friendship. My other bridesmaid has been my friend for 12 years and her and her husband are the ones that introduced me to my fiance - they are both in our bridal party. Then my sister is my other bridesmaid - no question there. This friend won't talk to me about anything wedding related because she says it's a "sore spot". PFFFFFFF. All I learned is that people think they are entitled to things and someone always ends up getting upset. You can't make everyone happy. My bridal party has been great - with the minor exception of arguing about the length of their dresses that I paid for. They are tea length organza dresses that a couple of them want shortened to show half their knee. I said no and that they are more than welcome to alter them like that AFTER my wedding.

I based my decision on the hotel's reputation first - I was not one that was lucky enough to travel to the DR ahead of time to look at the hotels. I knew I wanted a 5 star. Then I emailed all the wedding coordinators at all the hotels I was interested in. If they responded within 24 hours, they made it to the next list, if not BUH-BYE! lol My theory is this - this is the person you have to communicate with during this whole process. It's nerve racking enough that you can't be there to physically see things! Then I looked at the best bang for your buck! In the end I picked Gran Bahia Principe Punta Cana - taxes in $1385 (flight included) all inclusive club gold. The wedding package I picked was $1500 (some hotels charge more). The private reception I picked was about $850 (some hotels charge more - this is also optional). I secured a group rate for 30 people for this price (I don't expect more than 30). If there are more than 30 then the travel agent will work something out for the rest of the people coming. Some people want to book last minute - that's fine but I still need them to RSVP by July (our wedding is in November) because the hotel needs a guest list for the rooms and what not by August (3 months ahead of time).

Glad to see this! Makes me feel less crazy that we are doing our engagement photos with our Doberman lol.

Oh and I'm glad to hear that you guys liked the photographer so much, we will be using him as well! )

Well I saw some pretty ridiculous pictures of some very ignorant tourists getting right up close to the ceremony (I would attach pictures but the website is giving me some issues right now). I'm easily distracted lol. If I see some fat man in a thong bikini...I will notice! lol I just want to ensure that my ceremony is very intimate and while I appreciate wanting to have the beautiful scenic background of the ocean and the beach - I won't lie when I say I just found the gazebo to be stunning as well, so I'm not disappointed that I won't be right on the beach. We will be taking pictures there anyways.

See but the problem is, I'm not arranging this AHR. I don't want an AHR. My father is insisting to have one but then he wants to limit the amount of guests to 80 (we have 170 invited to the actual wedding). He was more concerned about some of my immediate family missing out on the DW and not being able to see me in my dress and all that kind of jazz. I would have found it completely reasonable to just have a casual affair... But we're Italian and he insists on having it in a hall. Ugh...... So frustrating.......

I think this dress is beautiful and absolutely perfect for a DW! Let me share some words of advice LOL - you will never make everyone happy with your wedding. Some of your bridesmaids won't like things simply because they have been bitten by the "green monster". We all know how that feels - you want marriage but you aren't getting it while other girls around you are. I'm sure some of us have pouted about it lol. So, in conclusion, don't worry about what other people think. Do what makes YOU happy and what YOU think will make you look like your gorgeous self on your special day )

I'm looking at sending DW invitations out and then sending AHR invitations out after that... I started a new thread re: this issue if any of you ladies are interested!

Well I'll tell you I ended up booking the gazebo. The idea of gawkers didn't sit well with me and I thought this was best. More private and to be perfectly honest, the gazebo looks beautiful!

Confused and need help! Quick question (sort of lol). I am sending my wedding invitation out in a couple of weeks. My father has booked a hall for an AHR as well. He wants it to be small (80ish people) and wants it based mainly on family and people who aren't able to come to Dominican. I'm asking people to RSVP for our DW in July (need a guest list for the hotel for August) for our wedding in November. Would it be confusing/weird/inappropriate for me to send invitations out for the AHR AFTER the RSVPs come in for the DW? Let me know what you ladies think, I respect all your opinions )

I can work with Square One too! )

Dreams was actually one of my first choices - I am getting married November 11, 2011. I ended up choosing Gran Bahia Principe Punta Cana - gold club package, flights and everything ended up costing $1385. I had friends complain about that price too - in the end, not everyone will be happy with the pricing. I just told them if they don't like it then don't come and I will see them when we get back. We have the same guarantee that they will honour any price changes that happen 60 days before departure.

