Destination Wedding Planning...now what?

[andex23]

Hello All!

We''ve planned a destination wedding for April in Fiji. We''re excited but here''s the problem; I''m a planner. So, after getting engaged around the 4th of July, we''ve now found ourselves with the wedding planned (that''s part of the beauty of the DW, is that there isn''t much to do), we''ve taken e-photos, the invitations are out (we''ve told our families that they can invite whomever they like, and we figure that most people aren''t coming anyway, so we sent out about 200 invites/announcements), we''ve programmed/designed/launched our website that has ALL of the information, and we''ve even registered for gifts if people want to buy us stuff.

Now what??? I feel like a 8 year old, after wrapping all the gifts, now being told that Christmas (or in my case, Wedding) is 9 months away...

I''ve perused dress shopping...I just don''t even know what''s left to do (or not do). Idle hands, people...

Any thoughts/help/suggestions that you can pass along?

 

[FutureMrs.McKerrall]

I am having a DW in May...I felt like I was in the same boat as you. The deposits don''t have to be in till mid August so we are kind of at a standstill in terms of planning b/c we don''t know how many ppl are attending. But I have already bought my dress. Some places say that it takes 4-6 months to get the dress in and then if you need alterations on top of that, you might be cutting it close. Have you discussed with your wedding coordinator at the resort and picked the flowers you want, and the dinner? Are you having BM and GM? Have you picked out what they will wear? Have you picked a photographer (if you are having one).

I thought I wouldn''t have much to do either, but I find there is still stuff to do. I guess you just don''t have to go to the florists, pick a venue, taste testing etc... All the stuff you would do for a local wedding.

 

[andex23]

I''m shocked at how much of a "go with the flow" person I''ve become about this wedding.

After hiring a travel agent to figure out where in the world we''ll be doing this little shindig, we''ve mailed off the deposits, bought the tickets and now I''m picking belly button lint. I''ve sort of started dress shopping, but am having a hard time (but I''m also not trying very hard) finding something "beachy" and casual to match the linen pants and linen shirt that FI is just grabbing from his closet. (Unless I get "super hot" between now and then and I''ll rock a bikini top and a sarong--although probably not going to happen)

No dinner...at a resort that provides all the meals for all the guests, every day. No flowers... We''re doing this super casual. Only have a MOH (sister) and I told her that she can wear whatever she wants. No photog, going to rely on family and friends with cameras...

I feel like such a downer on this whole thing.

 

[Ms.Goggles]

Andex, I don''t have any advice as I am still freaking out about every little detail (we haven''t officially booked yet), but I just wanted to chime in to say that FI and I are also getting married in Fiji! This is a rare occasion; to find someone else going there! We are going just the two of us, though, and having a party when we get back. Currently, I have about 50,000 things I''m worried about, including whether or not we should splurge and fly a photog to Fiji, how I''m going to get a dress to Fiji, if my hair/makeup is worth paying for (pretty sure they charge $350 but I possess no skills to do it myself), where to have the reception when we get back, whether or not we''re "allowed" to register since we''re only having a reception.

Seriously? I would say, just enjoy being engaged! The grass is always greener, hon! Check out some travel boards and look at dreamy pictures of Fiji all day, read reviews, plan some fun surprises for FI and you on the honeymoon (excursions? or the less PG kind of surprise

) Congrats on getting so much figured out already! It''s a good thing!

 

[Rock_of_Love]

Date: 8/4/2009 5:44:58 PM
Author:andex23
Hello All!

We''ve planned a destination wedding for April in Fiji. We''re excited but here''s the problem; I''m a planner. So, after getting engaged around the 4th of July, we''ve now found ourselves with the wedding planned (that''s part of the beauty of the DW, is that there isn''t much to do), we''ve taken e-photos, the invitations are out (we''ve told our families that they can invite whomever they like, and we figure that most people aren''t coming anyway, so we sent out about 200 invites/announcements), we''ve programmed/designed/launched our website that has ALL of the information, and we''ve even registered for gifts if people want to buy us stuff.

Now what??? I feel like a 8 year old, after wrapping all the gifts, now being told that Christmas (or in my case, Wedding) is 9 months away...

I''ve perused dress shopping...I just don''t even know what''s left to do (or not do). Idle hands, people...

Any thoughts/help/suggestions that you can pass along?

Not much help, but just wanted to say I can totally relate. I originally wanted to do a DW because I am such a planner that I knew I would obsess and obsess if the wedding was closer to home. I wanted to be "relaxed" to "not have to worry about planning everything" but, just like you, I''m finding myself with a DW, like I wanted, but still trying to find stuff to plan!!! Ugh!!

I guess I should say thankfully I still have all the invitations, website, and stuff like that to do...but I''m 15 months out!!

 

[cocolaw]

andex, me too!! i feel like i just (as in tonight) saw your picture somewhere while i was browsing. do you post with that picture on another blog too? i am having a destination wedding too. i am obsessing over details. i want to incorporate more and more. i am taking pictures of everything and updating my bridalcanvas. we could not eat dinner in the kitchen for a few weeks because i had invitation samples that i had accumulated over 4 months of orders spread out. luckily i think i have a perfect blend for my invitation from 2 vendors. i have superimposed favors into a picture of my table set up with linens and plates. i am shopping for the perfect grosgrain ribbon online (obsession). i am considering learning calligraphy so that i can add extras all over the wedding. i am not working right now and i have way too much time on my hands, so the wedding is all that i am focused on. the etsy site has not been working tonight and it is killing me!

i don''t know what to tell you. i''m sure i could almost stop planning now, but i''m not ready to. i love it! and i feel like the wedding is getting better and better. you are so lucky that this is your job! sorry that i don''t have advice....i''m in the same boat!

