Ploman

I would say definitely use a travel agent. Mine got way better rates than I did when I requested a group quote from the same tour companies! Also helped me pick a good resort, and deals with lots of my guests who are coming from all different cities or who want to do special deviations. While mine does piss me off at times, I would be much further behind without him. Plus, they are free! We didn't do a cruise, but for resorts we got much better prices booking as a group than individually and then linking.

Any chance you can copy and paste the list, or email it to me at [email protected] ? I'm no where near enough posts to be able to view attachments [very annoying!] DJIntelligenceMostRequestedAll2009.pdf

I hear ya! Lots of our guests complained that we didnt have the dates picked yet so they couldnt take it off work, so we hurried up and picked a date and tour company, but then they complained because they had to have their deposits in early. grrr. I HATE HATE HATE it when everyone has individual requests and questions... like SERIOUSLY I invited 300 people, read the invitation, I dont have the energy to deal with it all!! Plus, we have a travel agent and told them to direct questions about separate bookings through them, but they all keep asking me..."can we leave a day earlier, what's the price for that", or "I'd like to request a room upgrade" or "I'd like a window seat"... SERIOUSLY that's OBVIOUSLY something for the travel agent, not me!! I know it will be worth it, but man it is sure testing my patience! Whew venting feels good!

Great! I was doing an AHR in Edmonton, at the Ukranian Youth Center. VERY GOOD PRICES!! And fits a lot of people. And they provide the bar tenders, table clothes and pretty much everything. But we cancelled it now, and are having something small in Lloydminster, where my fiance is from. Thanks for the tip about the jewellery, I have been getting antsy about finding something. I just got my bridesmaid bouquets at Winners on Calgary trail, but went to a few winners and they have a couple different designs of bouquets that may be worth looking at if you're bringing fake flowers. I was looking at getting 'real-touch' bouquets, but for $55/ bridesmaid plus shipping it was too much. At the resort it is $60/ bridesmaid. Winners is 7.99 haha. I'm on the look out for white star fish. If you guys see any please let me know! A Calgary bride said they had them at Dollarama last year and might get them later this year. Here's hoping!

Oh and heres one with my dresses

If anyone is thinking of buying fake bouquets in Canada, I just bought some for my bridesmaids from Winners in Edmonton for $7.99 each, and I really like them. At my resort they charge $60/ real bouquet for bridesmaids, so its a great price. Here's a pic:

They look Great!!! How are the 'straw holes'?

I love those shoes!

Maggiedihn, your dress is really lovely! It looks VERY expensive!

I started early too.... wish I hadn't since I'm so impatient with everything! I may just be bitter right now with my travel agent and Sunquest, but beware that if you start looking at tour companies too early, they are likely to change their dates, prices, and flight schedules closer to the date. I started looking a year ago, settled on my resort, and I'm still waiting for flight schedules for all of the tour companies (we leave in January..still 8 months away), and it's driving me bonkers since I was so over-prepared!! I would start by chosing a resort. Once you find a travel agent they can help recommend good ones that fit your requirements ( ex all inclusive, allows children if guests are bringing them, 24 bar, room service). Also look for how much the wedding package costs at the resorts. I was torn between 2 resorts, and then I found out that one resort charged $55 PER GUEST for the wedding package, on top of a flat fee! You will need rough numbers eventually but it is pretty early and a lot of your guests might not have any idea. And when it comes time to book, you may be surprised by the number of people who didn't initially show interest and now want to come.. This makes it dangerous to buy things too early (ex if youre bringing favours, chair sashes, fans, etc)... I has 64 people initially show interest, and now have nearly 90 coming, and we are still 8 months out..!... We bought 100 of everything, so we will see what happens hehe. Hopefully this doesn't sounds too negative, I'm feeling quite flustered with myself for trying to force everything to happen! I will be in my last year of law during the wedding and want everything planned before summer ends, but it looks like most things need to be done closer to the date. If I could go back in time, I would have tried to not plan so early and save myself the worrying!

Hmm I got them to Canada via Oriental Trading but it doesn't look like they ship to UK. http://www.orientaltrading.com/natural-fans-a2-34_1124.fltr Do you have anyone in the US who would forward them to you? Even if you do, shipping will probably be a lot. How long are you in mexico before your wedding? I bet you could find someone to make them for you there, or buy them from a market, for cheap.

