islandbride317

You're gonna LOVE being a part of this amazing forum!!! My best advice as you start down the road to your wedding day would be just to take your time and do lots of research before you book or buy anything (attire, flowers, you name it!) and make sure it's all that you've envisioned for your BIG DAY! And that's where this phenomenal site comes in: BDW has proven to be invaluable in my planning, and it's comforting to know that there are other brides and grooms out there experiencing the same highs and lows during their planning process -- a friend is always just on the other side of your computer screen! CONGRATULATIONS and Welcome to BDW...it's a wedding-planning paradise!

You're gonna LOVE being a part of this amazing forum!!! My best advice as you start down the road to your wedding day would be just to take your time and do lots of research before you book or buy anything (attire, flowers, you name it!) and make sure it's all that you've envisioned for your BIG DAY! And that's where this phenomenal site comes in: BDW has proven to be invaluable in my planning, and it's comforting to know that there are other brides and grooms out there experiencing the same highs and lows during their planning process -- a friend is always just on the other side of your computer screen! CONGRATULATIONS and Welcome to BDW...it's a wedding-planning paradise!

You're gonna LOVE being a part of this amazing forum!!! My best advice as you start down the road to your wedding day would be just to take your time and do lots of research before you book or buy anything (attire, flowers, you name it!) and make sure it's all that you've envisioned for your BIG DAY! And that's where this phenomenal site comes in: BDW has proven to be invaluable in my planning, and it's comforting to know that there are other brides and grooms out there experiencing the same highs and lows during their planning process -- a friend is always just on the other side of your computer screen! CONGRATULATIONS and Welcome to BDW...it's a wedding-planning paradise!

Quote: Originally Posted by michelle6114 Christie I know exactly what you are saying. My mom waitressed for 30+ years and told us horror stories every night. Kids running up and down the aisles, running into the kitchen, and how degraded she felt every time she had to stoop down and clean up some kids mess off the floor after the family had left. This is one of the reasons I wanted her b-day to be extra-special. My own cousin takes her 4yr old to eat out all the time and this kid will not stay seated. She needs to parade around the place and come back to the table for an occasional bite. They see nothing wrong with this. One waitress very nicely asked them to keep her seated so she wouldn't get hurt, and my cousin had the nerve to complain to the manager. This isn't the kids fault, its the parents. The "oh he's so cute, he can do no wrong so just grin and bear it" attitude. Personally, it makes me sick. My sentiments EXACTLY, Michelle! And while I haven't waitressed for a number of years now, I still feel that same sense of "You've GOT to be kidding me!" when I see waitstaff tip-toeing nimbly around the little tots who feel like playtime started the minute they walked into the place! Tell your mother she is close to sainthood for having the patience to deal with ALL of the drama that goes with being a server, besides the kids....as you said of your cousin, sometimes the parents/patrons behave worse than the children by not wrangling their own little savages!!!

#2 will have everyone positively GASPING at how GORGEOUS IT IS!!! Let me guess....Sottero & Midgley? Or regular Maggie Sottero? I'm sure it's got to be one or the other, but either way, it's soooooo GLAMOROUS and really, really beautiful! And I don't think it's too over the top; I think the sparkle will have you twinkling like a star right here on earth for your big day! P.S. The BM dresses are adorable -- your girls will love them!

So edgy and artistic! I personally still love the good "old fashioned" beach/sand/water shots (which is funny since TTD is a relatively new concept) that we see more often here on BDW. I just don't know about the skinned knees....and the shot where the groom looks like he is dragging the corpse of his bride across a construction site! Maybe a little too modern for me?!! I still love how playful and sexy the beach shots are by comparison to the more abstract take in these photos, but thanks for sharing all the same, Julie!

Wow!!! WHAT A MAGNIGICENT MAGGIE YOUR MICHELE GOWN IS!! I absolutely adore the sparkly beadwork detail on the bodice -- sooooo pretty, and the color looks beautiful against your skin tone! CONGRATULATIONS -- your dress is fabulous!

Quote: Originally Posted by classadiva Thank you for your WISE words...I think I will print them tomorrow!! You are sooo right...not a one would change their plans for me. As long as the people we love most can be there...and we have made a financial commitment to pay the expenses of any necessary party that can't afford it....I am going to stand firm unless my FI has an objection. Aaaawwww, you're so sweet! And you're so welcome, too! I just try to give my honest opinion here on BDW because I think you and all of the other girls deserve it nothing but the truth, and you seemed like you really were looking for genuine advice, so I'm flattered that you took to heart what I had to say! GOOD LUCK and stand firm -- sometimes standing up for your dreams may feel like a nightmare, but as long as your memories are sweet in the end, it will all be worth it!

