Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'BDW Newbies'.
The search index is currently processing. Current results may not be complete.
-
I'm looking to get a PDF or something with the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall wedding package. Looking at a few places trying to get each wedding package to narrow it down. If anyone has anything that would be helpful
- 13 replies
-
- BDW Newbies
- Jamaica
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hello I was wondering if anyone knew where the location of this church is? And what the church is called? I was told it is in the Dominican Republic - Punta Cana; apparently. Is anyone able to confirm? TIA!
- 1 reply
-
- BDW Newbies
- Dominican Republic
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
I realize Cuba is not open to the states residents, I'm Canadian and looking to get married at the Casa del Marin Cayo Santa Maria. It doesn't open until winter .. I'm so nervous about booking a wedding at a hotel before its even open. Is anyone else thinking of getting married here? Could use some support!
- 1 reply
-
- 2016 Brides
- Resorts & Hotels
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hello everyone! I just wanted to introduce myself! I am Meg, I run a beauty blog on the side, AND I am currently planning our Destination Wedding in Punta Cana at the JellyFish! I am so excited to be joining and starting to plan our wedding! Any tips for a newbie to this board/planning a wedding in Punta Cana??
- 5 replies
-
- 1
-
- 2017 Brides
- BDW Newbies
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hi Ladies! I believe DW doesn't need much decor, but still some details could be cute. I decided to do some DIY stuff and obviously went to Michaels. From your experience does Michels have good prices? Can you compare it to Dollar store or any other stores? What have you DIY? P.S. Since my main color most likely will be coral, I didn't see many things in that color (( Any advice? Thank you!
- 6 replies
-
- BDW Newbies
- Budgeting
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hi dear BDW ladies! I'm very new to the forum and i found that you are all very helpful! Can someone please explain to me why does the number of guests matter in an all inclusive package? The food and drinks are included anyway right? so why does the price for the wedding change if you have 30 or 60 guests? What's the difference? Thank you!
-
Like so many other brides before me, it would seem, I wasn’t going to do a planning thread. But I have seen how helpful they can be to others, as well as it’s a great way to solicit ideas for your own planning. Not to mention, I think it will help me stay on track. So here goes… How We Met We met at a destination wedding at Dreams Tulum in Nov 2010. I was there for my co-worker and he came as his buddy’s “plus one”. Jeff knew the wedding couple and a lot of the guests, but he wasn’t close enough to be invited. In a sense we were both outsiders, since I was a friend from work, and while I knew many of the bride’s friends, I was not close to any of them. It turned out that it didn’t matter - we made fast friends and had so much fun over the course of that week. He followed me around like a puppy dog the entire week! (I hope he never reads this - he will kill me ) Because I had not been to an all-inclusive before and I generally like more active vacations, plus the fact that I wasn’t super tight with the group, I had booked a couple of excursions on my own. Jeff’s friend “volunteered” him to come with me on one. Thank goodness he did. I was so hungover. I wouldn’t have made it back down the Coba pyramid without him! But I wasn’t interested. I really liked him. We got along so well and he made me laugh. But I wasn’t into him. I was recently out of a relationship that ended badly, so I’m sure that was part of it. Strangely, he’s quite shy by nature, but he was NOT shy with me. He made his intentions clear from the start, but I wasn’t going there. Anyhow, fast forward a year. I finally emailed him to send him photos from the Coba excursion (he conveniently forgot his camera). I suggested drinks, thinking that since a year had past, maybe we could now be friends. And here we are almost 3.5 years later. The Proposal We had been talking about getting married. We had been talking about rings. I inherited a ring from my grandma that is really ugly (and not an antique or anything I want to keep for sentimental reasons), but has some diamonds and gold that I suggested he use to have a ring custom made. That was a little too intimidating for him, I guess. He told me to go ring shopping with a girlfriend, which I did, but didn’t tell him about. One night, after many drinks, and him complaining about not knowing what to do about a custom ring, I tossed a business card at him with 3 model numbers printed on it. That was summer 2014. We had a big trip planned to Spain and France in Sept 2014. I