beckys98

Yeah - it may be worth it for your peace of mind! We know our crew is a bunch of crazy dancers!

My sister got married in Mexico last year and just hooked the iPod up to the speakers - no DJ. It worked well because she was able to pick all of the songs she wanted played and she saved a ton of money. The only thing to think about is having someone keep the flow of the reception going without the DJ to MC. So, if you have special dances, cake cutting, etc. that you want to take a break in the action for you'll want someone to help keep those things on track throughout the night. I did this for my sister's wedding, but we did speeches during dinner and then she did dad/daughter and first dance immediately after dinner before everyone started dancing so we were pretty much able to let the iPod play after that. I'm pretty sure we're doing this as well for our wedding. My fiancé used to DJ and we have turntables in our living room - so he will probably mix all the music ahead of time to play on an iPod (he did the playlist for my sister's wedding as well). We just know what our group likes to dance to so we aren't sure we want to relinquish control. Unless we get too busy before the big day that it is too big of a feat to accomplish, then we may suck it up and go with a DJ

I do a brazilian only before going on vacations. True, it isn't exactly a pleasant experience, but if you go to an aesthetician who knows what they are doing it really isn't that bad and it is over quickly. I went to one once where it hurt so bad I almost threw up (I think the wax was not the right temp), so my best advice is to ask someone you know for a referral. Oh and take an ibuprofen before. I think the pain is worth it when I know my bikini line will be exposed every day for a week. Honestly, it isn't the pain that keeps me from doing it regularly - it is just because I don't want to spend the money on it

I'm ALMOST there! Maybe another week or so

I kind of had my heart set on a short dress, but then I realized I am getting married on the beach and will not be wearing shoes for the ceremony. My legs just don't look great without a heel...so I decided against it. I did see some really great options though - just try them on and see how you feel. Now I have my heart set on not wearing white, but we'll see how that goes. I'm really trying to keep the dress budget down between $500-$750 MAX and all the white dresses I've seen in my price range are really plain/boring and I want some thing more unique. I've seen plenty of white dressing I love that are $2,000 or more! So I'm expanding to look at non-wedding dresses to find something more fashionable.

I feel the same way! I feel a little badly about it - but when I start adding up the costs I get a little more comfortable with a smaller crowd. There is a core group of about 20 close friends and family that I KNOW will be there. Anything over that I have no idea what our count will end up to be!

Welcome @@sryan921! It is true - most of the world knows zero about planning a destination wedding so this site is great. In fact, as one of the last to get married, most of my friends are not all that interested in weddings in general anymore! They are 100% baby obsessed. So I get to talk about wedding stuff here without judgment or feeling like I'm boring anyone. You'll love it I'm impressed you have your dress already! That is one thing I have not even started... Congrats and happy planning!

Oh my gosh! Thanks @@kmk2016 and @@cometgirl! I'm glad I mentioned it! The latisse commercials just scared me when it said it could permanently change your eye color. But maybe worth the risk...haha @@TinkerSofi - I was thinking of doing the tanning bed also. I quit doing it a few years ago but, like you, it really prevents me from burning when out in the sun. I am capable of getting a tan, it just takes awhile. I figure if I do a short amount of time over a few months it can't be that bad. But I will probably still do a spray tan on top of it!

This is where we are, too, for our June wedding. Everyone keeps asking me if I'm busy with wedding planning but there isn't much I can do right now until we know how many guests we are having. That affects everything, but budget in particular. It could be 20 people or 60 people - no idea. I guess I could get a dress...I thought this would be the most fun thing for me but I've really been avoiding it for some unknown reason.

I'm running my first 10k race in 2 weeks! Sadly, my rigorous training has not resulted in any weight loss yet. Ugh. It is clearly my diet that is my issue (as I sit at my desk at lunchtime eating sweet potato fries). I eat a ton of vegetables and lean protein, but then there are the carbs... I really only need to lose 7 pounds and I have 8 months. I can do this, right??

Hi @@cfinkenbine - there are a few threads on the bridal shower topic. http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/48005-does-anyone-else-feel-awkward-about-having-a-bridal-shower/page-14 There seem to be plenty of people on both side - and some who don't want one but get one anyway! There are a lot of comments on the "to register or not to register" question as well! http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/77873-hesitant-to-do-a-registry/

Congratulations! About 6 weeks in I, too, was strongly leaning toward eloping or doing the courthouse. My fiance actually talked me out of it just because we'll never, ever get our friends and family to go on vacation together again! But, we decided we were doing everything our way - whether that ends up being traditional or not - and within a budget we were comfortable with. It is still a little daunting at times, but once you pick your venue it gets MUCH easier. I promise. Happy planning!

Um...beauty necessities 100% factored into our travel plans and arrival day! Waxing, spray tan (I'm super fair), nails, etc. Despite what my fiance thinks...these are IMPORTANT details! Fortunately I have very thin, slow-growing blond leg hair that I can get away with shaving 1-2 times per week. But I am considering eyelash tinting. Where that whole thin, blond body hair does not come in handy is with my eyebrows and eyelashes. I dye my eyebrows but my eyelashes are super blond and not visible without mascara. It might be nice for the lazy days at the beach/pool where my picture may be taken but I don't want to wear a bunch of makeup. But I've never done it, so I'm not sure if it is worth it or not.