GREAT NOMS ALREADY, GIRLS!!! Ok.....so, I gave it lots of thought and here are my noms: B2B - Josie MRS. - Kathy They're both fantastic, really supportive ladies that always have a kind word to offer, and I think they both deserve a little recognition! Good luck!

CONGRATULATIONS on an EXCELLENT decision!!! Sooooooo glad to hear you chose the Maggie -- it's looked absolutely breathtaking on you, and I just know the shoulder stap will turn out beautifully.... Can't wait until we get to see more after the 1st of the year!

FORGET THE HEAT and wear that BEAUTIFUL MAGGIE GOWN!!! Oh, it's is just stunning....and how gorgeous and dramatic it will look against the serene, lush backdrop that is Mexico! I say if a ball gown is what you want, then you will regret it if you don't have what you truly desire. I also was worried about whether or not I should get a ballgown to wear for my wedding in Jamaica, but I went with my heart and said, "for this gown, I'll deal with it!" I said "YES!!" to this Sottero & Midgley dress (RSM 1038 ) and think that it'll be worth the heat in the end: They always say, "Sometimes women have to suffer through a little pain for beauty", and what better day to do what you've gotta do than your wedding day?! Maybe wear your DREAM DRESS for the ceremony, and then change into something cooler afterward? That way you'd have the best of both worlds!

Hands down, I VOTED FOR DRESS #2!!! (Thanks, MayaLove for giving everyone the tip to right click and open in a new tab -- it works!) Dress #2 has everything that dress #1 does, but with a lot more pizazz! And the back is just breathtaking and dramatic -- it's beautiful! If you're torn between those two dresses, I think you should absolutely go with #2!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Everything looks superb, and you must be so excited that you get to give these to your guests so so soon! Everything looks so neatly done and tied together -- your guests will be super impressed with the beautiful welcome you've created for them! Good luck in Puerto Rico and congrats again in advance!

CONGRATULATIONS, new Mrs.! Your photos were lovely, and it looks like you and your new husband had a ball! Thank you for sharing your happy day with us.....

I am getting married in May, which as Jennifer said is rainy season, but we wanted to book a time that wasn't during peak/super expensive season, and wasn't during full-out hurricanse season, so May it was! And after doing a lot of statistical research on what time of day rain is most likely in Jamaica, I discovered that rain is most likely @ 4 pm in the month of May, so we went with a 2 pm ceremony time. Here is the link if anyone wants to check it out for their wedding month: Jamaica Weather | jamaica-guide.info (click on your chosen month on midway down the page on the left hand side). Hope that helps, and if it does rain, fingers crossed it will come and go quickly so we can get on with our celebrations!

FANTASTIC NEWS, Lisa!!! See....we all just KNEW your aunt would be thrilled for you, and thank goodness, we were all right! YOU MUST BE JUST BESIDE YOURSELF WITH EXCITEMENT! I can't wait to see the dress on you later this week -- you're gonna look fabulous, girl!

CONGRATUALATIONS, NEW MRS.!!! Amber, I HOPE YOU HAD YOUR DREAM WEDDING ON 9/19/09.....SO SORRY I didn't post a thread to congratulate you before today (a few dates late) but better a little late than never, right?!! Wishing you had lots of luck and love at your Las Vegas wedding, foxybride!

If I had decided not to go with Jamaica, and we were to get married in Mexico, I would have probably gone with one of the DREAMS RESORTS....they are all gorgeous from what I have seen! Good luck, congratulations, and WELCOME TO BDW -- it's a wedding-planning paradise!

Quote: Originally Posted by sunstarsmoon Good grief you are so organized. Congrats on that! I thought I was super organized but I think you have me beat!!! LOL THANKS, Christine!! Sometimes, I think I might be crazy for going about our planning the way I am, but haven't we all seen those shows where the bride is running around like an imbicile only days before her wedding, because she left everything until the last minutes?!? I am trying to avoid being "THAT girl"! OH, AND CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE, KEILA! October is just around the bend.....you must be sooooo excited, bride-to-be!

You're gonna LOVE being a part of this amazing forum!!! My best advice as you start down the road to your wedding day would be just to take your time and do lots of research before you book or buy anything (resort, dress, flowers, you name it!) and make sure it's all that you've envisioned for your BIG DAY! And that's where this phenomenal site comes in: BDW has proven to be invaluable in my planning, and it's comforting to know that there are other brides and grooms out there experiencing the same highs and lows during their planning process -- a friend is always just on the other side of your computer screen! CONGRATULATIONS and Welcome to BDW...it's a wedding-planning paradise!