thought he might propose. But as the days passed in Barcelona, nothing. I was trying not to expect it, because I didn’t want to be disappointed. Then towards the end of our trip, the two of us alone in a ruined castle tower in the South of France, he whipped out the ring and proposed. I forgot to say “yes”. I said “thank you” instead, because I had this pretty “gift” he was giving me. He had to clarify. LOL. He had the ring in his wallet the whole time - walking around Barcelona, pickpocket central. I still can’t believe it. The Destination We considered a local wedding (or somewhat local). I wanted something very casual - maybe a BBQ in a park? But public parks don’t allow booze! So now what? We thought about going to the Okanagan, which is like Canada’s Napa Valley for those who aren’t familiar with it. We’ve done an annual trip there 3 years running, and I grew up in the area, but no longer have any friends or family there. But it just wasn’t quite right. We’d also been to the Riviera Maya twice since we originally met. It is our go-to place for a relaxing, easy getaway. Plus we met there, so it just seemed right. We’ve now been there a total of 4 times together, having just returned from another trip last week. And we both had so much fun at the wedding at Dreams Tulum. I hope ours is just as good! Resorts I started doing research on resorts in late November, I think. I also contacted a destination wedding travel agent in probably December, who further helped with the research. We considered Grand Princess (we’d previously been there on vacation), Grand Palladium, Ocean Coral & Turquesa, all 3 Azul properties (Beach, Sensatori & Fives), plus Now Jade and Now Sapphire. It was really tough finding the right combination of resort and wedding package, while trying to consider our guests and their needs as well. I have a huge spreadsheet with all the details in it for comparing resorts. Although it’s still early in the planning stages for me, I think choosing the resort was the toughest part of the whole process. For various reasons we narrowed it down to Now Jade, Now Sapphire and Ocean Coral & Turquesa. In mid-January, we put down a deposit with the TA and she got quotes from those three for travel packages (air + hotel + transfers). OCT was a bit cheaper, but it’s not as highly rated either in stars or reviews as the Now properties. If it had been a lot cheaper, I would have considered it. It was tough to choose between the 2 Now properties, but Sapphire was a little bit cheaper, seemed to have a more “Mexican feel” to it, which I wanted, and I also have a colleague who was married there 2 years ago who had a great experience. We booked Now Sapphire at the end of Feb. Guests We invited 62 adults plus some kids. Of course, we knew some would not come. I was thinking we might end up around 40 - 50. At this point, I think it may be closer to 30 - 40, which I actually prefer. We currently have 33 people who have said they are coming (plus a few kids), as well as 12 who have said they are not. I don’t know about the other 17, but suspect not many will come. Of the 33, 11 have put down a deposit. Our booking deposit deadline is May 15. Save the Date We sent a simple email with links to our wedding web site (http://erinandjeff.weddingwoo.com/) and attachments including travel details. We have an RSVP form on our web site, which I built in Google Forms. I’m not planning to send paper STDs, but I think I will send paper invitations. Obviously we have almost a year until our wedding, so plenty of time to plan and work on all those little touches. But I’m a planner and our wedding is my new obsession, so stay tuned for more updates soon, I’m sure!
- 327 replies
-
- 3
-
- 2016 Brides
- Cancun Riviera Maya
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Alright ladies, I've been scouring this web site for weeks now and i have finally chosen my top 3 resorts. Thanks for all of your help! But now, I'm trying to find a good TA that will help me get good deals for my guests. The only issue is that my guests will be coming in from both the US and Canada, roughly 20 from Toronto Canada area, and roughly 30 from the Houston USA area. I have contacted a Canadian TA who has told me she can deal with both BUT she has to use two different travel tours. I understand. Just worrying that she may not be able to get the best of deals for both sides. My question is, do you guys suggest I use two DIFFERENT agents? One that will deal with the Canadian side and then one that will deal with the US side? I want my guests to get the best deals. But I also would like it if I could just have one TA. That way everything is more organized, and the more people I bring through one TA, the best deals i can get with the hotel right? Has anyone dealt with this before/currently? Can someone recommend their TA that has dealt with this? My brain is mush right now, sorry if this doesn't make sense lol HAAAALP!
