bridget917

Quote: Included Activity: Glass bottom boat ride and Aqua Trike The aqua trikes look like fun! I've never actually seen one in person before...are they as big as they look? BTW, love your signature pic!

There have been quite a few people who have been to SGOR lately, either for weddings or honeymoons. I know there are more headed that way too! I thought it would be neat to share favorite experiences from the resort, not necessarily wedding related...if you add yours I promise I'll add mine after I get there. So here's a few questions to get started...if anyone thinks of others add those too! What was your favorite: Restaurant (and dish) Hang out place Bar/Lounge Excursion Included Activity

Did you do your own decorations (the hanging flowers) for the gazebo? Were they okay with you bringing them? I'd like to do something similar, but I don't want to spend the time/money if they won't let me put them up!

Mine have to be in by June 12...they should have told you when you set up your wedding date what day your paperwork is due. I think it's 60 days before the wedding, but don't quote me on that!

Sandals is really strict when it comes to no outside vendors. You have to use their person...unless you have a family member or friend that does it for you. We're using a family member who does photography so we're able to get more pictures for our money.

Quote: were 2 tables - 1 for us, MOH, and BM, and one for the rest of our guests. The table for bride, groom, MOH, and BM is provided, but it is $500 for an additional table that holds 8-10 guests. Wow, they really are about nickle and diming you for everything! On top of paying for food you've pretty much already paid for, they charge for a table too! I agree though, for one hour people can stand...or take turns sitting down lol.

I don't have any advice because I haven't even thought about that yet, but I just wanted to tell you that your dress is absolutely gorgeous!!!

Oh and I should add...we are having an honorary wedding party--they won't do anything, they'll just be singled out I guess. That was my fiance's idea, not mine. He plans on buying all the guys matching tropical shirts lol.

We are getting married on August 16 and having an AHR on October 4. Ours isn't going to be really formal (I'm not wearing my dress again, we're not doing all the normal stuff like cake cutting, etc.) but we're going to make it nice. We wanted to find a place where we could have more of an "upscale picnic" but in our area it's hard to find a place like that where you can have alcohol. We're going for an "island chic" theme. I'm excited about it, but the amount of money it is costing blows my mind!

Thank you girls for your response! He basically thought we had to request another certified copy from the department of health (or whoever sends them in the first place!) and then send that in! I was convinced we didn't have to go through all of that. He got his copied and notarized yesterday and mine is going to get done today. His mom can notarize things because of her job so that was a huge help! I have my passport already (got in a few years ago) and he is starting the process today. That's why I was in a panic--we needed to get his birth certificate copied before he had to send it away! Thanks for your help

Your pictures are absolutely stunning! Your husbands blue shirt looked great with the ocean background, and you looked so beautiful!

I feel so behind compared to you girls! We booked our wedding March 26 (how's that for a last minute decision?) and I thought that would give us plenty of time to get done what needed to be done before August 16. Then I found this board, which is wonderful but it has made me want to do more projects!!! I do have my dress and have had my first fitting...fortunately it just needed a hem. I'm still on the hunt for shoes and jewelry. The invitations/save the dates (we only have 12 people coming so we somewhat combined the idea) have gone out and now I'm working on the info packets to send everyone. They are completely finished design wise, I just need to print them and put them together. As far as the resort end goes, we made all of our upgrades for that already. My biggest headache right now is our AHR. Thank you girls for being so inspiring!!! Bridget

I love those bags! And that is a very good idea to leave a spot open to write guests room numbers down--I'm definitely going to borrow that idea! TFS!

I know that all we need to send ahead of time is a notarized copy of our birth certificates and the form that they sent us to fill out. What do they mean by notarized copy? My fiance and I are at odds about what this actually means. I thought all we had to do was take our birth certificate to a notary, they'd copy it and stamp it. He thinks we need to request a copy of our birth certificate, have it mailed to us and then send it on to the wedding planner. Who's right? I really need to get this done ASAP and don't want to do the wrong thing and possibly screw up our wedding! Bridget

Quote: I think our order was: processional, vows, blessing of the hands, rings, kiss, pronouncement of couple, sand ceremony, more kissing, signing the register, more kissing...haha. They ask you to kiss a lot, not that that's a problem! Wow that is a lot of kissing...the wedding I went to about two weeks ago, they didn't kiss at all. I thought that was strange! I think that you did the same reception that we are going to do (the hot and cold hor d'ouvres, 1 hour...). What was that set up like? Was there actually a table for everyone to sit at, or did you just kind of mingle around? Sorry for all of the questions! The more I hear you guys talk about your trip, the more I think of!!! Bridget

Congratulations!!! How exciting! I can't wait to see pictures and hear more about your trip!

Quote: The Dunns River was included when we booked through Sandals but even if it wasn't it would have been worth the money! It was a lot fun. Take the party boat and you get to snorkle afterward. You don't get back to the resort til dark either. BTW the sun sets at 6:30. It is hard to get used too. We also did the Coyaba Garden the day before Dunns River. I loved this one too. It is really inexpensive and you get a tour through a beutiful garden then then you walk up a smaller waterfall. There was hardly anyone there. They said don't go when the Cruise lines are docked. It is packed and the prices get hiked up. HollisandSteph, I really wanted to check out Coyaba Garden because it looks beautiful! Did you book that excursion through the resort or how did that work? We are also considering Dunns River but haven't really decided yet.

I have a few questions for anyone who would like to answer! Dedra27 asked some of them already... Asteff, you mentioned wishing you had brought more music. What all did you need music for? I was thinking just the processional and at the end...but from what you mentioned there is more and I really want to be prepared! Are they okay with you taking your own decorations? I loved the "floating orchids" that I saw some other people do and wouldn't mind making some of those to take down...I could also use them here at our AHR so it wouldn't really be much more of an expense. Asteff, I know that you had made wedding programs...were you able to give an order of service to the minister or how did that work? Were chairs provided or do those need to be requested. I saw them set up in one of Hollisandstephs pictuures. Anything else we should know?

Your pictures are wonderful! Whoever took them for you did a great job You looked beautiful and you guys both look so happy! Congratulations!

Congratulations! Can't wait to see some pictures!

Wow you looked so beautiful and everything looks perfect! Congratulations! Thanks for sharing pictures of you special day with us!

I like the prints, but when I looked at them at the store on Saturday I didn't like the fabric at all...they didn't seem to be very durable. If I was just looking for something to put things in to give to guests I'd probably use them, but if I thought the guests would actually use them as beach bags I'd pass.

hollisandsteph, Welcome back! I can't wait to hear about your wedding and see pictures! I'd love to see your pictures of the wedding locations when you get a chance!

I'm not sure if it is any different at RIU, but I know that with Sandals they told me if my paperwork was late that there would just be an extra fee...hopefully that's all you'll have to worry about!

You look beautiful! I loved that dress but I was too "hippy" to pull it off!