CONGRATULATIONS, and WELCOME TO BDW, sweetheart! Guess what? You've just made fast-friends with a few thousand other women who, no doubt, have had the very same reactions at some point in their journey towards their destination wedding! You are ABSOLUTLEY NOT selfish for wanting to have the wedding of your dreams, at home or at Atlantis -- listen to you mother, dear! SHE IS RIGHT! Forget all of the nay-sayers and remember that your wedding is about what your and your BRAND NEW FIANCE want. PERIOD! Let me ask you this: Can you imagine what type of reaction you would have gotten if you would have asked someone you know to change anything about their wedding to suit you? The very same people that are upset with you for wanting to get married away are most likely also the very same type of people that wouldn't have changed a thing about their OWN weddings for anyone, so......moral of the story? They wouldn't do it for you, so why should you do it for them? DON'T FEEL BADLY AT ALL! YOU CAN REST ASSURED, you are in the absolute right place to find all sorts of brides and grooms who know EXACTLY where you are coming from, so please never forget: there is always a friend just on the other side of your computer screeen! CONGRATLATIONS again on your engagement, your decision to have phenomenal wedding at Atlantis, and for joining our own little oasis, BDW -- it's a wedding-planning paradise!

OH! SOOOOOO sorry I didn't see this sooner! I feel like such a bonehead.....BUT GLAD TO HEAR OF YOUR HAPPY NEWS, JESSICA! CONGRATLATIONS, lady! You've always known how very much he loves you, and now you have a fabulous, official engagement story to tell for the rest of your lives! I'm so thrilled for you!

Geesh! I can't believe I haven't posted to this thread already.....and I call myself a proud Jamaica-bride-to-be! So far, we have: * Booked/put down deposit for May 11-15 in the Honeymoon Penthouse Oceanfront Concierge Room @ Sandals Grande Ocho Rios (confirmed wedding date of May 14th, 2010 @ 2 pm) * Booked/put deposit down for May 15-18 in the Royal Honeymoon Grand Luxe Beachfront Concierge Room @ Sandal Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay (a little mini-moon just the two of us!) * Booked and put the deposit down on our off-resort photographer (Alain) of Brian Nejedly Photography in Ocho Rios, JA for a combined portrait session (with guests) and TTD for John and I at both a beach and a falls location * Bought 3 wedding dresses (my Sottero & Midgley for the ceremony; a really cute, simple A-line dress from David's Bridal for my AHR; and a $75 cheapie dress off of eBay for my TTD) * Ordered tropical invitations from Invitations by Dawn, and my custom, logo-based RSVP postcards from Allurements by Rebecca (BDW member becks) and we're mailing them out later this week! * Began scouting locations to hold our AHR (we're thinking of having it in October 2010, about 6 months after our wedding since we are paying for it ourselves and need a little time to save!) * Selected/purchased bridal jewelery, (2) veils, and headpiece, shoes * Bought both of our wedding bands * Bought really adorable woven palm favor bags (from BDW member estella for a great price!) * Selected my bouquet, (2) mother's bouquets, (2) father's boutonnieres, (1) groom's bout, and (1) special hair flower for my sister from Roberta at Plumeria's Wedding Flowers Boutique online (purchasing them in October) * Created detailed month-by-month Excel budget spreadsheet/timeline of what else we need to do: * Book flights * Get passports * Finish paying for resort * Finish deciding what photos/DVDs we want to purchase from Sandals * Buy OOT bags/assorted contents (customized t-shirts, mugs, misc. filler items like Tide-to-go pens, aspirin, Immodium, aloe, bug repellent, sunscreen, etc.) for guests after RSVPs have been returned * Buy materials (already selected) for sand ceremony GOOD THING I still have close to 8 months to get all of this done! Keep up the good work and planning, my fellow Jamaican bridal goddesses!

I'm totally doing Real Touch Flowers, and I am glad you saw the same benefits we did to using these very beautiful subsititions for the real thing! I can almost assure you, unless someone touches your bouquet, they most likely won't be able to tell the difference!

I ADORE that he put so much thought into it....and that in the end, you pulled out your beautiful ring and not just a handful of maggots! THAT would have been too much for me! CONGRATULATIONS, and I agree with the others -- it is MORE THAN SAFE TO SAY that you probably have one of the most unique engagement tales of all-time!