All things Jamiacan

[meBonidie2be]

 

 

Originally Posted by PurpleUnicorn 

 

the first pair of shoes i bought, i sold to another bride on this website!  and my second pair, that i actually wore in my wedding, i have worn several times since my wedding!

 

the first set of jewelry i bought was not that expensive and actually the necklace clasp recently broke when i moved and i never got to wear it.  another set i had bought for my wedding, i actually ended up buying 3 more and giving them all to my Bridesmaids to wear in my wedding!  about a year before my wedding, i bought a pair of nice earrings that i thought i would wear in my wedding, but never did, although have worn on many occasions since.  and finally, the actual earrings i did wear in my wedding, i have not worn again, but plan to for my AHR and after that i will whenever i have the opportunity!  

 

LOL to writing my vows last minute! i didn't plan it that way. all last year i was working full time at my internship and i wanted to sit down and give myself a lot of time to write my vows.  and becaise it was so important, i just kept putting it off until i had "time".  well in reality, i never had time for anything. so finally on the night before i left for Jamaica (not the night before my wedding), i said i HAVE to get this done before i pack!  so i finally did!  i think i slept one hour that night.

 

i did also leave some things like tying ribbons to programs for when i was in Jamaica and then i had my bridesmaids help me, so you could always do that with water bottle labels - i wish i had done that with the labels.

 

as for your new questions:

i bought formal invitations from Invitations by Dawn (website: www.invitationsbydaw.com)  and sent them about about 6 months before the wedding. i also had a website set up through mywedding.com where I had people RSVP.  then my travel agent/wedding planner did all the work of contacting my guests and sending them info about the resort and wedding.  if you don;t have someone that like that - I HIGHLY recommend the person i worked with, let me know if you are interested.  she also set me up with my wedding website and guided me in what to write and include.

 

I was not planning to do an AHR until much later (because so many people couldnt come to Jamaica in the end). So i only told people AFTER I came back from Jamaica through a save the date email and then ordered cheap, but nice, invitations off vistaprint and sent them out last week!

 

 

Well it seems like you got your money's worth out of all the doubles you bought. I like the idea of being able to wear the shoes and jewelry again in everyday life. Nothing too over the top ya know.

 

I will prob end up spending all my time on here....procrastinating writing my vows. It is so hard to put what i feel in my heart on paper. then have to say it aloud in front of everyone (I dropped out of speech class three times before i finally finished it as a summer class)

 

I just had someone tell me that doing the RSVP on line saves alot of money. Did you run into the problem of some ppl not using computers and such?

 

 

No I dont have wedding planner or travel agent. FI and i booked everyones flight and rooms ourselves online. Really wasnt hard. There were only two flights to choose from. At our resort you have to have more than 20 ppl to get any discount (we only have 11).

 

So you like vistaprint? No problems or errors?

[meBonidie2be]

 

 

Originally Posted by canadiangirl 

 

Welcome, and thanx for the sweet email... although we are not yet married yet were getting married at the GPLH in april 2012, in your email you stated thing you needed...if you post on here things you would like to do as a DIY project....we can all pitch in and help you out!

 

 

I really havent figured out what i want to do DIY. I am not very crafty and have a feeling i will just end up getting frustrated. I know for sure i want to do OOT bags. I would like a personal message in a bottle inviting everyone to a welcome cocktail party. Then i also want to do a passport style booklet with info about Jamiaca, the wedding itinerary, and......?

[meBonidie2be]

 

 

Originally Posted by JayKay 

 

We actually didn't write them together.  When I asked my FI if he wanted to he said he didn't want to and he didn't care.  So I took it upon myself and did it m

 

Once you said them during the ceremony, were you happy with what you came up with?

[PurpleUnicorn]

online RSVPs were okay. a lot of people didn't RSVP at all, so i sent follow up reminder emails.  i have heard people have that problem regardless of what format they use.  And everyone replied to my email, so there was no problem of anyone being able to use the internet!

 

I like vistaprint, but not for last minute shipping! I used them for my AHR and waited to the last minute, so paid extra for fast shipping and somehow, after they confirmed my order was in delivery, it never got delivered. so i called them, they had no tracking number and had to re-order my invites!  the second time around they came quickly, but i would just be careful about ordering them early and not right when you need them!  the actual product i got was great! love the invites!

 

[meBonidie2be]

Good advice. Thanks

Originally Posted by PurpleUnicorn 

online RSVPs were okay. a lot of people didn't RSVP at all, so i sent follow up reminder emails.  i have heard people have that problem regardless of what format they use.  And everyone replied to my email, so there was no problem of anyone being able to use the internet!

 

I like vistaprint, but not for last minute shipping! I used them for my AHR and waited to the last minute, so paid extra for fast shipping and somehow, after they confirmed my order was in delivery, it never got delivered. so i called them, they had no tracking number and had to re-order my invites!  the second time around they came quickly, but i would just be careful about ordering them early and not right when you need them!  the actual product i got was great! love the invites!

 

 

[meBonidie2be]

So just a little update....

 

I decided to skip invites for those coming to Jamaica because we asked them personally and already had everything booked.

 

I am working on OOT bags and it's alot of fun. I still need bags themselves and havent been able to fing the ones we want. I am looking for a canvas type bag that can be worn like a bookbag. My FI and i always carry them around. IMO they are alot more user friendly than tote bags. ANY CLUE WHERE I CAN GET THESE? 

 

I ordered my invitaions for AHR post card style with a jamaican stamp in top corner on the back. I used a really cool picture from the resort where we are getting married as the background. The venue address is on the lines where the person's address who is receiving the postcard would usually be. I can't wait to see them. They were super affordable and fun to design. www.postcards.com. They have a sister website www.luauinvitaions.com (where my sis is getting the shower invites from) that offers envelopes on their site.  I have to order envelopes seperate for AHR invites. Then my sis will do her beautiful caligraphy to send them out. Love her!

 

I'll let you know how the quality and everything is when i receive them. They always answer the phone right away and are really nice ppl.

 

Oh BTW we are just having ppl RSVP by call/text or facebook. Most ppl hate this idea but it works for us.   

[meBonidie2be]

Purple Unicorn,

 

I hope your AHR went fantastically well! Can't wait to hear about the details!

[meBonidie2be]

Anyone already married or getting married in OCHO RIOS......

 

If you chose to have an AHR instead of one at the resort, what did you do after the ceremony?

 

We will take some pics but then be done by 5:30.

 

We were thinking about taking our guests out somewhere, but where?

 

Senior frogs is sooo much fun. It just doesnt seem appropriate for the wedding night. Then again, maybe?

[PurpleUnicorn]

thanks!  it did go well - except i wished i started it later because it was light out for the most of the time and lots of people left before we played the video  

 

i will post pics and more recaps soon - we did a photoshoot in the afternoon before the BBQ so i think i got some really great shots.  all my BMs wore their dresses again - two of them had their dresses but were unable to come to Jamaica, so i finally got pics with everyone!

Originally Posted by meBonidie2be 

Purple Unicorn,

 

I hope your AHR went fantastically well! Can't wait to hear about the details!

 

[meBonidie2be]

Ah great I'm so happy for you. The day was a success! Congratulations. Looking forward to pics :  )

 

Originally Posted by PurpleUnicorn 

thanks!  it did go well - except i wished i started it later because it was light out for the most of the time and lots of people left before we played the video  

 

i will post pics and more recaps soon - we did a photoshoot in the afternoon before the BBQ so i think i got some really great shots.  all my BMs wore their dresses again - two of them had their dresses but were unable to come to Jamaica, so i finally got pics with everyone!