JenRoseRDH

Congratulations on getting to the point of planning! How long have you been engaged? I got married in Turks and Caicos this past October and it was wonderful, exactly what we had wanted and hoped for. In my opinion, you can't go wrong there! Grace Bay Beach is breathtaking- do an image search- it actually looks even better in person which is hard to imagine! I stressed out a lot about choosing a location because I wanted it to be picture perfect and still affordable for our family and friends. At the time we were starting to plan, I did a flight cost comparison of the islands we were considering and flights to T/C were quite a bit lower than the rest and much less than the USVI or BVI. It cost only slightly more than Mexico and while we love Mexico, we did not want to have our wedding there. Once we were able to zero in on Turks and Caicos as the destination, I insisted that I could not relax and commit to it without a site visit so we planned a long weekend and checked it out. Once we experienced the island, all doubt was gone. We chose Grace Bay Club for our wedding and honeymoon based on the great, central location with plenty of restaurants, activities and less expensive lodging options within walking distance. I contacted several local wedding planners before the trip and got the best, most helpful response from Luise at Nila Destinations. Before we committed to anything or spent even a dime, she took us on a half day tour of a list of resorts I wanted to see and they were truly all fabulous. I feel there is a resort there for every budget and they are all immaculately kept and on the same, pristine stretch of beach. No one tried to "sell" us anything or push their location or services on us, we were very impressed with how genuinely helpful and informative everyone was without ever making us feel the least bit of pressure to sign up or commit to anything. Hope some of this helps. If you have any more specific questions, I'd be happy to share more. I sure don't envy you planning a wedding in your last year of nursing school- that is intensely stressful itself without adding so many big decisions and plans in the mix. Happy planning! -Jen

Hey, Danie! Hope all your planning is going well and that stress is low. We had the steel drummer for 2 hours- the ceremony and cocktail hour. Then we plugged in our own playlist through dinner and had the DJ for just 2 hours after. It worked out great for us, the transitions were smooth. We talked about not using a DJ but were very glad that we had him. It helped move things along from speeches to cake to dancing, etc.

Want to add that Anna's Art Gallery did our wedding favors- they custom made them for me based off a picture I showed them. We did Christmas ornaments, either a starfish or sand dollar for each family. They were beautiful, I will try to post a picture of them eventually. We were very pleased, Anna's did a fabulous job and they worked quickly for us! I put in the order and they had them ready for pick up in just a few days. Their web site- http://www.anna.tc/

Some pictures, finally! So pleased with our photographer, a dear friend of mine. I hope I am allowed to post the link to the slideshow he put together for us. http://youtu.be/fVfZbF76HI8 Details: Wedding planner- Luise with Nila Destinations Officiant- Pastor Colby Hair and Make up- Shenique (NO regrets, worth every penny!) Photographer- Shane Irwin Photography, a long time friend Resort and reception- Grace Bay Club, coordinated by Shameka, dinner by Ajay Steel drums- Kelci Talbot DJ- William John Cake- Diane Flowers- EA Rehearsal dinner- carryout from Smokey's and served in our Grace Bay Club suite

One of my cousins took some wedding day video clips with her camera and edited them together for us, I thought it turned out great. Here is the link... http://vimeo.com/55130239?action=share We are meeting with our photographer Monday for our first viewing of the wedding pics, so exciting!

We had our wedding October 20th and it was perfect! Our guests had nothing but sunshine and we had just a few overcast/windy days on the honeymoon. I would do it again in a minute! I'd say odds are in your favor. My opinion on the 300 days of sunshine is that some of those days do have scattered showers but it seems they usually pass quickly.

