CourtandMatt

In case someone comes across this forum and would like to see my destination wedding timeline, go here: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/81516/destination-wedding-timelines-to-do-lists. I also posted it on my planning thread (see below). HAPPY PLANNING!!

I just realized I messed up the years. Please see the corrected calendar: Our Destination Wedding Timeline: Spring 2012 (1 year + to wedding): Set up account on bestdestinationwedding.com Pick location Pick date Find travel coordinator Book block of rooms Book photographer Book officiant June 2012 (11 months): Registry Wedding budget July 2012 (10 months): Find a wedding dress Buy wedding dress Buy wedding accessories (e.g., veil, head piece, shoes) August 2012 (9 months): Birth certificates Find out about travel documents, visas and vaccinations Tell bridesmaids about their dresses September 2012 (8 months): Invitations Book hotel rooms & flights Get travel insurance Buy wedding ring for Courtney Research photo shots & talk to photographer Videographer Hair/Makeup October 2012 (7 months): Plan first dance Look at groomsmen outfits Get corset made November 2012 (6 months): Mail invitations December 2012 (5 months): Guestbook Notarized copies of birth certificate and passports Table decor Choose ceremony readings Get Matt's ring Plan rehearsal dinner January 2013 (4 months): Attendant's gifts Call resort about music Floral shop - think about flowers Call officiant Research honeymoon Mail required documents to resort Submit wedding announcement to newspaper Figure out name change stuff Get dress altered February 2013 (3 months): Create place cards Bridal party outfits reminder Look into cakes Check resort has required documents Ceremony programs Pick up Moms' gifts Call ppl who haven't rsvped Reception seating plan March 2013 (2 months): Complete welcome bags Figure out reception venue & food options Must play and do not play song list Finalize trip schedule (including day of) Email bridal party trip schedule Wedding toasts Second payment to photographer April 2013 (1 month): Write vows Change insurance policies and beneficiaries Give resort final head count Give seat chart to resort Confirm play list with DJ Figure out payment plan with family Write welcome letter for welcome bags Plan welcome cocktails May 2013 (THE MONTH): WEDDING June 2013 (-1 month): Thank you notes July 2013 (-2 months): Wedding photo book August 2013 (-3 months): Check on wedding certificate HAPPY PLANNING!!

I just realized I messed up the years. Please see the corrected calendar: Our Destination Wedding Timeline: Spring 2012 (1 year + to wedding): Set up account on bestdestinationwedding.com Pick location Pick date Find travel coordinator Book block of rooms Book photographer Book officiant June 2012 (11 months): Registry Wedding budget July 2012 (10 months): Find a wedding dress Buy wedding dress August 2012 (9 months): Birth certificates Find out about travel documents, visas and vaccinations Tell bridesmaids about their dresses September 2012 (8 months): Invitations Book hotel rooms & flights Get travel insurance Buy wedding ring for Courtney Research photo shots & talk to photographer Videographer Hair/Makeup October 2012 (7 months): Plan first dance Look at groomsmen outfits Get corset made November 2012 (6 months): Mail invitations December 2012 (5 months): Guestbook Notarized copies of birth certificate and passports Table decor Choose ceremony readings Get Matt's ring Plan rehearsal dinner January 2013 (4 months): Attendant's gifts Call resort about music Floral shop - think about flowers Call officiant Research honeymoon Mail required documents to resort Submit wedding announcement to newspaper Figure out name change stuff Get dress altered February 2013 (3 months): Create place cards Bridal party outfits reminder Look into cakes Check resort has required documents Ceremony programs Pick up Moms' gifts Call ppl who haven't rsvped Reception seating plan March 2013 (2 months): Complete welcome bags Figure out reception venue & food options Must play and do not play song list Finalize trip schedule (including day of) Email bridal party trip schedule Wedding toasts Second payment to photographer April 2013 (1 month): Write vows Change insurance policies and beneficiaries Give resort final head count Give seat chart to resort Confirm play list with DJ Figure out payment plan with family Write welcome letter for welcome bags Plan welcome cocktails May 2013 (THE MONTH): WEDDING June 2013 (-1 month): Thank you notes July 2013 (-2 months): Wedding photo book August 2013 (-3 months): Check on wedding certificate HAPPY PLANNING!!

