hello ladies! this is my first post! we´re getting married at the Jade on September 19, 2011. this forum has been SO extremely helpful! I can´t thank you all enough! I spent 4 solid days reading EVERY page before deciding on Jade. I followed along with all your ups and downs, trials and tribulations, in the planning process and then got to hear about how wonderful your special day was! It has been amazing! I´m an American girl, but my husband is Norwegian, and we live in Norway. We got married last year (on paper) so I could stay in Norway. let me tell you, trying to plan a wedding in a country you know very little about was horrible! I finally talked everyone into a destination wedding and now the REAL planning has begun! with only 6 months left! YIKES! We are on the verge of signing on with a travel agent, but I´m just not sure. I just want to get everyone the BEST possible rates (especially since some of them are making the long trip from Norway) I´m afraid there´s a chance her quote will be higher than what we could get through the hotel. I guess if that is the case my husband and I can tell the guests to make their own reservations, and my husband and I will just have to go with what she gives us (or lose our $300 deposit) After the recent posts, i´m just wondering if we even NEED a travel agent? btw, my wedding coordinator is Ana. so far so good. she left me hanging for a few days after I sent in the reservation form which kind of freaked me out. but i finally heard back and we are set! again, thank you all SO much for your information, helps, advice, pep talks, everything! you keep me sane!!! kim