Tilly in the Sun

they look awesome! I am in the process of doing mine now and I am so not crafty...but it's fun! :-)

I just sent you a Pm about the table runners :-) If they haven't been sold yet I will also take the puzzle book and the hand sanitizers. Thanks!!

you are the best Krishna! I'll have to look into in on my own and go from there. :-)

I am interested in the table runners...do you know how long they are? I will send you a PM.

The all look stunning...I personally like #2 the best.

I love the dress and you look so happy and gorgeous in it! It is your day and you should wear what you love. You are gonna want to look back in twenty years and think "I wore the dress I loved and felt amazing in" (than smile lol)

Thanks so much Clarisse! I was also not able to open them...gotta get posting too! I am so torn about this hotel...I think it would be amazing to be in a brand new hotel but am weary of all the problems they have been having. My TA only got one quote from Sunwing and said a lot of carriers won't quote this hotel right now. Anyone else going through the same thing?

Quote: Originally Posted by RCBlondie hello everyone, Was hoping that some of you may have advise or suggestions about whether or not to book with a group booking or not? I understand some of the advantages for group booking, i.e. keeping the group together within the resort, making sure the rooms are available the dates we need... We are not getting married until June 2010 and received our group booking quote. The prices are fine, a couple $100 more than we were hoping but that's fine. The problem we have is the 7 days people have to book their trip as well. What we are wondering is if it is worth it to do the group booking (keep in mind we are not concerned about where are guests are within the resort)? Our TA says the quote includes the early booking bonus (and when I priced this resort out myself the quote from the TA was about the same as my search), but is it worthwhile to hold off on the group booking or even skip the group booking altogether? We will still use our TA of course and suggest our guests use her as well. Thoughts anyone? I would use the group rate for the same reasons already mentioned, but we are getting married in May and our TA said it might be good to hold off until Oct to book because the rates should go down. I'm not sure if I can do this because I feel like I will be a ball of nerves until than but we'll see. She also said that you can never get a group rate and an early booking bonus together I have no clue what to believe anymore

We are doing them ourselves...so far we have gotten everything from Micheals and with using the 50% coupons we might spend around $100 plus postage for 150. To me, I would much rather spend our money on a great photog as opposed to a lot on paper that most people will throw away (or hopefully recycle :-). It's really a personal preference though, and there isn't a right or wrong amount to spend - just what works for you.

Hey Paulsgirl. My FI and I are torn between this resort and the Melia Varadero. My TA is pushing me away from this resort simply because it is brand new and they may not have all of the kinks of being so new worked out. We are also in May (the 18th) When is your date? If you don't mind me asking, what rates did you guys get? Any info/photos you have on this resort would be greatly appreciated!

I paid for my girls dresses (MOH and 3 BM's) only because I know it is a HUGE expense for them to pay for to travel for the wedding, and I didn't feel right asking them to pay for a dress they would probably never wear again. I think whatever works for your budget is what works for you..there isn't a right or wrong way to do it. I do wish that I would have shopped around a bit though...I only looked in bridal stores for the BM dresses and they ended up costing a little over $200 a piece. I should have been smarter and had a bit more patience and went to a non bridal store where I could have probably found really cute dresses for a lot less. Ah well...I am sure it will all balance out in the end :-)

Thanks Krista and good luck with the planning!! We are in the final stages of being able to 'have a date' but we are hoping for May 18th *fingers crossed* I have heard really good things about the Melia Varadero as well, and it does look gorgeous. Where are you guys having your ceremony? We are thinking of the gazebo, but would like to see other options. Have you been able to talk with the resort much yet? Have you guys sent your STD's yet? I know a million and one questions :-) Krishna the new resort is called Iberostar Laguna Azul...it opened up June 30th. We were at a friends wedding at the Iberostar Varadero last November and it was perfect for a wedding and the resort, food and staff were amazing. Msg me if you'd like any pics from the resort

We have it narrowed down to the Barcelo Solymar, the new Iberostar that opened up this week and the Melia Varadero. We haven't traveled much, so getting it down to those resorts took four months LOL. It is so tough (as I am sure you know) to pick one because not only is it for you, but all your closest friends and family. I am just hoping to have everything decided on by the end of this month so people can start booking, and I can concentrate on other wedding stuff!!

