Ocean Blue & Sand-Punta Cana

[ntlsnow]

Welcome to all the new Ocean Blue Brides! We are filling up the calendar very well... :-)
 

Originally Posted by Dominican Ally 

I added you in Nikki

 

 

 

 

Lozzawatts (Lorraine) Wedding: August 9th, 2012 Travel: Aug 7-12

erinme (Erin) Wedding October 11, 2012 Travel: Oct 9-16

nikkiandrich (Nikki)  Wedding: November 10, 2012  Travel: Nov 7-14

SylvieG (Sylvie) Wedding: November 26, 2012 Travel: Nov 22-29

gina24 (Marcia) Wedding: Jan 23, 2013 Travel: Jan 19-26

ntlsnow (Natalie) Wedding: January 25, 2013 Travel: Jan 23- Feb 3

Danimontague (Danielle) Wedding: Feb 20, 2013 Travel: Feb 16-Mar 2

DominicanAlly (Alicia) Wedding: April 11, 2013 Travel: April 6-20

jlb392 (Jessica) Wedding: April 17, 2013 Travel: April 14-24

KristinaM (Kristina) Wedding: April 18, 2013 Travel April 13-27

missjade (Jade) Wedding: July 11, 2013 Travel: July 6-13

 

[ntlsnow]

I added random info on my webite like spanish phrases as well, posting them on there helped me practice as well. LOL.

I cannot believe they wanted a deposit for the rooms, I have never had to do that before with a TA. That sounds ridiculous.

 

I am doing my own boarding pass invites and actually having a good time doing them. They are a TON of work but I like doing things like that so it doesnt bother me! Just in the design phase now, deciding the pictures and fonts, then I will work on what I want them to say. It really is fun.

 

Originally Posted by jlb392 

Kristina- thanks.  There's still a lot of info I'd like to add to the website.  It's just a matter of finding the time to research.  I was thinking of doing some common Spanish phrases as well....let everyone get an early start on learning to say "I'd like a Pina Colada."  Lol

We aren't using a TA.  I spoke to one and got some preliminary info, but the rates that were offered through the TA were actually higher than what the average rates on the website were.  Plus, they wanted a $500 deposit to hold the room black, which seemed strange to me.  In the years that I worked in hotels and booked wedding blocks, we never asked for a deposit for them.  So, we're letting everyone book on their own.

 

Can't wait to see your STD's.  We're doing boarding pass invites, and I think we're going to end up doing those ourselves, since they can get a bit pricey.
 

 

 

[ntlsnow]

That is what we are doing as well! LOL. Normal room and trying for an upgrade. Our TA suggested that too. She said there is no reason to pay that much for that Honeymoon suite (even though I am in love with it...outdoor shower, 2 levels, huge bathtub in front of a window, and a huge canopy bed?!?!?). I do love the suite though, it is really nice!

 

Originally Posted by KristinaM 

The honeymoon suite prices do seem crazy! Especially because we're going for 2 weeks. I think we're booking a normal room and then trying to negotiate an upgrade once we're there- even if it's just for the second week or something. Honestly we spend so little time in our room that it seems like a waste to me. The only reason I really want it is for the getting ready pictures LOL.

 

 

 

[ntlsnow]

Are all of you doing OOT bags and brochures too? I am!

 

All I know so far is that I want lanyards with keyhoders and insulated mugs.

[jlb392]

We're booking the first week in a regular room and then our last 3 days (once everyone has left) in the honeymoon suite.  we wanted at least a few days in once, since they look so amazing.
 

Originally Posted by ntlsnow 

That is what we are doing as well! LOL. Normal room and trying for an upgrade. Our TA suggested that too. She said there is no reason to pay that much for that Honeymoon suite (even though I am in love with it...outdoor shower, 2 levels, huge bathtub in front of a window, and a huge canopy bed?!?!?). I do love the suite though, it is really nice!

 

 

 

 

[ntlsnow]

Right? They do look amazing. I am going mention that to my TA. I really like the Honeymoon suites!

 

Originally Posted by jlb392 

We're booking the first week in a regular room and then our last 3 days (once everyone has left) in the honeymoon suite.  we wanted at least a few days in once, since they look so amazing.
 

 

 

[Dominican Ally]

We are going to do this too! We've booked a regular room, and at some point we may book the Honeymoon Suite for just a few days...I don't see the point (and I'm far too frugal) to justify spending that kind of money on a room that you spend so little time in. I would really LOVE to have that room for getting ready pics - but I can live without it

 

If we get to the hotel and we can negotiate something - great....if not, we will live

 

Originally Posted by ntlsnow 

That is what we are doing as well! LOL. Normal room and trying for an upgrade. Our TA suggested that too. She said there is no reason to pay that much for that Honeymoon suite (even though I am in love with it...outdoor shower, 2 levels, huge bathtub in front of a window, and a huge canopy bed?!?!?). I do love the suite though, it is really nice!

 

 

 

 

[Dominican Ally]

Kristina : Don't stress over not using a TA I'm sure that you're making a good choice! I think especially being from the US - you can get better deals dealing with the hotel for rooms, and airlines for flights. Many of the brides you see on here using TA's are likely from Canada (like me) where for whatever reason, we seem to get better deals doing packages, and it's fairly uncommon to book hotel/flights seperately.

