Meandhim - Grand Palladium Bavaro - Nov 2015

[calgarybride2015]

Ohhhh my experience was good but not always! Growing up AC was the only one who flew to our small northern town. Only within the last year or two WJ came in. That said I've had issues with all airlines whether it be delays, lost baggage, over bookings, etc. Thankfully the wedding went fairly smooth.

 

Costa Rica sounds wonderful. Everyone I know who has been lists it as their favorite.

 

 

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[Meandhim]

@@kcole123

@@acw271011

@@calgarybride2015

 

So glad your Travel went so smoothly with your wedding Kim! It is a huge stresser!

 

So I have calmed down today....I called my TA this morning but she is off today..boo. So I went through emails that she sent me before when everyone booked...and the info in the ones she sent me and the ones AC sent back when they confirmed are correct...so it was definitely a mistake on AC end, but I still think the purpose of having a travel agent is to have her look at this stuff and make sure its correct before she sends it to me for my check, I spent all morning going through each persons itinerary to find all the mistakes. I feel bad that I'm shitting on my TA and I really shouldn't be this is the first thing she has let me down on so far, and I'm sure once I talk to her tomorrow she will clear it all up for me. 

Edited April 7, 2015 by Meandhim

[Meandhim]

Procrastination at its finest...that about sums me up! 

 

Legal Wedding – 102 days

Leaving for Punta Cana – 221 Days

Wedding Day – 226 Days

 

The Legal Wedding – Update

 

Speaking of Procrastination...we finally booked our tickets Home for July! I forgot to mention that the reason we are going home in July is actually because it is “Come Home Year” for the place where I grew up. The place I grew up is really, really, tiny (like 150 people tiny), so every 15 years or so, along with the 3 other communities close by, they organize a come home year. Come home Year is like a reunion of sorts....They plan a week of events...fishing derby’s, concerts, cookouts, etc...and people who have moved away all plan to come home during that week...it’s really fun.  

 

So we get into St. John’s Friday Night 1 am

We have to get Legally Married Sometime Saturday (TBD)

Sunday morning  6am Leave to drive to My Home Town for a week (12hr Drive with my Parents and Nan!)

 

Now I need to find a marriage commissioner who is available that day and I need to get the Marriage Licence. Apparently you need to apply for it in person there and you need to get it to the marriage commissioner 3 days before the wedding....umm...just a slight snag ...but we are going home in June for my FI’s Sisters Memorial so we will have to pick it up then I guess.

 

Now for Some of the Fun Stuff..

 

 

 

My Invites / Wedding Website

 

So far our Invitations are the DIY I’m most proud of. I searched around on Pinterest and I found what I wanted...I think it was linked to an etsy seller but out of my price range. I thought....ok...I can do this..so I downloaded the trial version of Adobe illustrator...watched a few video’s...(thank you YouTube!) and I was off...I will mention I do use Photoshop a lot at work so I wasn’t really learning from scratch. I used Vistaprint postcard template and waited for a coupon..I got 100 postcards and envelopes for just under $30!

 

I have a friend who is a graphic designer and she gave me some helpful tips

1.       Don’t use too many different Fonts – 3 max – make sure they complement each other

2.       Pair a Script Font with a simpler font

3.       Make sure the Important info is the easiest to read

4.       Don’t go crazy with colors

 

Here’s the result:

 

 

 

 

 

For our wedding website I used Weddingwire...it’s a great website, not only can you make a website but you can create guestlists, budgets, other events, seating charts, RSVP, track gifts, registries, etc. I used the Flights of fancy (9 of 14, I think) design Template which kind of matched my Invite style. I must say the website was fun to make but realistically not many people really looked at it...I ended up making a secret Facebook group as well just because I knew that it would get the info out faster.

