Recently Engaged and hoping for a destination wedding

I am recently engaged since the beginning of this month.  I'm so excited and yet overwhelmed all at the same time.  I want to have a destionation wedding because it seems more cost effective but my family is pushing for a stateside wedding.  I am in a pickle as they want this but are not chipping in and probably couldn't afford to come to the DW.  My plan is to subsidize the cost of my mothers trip so that she can be there. The groom's family all seem to be on board with a DW.

Anyway, I have priced both and I think we come out better at a resonable resort then throwing something here but I'm very unsure of myself.  I have been in touch with TAs and local wedding venues to price both options. I'm shooting for August 2012, Jamaica.  Is that doable?

Hi,  Congrats on your engagement!  I am new to this site and still trying to figure out how to post a thread it tells me holding for moderation whatever that means, maybe you could help?  I would love to help you with insight on where to start bases on my experiences of a year in the works of planning. I have been engaged a year coming up on October 5th and been completely overwhelmed and explored every avenue there is for a  local wedding vs. destinatin.  We just now figured out after months and months of planning and research and changing directions min. 5 times a DW is was the way to go for budgets costs and also keeping your wedding an open invite but knowing a lot less will attend and keeps finances and budget from gettting our of control. I am in similar situation as you.....  My fiance has a LARGE family 9 in immediate and mine is just 4.  My entire family and friends are all excited about the destination wedding and all want to attend prior to invites even going out!  His family is not as excited as all the brothers and sisters will not be able to travel due to new babies and also cost....

It is very hard to plana wedding and even harder when you tthink about or try to make everyone else happy!!!!!

Remember this is you and your fiance's time and it is all about you!  You will never be able to satisfy or live up to everyones expectations and will drive yourself crazy trying to do so escpecially if you have a budget to keep you in check!     We  initally discounted idea of a DWdo because his family is so large  and some of mine will not be able to afford coming and costs ect!    We looked at a wedding from all angles and thought just keep it small to stay in budget and then rent a beach house locally and invite all friends and family for casual reception / celebration over an entire weekend or 4 days.  Rentals, food, venue, band, ect.ect. add up quick!!!  WE wasted months doing this to find out houses we wanted are booked or for sale or can't look at or getting no response. Find ing out how expensive and hard it is too coordinate with little time.  Is budget a big part of your  planning decisions on what you will do?  If so I recommend a DW ALL Inclusive Resort!  WE wanted to keep it around 10K total and that hopefully includes our honeymoon to Costa Rica an extra week after our wedding of 4 nights in Cancun Mexico..  Most weddings at an all inclusive resort will be offered free or complimentary to you if you stay 7 nights or just 3-4 as long as you book min. of 5 rooms ( each resort is diff)   We thought we were 9% on Secrets Maroma beach which is beautiful and has highest reveiiws of all resorts, but due to budget and not being sure guests  could afford coming and staying there it are now duing Moon Palace Cancun.  Check into it !  Hope this gives you a little guidance to get started 

Thanks for the encouragement. Yes there are a lot of decisions to make.  Its sounds like you have it figured out though.  I'm really leaning towards Jamaica.  The AHR seems to be the most expensive part though.  Please keep me posted on what you plan on doing.

Thanks!

Congrats and welcome to the forum!

Congrats and welcome to the forum!!!

Congrats and wellcome!!!

It is absolutely doable. I got engaged at the end of July and getting married at the end of december.

You will hear lots of negative words and comments, but dont let it get to you.

Good luck with your planning!

You will find plenty of useful info here

 

Originally Posted by mrlddst 

I am recently engaged since the beginning of this month.  I'm so excited and yet overwhelmed all at the same time.  I want to have a destionation wedding because it seems more cost effective but my family is pushing for a stateside wedding.  I am in a pickle as they want this but are not chipping in and probably couldn't afford to come to the DW.  My plan is to subsidize the cost of my mothers trip so that she can be there. The groom's family all seem to be on board with a DW.

Anyway, I have priced both and I think we come out better at a resonable resort then throwing something here but I'm very unsure of myself.  I have been in touch with TAs and local wedding venues to price both options. I'm shooting for August 2012, Jamaica.  Is that doable?

Congrats on your engagement. I can relate to how you are feeling.  When we first decided we wanted a DW we had lots of people say they couldnt afford to come and our parents were pushing for us to get married in Canada rather then going away.  I finally realized that it my FI and I special day and we need to do what we want.  I wanted a DW and that meant making some sacrifices for sure.  Ultimately you need to decided what you want to do , and people will support your decision no matter what.  I feel that in the long run a DW is definetly the cheaper way to go.  And August 2012 is do able!
 

Originally Posted by mrlddst 

I am recently engaged since the beginning of this month.  I'm so excited and yet overwhelmed all at the same time.  I want to have a destionation wedding because it seems more cost effective but my family is pushing for a stateside wedding.  I am in a pickle as they want this but are not chipping in and probably couldn't afford to come to the DW.  My plan is to subsidize the cost of my mothers trip so that she can be there. The groom's family all seem to be on board with a DW.

Anyway, I have priced both and I think we come out better at a resonable resort then throwing something here but I'm very unsure of myself.  I have been in touch with TAs and local wedding venues to price both options. I'm shooting for August 2012, Jamaica.  Is that doable?

Thank you! I have definitely been checking out the site and getting great ideas.  My mother and sister had it out this weekend and I feel much better.  I will definitely need a AHR to appease them though.

Congratulations and welcome to the forums! Have fun with all your Jamaica plans.

Linkn

Welcome!! Happy Planning!!