CourtandMatt

Originally Posted by alexisinjamaica 

 

 

Best advice I could give: based on my planning thus far, I'd say don't bother putting postage on your RSVP cards. I took the time to pre-address and stamp them, and some people are still too lazy to drop them in the mail. I don't get it. I think it's rude. And that was a waste of money for me!

Alexis - Same issue!  I really wish we had not wasted our money on RSVP cards and especially on postage.  We sent out around 95 invites and only got 30 something back.   Really?? How hard is it to put a pre-stamped card in the mail box???    Another piece of planning advice:  don't waste money on invitations.  I think we spent way too much money on something that ended up getting thrown away.  One of my cousins even told me that her husband threw it away as soon as they got it since they knew they weren't coming!  What a waste!  Don't spend money on the invitations and instead spend the money on spoiling your guests that do come! 

Supposably if Floral Fantasies just drops off the flowers there is no vendor fee.  We'll see if that happens!  

Courtney, what is the vendor fee you will have to pay for Floral Fantasies? 100? And do they respond pretty quickly? I've heard lots of complaints with Tai Flora's slow responses.

Good advice. Will have to start counting my calories too. Any tips as to a good (free to download) app?

I got them a few weeks ago. I liked the fact that they were able to be folded up and put in a purse and/or glove compartment...or into our guests luggage. We loved the colors and you can't go wrong with the price. We love them.

Great advice, Alexis!   My greatest advice is to do a food diary with a calorie count.  And, to help, I highly recommend Calorie Counter website, http://caloriecount.about.com/.   I have been logging everything I eat for about three weeks, which helped a lot with monitoring what I eat.  Then, in the last week I have been writing down my calories and, wow, it really opened my eyes.  I found that I had been eating 1000 + calories just for dinner!   And, it wasn't even keeping me full!  I just didn't realize how many calories breads and pasta have.  I have really changed my eating habits and now my dress is already fitting a lot better!  

Good luck, ladies!

Court

p.s. The food diary is even better if you do it with a friend.  I am doing it with a friend through Google Docs.  

Originally Posted by DaniScales2b 

 

Hi Onyx,

 

Don't mind the questions at all!  Our ceremony will begin at 5:00 PM and cocktail hour will be held on the balcony off the main lobby.  During that time, we'll be taking pictures.  Because of the size of our group, we're having a private reception at the Port Maria Restaurant.  I'm in the process of coming up with a Wedding Day Timeline to include in the Welcome Bags for the guests to make it easier for them...and me!  We also have Chinese lanterns to release at the end of the reception.  Feel free to PM me with any additional questions.  

 

Dani

Dani - How many people are you having and how many sky lanterns did you order?  Are you brining matches or did IRHG say they would provide them?  Finally, do you know what time you are going to release them?  We are planning to release sky lanterns as well!  The sky will just be filled on May 4th!!  

so pretty Courtney!! you're gonna rock that frock on your big day. 

 

so pretty Courtney!! you're gonna rock that frock on your big day. 

 

Hello fellow frugal brides, Just thought I would let you know that I have found tote bags for OOT bags for $.79 from Ikea!!! They're reusable and can be folded up to put in your guests purses or what have you. All you have to do is join the Ikea Family, which is free, and it qualifies you for the pricing of $.79. This is by far the cheapest tote bags I've found. They only catch is they don't ship these from the website you have to go into the store. Good luck! Best, Melissa

Thanks for posting both prices. Do you know if Floral Fantasies charge a delivery fee?

MODEL

ME

Originally Posted by KWandCM 

 

Everything seems to be coming together for you so well! Congratulations! 

 

I'm also learning so much from your planning. Thanks for sharing with us so much information. Do you happen to know if they're going to charge you a vendor fee for Floral Fantasies? 

Supposably if Floral Fantasies just drops off the flowers there is no vendor fee.  We'll see if that happens!  

It looks like the totals got dropped:

Bridal bouquet = 250

Bridesmaid bouquets = 225

Centerpieces = 570

In case anyone is interested in the quote I got from Tai Flora, I posted it below.  I ended up going with Floral Fantasies because (1) it was more affordable and (2) communication was better.  However, the flowers below sound GORGEOUS!  

We ordered flowers from Floral Fantasies:

BRIDAL FLOWERS

Bridal bouquet:

The bridal bouquet will consist of white hydrangeas, white roses and pockets of white dendrobium orchids, stems wrapped with white satin ribbon.

                              …………………………………………………. U.S $ 100.00

2 bridesmaid bouquets:

The bridesmaid bouquet will be a scaled down version of the bridal bouquet, stems wrapped with white satin ribbon.

