Courtney & Matthew's Iberostar Rose Hall Suites May 4, 2013 Planning Thread

[ChelseaCat802]

Vista print is on living social! http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/582-northern-vermont/deals/648380-personalized-save-the-dates-invitations

 

It's $19 for $75 gift certificate. It says to be used on "wedding stationary" not sure how accurate that is or not - I'm going to give it a try because I think it will work on anything. Just wanted to share

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by CourtandMatt 

 

 Our new wedding website which has a link to our only registry (honeyfund.com):  http://walters-doolin.ourwedding.com/

 

Hi Court!

We have interacted on a few threads so when I saw your planning thread featured on the scroll banner I had to take a peak! You and your fiance are super adorable! I used the same knot website template for our wedding. We were considering doing the honeyfund as well- so its nice to see your website and the wording gently letting guests know you dont need the traditional wedding gifts. An acquaintance told me about honeyfund and said her brother and his wife used it and their wedding was completely funded- flights and all. That's pretty flipping awesome lol. 

 

I enjoyed reading through your thread and some of your tips are definitely useful. Congrats on your very soon and upcoming wedding. You must be super excited!

 

Evelyn

[CourtandMatt]

Originally Posted by EVKnowsitall 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much, Evelyn, for your nice words!  And, yes, we have interacted!  In fact, your dress is still one of my all time favorites!  

 

I love Honeyfund and people are really starting to catch on (a few of our friends have even started their own Honeyfund).  I highly recommend it!  

 

Happy planning!  Our weddings are so soon!  

[Woods26]

Hey Courtney! You're getting married the week before me - have you  heard anything from the WCs? I'm 23 days out and haven't heard a peep...not that I'm counting down (or starting to freak out a tad)....haha just want to know if other brides are in the same place!

[CourtandMatt]

Originally Posted by Woods26 

 

Hey Courtney! You're getting married the week before me - have you  heard anything from the WCs? I'm 23 days out and haven't heard a peep...not that I'm counting down (or starting to freak out a tad)....haha just want to know if other brides are in the same place!

 

 

Hi!  Firstly, that's awesome that you are in my area (almost)!  I love Annapolis!  Secondly, I have yet to receive my estimate or a confirmation of my welcome dinners.  It is so frustrating!   There are girls getting married after me who have already received their estimates.   Hopefully I will hear soon.  You have at least gotten your final details sheet, right?  If not, make sure to contact them ASAP.  

[Woods26]

Nope! Haven't gotten that yet. But thankfully another bride sent me the form so I can at least collect up all of the details and have it ready whenever the WCs decide to reach out to me. I just keep reminding myself, they're the professionals, they do this every day, everything WILL workout...deep breaths haha

 

I have heard/read that you won't get your welcome dinner confirmation until a week before. Not helpful for the purposes of printing, but perhaps at least comforting to know they not just ignoring you? :-/

 

And yes, too funny that we're practically neighbors and getting married withing a week of each other! If you're still there on the 8th (when I arrive), maybe we can grab a drink and say hello

[MsFaszion]

Your ring is 2die4 beautiful!!!

 

 

Originally Posted by CourtandMatt 

 

Matthew & I got engaged on August 25, 2011 in Tahiti.  He proposed during our EngagementMoon to Tahiti and New Zealand. 

 

 

He proposed with a "stand-in" ring until I picked out and received my dream yellow diamond ring.  The ring arrived on December 29, 2011.  

 

 

Engagement Party:  My girlfriends threw Matthew and I an engagement party at the White House bowling alley on November 12, 2011.  

 

Wedding Planning:  In late 2011, we finally decided that we wanted to get married abroad.  After much thought on the location, it finally came down to Jamaica or the Dominican Republic.  In order to have the "best of both worlds," I booked Matthew's birthday in the DR (for April 2012) and we booked a wedding in Jamaica (for May 2013).  

 

The resort: After reading through a lot of threads, putting in a deposit and shortly thereafter getting back a deposit for Grand Palladium, and finally discussing with our family friend who is now our travel coordinator, we decided on Iberostar Rose Hall Suites.  I have heard only great things about the resort.  Here are some reasons we chose this resort: great reviews, one wedding a day, good communication with the resort, reasonably priced weddings, lazy river, my colleague who just stayed there said the food was great, and our TA highly recommends this resort.  

 

The date:  Saturday, May 4, 2013

 

Wedding photographer:  I contacted a few photographers who do weddings in Jamaica and finally decided on Sandy May.  She has great prices, I love the photos and reviews, she communicates well, and she seems to dedicate time to the couple and their photos (she only takes 3-4 weddings a month).  I also love the fact that she is a Minnesotan (which I am).  She lives in Jamaica during winter time.  She confirmed for our original date - April 6, 2013 - we are waiting to hear back if she will do our May wedding instead...

 

Wedding officiant:  We are Jewish so I really wanted a Jewish ceremony.  Thank goodness for Stephen Henriques.  He is a leader of the Jewish community in Jamaica and does weddings.  He is even mentioned in the book "A Travel Guide to the Jewish Caribbean and Latin America."  He said he would do our wedding.

 

Save The Dates:  We ordered our Save the Dates through SaveTheDateMagnet.com (New and Blue Enterprises, Inc.).  I will post pictures when I have the actual Save the Dates in a couple weeks.  

 

Travel Coordinator:  Our friend Ellen Paderson from Smiles and Miles Travel, Inc. is coordinating everyone's travel.  She is great to work with.  I highly recommend her.  

 

I will post more when I have more information.  In the meantime, you can stay up to date on my planning by checking out http://CourtneyMara.com/Wedding!  

 

Happy planning!

 

Courtney

 

[MsFaszion]

Great thread and I'm in MD ... I need to once and for all decide on a destination...lol

[CourtandMatt]

Originally Posted by MsFaszion 

 

Your ring is 2die4 beautiful!!!

 

 

 

Originally Posted by MsFaszion 

 

Great thread and I'm in MD ... I need to once and for all decide on a destination...lol

 

 

Thank you!   And, yay to a destination wedding!

[jsamaras1]

Same question! Did you have a template for the brochures???