CTall119

Thanks Ladies! Frazali - LOVE your Save the Dates and I think that your THANK YOU cards are VERY clever! I have been very impressed with WPD's! I was hesitant and unsure about the quality...but once all was said and done, I am VERY impressed with everything (including the price!). We also got our stamps from Zazzle.com so that the stamps reflected the wedding stationary. Photoshop is amazing! Thanks Jacilynda - The height of the floral centerpieces was one of the first things that attracted me to the wedding package we purchased! I love this color combination! So bright and punchy!

Quote: Originally Posted by FoxyBride I got my FI's suit from Studiosuits.com, Custom Suits | Designer Suits. They make custom suits for only $99 and they do all white! I posted his "test suit" order here http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t39694. It came out great! We don't have the wedding suit yet. I just checked the site out! OH MY GOODNESS! You say the quality is good? What color did your Fiance get? I am thisclose to ordering. I have just sent the link to my Fiance and my Mother. I am SO excited about this find! Thank you SO Much for sharing!

I was told to book your teeth whitening at least 4wks prior to your wedding. I am doing mine a bit earlier then that...but that is also because I am doing a Boudoir photo shoot as a wedding gift to my Fiance...so I want me teeth to be extra white and pearly for that! Thanks for the links to the sites that made your Fiance's suit. I was getting ready to pay $250 for a custom suit from Etsy! I am going to check them out now!

I am a fuschia bride too! Our colors are bright fuschia, bright orange and we are using lime green as an accent color! Our invitations: Our Floral Centerpieces: Our place settings: Our wedding trellis: Shoes: And we have just ordered/received our first OTT gift bag item: Bright Orange Beach towels for the men with their names embroidered in lime green and Bright Fuschia Beach towels for the ladies with their names embroidered in lime green. Mens Towel: Womens Towel:

I have fallen out of love with my dress; so I am going dress shopping on Sunday in hopes of finding another one. I have to email my documents for our marriage license over to our TA...finish the purchasing of items for our OTT bags (that we will be putting together at the resort)...and paying for the loose ends (rooms, reception now that we have the food counts, etc.) I also have a few spa appointments to make, plus teeth whitening (July), Haircut (August) and Tanning (so I have a base tan already upon arrival!) Now that I see my list...I feel as though I have a TON left to do! I am also struggling to find a stark white linen suit for my Fiance. I have found a few people willing to MAKE one on a site called ETSY...but it would be so much easier/more convenient to find a store that carries them. So far, Armani/Brooks Brothers/Tommy Bahama, Perry Ellis, and Nordstroms are out. What are all of your soon-to-be husbands wearing?!

My good thoughts are with you. Keep your head up, stay strong, and be firm. You SHOULD be given something for your stress and aggrivation. Also, may this company PRICE MATCH the package you found online? $2200 is a big chunk of change...you should ask. I have my fingers crossed for you and your Fiance. Everything will work out. In 11 days...you will be in paradise surrounded by the ones you love!

Quote: Originally Posted by Tracykim We are getting married on Sept 19th, 2009 in Negril Jamaica!!! We are getting Married at 5PM on 9/19/09 on the beach at the Sandals Grande in St. Lucia! 100 days away from today! Almost in the double digits!

