BusyBee123

I LOVE your pics Cupcake...especially the one of the full bridal party in the lobby! Perfect lighting...just stunning! Your cake topper was super cute! Love it! Look just like the two of you! Ps, what did you guys order for dessert? The way they served it is awesome! We were going to go with the tiramisu, but might have to change that up!

This forum has been such a wonderful help to me, but there's one thing I haven't been able to find on here - help with choosing outfits for engagement photo sessions!!! I've heard a number of different suggestions: 1. No logos 2. No distracting patterns 3. Stick to the basics, some say dark denim or khahis and white or black shirts While I agree with the logos and patterns, I really don't want us to look too matchy matchy or boring! I'd like to be somewhat dressed up as we don't get professional photos taken every day, but I don't want to look overdone! Does anyone have any other tips? We're doing our engagement session Oct 6th and hoping to get some beautiful fall colours in the background! Thanks for you help and happy wedding planning!

I saw the hoodie as well, and its cute, but I really wanted something I could wear to the spa while I get ready. I think the hoodie would be too hot!

Hey Ashley... Try think link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MVk6kFDzIY. It has a whole bunch of different wedding songs on steel drums and is a good starting point at least!

FleetMac - I think the 2007 edition is the most recent. That's what they sent me when I emailed Tai Flora directly in the spring. I know a few are misnumbered (mine (#52) was cut off and the prior two bouquets were both labelled 50!) but the explanations next to them seemed accurate. I just emailed Tai Flora to clarify and they were super helpful and easy to work with.

Does anyone know if they're still selling these? I really really want one and can't seem to find them anywhere! I tried looking through the whole VS website but they're not on there! Help please!!!

Ashley - Thanks so much for posting your response! I really appreciate it! As usual I am still waiting to hear back, but that's definitely reassuring! I was super confused as to what I was supposed to be authorizing! Thanks!

Hey JayKay... I've been down a few of these roads already... 1/2. We emailed about a month ago about setting up our welcome dinner to the email that cupcake provided. They got back to us relatively quickly, and apparently put us on some kind of list, but said they couldn't confirm until 2 weeks before. She said the Grill should definitely be available given that it is high season, which should be a good option cause our wedding dinner is at the Dolce. Our welcome dinner is (tentatively, if booking comes through) on the Sunday, with us arriving Saturday. We figured then people would have one day to rest up, but would still meet all the other guests early enough to be able to socialize outside of wedding events. 3. I have the PDF catalogues for bouquets and a second for arrangements/decor from Tai Flora if you want them. Just pm me with your email and I can send them your way. 4. We're still trying to figure that out too! I think we're going to wait until we get there to check it out! Happy Planning! Quote: Originally Posted by JayKay Like BusyBee123, my wedding day is fast approaching! Where has the time gone?! I just have a few questions and hope to find the answers here. 1. We want to do a welcome dinner. We arrive at the resort on a Monday and get married the Friday. What day would be appropriate for the welcome dinner? We were thinking either the Wednesday or the Thursday. Would it be weird to have it the day before the wedding? 2. If any past brides did have a welcome dinner, did you go to an A La Cart or the buffet? We are only a group of 16. If we do have it in an A La Cart do we have to pay for it? And does it count for the number of A La Cart you can use in the week? Also, how did you go about arranging it with the resort? 3. The more I look at the free bouquts, the more I realize I don't like any of them! I am thinking of getting some other flowers from Tai Flora. How did you go about this? Did you email the wedding planners at the resort or Tai Flora directly? How much is it costing you? 4. I need your opinion. We are only a group of 16. Between our wedding party and ourselves that leaves only 10 guests in chairs in the aisle. Do you think it would be weird to have our guests sit on the first layer of the gazebo around it, instead of on the walkway leading to the gazebo? 5. Has anyone made a CD of their own music and taken it with them? Does someone play it for you? How many songs do you need? If anyone has any answers I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

Thanks so much cupcake! I really appreciate it! Great explanation of the resort....I think we definitely want something more central! I was really wondering how new those "new" rooms in section 23 would still look! After all, most of those posts were written >2years ago! Thanks again, and congrats on a beautiful day and becoming a MRS!

