St John/st Thomas May 2014

[nursemorgan]

Hi BDW world! I am brand new to the site!

My fiance Brian & I are planning our wedding for May 6, 2014. Our wedding is literally four months from today!!! 

I wish I could say that I am right on track with all of our plans, but I am definitely, without a doubt, 150% behind schedule based on every one of the four wedding planning timelines that I have been trying to follow. This is super hard for OCD me to admit, but I am way behind. We got engaged last April and I was convinced that 13 months was way WAY more time than what I needed to plan our dream destination wedding, but between my career beginning as a night shift nicu nurse in my dream hospital, my Dad having a few health issues, my mom & I having opposite work schedules, and attempting to spend as much time as I can with my family & fiance, the wedding planning got put on the back burner. I literally have been dreaming of this day since I was 6, and to be honest, I probably starting planning shortly after that 7th birthday. 

Let me just say, my entire life has been about planning. Whether it be planning my wedding, my meals, my work schedule, I was ALWAYS making lists of some sort or another. I get so much pleasure out of making a list and completing the contents on that list. Lately, I have still been listing away, but unfortunately I have been slacking with actually completing this list. So, today I decided to get back to my normal self & PLAN! Yay for crossing things off my list! 

In addition to planning our destination wedding, we are also planning our reception back home here in Cape May, New Jersey. To sum it up, we are basically planning two events at once... and literally have only four short months left until our first event! Sheesh... should be a very eventful few months! I am planning on posting on this blog as frequently as I can to help track my planning progress and get myself back on track! Try to check back frequently for updates on my planning! I really appreciate any advice or words of encouragement any previous or current destination brides can give me!

Heres to a roller coaster of a wedding planning ride!

-Morgan 

While Brian is sitting here watching college football (Auburn vs Florida State to the exact) I get the pleasure of wedding planning while I “spend time” with my future hubby. Since we are planning TWO events, I am trying to break down our “To-Do’s” weekly so I do not get too overwhelmed.

St Thomas is May 4-11, 2014 with our Ceremony Date May 6, 2014 in St John

Cape May, NJ Reception June 6, 2014

List of Things I Have Done:
Dress (Said Yes to the Dress!)
Choose Location (Trunk Bay- St John USVI)
Choose Hotel (We are all staying at The Marriott Frenchman’s Reef Resort in St Thomas, USVI)
Flights Booked (check!)
Invitations for our St Thomas Vacation & St John Ceremony (picked out on Etsy, still being designed, not ordered, NOT sent out… I know, I know, I told you I am quite a bit behind)
Wedding Wish Lanterns to send up post-ceremony (check!)
Save the Dates for Cape May Reception (purchased, but not sent out)
Decide on wedding colors (check- blush pink and pewter gray)
Stamps for Invitations (check)
Maps for welcome bags (check! CANNOT WAIT to share photos of these awesome maps the best Etsy shop designed for me!)
Labels for my welcome bags (check)
Guest book for islands (check! Cant wait to show you our unique finger print guest book we had designed for our trip!)
Emailed our photographer about reserving our Cape May reception date!

List of Things To Do This Week:
Stamps for Cape May Save the Dates
Order/Send out Cape May Save the Dates
Order Bridesmaids dresses
Figure out what groomsmen are wearing
Book photographer (Hello Gorgeous Photography!!!)
Contact St John planner
Drop deposit to Cape May reception venue
Contact Adventure Center about our “boat day” in the islands
Order welcome bag supplies- sunblock, chap stick, H2O labels, bags, etc.
Decide on post-ceremony dinner location in either St John or St Thomas USVI (THIS IS WHERE I AM HOPING THIS SITE COMES THROUGH FOR REVIEWS!!)
Contact Marriott St Thomas to discuss room arrangements
Honeymoon location (somewhere in the Caribbean!)
Contact bridal party about flights J
Make snack bag labels “two less fish in the sea” “all because two nuts fell in love” for goldfish & nuts, and water for boat day treats

Hopefully this List of To Do’s get completely completed this week and then it’s on to next week’s list. Baby steps, but like seriously, I can do this! KEEP ME ON TRACK PEOPLE!!!! 

[kbride2014]

Good luck! Enjoy planning, don't rush through it!

[nursemorgan]

@ Thanks! I am trying to take small chunks of it each week to work on so that I do not feel too stressed the month before.

[TammyWright]

welcome...don't worry..we have had a bride plan her wedding from engagement to actually wedding in just a couple months so it is very doable

[nursemorgan]

@ Oh my goodness thank you for that comment! I need the encouragement. I have seven pages (two columns per page) on my To Do list! I am really super excited though!

 

 

This site has been so helpful already just getting advice from everyone! I can't wait to be able to open links! Almost there!!

 

I also cannot wait to share my experience on this website but I think I may wait until AFTER the wedding to really update about all of my details! I don't know how people keep up with posting daily! It is tough. 

 

I'm hoping that by the time I am on the beach in St John I will be able to look back and be really proud of what I accomplished so quickly in a few short months with my Fiance! 

 

[TiarraBeautyJ]

Looks like you are off to an amazing start.

 

You have your checklist and you are getting things completed. I know you can create your dream wedding.

 

 

Happy Planning!!!

[nicofio22]

Good luck!  I'm sure it will be amazing!

[seka21]

Congrats! We almost went to St John but opted for Jamaica instead. Curious to how it easy it was there. We leave in 4 days!! So much to do!

[zupochka]

Congratulations!