 

I have a Bunch of other stationary started / planned:

·         Resort Pocket Map / with Spanish Phrases - Started

·         Do not disturb sign - Started

·         I Spy Game / Scavenger hunt - Started

·         Luggage tag - Started

·         Welcome Letter

·         Menu

·         Program

·         Timeline

·         Madlibs / Trivia

·         Wedding facebook

·         Postcards – Might used this as the guest book...maybe - Started

 

This list is a little ambitious so we will see how far I actually get...haha! 

Next.....

 

 

The Dress

 

Wedding Dress Shopping was not what I thought it would be. None of my close friends or family live in the same province as me so the first time I went dress shopping I went to Beckers Bridal in Toronto alone. The sales lady was nice...a little pushy for my liking...I felt like she was trying to convince me to buy a dress I liked but was not really in love with...which is her job I guess, but still not fun. The second time I went I went to David’s Bridal with one of my Friends / Neighbours. It was a better experience as I had some to laugh at the things that looked ridiculous and someone to help me say no to the sales lady.

 

The dress I finally bought I found online at David’s Bridal on Sale...I saw it online and loved it...unfortunately this dress was not available in Canada! Which meant I could not try it on, I could not have it shipped here and could not return it if it didn’t fit. I called a few stores in NY that were within a reasonable driving distance but no one seemed to have that dress...I finally found a store that had one left  in size 12 (my street size at the time). It was too far to drive to the store but since the dress was only 199 USD I ordered it over the phone had it shipped to my FI’s Sister in California who then sent it to me. It Fit! Well sort of...it’s actually a little big for me...it fall straight down from the boobs. Alterations to be done:

 

• Darts to hug it closer to body in the front
• Possible lining replacement, the current lining is a little see-thru.

Since my first dress was so inexpensive I decided that I wanted a second, shorter dress for the reception so I could dance a fast Irish waltz with my dad and not have to wear high heels. I bought this one at David’s Bridal for $79 and I want a sparkly belt  to replace the ribbon.

 

I do have Dress Regret! Both My Dresses are in storage at my Soon-to-be brother-in-law’s and I haven’t tried them on since I bought them. I will have them both for almost 2 years when the wedding actually rolls around because of the date change and now I’m wondering if could have done better. I’m also losing weight...and I’m afraid that the dress will be way too big. I don’t have the room in the budget for another dress.

 

More to come soon...with more Pictures...

[calgarybride2015]

Great update!

 

I personally love both of your dresses!!!  Sometimes it's hard not to think of others or want to look for others, I would recommend reminding yourself why you chose those in the first place to help you thru those times of regret. I would also suggest you put the dress on but I know with where it's stored that isn't the easiest for you!

 

I LOVE your STDS!!!  Great job!  I wish I was crafty enough for something like that

 

I had a postcard guestbook and thought it was a fantastic idea, but of course I am bias!  I actually came up with the idea before I ever found BDW, so I was a bit upset to realize it wasn't a Kim original idea heheh!!!

 

I remember back last summer when I said 'man I have to wait 7 months!!!!' now I have been married almost 3 months - all I can say is that time flies!!!

 

Congrats on knowing when your legal is going to be!!!!  

[Meandhim]

@@calgarybride2015 thanks! I draw all day at work so I don't consider that being crafty... You my friend ARE crazy crafty! All your DIY's were amazing and inspiring...and I'm sure you will see a few of your ideas copied here!!

 

I haven't completely nailed down the guestbook yet but postcards are high on the list so far thanks to you. I'm definitely making postcards but I might just put them in the welcome bags if I come up with another idea for my guest book.

 

I've had a ton of original ideas until I joined here and then realized someone else did it already.. Lol

 

As for the dresses I'm trying not to watch say yes to the dress or any other wedding show / magazine... It just sets in the doubt. I'm sure my dress is fine and once the time comes and everything is together it'll be great!

 

I know the 7 months are going to fly by and as I mentioned above and you can probably tell by my few posts I'm a total procrastinator! I'm terrified I'm going to have too much left til the end...current goal get legal stuff sorted SOON, before the end of April.

 

 

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[Meandhim]

More Updates!!

