Evgal

This is so helpful. Thanks!

I got the perfect Seychelles wedge on sale for $59.  I'm only 5'3" and the height of the heel is perfect (4.5") so that I don't have to change my dress length.  I wanted to do barefoot but the dress doesn't "float" the way I want. Check out Seychelles wedges.  They have such a variety of wedges.

I have a small group (15) dinner reception so we aren't planning to privatize the restaurant.  What should we do for dinner music? Bring an ipod or no music?  And we won't have a dance floor, should we go to a nearby club to party?  Our group is really mixed (old and young).  What should I do?

I think the idea is nice but it would depend on your resort and guests.  Would it be windy, buggy, or are there bathrooms nearby?  And what about a change of scenery?  Ceremony on the beach, dinner indoors and then bonfire on the beach?

I think it would be great if we could upload a picture or picture album and have comments/replies posted below it so as to avoid the repetitive reposting of the picture and to keep things a little neater (similar to facebook feature).  Also, I think it would be nice to have tags on threads where pictures are uploaded so that we can quickly find those posts (similar to how the craiglist feature).

I highly recommend Bikram Yoga.  I lost 10 pounds and 2 inches of the hips in the last month AND I feel good.  The humidity and heat is getting me prepared for the tropical heat.  Can't wait!

Anybody get married there or planning to?

I didn't realize you needed 150 posts to download.  I thought it was my computer! lol... Aghh... 130 posts to go..

I like the 2nd one but I wonder if the color and lace will match. It is hard to tell without having them next to the dress. You reallycan't go wrong with either one.

I think a dropped waist will elongate your torso and make you look taller and more lean. I think we all go through this phase. I say go with your gut. It was the right choice and embrace it. You will be beautiful in that dress.

My side does cash gifts but my FI's family does not. I really didn't want to register because there is nothing we want (we have no space and planning to move in a year). I ended up registering at Bed Bath Beyond and only added a few items to hint at the fact that we are not interested in "stuff"... Not sure if people will get the hint but we will see soon enough. I was hoping word of mouth from inlaws would help but they didn't feel comfortable with doing that. Oh well, a gift is a gift.

I agree with the other posters, some people just don't understand DW's. It's unfortunate that some people don't see it the same way and they don't see that its about you and not them. But it's also a tough time in the economy so maybe thats an issue (you never know). In any case, I am sure you will have the ones that matter there and those that didn't attend will regret it later. I hope everything turns out well.

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I think I will compromise. However, I will stand firm on things that I definitely don't want (cake cutting and wedding decor) and start from there. But isn't it strange to want such traditional things at a non-traditional party? We are doing all the wedding stuff at DW so it seem silly (artificial) to repeat at the AHR. I just wanted to party. Or maybe I am just a control freak. Oh well.

I completely understand.  Its hard to say no to FI's parents who are being generous especially if its in celebration of your marriage.  Good luck.

We decided on a DW to keep it intimate but also hosting AHR to have fun with friends. The AHR is cocktails, dancing and some food at night at lounge-y venue for 250. My goal was to say we did it and let's party. So far planning for AHR has gone smoothly but now I feel the in-laws are giving suggestions that aren't bad but nothing that I had originally wanted. Things they suggested that I was not considering: large picture of us on display, guestbook (i was going to have one for messages but they suggested that we add one for addresses), flowers, decorations, cake (plus cutting photo op), and party favors. They pointed out that people would want to feel like they were at a wedding party and shared in something special and not just another party, which I agree - it was something that I considered but maybe I am not doing enough. I plan to wear my wedding dress for the first hour, do a slideshow, program with acknowledements, and make an announcement/toast. A lot of people are traveling to the AHR and I want our guests to feel appreciated and special. But i also decided on the venue to avoid "tradition" and I did not budget for these items so the costs will be considerable but won't necessarily break the bank. And I love my inlaws which makes it hard for me to say no. What should I do? What would make our guests feel special??

I hear that WEDO does a great job but I'm always skeptical of sending my documents to a company that I can't physically visit.  We decided to visit our local DR consulate (in NYC).  Here's our experience so far:

1) We created single status statements and had them notarized and made a copy.  We brought those documents along with our original birth certificates.

2) We entered the consulate and was immediately assisted by the reception desk.  We were given a number and told to wait in a room similar to the DMV.  Luckily we only had to wait 5 minutes.  I noticed that English was not spoken fluently by everyone who worked there but all were eager to help (unlike our DMV).