Hey Shivani! Yes. I have had NO luck with the WC provided to me. She was from Miami...and, as you mentioned, totally unresponsive. My Fiance and I are spending WAAAY too much money to not have our questions answered (at all OR at least within a reasonable amount of time, etc.) I understand the concept of having a wedding at a couples resort - and I LOVE the fact that they do not cater to LARGE groups. However... I wanted to have a small brunch - nothing fancy, nothing private, nothing catered - just a small brunch to welcome everyone, to thank them for coming, and to inform them about somethings on the island - off of the resort - they can do (ie: ziplining, Simon Says tours, etc.) I was told that it is IMPOSSIBLE to have a brunch for my guests at a couples resort UNLESS I wanted to pay $50 per person PLUS $1900 to rent a private room for an hour. I was shocked. This information came through the WC, too. I ended up contacting Sandals direct and spoke to the Property Manager over the phone and through email. Everything is sorted now...and he is allowing my group to have a Champagne brunch the Friday after everyone arrives in a private room, free of charge. In regard to the gift bags...there are TONS of ideas that can be found on this board; many that are creative and lots of non traditional ideas. I have been working on mine for what feels like forever, but in the end, as another gesture of my thanks (for spending $3000 to come and celebrate with us) a meaningful (I hope) gift bag for my guests I feel is the LEAST that we can do. The contents of mine, thus far, include: - Embroidered Towels (our colors are bright orange and bright fuschia; the men will get orange with their names embroidered in lime green and the women will get bright fuschia with their names embroidered in lime green) - An invitation to our Champagne Brunch. - A personal thank you note (that matches all of our wedding stationary) for coming to celebrate. - A 3.3oz bar of handmade Aloe-Aloe soap from a soap company in Ohio (which has essential oils and shea butter so it smells good, is huge, and will help battle the burning after effects of the sun!) - A disposable underwater camera (you can get these very inexpensively from Amazon.com) - An organza bag with packages of: Swedish Fish and Gold Fish (beach wedding, fish theme) and a tin of mints that match our wedding stationary. My mother and I are going out this weekend to see if we can find paper bags, raffia and faux flowers that will accomodate all of these items...as we are packing an extra suit case to fit them all in to bring down with us. Yikes, right?! The restaurant on the pier is supposed to be LOVELY! Very romantic, open air, and great food. You have to let me know what you think...because if you like it, I will be sure to make a reservation to eat there upon my arrival to the Grande. Are you staying in St. Lucia after your family leaves for your honeymoon? Are you planning on doing anything with the candlelight dinner (also looks amazing) or at the spa? I love the Gazebo weddings; the pictures from them look beautiful...and if I opted to actually wear heels instead of flipflops...I too would have gotten married there as well. I guess it still may be an option! Have you found your dress yet? And dont be disappointed about the WC. You are better off planning for the minute details yourself! That way...you get what you want :-)

Hi Kristy! Yay! Welcome home from St. Lucia (and Punta Cana) Can't wait to hear more details and see more beautiful pictures!

Hi Ladies! I am having a destination wedding. On the beach. In September. In St. Lucia. It will be hot. I therefore decided to forego the traditional wedding dress route...and ended up purchasing a discontinued "formal" dress - sight unseen - from the designer himself - in New York City. I thought that since I wanted a discontinued dress that I would be able to find it somewhere online at a discounted price. Yeah Right. I ended up paying an arm and a leg....for a dress that once purchased, I could not return (whether it fit or it didn't.) I knew I was taking a risk.... Fast forward. The dress comes in. It is gorgeous. Light weight, sexy, airy and perfect for a beach wedding. HOWEVER...it was in need of some alterations (too long, halter top section did not fit tight enough, etc.) to make it fit as it should. I went for my 2nd fitting today. My cups have been sewn in and the halter top has been proportioned appropriately. From my chest up, the dress looks gorgeous - everything I have ever wanted. It is perfect. From the chest down...we have another story. Since the linining on the underside had to be taken out, I assumed - before it was done - that once complete, the dress would drape accordingly. It does not. It still pulls slightly around the largest of my areas (butt and thighs) and I do not feel pretty in it. Even with spanx it pulls too much and is too snug against my skin. It is hard to move, and very hard to sit down without the terrible worry that my dress is going to split up the side. I have my Mother and the woman that was doing the alterations telling me it fits beautifully. And I agree that it does (from the chest up). I am SO incredibly bummed...as that was the only dress that made me say "It's the one" as soon as I saw it (in a shop, just NOT in my size) I broke down in tears (literally I couldnt hold it together and I am normally much stronger then that) at the alterations. I do not feel that this is any longer my pefect dress..and I do not feel beautiful while wearing it... The tailor is going to lift the underside of the dress as it has french seams which means NO additional fabric to work with on the sides. When I went to my Mothers House later this morning...she already had the Bridal Dresses on Nordstroms sight pulled up :-( I have to keep my fingers and toes crossed tightly for another two weeks. If my dress doesnt fit (with the new alterations) at the end of June, I am back to square 1 with the finding of a NEW dress for my wedding in September. Lots of money out (for dress #1 and my alterations) and in need of an entirely new dress (plus added stress of finding it and getting it to fit properly) Sorry for the long post. I actually feel slightly better now that I have totally vented my worries and frustrations.