- 4 replies
-
- 2016 Brides
- Travel Agents
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hello We are newly engaged and looking for a good destination for a larger wedding (80 to 100). Most places are only allowing 20 people and then a charge of 20$ a person extra…then saying they only allow 60 max. We are interested in Punta Cana and Jamaica areas but haven't had any luck! Could someone please help us out? Thank you and have a great day!
- 8 replies
-
- 2016 Brides
- Caribbean
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hi I recently got engaged and I was wondering if any one else on the forum is following Kayla Itsiness' BBG program! I started early January so I'm on week 11 now. But now that I'm engaged I feel like I need to keep it up until the wedding so that I can be on the best shape of my life for that day! The only downside is that we all have busy lives so doing the program was taking a big chunk of my free time and now I get to add to all of that planning a wedding! Overwhelmed doesn't even start to describe it! So, I figured, I couldn't be the only one in this situation and thought I could reach out to my fellow bbgbrides so that we can support one another. As I mentioned before, I'm on week 11 and as I'm almost done with the program I don't know what to do next to keep it up? BBG 2.0? or a second round of BBG 1.0? Has anyone finished the program already? What are you doing to stay in shape? Hope to hear from you soon!
-
Hi everyone This is my first post after lurking for a couple of weeks. My fiance and I got engaged two weeks ago and I'm starting the process of planning our wedding. I think we both share the same vision for our day: Closest friends and family, beach wedding, relaxed feeling. We are hoping to get married April - May 2016 in Cancun / Riviera Maya. Our guest list is at 65 people now. I'm thinking we could have as many as 50 - 60 guests join us. Our guests will be traveling from all over the world (Europe, South America, Canada, U.S) so we needed a place that would be easy to reach and would offer lots of options for our guests. So I've been doing some research online and I can say I'm extremely overwhelmed by the number of options and different elements that play into the decision. Like I'm getting headaches from it LOL! So I thought I would ask you to help me make this decision. The following are some of our priorities: Gorgeous beach: We want to get married on the beach and I want stunning pictures, also a lot of our guests will be visiting for the first time and don't want to take them to a meh beach Food: My fiance and I are both foodies so good quality food and options are important to us Family vs adults only: Honestly, I would prefer an adults only resort. Our guests are mostly young and single (no children) and our parents and rest of our family all have grown up children. Not a deal breaker though Location: As I mentioned before, we have several single, young guests so I feel like we should be close to the action so that they can go party if they want to. Or if the resort has a club that would work as well! Bang for our buck: Because obviously.... So far I found that the Palace resorts offer great perks while Dreams try to nickel and dime you on everything. Any other suggestions? I would also like to do a site visit but feel like I should narrow it down to 3 options before making arrangements for it. Thanks in advance!!!
- 16 replies
-
- 1
-
- BDW Newbies
- Cancun Riviera Maya
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hi all!! I'm new here and am needing all the help and advice I can get. I feel like this was supposed to be easier than a traditional wedding but now I'm not so sure. When we decided to go ahead and plan a beach wedding I had all these fabulous ideas and because of costs I feel like everything I wanted isn't going to be possible. I understand compromise but yeesh I feel every detail I'm having to compromise on My dream wedding is on a picturesque beach just before sundown, a lovely spa like resort, with lush grounds and gardens with a fun staff and atmosphere. We are traveling with all ages so a family friendly resort is a must. My daughters love swimming in the ocean so a nice calm beach is a MUST as they prefer that over a pool and so do I. The resorts I've fallen in love with are way above our price limit, we want guests to come hahaha. If anyone reading this can guide me in any way I'd really appreciate it as I'm more confused now than ever
- 9 replies
-
- Budgeting
- Beach Weddings
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
