January 2011 Brides

[mellyrobert]

ladies i hear you. my family from the uk has backed out "totally understandable" but some people have just not responded at all to our email. don't let it stress you out, easier said than done. as soon as i sent out the email with the prices many guests who said that they were coming backed out. sometimes it is just nice to vent to people that are going through the same thing!

[janapana]

totally agree!

[Lindobride14]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjb0arder13 Gah! Ladies, I have to do a vent. I think it's my first one so far, but most definitely not the last FI's sister (who is notoriously bad with money) is talking about staying at a "cheaper" resort in Cancun w/her boyfriend. Ok, fine...but that means we'll basically only see her the day of the wedding, and they'll have to pay a day pass fee to come to the wedding, etc etc. Now, I do understand that our resort is a bit on the pricey side, and it's a huge concern of mine (especially with the rack rates that are out right now). Now, FI's best friend and his girlfriend are ALSO considering staying at the "cheap" resort with FI's sis. Yet another couple that we'll only see on the day of the wedding. Honestly, what's the point of coming if you're only going to be there for the wedding ceremony and reception? I just don't get it! So now I'm actually reconsidering my choice of resort...maybe will have to switch to something more affordable so more people will be able to stay with us. I don't want to have to, as I'll lose out on my wedding deposit (only $200, but still...) On top of that, I had a little too much wine Saturday night () and had a heart-to-heart with FI. I asked him if he was disappointed that so many of his friends are not going to be able to make it (he has a TON of friends that he stays in touch with from high school) and he admitted that yes, he's pretty bummed that a lot of his friends aren't going to make it, but he said whatever makes me happy will make him happy. And then he said "I'll marry you on the moon, if that's what you want." Sigh...what a good man I'm marrying.

I feel your pain. This hasn't happened to us yet, but I can see it happening in the future if our rack rates don't go down soon. I will have to consider moving our wedding as well in the event the rates don't come down. My deposit was about $560 though! Makes me sick flush it down the toilet like that, but oh well.

Will your future SIL and other guests staying elsewhere have to purchase a day pass to enter your resort & attend the wedding?

My best advice is to try not to worry what others think of you and the choices you make. If they want to get upset or book elsewhere, they have that right. You can choose to not let it bother you. Make a decision as a couple -- between the two of you only! Much easier said than done I know. Trust me, I'm working on being less of a people pleaser myself

[Lindobride14]

A question for all of you -- I need to decide whether or not to send out save the dates yet.

 

The problem is that our resort is still showing rack rates. If they don't go down, I will consider moving the date and/or the resort.

 

Our STDs are very thorough information booklets with info describing the resort, our TA's info, etc.

 

So I'm left with the decision of getting them out now to get the word out, and possibly having to redact it and send an edited version if our date/venue changes. Or waiting a bit longer to send them out. Our TA at Beach Bum Vacation is working diligently to get us answers asap and "can't see" the rates not coming down soon.

 

What to do?!?

 

PS: Pretty much everyone who will actually come knows our date already so getting time off work, etc shouldn't be an issue if we wait a bit.

[cjb0arder13]

That's a tough one. I sent out my invitations (I skipped STDs altogether to save costs, and I pretty much knew who would be coming). Since we knew that rack rates were out and they were HIGH, I just said what the rates currently were, but that I hoped they'd come down.

 

I honestly think that rates are going to come down quite a bit. My TA said rates (at my resort) for this summer were some of the lowest they've seen, and he's pretty confident that the specials will come out and it will be affordable for everyone. I wrote a panic e-mail to him about changing my resort after everyone started talking about how expensive it was, and he told me it's totally normal for prices to start out really high and come down. So I made the decision to keep my resort, but obviously if prices don't come down at all (very unlikely) I'll switch to a cheaper resort.

 

So, long story short...if you really love your resort, and it works for you, I say send the STDs out now. Are you creating a wedding website? Make sure to tell people about that, too, and that you'll be updating it often. That way if for some reason you do end up changing resorts, you can post it on your website and then send out a mass e-mail a bout it.

[mellyrobert]

are you supposed to send out std's, invites, and create a website? it seems all alittle repetitive. anyone have any web links where you can create the website?

[cjb0arder13]

Mellyrobert, I think it's totally your call. I chose not to send STDs because my resort is quite small, and I just wanted to send invitations really early so my guests booked early, and not risk the hotel getting booked up.

 

I hand-made my invitations (50 of them) which was a lot of fun and a lot of work. The website took me about an hour. It's super easy to do, and I think there are quite a few threads about websites in that section of the forum. I used mywedding.com because the layout is very simple, it's user friendly, it's FREE, and there's an RSVP section.

 

Good luck!

[josietoms]

Question for you all so i know what everyone is talking about - what is a 'rack rate'? Here in the UK you have a brochure price from day one and that price doesnt change?

 

I too didnt worry about STD cards as we knew already who would be attending. We are having quite a large AHR so i will send STD for these. I have done a website but it was a UK free one this is just for anyone who changes their mind once they have seen where we are going but primarily for those of us travelling -everyone thought it was a really fun idea. Its also a great way to communicate with people so would def recommend the website idea.

[cjb0arder13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by josietoms Question for you all so i know what everyone is talking about - what is a 'rack rate'? Here in the UK you have a brochure price from day one and that price doesnt change?

Rack rates are the introductory rates resorts send out. Basically, they're "off the rack" brand new, usually HIGH. I don't really think they expect people to pay the rack rates, but I'm guessing they think it's worth a try

A few months after rack rates are released, they start introducing specials to entice people to book and fill up rooms. THOSE are the prices most of us are waiting for

Sounds like the UK travel agencies have a better way of doing things!

[josietoms]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjb0arder13 Rack rates are the introductory rates resorts send out. Basically, they're "off the rack" brand new, usually HIGH. I don't really think they expect people to pay the rack rates, but I'm guessing they think it's worth a try A few months after rack rates are released, they start introducing specials to entice people to book and fill up rooms. THOSE are the prices most of us are waiting for Sounds like the UK travel agencies have a better way of doing things!

Thanks for that - at least i understand what you guys are now all referring to :-) I can see the advantages of this ie; waiting until the prices get lower and i bet you get better deals than are available here in the UK. However on the plus side from my point of view doing it the way the TA do here in the UK at least i know the price wont change so the wedding guests can make their decision straight away.