3) Our number was drawn and we went to a window where a lady told us that they no longer legalized documents.  I was confused (this was not what we were told over the phone) and asked a few questions.  She turned and asked her co-worker, Wanda, for clarification and luckily that led us to the right person.  Phew... we could have been turned away empty-handed if this lady didn't care enough to check her answer.

4) Wanda really knew her stuff.  She asked for our documents and my fiance's ID but surprisingly didn't need to see his passport.  She explained to us that my fiance's NJ birth certificate will need an apostille prior to certification and translation, and his single status statement will need translation.  He could go back to his hometown and get the apostle for his birth certificate or we could do that with her (only for NJ and NY birth certificates) and translations can be done there as well.   We chose to do everything there.  She gave my fiance a form to fill certifying that he knew the birth certificate to be true and an invoice for payment.   We were then sent to Chase (1 block away) to get the form notarized (free if you're a Chase customer).  She also instructed us to go to the Translation office and tell them what we are doing and that they would give us another invoice there.  Here's the funny part... we waited outside of the Translation office for 10 minutes (the door was closed - we thought) until someone asked us what we were doing and then urged us to go in.  Silly us!  The door was open! And there was a large office with a waiting area but we were the only ones waiting!  Doh.

5) We took the invoices to the cashier window and paid a total of $150 cash ($80 for translation, $40 for legalization, $30 for apostille) and received two receipts.   

6) We returned directly to Wanda (she was helping another person but waved us over).  She took his original birth certificate and the notarized statement and wrote the date his forms will be available for pick-up on one of the receipts (2 days later).

7) Then we went to the translation office and gave them the copy of the single status statement and showed them the receipt.  They wrote the date that his form will be ready for pick-up (5 days later) on the receipt.  They said that they can mail it to us but we opted to pick everything up in person.  

Everything took a little bit over an hour but I think we could have been done in 20 minutes if we were prepared and listened a little better (not due to lack of instruction on their end but just from us feeling overwhelmed with a process we weren't familiar with). And for me...  I can't get my documents done until I get the apostille for my birth certificate which is from another country.  Unfortunately apostilles for my home country are not so easy but at least I know what to do once I get it!

In summary, it was well worth the experience for me.  I wouldn't recommend doing this if you don't live near a consulate or have time to go in person.  However, I feel so much better having them handle our originals and keeping our privacy.  Lastly, everyone was so nice that it only increased my excitement for my wedding in DR!

Sorry if this was too lengthy but I was really nervous about this process so I thought I'll share it and hopefully help a future bride.

Its fairly new resort but I've found a few brides out there.  I'm getting married at the Iberostar Grand Bavaro in August!  I'll write up a review when all said and done.  

Are you doing a civil ceremony or symbolic?  If civil, you may have limited choices.  We didn't get to choose our time but we got lucky and received the time we would have asked for anyways.

I just learned about clay flowers and they look amazing but I wonder if they are as real as they look in person and if they would stand up to August Carribbean heat. I can't imagine clay flowers, so are they more fabric-like or sugar flower-like? If you have any insights please share. Did they look and feel real and did they travel well? Did you wish you didn't do them? If you have pics please post. Thanks!

Great question.  I would like to know as well.  

Go for it!  I think you will find that people will be happy for you and would want you to enjoy your day however you want to.  And think to yourself... you're going look beautiful in a wedding dress at 40!  (Some people could only wish that...)  

Pretty straight forward.  Any other options?  Would anybody consider adding something like "Join us for food, drinks, and casino-entertainment"?  I'm really not the creative kind so maybe I should stick with saying less.  

 I need help with my AHR invitations!  Here's the jist... we'll be married in DR in August (only a few were invited) and then we will have our AHR a few days later in our hometown.  The AHR will be held at a lounge where we will have food, drinks, dancing, and casino games (fake kind but with professional dealers).  The AHR will be more party-like but still somewhat formal. I'm having trouble due to the timing (we will be married but not at the time of the invites - sort of thing) and I want to capture the mood of the party without having to spell it out.  How should I word my invites? 

I'm sort of in the same boat except I really don't want a registry (its traditionally cash on my side) but my fiance's family insists (and for whatever reason they are not interested in "passing the word").  Putting it on a wedding website sounds like a good compromise.  However, is there a way to steer people to cash?  I don't want people who were going to give us cash feel pressured in doing the registry -- plus I prefer cash.

I have booked but I would love to see some pictures.