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Wow! I wish I had of known that! Their photos are amazing! We hired a private Cuban photographer (he's photos are great too) and we're paying $1100 as well! Had I known of them I would have hired them forsure! That's so cheap! I looked into one here who is amazing but it was going to be about $3000 and that was too much for me.

Wow that's a fantastic deal! We're paying $1178 tax incl. to Iberostar Laguna Azul which is the cheapest my TA has ever seen it she said. We haven't seen it even close to that low since we got our quote. Who are your photographers? I wish I had of known there were photographers in Halifax who pay their own way!

We had quite a few who have never been and my FI hasn't been to Varadero (only Holguin) so we've never made the trip to Havana either and it was something he would like to do, so we thought Varadero would be best for us. If MLD was in Varadero or if we could move it there though it would have been #1 on my list!

If you're looking for a great Travel Agent in Canada ,the TA I used is amazing! She specializes in Destination Weddings and although shes in NS she books for people all over Canada. I don't know if you have one already or not or even thought about it, but I would highly recommend her. Shes been awesome, always answers my emails and shes good at getting in contact with the resort wedding coordinators. I am fairly certain she's even been to the Majestic resort. Anyhow let me know if you want her name and contact information! Same here! Cuba is just so much cheaper... although I find from Ontario it depends, but from Halifax, its significantly cheaper to Cuba then DR or Mexico. PLus Cuba has amazing beaches and friendly people!

Awesome! I haven't been to either of those resorts but they were at the top of my DR list. Ultimately we choose Cuba though.

Any May 2014 Brides still on this thread?! I am getting married MAy 5th, 2014 in Cuba! I've been planning for the past year or so but now that the new year has come and gone I can't believe its coming up so quickly and am excited to be in the final planning stages! Anyone else getting married in Cuba in May?

Congratulations! You have definitely come to the right place! You will find soo much information here! Sometimes too much and you'll have a hard time narrowing down your choices lol! But its all for the best! Have you thought about a destination yet?

Congratulations and welcome! You've definitely come to the right place! Have you chosen a resort yet?

No problem! This is the link of where I purchased my earrings from. She was great to work with and fast in case you're interested! https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/103595934/long-cubic-zirconia-wedding-earrings?ref=favs_view_17

I have a round cut diamond ring as well... the ring and earrings are too far away for it to clash or for anyone to even notice!

@@krisdaversa I am so excited to see you finally chose a resort! The Melia Las Dunas was at the top of my list! It looks gorgeous for weddings and they seem to really know what they are doing! Only reason I didn't choose it was because I felt it was too far away from larger cities. But I definitely think it will be an awesome place for a wedding!

Definitely Etsy! I got some gorgeous jewelry from Etsy! I cannot wait to wear them!

OMg Kay and Alley you guys leave in what less then 10 days!???? I am so excited for you guys! I absolutely cannot wait to see photos from your days! Jolene... honestly I don't know what I will do when the wedding is over! I love planning things and I won't have anything to focus on after this lol!

Welcome Mark! You have come to the right place! You definitely won't have any trouble finding all the information you need here to find your dream destination!

@@Bigleap35 I will take some photos of it when I get it and post them for you! For my boudoir photos I used an 8x8 which was perfect but I think that's a bit too small for a guestbook... depending on how many guests you're having. We chose the 10x10. We were debating between that's and 12x12 but I felt like that would be too large.

I purchased mine this past week! They had 35% off photobooks! I should receive it in the next week or two. I can let you know how it is... or post some photos! I created and purchased a boudoir photobook for my FI through Shutterfly and I loved it, so I am sure this will be great too!