We arrived on Sunday and stayed three nights at Royalton Punta Cana in a lovely Luxury Ocean View room. The room was very nice with one king bed, pull out sofa, table and chairs in the room and chairs and small table on the balcony. The bathrooms are not overly large but definitely adequate with a single sink and separate toilet & walk in shower area. We were very impressed with the service. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. Since we always have to work when we travel the unlimited wifi and free calling to the USA was a huge benefit. We did find that the wifi worked best outside on the balcony or in the open areas of the resort. The food was great, we had dinner in the steakhouse, Asian and Italian restaurants and they were all great. We typically had breakfast in the buffet and it was good, nice presentation and good variety. We didn't get a chance to dine at Opa or the Tapas restaurant. You only need a reservation for the Asian restaurant but they have 5 Teppanyaki tables that sat 12 - 13 at each and a sushi bar that you can access anytime without reservations. One of my favorite areas was the coffee house where you can get a variety of coffees, pastries, sandwiches and ice cream. There is an inside and outside patio area and it was very relaxing to have my coffee, relax and work from this area. At night there is a Martini bar adjacent to the coffee house and many times they had live music going in this area at night. They had staff continually cleaning off tables as people came and went. Grazie the Italian restaurant is open for lunch buffet and they also are open 11PM - 6AM with a snack buffet. We have a copy of all of the bars & restaurants and their hours that we will send once we get home and can scan it to send. The pool and beach areas were very nice. They had different activities going on each day, one day they had a mechanical bull, a blow up obstacle course in the pool, zumba int eh afternoon and everyone seemed to be having a great time. The beach was nice, had some seaweed but that happens on all the beaches and they did a good job of raking it up in the morning. Personally I am not a big beach person so we spent time at the pool when we could squeeze and hour or so of free time. The overall grounds were very nice. It's not a large resort, activities, restaurants and pools are mainly located off the main courtyard area. You could get anywhere easily and quickly and meeting ups with people will be easy. The main lobby and bar is a great meet up area and since it's on the upper level and open air you get a nice breeze through there. We checked out the theater, disco, sports lounge & casino. The sports lounge has an area that becomes the disco at night and since were there on Super Bowl Sunday they had a big Super Bowl party going on in the sports lounge and the main theater with a huge big screen. There was a burger stand and area with sandwiches and desserts in the foyer outside of the theater and inside they had a popcorn machine, cotton candy machine and a full bar going. They have this type of set up for any major sports event. We peeked in the theater during one of the shows and it was crowded and looked like everyone was enjoying the show. The casino is fairly large (for a resort casino) but wasn't very busy when we looked in. It's open until 2AM so possible it gets busier later after the shows. The main lobby is on the second level and open air. It's large and has a large bar with several sofas and chairs throughout. It's a great area to gather with a group. The lower section below the main lobby is where the spa, gym, shops and pick up/drop off for the resort tram and excursion buses are located. We toured Memories and information is below. The tram between Memories and Royalton runs 24/7 about every 10 minutes or so. You could also walk but I wouldn't suggest that in the heat. Guests who stay at Memories only have access to the beach, pools and the beach bar/snack shack. However, guests at memories can buy an access pass to Royalton which also includes access to the restaurants & bars for $15 per person/per day. Guests who purchase this day pass receive a second resort bracelet. Memories and Royalton share one "Kds Club" & "Teen Club" and they are both located at Memories. All staff members are trained in child safety and CPR. The Kids Club was very nice with indoor activity areas and an outdoor playground area. They have a schedule of activities but they do not "force" any child to participate. Age requirements for the Kid Club are 4 - 12 yrs. Children under 4 yrs can participate in the Kids Club if you hire a one to one nanny for them. One to one nanny service is available for $15 per hour/per child and must be arranged 24 hours in advance. The waterpark is awesome but all children under 12 MUST be accompanied by an adult. The Kids Club does not take children swimming at the beach, pools or waterpark for safety reasons. --
- 2 comments
-
- 2016 Brides
- BDW Newbies
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hi Brides & Brides-to-be, I was engaged October 29th, 2014 and have just begun my search for the perfect location for my destination wedding. Okay, I lied...I started looking in November but have gotten so overwhelmed I keep finding myself giving up. My search lasts anywhere from 1-4 days and then I get fed up because in that time I realize once again, I have accomplished nothing. I am hoping I can provide a list of wants and dislikes...and maybe some generous bride or bride-to-be can point me in the right direction?! I realize I am asking a lot but I would really appreciate any advice. Here we go... - My fiancés entire family lives in the Vancouver, BC area. More than half of our guests will be flying from Vancouver, the