 

[andex23]

I feel better knowing that you guys are in my boat.

It''s funny. We''ve only been engaged about a month. In that month, we''ve picked a destination, hired a travel agent, done invitations, done the website, mailed out the invites (if you book before September 15, you save approx 50% on the airline tix--so we wanted everyone to be able to take advantage of that), registered for stuff we don''t need, and yet, it doesn''t sound like a lot for a wedding. I guess that''s the beauty of our type of DW...nothing to do.

We''re really going there because we LOVE scuba diving. I''m trying to find a way that I can give up my day job so I can do something in the Scuba industry all day. Oddly enough, we care more about the diving than the wedding part. "If you happen to be around on Tuesday, we''ll be in a semi-circle with whoever wants to show up." And, after going on numerous dive vacations, we know what to plan for on that (not much planning to do other than giving some guy your money). We''ll have more stuff for the diving portion than the wedding portion.

Goggles: Where are you thinking of booking? We''re at Wananavu (northern part of main island). I asked 3 travel agents where we should go and they all recommended the same place (of all the places in the world!). (most likely because we said we wanted awesome diving.) I hear that the places on the southern part of Viti Levu are a little more "tourist developed" in the sense that you can find the 4 Seasons there (or is it the Ritz-Carlton?).

If you want my opinion to your questions:
No, don''t fly a photog--if you are going to spend $2K to get someone there, isn''t there someone else you''d rather have? Maybe do you have a friend with photo skills? (That''s who did our E-photos and we''re not hiring a photog...we''re going to have camera-happy family do it and maybe splurge on the $100 for someone at the hotel to do it. Sure, this is your wedding day, but if you really need a beach shot of you, then come back to the US and do it...no one will ever know and it will be a TON cheaper.

How do you get a dress to Fiji??? I''m most likely going to roll it up in a little ball...because it is beach, I''m not having a HUGE dress...(see note above about dive gear taking up most of the space). I''ve seen a lot of people on flights to Vegas put their dress in the 1st class closet...just ask the flight attendant and bring it on board as carry-on luggage. You could also Fedex/UPS. Since you have to be there for a day or so, so you can get the license, send it insured, signature required, etc to your locale and have the hotel hold it for you.

Hair/makeup worth paying for? Nope. I have NO skills whatsoever. Spend some time between now and then looking for a simple style you like and then pay here for someone (your hairdresser) to teach you how to do it). THen PRACTICE.

Can''t help you on the reception question...sorry
Are you allowed to register? Of course! Think of it this way...you are making a list of items that you want to buy with a 10% off coupon. Use this as the excuse to make that list. If people want to buy you something for this wonderful event, then there''s a list already. If they don''t know what to get your for your birthday? There''s a list already. Ditto on Christmas too. Then, when this is all over, you get a 10% off coupon to go shopping to buy the things that you were already going to buy anyway. I''ve seen laundry detergent on people''s lists because when they are going to Target, they are buying it anyway, might as well get it 10% off.
Sorry if all my helpfulness is overwhelming!

RockofLove: I can totally relate too. When we moved, I had the entire house packed 2 weeks before the moving truck arrived (and we only moved about 2 miles away). Good news is that the house took 1 hour to load, 1 hour to unload, and everything went in the right room the first time. The over-planning is what is getting me. I''m so glad that I have PS to "get my crazy out" and talk with you ladies about this...my FI would think I''m nuts.

CocoLaw: Nope, no other site with this avatar...except our wedding website and it would totally shock me if you''ve stumbled upon it. Question: What is a BridalCanvas? I''ve never heard of this... I''m sure that I could just go overboard too. I guess one of the things that is holding me back is that we are paying for this ourselves and so we''re really cheap. Did the invites ourselves (cardstock through inkjet printer that we "borrowed" from my office), photos printed at Costco (16 cents each), envelopes on clearance from Paper Source, etc. Made the website after reading Dreamweaver for Dummies so that we wouldn''t have to pay a programmer and we didn''t like the wedding template sites, used an existing GoDaddy.com website that FI had and didn''t use, etc. Gosh, now that I list everything down, the most that we''ve spent on this wedding is at the postal service for 200 stamps! We are super cheap!! (then there''s the Flying to Fiji part and staying for a week that we aren''t going to talk about). Anyway, back to what you said... It all boils down to me saying thank you to all for letting me know that I''ve got others in "the boat!"

 

[FutureMrs.McKerrall]

Ms.Goggles have you looked into sharing a photographer. That is what I am doing. Go to a couple DW forums (bestdestinationwedding.com) and see if there are any brides that will be there the same week that you are going to be there. Ask them if they have a photographer and see if they wouldn''t mind "sharing" them. Obvioulsy you would have seperate wedding days but you would split the cost of the photographer''s travel. I am sure the phootographer would be up for that. And ususally, photographers give deals on their packages b/c they get to spend a week in heaven...all inclusive and for free.

I am going to the Majestic Colonial in Punta Cana, DR and there is a huge Facebook group for brides getting married there. There are always posts from brides that want to share photographers, or decorations, or whatever. Check FB and see if there is a group for the resort you are going to in Fiji.

Good luck!