eloping789

There is no legal residency requirement in DR, but the hotel wedding coordinators and likely the priest for a catholic ceremony, want you to arrive early to meet with them and finalize any last minute details of your wedding. You should ask your WC how early you must arrive? We're arriving 2 days before our wedding which our WC said was fine, but we're eloping and having a symbolic ceremony so there are nearly no details. Good luck!

We're getting married 5 months after we got engaged so I understand the time crunch. Best of luck to you!!

What is your current job, and if you had to switch careers, what would the other career be? Marketing Director for a technology company, if I could switch I'd be a house flipper. 2: What is your favorite hobby? I have temporary obsessions rather than hobbies. Right now it's planning my wedding/AHR, before that finding the perfect house plan, who knows what will be next. 3: What is your favorite holiday, and why? Fourth of July! Grilled food, warm weather and fireworks - what could be better? 4: What is your greatest achievement? To date ... maintaining nearly perfect credit my entire adult life. 5: What is your favorite animal... and why? Our dog Abbey. She's a crazy little miniature pincher and she cracks me up! 6: What is your dream trip? A month in Europe with a Eurail pass. 7: What is your favorite food? Chocolate!!! Must have some every day. 8: Who has made the biggest impact in your life? My mother. 9: If you were a crayola crayon, what color would you be, and why? Periwinkle blue. Not sure why I love it, but always have. 10: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? On a warm beach. 11: How many siblings do you have? Two 12: What is your biggest fear? Tight spaces and cows ... don't ask. 13: Whats your favorite holiday dish you make for your family? Chocolate chip pecan pie 14: Do you have a nickname? Several, but the one that has stuck around the longest is Wart. Brothers, what can you do? 15: What causes do you support? American Heart Association 16: What is your guilty pleasure? Reality TV! 17. If you could have one Special Power..What would it be & Why?? The power the guy in the movie Jumper had to just think of a place and instantly be there. I love to travel and that would make it sooooo much simpler and cheaper! 18. How old are you? 32 19. If you won the lottery (hundreds of millions) what would you do? Share with the family, donate to AHA, go on extended vacation, start a non-profit house flipping business. 20. What gadget to you not need, but still want? Not a big gadget person really. 21. What is your favourite T.V. show? Toss up between Top Chef and Project Runway 22. When did you know that FI was "the One?" About 6 weeks after we started dating. 23. What is your favorite item of clothing? Don't think I have one right now ... 24. How many or do you want children? I think I might be okay with none, but no more than two 25. Have you ever met anyone famous? If so, who? Yup. Norman Schwarzkopf, Cal Ripken, Jr., and some one-hit wonders here and there. 26. If you could be someone else for a day who would it be and why? My fiance - just to see what the world is like from his perspective. 27. Is there anything that you regret doing? A few things ... 28. What is your worst bad habit? I pull on my hair in this one spot until it breaks ... 29. What's your middle name? Does it have significance? Jane, after my aunt 30. What's the craziest thing you've ever done? Flew to NY to see a guy I met in Mexico. I was 23 and stupid. 31. What is the one thing that your significant does that drives you CRAZY? He refuses to throw away boxes - EVER! 32. What’s your favorite movie? Gone With the Wind 33. What's your least favorite food? There are way too many to list. 34. Why did you choose a destination wedding? To avoid the family drama associated with a traditional wedding (we're eloping to ensure there's no drama) 35. How long were FI and you together when you got engaged? Two and half years 36. What person in your life really gets under your skin, and how do you know them? One of my aunts 37. When and how did you and your FI meet? We met on MySpace about 3 years ago 38. Even with all the ups and downs along the way, would you still go through with your DW knowing what you know now? Absolutely!!! 39. Do you have any pets? Just the little min-pin. 40. If you could hook up with a celebrity for one night, who would it be? Honestly, I don't think I would. I don't really have any celebrity infatuations. 41. What's your sexual fantasy and have you ever played it out? I plead the fifth. 42. What's the one thing other than FI that you would bring to a deserted tropical island? iPhone 43. Do you have any tattoos? One in the pelvic region ... 44. Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry? CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!! 45. What season do you enjoy most and why? Summer - I hate the cold. 46. What is your favorite book? The Other Boleyn Girl (at least that's it right now) 47. What astrological sign are you and does it represent your personality? Libra - it's pretty spot on. 46. What did you do with all your time PRE-BDW? Online looking for the perfect house plan. Found it, got bored, got engaged, found BDW. 47. If you could choose the gender of your future children would you? Yes 48. If you could change one thing about your wedding what would it be? I'd hire a videographer - still might 49. What do you prefer on your FI/DH? Boxers, Briefs or Commando? Boxer briefs. 50. What was the last meal you had? Artichoke tortellini bake 51. Did you hint to your FI what you wanted for an engagement ring, or did he choose it on his own? He chose it all by himself. 52. How did you decide on a wedding date? It was easy to remember. 53. How are chores divided in your relationship? I cook, he mows the lawn, we split the rest based on who's got time and initiative that day. 54. If you were forced to leave your house for good and you were only able to take one personal belonging, what would you take and why? The computer - it has all of our pictures on it. 55. Do you wish your FI was an only child? No - his brother's a cool cat. 56. If there was one thing in your life you wish you could go back and change, what would it be? Wouldn't change anything - it all made me who I am today. 57. If you could pick one thing to see in the future would you and what would it be? Probably not. 58. Did you go to college? if so where and what was your major? Yes - University of Oklahoma, Journalism. 59. Whats your favorite music artist? I really like Kelly Clarkson, but I'm not sure she'd be THE favorite. 60. New question: What is the first vacation you remember from childhood and what made it memorable? Galveston beach vacation with my Mom, brother and another family because my mom got pulled over on the highway (we were terrified), she got stung by a jellyfish on the beach, and I saw my first GIANT wave which resulted in a mouthful of salt water! Awesome vaca!