I'm from the Midwest as well! We are paying for our wedding entirely, but we are in our early 30s and have also planned a wedding we can afford to pay cash for. When my sister got married (also a DW) my dad paid for a welcome reception, which I would guess was around $500. Still a very nice gesture and not expected. Of my friends who have gotten married - it has been a mixed bag on who paid. My friends whose parents paid often wished they hadn't - because you lose some control over your decisions. One of my friends had very little say in the guest list because her future in-laws were paying - so she had a bunch of their friends there she didn't even know. I am very independent and don't like being told what to do! My money, my decisions I prefer it that way!

Far from criticizing, I actually commend you for not putting yourself in the poor house! At the end of the day, you'll be married and that is what is important. It sounds like the family you invited truly wants to be there with you, and that is also what is important! I think as long as you pick an affordable place for the dinner - so it isn't much of a financial burden on your guests either - then it is fine to do an "unhosted dinner" and make it optional. If your family goes there regularly for vacation, then they would be buying their own dinner anyway! Being upfront with people so they know what to expect is most important. Maybe do something heartfelt for your guests like a card for each of them with a handwritten note about how important they are to you. Or just a small (cheap or free) touch of appreciation in lieu of paying for their food/drinks. Something special will be remembered.

I am trying to avoid mailed invitations (we have done evites so far) but it is normal to use "and guest" if they don't have an established significant other. We are having everyone RSVP on our website. On there I could put the invited guest's name and indicate that they are allowed a "plus one" and they can enter their guest's name when they RSVP.

My sister brought her photographer to Mexico for her wedding and paid for travel and accommodations for 2 people. Plus the price of the package.

@VegasBride121314 Can I borrow your MOH?! That is awesome. I just sent my STDs out in early August and it is driving me nuts that people who KNOW for sure that they are coming haven't put down their mere $150 deposit. I feel like they should just make it easy on me and do it I've seen some comments about my resort selling out and now I'm paranoid. We are still 8 months out so I can probably wait until January to start really hounding people.

I DO think if you look at the entire universe of wedding dresses a majority of them are strapless. But the neck and shoulders happen to be a beautiful thing to show off! You could just as easily say "why are white dresses so popular" (white isn't the most flattering color on every skin tone) or "why are long dresses so popular" (some women should show off their rockin' legs). The point is - we should all wear whatever the heck we feel beautiful in no matter if it has straps, lace, or polka dots. That is my 2 cents

Does the resort not have an onsite "disco"? One of the resorts we were looking at in Jamaica does not, and we excluded it for that reason. Similarly, there is no way on earth our group is going to be done at 11pm but I also didn't want to worry about taking people off-resort after they'd been drinking all day. I knew we'd have only a small group who would be willing to do that, but we'll probably get most people to come to the onsite disco. So it was a big factor in our location decisions! If it makes any difference - Playa del Carmen is also way closer to the airport so that'll be less total travel time for your guests! Congrats on your engagement and happy planning!

Hi @@angiewayne - Here is another thread for 2015 Rose Hall brides. http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/75612-2015-iberostar-rose-hall-suite-bride/page-9 But pretty much every topic has a thread if you search you'll find so much great information - probably too much as you'll start getting crazy ambitious DIY project ideas

@@calgarybride2015 I think you are TOTALLY right that guests don't have expectations for a destination wedding. It is completely different than a traditional wedding at home where the day is pretty standard across weddings. My sister got married in Mexico last year and kept it pretty simple, but the excitement about being on vacation with a group of fun people, having a new experience, and the beauty of the tropical location kind of makes people oblivious to everything else. People remember how much fun they had - and that is what I keep telling myself. I'm willing to spend money on things that up the fun factor! @@TinkerSofi I would worry about not having much done. I am telling myself that is what snowy/freezing cold days in winter are for! I'll hit everything really hard in January-March - and I'll probably be so excited by then that I'll have my bags packed by April

Nope! I think $200pp/pn for IRHS is great for that resort. We needed a resort that allowed children - so it was a good option for us. Definitely inquire about incentives for booking a group. We get every 21st guest comped (so 1 free guest for every 10 rooms booked) in the form of a refund/credit to us, so that will help us with some of the wedding costs as we expect about 50-60 people. I looked at a Beaches resort that would have pretty much had zero cost for the actual wedding, but the costs to our guests would have been way, way more and we felt a little uncomfortable about that. (Well, also, we wanted kids to be allowed on the resort but we didn't exactly need Elmo making a guest appearance at the wedding.)

Hi @lornj29 - My fiance is from Jamaica and we are getting married there in June 2015. While hurricane season is June - October, Jamaica hasn't actually had a hurricane in like 15 years. They may affected by a tropical depression, but there is no predicting and it isn't likely. We were just there in May for 9 days and, no exaggeration, it rained cats and dogs ALL day every day. His family members claim that May and October are the rainiest months, but that varies a little bit from what you'd find if you searched average rainfall by month for Jamaica. It may have been a fluke, but we hadn't picked our date yet and I decided then there was no way I was getting married in May! February - March are more expensive and we couldn't get the date we wanted in April, so we went with June. It may rain, but we know we'll have a blast anyway!

Do you have a Charming Charlie nearby? It is crazy the colorful accessories they have - if you go in the store it is all arranged by color.