*The official Aruba Brides CHAT thread*

[kfady529]

Congrats on your upcoming wedding !! I was thinking the same thing about thew AI it didn't seem worth it, we were looking in to getting a room with a full kitchen and just going to the market. Did you go with a local TA I was working with a destionweddings.com TA but also went to liberty travel and looked on BJ's to get some ruff easement, mainly to get the best price for our guest. Who did you go for for a photographer, flowers, DJ etc? Hope your big day is absolutely amazing!!
 

Originally Posted by risa1818 

Hi!

I am also from MA ...we are getting married at The Manchebo on June 11th. You will love Aruba...it is beautiful and everyone is so nice!

 

Just to let you know, most of the all inclusives are very expensive and depending on if you rent a time share for your honeymoon, they are not worth it in my opinion. There are so many amazing restaurants on the island, and you can easily go to the grocery store and buy snacks, or mixers. I personally would not pay the money for an all inclusive there.

 

Let me know if your TA doesn't work out, because I used a great one who was very helpful with our planning process. Any additional info. on Aruba you need just let me know! Happy planning

 

 

 

 

[risa1818]

Our resort has a wonderful wedding planner who runs an independent company but is the preferred wedding coordinator of some of the resorts. My friend had used her for her wedding and she is really is great! She is very responsive, on top of everything...I love her! She also handles booking everything for you: photographer, flowers, DJ etc. We definitely have a budget and she is great with working with that. Private message me for her information...she is really great!

 

Also, our resort The Manchebo is also great if you are on a budget. Let me know if you want me to send you information. As far as getting a time share, we have one for the week and I think it is definitely worth it. Ours is at La Cabana. If you visit Aruba.com they have a forum there where you can search time shares to rent from the owners for great prices. They may be the best route if you are looking for one.

 

Anything I can help you with just let me know!!
 

Originally Posted by kfady529 

Congrats on your upcoming wedding !! I was thinking the same thing about thew AI it didn't seem worth it, we were looking in to getting a room with a full kitchen and just going to the market. Did you go with a local TA I was working with a destionweddings.com TA but also went to liberty travel and looked on BJ's to get some ruff easement, mainly to get the best price for our guest. Who did you go for for a photographer, flowers, DJ etc? Hope your big day is absolutely amazing!!
 

 

 

 

[Gina42212]

I'm so excited to be finding these posts!! I just started using forums to find information on planning my wedding, and am super happy to find someone else getting married at  Manchebo!! I haven't booked the date yet, but am in the process of doing so; I've been skeptical about booking without hearing any reviews on the resort in particular. I haven't been to Aruba before, but we decided to get married there based on the rave reviews of our friends who have been to the island.  I haven't seen the Manchebo, so I am thrilled to hear opinions from people who have been married there, or are planning a wedding there.  I cannot wait to have the date and rooms booked, so as soon as I hear good feedback, I'm planning to do it!

Should we contact the resort's wedding planner, or an planner from the island in general?  I was about to send our wish list to Lissy Lampe, from Ceremonies and Celebrations in Aruba rather than the resort's wedding planner.  I'm a little nervous about doing all of the planning from my home in AZ, but we won't be able to make a trip out there before the wedding, so this is the only way!

Did I say yet that I'm super excited about finding someone who knows a little about Manchebo?   We got engaged a month ago, and I haven't known where to begin; it's overwhelming!

 

Thanks so much!

[Gina42212]

Hi AnnCam!  I'd like to hear more about your experience, and also I just saw that you are from St. Paul, MN...I'm from Eden Prairie, MN, but I live in Phoenix, AZ now All of my friends and family will be traveling from MN, so your feedback on flights (length, cost, anything! ) would be much appreciated!

I am so looking forward to getting married in Aruba; mostly because it's beautiful looking (never been, but heard great things), and also because I'm excited to do a DW so that I don't have to do so much planning and work!  It's overwhelming at the very beginning, but I'm starting to get more excited as I get closer to booking.

