Afraid!!!!

[JENFLY6]

:Hi guys I need some support, I have booked my wedding at Dream Palm Beach, after that i have not heard from Melani again, I figured that since my wedding is 9 mon away, i should not bother her. But here is the thing i am all over the place i am at my 9 month mark and have not done absolutely nothing and i have no idea where to begin... so what should i be doing

here is what i know so far

1) i want luggage tags and boarding passes as STDs (airplane theme) and passports for invites (all diy)

2)i have a travel agent

 

thats all i have done soo far

help what should i be doing other then worry that no one will come to my wedding .....

[LadyTrunck]

Jenfly6- we have your back, we have all been there! Picking the resort is usually the most difficult part. I have a RIU resort, and I HATE the fact that the wedding coordinator will NOT contact you about any details about it until 2 months before the wedding. My first suggestion is to search for other Dreams brides to see their experiences. This forum has been an unbelievable help!

 

I would say STD's and Photog is second. Start working on STD's now- if they are DIY, they usually take longer than planned-, we sent ours out about 11 months before the date. Depending on who you book for photography, they can be booked up to and further than a year in advance. I had to change my wedding date (after STD's were printed and sent) because my dream photog was booked for my original date already!

 

Depending on if you're getting your dress made, or buying off the rack, dresses would be 3rd. Definitely start looking. Find styles that you like, if you are picky, go and start trying on! My dress takes 4-6 months to make, before alterations, so I'm cutting it more close than I would like!! I ordered in mid Nov...

 

Last, just keep browsing this incredible forum for favor ideas. You cannot really make any final choices w/out a final headcount, so I would suggest to have your guests RSVP in time for you to finalize the favors!! I cannot lie, I have bought all of my favors even though I don't have a headcount. Just thinking ahead-- I can always sell the rest on here!

 

Oh, and I forgot the cake thing. I suggest searching the thread on here, 'what I would and would not do again'. Many of the brides say that the cake was a stressful thing for them, and ended up being a non-issue. I think Dreams is an all inclusive, and they usually include it in your package.

 

I hope that this helps!! Best of luck!!! Don't forget to post pics!

[*Meagan*]

OK so I voted but I wanted two vote for two. You have some important ones mixed with not important right now.

 

First and foremost. Get out there and start dress shopping. It took 3 almost 4 months for my dress to come in. And I found it on my first shopping experience. And that doesnt happen to everyone. So start shopping and choosing and purchasing.

 

Second if you are making your STD and invites. I would def start doing so. They take a while and they are handcrafted.

Also I got our STDs about 10 months before our wedding to give people enough time to book and start planning their finances etc. That is def something you want to get out quickly. I would send your invites out in June/July time.

 

Favors and programs you can do next summer.

 

Id say first things first dress and STD's. DEF!

[nads]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JENFLY6 :Hi guys I need some support, I have booked my wedding at Dream Palm Beach, after that i have not heard from Melani again, I figured that since my wedding is 9 mon away, i should not bother her. But here is the thing i am all over the place i am at my 9 month mark and have not done absolutely nothing and i have no idea where to begin... so what should i be doing here is what i know so far 1) i want luggage tags and boarding passes as STDs (airplane theme) and passports for invites (all diy) 2)i have a travel agent thats all i have done soo far help what should i be doing other then worry that no one will come to my wedding .....

you need to contact her your wedding could be 2 yrs away she still needs to help you with the process. I speak to my coordinator everyday. we have become great friends

[jenne]

Jenfly6, Congrats on booking your wedding! I'm getting married at Dreams La Romana, so if they are anything alike, it seems that the wedding coordinator will only really email you if you ask her a question, and the rest all comes together once you get down there. We did not send out save the dates for our wedding. Instead we created a wedding website and sent out emails to everyone. Part of the reason, however, was that we were in a bit of a time crunch. We were given a quote for the trip but we had to have deposits down within two weeks. But it all worked out and there are 31 people coming to our wedding. I only ordered my dress 6 months before our wedding. It will be in about 2 months before which I feel is plenty of time for alterations, etc. With Dreams, depending on the package you book, there might be a photographer included so I wouldn't stress too much about anything at this point. You have tons of time!!

