diadiamond

@nikkicraig10 Thanks so much for sharing that with me. I'm relieved to know that you were able to get rates 14 months before your wedding date. Thanks also for sharing the prices with me I really appreciate that. My fiancee and I are recent graduates and I apologize if I come off as cheap on this forum, but for us every penny really does count. @@csho oh wow $6,000.00 that's pretty awesome. We're really hoping to stick around $10,000.00, so hearing that you ere able to do it for $6,000.00 makes me feel really relieved.

@@csho I had no idea that it was different in the States than here. I'm relieved to know that it's not going to cost us much to reserve for ourselves and for about 30 guests. I was also wondering what happens if you reserve a certain amount of spots but more people want to come? Or if you reserve too many spots?

Personally I haven't really looked into hairstyles for my wedding day, but I did know that I always wanted a flower in my hair. I think I'd use fake flowers because they're going to look the same all day (not wilt). Also they might be easier for the hair stylist to do my hair. Also, I get to keep it as a keepsake afterwards. But the Biggest reason for me is that hopefully no bees or other bugs will come near me if the flower is fake.

I thought that I'd have to spend a fortune on a wedding dress (I've watched WAY too many episodes of say yes to the dress). I went to look at dresses back in February and I found THE DRESS, but the problem is that my wedding won't be for a while so I had to leave it. My dream dress was $899.99 at David's Bridal. The veil was I think about $120.00. So I set a budget of $1,200.00, for the dress including accessories and the veil.

My fiancee and I were having this conversation a while back. We were questioning whether or not we should take an actual honeymoon since we are having a destination wedding. Personally I think that if it's in our budget then we will take one, but if not we will try to save up for an awesome anniversary trip. I think since we are getting married in Cuba our honeymoon should have a different setting. We have been really interested in going to Thailand or maybe visiting Europe. We also considered that after we return from our wedding we should do a small local honeymoon like going to Niagara Falls for a weekend or something.

I think I'm at around 70 right now and I've been on here since February or March I think. We'll all get there. I've found that starting topics is an easy way to up your post numbers because you can respond to people and start a conversation. I've thought about paying for the membership, but through posting I've been able to learn about a lot of things and gather some more inspiration.

Oh wow! Thanks ladies. I would really like for us to keep our prices at around $1,200.00 per person with taxes and we're hoping that's possible seeing as we want to have our wedding during hurricane season. Do I have to put down an amount for each guest? Like if I want to save 30 spaces? I've read about brides putting down like $2,500.00 as a deposit to save space.

@@csho thanks =) I'm just worried as to how much money we need to put down for a deposit. I'm also wondering if there's any harm in contacting travel agents to inquire about it before we're actually ready to book and put down a deposit?

I didn't even consider doing a letter, but I think it's a great idea. I was thinking of doing invitations and save the date magnets. We want to create a wedding website and maybe post a little letter there, but we didn't consider sending an actual letter. There's still a lot of time until my wedding, so I have a lot of time to consider it.

Hi Everyone! I'm just curious as to how booking and everything works. My fiancee and I have worked out some tentative dates for when we want our wedding to be and we know what resort we want to get married at. When should I start asking for rates? I've heard that if you book early you could qualify for early booking bonuses. My friends and family would like us to give them at least a year of notice so they can plan their vacation time and save. Also, I was wondering if travel agents require you to put down a deposit on the number of guests you think will come? And how much of a deposit they want? I'm just confused as to how it all works and how other brides have approached it. Thanks =)

Sorry for the late reply, but thanks so much for your input. @@Meandhim where are you from? I went to the Toronto show and I didn't really find it helpful either because I already knew I wanted a destination wedding and I already knew what resort I wanted. I did get to talk to the Rep for Melia hotels, but she didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I did get an e-mail from them shortly after the show, but haven't responded yet. I read a lot of bad reviews, but a few good ones, so I'm not sure what to think.

That was part of my reason for wanting to hyphenate. I wanted to try to keep a part of my cultural identity. I was raised muslim and my parents are from South America, but I was born and raised in Canada. I want my future children to know about my culture and their heritage. I'm so excited to see all these responses and read everyone's perspective on the issue whether it's your first or second marriage. I feel really lucky to have a fiancee that wants this decision to be my own decision.

