IrieBride08

and congratulations!

Well, I really do think things will pick up after the holidays. I'm kind of banking on that (not good! I know). I have a little flexibility since I'm handling all of the reservations (and I set the payment schedule myself). But I will need payments to pick up dramatically by March because I will need to have 35% of the entire trip paid for! That's the stressful part! I will most likely be hunting people down at that point. I've also noticed that there are a few people who want to make their own arrangements. This is something I never considered when making my plans. In this way, using a TA would definitely have come in handy. Luckily, I have the option of dropping any flights I don't need until February without penalty, and I expect to fill all of my reserved rooms.

Congratulations Shelly! Well deserved!

Happy Birthday!!!

and congrats! So happy to see another (potential) Sandals bride! Happy planning. Let me know how I can help.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cherie Shouldn't your travel agent be handling all the deposits and problems for you? I don't even think about the deposits and/or payments, as my TA wants everything to be stress free for me. Is this true for everyone else...or am I being spoiled?? I'm not using a TA. I negotiated group rates for both airfare and resort and created a special wedding account for my guests to make payments via paypal. So far, everything is working out smoothly.

Great article! Sounds dreamy! I've always wanted to visit St. Lucia. Maybe for an anniversary...

I feel everyones pain! I have surmissed that the response rate will continue to be fairly low during the holiday season. Deposits for my wedding trip were due on November 1. I had a host of people call me to confirm the date and payment amount, but the majority of them have STILL not made a payment! I think I'll have a boatload of people wanting to pay and expressing interest after the holidays. (That's all people are really focused on right now.) I'm trying to be patient until then, cuz I need to be ordering my invitations now (to mail in January). So far, I've had 21 people make deposits so far out of 75 mailed STDs to over 100 guests. (My sister has yet to confirm or pay a deposit--and she's my MOH! LOL!!)

Me either! I wanna see!

I think that's a great idea. Contact the airline directly and speak to the group sales department. If the majority of your guests are departing from the same cities, you can negotiate a group rate that way. That's what I did (with Air Jamaica). I chose the two cities with the highest traffic for my guests and negotiated a group rate. This held a certain number of seats (I think it has to be at least 10) and reserves them at a discounted rate. If you have guests who are arriving and departing on different days, it may be best to let them negotiate their own flight arrangements. Good luck!

I say either short or shaved!

to the forum! Nice to have you!

Spain sounds amazing!! Happy planning!

Mo, I hope your wedding day was all you hoped! Enjoy this special time!! (You worked so hard for it!)

Welcome to the forum Jay. Great pictures!

Congratulations on your engagement and to the forum!!

Don't rush yourself. Just take some days and daydream about how you want your wedding to look and feel. Don't feel like you have to make every decision all at once. Take your time. It's so funny how we all hit the same engagement hurdles like clockwork! This is just another one and you'll make it through! Take a deep breath. As far as deciding to have an engagement party or an AHR, I think you should do the AHR. If someone decides to throw you an engagment party, all the better! I don't think you should throw one for yourself. Just my humble opinion though!

Yes, they are.

Quote: Originally Posted by md_ocr okay, i'm feeling a bit weird about my TA. At first she quoted me almost 1k more to fly first class on Air Jamaica for me and my FI. Just yesterday, after reading this thread, she told me that Air Jamaica only upgrades brides and grooms if they have 22 seats filled (which we do), but it has to be on the same flight, time, day, etc... Is this true? We have booked over 22 seats with Air Jamaica through their sales department. Does it have to be on the same flight? I'm not sure, but I have about 46 seats reserved. I have 10 leaving from Atlanta, 30 leaving from Baltimore, and 6 leaving from Baltimore on a different day and FI and I are getting the complimentary 1st class upgrade.

There was earlier today...now it doesn't give me the option to do it. Oh well, I have a feeling it will come back sometime...like a ghost!

Too funny that it was there this morning (and I was able to delete my double post) and now tonight it's nowhere in sight! I feel like I've seen a ghost or something!

Yeah, that is weird. I just checked and my delete option wasn't there. Very Odd...

I just figured out how to delete a double post and thought I'd share (since it's been happening quite a bit lately.) This could be common knowledge, but since so many remain in the threads you guys probably didn't know we could do it any more than I did! LOL!! Click "edit" in the lower right corner of the post, then click the "delete" button. and click "delete message". Learning a little more about the forum every day!

Quote: Originally Posted by carlymcmullen Interesting. How would that happen, when we were boarding? I did let them know that when I booked the flight, but wasn't sure how that works when they upgrade you... I'm not sure how it works unfortunately. I was told this by my group sales rep from Air Jamaica. She told me that they automatically do it for brides and grooms. Maybe I'll call her and get the skinny on this.

Quote: Originally Posted by carlymcmullen Mo, you scared me, I was like holy shit is it already past Nov 9th! I am glad you got there ok. I didn't book 1st class, wonder if we should upgrade. Enjoy!!! Carly, I've heard that Air Jamaica tends to upgrade brides & grooms to first class, so it could happen for you anyway. Mo! Glad to hear it's going so smoothly so far. Enjoy yourself and take tons of pictures!