@ $65.00x 2 ……………………………………………………………. $ 130.00

 4 boutonnieres:

Brother of the bride - using a white rose

3 groomsmen- using white dendrobium orchid

@ $5.00 x 4 ……………………………………………………………….. $ 20.00

RECEPTION

 5 table centerpieces:

The centerpiece will be done in a 6†cylinder using all white hydrangeas.

@ $65.00 x 5 …………………………………………………………..... $ 325.00

                                                                                                 __________________

                                                                  Sub-total                U.S $   575.00

                                                   Delivery                        $     30.00

                                               16.5% sales tax                 $ 100.00                                                   

                                                                                    _______________

                                                       Total                      U.S $ 705.00          

                                                                                   ==============

-------------------------------------------------------------

I bought these IKEA candles to go around the centerpieces (4 for each table, plus a few extra in case of breakage and to go next to the escort cards):

They were $0.79 each.  They can be found here: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50209610/.  

For table numbers, which we plan to put a pictures of our favorite trips in as our "table numbers", we bought these $0.99 frames:

They can be found here:  http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30151035/

-------------------------------

We also get more flowers for free with our wedding package.  They come from Tai Flora.  The following is what they told me they can do:

Groom Boutonniere:  White rose with white hydrangea accent

Centerpiece for registry table (and later used for sweetheart table): white roses

Cake flowers: White hydrangeas

Maid of Honor bouquet (which was really the included bridal bouquet):  White orchids

My officiant sent an outline of our Jewish wedding ceremony:

                                    OUT LINE OF JEWISH WEDDING CEREMONY

1. WELCOME TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

2. BEDEKIN CEREMONY (THIS IS THE POINT THAT THE GROOM IS ASKED IF THIS IS THE WOMAN HE WISHES TO MARRY) IF THE BRIDE WEARS A VEIL HE WILL LIFT IT AT THIS TIME LOOK AND ANSWER. THIS COMES FROM THE TIME WHEN JACOB WAS TO MARRY RACHEL AND BECAUSE HE DID NOT LOOK UNDER THE VEIL HE GOT LEAH INSTEAD.

3.  EXPLANATION OF WHY A JEWISH WEDDING TAKES PLACE UNDER A CHUPPAH

4. PRAYER: IN HEBREW AND ENGLISH. BARUCH HABA BESHEM ADONAI. MAIN PRAYER IN JEWISH CEREMONY FOR THE COUPLE.

5. FIRST KDDUSH AND REASON WHY WE DO THIS. BRIDE AND GROOM DRINK WINE AT THIS POINT.

6.  READING – THIS IS OPTIONAL AND CAN BE SELECTED

7. ADDRESS TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM BY THE RABBI

8. WEDDING VOWS

(10) RING CEREMONY : BLESSING OF RINGS AND GIVING OF SAME WITH VOWS.

(11)READING OF THE KETUBAH (IF REQUIRED)

(12) LEGAL CEREMONY DECLARATION OF PUBLIC WITNESS. THIS IS THE POINT WHERE THE BRIDE AND GROOM TAKE EACH OTHER AS MAN AND WIFE LEGALLY.

(13) 2^ND KIDDUSH . BRIDE AND GROOM TAKE WINE FOR THE 2^ND TIME TO MARK END OF CEREMONY.

(14) SHEVA BERACHOT/ SEVEN BLESSINGS FOR BRIDE AND GROOM. BRIDE MAY AT THIS POINT CIRCLE THE GROOM 1,3,OR 7 TIMES TO CONSUMATE THE MARRIAGE. THIS CIRCLING MAY ALSO BE LEFT OUT COMPLETELY. IT CAN BE READ IN HEBREW AND ENGLISH OR JUST HEBREW OR JUST ENGLISH.

(15) FINAL BENEDICTION

(16) BREAKING OF THE GLASS AND EXPLANATION AS TO WHY WE DO THIS.

(17) PRESENTATION OF THE COUPLE AND KISSING OF THE BRIDE.

                              END

OTHER PRAYERS AND ITEMS CAN BE ADDED IF YOU WISH. THIS CAN BE DISCUSSED AS YOU WISH. 

Originally Posted by danak71 

 

I'm working on seating arrangements today as well. I was told by another bride that doing 8 at the tables at my resort would be too cramped and I was better off doing tables of 6. I was planning to do a sweetheart table and then 10 tables of 6. My issue is trying to figure out who sits where???

 

So Mark has 3 friends from work coming and they're each bringing their wives. Do I sit all 3 couples together at one table because the guys work together and know each other or do I sit each couple at a different table so they get to mix and mingle with other guests?