Oooops! I meant two months...NOT 2 days (it has been a long long day!) No....I am 100% fully involved within the planning of the wedding. I want to make sure that EVERYTHING that is posted as part of the package that we are paying for is what is going to be given...and what is shown...is not an UPGRADED version of whatever it is that I am looking at! My parents and my Fiance and I are flying into St. Lucia on Sunday 9/13. We are staying at the coco palms (in Castries, I believe) until the 15th...and then we are checking into the Sandals Grande. Our guests are coming in on the 17th (Thursday) and we have set up a champagne brunch on Friday AM to welcome all of our guests to the resort - and to thank them for traveling so far to celebrate with us! They will then have until 5PM on Saturday (the 19th) to do as they please. Since it is such a short and costly trip for them...we want everyone to feel as though they are on vacation too...and we do not want to bog them down with feeling obligated to do stuff with us (tours, eating, shopping, etc.) We will have an agenda of things going on that they can particpate in if they so please! This agenda will be placed in their gift bags which will be given to them upon check in. Our wedding is the Caribbean Sunset wedding (5PM) on Saturday....and all of our guests are departing from St. Lucia on Sunday the 20th. Their flight is at 3PM...and because of the 2hr bus ride, they will be leaving around 12 from the resort! Are you planning on doing gift bags? Are you fully involved with the wedding planning process yourself? We are having the ceremony and the reception on the beach. I requested that dinner be prepared AND served beachside. We are also having a Calypso band. What about you? (YAAAAAAY St. Lucia!)

Our guests are paying $3000 for three nights and hardly four days at an all inclusive Sandals resort in St. Lucia. This is for airfare and hotel.

Quote: Originally Posted by tvt This is exactly what my Derm said when I went in. That I got some harsh soap and water caught in my ring (i have diamonds all the way around and thus have those little holes all the way around my ring too - perfect for stuff to get stuck in) So I haven't been wearing it the past month and have done Cortisone cream and it's still not better. Maybe i need a prescription strength? I think it is more then likely that ring rash is what you have. I tried everything (neosporin, gold bond mixed with lotion, rubbing alcohol, Cortisone cream) and NOTHING made it itch less, appear less red, or go away. Not until I went to my Primary Care Doc..and said something isnt right (I had been wearing my E ring for almost 9 months when my finger broke out as well) He gave me a prescription for the lotion I mentioned in my first post...and everything went away almost immediately. I now no longer sleep with my ring on, shower with it on or do the dishes/wash my hands while wearing it. If I happen to be out and about...I just make sure that I am SUPER careful when it comes to washing and drying (rinse off ALL the soap...and dry really well!) You'll be fine. Let your finger breathe and clear up...then you'll be all set!

It could also be what you call "ring rash" If your band (especially if you have diamonds other then the centerstone) have a piqued roof - so to speak - when you wash your hands/shower/sweat, etc. moisture can get trapped in there...and voila - a ring rash you will get. There are meds to treat this (Clotrimazole and betamethasone dipropionate lotion, for starters) where you place it on the rash...and it will clear right up. I have a platinum ring and mine - at first - did the same thing. Are you allergic to other gold jewelry you have? My ears and neck are sensitive to gold...but for whatever reason, I have better luck with white then I do with yellow...and of courese, the higher the quality (24 as opposed to 14) the softer it is...but also the more pure (meaning less mixers: ie nickel, etc.) it would be. Hope that may kind of sort of help!

