TealMarie

Wow! Your facebook page sounds like it'll be awesome. Be sure to show us that. Angel2 - Congrats on picking a place! It feels so great when your wedding coordinator is easy to deal with. We're lucky that ours is amazing as well. Have you picked out your dress?

The same thing is happening with my FMIL. I let her know when we've made a decision on something but there's this long stretch where we don't have to decide on anything. She's extremely sweet and although can't help out financially, she told me that she'll help me all week while we're there and the day of to do wedding stuff. I haven't told her yet that the wedding coordinator and staff do all of it for you. I just said Thank you and once we're there she'll find out that she has all this time to actually relax and have fun.

Do you think it'd make sense to bring some of your own makeup, especially foundation if they couldn't get the right shade? And I'll add hairspray to my packing list. Thanks.

I can't remember who asked these questions but I have responses from Gloria on them: For a ceremony at the beach gazebo, the walk from where the bride/bridesmaids wait to the altar is about 2 minutes. I'm trying to figure out my music timing for the walk. The round tables for the reception can seat a maximum of 10 people, although I think I might go with 6 or 8. The bar set up for you at the reception is an international bar so it has everything: tequila, wine, sparkling wine, cocktails, rum, etc.

Click on the URL link that Groupon gives you to use your voucher. Once it brings you there, enter in the voucher code for your Groupon. Leave this tab open. In a separate tab, open up the retailmenot link for 50% off vistaprint (just google it and you'll find it). You'll be brought to vistaprint with 50% off everything and your groupon will already be in there. I may have had to enter the groupon code once more during checkout but I can't remember. This thread helped me out with buying stuff on vistaprint and they even show you how you can add a free tshirt, mug, bag, notebook, etc. https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/is-there-vistaprint-groupon-anywhere/f77a10ea826742ac.html Hope that helps!

I was able to use the Retailmenot coupon for 50% off plus the $17 for $70 groupon. This allowed me to purchase $140 worth of items, but I did have to pay shipping. The free shipping is usually for orders over $50, $100, etc. So if you use the 50% off coupon and then apply the Groupon to take your total down to $0, you can't get free shipping unless you add more stuff to get you over the $50 or whatever the minimum is for it. I think in the end it was a great deal for me because the shipping was only $20 more I believe. I don't think you can get all three of those together. It'd be a great deal but how in the world would they make any money? Unless someone out there knows how to do it.

I think Indochino suits start at $400, but shipping is free and for your first suit they give you a credit towards $75 of tailoring (in case it doesn't fit exactly right). Before deciding on their suits, I was also looking at Jos A Bank which you can find for a great deal. Sign up for their email promos and you'll see they regularly have sale where you can snap up suits for $200. They have tropical and cool fabric suits too. I also heard of Studio Suits which apparently have affordable suits but I don't know of anyone who's got any from there. I also thought we could find one in the States (Macy's, Nordstrom) but my FI is tough to fit off the rack. I thought if we'd end up tailoring one so much anyways, might as well order one made to fit for him. I'll definitely post the boutonnieres once I get them. I found a woman on Etsy who's going to make them for me but they won't be ready until July or August because her supplier is backordered for succulents - probably because they're all the rage on pinterest wedding pins! I did think of sewing the OOT bags but decided against it. I think they'd look so cute and you could pick the right colours, but I was weighing the effort vs cost savings (you wouldn't save on it unless the fabric was free) and decided against it. I've found a few sites online where I can order what I'd like for about $4 or $5 a bag but I'm hoping Dollar Tree brings back the ones I want which are only $1. https://www.shirtsinbulk.com/product/Wholesale-Liberty-Bags-7002-Boat-Tote_52_1047 I just want plain ones with blue straps and then I want to paint 'Hola!' on the one side and maybe something else generic on the other side, so people will use them again. Sewing napkins is so easy and they are going to add some much needed colour to the tables. Plus I'll keep them and then we'll have really pretty napkins for dinner parties. I'll post pics of the napkins soon. I have almost all of the coral/peach ones finished, which means I'm halfway and then I'll start on the turquoise/blue ones. I'm the same with the playlists because we aren't using a DJ, just our ipod. The dinner playlist consists of all the songs I had thought about for our first dance, walk down the aisle, etc, but didn't make the cut. So it's pretty easy. I'm nervous about making the dance one. If I put it together wrong maybe no one will dance? I'm going to search online for tips on how to make a good one. Like how many fast dance songs to slow songs ratio and how often? People need breaks to get a drink, go to the bathroom, visit, etc, but you don't want to lose the party vibe. Tough stuff! First world problems (as I roll my eyes at myself), lol. Good to hear updates from you girls! Anyone else?