Ceremony Script I pieced this together from other brides scripts from this very thread! I have been working on it for months and love it! We took the parts that we felt really related/represented us the best. Hopefully someone will be able to use it or parts of it! Also wherever it says Bride and Groom, its actually going to be our names. Processional Please be seated. Opening Welcome Bride, Groom, Family, and Friends, Officiant intro We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life's greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to cherish the words which shall unite Bride and Groom in marriage. This beautiful setting should remind us that, like the ocean, human life is an ebb and flow- spirit and emotions move in cycles. To be in a relationship does not guarantee an eternal summer. To make a sincere and honest commitment does not promise an end to all struggle. What a good relationship does offer, much like this ocean, is the opportunity for renewal. It recognizes the abiding, shared hope that after every fall and winter, spring and summer will come again. On behalf of Bride and Groom, I welcome you and thank you all for gathering here on this beautiful day to witness their marriage ceremony. The fact that you all have travelled such a great distance to be here today is a testament to the amazing amount of love and support they have. Many of you have given them much happiness, love, warmth, and guidance through the various stages of their lives. They would like to sincerely thank you all for being here to celebrate their day. I have also been asked by Bride and Groom to thank their parents for the wonderful lives they have given them, for the hard work and guidance they have provided, for their everlasting love, support, and encouragement. It is from them that they have learned the true meaning of love, friendship and family. Supporting of the Bride and Groom If I could please have the parents of Bride and Groom stand. Being assured of your love as life long companions, and that you have your families blesssings, I now ask, Bride Mom and Bride Dad, do you support this unity between Bride and Groom, and do you welcome Groom into your family? Bride’s Parents: We do. Groom Mom and Groom Dad, do you support this unity between Groon and Bride, and do you welcome Bride into your family? Groom's Parents: We do. Thank you, please be seated . Ceremony For Bride and Groom marriage is the promise of hope between two people who love each other, who honour each other as individuals, and who wish to unite their lives and share their future together. It is created from the purest of friendship, respect and love. This ceremony marks but one step in a continuing process of change and growth in your relationship. Growth is an essential part of marriage as it is an essential part of life. Your relationship will unfold into new dimensions and as you move forward together, your marriage will remain a source of new strength and insight. Happiness in marriage is not something we should take for granted. A good marriage must be created. It is one of never being too old to hold hands and it is remembering to say ‘I love you’ every day. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not looking for perfection in each other but cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humour. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget and it is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner. Bride and Groom, you have chosen to walk through life together hand in hand in marriage. There is no truer statement of love. The choice was not made by any one moment, but by being together you grew to realize that you belonged together and that you fulfilled each other’s needs. You have come to thrive upon each other’s presence, loyalty, wisdom, and love. The foundation of your love is profound friendship. A friendship you have nurtured until at last, you realized that you wanted to be together always. The commitment you make today will be the foundation on which you will build your life together. Reading Officiant: I would now like to invite Mother of the Bride, up to read a poem. To Grow A Happy Marriage Plant the seeds of love, With all you say and do. The better seed you sow, the more comes back to you. Nurturing your partner gives your garden colour and flair. Grow appreciation with compliments and care. A little boring maintenance at times need be done. But use your head, Be positive instead and you’ll turn it into fun. Take nothing for granted; Replenish and renew. Tend your marriage garden And it will blossom all year through. Thank you. HAND CEREMONY Bride, Groom, before you met, your lives were on separate roads… each going in different directions and seemingly leading to different destinations. But somewhere along the way, through some twist of fate, you met, became friends, and fell in love. Today, you find yourselves standing here together at the start of a new path, promising to forever join your separate journeys into one. Please turn, hold up your hands, and hold one another. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. Our wish for you today is that both of you will use these hands to build a marriage where all your dreams come true. Vows We will now hear Groom and Bride’s vows, which they have written themselves. Rings Bride and Groom, your rings are intimately associated with your intent to honor and treasure the vows you have made today. By exchanging rings, resolve to live your vows and not to let them drift in shallow promises. Believe and trust that the words you have spoken have the capacity to create the marriage, family and life of your dreams, and that the rings you exchange will have the power to return you to your vows. Groom as you place this ring on Bride’s finger, please repeat after me… Bride, I give you this ring, as a sign of our marriage, and a lasting reminder, of the vows made between us today. I give you this ring, as a reminder that I will love, honor, and cherish you, in all times, in all places, and in all ways, forever. Bride as you place this ring on Groom's finger, please repeat after me… Groom, I too give you this ring, as a sign of our marriage, and a lasting reminder, of the vows made between us today. I give you this ring, as a reminder that I will love, honor, and cherish you, in all times, in all places, and in all ways, forever. Closing: Bride and Groom, remember to treat both yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty or fear assail your relationship remember to focus on what is right between you. In this way, you can ride out the times when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives – remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your lives together, your life together will be marked by abundance and delight. Give to one another new experiences of joy. Challenge one another so that you may grow. May the love you hold for each other, now sealed in marriage, continue to mature with the passing years. May you never take each other for granted, but always experience the wonder of your union. Be slow to anger, quick to forgive, leaving no tracks of resentment behind each day. With friends and family, along with the sun, the sand, and the sea, I have the pleasure of announcing you as husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!

I also love the Blessing of the Sea! That's beautiful! I was going to add it into my script, but I feel like I have a similar part at the beginning of my script.

Hey! I just ordered my guestbook today! I made a photobook using Shutterfly with our engagement photos that we had done on vacation in Dubrovnik, Croatia this past summer! I love the idea because it uses our beautiful engagement and we'll actually want to look back at them and the guestbook. We decided to do this because we are also having a catholic ceremony with a dessert reception afterwards so we wanted guests to be able to sign it there as well and we have a lot of people coming to that one. I know a girl on the Iberostar Laguna Azul 2013-2014 thread ordered a map of Cuba and had guests sign it for her wedding. She purchased the map on etsy. I don't know which etsy vendor she used, but if you quickly search Map Guestbook on Etsy a ton come up! I loved this idea but just wasn't an option for us really.

I just ordered my Guest photo book from Shutterfly using our engagement photos! I am so excited to receive it!

Thank you! I am excited to it once its all together!

That's a very cool idea!

Omg ladies I figured out how to add photos!!!!!!! haha I feel sooo happy! You just go under the My Media and all my old photos were there and you can add new ones!

I am planning on using faux flowers that I got at Winners this past summer for my centerpieces. We are getting married in Cuba and they don't have a great selection. You kind of just end up with whatever they have available. So I wanted to add colour to my tables and knew coral flowers would be difficult to get in Cuba. I will be using the wedding bouquet that is provided by the resort and will just select white calla lilies or regular lilies whatever they have available and then wrap the bouquets with coral ribbon and burlap! That was a super quick mock up of what my centerpieces will look like.. they'll be better then that once its totally done.

I am so excited for you girls getting married this month!!! You must be sooo excited! I agree with you Alley... I used to look forward to always coming on and now its only every now and then! Things are finally starting to feel real for me now, only 117 days until we leave! I only have a few things here and there to get done before the Cuban wedding, but since we are also having out catholic wedding only a week later, I have to make sure everything is set and ready to go for that as well.