New and overwhelmed!

[MelnCamp]

Hi! I just got engaged (May 1), and my fiance and I would love a destination wedding Memorial Day weekend 2012. We are having a hard time deciding on an island, although we're leaning toward the Virgin Islands since no passport is required and US currency is accepted. We want to invite 200 guests (imagine 100-125 will come?). For the wedding weekend alone, anyone have any advice? Is a $20k budget reasonable?

 

I plan special events (for a nonprofit) and am extremely organized, but I'm having the hardest time getting started here. 

 

All advice welcome.

Thanks,

Melanie

[celticgirl]

Wow, 200 invites is ALOT! be careful, I ended up with 65 guests! so make sure you actually plan to have enough of a budget for a good chunk of people to come if you are inviting that much.... I LOVED the brittish virgin islands when I went, you would love it there!  From what I understand, a 20k budget is reasonable... most brides on here seem to have that much budgeted... I personally am hoping between 10-15! I am getting married in Jamaica.  There is a forum here on wedding costs if you search it, it may help! Happy Planning.

[MoBayBride2B]

Welcome Melanie!  I am getting married in Jamaica on May 30 2012 and I also invited 200 people to my wedding.  What we decided to do was to set up a wedding website that allowed them to RSVP.  On the website we say something along the lines that we would like to get a preliminary headcount and see who is interested and/or able to go, so we ask that they RSVP on the website and a formal invitation will follow. It has helped a lot as we were able to slim down the number of invitations we need to send but no one feels as if they were not invited.

[futuremrstgun]

well, first off...    you've come to the right spot...

 

 

USVI is beautiful..between st. thomas, st. croix and st. john, i'm sure your guests will love it..st. john has beautiful secluded beaches and you can't beat the no passport required.  st. thomas is much like florida...nice and with ALL of the comforts of home..like, walmart, etc...i think 20k is plenty..some hotels offer discounted wedding deals...like sandals, they'll throw in a martha stewart themed wedding pretty much free...i believe beaches does the same..it really just depends on your hotel, your planning ideas and what you're wanting for your dream wedding...

 

this site can help you with everything from Save the Date ideas to passports for invitations, etc...everything is easily accessible and the brides on here are a real pleasure to chat with, bounce ideas off of or just vent...so, i believe you'll find a plethora of information and ideas to help kickstart your planning.

 

good luck and happy planning!!! 

 

R~

[lololola]

Welcome & congrats!

[Moments That Matter]

Congratulations Melanie and welcome to the forums. Im just going to say from my experience... 100 guests are the most I've seen make it out to the destination wedding... but that's not to say you won't reach your goal!

Best of luck with all your plans... and keep smilin.

[JBean]

Welcome! I found creating a master "to do" list helped, and then breaking it down into items to be done each month. This made it seem more manageable to me. Good luck!

[JQLong]

Congrats and Welcome to this site!  I am getting married in St. Thomas on May 20, 2012 (we chose the USVI for the same reasons you stated!)

This site has a wealth of information and all of the ladies here are so helpful.

 

Good luck and happy planning!
 

Originally Posted by MelnCamp 

Hi! I just got engaged (May 1), and my fiance and I would love a destination wedding Memorial Day weekend 2012. We are having a hard time deciding on an island, although we're leaning toward the Virgin Islands since no passport is required and US currency is accepted. We want to invite 200 guests (imagine 100-125 will come?). For the wedding weekend alone, anyone have any advice? Is a $20k budget reasonable?

 

I plan special events (for a nonprofit) and am extremely organized, but I'm having the hardest time getting started here. 

 

All advice welcome.

Thanks,

Melanie

 

[JayKay]

Welcome!  You will find tons of information on this site about anything and everything!  Your budget sounds reasonable, as long as you stick to it and dont go overboard with everything, especially with a large amount of guests.  Good luck with all your planning:)

[mandijacole]

Congrats and happy planning!