Hahaa! Well I laugh at myself because I like to be prepared soooo far ahead of time, it's ridiculous. Obviously these are things that aren't required to be done for a long time but I figure I'd rather spend the summer at the beach and having fun, than on my computer searching for boutonnierres (frig, how do you spell that?). Everyone I know who's married has recommended doing whatever you can ahead of time and as far as you can. They said there will always be things in the last month that pop up that you never thought of and you have to take care of them. Plus I agonize over decisions for so long but once I make one I don't want to change it. Really, at this point, as long as you have your resort/flights booked, a dress ordered (or soon), let your guests know when/where/how much and maybe looked into a photographer, I think you're good. The rest of the stuff will fall into place. It's still over 6 months away, that's so much time.

I don't really know what I'm doing at this point either. I'm definitely all over the place. I've posted before about what I've done so far so I'll skip that stuff. We've decided to order FI's suit from Indochino and will order it probably 3-4 months prior to the wedding. Dina, look at their website. They have great suits which you can get made specifically for your groom. My very fashionable friend has a few from there and loves them. I think we'll just send the groomsmen money and tell them to get grey pants and white button up shirts. Our bridesmaids will be mismatched, so this will work out great. I've ordered the boutonnieres, which will be real touch succulents, greens and berries. I'm procrastinating from doing the dinner and dance playlist. My bridesmaids have ordered or picked out their dress (yay!) and they're so pretty. I'm trying to decide what to do for centerpieces and how much glassware, OOT bag items I can bring with me there in one suitcase. I'm trying to decide on jewelry and footwear (barefoot sandals for ceremony and jeweled sandals for the reception). My dress will come in late June and I'll get it altered late this summer. I can't wait to wear it again! We're also looking into a fishing charter for my FI and his groomsmen as their thank you gift. I'll be taking the ladies to the spa the day before the wedding as a thank you. I have our favours, which are maraccas! I'm sewing napkins in some really cute peach/coral and turquoise/blue patterns for the reception. I'm still looking for OOT bags which are nice enough and I can stencil some fun stuff onto. So yeah, just a random jumbled mess of no organization, lol.

Wow, how gorgeous! You are definitely going to have to post photos for us!

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a lot of past brides on the ERC threads. You should read some of the tripadvisor reviews. I read them before choosing the resort and people write the most useful stuff on there, especially about room choices. If you scroll through some of the reviews, there's a spot for 'room tip' and you can click on 'more room tips'. I've read on there about the pros and cons of the excellence club as well. People talk about which buildings are better for quiet, which are closer to the beach and restaurants, etc. I remember reading the swim up suites were nice but some people had a problem with mosquitoes, because there's a section of grass next to your private pool. But maybe that depends on what time of the year you're going? Hopefully that helps a little bit.

Hi Jillian, It just takes a while for the wedding coordinators to get back to you. Apparently they get a lot of requests about potential weddings everyday. Added on to that are those of us who have booked our weddings there and are constantly hounding them with questions and the weddings that take place everyday How long has it been since you've sent them an email? I think in the beginning it took them about a week to respond to me.

We have the Gold package as well so we'll have the ceremony video. I was considering getting them to film some of the reception but maybe not at $320/hr. Good to know, thanks.

How much was it to use the videographer? I'm curious about getting them to film our reception (since the ceremony is included). Did you get to see any sample videos? I saw someone on the EPM thread who just posted photos of the their wedding taken by the resort photographer and they look awesome!