We met on MySpace 3 years ago and chatted for more than a month before we met in person! It made the first date no less exciting, but much more comforatable since we knew quite a bit about each other already. Don't let anyone tell you it's weird - it's much more common these days than it used to be. ;-)

Check with the ladies in one of these threads ... we aren't having any guests or a reception, but I think a few of the other brides are so they might be able to help you. http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t40241 http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t17334 http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t36563 Good luck!!

You can order customized M&M's in whatever color you choose here: My M&M's® - Custom Printed Chocolate Candy Messages Love the candy bar idea!

Congratulations to you and your daughter! You'll find great info here and picking either a date or a location (even just a country) first will be a huge milestone and really get the ball moving. All the ladies and vendors are terrific so just ask when you have questions! Good luck!

Here's hoping I get to join! I sent a request, but facebook didn't give me an option to include my BDW user name in the request like the instructions say to do ...

Quote: Originally Posted by iwantadreamswedding You know, this is one thing I've been thinking about: Who will help me get dressed?! I want my hubby to be surprised when he sees me, so I don't really want him to help. The bigger packages at Dreams include someone to help you get dressed, but I'm getting the smallest package, which doesn't include the help. Maybe the photographer will help me? ha! When I was looking at wedding packages, I seem to remember one or two including preparation of the wedding garments as part of it. Maybe the person who handles that could also help you get dressed? If you're going to the resort salon to have your hair/makeup/nails done or anything, I bet they would help you get dressed too ... We're also running off just the two of us for a beach wedding with an AHR a couple of weeks after we return. I CAN'T wait! I haven't worked out the details of exactly how the ceremony will go, but I'm going to finish up the remainder of my planning next week while I'm off work so I'll keep you posted.

Here are a few others you can try ... Angelica Albuerme - [email protected] Juan Carlos Peralta - [email protected] om Emy Rose Aquino - [email protected] m Laura is my WC as well and based on my communication with her, I believe she is off on Monday & Tuesday and then weekends are sketchy because I presume she has brides on site for weddings. Good luck!!

Quote: Originally Posted by islandbride317 CONGRATS on your wedding...and your successful AHR, Seaprincess! I would love to see a review of it -- I am planning to do something similar, a few months after the wedding (ours will be on a private yacht/party boat in Baltimore's Inner Harbor!) so I would love to know what worked and what didn't! You got married in the DR, so did you play "DW themed" music -- I'm sure your guests loved it if you did! And how did you go about playing the footage of the ceremony? I absolutely want to do the same, and I am looking for advice on when would be appropriate during the AHR! Thanks (oh, and I adore the pic of you and your DH in your Siggy!), Christie Christie - I LOVE the Inner Harbor! What a great idea for a reception - it'll be beautiful!!! And, I'm also interested in hearing about the video and how you worked that in ... we're eloping and debating about videotaping the ceremony to show at our AHR. Can't wait to see the pics and thanks for sharing!

