sillafeliz

Just finished ordering our suit! Thanks to everyone for the information! Will post pics when it arrives. Hopefully we did all of the measurements correctly! **Fingers crossed!**

For those brides who have ordered....we are just in the process of ordering FI's suit. I have a couple of questions regarding the choices. (As there are so many!) Did anyone choose to get a pants lining? We are going with Tropical Beige, so I'm not sure that we need the lining. Do the jackets already come lined? How did you decide on the trouser fit options?? Does anyone know what they all look like? Classic Comfort Fit, Straight Fit, Slimmer Straight, Boot Cut, Slimmer Boot Cut, Semi Baggy, Baggy, Slimmer Tapering OY! Also, we are going to do the measurements ourselves...but FI doesn't have a suit jacket that he owns (he's always just rented)...so we're not sure how to go about doing the measurements when they suggest using a jacket he already owns. Suggestions? Did anyone else run into this? What did you do? Thanks ladies!!

Just showed my FI this website after being quoted $999 for a local suit. He is impressed, and it makes us feel better that there are other brides out there that have ordered and posted feedback. (thanks so much!) We already ordered the swatches, and will most likely order his suit. But now I'm thinking maybe I want the GMs in vests...it just looks so nice, and now its actually affordable for them! We originally told them it would be casual, dress pants and a white linen shirt...but now I'm thinking it needs to be more formal...decisions, decisions....how did everyone else decide??? Anyone else have good suggestions for ties?? My BMs are wearing Coral...and we want matching ties for the GMs. Huge thanks to the original poster for this website find!! We're so excited!!

Hello DR Brides! Just wondering if you could all help a girl out and give me some opinions. At the moment, our flight is booked and we are just in talks with our resort (Melia Caribe Tropical) about the wedding ceremony. One thing I am struggling with is whether to get married legally in Canada before we travel south, or to have the legal ceremony down there. I have always thought that I don't want two weddings, and I would hate for our guests to come south with us to a 'fake' wedding. However, the judge may not be available on the day we want our wedding (its a Saturday)...and the paperwork and cost associated with having documents translated would be a huge hassle. What is everyone's thoughts? What are you doing? Thanks!

UPDATE! After speaking with my BIL one-on-one, offering to pay for him for four days...his response was something along the lines of: "I just want you guys to know you've put me in a really hard place, because no matter what my decision, someone is going to be really upset. But I'll go for the four days." Sooo, at that, I emailed our travel agent and as of TODAY we are BOOKED! If he changes his mind now, then I'm going without him. Haha. Thanks to everyone who gave their advice. I'm glad it did work out (or has so far)...I just hope that all of our other family members can come! **Knock on wood, fingers crossed** All of our most important and closest family members have said they will come! Gin Bootles: I am soo sorry to hear that yours didn't get to happen! To me, that is truly heart breaking. Yes, it is only one day, but the memories made at a DW will last a life time, and only come around once in a life time. Thats really too bad your family didn't see it that way. Thanks again!

I'm not even worrying about the day we leave or the day we get married! If your guests really want to come, they will be there, regardless of when it is. We aren't giving our guests the option of going less than 7 days. Haha! With the exception of our best man, who MAY only come for 4 days because his wife will have to stay home with their newborn...but the cost of our 7 days is $1350 and the cost of 4 days is $1150...so why not just stay those extra 3 days? I agree though, ultimately, its up to them...and as long as they are there for the wedding then it doesn't matter. Be thankful they are coming to celebrate with you! For your guests who come for 7...they will get treated with the activities you have planned! Have fun! Don't stress! It will all work out.

Hi cinnagirl! I saw that you posted on my vent as well...so our situation is similar...we have a bailing Best Man (who originally said they'd be there!) As for your bridesmaid...sometimes people say yes because they do have every intention of going, and really do want to make it happen. However, when it gets down to decision time, are you coming or not...they have the rude wake up call that says to them, can I have your $3000 for the trip now please? People sometimes think they really can do something, and then realize later on that its not possible. Unfortunately for you, she was so excited about being a bridesmaid and going to your DW that she said yes prematurely. Its nice that you are so understanding of the money aspect...most of us DW brides have to be! As for your friendship....think about where she is coming from first. I wouldn't discard her as a friend just yet. I think you definitely need to sit down and have that chat. Heart-to-hearts can be great at figuring out WHY people do the things they do. Maybe she was just really hopeful that she could come regardless of money, and now shes looking at it and just really can't afford it. As for the spending money thing from her...I completely understand! Our best man...after telling us he can't afford it...just went out and made a $7,000 purchase. HA! But, at the same time, I guess we can't expect people to stop living their life, and spending money on things they want, just to attend our wedding...or at least that's the response we got from our best man when we confronted him. And then again, some people don't realize how much those little debit card swipes can add up...$20 here, $10 bucks here...and all of a sudden you've spent $3,000, you have really nothing to show for it, and you could have come to the DW. It sucks that she won't be there, but I wouldn't count her out of your life...sit down with her and see what she says! After all, she could feel really stupid or just BAD for telling you she'd be there, and then have to bail...so maybe that's why she's been avoiding contact with you. Be strong and make the talk happen! Good luck!

