2008 Weddings

My fiance and I are talking about taking a honeymoon not in September when we get married, but in Decemeber instead.

The reason for this is:
1. September is in the middle of hurricane season and we want to go somewhere tropical
2. We think we'll be tired after the wedding planning. Plus I kind of want to take some days off before the wedding, and maybe a few days after - but not as long as I want to take off later.

I previously had a passport - years ago... Who knows where it is now. Its expired now... I just lost it/its packed away/its somewhere who knows where...
I know I have to go apply in person...etc...

Anyways, so heres the questions:

Do I apply for a passport now?

Won't I need a new one anyway when I change my name?

How long does it take to get a passport?

Should I do it after the wedding? or now?

I read online that once you have a passport and its been less than a year - it doesnt cost anything to change your name... but how long does it take? Has anyone done this?

x-posted

Okay, here is a big list of FYI stuff in regard to passport stuff.

1. The form just changed so if you have previously printed or picked up a form you probably need to go back and get a new one.
2. You are not allowed to wear jewelry, glasses, a shirt with words, or have your hair cover your face at all in the picture.
3. The price just went up.
4. If you are just going to be going to be driving or riding a ship to Mexico, Canada, or the Bajamas they have a different card you can get for less money.
5. You cannot use a copy of your birth certificate. You also need a specific format of birth certificate so you need to go look that up online to double check.

Cross-posted everywhere

PS. I only know this, because between my fiance and I we had every single one of these issues. UUUHG!

Has anyone ever gone on a cruise with them? We are thinking about going on a cruise for our honeymoon, and their prices work with our budget. I am just wondering if they are a good company or not...Thanks.

Hi Ladies

FH and I are having a really hard time trying to decided where to go on a honeymoon. We both really want to go to Cuba. The only problem is that the end of Aug beginning of Sept. is the high end of Hurricane season.

For any of you ladies that are getting married around the same time what are you doing?

We really want to go somewhere tropical but don't want to put off our honeymoon. Any suggestions would really help.

Thanks

You all already have one mark of "suckiness" against you, and my FH and I haven't even arrived there yet for our mini-honeymoon.

The reason why I BOOKED with you all back in June for our day and a half mini-honeymoon adventure is because you advertise that you have excellent spa services.

However, when I called you up today (to make an appointment for a couple's massage), you told me that the spa will be CLOSED the DAYS we'll be down there. WHAT THE HECK SORT OF BULL**** IS THIS? You've already effectively already RUINED a portion of my honeymoon! If you close your facilities during certain times of the year, it'd be nice to notify couples WHEN THEY BOOK THEIR STAY, instead of telling them this 32 days before they arrive.

Absolutely No Love,
dogs_n_rodents aka Bridezilla

P.S. In case you all are wondering, the text on their website notifying people about the closings was NOT present last week (or back in June!), so this is a LAST minute thing they've done.

P.S.S. When I did call them, they took my name and number in the off-chance they have enough customer interest to open up one the two days we'll be down there. However, I find this last-minute closing business declaration nonsense.

EDIT: I called up the Spa and explained the situation to the manager, and they are bringing in a massage therapist JUST FOR US on the day we wanted the couple's massage!! Victory!!

Hello all...

I had read an article in one of my Bridal magazines about couple who go and volunteer in poor countries for their honeymoons. And now I can not find the magazine or article!

Does anyone know of a website I might be able to go to and find more information about this?

Where do I get the info about how I can help?

I am really thinking I would like to do this but I dont know where to start!

Thanks for any help Lovelies.

And so I am not text only posting, here is our Save the Date magnets that FH designed and got sent out with holiday cards yesterday!


( Read more... )

FH and I spent Thanksgiving with his family. One of the things that we knew we had to get done while we were visiting was handle the honeymoon, since his folks are paying.

Eastern Caribbean 9 Night Cruise!

I'm so excited...I've never been on a cruise before. Not only that, but I've only been out of the country once.

FH, however, still needs to get his passport, since the rules have changed about that stuff. -.-

On Sunday, we'll be six months out. Thankfully, I'll be distracted through the holidays, but I'm really going to start itching once January hits!

Yesterday, Beau's sister gave us our honeymoon confirmation. August 9th - August 16th in Cabo!!

http://trendwest.com/resorts/cb/

I can't believe our sisters are paying for our honeymoon (mine is paying airfare). I'm a poor student and we probably wouldn't have been able to go on a honeymoon otherwise.