 

Do I sit the bridal party all together or mix them up with other people as well? I have 4 bridesmaids and 2 of them are bringing their husbands so that would be 6 if I kept them all at the same table. But I also have 2 hostesses so that would mean they would have to sit somewhere else.

 

I was kinda thinking maybe I should put all the couples together and then all the singles together? Ugggghhhhh!!!! LOL

I was just thinking the same thing about whether I should mix the tables or keep them arranged by people who knew eachother... Still haven't decided.  

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

 

Sheeesh! Kinda makes you feel like just eloping! Sometimes I fantasize how much easier and less stressful that would be. Ahhhh yes. Anyways, who ever "threw away your invite" is totally disrespectful. Like really? Were you raised in a barn? Like seriously are you related to Honey Boo Boos family? I would tell those who haven't RSVP'd and you know that's coming that YOU now get to chose what they'll be eating and you'll make sure to tell the resort that they get NO booze at the ceremony. You gotta make them suffer a bit....maybe even threaten them with no wedding cake  If I were you I'd get up right NOW, go pour your self some wine/beer, and watch a girly movie! Maybe even a little chocolate!

Thanks for your comment!  I helped myself to a big bowl of pasta and some reality TV.  It really does make me wish I had eloped, which is really what I wanted to do.  However, I did not want to have my FI miss out on a wedding since he really wanted one.  Man o man... wedding drama! 

Originally Posted by PuntaBride 

 

Working on my seating arrangements today!

 

My resort has told me they set up one long table.  So, I'm thinking Todd and I will sit at the end of the table.  Everyone else will be down the sides.  Any suggestions on how to organize your guests?  Who sits closest to the bride and groom?  Do you sit your wedding party together, with our without spouses?  HELP please!

I think it would be best to have the best man on one side and the MOH on the other side seated next to you.  I also think that you should put spouses/significant others next to each other.  I have never been to a wedding where they are separated.  So, for example, you could do on one side:  best man, date, groomsmen with their dates, groom's family, then groom's friends (or maybe switch family and friends).   Thoughts?

Ladies!  I just have to vent!   Our save the dates went out in spring 2012.  Our website was out at that same time with all the travel details on it (it was even on the save the dates).  Our invites went out in early November with a "kindly reply by" date of February 1, 2013.  We sent out around 95 invites.  Guess what?? It's January 31, 2013 and I have only gotten like 30 RSVPs back!!   I am soooo frustrated.  I have spent all day and week getting everyone's status.  And, I keep hearing that they are just not sending the RSVP back (one even said they just threw away the invite when they got it 'cause they knew they weren't going).  Let me just say - I wish I had not wasted so much money and time on invitations.  I had even pre-stamped the RSVPs.  What a waste!

And, to make matters worse, today is the last day to book our discounted rooms and none of the groomsmen have booked!   OMG.  Wedding stress and drama!  Anyone else experiencing anything like this???  

Originally Posted by Shay4966 

 

I just bought the contents for my OOT bags.I spent $109.74 for all contents for 60 bags. I also spent $68 dollars on amazon for the bulk pepto packets, advil, tums, and alka selzter. I'm practically done with the bag, a few more items and another thing checked. I got all the items from the websites I posted on here. I'm glad you ladies are using them to your advantage.

Shay,

I love this forum.  Could you post a list in just one posting of everything you bought and the pricing?   I got lost between all of the posts on how you did 60 bags for only $109.74.

Thank you!!

Court

Originally Posted by staroxx 

 

Did any one hire an outside photographer for the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach in Jamaica? I was asking then about vendors fees and they are telling me i can't bring one in, they would have to spend 1 night in order to take my photos. Any one have the same problems? What did you end up doing?  Thanks for your help!

It seems like if you just recently booked your wedding at Iberostar then you fall under the newest package which I believe says that you can't bring in an outside photographer unless you pay for them to spend the night. 

I just bought mine from justartifacts.com They were $1.68 each for the 100% biodegradable wire free ones. Which I think is cheaper than the groupon deal

Originally Posted by Tammy Host 

 

It is raining and has been chilly here.  I would love to be in the Maldives!  Look at that water!!

 

 

 

 

 

I want to be there!  Tammy, do you know what resort that is??

Originally Posted by misslaura11 

 

Hi congrats to you both! As previously said by the others you are so organised! I'm jel! Also beautiful choices of dress and shoes, invites and gifts!! I just got engaged and I'm planning our wedding in jamaica April 2014! Loving your advice! I just need to get my skates on and make decisions!

Thank you!  I wish you the best of luck in your planning!!  What an exciting time for us all!