We had our perfect Grace Bay Club wedding and everything was just exactly as (or better than) I had imagined it. I would not have it any other way! Turks and Caicos was the perfect fit for us and our group. Not that we didn't have a few unexpected issues but nothing that took away from our day. Luise with Nila was fantastic and Shameka and Ajay with Grace Bay Club went above and beyond for us. I plan to do a thorough post eventually and reviews of our vendors but I just haven't made the time yet. I just wanted to let you girls know that I have had NO issues whatsoever in changing my legal name and married status. We signed 4 marriage certificates at the ceremony and Pastor Colby notarized (sealed, whatever) 2 copies on the spot that we brought home with us. I took one to the DMV and got my new drivers license, carry permit and voter's registration and then went to the Social Security office and had my new card in the mail within the week. Then it was just a matter of calls and faxes to everyone else with whatever they wanted. A few places I had to go in person with my documents but most I handled by phone and fax. Some wanted a copy of the certificate, some just wanted a copy of my new license. I have had no one question the validity of my certificate. The only thing I have not done yet is apply for a new passport. I am still waiting on the "official" certificate in the mail and will send that along with the paperwork just to be sure there is no problem or delay. Luise told me it usually takes about 6 weeks. It has been a bit over that but I am not concerned. Definitely check with your local regulations but here in Nashville, TN it has been no problem at all.

The Alexandria is a beautiful resort with great space, a nice pool with a swim up bar and a fun beachfront restaurant. The lounge chairs were nice and there are pretty little lamp posts around the resort.I think it would be one of the better resorts to host your wedding as they offer a range of pricing on rooms for guests. They have rooms available that look right over the ocean and I really liked that the balconies were not screened in like at the Sands and Ocean Club resorts. On my honeymoon, I don't want anything between me and the ocean! It is also walkable to several other resorts and restaurants- including Bay Bistro, a very popular spot. I have wedding guests that booked there but we chose to use a resort that was more walkable to groceries, activities, shopping and inexpensive accomodation options. You could walk down to all that from the Alexandria but it would be a long walk and not practical with groceries and such. If you had a car it would be great. Of the less expensive, beachfront properties it would have been my pick. It was just a little too far for us. Good luck with your planning!

The Veranda is a beautiful resort but the less expensive rooms are not very large. They have some spacious houses available with private plunge pools but I have no idea the rates on those. We knew they would be out of our range. I have some pics from our visit if you are seriously considering it. We didn't stay there, just toured the property. There is an open oceanfront patio above one of the restaurants that would be wonderful for a reception. We were unimpressed by the limited on site options for food and what we saw did not look all that great. With so many fantastic restaurants on island it didn't make sense to me to be limited to the resort. Grace Bay Club, the sister property, includes a hot breakfast and an afternoon tea so while it is not all inclusive, it does offer more than most of the other resorts. We are getting married there in October. You could definitely plan a wedding without an outside planner but I have been really happy using Nila Destinations. I feel like between Shameka at Grace Bay Club and Ashleigh and Luise at Nila, my wedding is in very good hands. Shameka is not always quick to respond to emails so it is nice to have Nila there to answer questions and help me with ideas. During my site visit they were a huge help and I hadn't even signed the contract yet! We booked our stay directly with the resort and booked flights directly through the airlines. I considered using a travel agent that could handle everyone's arrangements but it was easy enough to just do on our own.

We are using Kelci Talbot on steel drums for the ceremony. We are waiting on RSVPs to come in so we have a final headcount before we make the decision about reception music. We want to make sure it fits our party size. We have considered Bowen Arrow, a DJ, our own mix on an Ipod, and a guitar soloist. Could end up any combination of the above. We spent some time this past weekend starting a song list. Our wedding will be on the beach at Grace Bay Club and our reception is under one of the palapas at Anacaona there on the resort. I think it is going to be so lovely! We had a dinner and a brunch at Bay Bistro and the food was delicious! I'm sure we will be going back. I don't think you can go wrong using Kissing Fish.

When is your wedding and where are you having it and the reception? We are getting married in October, that seems so soon!

I don't have his info, I found out about him through Luise and Ashleigh at Nila Destinations. Not sure how you would contact him independantly. Are you using a planner?