I'm struggling with the OOT bags as well. I know they're not required but I'd really like to do them. I've picked up some stuff from the dollar store that people will probably use but might forget (mints, eye mask and ear plugs for sleeping in, advil, emergen-c powder for hangovers, wet wipes, razor in case they forget, aloe vera gel, spf chapstick, etc) but when I look at it all together I wonder if it will just look really cheap? I'd still like to get luggage tags, colourful ray ban knock-offs and those waterproof, colourful watches. I've heard of a lot of other people including a mug or bubba keg, but I just don't see it being used at ERC where I hear the service is amazing and you are never without a drink (if you don't want to be). Any suggestions of what else to include?

Thanks, I'll have to stop by Sephora and see if I can find them. I wouldn't use them often either. I don't think it's natural to stop your body from sweating - but I'll make the exception for that one day!

Oh my gosh I love 'Flower' for a song, good idea! I do love the Steel Drums version of Canon in D, how cool! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4WJQeP8CxI

I asked Gloria about this and they provide white linens for you (tablecloths, napkins, and I think chair covers).

I'm looking for the same ones, here's a direct link to them on Dollar Tree and I'd like about 20. http://www.dollartree.com/Jumbo-Tote-Bags-19-/p310914/index.pro If they don't end up getting them this summer I may order some from Ebay or Shirts in Bulk. They look super similar, but it'd be nice to get them for $1!

Jessica - Congrats on the weight loss, your beautiful dress fitting and on your soon to be wedding! 3 weeks - that's so close! Good to know about the Med-E-tate wipes! I'd never heard of them before but I love to dance and apparently love to sweat so this would be perfect for me. Where did you get them? We have a similar song selection problem in that we've never had a song for us as a couple. Add to that our differing tastes in music and it's a tough one. I think I might pick out 5-10 songs that I like and play them for him and see what he likes. I'm looking at Ray Lamontagne 'You are the Best Thing', Amos Lee 'Sweet Pea', Bright Eyes 'First Day of my Life', Cat Power 'Sea of Love', among many others. My fiance will pick his music to walk to with his groomsmen. THAT should be interesting! I'm guessing 90s rap? As for the processional, I think I might have my bridesmaids walk to Sigur Ros' 'Hoppipolla'. I find it so beautiful and emotional - too emotional for my entrance though as I would probably ugly cry down the aisle. Trisha - We also have 24 people and we're conflicted on whether to have one large, long table which gives that nice feeling of a family dinner, which I love, or to have rounds. We'll probably end up with rounds because we also have 4 vendors who are eating with us as well, so that's 28 people. I don't know about the bar at dinner. I remember a past bride who showed photos of her reception at the lobster house and she pointed out an area where the bar was set up.

Hmmm that seems odd to have to pay in full. Our TA (who is actually from Calgary) arranged a group package for us back in January and everyone had until this week I think to put down a deposit. The deposit is only $100 pp and then they have to pay in full by 60 or 80 days prior to the trip. Maybe you should try a new TA? If you're interested in the contact details for my TA, PM me and I'll give you her info.

I really hope it all works out for you. Is it too late to take it to an independent seamstress? She might be more willing to actually do what you ask and work hard to keep you as a return customer. I've heard about some places putting off ordering your dress (ie: keeping the money from your deposit to buy more dresses for their store and ordering yours later on) or putting off doing alterations because your wedding isn't until such and such a date. Because of this whenever I had appointments I told them my wedding was a month earlier so that I got everything done in more than enough time. It was funny to see my Mom's reaction the first time I said the wrong date to the lady. She looked like I had two heads!

Yay! Very exciting! You're so prepared, you could probably get married tomorrow and you'd have everything you needed!

This is an old thread but has anyone found coupon codes for Luna Bazaar? I LOVE their glass vases, votives and bottles. I think it'll make the reception gorgeous.

Oh my gosh - fun!! Now I have someone to bond with over the fact I realized it's 7 months until the day. For some reason I thought it was less. I was also considering Now Saphire. We must be related, lol!