Oh wow! Your honeymoon trip sounds so exciting. New Zealand looks beautiful, I saw scenery of New Zealand on the Bachelor and it looks stunning. Not much is going on with my wedding plans. My fiancee just found a full-time job and I'm working on finding one too. We're still discussing the date as a few of our friends who are in our wedding party have landed full-time jobs and have black out dates so we're trying to come up with something that can at least satisfy our immediate family and wedding party. Congrats again =)

I love your display picture and I'm so happy everything went really well! I'm still working on my post numbers to be able to see everything you posted. How is married life? Are you happy that the wedding has already past? and Are you guys doing a honeymoon?

Hi Everyone! I was just wondering what everyone was planning on doing with their name after the wedding? Are you keeping your last name, taking your husband/wife's last name, or hyphenating your last name? And why? Personally I'm stuck between taking his last name and hyphenating. I love my fiancee with all my heart (I wouldn't have agreed to marry him if I didn't lol) but I there's a part of me that wants to hyphenate my last name. I'm a fiercely, strong, and independant woman and although I'm not strongly attached to my culture it is still a part of my identity that I want to hold on to which is why I want to hyphenate. On the other hand, I really do love my fiancee and I feel like tradition dictates that I should take his last name. He's happy with whatever I choose which doesn't make it any easier lol.

I'm a Toronto bride too!!! We're hoping to get married in November 2015, I know it's far away, but we're recent graduates and we're trying to secure jobs and save first. We want our wedding to be in Cuba!

I've been trying so hard to do this too. I guess it's another excuse to get on here more often =p My wedding will probably be a while away from now anyways so I have time =p

I've been dying to know how it went too and can't wait to see pics =) Congrats again! Also how did your Catholic ceremony go?

I really like the idea of the little jerk seasoning spice jars, it's so cute. I don't think we will do favours for our AHR when the time comes. Does that look cheap? I want to do really elaborate OOT bags for our guests so I wasn't thinking of doing favours for the AHR. I thought we could make some candy skewers if we really wanted to do favours for the AHR.

Oh wow, so many great ideas on here! I've been thinking about this myself as we do want to have an AHR. Our grandparents are in their late 80's and early 90's so they won't be able to come and some of our friends may still be in school when we're planning to have our wedding so we want to do something to incorporate them and anyone else who could not come. I want to keep the cost down and I don't want it to be like a traditional reception. I was thinking a Sunday brunch and we can show our pictures and wedding video or something and maybe have a small wedding cake to cut. It will most likely be 100 people that we will invite to the AHR so I'm not even sure what kind of venue we should look at. I do want to wear my dress again =)

@@csho Oh wow girl, the big day is so close. I'm so happy for you. Sorry about your FI, I hope he's feeling better. I've been so busy with exams and my internship I haven't really been able to be on here, but I'm glad I came on here today to wish you well before your big day. I still can't see your pictures so I'll have to do more posting. How are you feeling? Are you all packed? Good luck with everything hun! All your hard work will definitely pay off. Let us know how everything all came together.

@bicoastalimages Thank you for the reassurance =) I feel like everyone expects me to know all the small details of my wedding already even though it's still a while away. I will definitely check out your website!

Oh wow 33 days! That's so exciting. I'm definitely going to be posting away lol. Not much has been going on with my wedding plans. My fiance and I are both finishing up school so we're waiting until after we finish school to do more planning stuff. I can't wait to read more of your posts =)

I wish I could see your pictures =( Looks like I have to keep working on my number of posts =p I'm so happy for you and everything seems to be coming along well. I love your invitations and your colour is gorgeous! Your dress is amazing and you look stunning in it! I can't wait to see wedding pictures, if you plan to post them. You're almost a month a way from the big day, how are you feeling?

I love the way you think about it. We have an idea of who we want in our wedding party, but haven't asked yet mainly because our wedding is so far away. I always wanted my best friend to be my MOH, but she's not really the planning type and can be scatter-brained. After reading this I think I'm not going to pick a MOH. I love all my friends and I don't feel right about picking one to be more special than the others or cause any sort of drama.