I was just looking at the Tropical Imaging blog and they have recent pics up from a wedding at Coral House, was that you? What a beautiful setting! I'm not sure if they were your pictures or not but it was a beautiful wedding and a lovely couple! Here is the link... http://brilliant.tc/blog/2012/07/the-wedding-of-melissa-and-nick-coral-house-turks-caicos/

The only wedding restriction I have come across was at Seven Stars. They had a minimum of rooms booked to have a weekend wedding. No minimum length of stay, they just seemed to be trying to get you to book your guests there too. It is a great resort and I don't know how strict they are in sticking to their policy. We would have tried to have our wedding there but they were not available on our date. It is my understanding that Grace Bay Beach is considered public property so you can hold your wedding there regardless of where you are staying. Of course you would want some help with the set up and all but if you get a planner they will help you with those details. Don't rule out the less expensive resorts in your planning. We looked at many during our planning visit and even the lower priced resorts on the beach were lovely. Sibonne, the Sands, the Ocean Club resorts, Alexandrea, Royal West Indies and I'm sure others are quite affordable and still on the same pristine stretch of beach as all the rest. Provo is a fantastic destination and there is no way you could talk me out of getting married there once I'd seen it!

My wedding is 3 months from today!!!! So excited, I had to post something. Our invitations went out Wednesday and I am already getting calls and texts about them. We sent these passport style invites from beachwedlock.com The quality is great and we love how they turned out. http://www.beachwedlockinvitations.com/beach-wedding-invitations-beach-invitations-passport-invitations-bonus-rsvpbr18790-p-1183.html?osCsid=e79007c62be2e29ca0d5593ae2028fa1 Here is our proof: We had them make our names bigger on the upper part in our final print. They are so nice and easy to work with there and the process went quickly though we didn't put a rush on it. I thought the pricing was really reasonable given the quality. We had samples from a couple other passport style vendors and this was by far the best. We copied an idea I found online and sent out these save the dates in March- perfect for our destination wedding and because Geoff is a pilot! They have our names and wedding date on the wings and on one side of the body Grace Bay Beach and on the other Turks and Caicos Islands. We included a small strip of paper with our Nila websire so they could get the resort and travel info. Had to ship them in padded envelopes to keep the post office from crushing the balsa pieces . Lucky for me, I have a very crafty bridesamid who helped us out with the logistics. I got the idea from http://www.invitationcrush.com/balsa-wood-airplane-save-the-dates/ We have a great photographer (who I have known for years!) who suggested we pick a theme for our E-pics. We went with the travel thing and stuck with aviation. Geoff picked WW2 so we could shoot with a P51 Mustang. The shoot went great and if there are any brides looking for a Nashville photographer, I would recommend him for sure. He and his wife shoot together as a team so you have the advantage of 2 photographers. The link to his blogpost after the shoot: http://shaneirwinphoto.blogspot.com/2012/06/geoff-jennifer-vintage-engagement.html Ashley- I am staying in Turtle Cove with my family the week before the wedding then Geoff and I are staying at Grace Bay Club the week after. We are excited about a week to ourselves in Provo with no planning or decision making to worry about. We got Padi certified this summer an plan to do some diving. I am a crazy foodie and already have our dinners planned out for the week. So many great restaurants there! Not to mention Grace Bay Beach, I think I could stay on that beach forever. We registered on travelersjoy.com for all our honeymoon fun. Great thet you have 80 booked already, that seems huge to me! I have no doubt that if you didn't do another thing, Shameka and Veranda would make it a perfect day for you. No need to stress.