JayKay, We'll still be there! We're Saturday 7th to Saturday 14th, so as of your wedding day we'll officially be done with all the welcome dinners, rehearsals, wedding day and trash the dress! Wow, its going to be a busy week! We'll definitely have to stop by! A few questions for everyone now that my wedding day is only 109 days away! Eeek! Suddenly feel like there is a lot left to be done! 1. Once you've sent in your initial info form, the 2nd form with all of the info about food, cakes, music, etc. and your notarized documents (birth certificate/passport), is there anything else you need to send in? I have also sent them pics of cakes and gazebo decor, my ceremony script and my receipt from Tai Flora for my additional flower package. Am I missing anything? 2. I got an email from Donnalee saying I needed to send in my credit card authorization form. What I'm confused about, is what I'm paying for in advance? We're getting the free package and there are 16 of us on the dot. We're renting the gazebo with DJ and bartenders for the reception, and the steel drum band for the ceremony/champaign toast, but I was under the impression I wouldn't pay for that until after as she always reminds me that it will "officially be confirmed upon arrival". Does anyone know what we need to pay for up front? 3. For those who recently got married - I read on this board ages ago, that brides were recommending that you ask for you and your guests to be placed in one of the newer sections of the resort. Section 23 seemed to come up a lot. I was thinking of emailing to see if we can all at least be placed in the same section, and was wondering where you guys stayed, and if there was another area of the resort you would have preferred? Ideally I'd like to be somewhere central ish, but not hear the noise of the disco all night long. Any tips? 4. Did Chandlyn book the initial meeting and rehearsal time with you in advance or on arrival? Our week is so busy with excursions, hair and makeup trials, etc, etc, so it would be nice to be able to book those in advance. Also I'd like to put the rehearsal time on my guest itinerary (our bridal party is almost half our whole group!). Thanks a bunch! The countdown is officially on!

Jaykay: I agree 110%! I've come to accept that the day will not run entirely without a flaw! All we can do for the time being is focus on organizing and simplifying things on our end and hope for the best! The reality is, none of our guests know what the plan is; they're just going to see an amazing day in the sunshine with their close friends/family getting married! To them I'm sure it will seem perfect anyways! Unless is rains...that's the one thing that would totally ruin the day for me! lol! Ps, you won't be 'spying' on my wedding! You're welcome to come and check it out! Would be great to see you down there! I couldn't agree with you more. I have been spending most of my time lately writing out and drawing pictures so I can take and show exactly what I want and explain everything I want. I already have come to terms that not everything is going to go as planned and Im okay with that. I get a daily wedding tip in my email and the other day it said this " Don't worry about the little things that didn't go exactly as planned, likely, you are the only one to notice. Enjoy your day and the memories you are making" It really got me thinking that not everything can go perfectly and I feel like if I prepare myself now It will be okay!! PS I'm going to spy on your wedding!!

I love your message in a bottle invites! The boxes look so professional! Well done!

Espejo2be - Thanks so much for sharing your pics!!! They are absolutely stunning! Such a beautiful day! And I think you're exactly right - at the end of the day you are married, you have these beautiful pics and a few good laughs! I know that everything seems frustrating right now, but try to hang in there! Remember that everything works on "Island Time", the expectations for timely response is very different from North American standards. On top of that, the language they often use would not mean the same thing to us ie. "you have no file". Not the best way to communicate that they are missing one form. For the time being, I am focusing on trying to optimize the instructions that I will be giving to Chandlyn/Donnalee to minimize the chance of error and hopefully give us the best shot of getting what we want. I've made a document with clear instructions and pictures of what I want the gazebo to look like and how I want everything set up (and I included the importance of having the sand ceremony sand in the vases!). I've also made documents for the dinner and diagrams of each place setting, room set up, etc. Hopefully between the text and the pics, it will be crystal clear! We've heard from other brides on here that with clear instructions, they really have gotten the vast majority of what they were expecting, so I think its worth the time! I'm not sure if that helps at all, but I'm trying to focus on what I can do on my end rather than on the wedding planners. Happy Planning!

My FI tried the Le Chateau suit as well, but the fit was awful on him. Plus he found the fabric really scratchy. We ended up ordering them from Macy's and got a great deal as they were on clearance! It came to under $100 for the suit taxes in! There were a ton of different options, so we ended up getting my FI the full pants and jacket, and getting the groomsmen pants and vests. It was a nice option so we can differentiate between the groom and groomsmen, and the guys will be a little bit cooler. What made it more convenient, is that we were able to order them online, then Macy's held them at the closest location until we were able to pick them up. We're about a 2hr drive from the boarder, so it was a great excuse for a weekend trip! We're pairing their outfits up with white shirts, coral ties and dark brown leather sandals.

I agree...the first one is really unique!

ACW: She sent me those as well! I was really hoping that they would be able to make a standard fondant frosted cake, especially because the first option seems to be simple smooth fondant (minus the sand decor!). That being said, every cake I have ever seen actual photos of has that thick swirly icing look. Has anyone asked for any of these cakes specifically? Its from 2010, so I'm wondering if they've switched bakers or something? Cakes.pdf 2012 packages.doc

Hey....in terms of the flower situation, I really did not like any of the options that the hotel package provided. At all! I contemplated Jan's and Tai, but ended up going with Tai Flora in the end. When I contacted Tai Flora the first time, they were initially very slow to respond (i think it took 2 weeks). However, after our initial contact the communication was quick (within a day or two). I had a fabulous time working with them and found them really easy to work with. Don't be discouraged...its just that initial wait that takes forever for some reason. In the end, they accommodated all of my requests in making bouquets for myself and my bridesmaids, boutonieres for the men and wrist corsages for the moms. I found the prices really very reasonable for the size of the bouquets I requested. I even had room left in my flower budget to add 2 large arrangements on pedestals to my decor for the gazebo. I can't speak for the quality of the arrangements yet, but I'm hoping they'll be as beautiful as the pics! Good luck!

