225 replies to this topic

[kosrae89]

@kosrae89 thanks for sharing all about your wedding day! I am getting married at now in November and am considering doing welcome bags. What did you include in yours? Or if anyone else has welcome bag ideas/pics please let me know...

Congratulations! I am happy to help if I can! Our welcome bags consisted of a beach bag with some paperwork with the timeline for the week and the wedding, timeline for the bridal party on the day of, a welcome letter, a sheet with info for our photo share site, a door hanger for the day of the wedding, and a DR cookbook my sister and I put together with some local recipes we found online. It also included a few other small items like a beach ball, sunscreen, aloe, chapstick, playing cards, and little Tylenol packets. I think that was everything. We hand delivered each bag to everyone when we met them in the lobby upon their arrival and they loved them. Everyone used the beach bags the whole time we were there to carry stuff, which was nice. We also made a special bag for the 2 kids at the wedding, which included a coloring book with crayons, playdoh, water squishy balls, sand toys (small rake and shovel set), beach ball, bubbles, and mini puzzles, etc. The kids really enjoyed them. We decided to pack everything separately and assembled the bags when we got to the resort. Hope this is helpful!

[astawarz]

hello brides and brides to be

 

I am trying to think of some cool ideas for after the ceremony as to what to throw after the bride and groom say i do

any ideas? dont want to have anything messy

 

thanks!

[Danamarielouise]

@sjw015 - we made small welcome bags that we're going to pass out at the airport (I think out of 48, only 6 aren't on the same flight!)...  A thank you card, a week itinerary, a hangover helper baggie (advil, moist wipes, mints, bandaids, elastic band...), and a lei (dollar store, but thought it might be fun since so many haven't been down south before, AND thought I'd ask them to wear them the first night at our meet and greet just so everyone knows who is in the party?)...

 

@astawarz we're doing mini beach balls!  Google it, the pictures look super cute...  Had gotten multi color bc they were cheaper, but am kicking myself that I didn't get our wedding colors...  BUT, not enough that I'll order again haha

[TinaBanita19]

Hi Ladies,

 

I just read the entire forum and thank you all for all of your advice and feedback about your weddings.

 

I am too a bride at NOW - wedding date May 5th, 2015. We are having our ceremony at the fountain and our reception at Castaways.

 

I have been back and forth on the idea of getting the bridal suite. Does anyone have pictures of the bridal suite? Is it much nicer than the rooms to get ready in for picture purposes?

 

As the time gets closer, we are getting very exicted but all the planning is also making us very nervous.

 

I was wondering what everyone has done with Photohgraphy? I have looked at some pictures from the resort photographer, and all though they were not bad, they are also not exactly the kind of pictures my Finance and I are looking for. We also want to include a trash the dress session and was wondering if anyone else has done this? Is there anyone who hired someone off the resort for photography? and if so, who? Or if there is anyone who is flying in a photographer during the week of my wedding who did you pick?

 

For the DJ, has anyone used the resort DJ? Is there an MC you can hire from the resort as well?

 

Any tips and suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[RebeLight]

@TinaBanita19 I'm not far behind you...we're getting married on 5/16! We hired HDC Photography. I read lots of posts on here and other reviews & I love their style. They are very reasonably priced too! They also offer trash the dress sessions.

We are using the resort DJ and you can add on MC services for $150. I have read on here that the resort DJ was great.

Good luck with your planning! We would love to hear your review after your wedding!

[TinaBanita19]

@TinaBanita19 I'm not far behind you...we're getting married on 5/16! We hired HDC Photography. I read lots of posts on here and other reviews & I love their style. They are very reasonably priced too! They also offer trash the dress sessions.

We are using the resort DJ and you can add on MC services for $150. I have read on here that the resort DJ was great.

Good luck with your planning! We would love to hear your review after your wedding!

 

@RebeLight Your wedding is right behind mine! When do you fly in? I actually have HDC Photography on my FB and have seen many of their beautiful pictures pop up on my news feed. Shortly after I posted on here, I sent them a request for a quote and was surprised that they responded within the hour - already impressed. I am definatley going to look into what they offer as I am trying to stay away from the expense of flying a photographer in from Toronto.

 

I wonder if the resort would charge that crazy $500 fee if we want to do the trash the dress session on a different day than our wedding day - it's a little crazy!

 

Thank you for the information about the MC, I think we are going to hire the resort DJ as well.

 

Good luck planning as well!

[RebeLight]

@TinaBanita19 We fly in on Wednesday, 5/13. When do you guys leave?

I would think you would only have to pay the outside vendor fee once but you could ask HDC and see if they know!

[rmg428]

@kosrae89  Thank you so much for sharing your wedding photos.  I have Claudia booked as well for our July 24th wedding at Now.  I don't have her booked for the 1st hour of our reception, and I was wondering if you would recommend that I add that?  Was it worth the extra $500?  Also, how long did it take for pictures between the end of the ceremony and the reception.  I too booked the minister for my symbolic wedding which is at 5:30... the cocktail hour immediately follows at 6:00 and reception at the pool at 7pm.  Not sure if I should push the wedding back to 5:00.  Did you feel rushed?  Also, do you know what the difference is between the quiet pool and the relaxing pool?  I can't tell which is which.  I would love to have your full review emailed to me when you complete it.  Thank you again!

 

Rita

ritagardner@earthlink.net

[rmg428]

My wedding date is July 31, 2015. Anyone else during this time? Any past brides have recommendations on decorations - go with resort or bring your own?  

My wedding is July 24th.  I'll be there from July 21st through July 31st!

[abrinton8811]

My wedding is July 18th so we will be there from the 14th-21st! I'm starting to feel stressed with decorations and everything!