jolene028

I just finally read this post!!! So helpful to all Canadian Brides! I am from Calgary and getting married in Cuba at the Iberostar Varadero November 2013.

Just so you ladies know even with a base tan you can still burn! It never seems to fail that every time that i go on vacation even with pre tanning a month or so in advance I will bun my face... I am thinking big hats!!! As for lotion go for tsomething that smells great, there are bronzers that are good but with the cooling lotion they tingle and feel really strange!

I am getting married 2013 as well, I am still in the early stages and I agree how do people get everything there... I think that I am going to keep it simple and only bring a few things with me, although the more I search this thread the more I want to do and bring LOL! Have you picked a destiantion and resort??

I am just starting the whole thing, I am putting down my deposit next week, and sending out invites and this is all a little over a year away from our wedding, I thought that by giving them this much time they would all try their best to come, becuase they can take the entire year to pay for the vacation... but reading all these posts are a little concerning! But like everyone else has said, I made peace with this choice a long time ago, anyone that can come fantastic and the people that can't well it is what it is, I mean people dont always come when the wedding is in the same city or town as them, there are things in life that happen! So I will be happy and grateful for those that do come and for those that dont i am sure that there will be loads of pictures if you want to see them!!!! Try to keep in mind all the reasons that you chose to do the DW and that should keep the smile on your face!!!

Congrats to all of you! Iberostar Varadero - Varadero Cuba - November 18, 2013.

I am with you on this... my FI has been ready and just waiting for me for the past while I am sure that he wants to do it and get on with it, and I wanted to be married first and then after the proposal I wanted to wait over a year so that we could do destination, we better have a honeymoon baby or he is going to have to wait even longer! LOL

I am using mywedding.com I stumbled upon it and love it!

Glad to help. After I pay the deposit next week if I get anymore information or some questions answered I will let you know!!!!!

So my quote had a 2 week expiry so I have to have mine and my FI's deposit paid by Oct 31 ($300) and then with that deposit the tour company will hold 30 seats for 90 days, within that 90 days the price is protected, so all the guests have to come up with at that time is $150 deposit and then the balance is due 60 days before travel. At least thats how I understand it, I am not sure how it works if I have more than 30 people... but I think that I am going to pay the deposit and then send the invites and then not really worry about it (or try not too)!!! But we are going in next week to pay and ask my last minute questions!!!

Do you have the template for the luggage tags that you would be willing to share???

Thanks I am too! And lets hope that is the most stress that I have to deal with LOL

Ladies, thanks for all the advise! I finally emailed the head office for my travel agent and got the Western Regional Manager involved, make a long story short she has pretty much got me back to the price that I was quoted 2 months ago... I am pretty happy that they were able to work with me and make me happy!!! There is still really no solution for my Winnipeg guests but we will work something out, they keep suggesting that they wait until like April or early Summer to book something but i would hate for them not to be able to come, so we will have to figure something out but the biggest part is solved and i can get on with everything else!!!!!

These are really pretty!!!!

Ok ladies great news... after I went on a rampage to the head office of my TA I got them to almost get me back to the price that i was quoted 2 months ago!!! I couldnt be happier and the Western Regional Manager Sandy was great with listening to me she came to Calgary just to investigate everything that has happened to me over the past 2 months (thank god we did almost everything by email) She also got in touch with Transat and had them lower the price $50 a person, but they are also going to provide each one of my guests with headphones and 2 drink tickets... oh the little things LOL So I am going in next week to pay my deposit and then I can finally get invitations out and be done with this stressful period of the planning and maybe start some of the fun DIY stuff that I have on my list!!!!

MelB2012 - I've suggested grey linen with a purple tie (a vest with no jacket, sleeves rolled up... LOVE IT) Love, love, love this look, when i pictured a destination wedding i pictured all the guys in white shirts with the sleeves rolled up!!!!!! And I am sure that you will figure out something for them to wear... what about Ivory and Purple???

I love these! You did a great job... i am getting married in Cuba as well, and was planning to do something like this!!! Thanks for sharing!

I am lucky my aunt owns a kennel just outside of the city so my boys will be staying there while we are gone for the first week and then nana (my mom) will go pick them up and they will stay at her house for the second week that we are gone! And you are right they are just like kids both mine sleep in the bed with us, its funny how they have such personalities when it comes down to it they really are like our kinds! LOL We decided just to do the honeymoom while we are there, we ususally go on holidays every February and this year we arent going anywhere until the wedding because we need to holiday time, but it is going to be a long, long wait... it can get really cold here during the winter! But I would have loved to do something like what you are talking about... maybe the year after maybe!

I love, love this it is so cute!!!! I have 2 dogs they are the love of my life! Rico and Carlos Yorkie and a Yorkie Pap cross!!!!!

I can send it to you if you want I just need to track it down (we moved at the beginning of summer and I am still not unpacked)

I love the dresses that you picked for the girls they look like salsa dancer dresses they are really pretty! WHo doesnt love chessecake I made a spiced rum and egg nog one last year at Christmas and now I have three requests for this year!!!

I love all of these colours!!! Mine is Orange (tangerine) and bright pink!!! luck for me my FI's favorite colour is orange so thats how I got pink! LOL

Congrats... welcome! I dont think there is anything wrong with loads of planning time, and I think that time will fly by, think it is almost Christmas again time seems to scream by!!!

Oh two of my best friends and one friend who is just a good friend have already gotten married and I told all of them that they should have had a destination wedding, during their planning and all three said no way no way... now all three of them have come back and said man I should have listened to you! LOL Honestly I havent had a lot of my family or friends get judgemental yet, I am just doing my best to make sure that I can answer all of their questions when the time comes... my biggest problem has been my TA (I explained all the issues in earlier pages of this post) But fingers crossed I phoned their head office yesterday and made a big stink about all the mess ups and basically told them they better do something or I am going to use another travel agent, and preliminary numbers put our trip at 40 (who knows when it comes down to put your money where your mouth is) but for now they are going to lose out huge! Anyway she is supposed to get back to me this afternoon! But you are right at the end of the day I dont care who is there or if we wind up being the only ones I am finally going to get to marry the man of my dreams and my best friend and I think that is really all I care about!!!!!

Thats awesome congrats!!! I am having my moms best friends son do our for a case of beer! LOL he is in second year photography and won't let me pay him! But winnig them thats really exciting!

YUCK that doesn't sound like something I want to do at all! Oh well back to the drawing board... I will wait I still have some quotes out! Man you would think this would be easier LOL oh well I guess I will just really appriciate our "holiday" wedding that much more! I have to wait until I am home to look at the pictures I am at work and they block FB BOO