other half from Toronto, ON. - SOme very important guests are Teachers, therefore we may be looking at March break in order for them to be able to attend. - I would like a semi-private or private wedding - I don't want a "cookie-cutter" destination wedding. - We will have at minimum 2 children at our wedding. - We are looking at all inclusives only. - I would love to be married at a resort that doesn’t push 5 weddings through in one day. - Food is very important to us since half of us are Italian. With that being said, Cuba is out. - Our rough guest list is 175 people. Of course we know many won’t be able to make it but do expect, at minimum, 50 – 60 guests. - We are a budget conscious; for both us and our guests. Ideally my guests will pay no more than $1700. - A resort that is not too far from the airport. I have contacted several TA's - some via email, some in person - and I stil find I am not getting anywhere. This is likely due to my inability to commit to liking anything! All the pictures look beautiful...how do I differentiate between real and photoshopped? Sincerely, A Bride-to-be in Distress
-
The holidays have come and go, but for many couples, the holiday season brought more than just: extra calories (yes, I admit, I ate my way through the holidays. I have no willpower when it comes to anything sprinkled with cinnamon, nutmeg or sugar for that matter LOL ) red and green EVERYTHING (I even bought red/green toothpicks, I know right?) and shopping galore (gahhhh maybe my dog really didn't need all those winter sweaters ). Tis the season for engagements! Were you one of the many across the globe who found themselves welcoming in 2015 with a shiny new ring on your finger? Did your sweetheart make your holiday season sparkle even brighter this year with an epic proposal? Would love to hear your proposal story and, of course, don't forget to share a photo of your bling!!
-
I'm selling my Tara Keely 2200 dress. Here are some specs... - Pre-Loved/Used - I'm the original purchasher. Bought in Nov 2012, delivered Apr 2013 - Ivory - Street size 4-6 - Measurements: 35-27-37 - 5'8" with heels - Sash included (see designer photos) - Professionally cleaned - Buyer to pay shipping fees - PAYPAL accepted *** Selling for $1100!!! *** Previously $1250.00 (retail $1895 +tax) PM me for additional info + photos Happy planning http://www.jlmcouture.com/Tara-Keely/Bridal/Additional/Style-2200
-
Hello, my name is Lori, and I am getting married in late May, 2017 on Peaks Island, Maine. This is to be a 3-4 day destination wedding (4 days for the bridal party), and I have just started planning the logistics. It will be somewhat coastal-themed, with lanterns, etc. I would love to meet someone who is having another coastal wedding, especially one that is not in a tropical location. Plus, I'm going crazy just looking at pictures of wedding dresses. Happy to be here!
- 5 replies
-
- 2017 Brides
- BDW Newbies
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
So my fiancè & I have narrowed it down to a handful of Adults Only resorts in Punta Cana to tie the knot! Our top choice at this point is Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort, but I am having a hard time finding recent wedding reviews from the resort! Have any other brides booked or thinking about booking this resort for their wedding? How many guests are you planning to attend? Reviews are so mixed for ALL of the resorts we have looked at! I am trying to take it with a grain of salt, but it is so difficult since our financial situation does not allow us to take a trip prior to! Thanks for any and all advice, tips, reviews and stories in advance! Happy planning brides & congrats to you all!
- 3 replies
-
- 2015 Brides
- BDW Newbies
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hi brides! I've read up on quite a few posts about whether or not to invite coworkers to your wedding, but I have a slight variation on that question. I've been at my job full time for six months, but have been a summer intern for this company for five years, so I've been "around" for a while. It's a very small company--when I started, there were only five other people working here, and we just hired two more people, so we're up to seven, plus me is eight. I sent my boss and his wife (who also works with us) a save the date, but didn't bother to send them to anyone else, since it still felt sort of strange since I didn't know them very well. Now that I've been working here a few months, I'm starting to feel a little closer with my other co-workers, especially a select few...so my question is, should I send my other co-workers a save the date now? Does it seem rude or like an afterthought to send them one after my initial round of Save the Dates? I'm not sure if they would know that I had already sent most of them out. I should also note, it would be more as a gesture to invite them to our At Home Reception--I highly highly doubt anyone will come to the DW. Then that opens up the question of whether or not I have to invite everyone in the whole office, or just the people I interact with on a daily basis...but I'll start with the the first question. Any thoughts?