[**~Linda~**]

Id say if you want to DIY STD's and invites id start off with those STD's ASAP . Here would be my list.

 

1. Chose Venue (checked)

2. Make STD's

3. Start investigating a photographer (They are usually super booked! Its really important to at least have an idea of who you want to go with and see if they have your date available.)

4. Decide on a dress, it takes about 6 months to get an order in sometimes longer depending on the case of the dress and with alterations it can be annoying if you leave it till last minute and have to end up getting from the collection thats off the rack.

5. Make invites

6. Deal with the rest favors, programs, etc.

 

But honestly it doesn't matter how far along you are keep in touch with your coordinator.. They will help you out in so many things including keeping you at ease in these next few months. So take a breather and go step by step we are all here to back you up with anything you need..

[carolina24]

I have to disagree with nads that your coordinator would be contacting you all the time...yes they should, but not all do. It took me awhile to get used to this but once I let go, I was able to relax and focus on things I needed to do here. These resorts do weddings ALL year long and they know what they're doing, once you get down there everything will be just as you'd like!!

 

I would definately be dress shopping ASAP!! Also get your STDs done b/c that is the way your guests will be able to really start planning and budgeting. I made sure that I had our wedding website set up BEFORE people got their STDs b/c the website was on the postcards we used and I didn't want them to check it and not find info. I feel like the website took some time b/c 1. I'm a little OCD about stuff like that and 2. I didn't want to get sick of it so I only did a couple of pages at a time. I did ours through weddingwire.com, they have a great sample site and it's pretty much step by step instructions.

 

Good luck!!

[PynkLemonade]

I agree with most of the girls so far. I am getting married August 9, 2010 at Dreams Punta Cana and so far I have done my wedding website with all the information guests will need and have a goal to get the STD's out by Dec 18th. I just put the deposit on my dress last sunday but my dress will be here in 3-5 months which leaves me some room for alterations.

 

I wouldn't stress about favors and programs yet, bc you need an accurate count before you start purchasing those items anyway. Take a breathe and relax. Like one bride said we are all here to help you. I used wedsite.com for my wedding website, which has become my best friend, it's easy to navigate through and it's simply beautiful.

 

Another thing to consider is if you want a religious or a symbolic ceremony. We are having a symbolic with Pastor Rick York, I can forward you his information if you would like. He is an english speaking pastor there and it just makes me feel better to have a pastor officiate my wedding other than a judge and a wedding coordinator translating, but that's just me!

 

So in order, I would,

1) Decide on budget, review resort packages and chose one

2) Start looking a dresses

3) Start building your website, so guests have something to look at while waiting for STD's and formal invitations

4) Favors, Photography, BM dresses selected

5) Chill till it's time to take flight

 

Good luck!

[Aimes]

Congrats, you are several steps ahead of me with your planning!!

 

I would start simultaneously with the STD's and looking for a dress. Finding a fabulous photographer is also a must, as the good ones seem to get booked up fast. I know of someone who does destination photography, Nels Akerlund (Nels Akerlund Weddings) he is awesome. If you go to his website you will see examples, and there is a slideshow of "Jaimie & Woody" and that is a destination wedding in Mexico, so that will give you a really good idea of what you can expect. I have decided that I am not booking a wedding date unless he is free to be there!! A great guy too, I have worked with him in the past.

 

Good luck, take a deep breath and remember that the most important thing is that whatever happens between now and then you will be married to the man of your dreams in nine months! (This is my mum's advice everytime I get panicky about stuff!!)

 

A

[debbmach]

Thanks for starting this thread...it's getting me thinking about getting on top of the planning!