ironman

And I think the very first things you need to figure out are 1) Your budget 2) Your guest list Everything else will flow from there!

We've been working with Kristy (she's in BC) at posetravel.com, she's a travel agent that only does destination weddings. I'd definitely recommend her (it's free!) but I'm also sure there are DW specific agents in Toronto as well you could meet with, which might help reassure you of some of your fears! We're chosing to do a symbolic ceremony in Mexico (no blood tests, translation of documents etc). One we return to Canada we'll just pop over to a courthouse and sign the papers to make it legal here. Some people choose to do this before, we're going to do it after - so that when we're saying our vows in mexico with all our family and friends it will be the first time!

I'm in Edmonton too! Yahoo!

Congratulations Katie! There are so many nice resorts out there, and definitely one will appeal to your needs in the Mayan! Have you been down there before at all on vacation? We set a few criteria for what we were looking for in a resort and then had some travel agents and friends give us suggestions. A good travel agent seems to make a big difference!

I'm in the same situation, except it's my fiance's sister. She's having a C-section at the end of October and our wedding is in December. The baby will be about six weeks old. She's told us that she's not coming to the wedding, and I'm so heartbroken/angry/upset/frustrated over this. I don't have kids yet, so I don't know what it's like, but I just feel like if she really wanted to be there, she'd be there. There will be so many people who can help her and help the baby if she needs. I think she's worried about bringing the little baby on the airplane mostly. I feel like a bad person for feeling the way that I do, but I honestly can't help it. She KNEW she was pregnant when we got engaged and were planning a destination wedding and she didn't tell us until after we had booked it and sent out all the info to our guests.

Here's our approximate budget for our wedding at the Now Jade. This is for 25 adults. Wedding dress/alterations/accessories - $2000 Suit/Mens Accessories - $500 Wedding Party Attire - $500 Save the dates/invites/thank-you's/postage - $400 Photographer - $2800 Videographer - $3300 Wedding rings - $1500 All-inclusive fees - $2900 Wedding package fees - $3000 Kids meals at reception - $100 Additional hour of partying - $500 (only 3 hrs included in our package) Welcome bags for guests - $200 DJ - $1000 Total: $18,600. (it adds up fast!) I didn't include any excursion costs, spa visits, or costs for clothing for a week in the sun. I'm also trying to find my dress used, which will help take another $1000 off the total.

Not weird at all, it's your day, do what you love! And if that's karaoke, live it up and make it the best night of karaoke ever! I kind of want to have a pinata at our wedding. Hahahaha

I totally recommend iTrackBites. I think it cost $1.99. Essentially it is the Weight Watchers system, but you count "bites" rather than points. I go to the WW meetings in-person, but I use the iTrackBites app on my phone to count the points/bites and track everything. It's great.

I love your little pamphlets! Very cute, I might have to consider sending something like that out to our guests as well!

Thanks! We were told we would need to wait until after final deposits are paid before we knew how much we would be getting back. We will at least have enough for the 6th and 12th rooms, but I have no idea how much the actual refund ends up being (i.e. how much the hotel costs out of the total package price).

You just need to pick up the phone (or have your travel agent do it). Most TA's will call and get the wedding date confirmed for you. I had been waiting for a reply, and when I told my TA this, she told me she was going to call right away, and within 15 minutes she had spoken to Pilar, booked and I received a confirmation email!

I am so sorry When we were researching our TA warned us against using Sunquest as she had them actually cancel flights outright a few weeks before for a bunch of guests travelling from Saskatoon (and gave them no rebooking alternative, they just cancelled the entire flight). That really sucks, but hopefully your guests understand that it's not your fault at all and of course they will still have an amazing vacation! As well, hopefully it serves as a warning to other brides to steer clear of Sunquest.

Our wedding is in December and our group quote with Westjet just ended a week ago. To get in on the group booking our guests were required to put down a $256 deposit per person, with the balance being due on October 1. What airline/company are you going with?

I know... I absolutely cringed when reading some of them a week or so ago. There's been a steady stream of bad reviews lately. Not much we can do now though, we've confirmed our date and our guests have booked. Hopefully the resort reads the reviews and improves upon what was wrong.

Oh my gosh, that is SO cute. I added it to my favourites

I had to do this for our wedding in Mexico as well. (Credit card + photo ID front and back). It made me a bit nervous, but must be the norm!

I'm looking to purchase a size 10 Maggie Sottero Karena Royale dress, preferably in Ivory and with minimal alterations done. If you have this dress and you're looking to give it a happy new home, please send me a PM! Thanks!

I'm looking to purchase a size 10 Maggie Sottero Karena Royale dress, preferably in Ivory and with minimal alterations done. If you have this dress and you're looking to give it a happy new home, please send me a PM! Thanks!

I haven't been there myself yet, but a friend who attended a wedding at the NJ in January recommended the quesadillas.

I haven't been there myself yet, but a friend who attended a wedding at the NJ in January recommended the quesadillas.

Does anyone else read Trip Advisor reviews and freak out a little? I know we obviously all want for our guests to have a relaxing, wonderful vacation, but some of the recent posts on there make me nervous (like about NJ being overbooked, and them sending guests to stay at other associated properties instead, as well as a ton of issues with other things). Ahhhh

Does anyone else read Trip Advisor reviews and freak out a little? I know we obviously all want for our guests to have a relaxing, wonderful vacation, but some of the recent posts on there make me nervous (like about NJ being overbooked, and them sending guests to stay at other associated properties instead, as well as a ton of issues with other things). Ahhhh

Yeah it actually cut out to advertising for me as soon as they started saying their vows!

Yeah it actually cut out to advertising for me as soon as they started saying their vows!

I'm watching!! How fun! The music they're playing in the background prior to the start of your ceremony (not music there) is pretty cheesy (i.e. "Going to the chapel, gonna get married seems to be on a steady repeat), but the video quality is pretty good! Congratulations!!! You must be over the moon!