I thought it could be helpful to start a destination wedding timeline/to do list forum. I found one where someone posted a destination wedding book's suggested timeline, but it doesn't seem to work for me. So, I thought I would share my timeline thus far in case it could help others. And, if you have a suggestion or if you would like to share yours, please do! Our Destination Wedding Timeline: Spring 2011 (1 year + to wedding): Set up account on bestdestinationwedding.com Pick location Pick date Find travel coordinator Book block of rooms Book photographer Book officiant June 2011 (11 months): Registry Wedding budget July 2011 (10 months): Find a wedding dress Buy wedding dress August 2011 (9 months): Birth certificates Find out about travel documents, visas and vaccinations Tell bridesmaids about their dresses September 2011 (8 months): Invitations Book hotel rooms & flights Get travel insurance Buy wedding ring for Courtney Research photo shots & talk to photographer Videographer Hair/Makeup October 2011 (7 months): Plan first dance Look at groomsmen outfits Get corset made November 2011 (6 months): Mail invitations December 2011 (5 months): Guestbook Notarized copies of birth certificate and passports Table decor Choose ceremony readings Get Matt's ring Plan rehearsal dinner January 2012 (4 months): Attendant's gifts Call resort about music Floral shop - think about flowers Call officiant Research honeymoon Mail required documents to resort Submit wedding announcement to newspaper Figure out name change stuff Get dress altered February 2012 (3 months): Create place cards Bridal party outfits reminder Look into cakes Check resort has required documents Ceremony programs Pick up Moms' gifts Call ppl who haven't rsvped Reception seating plan March 2012 (2 months): Complete welcome bags Figure out reception venue & food options Must play and do not play song list Finalize trip schedule (including day of) Email bridal party trip schedule Wedding toasts Second payment to photographer April 2012 (1 month): Write vows Change insurance policies and beneficiaries Give resort final head count Give seat chart to resort Confirm play list with DJ Figure out payment plan with family Write welcome letter for welcome bags Plan welcome cocktails May 2012 (THE MONTH): WEDDING June 2012 (-1 month): Thank you notes July 2012 (-2 months): Wedding photo book August 2012 (-3 months): Check on wedding certificate HAPPY PLANNING!!

Our Destination Wedding Timeline: Spring 2011: Set up account on bestdestinationwedding.com Pick location Pick date Find travel coordinator Book block of rooms Book photographer Book officiant June 2011: Registry Wedding budget July 2011: Find a wedding dress Buy wedding dress August 2011: Birth certificates Find out about travel documents, visas and vaccinations Tell bridesmaids about their dresses September 2011 Invitations Book hotel rooms & flights Get travel insurance Buy wedding ring for Courtney Research photo shots & talk to photographer Videographer Hair/Makeup October 2011: Plan first dance Look at groomsmen outfits Get corset made November 2011: Mail invitations December 2011: Guestbook Notarized copies of birth certificate and passports Table decor Choose ceremony readings Get Matt's ring Plan rehearsal dinner January 2012: Attendant's gifts Call resort about music Floral shop - think about flowers Call officiant Research honeymoon Mail required documents to resort Submit wedding announcement to newspaper Figure out name change stuff Get dress altered February 2012: Create place cards Bridal party outfits reminder Look into cakes Check resort has required documents Ceremony programs Pick up Moms' gifts Call ppl who haven't rsvped Reception seating plan March 2012: Complete welcome bags Figure out reception venue & food options Must play and do not play song list Finalize trip schedule (including day of) Email bridal party trip schedule Wedding toasts Second payment to photographer April 2012: Write vows Change insurance policies and beneficiaries Give resort final head count Give seat chart to resort Confirm play list with DJ Figure out payment plan with family Write welcome letter for welcome bags Plan welcome cocktails May 2012: WEDDING June 2012: Thank you notes July 2012: Wedding photo book August 2012: Check on wedding certificate I hope this helps! Let me know if you see anything missing!!

Tasks I have completed: Booked block of rooms Sent save the dates Set up wedding website (http://walters-doolin.ourwedding.com/) Booked photographer Booked officiant (we are having a Jewish ceremony so we aren't using the minister offered with our package) Bought wedding dress Picked up wedding dress Picked bridal party Informed bridesmaids of their dresses Registered Have travel coordinator Picked wedding colors (neutrals) Picked up wedding accessories (e.g., shoes, veil, head piece) Tasks in the process: Invitations Hair/Makeup Videographer Booking travel for us (waiting for Air Tran's release of prices)

I picked up my Alfred Angelo 2314 dress last weekend! This picture is from when I first tried it on. Alterations will begin in January I just need it shortened.

YAYYY!!! That's awesome! We will have to stay in touch!

I LOVEEEE my Alfred Angelo 2314 dress!

Does anyone have a 2012 spa/salon price list? I just searched the forum and the most recent price list I found was 2010. If someone has it, could you pleaseeeee email it to me: [email protected]?? It would be greatly appreciated!! I don't want to waste the WC's time when I feel like someone may already have this list.

Hi, Ladies I am sorry that it took me so long to join this forum! I remember a bunch of ladies talking about it in the 2013 weddings forum and then I just forgot to add myself to the May 2013 forum after it got started. I am a May 4, 2013, bride. We are getting married at Iberostar Rose Hall Suites in Jamaica. Tasks I have completed: Booked block of rooms Sent save the dates Set up wedding website (http://walters-doolin.ourwedding.com/) Booked photographer Booked officiant (we are having a Jewish ceremony so we aren't using the minister offered with our package) Bought wedding dress Picked up wedding dress Picked bridal party Informed bridesmaids of their dresses Registered Have travel coordinator Picked wedding colors (neutrals) Tasks in the process: Invitations Hair/Makeup Videographer Booking travel for us (waiting for Air Tran's release of prices) HAPPY PLANNING! I am excited to be apart of this forum!! Court

STUNNING! I LOVE IT!

OMG! That is beautiful! I so want to stay there after the wedding; however, I am so torn. We are planning to be in Jamaica from Wednesday - Tuesday (Saturday wedding). I was thinking we could stay somewhere different, like Tensing Pen, from Sunday - Tuesday (we are going on our honeymoon six months after our wedding), but I am torn because I rarely get to see all of our family and friends. My fiance says we need to just stay at IRHS. What are your thoughts? What did you do? Also, non-related question, did anyone put on their invitation anything about the resort fee if people do not stay at IRHS? I have some people that are talking about going to Jamaica but staying elsewhere. I have the resort fee info on our website, but I don't think they have seen it because the resort fee seems quite high and I think they would think otherwise about coming if they knew the cost. Can I put it on the invitation or should I just hope that they see it on our website?

Hi, All Our TA is Ellen Paderson from Smiles & Miles Travel. She is a family friend and is located in Boston. Her prices for our dates were lower than the hotel. Check out our deal on our wedding website. Our wedding photographer is Sandy May. She is from Minnesota (my home state) but lives in Jamaica during the winter months. I found out about her from another IRHS brides. I got a lot of quotes from different photographers and she was the best (plus it is just comforting to me to know I can go to her location in the U.S. should there be any issues). My package is as follows: Wedding photography includes: * Sandy May as photographer for 5 hours, overtime available @ $200 per hour * Personal website for on-line viewing, editing, and print ordering on Pictage.com * $100 US gift certificate toward prints ordered from Pictage.com * High resolution disc of all usable photos, color corrected and exposure adjusted with the copyright turned over to you * Iberostar day pass to be paid by client Fee...............................................................$ 1,400.00 US Deposit of $250.00 paid............................... - 250.00 US Deposit balance due.................................... 216.00 US * Trash the dress option available: 400.00 US pass paid by client Travel expense of $125

CONGRATS!!! How exciting!!

If you have pictures, could you please please please send them my way ([email protected])?? We are probably going to do a beach reception, but have no clue what it would look like!

Hi, ladies I posted this on a couple other forums but in case you did not see it: Hi, ladies! My fiance and I were at the Hard Rock for his birthday a couple weeks ago. I posted a review on my website: http://courtneymara.com/2012/05/12/hard-rock-punta-cana-dominican-republic-review/. Check it out if you are interested. My fiance and I saw quite a few beautiful weddings there so have a wonderful time! Hope this helps! Courtney

Hi, ladies I posted this on a couple other forums but in case you did not see it: Hi, ladies! My fiance and I were at the Hard Rock for his birthday a couple weeks ago. I posted a review on my website: http://courtneymara.com/2012/05/12/hard-rock-punta-cana-dominican-republic-review/. Check it out if you are interested. My fiance and I saw quite a few beautiful weddings there so have a wonderful time! Hope this helps! Courtney

Hi, ladies! My fiance and I were at the Hard Rock for his birthday a couple weeks ago. I posted a review on my website: http://courtneymara.com/2012/05/12/hard-rock-punta-cana-dominican-republic-review/. Check it out if you are interested. My fiance and I saw quite a few beautiful weddings there so have a wonderful time!