Help!

[itsfinallyhere]

This is your day, so I say follow your heart and dreams. God willing you will only do it once so make as much of your dream come true as you can. But remember your dream may not be that of another's. For whatever reason the people you invite may or may not go but you can little about their decision. If there are some special people that are must haves maybe you can help them out financially if that is their problem. But you cannot control everything so control what you can. And try not to worry about what you can't control. Good luck I am going thru pretty much the same thing. So I can understand how difficult it can be at times not to get down because some people wont be there.

[iwantadreamswedding]

Go for what you really want, and have an at home dinner and slideshow of your wedding and vacation for those who couldn't attend :-)

[cake2121]

Honestly I had practically my whole wedding planned here in my hometown and then things starting getting crazy with family and I decided I am not paying for these people to whine and complain about how I want to do my wedding. So then I switched to RTPB and then everyone was like how will we afford this and so on.

 

Well 20 people have and FYI the prices will go down closer to the date I booked in Jan for my July wedding and we got back $1600.00 bc the price went down that much! Remember you can't please everyone do what is right for you and your fiance. In the end those are the only two people that matter. I couldnt be more excited about my wedding in Jamaica and being in three hometown weddings before my own TRUST ME you are making the best choice going to Jamaica!

 

I wish you and your fiance all the best and if you have any questions about the resort let me know. I am regularly in contact with the wedding coordinator who is great and I can help you with any questions you may have!

 

Best wishes!

[Jamaica0619]

I agree with the others. If you search you will see a number of threads like this one. I agree that every bride on this site has felt like you do.

 

We are going to have 20 people plus us and our photographers at the wedding. At one point in time our estimate was near 50. Needless to say we have had a lot of people decide that they didn't want to come/couldn't afford it.

 

Everytime I started to second guess my decision to have a DW, I thought about planning a local wedding, and having to deal with a huge guest list and everyones opinions and impressions of what my wedding should be. And, I'm reminded that I'm doing what I want. Since no one is coming, no one really cares how I plan my wedding, so I'm having the wedding I really want.

 

We did decide to have an AHR. But, it is more of a semi-formal party. We are not doing any of the formalities. My opinion is my wedding and reception is in Jamaica, not here. Although my family has been getting on my last nerve becuase they keep calling it my wedding. However, if I did not have this celebration, I think I would regret it. But, it is a good reminder why I did not want to plan a local wedding.

[jamaica2010ms]

As soon as you say Jamaica, people are excited....then they freak because of the cost. We weren't decided on an island, and our TA strongly recommended RIUs anywhere, so she quoted us for Mexico, DR, & Jamaica for February. Turns out Mexico would have been the most expensive! So when people 'hint' that this a bit 'up there' for a DW....I make sure to point out that this was one of the 'cheaper' places! Plus, how can you beat Jamaica?!

[jennie]

We are getting married Aug 2009 at the RPTB and had run into kinda the same problems. At first I cried and was very upset. My FH made me realize that this is OUR day and made me think of who I really wanted to be there. It is important for my daughter (8 yrs) to attend and my best friend. Our parents had a big hissy fit at first: Jamaica?! But, it's alot cheaper actually to go and do a DW than spend at least the same, if not more money on just one day/ a few hours at home!

You get the wedding of your dreams and a vacation all rolled up into one.

 

I agree with the other girls: think of who YOU really want to go. The "extras" are a bonus. Also, the guests can stay at a cheaper hotel/resort and pay for a day pass for the ceremony if they would like that as an option. With the economy as it is, the resort industry is giving out so many package incentives for travel.

Good Luck!

[Heather0623]

I had the same problem with my guests. I am getting married at the Grand Palladium at the end of June and have 40 people attending.Make sure you give your guests these options. I know a few people that had done a destination wedding before and offered multiple resorts for people to stay at. This way if they really want to attend they will be able to find a resort that is in their price range. They will just have to pay for a guest pass to come to your resort for the wedding. If your guests really want to be there for your wedding, they will find a way to make it happen.

[budgetjamaicabride]

You are getting some great advice! Stick to your plan but consider two things. 1. Explain to them what they get for their money and that if they wanted, they could not spend another dime on their trip. 2. Remind them that they are welcome to stay at other locations on the island if they think it will be a better deal and join you for the wedding day.

 

AHR is your saving grace and mine is going to be really simple... bbq at home!

[SSNM]

I agree with everyone's comments. My fiance and I have many expenses coming up and we just can't afford to blow our savings on a lavish wedding for 100+ guests expecting an invite. Having a DW seems to be the most diplomatic way to keep costs low and only have the people we really want there.

 

Since I am marrying someone of a completely different culture and religion, we are actually having two ceremonies. Our DW will be our 'big event' ceremony that legally marries us. Before our DW we will have a VERY small low key second ceremony in his culture that will be done in our home and very cheaply (think extended family get-together; this is how they normally do it anyway and so it works for our purposes).

 

Anyone who can't do the DW would be welcome to come to the other ceremony to celebrate our union provided they understand that it will NOT be posh. Then those who care to make the trip will travel with us to Jamaica for the "big event."

 

That is my plan atm until I change my mind (which happens frequently :)If they don't like it, I no longer care; it is not their wedding and they aren't paying for it. I'd rather have a nice home and car than pay for people to eat like royalty for a day and then live in a shack and take the bus.

[Preciousmi811]

My big sell on Jamaica is the 3 people per room. If people split rooms the cost drops dramatically. Once people realized this a lot of husbands are willing to send their wives with their girlfriends to share a room.

 

Needless to say I still have people who can afford to come, but say its too far or they can't afford it when they just bought a Harley

 

So like everyone says I have my best friends and my parents everyone else will be bonus.