I guess it all depends on what you guys want to do. We are sending them out to everyone, even family we know aren't coming. We are also doing an AHR after we get home, and whoever is invited to the wedding will also get an invite for the AHR. We have pretty close families though so that was a no brainer for us, and think of who you really want to be there for your day. If you do send them to everyone, I think you would be surprised at who would come as well...we have people confirming we never thought would be able to come :-) The more the merrier!! As for the do it yourself invites...this site is beyond amazing for help on just about any topics...there are tonnes of threads about just that. Check out vistaprint.com as well...they have some really cute ideas at good prices. Hope this helps!!

We did look at the Melia Las Americas but they have changed it (or are changing it soon) to an adults only resort. It's good to know about the rocks...we have heard that a few times but our TA said if you walk down a bit it isn't as rocky? Ugh it's so hard to choose

Jenn have you made your decision? After months of having no clue where to go and going back and forth on locations, the Melia Varadero is at the top of our list. We would have went with the Iberostar Varadero, (amazing resort) but our friends got married there last Nov so we didn't want to 'step on their toes' so to speak. Our TA highly recommends this resort and chain, and it does look breathtaking in the photos. I emailed the WC and she replied to me the very next day which I hear is not very common. Has anyone else been there or have any reviews/opinions on this resort? :-)

Beautiful pics!! Congrats and glad to hear everything worked out for you

Congrats!! My soon to be brother in law and his fiance stayed there last year and loved it! They wanted us to book our wedding there, but we are looking into Cuba. Have a great time :-)

Congrats! You looked great and your pictures turned out fabulous :-) Were they done by the resort photgrapher or did you fly someone in from Canada?

Oh and if you can find brides going down to Cuba the same time as you, you could split the cost of bringing a photographer that you like from home. Do you have your date and location set? There is a thread in the Cuba sub forum for brides to say their date...if you have yours set already you could check out that thread and see if anyone is going down the same time, and see if they might be interested in splitting the cost. Or you could even make your own thread?

Krista we are also in the same boat...I haven't found a way to check local photographers (besides seeing some beautiful pics of brides on here), but if I figure it out I will for sure let you know :-)

I am a registered dental hygienist...I help people to have pretty smiles! :-)

maybe that's where my problem was with my fired straightener...We bought ours from Blacks for like 10 bucks....now I now to fork over the cash next time!! :-)

April 2009 Fudgie - April 13, 2009 - Sol Palmeras, Varadero Sarafish (Sara and Jeff) - April 18, 2009, Playa Pesquero, Holguin Erin0409 (Erin & Stuart) - April 29, 2009 Superclub Breezes, Jibacoa Pardisia (Karen & Mark) - April 22, 2009 Occidental Grand Playa Turquesa, Holguin May 2009 jax_the_beach_bride- May 8, 2009- Blau Varadero, Varadero BlissfulMsMiranda - May 12, 2009 - Melia Cayo Guillermo DWbride09 - May 21, 2009 - Sirenis La Salina, Varadero June 2009 Amelia & David - June 18 2009 - Iberostar, Varadero Virg – June 30 2009 – Melia Las Dunas Oct 2009 LIW - October 28, 2009 - Melia Las Dunas Nov 2009 itsfinallyhere - November 16th, 2009 - Sirenis La Salina, Varadero Blooroze (Beth) - November 25, 2009 - Iberostar Varadero Jan 2010 Melissa & Kent - January 5, 2010- Playa Pesquero C & I - January 22, 2010 - Playa Pesquero Feb 2010 Mark and Lolita Feb 12 2010 Iberostar Laguna Azul. Lori and Travis-February 14th, 2010-Barcelo Marina Palace March 2010 jackobelle - March 18th 2010 - Blau Varadero Michelle and Jason- March 17th- Location to be confirmed soon!! May 2010 Krista & Josh (K'osh) - May 4, 2010 - Playa Pesquero Lisa & Paul - May 5 (ish), 2010 - Iberostar Laguna Azul Chantelle and George - May 2010 - location to be confirmed soon! June 2010 Stephanie&Luke - June 2, 2010 - Melia Las Dunas, Santa Clara Oct 2010 Crystalballl - October 20, 2010 - Playa Pesquero April 2010 Lana&Craig- April 28th, 2010- Iberostar Varadero __________________

I would bring one but be verry careful! I stayed in Varadero last November and brought an adapter...it fired my hair straightener!! I was soo not impressed about that, but it definitely came in handy for my camera.