My wedding is 3 months from today!!!! So excited, I had to post something. Our invitations went out Wednesday and I am already getting calls and texts about them. We sent these passport style invites from beachwedlock.com The quality is great and we love how they turned out. http://www.beachwedlockinvitations.com/beach-wedding-invitations-beach-invitations-passport-invitations-bonus-rsvpbr18790-p-1183.html?osCsid=e79007c62be2e29ca0d5593ae2028fa1 Here is our proof: We had them make our names bigger on the upper part in our final print. They are so nice and easy to work with there and the process went quickly though we didn't put a rush on it. I thought the pricing was really reasonable given the quality. We had samples from a couple other passport style vendors and this was by far the best. We copied an idea I found online and sent out these save the dates in March- perfect for our destination wedding and because Geoff is a pilot! They have our names and wedding date on the wings and on one side of the body Grace Bay Beach and on the other Turks and Caicos Islands. We included a small strip of paper with our Nila websire so they could get the resort and travel info. Had to ship them in padded envelopes to keep the post office from crushing the balsa pieces . Lucky for me, I have a very crafty bridesamid who helped us out with the logistics. I got the idea from http://www.invitationcrush.com/balsa-wood-airplane-save-the-dates/ We have a great photographer (who I have known for years!) who suggested we pick a theme for our E-pics. We went with the travel thing and stuck with aviation. Geoff picked WW2 so we could shoot with a P51 Mustang. The shoot went great and if there are any brides looking for a Nashville photographer, I would recommend him for sure. He and his wife shoot together as a team so you have the advantage of 2 photographers. The link to his blogpost after the shoot: http://shaneirwinphoto.blogspot.com/2012/06/geoff-jennifer-vintage-engagement.html Ashley- I am staying in Turtle Cove with my family the week before the wedding then Geoff and I are staying at Grace Bay Club the week after. We are excited about a week to ourselves in Provo with no planning or decision making to worry about. We got Padi certified this summer an plan to do some diving. I am a crazy foodie and already have our dinners planned out for the week. So many great restaurants there! Not to mention Grace Bay Beach, I think I could stay on that beach forever. We registered on travelersjoy.com for all our honeymoon fun. Great thet you have 80 booked already, that seems huge to me! I have no doubt that if you didn't do another thing, Shameka and Veranda would make it a perfect day for you. No need to stress.

My wedding is 3 months from today!!!! So excited, I had to post something. Our invitations went out Wednesday and I am already getting calls and texts about them. We sent these passport style invites from beachwedlock.com The quality is great and we love how they turned out. http://www.beachwedlockinvitations.com/beach-wedding-invitations-beach-invitations-passport-invitations-bonus-rsvpbr18790-p-1183.html?osCsid=e79007c62be2e29ca0d5593ae2028fa1 Here is our proof: We had them make our names bigger on the upper part in our final print. They are so nice and easy to work with there and the process went quickly though we didn't put a rush on it. I thought the pricing was really reasonable given the quality. We had samples from a couple other passport style vendors and this was by far the best. We copied an idea I found online and sent out these save the dates in March- perfect for our destination wedding and because Geoff is a pilot! They have our names and wedding date on the wings and on one side of the body Grace Bay Beach and on the other Turks and Caicos Islands. We included a small strip of paper with our Nila websire so they could get the resort and travel info. Had to ship them in padded envelopes to keep the post office from crushing the balsa pieces . Lucky for me, I have a very crafty bridesamid who helped us out with the logistics. I got the idea from http://www.invitationcrush.com/balsa-wood-airplane-save-the-dates/ We have a great photographer (who I have known for years!) who suggested we pick a theme for our E-pics. We went with the travel thing and stuck with aviation. Geoff picked WW2 so we could shoot with a P51 Mustang. The shoot went great and if there are any brides looking for a Nashville photographer, I would recommend him for sure. He and his wife shoot together as a team so you have the advantage of 2 photographers. The link to his blogpost after the shoot: http://shaneirwinphoto.blogspot.com/2012/06/geoff-jennifer-vintage-engagement.html Ashley- I am staying in Turtle Cove with my family the week before the wedding then Geoff and I are staying at Grace Bay Club the week after. We are excited about a week to ourselves in Provo with no planning or decision making to worry about. We got Padi certified this summer an plan to do some diving. I am a crazy foodie and already have our dinners planned out for the week. So many great restaurants there! Not to mention Grace Bay Beach, I think I could stay on that beach forever. We registered on travelersjoy.com for all our honeymoon fun. Great thet you have 80 booked already, that seems huge to me! I have no doubt that if you didn't do another thing, Shameka and Veranda would make it a perfect day for you. No need to stress.

