dushantz

I love 5 and 6 the best!

Yes good idea. I would nix the flower centerpieces and do the candle package too. It's in some of the pictures of past weddings and looks fine for my tastes. I really want PF to work out. It was at the top of our guest budget prices but then I forgot to convert to canadian dollars so now its way over! I am estimating a flight out of Toronto would be $650cad but I'm hoping to get a much better deal (group rates?) and maybe it will fit in the budget.

where are you having your non-resort wedding? I'm open to options. I've been looking into off-resort locations for ceremony/reception with the group staying at an AI so everyone is happy.

I started looking into a DW because I love to travel, I heard it was much cheaper and it would cut down on the guest list significantly. Since then I'm finding out that maybe a DW is not for me. I wanted to cut down on the guest list because the thought of 100+ people watching me ALL day produces a lot of anxiety. But looking through some real wedding pictures I've come to realize that at many AI resorts you are having your wedding on the beach or gazebo and there are just a lot of random people around. To me this is a much worse situation. I have tried to find more private options. It seems boutique hotels are outside our maximum guest budget (1500cad/person from Toronto AI) and villas are just too complicated (both our parents are divorced - would need seperate residences etc.). Plus I can't seem to get over the guilt associated with spending that much money...on a party (I'm not religious). I just keep thinking about all the other things to spend it on...downpayment on a house, student loans, travel... I've just been feeling lately like I want to just head to the courthouse one afternoon and get it over with. Has anyone else felt like this? Do you know of a way to solve my anxiety about onlooker situation? More private locations you are aware of? Thanks for listening venting thread...

Hi, I'm strongly considering Playa Fiesta for my wedding. I have a tight budget and I was wondering what anyone did to keep costs down. With our flights/accommodation its getting pricey. Is Lindsey helpful for suggesting budget conscience alternatives?

Thanks for the advice. Personally I am not concerned about crime in or feeling unsafe in Jamaica. I am of the opinion that when travelling to use the same common sense you use at home. I am more concerned about the response to give to my guests (some immediate family) when they voice their concern. Especially when the: "you get from the airport into a secure airport transfer to a very large compound of which you never have to leave if you don't want to and then take a secure airport transfer takes you back to the airport and you go home" reponse doesn't work.

A call out to previous and to-be Jamacia brides. I am strongly considering Jamaica for my DW. I have mentioned my choice to various friends and family and the response has been all over the place. Some are happy for an excuse to get away to somewhere warm during the winter regardless of the location and others are making comments about the crime, and turning their noses up. Have you experienced anything like this in your planning and how did you deal with it?

Thank you so much for sending pictures. Your ceremony looked lovely!

Hi PhillyGal, Thanks so much for your information on the Iberostar Rose Hall. I'm considering it as a choice for my DW. All your info is most helpful! Can you send me the link to your pics? [email protected] I'd love to see some genuine pictures of the location/wedding instead of all the pro pics on the website. Thanks in advance!

The Rockhouse is beautiful! I got in touch with them over the holidays (It took a while for them to respond). I was also asking about late 2009 wedding availability (or early 2010). They didn't send anything about dates unfortunately. They did send a menu without pricing and their wedding requirements. The whole hotel needs to be booked and 8k min. in food/beverages to hold a private reception. If you haven't heard anything yet I can send you the email they sent me.

Thanks for the advice! I will probably get in contact with one of the TAs on BDW when I narrow down our options a bit. ie) pick a country! I have been leaning heavily toward Jamaica actually. I fell in love with the Rockhouse, it's just my kind of place. But you have to book out the hotel (all 34 rooms) and there is a 8k minimum to shut down the restaurant. I just don't think we'll get a 34x2=68 person response. My FI likes the Iberostar Rose Hall beach so far. How did you decide on a resort/location for your DW?

The second opinion travel agent mentioned that we needed to put deposits down for ten people minimum (not a problem at all) and any additions could have the same group rate subject to availability. This made me much more relaxed as it was kind of what I assumed happened for these events. The first travel agent, I think she just didn't want to work on Saturday or something. We're still considering other areas in Cuba other than Varadero. If I was going to choose in Varadero I would have chosen their resort (Iberostar). And that's all a bit copy-copy lol. We were joking that we could steal an idea from each one of our close friends wedding and end up with a mish-mash of terribleness lol.

I have been lurking around this forum for quite some time now. But only today did I find the venting section. Oh how I love the venting section! Thank you BDW. My friends and family don't want to hear venting so I will vent to strangers. Location, location, location! I know this is a very typical post, but I can't narrow down where I want to go (within budget). For some of our A-list guests to come and join us we are setting a budget of $1500/person - ish for the week AI with flight out of Toronto Ontario. My family has reunioned in DR and Mayan Rivera before and my FI's best friend wed in Varadero last year. So these places are ruled out. Unfortunately these can be the more budget-friendly options. We went to see a travel agent that was recommended to us last weekend. We got the impression that she really didn't want our business. She mostly vented about the stresses of her job. She told us that for our group (of about 40) to get group rates we would all have to put down deposits within 7 days of the original quote. That is impossible for our family. I left her office feeling much worse than I did when I walked in. Luckily we went for a second opinion elsewhere and they gave much more realistic options for booking a group and some general interest in helping our cause. Over-researching has left me overwhelmed. I want to marry in a beautiful place that doesn't feel like a wedding-factory. Does anyone else feel like they are on a conveyor-belt of brides when you look at some of these resorts? I'd like to know that there is someone out there that feels the same way I do. Thanks for listening.

Taylor here. I'm in the beginning of planning a destination wedding 'somewhere warm' in late 2009 or early/mid 2010. I'm in Northern Ontario and it's -32C today - I would really like to go somewhere, anywhere warm. I unfortunately have a compulsion to 'over-research' my decisions and this tendency is leaving me rather overwhelmed. Jamaica, hawaii, mexico...ugh. The travel agents were most unhelpful unless I have a specific date and place in mind. So that's why I am here.