Hey all! I LOVE this thread!!! Thank you so much for all of the amazing ideas!!! What would I do without Etsy!? Here's what I have found recently: 1. These little bags are going to hold my gifts for my bridemaids! They may even be able to be used as a clutch for the big day, then as a makeup case! They were super super affordable and from morgantatedesigns 2. I loved this bracelet, but thought that it would suit one of my bridesmaids better as an anklet, so this seller was great about making it a little bit longer! I also got this necklace from the same seller for my other bridesmaid and got the monogram letter tag put on it like the anklet. They're both similar but unique in their own way. I got them from Ritasoy who was amazing to work with! 3. Personalized lip balm! The seller was great to work with an made cute personalized labels for us! We tried making our own, but they turned out horribly! Plus these are in Pina Colada scent! Yum! The seller is: Beachinabox. 4. Pocket mirror that I saw from another poster on here! Such a cute idea and yet so easy and affordable! PLus they are in our wedding colours! Love them! The seller was eccolo! Happy Shopping!

I've emailed twice to clarify and was told that we need copies of our passport and birth certificate notarized. She said if they were notarized we did not need to apply for the long form birth certificate. I have faxed her both of those so far and she said they were acceptable! Here's hoping they still are when it comes to getting the marriage license!

Hey Dragonage - Congrats on being a married woman! Your pics are absolutely amazing! So glad to hear such a great review! I'm less than thrilled about the roaches because this is the second time I have heard this...but what can you do I guess!?! :S I would love the name and number of a great taxi driver!!! We're looking for someone we can hire for the full day to drive us around to different TTD sites! That would be much appreciated! OOOH!! So exciting Tekeya!!! Have a fabulous time and can't wait to hear all about it when you get back!

My photographers provided us with a list of the standard shots that they do but have asked us to add to the list every additional shot that we absolutely cannot live without. I really appreciate it, because then I won't be looking back thinking, "Oh, we should have gotten a pic of this!". I'm sure most photographers would appreciate the additional direction! Its far better to give them the information early rather than be disappointed later on! I say go for it!

We stayed here about a year and a half ago and had the best time! Such a great resort! It should be especially good for you group of kids with the water trampolines and water slides! We saw quite a few weddings while we were there and they looked amazing! I would highly recommend the gazebo over the other area. It was in this grassy part of the resort and somewhat of an awkward location. In terms of the a la cartes you have to go to the grill and say hi to Kevin! Amazing food, great service, and great photography I might add! I think we ate there 4 of the 7 nights! Good luck with the planning!

We are flying in our photographers from home too. We hired two photographers who are a husband and wife team. They are willing to shoot an engagement session pre depature, our welcome dinner, unlimited hours on the wedding day and a full day TTD session the next day and all in exchange for just the cost of their flight and accomodations for the week. Seeing as we booked a group and get a person free for each 10 people booked, we're actually getting both photographers for the price of one all inclusive vacation! We looked at a few Jamaican photographers who seemed amazing, but it was much cheaper to work with someone from home. And we liked the fact that they had shot a few of our friends weddings who had been super happy with them, and we are developing a relationship with them. In the end I think it worked out well for them as they can expand their portfolio with destination weddings and we get two great photographers who's company we enjoy all for a great price! Couldn't be better! Before deciding on something I would defnitely shop around. You'll only get one wedding day, and I can only imagine how quickly that day will fly by! The pictures will be what stands the test of time.

Espejo2be - Congrats on getting married!!! Glad to hear that you had a great time and enjoyed the resort! I'm sad to hear about some of the trouble that you had with your big day. Rain is the #1 thing that I am dreading, because there really isn't all that much that you can do! Its unavoidable unfortunately. This isn't the first time I've read about stuff going missing after the reception. Given their history, we're going to hand off the super important stuff to my parents, and the rest won't be the end of the world if it goes missing! Hope you're enjoying newly married life and congrats again! Good luck with buying the hubby a new ring!

Hey all...hope your planning is going well! Just a quick question for those who have already been to the resort/have read a ton of reviews! We're going to try to request that all of our guests (we're a smaller party) all be put in the same room section for convenience. I've heard that Section 23 is newer and has nicer rooms, but that Section 16-18 is right in the middle of everything and really convenient. Just wondering if anyone on here has any options about where the best place to stay might be? I may not be guaranteed, but its worth a shot requesting it! Thanks a bunch!