 

Thank you so much in advance for your input!

 

Gina

[traceysteve]

Gina..first of all, welcome, and these ladies will save your life..trust me!

Originally Posted by Gina42212 

I'm so excited to be finding these posts!! I just started using forums to find information on planning my wedding, and am super happy to find someone else getting married at  Manchebo!! I haven't booked the date yet, but am in the process of doing so; I've been skeptical about booking without hearing any reviews on the resort in particular. I haven't been to Aruba before, but we decided to get married there based on the rave reviews of our friends who have been to the island.  I haven't seen the Manchebo, so I am thrilled to hear opinions from people who have been married there, or are planning a wedding there.  I cannot wait to have the date and rooms booked, so as soon as I hear good feedback, I'm planning to do it!

Should we contact the resort's wedding planner, or an planner from the island in general?  I was about to send our wish list to Lissy Lampe, from Ceremonies and Celebrations in Aruba rather than the resort's wedding planner.  I'm a little nervous about doing all of the planning from my home in AZ, but we won't be able to make a trip out there before the wedding, so this is the only way!

Did I say yet that I'm super excited about finding someone who knows a little about Manchebo?   We got engaged a month ago, and I haven't known where to begin; it's overwhelming!

 

Thanks so much!

 

[AnnCam2011]

Yes! Just got married March 7. We stayed at the Renaissance Aruba Resort and couldn't have been happier with our decision. It was perfect. Look back a few pages in this forum - I posted something right when we got back. Loved every bit of it, no issues with the service and the WC was awesome!

Originally Posted by kfady529 

@ Ann it is really very exciting and we can't wait, looking @ pictures and everyone's comments is deff making us feel like we made the right decision. Did you just have your wedding? Congrats if so We are getting married April 2012. What hotel did you go with?

 

[AnnCam2011]

Hi Gina!

Good thing you are in AZ - it snowed here last night - arg. Most of our guests flew from MSP. There are no direct flights to Oranjestad. We flew thru NC, some went thru TX, some thru Chicago. If you have your dates, I'd recommend looking for flights. We paid around $600 each but some of our friends were lucky and found deals for $400. Just hit or miss but keep checking back, and delete the cookies on your computer before you search. Places like priceline.com have something on their site that remembers you from previous searches. That is why prices seem to go up within 20 mins. Just a tip

 

Where are you getting married at? So exciting! I was a lazy bride and left everything up to the WC. Do the same and your experience will be better. Dont worry about gift bags, candles, chair sashes. Blah. Aruba is so beautiful, your guests will just be glad to be there. The rest is fluff

Originally Posted by Gina42212 

Hi AnnCam!  I'd like to hear more about your experience, and also I just saw that you are from St. Paul, MN...I'm from Eden Prairie, MN, but I live in Phoenix, AZ now All of my friends and family will be traveling from MN, so your feedback on flights (length, cost, anything! ) would be much appreciated!

I am so looking forward to getting married in Aruba; mostly because it's beautiful looking (never been, but heard great things), and also because I'm excited to do a DW so that I don't have to do so much planning and work!  It's overwhelming at the very beginning, but I'm starting to get more excited as I get closer to booking.

 

Thank you so much in advance for your input!

 

Gina

 

[AnnCam2011]

I have picts on my Facebook page. If you want to see, PM me and we can figure something out.

[AnnCam2011]

Nevermind - here's one better: Our photographer just posted our preview. www.vickphotography.com wedding date 3/7/11. View the slideshow - it's better

[traceysteve]

AnnCam,

Quick question for ya..I've been trying to book with the Westin, and it has been going back and forth, blah, blah, blah...anyways, our TA found us a fantastic deal at the RIU, the majority of the group is staying there, so I thought I would inquire about their weddings. They replied back saying that you cannot have a civil ceremony on the beach, it's against the law. Is this true? Did you get married on the beach? I've sent inquiries to other venues, and this is the first I've heard of this. I appreciate, as always, your input.