I would say definitely do a trial, and if you do take some photos of a make-up "look" that you think you'll like so they have an idea of what you're going for. You certainly don't want to look like a completely different person that day so give them boundaries. In the end, if you're more comfortable without make-up, then I say no you definitely don't have to wear it. :-)

Congrats on the wedding date and good luck with the planning! You'll find virtually all the info you could ever need and great tips from brides who've been there. ;-)

Good luck with Plan B and welcome to the forum!

I think that's what we bought my FFIL when we were in Jamaica a couple of years ago ... it wasn't cheap and we bought it at a local shop not associated with a resort. It was worth the $$ though! GREAT coffee!!

Welcome! You'll find tons of great info here. You can find some good hotel info in the Dominican Republic section of this site. Some of the favorites are Majestic, Excellence and Paradisus, but it really depends on what you're planning and the wedding packages available. We're at Melia Caribe Tropical because they had the best options for eloping (at least for me anyway). Read up and ask lots of questions! The brides and vendors are all very helpful. Good luck with the planning!

I'm so sorry your having to cancel ... If you do end up in Vegas, another option to some of the off-strip hotels is the Grand Canyon. It's not the beach, but equally exquisite as a back drop for your special day. Just a thought - that was my plan for a stateside wedding if we hadn't decided to elope. Whatever you decide, I'm sure your wedding will be wonderful. Best of luck!

Well, my family drama isn't quite this drastic, but there have certainly been moments through the years. What I can tell you is that no one else in your family can tell you how you should feel about your father or force you to interact with him if it's uncomfortable for you. Especially when it's an event entirely about you and your FI! While it might seem like it now, you've made the right decision because it's the best one for you. Oh, and here's the silver lining ... without all the family drama and pressure, you have the opportunity to begin your life with your fiance however you choose with no stress. Make it a day for and about the two of you and no one else. You have someone who you can build your own family with and who will love and support you the way you deserve. I'm so sorry your relatives are being spiteful right now, but most likely they will come around. Keep your chin up and go get a big hug from your FI - it'll help, I promise!

Congrats! Welcome to BDW!!

Here are the three contacts I have: Laura Kreutz - [email protected] om Angelica Albuerme - [email protected] Emy Rose Aquino - [email protected] m Juan Carlos Peralta - [email protected] om Hope that helps!

As an FYI ... my mother and I both sew and Joann's has the WORST fabric selection. They used to be great, but have become much more of a craft store in the past few years and mostly they carry quilting fabric and a few cheap (though not inexpensive) pieces of clothing fabric. Hancocks has the best overall selection and the best selection for clothing. You can sign up to receive coupons and sale notices for them too. Hobby Lobby has an outstanding drapery fabric selection. Wal-Mart used to have some good finds, but all of the local ones here have stopped carrying fabric. Unless the Joann's in Buffalo is a very large store (there's one in Dallas that is significantly better than all of the Oklahoma stores put together), I wouldn't waste the gas ...

I wanted to elope (my FI was certainly supportive of the idea) because I wanted to avoid much of the drama that comes with the planning of and having the ceremony. I've dreaded that aspect of a wedding since I was a kid. I wouldn't have minded skipping the AHR, but my FI really wanted a big party. I do event planning as part of my job, so that part is a breeze and the possibility for drama is drastically reduced since the wedding will have already happened. Everyone will have a great time and we'll both get what we want so I think it's a great compromise. I think our family and friends are really excited about it too because it gives them a chance to feel "a part" of our wedding even though they won't be there. We're only spending about $4K, but that pretty much covers a fairly traditional reception (with a lot of DIY projects) in our hometown.

I don't think it's a problem at all ... I sent baby shower evites for a friend's shower last summer and then printed a few matching paper invites for the few who didn't have email. Worked out great and I just carried the theme of the invite through to the cake and everyone loved it!

Quote: Originally Posted by Jingles202 Ladies Ladies Ladies....my fiance and I have been dating 10 years....and it will be 11 going on 12 when we get married....I rest my case.....ROFL! I think you win!

We'd been dating for a little over 2 1/2 years when we got engaged. We'll have our 3 year anniversary a month before we get married.