- 3 replies
-
- BDW Newbies
- Etiquette
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hello All!! I'm super excited to announce that I finally selected my destination!! Finest Resort in Playa Mujeres is my resort of choice. I'm super nervous since it will be opening in Feb 2015 and I'll hopefully be getting married there in July 2015. The great thing about this resort is that it's apart of the Excellence Group which I've heard nothing but great things. Now for all the fun and overwhelming things that come next! I don't even know where to get started. Does anybody have any insight they can share as far as photographers, cinematographers, etc?! XO, Sandy http://www.finestresorts.com/
- 11 replies
-
- 2015 Brides
- BDW Newbies
-
(and 1 more)
Tagged with:
-
Hi all! Planning a wedding, rather local or destination seems to be a pain in the butt! I have decided on a destination wedding in Mexico or Jamaica in October. I know its not the best time due to rainy season but I'm just going to pray for sunshine. I have a list of over 10 locations and I have been obsessing over the reviews and pictures and trying to make sure pricing will be right for all of my guests. Phew! Too much pressure. I am really leaning towards a new property called the Royalton Riviera Cancun. Fingers crossed, all will go well. Thanks for letting me vent.
-
Hello everyone, We are looking to get married at the Hard Rock Punta Cana in July 2015.. We have Never been to this resort or Punta Cana. We are having a small wedding (about 12 adults, 4 children total) The questions I have: Are these wedding packages such as the "insignia" package customizable? Like not using the blue they have and substitute it for another color? Is it expensive to change this if at all possible? Do they have there own photographer? What are the packages they have and how much? This is all very new to all involved.. How long is the ceremony? Options for what to do after with such a small group. I appreciate any and ALL advice, input etc. Scott from Boston
- 2 replies
-
- hard rock
- BDW Newbies
-
(and 5 more)
Tagged with:
-
Todays my first day planning my dream wedding.Im so nervous and not sure where to start.I really want to have my renewal of vows in Paris, France.It will only be my husband and I traveling from San Diego, California to the ceremony. Our estimate date is Dec 2,2015.Anyone else planning a European wedding?
-
Hello BDW Forum Folks! I've been taking advice and reading reviews in stealth on here for months, as I prepare for my October 2014 wedding at the Hilton Los Cabos, and I felt it was time to give back to the community, and also become more active in asking questions. I also want to be able to share my own experiences now and afterwards to pay it forward with all future brides who are struggling with the same questions I struggled with. Beyond introducing myself, I'm also wondering what the most unexpected stressor or cause of frustration was for any destination brides out there. One thing I've been concerned about is keeping in communication with everyone when we're all down there. (I was thinking WhatsApp, but the resort charges a daily fee that I'm not sure everyone will be willing to pay, and thus will prevent us from being able to communicate with everyone effectively). Maybe this will end up to be a problem, or maybe it will be a major issue. Either way, would love to hear other experiences with this.
-
Just got engaged and our wedding will not be set until 2016. Looking for a catholic wedding ceremony in cancun, so far I have my eyes on the Gran Real Caribe. Anyone here had their wedding or booked their wedding there as well? I am new to this destination wedding and the first of my family to be doing this. I know I still have a lot of time but I know how time flies and I just want this planning to be as organized as possible. Any of you guys who had or will have destination wedding at the same resort or some place else can give me a head start on this, that would be great! =) (STD, photographers, florist, makeup,wedding packages, bookings etc.) thanks!
- 7 replies
-
- 1
-
- BDW Newbies
- 2016 Brides
-
(and 2 more)
Tagged with: