heather1214

We are arriving that day!! If you need security to keep the tourists out of the ceremony site, I'm sure we can work it out with my guy friends! haha just kidding. How long are you staying after the wedding? It's such a relief to have the date set, and from what I hear they take care of everything so we have nothing to stress over! Happy Planning!

What photographer are you using?

I have been dealing with the PR manager (hadn't spoken to the WC). Come to find out the WC is no longer there and the PR manager is taking over. I'm sure they are very busy but I have seen a lot of May 2013 hopefuls on here alone!! I did fax that information (3-4) page where you pick the wedding details. So that would have been the final paperwork. Still hadn't heard anything. I actually saw on a post here to have your TA contact them, that you get a better response that way. I had my TA call and within 15 minutes had responses to the 2 (yes 2, am I bridezilla yet?? haha) emails I had sent over a week and a half. Everything is officially confirmed and I can finally send out the STDs! It was a very simple response, actually. "Yes, your date is confirmed" But I guess in 100's of emails it just takes a long time to respond to everyone. (and do weddings at the resort at the same time). The PR manager (now WC) does seem very nice and I'm sure she will be great!! Now that I can breathe knowing my date is set, I'll be perusing the DIY for the next year! Thanks for your suggestions, albellis!!

I am having a very difficult time getting in touch with them right now. I got my confirmation certificate for the date, and to be sure, asked if that's all I needed to do, they responded with "please fill out these forms and send them back". The same forms that I already filled out 2 months ago (including copies of my CC which makes me very nervous!!!). So frustrating, why don't they have a larger staff to handle this?! And now I haven't heard back in about a week. I'd love to send my STDs out but I can't get a straight answer on the date confirmation!

I'm also a IRHB bride! Our date is May 24, 2013. I've seen some great pictures from the beach.. and some not so great pictures. Some pictures taken from a distance show people in their bathing suits right up to the ceremony site AND people swimming in the background! HOW RUDE! I'm going there this May to see it, so I'm hoping there are a few weddings that weekend that I can see what it's like. I really wanted beach pictures, but with 50+ guests I may just do the balcony and then go to the beach after with my photographer. This way I get the privacy for the ceremony AND the beach pics after. What are you ladies picking for colors?! Mine are a lime green, magenta (purple/pinkish) Maybe we can start some recycling of the decorations going!?

E-mail them at [email protected] they do take a little bit to get back to you, so be patient! I am getting married there May 24, 2013!! If you have any questions PM me!

I double checked with the WC you can have an outside vendor for music but you pay the extra fee to have them onsite. ($100 vendor fee + $75 day pass each person). I'm planning on checking the DJ(s) out while I'm there in May. We haven't been there before but our TA got us a great deal on a long weekend and I'll feel better if I go see it first! We are going to be using SunGold or their associates. I haven't decided yet, but I really love their work! The associates are cheaper and all their pictures come out beautifully, but Paula seems wonderful from SunGold, she's so nice! Ours is May 24, 2013. Our guest list is about 100.. we estimate at least 50. We haven't even sent out the STD yet and people are already asking how to book!

It's my understanding that you cannot use outside vendors anymore for music. We are going to visit in May and I plan on checking out the quality of the DJ's then. Same with flowers, they provide a vendor for this too. We have an outside photographer though, and have to pay $100 per person who comes to the property. What is your date?

Have any of you thought of just picking a spot for everyone to go to after? I'm going for a visit in May and I'll be checking out the bars (and hours) to see if this is possible. My idea is to put the itinerary of the wedding day in the OOT bags. Basically: Wedding 4:30--> champagne toast immediately following --> Cocktails at ____ bar at 5:30 --> Reception 7:00 (or however it ends up finalizing). So my guests will know where to be at certain times. The hotel has to provide service to the guests anyway... and it may not be "private" but if 50 of my family & friends show up to the same place, I'm sure the bar will be pretty full and most guests will go somewhere else.

Are you having a private reception? Do you know if there is room for a dance floor at Uncle Tony's. I really do not want to have to rent one!! (that seems a little ridiculous!) I'm going to have 8 tables of 8. Does anyone have any good pictures of Uncle Tony's?

I wanted a vase big enough to serve as the main part of a centerpiece but not so big that we couldn't travel with it. And I thought bringing several tall ones per table would be to much to carry. You can find a lot of different sizes at dollar stores though if you are looking for taller ones. I love the idea of the orchids in all of these centerpieces! So pretty!

It's going to be partially outdoors. Having less water in them will help, the candle doesn't sit so high towards the top. I'm hoping they all stay lit!

Did you put a deposit on anything when you booked the date in August?

For those of you who are having issues with a price increase, did you make a deposit to lock in those rates? I've gotten a lot of information for 2012 prices but our date isn't until Spring 2013, I don't want to go through what you are now! I'd be so angry especially when you are budgeting everything based on the prices that you have been given. If it's only the Grand, I may switch locations. I've been considering doing the Suite instead since most of my guests will be staying there anyway.

I have read through a lot of Iberostar posts, and haven't found an answer, does anyone know if the DJ does any sort of lighting?

The Vase was about $5, the orchid stem was $3.99 from AC Moore (without a coupon), I'm estimating 4 candles to be about $5 and the ribbon which will do all 8 centerpieces was 2 for $5.00, I used a small bag of stones for the bottom. I plan on buying these in bulk and using coupons. I want the flowers to stay on the bottom... they take a little bit to absorb water and will sink, but over a few hours they start to float up. I'm going to glue a stone (or two) to the flower to anchor it down. Does anyone know if hot glue will work when submerged in water? So about $17 each... I'm doing real flowers for everything else but the centerpieces.

These are the start of my centerpieces! The vase is actually bigger than it looks, (6.125"L x 6.125"W x 8"H) And I will be using white floating candles not those tea lights! My colors are magenta/lime.. and orchids are my flowers. I plan on boxing each centerpiece ready to go and having each of my bridesmaids be responsible for 1 in their carry on. The WC will just have to add H2O! (and I won't spend ANY time on them while down there!) What do you think?!

@Erin2100 -->If you message me your email I can send you all of that. We are having a May 2013 so I have all of those documents!

Is there someone who can send me these templates?! Such a great idea for DIY! Thanks!!