Thanks so much for the words of wisdom!! I certainly have tried to handle things without making anyone uncomfortable or upset...it just seems like my FI and I are the ones to be upset, and no one else. We've always had a hard time putting us first...we're constantly thinking of others. Maybe its about time we switch that around.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts!! As for the baby thing...I will definitely NOT be trying to persuade her to come and bring the baby...I was just wondering for my own information whether or not her concerns are valid or ridiculous. If I'm being honest, I'd rather her not be there as she is very materialistic and judgmental and I'd rather not hear the snide comments from her on our wedding day. Not to mention, you made a good point about me taking blame if anything were to happen to the baby. I'm not having that on my shoulders! UPDATE: Wednesday night around 11pm I got a text message asking if they could come over to talk...while we were sleeping. SO that didn't happen. Thursday night, after my birthday dinner, they again said lets talk, but this time they were too tired. Perhaps tonight we will get an answer from them. Until we do, I'll continue to feel sick to my stomach. I appreciate everyone's thoughts on the matter of my BIL coming...Now I have another question for all of you...my FI is telling me we will do it without him. BUT, this only came after they told us NO the first time and I was hysterically crying...he saw how upset I was at the thought of having to give up my dreams for them and has now decided he'd rather give up having his brother there. I keep telling him I can't do that. If the situation was reversed and it was my sister who couldn't come, I know that my FI wouldn't make me go without her. He needs to have his brother there with him...did I mention his cousin also can't come, and two of his childhood friends? He will basically have no one there for him that he is really close to! What do I do now if my BIL decides he isn't going to MAN UP and tell his wife that he's going? I can't stand the thought of my FI being upset on our wedding day if he doesn't have his brother there...it will make me upset and feel guilty for pushing for the DW. But then if we do stay here, I will resent them for a very long time...and my FI will know on our wedding day that its not where it should be...but at least he will have his brother beside him. Someone is going to be upset no matter what we choose...if the BIL doesn't come. What is the right answer? Thanks again brides!!

Hey DW Brides!!! This is my plea for opinions on my issue that I'm having two days before we book our wedding to Punta Cana. Here's the scoop! For the past five years, I've been saying when we get married, we're having a DW so be prepared! It is no surprise that now that we're engaged we are planning our dream wedding in the DR. (I've already sent out our electronic save-the-dates!) My Fiance's brother is his best friend, and his best man. They are the closest brothers I've ever come across. We were engaged on Dec. 25th 2011, and that day we told them we're doing a DW! Once I started looking at destinations and resorts, I figured our trip would cost guests $1,300 each. Well, I told the best man's wife (my soon-to-be sister-in-law) the price and she said OHHH that's expensive. She questioned me about when, and I told her April 2013...so more than a year away..and her response, oh, well I just don't know if we'll be pregnant then or not! GUESS WHAT! They're pregnant...due in December! So, they'll have a 4 month old at the time of our wedding. Now that its time to book, we called a family meeting with my fiance's parents, to get their decision...and they've said NO. They will not take the baby to Punta Cana. My fiance can't get married without his best friend and brother there beside him...and we told them that we would have to cancel our dream wedding and do something at home if it meant my fiance having his brother present. All of our other important family members have said they will be there (parents, grandparents, and other siblings) and are so excited to experience our wedding the DR with us! Anyways, long story made a little shorter...I pulled the brother aside and talked to him on my own last night. I offered to pay for him to come down alone, and to fly him in for only 3 or 4 days just so he would be there for the wedding. It just so happens it would be over a weekend, so he wouldn't have to take that much time off work, and her parents could help her with the baby while they are off work. His response: don't get your hopes up, but you are making it a lot easier for me to come. (He wants to come, but it will be up to her if he can go or not)....AND, even her parents have said that he has to go because its his brother thats getting married! Well, we still don't have a response, our deposit was supposed to go in today. AND, I got a nasty message saying that she should have been included in the chat I had with my future brother-in-law. (My fiance wasn't present either) (Also, pertinent info to have...we're both in the same profession, where its really hard to get work...and I've managed to get work and she hasn't, and ever since she's hated me for it, ignores me and treats me like dirt). SOoooooooo, my question for you all...because I don't have children and know nothing about traveling with babies...are there health risks to a baby going to the DR? We've chosen the Melia Caribe Tropical, which is supposed to be five star, with very good food and a good reputation. Can nursing mothers get twinrex to protect them and the baby? Or is there any other health risks for a 4-month old to go to the island, apart from a sunburn?????? Obviously the baby won't be injesting anything off the island, it would just be her...so is there something that the baby could get through her, that can't be vaccinated against? Is she being ridiculous by not going with the baby, or are there justified concerns? Thanks for your help and opinions! I have thought of every angle of this...and I am at a loss about what to do now... my FI and I are so upset, we haven't been able to eat, and we constantly feel sick to our stomachs. Weddings are supposed to be fun experiences, and so far its torture!!! Sincerely, Heart-Broken Bride P.S...Feel free to post your own issues....as I'm sure you know, every family has at least one of those people...

Oh this is great!! I love my friends work, and I know the quality I will be getting from her so I really wanted to have her do the photography. Thanks ladies! You've just made my day!

Hello Brides! I've been reading about this photography charge of $1000 for outsiders! That is insane! I have a bit different of a situation...I have a close friend who is getting into photography, and I want to ask her to shoot our wedding. Do you think the resort would care if one of our guests had a nice big professional camera and were taking pictures during our wedding? LOL This sucks that we can't choose our own photographer without the hefty price tag! Good luck planning!

What a beautiful wedding you had!! Thank you so much for all of the great ideas! We are just starting to plan, so having all of these ideas in one place was superb! Congratulations!!

This is amazing!! And very helpful! I noticed your wedding date - Congratulations! Was there anything that you included in your OOT bag that you found wasn't used as much as you thought it might be? Just wondering what was the most useful, so I can make my own and only include the most useful things to save a little bit of money. Thanks!

This is absolutely amazing!! I love it!