I ordered Fans from Oriental Trading: http://www.orientaltrading.com/natural-fans-a2-34_1124.fltr I ordered Chair sashes from Tableclothsfactory.com I was particularly happy with the Chair sashes, they are an amazing price and really perfect. I ordered the Organza red ones. The fans are 'sufficient', but super light, all different sizes and a little different shapes, and probably won't last too long. At least they are light to bring into Jamaica in the suitcase. Considering the price, I would probably do it again. I ordered sky lanterns from ebay, but I'm a little concerned about starting a fire, so im going to test one out here first hehe. Also not sure how 100 guests will light them, since I can't bring lighters or matches on the plane (even in checked luggage!)... I ordered individually wrapped tylenols and emergen-c's for the guests from Ebay. I am going to order custom travel mugs from Factory 21 on Ebay. FYI, they expect customs to Canada to come to $60 on top of their prices posted. (for the 100 mug lot) We were going to do just 'survival kit' welcome bags, but I think we will do the mugs instead, and inside just put some little things (tylenol and Emergen-C's that we had already bought, and maybe some condoms as a joke). We made some custom T-Shirts on Vista print, to give as prizes to our guests... ex 'sun burn award', 'party animal award' etc. We also made lawn signs to put in the sand by the wedding, saying 'wedding in progress, please be respectful'. Im a little worried about men in speedos in the wedding pictures hehe. I think we will get post cards from Vista print too. Im still on the hunt for white star fish. Someone mentioned that the Winners in AB has some, so ill be checking around there. I know I ordered more but can't think of what right now... I got part of my bridesmaids gifts from CrossIron Mills shopping outlet right outside Calgary. I got them Coach Beach Towels, came to $40 each and they are sooo nice! I love that place!

Yup they are the same colour

sun surf sand, did your mugs come in yet?

I haven't heard of this.... could be an 'early booking bonus', but considering that is SO far in advance, I think this is a little out to lunch... Do you know any other travel agents you could ask to see whats going on? What tour company is this? WestJet and Sunquest have final payments due around 45 days before departure.

I think they would hold up for several uses. I'm really happy with the quality, regardless of the price. Here are some pictures of it tied in my parent's kitchen. I don't know the first thing about tying a pretty bow so thats why it looks a little boxy, but Im hoping someone else does this for me on my wedding day hehe. The pictures dont show the true colours very well either, likely because it was mid winter when I took the pictures and the lighting is terrible. The red had a very slight pink tinge when in the sun, which gave it a nice depth and summer feel. I am confident that they will look great on the beach. I read reviews on the website before buying and a few people said that their plain white tableclothes had stains on them... so maybe be cautious if you're ordering that. I've heard of others ordering organza sashes though and everyone was happy with them. I also ordered table runners and overlays. The overlays are huge, and I dont have a table big enough to lay it out on, so I can't comment on that, but the table runners are perfect. Their website is pretty much always an additional 10% off the quoted price too! Well worth it. As for the colours: if you're thinking satin sashes then you can order a sample of 25 different colours here: http://www.tableclothsfactory.com/Satin-Sashes-Sample-Lot-p/b16b_sash_ss_lot.htm Didn't see that option for organza but may be worth looking around for. But on the other hand, the cost of the samples is essentially the cost of 35 sashes, so may be worth biting the bullet and just ordering hehe. Ok thats the end of my plug for this company, I was just so impressed hehe Good luck!

I think you were very generous offering to pay for him to come for a few days, and I think you've handled everyone pretty well! Him coming for a few days seems like a win-win situation to me, I can't believe that everyone hasn't hopped on this suggestion!! It makes me mad that the sister in law is so ungrateful and seemingly spiteful! I think you should NOT cancel the DW if you've been dreaming this for so long. If you cancel and stay at home you may end up resenting your sister-in-law, and if the brother is such a big part of your lives this could turn ugly! I don't have kids so I can't comment on that part, but I do know of couples who have brought their new borns on tropical vacations with them without incident. I think that you should go ahead with planning the DW, and things with the brother in law will work themselves out. If they are best friends then he will find a way to make things work, even if it means only going for a few days, or going without his family, or just biting the bullet and going with his whole family. You've got nearly a full year to figure out these details. Good luck!

Yea but sunwing wouldn't commit to leaving on a certain date when we got an amazing quote in from Sunquest. Now Sunwing leaves on thursdays (dont quote me), and since we have guests booked for friday-friday I don't wanna screw with the dates.

Any Edmonton Brides out there? I see there is a Calgary one, and that the old Edmonton one is dead. Might be nice for us to be in one spot.. Any good wedding finds in Edmonton? Anyone doing an at home reception?

I'm Edmonton... close enough? Marrying January 20, 2013 in the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach, Montego Bay Jamaica. How's your planning going? I've ordered a lot of stuff online, so if youre looking to import something into Canada let me know, I did a lot of research already!

And for interest, would you be willing to share a picture of your TTD shoot in the water?

Would you be willing to ship it to Canada?

It didn't happen to me, but if it makes you feel any better, what a b*tch haha Hope things are working out

I don't want to sound like a B either, but I've read about a few brides on here who picked people that they weren't very close with and regretted it after. They said that the 'bridesmaids' made it more about themselves and were unsupportive and selfish on the day of the wedding, which is so frustrating when it is the ONE day that is (rightfully) supposed to be all about you! But of course you know yourself better than we do, and you know them better then we do. I'm sure it will all work out great!! Good luck!

I havent looked at Morgan Bay (or even heard of it), but I have chosen the Iberostar Beach in Montego Bay. There are a few facebook groups on it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/38969678070/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/125122217571235/ There is also a thread on this website that is very helpful: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/34054/iberostar-rose-hall-brides-post-all-info-questions-here/4990#post_1777734 Since I've been following them I've heard many brides come back very happy their their experience at the Iberostar. Good luck chosing