Hello out there!

[SATPbride]

Hello out there!
 

Getting married at the Sunset at the Palms in Negril, Jamaica on March 16, 2011...very excited, and a bit nervous, as it is just over 6 months away at this point!

 

I have my dress, bridesmaids dresses...still don't have our rings or groom attire...and we STILL have yet to send out our STDs! I know, we are lazy!!

 

We have been going back and forth about how to go about communicating with family and friends about the wedding, and WHO exactly to invite, as we both have HUGE families and want to keep it small. We have finally decided to send out STD magnets to basically everyone, and create a website for people to RSVP on and to keep everyone updated with information. That means we are foregoing formal invitations...I am still not sure if this is tacky...but we decided it would be a waste of money and paper to send out hundreds of invitations to extended family members who probably won't come anyways. 

 

I just designed the magnet...I will upload a pic later if I can....and so I have to place the order and scramble to get addresses!! EEK!!

 

I am happy to be part of this destination wedding community to get and share ideas! 

 

Happy planning everyone :-)

[want2gosouth]

Congrats and Happy Planning! The next few months will fly by~

[JaimeCF2BR]

Welcome!!  There is nothing "normal" about a destination wedding, so just worry about what you want and not so much on what your "supposed" to do:) We sent out our STDs to everyone, then over the next few months we'll figure out the "yes" "no" & "maybe"s.  A few months before the wedding well send out formal invitations to "Yes" & "Maybe"s only.  This will cut down the $ big time! 

 

I think lots of people do it this way, and I dont think theres anything wrong with it.  Hope this makes you more confident in your decision!

Happy Planning!

 

Jaime

[gersbja]

I was thinking the same thing Jaime...By the way that's my name too, and even spelled the same   I don't meet many people who spell it that way...

 

But anyway... If you send out all the save the dates to everyone, how are you going to determine who is coming and who is not?  From the website right?  But how would you word that on the STD to make sure people reply there?   I have a feeling it might be something people overlook...

[JaimeCF2BR]

Wow...you definitely dont see it spelled like us much! 

 

I actually included a little "Preliminary RSVP" with my STD with yes/no/maybe options.  I only got about 30% back, but it leaves an appropriate opening for me to call and bug people about their decision.  Maybe you could include a little note that requests people to RSVP online?  I actually wish we would've asked people to RSVP online...probably would've gotten a better response rate.  But, my fiance was stuck on doing this one thing traditional and having it mailed back.

[JaimeCF2BR]

 Oh, and another thing I’ve learned so far… it doesn’t matter how perfectly clear you try to make your website, STD, & Invite…  Things will still get overlooked J  I spent days and weeks perfecting the wording on both my website and STDs, and I get responses almost daily that someone can’t find the info or don’t understand it.  One tiny example…I’ve had multiple people ask my mom how they should tell me their response… there’s an rsvp card, and our email address, and our phone number…pick one any one!  Sorry…that was a bit of a rant J

 

Anyways, I wish I would’ve realized that sooner so I didn’t spend so much time making it “perfectâ€, and just prepare myself to make lots of calls and emails.

[vlynnw]

Congrats and welcome to the forum! The best thing about DW's is that there are no rules, you can do whatever you want! Good luck with planning!

[SassyCass]

Congrats and Welcome!

[dreamsmaybride]

Congratulations & enjoy your planning!!

[gersbja]

Very True!!!! Thank you for the insight.... Ill try not to over think it and just go with it
 

Originally Posted by JaimeCF2BR 

 Oh, and another thing I’ve learned so far… it doesn’t matter how perfectly clear you try to make your website, STD, & Invite…  Things will still get overlooked J  I spent days and weeks perfecting the wording on both my website and STDs, and I get responses almost daily that someone can’t find the info or don’t understand it.  One tiny example…I’ve had multiple people ask my mom how they should tell me their response… there’s an rsvp card, and our email address, and our phone number…pick one any one!  Sorry…that was a bit of a rant J

 

Anyways, I wish I would’ve realized that sooner so I didn’t spend so much time making it “perfectâ€, and just prepare myself to make lots of calls and emails.