I might be able to come out too! I live in Ajax now but find myself in the city on some weekends too.

I'm doing them this weekend - I will update and let you know!

I also hate the word "etiquette". Etiquette to me means someone's opinion - nothing written in stone. I don't know why people can't understand that times are changing, ceremonies are changing, destination weddings are becoming more popular and the same rules just don't apply anymore.

Kimberli 1211 and CdnBeatPrincess - BEAUTIFUL dress! I may be biased because mine is a similar style LOL, but I LOVE it. I think I gathered you ladies have the same dress, right?

That's another thing I was thinking of too that heidilynn28 mentioned... Does everyone end up buying favours for their guests for their AHR too? I'm not sure how it is for everyone else - we are Italian. Our family members will end up bringing cash gifts. We are having our reception at a hall where they will be served a plated dinner. What do you think the protocol is for that? My father is actually paying for the reception as a gift to us and because he wanted it for our family - any money I get will be going back to him because I just feel it's the right thing to do since he paid for it and it makes me feel bad lol. Any suggestions? Are people doing favours or no?

PFFFF! I don't think it's busy at all. I think that when it comes to these new styles like the bottom part of your dress - some people just can't grasp the concept yet lol. Just like some people aren't ready to accept the mermaid style of dress either. As long as you like it, that's all that matters!

You know, it's responses like this that make me love you DW ladies!!

I just LOVE how people throw around the word "etiquette" when it comes to desination weddings. There is nothing set in stone - to me wedding etiquette is based on personal opinion. Yes, there are things that remain true in some circumstances but when it comes to things like a DW - I don't think there is. DWs are getting more popular lately and I don't know why people think it is so tacky to have a reception when you get home. Is it so wrong to want to celebrate with the people who couldn't make it to your DW? It's like they act like you just come home, tell them to show up to your house with a gift and f off lol.

I have been seeing a lot of responses on the internet (not this site) when people say that anyone have a reception after a destination wedding isn't really have a reception and it's tacky to call it that and horrendous for the bride to wear her gown again and blah blah blah. I want to talk to people that have REAL experience with destination weddings - the brides on this forum!!! What are your thoughts on this? I'm having a AHR a week after our DW at a hall just as though we had been married here. I'm planning on wearing my gown and having my bridal party wear their attire too. Am I wrong in doing this? Also as a side note... What have people used/will be using as favours for the AHR?

Thanks! The only reason I'm not doing an online RSVP thing is because a lot of people invited are "old school" Italians in my family and I'm not sure that most of them even have a computer let alone any experience with the internet! LOL

I'm doing a destination wedding in Dominican Republic, followed by a reception at home the week after. Everyone is invited to my wedding and then invited to the reception as I know it will be difficult for most to attend the wedding and I don't like inviting some people to one and not the other kind of thing. Anyways, as far as invitations go - would I put information for both on the same invitation? Would I have a RSVP card that indicates both and have them check off which they are attending? (Both, one or the other, neither kind of thing). The RSVP is what I'm unsure about too... My wedding is in November but my WC in Dominican needs a guest list in August to ensure everyone is staying in the same building kind of thing. Payment for my group rate has to be made in September anyways. So I was going to send out the invitations in early May, have them RSVP for mid-June... Will that work, not work?

Beautiful dresses ladies!!!

Maggie has a beautiful destination wedding line. I originally thought I was going to end up with one of her dresses when I went dress shopping...never thought I would end up with a mermaid style! Great choice!