Help please!! wedding virgin!

[amybutz89]

Hi, my name is Amy and I just got engaged a couple of weeks ago. We quickly decided that we wanted a destination wedding, with about 20 people. The only problem is, Ive never even been to a wedding and I have no clue how to even begin planning one. We both think St. Thomas looks like a beautiful place, but we are open to pretty much any beachy place that we can afford. If anyone has any tips at all as to how to even begin, I would greatly appreciate it. Any cost estimates, lodging suggestions and location ideas are welcome! Thanks!

[JQLong]

Hi amybutz89!

 

You have joined the rigth forum!  This site is amazing and the ladies here are super talented & creative beyond belief.   I am actually getting married in St. Thomas next May.  We have decided on the Marriott Frenchman's Reef resort.  I felt the same way you did because my FI and I have not traveled at all so....deciding on a location was difficult.  We went with a location that my MOH suggested...Also our guest do not need passports to travel.  Another deciding factor was the residency requirement that some of the islands have. 

 

Take a look around this site....I am sure you will find inspiration....

 

Congrats & Happy Planning!

 

JQ

[skybride]

Welcome Amy!!  Don't worry - feeling overwhelmed is normal

 

Here's what I always say when you start planning: you start in one of two ways.  You either decide the location, and choose a date that works (like don't go in hurricane season), or you choose a date and find a location with good weather during that time.

 

Here are a few other questions I ask brides at the beginning to help narrow down options:

 

1. How public or private do you want it to be?  Renting a house and having a ceremony/reception there is the most private option you'd have, but it also requires you to be more involved.  Choosing a resort option could make things more public, but you know they are experienced at putting on events.  A good compromise could be a small hotel, but they do tend to be more expensive than a big hotel.

2. What's the biggest constraining factor for you?  Date?  Budget?  Location?  What are the things that can't be compromised?

3. When you close your eyes and imagine the day, where are you?  On the beach?  In a garden?  In a ballroom?

4. Are there any places that you know for sure you don't want to have it?  Any states or countries you're not interested in?

 

Don't worry...you'll figure it out in no time!

[torilynnsmith]

Congrats and welcome!!! This site is absolutely amazing and will help you so much along the way! Use the search function at the top and you can read what others have been saying on similar topics!

 

A few things I would recommend:

 

- choose a travel agent that specializes in destination weddings AND that you are comfortable with (we went through 5 agents before finding one that understood our expectations and was willing to work with us, also she actually ANSWERED our emails which was sort of important to us! lol)

 

- if budget is important to you for your guests (ie. travel costs for them) I suggest going the all inclusive route and then searching different sites to get an idea of pricing.  Tripcentral.ca was a huge resource for me, they do a grid and you can narrow it down by destination, hotel, month, week etc and get great ideas of price.  If you end up getting a good TA they will get you an even lower price then you see online!

 

- ITS YOUR DAY! Don't forget that.  People may not be able to come and you will likely get a lot of "slack" for having a DW from family and friends.  You have to do what is best for you and satisfy your "vision" for the day!!

 

Happy Planning!!!

[JQLong]

Hmmmm.....I may need your TA information.  The one I have selected is a little slow on the response time...We are still waiting for rate info....by any chance does your TA do weddings in St. Thomas?  Any suggestions would be great!

 

JQ
 

Originally Posted by torilynnsmith 

Congrats and welcome!!! This site is absolutely amazing and will help you so much along the way! Use the search function at the top and you can read what others have been saying on similar topics!

 

A few things I would recommend:

 

- choose a travel agent that specializes in destination weddings AND that you are comfortable with (we went through 5 agents before finding one that understood our expectations and was willing to work with us, also she actually ANSWERED our emails which was sort of important to us! lol)

 

- if budget is important to you for your guests (ie. travel costs for them) I suggest going the all inclusive route and then searching different sites to get an idea of pricing.  Tripcentral.ca was a huge resource for me, they do a grid and you can narrow it down by destination, hotel, month, week etc and get great ideas of price.  If you end up getting a good TA they will get you an even lower price then you see online!

 

- ITS YOUR DAY! Don't forget that.  People may not be able to come and you will likely get a lot of "slack" for having a DW from family and friends.  You have to do what is best for you and satisfy your "vision" for the day!!

 

Happy Planning!!!

 

[torilynnsmith]

JQLong - definitely contact her! She has been fantastic and the lowest rate we have seen so far.  The other TAs still insist on sending me rates THREE WEEKS later and asking what they can do to get our business.... um maybe you should have taken us seriously to start with! Sorry for the vent!!!

 

I have done all my correspondence through email and she has been so prompt, we just called once to make our deposit because I didn't want to give my CC# over email!!!

 

She isn't even close to us but I found her on a facebook group I am part of for my resort and she really is wonderful! 

 

Send her an email and I am sure she can help you out!!!

[JQLong]

Great!  Thanks for the information.  I will reach out to her.  LOL...no worries with the vent.  I am the same way....if you say you will call or email.....I expect you to do just that.  My tolerance level for nonsense is VERY short...and this wedding planning is making it even shorter!  Thanks again!

Originally Posted by torilynnsmith 

JQLong - definitely contact her! She has been fantastic and the lowest rate we have seen so far.  The other TAs still insist on sending me rates THREE WEEKS later and asking what they can do to get our business.... um maybe you should have taken us seriously to start with! Sorry for the vent!!!

 

I have done all my correspondence through email and she has been so prompt, we just called once to make our deposit because I didn't want to give my CC# over email!!!

 

She isn't even close to us but I found her on a facebook group I am part of for my resort and she really is wonderful! 

 

Send her an email and I am sure she can help you out!!!

[torilynnsmith]

JQLong - isn't it crazy.  We got the quotes from Pauline decided we would go with her on wednesday we got emails from 2 TAs we basically stopped dealing with saying theyd have rates by the monday.... well we didn't want to wait and we trusted and liked how Pauline treated us and so we just booked her on the Friday.  Monday roles around... nothing from the 2 TAs ... tuesday....wednesday... well it is now FRIDAY and I STILL haven't heard from them.  I feel like emailing them and saying "It's my WEDDING" so you think we can just wait forever!  I can laugh about it now because we found such a great travel agent but I feel awful for any brides that are dealing with those other two!

 

Good luck and let me know how it goes!!!!

[Mmack]

Welcome to the forum! You've come to the right place. Every question you can think of is on here. I have been to St. Thomas and the beaches are one of the nicest in the Caribbean. Only thing is watch out for the hurrican season. I am having my wedding in Aruba in 11 weeks.....not that I'm pushing Aruba BUT....no rainy season, outside the hurricane belt, beautiful beaches, tradewinds, etc! Best of luck planning...and ask hotels what incentives they can offer you....example at my hotel if people boo a combined 75 nights my FI and I can return the following year for a free 1 week stay!!!

Originally Posted by amybutz89 

Hi, my name is Amy and I just got engaged a couple of weeks ago. We quickly decided that we wanted a destination wedding, with about 20 people. The only problem is, Ive never even been to a wedding and I have no clue how to even begin planning one. We both think St. Thomas looks like a beautiful place, but we are open to pretty much any beachy place that we can afford. If anyone has any tips at all as to how to even begin, I would greatly appreciate it. Any cost estimates, lodging suggestions and location ideas are welcome! Thanks!