 

Wedding Package & Extras:

 

We chose the Silver Renewal Package...cheapest one they had...includes all the basics without the legal marriage and fancy color coordinated decorations.

 

For the location we choice the wedding Gazebo instead of the beach, it’s next to the beach but it is more private and the seated area for the guest does have a little shade. As a guest of a DW shade is awesome...15min ceremony feels like a life time when you are boiling in your seat! lol

 

 

As for the Extras, there are a ton of things you can add on...apparently you finalize everything in your meeting once you get there, but you send a wishlist spreadsheet a month before you go. But we haven’t really gotten that far yet...more on that to come I guess.

 

The only extra we sure we are having a private Reception on the resort with open bar

 

 

Theme / Colors

 

This is something that has been constantly evolving...

 

I started out wanting a Travel theme...with Peacock colors...I don’t know why

Then it change to different shades of blues and green with a starfish theme, then I changed my mind to a beach glass theme...then it was a nautical theme....now I have no real Theme per say...just a mixture of everything! This just might be a disaster! Lol!

 

Here is my Color Pallet:

 

 

 

Here is Some if my Inspiration:

 

 

 

I like the mixed metals with various shades of blues and greens...with some pink (probably Flowers) to break it up

 

More coming soon...

[Meandhim]

Photographer – Frances Morency

 

 

Believe it or not but I found her on Pinterest before we had even set the first date when I searched “Free Destination Wedding Photographer”!  I saw her post on Pinterest and wrote her a message...”what do you mean by FREE?”..cause to my knowledge, nothing in life is free!

 

 

She wrote me back right away and when I actually set my date I called her up. She is trying to build her Destination Portfolio so she is offering 3 Free weddings a year (hints to you 2016 Brides).

 

You pay her travel, parking at the airport, food for the plane, and pay for her to have WiFi in her room. You agree to what all these prices will be beforehand.

 

 

In return you get Coverage on your entire wedding day from getting ready to reception, She will also take candid’s of your guests during the week, and if you have any other group activities she will cover those too (excursions too if you pay her way). She also does an extra “Love Session”...you can do this before the wedding...or use it as your trash the dress after the wedding. You get all your pictures but a limited amount are fully edited and ready to print.Like anything there are always extras you can purchase...Albums, Large prints, All Edited Pictures.

 

 

For us our wedding group package from AC included every 11^th person free so we used our free person for our Photographer and used the extra money to upgrade for All edited Pictures.

 

 

Her Style Is Journalistic with a lot of natural moments...which I really like...check her out and let me know what you think

 

 

Website

 

Facebook

 

Pinterest

 

Blog

 

She also does Boudoir Photo...have any of you girls had that done...I am thinking about it but I think I'm way too self conscious and shy to do it! Wouldn't it be so awkward? 

[veryvalentine]

@@Meandhim

 

Love your planning thread!  I just had a chance to sit down and read it!  Were you able to sort out the travel info with your TA?

 

My TA is out to lunch.  My friend texted me this morning saying that she has email my TA 3 times and one Voicemail message in the past 2 weeks and no response.  Hello?  

 

Love your wedding dress- it's such a nice style. 

Edited April 14, 2015 by veryvalentine

[Meandhim]

@@veryvalentine

 

Thanks! I went in to her office and got it all sorted...sort of...the rep from AC is on vacay so we are waiting for her to get back to us... Organizing the travel seems to be the most stressful part of my wedding planning! Ugh! Seems like there aren't many TA's who are totally on the ball with returning emails and phone calls...I really don't get it...you think customer service would be the #1 priority considering how much the internet is changing and taking their business. It has almost made me want to become a destination wedding travel agent so I could save all the future brides...hahaha! 

[veryvalentine]

Omg, I know!  Like in a business where a booking means you get paid, you would think that customer service would be #1 priority.  We can book flights on our own.  The only reason we went with a TA was for the perks I guess, but I actually could have done that directly through Sunwing. 

 

The bulk of my stresses was definitely travel related, whether it was deposits, people not hearing from the TA, the TA just not answering my questions etc etc.