carmor2

We were just in PV last week and got our engagement pictures done, I haven't seen them yet but I was also scouting where to get day after pictures done. I think I've decided to do them at the Zoo and Botanical Gardens. It's a bit out of town (and even farther from where I'm staying) but I want something different from the beach pics we will get on our wedding day!

I think that's the hardest part is trying to weigh having your dream wedding with not having everyone there. Like you I'm having a AHR so I have stopped feeling so guilty. The only one that stings is that my FI Best Man is probably not coming so I'm not sure what our wedding party will look like.

Those fees are really what is going to hurt the DW business for resorts because more and more people are looking off resort. Las Caletas is beautiful, I have been in contact with James at Martoca and he seems really nice and able to work within whatever budget you have. He told me he could do a wedding for 50 for $10,000 - $50,000 just depending on the options! You could also look into restaurants that's what I am doing. We have chosen a restaurant in Bucerias that we love, it is within walking distance of where everyone is staying or a $4.00 cab ride!

I was trying to sell it to people as well, then I figured I'm not spending my time trying to talk anyone into it. Either they want to or don't!!!

My FH and I have been together since we were 17 so 9 years now and the first 4 we talked about getting married in Vegas! Then we went to Mexico and fell in love with it!

We will most likely use Air Transat/Nolitours as that's the only direct flight out of Saskatoon that works with the resort I want.

The town we are getting married in is a place where a few of my family members own property. We will be getting a group rate to the resort in town and those who want to rent a house/condo in town can do so. This idea didn't bother me because our wedding isn't at the resort and even if it was who am I to say you can't stay at a place you own! THEN some of my other relatives started talking about getting rooms at a resort in PV which is about thirty minutes away from the town the rest of the people are staying and the wedding is taking place. This really got me upset because the people talking about it had a DW in their own family a couple of years ago and know that there are perks to the wedding couple/discounts the more people that book together. I told my mom (because I know that she won't repeat it) that if they want to do that they don't need to come to our wedding at all. I know it's totally an over reaction but it honestly hurt my feelings. I totally think a DW should be treated as everyone's individual holiday, but part of it is spending time together and I don't see this happening with them being so far away. Maybe I'm crazy!

@@calgarybride2015 My MIL actually wasn't very excited about us having a DW either. She couldn't afford to go, so we told her that we would absolutely be paying for her to go, then she didn't want to fly, we went through all the stats, etc. but she was still not interested. We had talked about it with her even before we were engaged and she said no. We decided to go ahead with it and we would include her in our legal wedding in Canada. After we got engaged she sounded a little less against a DW. We were engaged on Dec 25, 2013 and she ended up passing away on Jan 30, 2014. Around the time of her funeral we had quite a few different people tell us that she had told them that she would go as long as they went too so she wouldn't be so afraid on the plane. I know they said it to be sweet, but I'm not sure it's been any comfort to my FH or I. I always knew she would end up there some way or another, but it was really emotional to hear people say it.

@@calgarybride2015 I'm from Saskatchewan, very close to the AB border! Our guests will be split flying from Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg. Your travel agent must be amazing! @@nadiakat17 I think our weather is so terrible we have to get away! I am always so jealous of the very southern U.S. brides who can go for 3-4 day holidays. It's pretty much a whole day there and back so a weekend would mean only a day in paradise!

My best friend is kind of in the same situation where her and her boyfriend are not financially in a great place but she has been putting aside money every month so she can come. They are expecting which will be her third child (second with him) and they are still both planning to be there. Because it's so far away we haven't had any definite no or yes from anyone yet, but I expect to see a few people's true colors come out closer to the wedding. You really only go to this type of wedding for people you Really care about. The night I got engaged (about twenty minutes after as all of my family from my mom's side was there) two of my aunties told me they and my uncles probably wouldn't be coming if we had a destination wedding... The funniest part was we were all in Mexico together and had all been in Mexico together another time a few years ago for a DW!

@kmk2016 How did you get your prices and bookings so early? I've been hearing a year out is even a bit early to start looking at flights!

I am so glad that I am not the only one! In our families it's my family who is well travelled, most of his don't have their passports. The most surprising part to me is that his family doesn't seem surprised about the price at all. I just hope once we get official prices/dates then people don't start searching on expedia... I'm sure they will I just don't want to hear about how they could get a cheaper deal elsewhere lol.

I was just looking yesterday at Vallarta Adventures Yelapa or Las Marietas boat trips and they are both around $70.00/person for an adult. I was thinking what we might do is send out to our guests that we will be doing this trip and covering half of the cost per person, making it $35.00/person for a 7-8 hour trip with food and drink included. That way they can choose to do it or not, I have lots of family that have done these tours many times and will not, but I think it's a decent cost for a group activity this way!