My wedding is 3 months from today!!!! So excited, I had to post something. Our invitations went out Wednesday and I am already getting calls and texts about them. We sent these passport style invites from beachwedlock.com The quality is great and we love how they turned out. http://www.beachwedlockinvitations.com/beach-wedding-invitations-beach-invitations-passport-invitations-bonus-rsvpbr18790-p-1183.html?osCsid=e79007c62be2e29ca0d5593ae2028fa1 Here is our proof: We had them make our names bigger on the upper part in our final print. They are so nice and easy to work with there and the process went quickly though we didn't put a rush on it. I thought the pricing was really reasonable given the quality. We had samples from a couple other passport style vendors and this was by far the best. We copied an idea I found online and sent out these save the dates in March- perfect for our destination wedding and because Geoff is a pilot! They have our names and wedding date on the wings and on one side of the body Grace Bay Beach and on the other Turks and Caicos Islands. We included a small strip of paper with our Nila websire so they could get the resort and travel info. Had to ship them in padded envelopes to keep the post office from crushing the balsa pieces . Lucky for me, I have a very crafty bridesamid who helped us out with the logistics. I got the idea from http://www.invitationcrush.com/balsa-wood-airplane-save-the-dates/ We have a great photographer (who I have known for years!) who suggested we pick a theme for our E-pics. We went with the travel thing and stuck with aviation. Geoff picked WW2 so we could shoot with a P51 Mustang. The shoot went great and if there are any brides looking for a Nashville photographer, I would recommend him for sure. He and his wife shoot together as a team so you have the advantage of 2 photographers. The link to his blogpost after the shoot: http://shaneirwinphoto.blogspot.com/2012/06/geoff-jennifer-vintage-engagement.html Ashley- I am staying in Turtle Cove with my family the week before the wedding then Geoff and I are staying at Grace Bay Club the week after. We are excited about a week to ourselves in Provo with no planning or decision making to worry about. We got Padi certified this summer an plan to do some diving. I am a crazy foodie and already have our dinners planned out for the week. So many great restaurants there! Not to mention Grace Bay Beach, I think I could stay on that beach forever. We registered on travelersjoy.com for all our honeymoon fun. Great thet you have 80 booked already, that seems huge to me! I have no doubt that if you didn't do another thing, Shameka and Veranda would make it a perfect day for you. No need to stress.

Turksbride- Thanks for sharing, that was great! I'm going to think over some of that. You make a great point about the arch or whatever decor. I am wanting the white, flowy chuppah but the beach there is so perfect it really doesn't need any dressing up. I'm glad to hear that the ipod worked well for you. Did you have anyone in charge of it or to help with the flow of the reception? Did you and your guests do a lot of dancing? Would you be willing to share your wedding playlist? I'd also love to see some of your pictures when you have them if you are willing to share those.

Danie- Thanks for all the info! I am waiting to hear back from Spa Tropique again- they replied asking for more specifics. I also contacted Beauty and the Beach, Maximes and Tangled. It looks like we may have to split the nails and hair over two different places. Much as I would love to I just can't afford to have Shenique do everyone. I think I'll let them all fend for themselves when it comes to make up. I am hooked on the Tropical Imaging blog, I look through the weddings on a regular basis. I have looked at both Tropical Imaging and Eye Spice for photography. I feel it is such a beautiful place it will be hard to get any bad pictures. I have a lifelong friend who is a photographer and may *fingers crossed* give us our photography as a wedding gift. That is an RSVP I am definitely looking forward to!

Congratulations! Hope your wedding was amazing, I'm sure it was. Where did you have it and who did you use as a planner? How early did you start planning? How long did you stay? How many guests? I'd love to hear how everything went!

Danie- Thanks for all the info! Good luck to you in all your planning, you are lucky to be getting a nice early start. I love the message in a bottle for the gift bags. Aside from the personalized stuff, are you planning to buy locally or travel with all the goodies? Did you get the name and contact info for the DJ you saw and liked? I have been meaning to ask Nila for their recommendations but haven't gotten around to it. You guys are being super generous doing so much for your guests! I'm sure it is going to be a fantastic time for everyone. And you will be getting some amazing pictures. Who are you using for photography? I took your advice and messaged Spa Tropique, and 2 other places this morning so am waiting to hear back. I asked about nails, hair and make up for myself, 4 bridesmaids 2 mothers and 1 flower girl.