Vancouver Bride

Hi We looked at Magestic Elegance in PC too-it was one of our top faves in PC In my mind ANY resort in the tropics will be so much fun and amazing, so although it is very important, don't stress too much. It will be fun no matter where it's at.

We are going for early Nov at the shoulder season after the peak of hurricane season. Prices jump like crazy in mid November and December and we really wanted to keep it under $2,000 cost per guest (not possible to do after Nov ~15). There is more of a weather risk in Oct/Nov compared to Dec Jan and the spring, but we decided for us it was worth it to have everyone we wanted able to afford it. I am sure the descision is different for each person ofcourse. We are working with Tara Thorp based in Vancouver for our travel and wedding planning (http://forevertruewd.com/about/). She is actually coming with us to the wedding and she is the one dealing with the resort planner at Dreams. We go through Tara , but she works with a travel agent company in Vancouver Destination Wedding Travel (http://destinationweddingtravel.ca/). Good luck planning!

Hi I'm getting married at Dreams, La Romana, DR on Oct 29 and live in Richmond. When and where is your wedding? I'd love to meet up with some DW brides for coffee! Vancouver Bride

Hi Andrenna It's so exciting to "meet" another DLR bride, especially one with similar dates and guest list It sounds like our weddings are quite similar.We are doing private beach gazebo ceremony, SSG deck/pier cocktails, and SSG reception. I am also NOT happy about the reception venue fee (that none of the othe Dreams have apparently). Our wedding planner went all the way to the head of AI resorts and tried to remove it, but no luck. We wanted airconditioned for the older guests, so outside isn't an option for the reception. We may have to pay for the speakers twice beleive it or not. We have one set with a mic for the beach ceremony and another set of speakers and mic for the reception/toasts. I have asked our planner to negotiate on a lower price or just getting one set and having them move it, but apparently the speaker set up is different for inside vs. outside. We are just bringing an ipod and hooking it up. Yes the forced overnight from Vancouver flight disaster was quite a surprise, especially after our planner said that rarely happens. We are working with a planner and travel agent based in Vancouver. My FI and I were very stern and said that the Toronto overnight was unacceptable for our guests as several relatives are 70+. Instead we are going through Montreal with a free hotel stay and relaxed brunch that morning before flying to DR. It takes longer, but the more relaxed overnight will be easier for our grandparents. I was NOT happy about the flight situation, but it's solved now. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I can't imagine that happening. I'm happy to help you out or at least chat and vent to each other since our weddings are so similar if you want. Just PM me or email me at [email protected] Vancouver Bride

Hi Gems2wed2012 Yeah-that's so exciting! Maybe we will see each other around the pool! We still have to do flowers, food menu, decorations, but it's all coming together! We are doing cocktails on the pier/deck of SSG and reception at SSG. I can't beleive it's less than 8 weeks away! Congrats to you and your FI! Vancover Bride

Hi ladies Here is my engagement ring (Blue Nile) and wedding band (Spence Diamonds) both are platinum. My FI picked out the engagement ring himself and I absolutely love it! We picked out the wedding band together. I tried on more blingy wedding bands, but they distracted from the solitaire. I also wanted a wedding band I could wear everyday forever, and not worry about damaging at work. Both of our wedding bands have a gold infinity symbol with our birthstones on the inside. Here is my FI wedding band. He wanted a textured ring that wouldn't show scratches at work. He designed it himself with a local Vancouver jeweler.

Hi ladies I couldn't decide so I just bought both pairs below on Zappos (Amazon has them also)! Steve Madden Shiekk $70 USD in pewter http://www.zappos.com/steve-madden-shiekk-pewter Ivanka Trump Valerie in turquoise $105 http://www.zappos.com/ivanka-trump-valerie-turquoise

We were quoted $300-350 (see Dreams brochure also) for the A/V speakers/mic/iPod docking station set up for the beach ceremony. I think they will charge you a fee for the electricity hookup even if you bring your own unfortunately. I can't beleive speakers cost that much for less than an hour total play time!?