The GC to your resorts shop - I think that is VERY clever idea (as you never know WHO may have forgotten suntan lotion - or WHO has an extensive collection of shot glasses!) Here is what we are including in our guests gift bags; please note that our wedding colors are bright orange and bright fuschia: - Embroidered beach towels. The ladies towels will be bright fuschia with lime green embroidery and the mens towels will be bright orange with lime green embroidery. The font will match that of our invites and wedding stationary. - We are having handmade Aloe Aloe soaps put in (which have lavendar, aloe, lemon, and bergomot essential oils in them) and are made of shea butter so they will be super moisturizing after a day in the sun, and the aloe will help to treat any sunburn that may have been gotten. - An invitation to a champagne brunch the morning after they arrive. - A personalized thank you note thanking our guests for traveling so far to celebrate with us (the cardstock matches the rest of our wedding stationary.) - A Kodak underwater camera - An organza bag that has a tin of mints that match our stationary, a package of goldfish, and a package of swedish fish for snacks (beach wedding, fish theme!) These items will be placed in a brown bag tied together with raffia and faux flowers. Each bag will have a hang tag with our guests last name so they can be given the appropriate bag upon check in. Any other ideas of what I can include? Thanks!!

I live in Westchester County (right next to Greenwich - and 30mins North of Manhattan) I am using a photographer from Mt. Vernon (of all places!) She used to be a professional model - and is absolutely stunning. She also has an incredible portfolio of photos that she herself has taken. She is quite talented. Name: Olga Levchenko Email: [email protected] website: Olga Levchenko Commercial Photography Phone Number - Studio: (914) 371-1735 She also services the tri state area (NY, NJ, CT) I hope this helps! Check her out! Her work looks incredible!

Bridal March - Jonathan Cain Absolutely beautiful, ladies! Check it out!

Hi Sn0048! Thanks for your response! I just googled your photographer, Bill Mortley, and it looks as though you will have a great time. He takes some pretty amazing pictures! Unfortunately, he was (and is no longer) a contract employee of the Regency Resort (not the St. Lucian Grande) I have done TONS of reseach on TripAdvisor. We are staying at another hotel upon arrival to St. Lucia (the coco palms) for 2 days. I LOVE trip advisor; it was because of that website that I was easily able to select the first two restaurants that we are going to dine at while on vacation! Your wedding is 2days from tomorrow! YAY!

A suggestion for where you can have an album printed. Make your own book with Blurb This is the site I plan to use after my session in July! You download the software to create the album...hit submit...and boom; a beautiful selection of boudoir photos!

Here is another great website. This woman uses various styles from Havianas (the most comfortable flip flop in the world) and hands beads the thongs, ets. with swarvorski crystals that match your dress (the colors of your wedding, etc.) This is what I am wearing to walk down the aisle. The owner - Josephine - is hand matching the crystals of my dress to the crystals she is selecting for my shoes. I will post a picture once they are delivered! Crystal Flip Flops :: withcrystalsandstones.com

Dress #1 flatters your figure the most. You're tiny. Dress #2 covers too much of you up! I hope that makes sense!

Quote: Originally Posted by TA Jennifer Chantelle- have your travel agent request the garment bag for you! Hey Jennifer! thank you so much for your response! Unfortunately, I have booked both the wedding AND the travel accomodations sans a TA...not because I did not want to use one...but just because when starting to plan this event, I did not know any better... Do you think it would be worthwhile to contact the WC from Miami? I am not happy at ALL with the customer service - from her - that I have been receiving. I emailed her about the upgrade catalog days ago...and I have yet to hear back with a response (or a PDF download) and in regards to the garment bag...I have ironically just started the search for one as I do not want my dress and my Fiance's attire to be together for the trip there. What would you suggest? Thanks - in advance - for your help!

My vote goes to #1!

Quote: Originally Posted by mfry Wanted to mention that Beaches/Sandals just sent me a garment bag for my wedding dress!!! Out of curiousity, how did you get them to do that? I have a wedding booked at the Sandals Grande in St. Lucia in September...and no one from the resort that I have spoke to had mentioned that they do this...is this the norm? Thanks, in advance, for your reply! Regards, Chantelle

Hi Ladies! My name is Chantelle...and I too am a St. Lucia soon-to-be Bride! I am SO excited. A bit over three more months to go! I am getting married at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian; I struggled immensely between this and a private affair catered by ACW! I ended up settling with Sandals as the Property Manager there has been incredible. Absolutely incredible. I can't wait to check out the rest of this boards threads. I am anxious to see some beachy wedding photographs! I am curious about the native floral bouquets (as this is my request too) as well as the hair, the makeup, and your choices for your dresses! I look forward to continuing our wedding planning experience together! Good luck to you all and keep us posted!