Question!

Where should FH and I go on our honeymoon?! We're getting married in Feb and we haven't planned anything yet. I thought I'd ask to see you any of you had been to any great places or could recommend anything. I think we'd want to stay away from cruises. Other than that just about anything is open. (any warm weather place and we both like to ski) I'd really like to go out of the country, but I don't know if that would be monetarily possible. Any ideas?

Okay.... a question just popped in my brain. Our reception venue is not at a hotel. We are planning on leaving for our Honeymoon the day after the reception. I have no idea where we are going and I won't know where we are going on our Honeymoon until the wedding day--my fiance is in charge of planning it and it's going to be a surprise (he'll tell me what I should pack and it'll probably be some place warm since I told him I didn't want to be cold). It's also his responsibility to book & plan where our wedding night will be (again, I won't know where this is).

Uh, where do I keep my suitcase? Even if I knew where we were going, where would I keep my suitcase? Do we drop it off a head of time at the hotel and they keep it all day until we check in at night? If our "getaway vehicle" is something we don't own (such as a limo), do I lug it with me before I get to the church and he has to look for the limo driver after I'm hidden in the church to put his in? Do I give my suitcase to my Mom to put in her car and he leaves his suitcase with his folks until the end of the reception? I know I'm probably over thinking this but I don't know what you're supposed to do.

What are you doing?

This isn't unnecessarily wedding related, but I thought that brides more than anyone would understand why I think this is funny. I seem to be getting blank stares over this story when I laugh at the end.

The person who booked our honeymoon called the other day to let us know that our cruise has been changed. We would no longer be porting in Costa Maya for a day. Instead we should be porting in Progreso so we need to make sure that if we booked shore excursions we are going to get a refund. Which was nothing for us to worry about, because we haven't booked shore excursions yet. The funny thing is... both my and my hubby's parents went to Progreso for their honeymoons. Since they're both still together, I'll take that as a good sign. ^^

I have a colleague (read: poor graduate student from Mexico, going to school in Australia and interning in the states... work that one out!) working with me who recently took a trip to Mexico (flying from the States, Orlando to be exact)

He came back and told me about something I think you lovely brides will want to know. I'm sure you've heard this tip time and time again, but visit in the Off Season!!!!

You don't really need the background, but the last couple days of his trip, he and some friends went to one of the beach resorts (I don't remember the name, sorry, but I'm sure the tip applies to many places) and stayed for a couple nights. It was 130/night for 2 people in one room ALL INCLUSIVE. This means food, drinks, access to hotel services etc. The resort they stayed at was a four or five star, on the beach.

So don't despair!

From my own experience :
Summer time in the tropical islands is "low season" unless it's a holiday weekend. September (not labor day) to october will probably net you the best deals.

Australia and New Zealand are amazing to visit during the "summer" months of the northern hemisphere so long as you don't mind packing for cooler weather and if you go to the northern part of Australia, it'll be just like summer ^_^ (<3333 both countries and of course: location dependent <--- disclaimer)

St. John USVI is amazing to visit in the summer as it's not too crowded with tourists, and if you don't mind camping, you can get away with a bungalow or campsite for less than 100/night.



xposted for the benefit of all XD

Has anyone considered taking a train to their honeymoon destination and renting a car for the rest?

FH and I live in Northern California and can take the train to Seattle to spend time in Seattle and catch a ferry to British Columbia.

The train ride would be 21 hours which is a hell of a lot shorter than driving since we'd have to stop and stay the night in Oregon to keep me from going crazy from not being able to stretch. For a roomette which is a room for two that converts to bunk bed type sleeping (one night there, one night back) for $308 one way.

Does this sound totally crazy? I've never been on a train, and since going by train you see different things I thought that might be kind of cool too.

Ideas?

PS- This was after realizing our cruise to Alaska was going to be WAY too expensive to actually pull off. Both of us wanting to enjoy the honeymoon and not be driving constantly.

We're getting married Oct 18 2008...when should we book our honeymoon? We're thinking of going to SC for our honeymoon, Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach and we'll be driving not flying if that helps at all. I'm just so lost with all this stuff!!! TIA!

Oh! also if you have any suggestions on things to do there let me know!