 

We have a few from the US attending our wedding, and we aren't dealing with our TA for their travel. We have booked their rooms through the hotel, and they will look after their airfare with Jet Blue when flights are released/deals are out.

 

Ntlsnow: I am totally doing OOT bags, and brocures at some point I've started playing with publisher for a brochure, but really haven't gotten too into them yet. I want to do OOT bags - but have to wait to see how many guests book (or at least an approx. number) before I know what/how many of the different items to order. I am thinking of doing just a cheap tote bag and using an iron on transfer for our logo, or attaching tags. In them I want to put "bubba" kegs (insulated travel mugs), keycard holders/lanyards (I already ordered the inserts), a welcome brochure, thank you letter, a hangover/first aid kit with tylenol/immodium/etc., and other than that - I'm not too sure yet. I will be sticking to a budget with them, so I won't be putting a ton in them since the Bubba Kegs themselves are pricey enough.

 

Ladies: Thanks for the compliments on the barefoot sandals. These were a first try, but I think they at least turned out well enough that I've proven to myself that I can do them and don't have to order them online and pay WAY more  I used some cheaper beads to start with, and I will experiment over the next year with some different styles to get better at it! I figure once I get really good, I'll buy some more expensive beads (swarovski crystal ones, etc) for my actual "bridal" ones.

 

 

[alittlerandr]

Ally - I made brochures, too, and had them printed free through Vistaprint - just had to pay shipping which was reasonable. I think you might even be able to design and upload to VP if you were interested - might save you some money versus buying the paper and ink for your own printer. Just a thought

 

Also, for the actual bags, we used drawstring mesh bags from Oriental Trading and luggage tags to know who to give each out to. We had looked at doing totes, too, and this wound up being more cost effective for us...and less effort, ha!

 

Ntlsnow - I did OOT bags for my wedding and insulated mugs and lanyard/keycard holders were the biggest hits, so I would definitely recommend including them.
 

Originally Posted by Dominican Ally 

Kristina : Don't stress over not using a TA I'm sure that you're making a good choice! I think especially being from the US - you can get better deals dealing with the hotel for rooms, and airlines for flights. Many of the brides you see on here using TA's are likely from Canada (like me) where for whatever reason, we seem to get better deals doing packages, and it's fairly uncommon to book hotel/flights seperately.

 

We have a few from the US attending our wedding, and we aren't dealing with our TA for their travel. We have booked their rooms through the hotel, and they will look after their airfare with Jet Blue when flights are released/deals are out.

 

Ntlsnow: I am totally doing OOT bags, and brocures at some point I've started playing with publisher for a brochure, but really haven't gotten too into them yet. I want to do OOT bags - but have to wait to see how many guests book (or at least an approx. number) before I know what/how many of the different items to order. I am thinking of doing just a cheap tote bag and using an iron on transfer for our logo, or attaching tags. In them I want to put "bubba" kegs (insulated travel mugs), keycard holders/lanyards (I already ordered the inserts), a welcome brochure, thank you letter, a hangover/first aid kit with tylenol/immodium/etc., and other than that - I'm not too sure yet. I will be sticking to a budget with them, so I won't be putting a ton in them since the Bubba Kegs themselves are pricey enough.

 

Ladies: Thanks for the compliments on the barefoot sandals. These were a first try, but I think they at least turned out well enough that I've proven to myself that I can do them and don't have to order them online and pay WAY more  I used some cheaper beads to start with, and I will experiment over the next year with some different styles to get better at it! I figure once I get really good, I'll buy some more expensive beads (swarovski crystal ones, etc) for my actual "bridal" ones.

 

 

 

[Dominican Ally]

alittlerandr: Vistaprint ROCKS! LOL! I've used it so far for my keycard inserts (bus. cards), save the dates (postcards), Tshirts (free offers) for my grandmothers/parents, guestbook postcards, and some little 2013 fridge magnets to send out with our official invites around Christmas time.

Thanks for the tip about using Vistaprint for the brochure as well - I will have to play around with their brochures, and importing from publisher too perhaps - I'm sure I can come up with something! Plus, you're right - their printing quality will be far better than my home printer, and much cheaper if I use one of the many free/deeply discounted promo emails I get.

 

I will have to check out the drawstring bags from OT too...at this point I'm open to anything! I'm going to keep my eyes open in dollar stores over the next while too. I totally wish I had a better idea of our number of guests so I could start actually buying some of this stuff NOW haha.

 

 

Originally Posted by alittlerandr 

Ally - I made brochures, too, and had them printed free through Vistaprint - just had to pay shipping which was reasonable. I think you might even be able to design and upload to VP if you were interested - might save you some money versus buying the paper and ink for your own printer. Just a thought

 

Also, for the actual bags, we used drawstring mesh bags from Oriental Trading and luggage tags to know who to give each out to. We had looked at doing totes, too, and this wound up being more cost effective for us...and less effort, ha!

 

Ntlsnow - I did OOT bags for my wedding and insulated mugs and lanyard/keycard holders were the biggest hits, so I would definitely recommend including them.