Hi ladies! Wedding is October 29, 2012, just 8 weeks away! We are having the ceremony in the private beach gazebo-so excited! Cocktail reception on the pier/deck and reception is booked for Seaside grille. We aren't having dancing/DJ at the reception because there are only 30 guests, but are going to take over one of the night clubs after the reception. Any other BDW brides going to be at DLR the week of 26 Oct-3 Nov?? It's creeping closer--so excited! Vancouver Bride

Yes, I love shutterfly and use them all the time! They have 40% off sales frequently.Also, if you create a book and let it sit in your account for a few weeks, they will send you a coupon code or discount in your email to "encourage" you to finish it!

Hi Dazeydawl In my opinion, you can change the wedding colours without the burlap and keep your wedding invites as it. Most people won't notice if the invites don't match the wedding colours. I'd choose what you think will look best in photos-maybe ask your wedding photographer about adding the grey/brown/purple togther?

Hi I have 4 BM and decided from the start I wanted to pay for their dresses because they are already paying ~$1,800 each for flight and resort at the wedding. I know that it isn't usually expected, but I thought that it would be a nice gesture since all my BM are University students or new parents. I know that each girl would have paid for it herself, but I didn't want to add stress to them already saving for the wedding. Paying for the BM dresses also made it more effecient for me when I was home (I live in another country than 3 of my BM). I went to David's Bridal and picked out my wedding dress and 4 BM dresses all in less than 2 hours!!! I paid and checked out all at once, knowing that was done I chose the same colour, but let each pick the style and they were $135-150 each. In the end, paying for 4 BM dresses and 4 groomsmen clothes was about $1,600 of our budget, but I'm happy we did it and adjusted our budget elsewhere (i.e. small cake and no dj). I think it depends on each BM's financial situation, but if you buy the dress for one, its good to buy it for them all. Ironically, I am in 2 other weddings this year and I am buying a BM dress for both

Hi JasminB: I just bought Jason Mraz's new CD with that song on it too. I am a HUGE fan of "lucky" and "i'm yours". I keep going back and forth on "i won't give up" because of the part where he sings about letting her "navigate away from him".....it's still on my wedding playlist though! His music is perfect for beach weddings I think!

Branya2012 It took her about 1 week to make the Canuck garter, then she shipped it to Vancouver. I love the hockey stick charm--so cute! I won't be home until September, but will post in the thread about the quality of the finished product when I receive it!

Hi I knew I wanted a pink/orange colour to start with and fell in love with David's Bridal's guava which is coral. I basically picked the version of pink/coral I wanted based on the colours available in the BM dress I liked Our colours are coral/guava with bright turquoise.....maybe going to add in some yellow and going for bright tropical flowers. I absolutely love the pink/orange against turqoise water!!!!

Hi I am from the States and my fiance lives in Canada, plus our families are different religions (we are neither)....so a destination wedding was perfect for us! I've always wanted to get married on a beach. We too had some resistance and complaints from some family about having to pay for their air+resort. I tried to emphasize that this will be a week vacation for the families to get to know each other, especially important when you are all so far apart. Here are a few things that really frusterate me because I think that most guest have no idea about them 1. Yes the DW costs you money for air and resort, BUT DW brides work very hard with a travel agent to get group bookings and group discounts at a rate that you would NEVER get on your own for an entire week's vacation. We plan the wedding 6months--1 year ahead to give our guests pleny of notice. It's an amazing deal for a week's vacation! 2. Even though you pay your air and resort, the wedding is NOT free to DW brides. We still pay for decorations, chair sashes, music, rentals, private menu,flowers, etc. Yes it's usually less expensive than a wedding at home, but that is mostly because the guest numbers are way lower and alcohol is included in the AI. It's still not free. I think that every DW bride goes through this and it sucks. Feel free to vent on here and in the end know it's about you and your groom's day. Vancouver Bride