Hi all, I have gone back and forth on if my fiancé and I have made the right decision to have a DW. I am feeling a tremendous amount of guilt asking people to spend ~$2000.00 to come to our wedding. I feel guiltier then when I think about my BM's who will be spending an additional amount for dresses etc. This post though is more about how I'm overcoming all of this guilt... The way I have decided to look at it is: 90% of my family does some type of tropical or other vacation at least every two years if not every year or more. Nobody HAS to come except my fiancé and I. We have spent a lot to attend other people's weddings/bridal showers/baby showers etc. and did not feel resentful to those people at all as it was always our choice. We will also be having an AHR so those who can't or just won't come can chose to come to the AHR to celebrate without the financial obligation. For the people who we really want there who cannot afford it we have offered to pay for all or part of their trip. I cannot control the price of flights and hotels in Mexico or anywhere else! Lastly it's our wedding, my dream has been to get married on a beach with the sunset, drink tropical drinks, eat good food, and enjoy time with my family and friends. So if anyone else out there is feeling this guilt (keep in mind nobody has said anything to me that has made me feel guilty this is all on my own!) I hope this helps you.

I booked with her for an engagement shoot in October, but it's not going to be with her it'll be with her assistant I believe.

I'm getting married north of PV and have found a florist that I really like in the town we're going to. But just from wandering around PV in the past there are a lot of florists and grocery stores that you can get beautiful flowers at. OR there are also people selling them in the intersections so you just need to get in a taxi and take a cruise around!!

Hi Ladies, It seems like there is so much less activity on this area of the forum then others. I am wondering if anybody knows of any other sites that have a more active PV and area wedding group? I am part of a Canadian Destination Wedding group on FB which is great but again few PV area brides! Just because I am wanting to hear more of what other people are doing for their weddings here's my plans so far and please post yours!! Different members of my family have been traveling to Bucerias for 30+ years. My fiancé and I's first big trip together was to Buc. in 2009 when we'd been dating for about 4 years. On Christmas Day 2013 about 30 of my family members had traveled down to Buc. together and my fiancé proposed. We had originally been talking about getting married in Punta Cana, but our love for Buc. won out. Actual Wedding planning: We have a lot of family that own condos in the area so we assume they will stay there, we may have other family members who rent condos or houses. We also have a lot of people who are wanting to do all inclusive. We thought at first that us and our bridal party may rent a house and stay together, but that doesn't seem like it is going to work. SO plan B is to find a travel agent to set up packages for people who want to stay at the Royal Decameron Complex in Buc. We will stay there for the week of our wedding with most of our guests, then rent a place for a second week just the two of us. We have looked into getting married at a private house, wedding venues, the resort, and restaurants. Right now the most appealing option to us is to be married at Karen's Place in Buc. We both love it and have been quite a few times. She does Wedding packages similar to the resorts and so the cost will be about the same. We are going to be having a welcome party for our guests either at my parent's condo building or a restaurant owned by a family friend. One thing we are unsure about is other group activities. At this point I think our plan will be to put out there what our schedule for the week looks like, whoever wants to join whatever activities can or they can just show up to the wedding! We are not getting married until Feb 2016, but will probably only visit Buc once between now and then (going for a week in October 2014) Any advice would be much appreciated!!

They would be flying from Saskatoon for the most part as that is where most of them live. My FI and I could fly from Edmonton or Saskatoon.

The last destination wedding I went to they had an hour long cocktail hour after dinner with just drinks. It was nice and they were able to mingle a bit and give people any information they needed.

That would be great, I haven't had any luck finding someone yet. I am actually in the Lloydminster area so half way between Edmonton and Saskatoon!

My wedding is not going to be until 2016 so I don't know how it's possible that I'm feeling this much stress about it. I have wanted to get married in the Dominican Republic for years (my fiancé and I have been together for 9 years and wanted a destination wedding for 8 lol engaged since December). Now I started doing some research a few months ago and picked out my DREAM resort. Royalton Punta Cana is the place I would like to say I do, or at least sleep when I go there to say I do. The price for people to fly out of Saskatoon, SK ( where 90% of my guests would go from) is about $2600.00 per person for 7 days with flights for the same time period I want my wedding but in 2015. This is almost a thousand dollars more than I want to ask people to spend. So then I think ok well I could compromise and change resorts, or even the month when we are going. Nope everywhere I have the slightest interest in is about the same +/- $200 and that is the same for within two months of the dates I'm looking at. Now the real kicker is people have been asking since we got engaged so not only have I been saying PC Feb 2016, I sent out save the dates to stop people from asking and give them a heads up so they could save. I just am at a loss and do not know what to do at this point.

We have been dating for nine years as of February 2014 and he proposed in December 2013. SO it was almost 9 years, when we get married we will have been together 11 years!

Thank you, that does sound perfect Saturday-Saturday!

Thank you so much for your replys! We would be flying out of Canada's, Saskatchewan mostly. I am way too excited I could have it planned for tomorrow!

I am just looking for an idea of when people started to contact a travel agent for their destination wedding. We are looking to get married in February 2016, so I am probably way early but I'd like to know what others have done. Thanks!