The Ultimate Incentive to have an amazing 2010.

Swinstie73

That island looks great, what about the weather though? It would be great in the middle of Summer. Would you have to re-think your date? And please don't get OH to wear a blue suit, argh!

Birdie85

Yeah, I was thinking April because we usually have good Aprils before the rain starts in May - July!

Birdie85

Swinstie73 wrote: »

That island looks great, what about the weather though? It would be great in the middle of Summer. Would you have to re-think your date? And please don't get OH to wear a blue suit, argh!

LOL! He wants to wear a Caribbean print shirt, I think the blue suit may look better!

clearmydebts

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

It's so true what you say CMD - not just with weddings but with everything in life. I got so sick of sending out birthday cards all year and then only getting about three in return, I've stopped bothering with people who don't bother with me and I feel loads better for it

Yeah, it does get frustrating when you put in effort and you don't get it back. It does make me feel better too when I stop putting in so much effort with certain people as it upsets me when they don't try to stay in touch.

poddle911

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

That sigh says it all Birdie - don't bow to pressure from friends - it's understandable that they might not be able to afford to go, but you'll be having the party back home anyway. It's YOUR day!

clearmydebts wrote: »

Birdie - some advice from someone who has gotten married abroad. Go for it - it is your day! However, people will not commit to going until you sort out a date as it is too up in the air. What you need to do is sort out your bridesmaid first- see if she is defo going. Then if she isn't pick the date that suits you and your OH. Then you need to send out a Save The Date (can make one yourself - we did) card outlining all the prices and websites that people can book the wedding/holiday on.

Lastly - you will end up with people that go to the wedding that really want to go. That might not necessarily be the people you expect. My brother got married in Oz (lives there) and people that he was close to let him down, but other people came. He found that the people that he thought he was closest to don't even bother to keep in contact now. Unfortunately as we get older people drift away. Another lesson I learnt was that you don't necessarily get back from people what you put in.

These lovely ladies are right, of course! It's your day and you do need to choose whatever will make you and OH happy. If you've got your heart set on the Caribbean, then go for it! As CMD says, once you've committed then other people can too.

I do agree with Dinah that it is difficult to ask people to use their holiday allowance and blow their budget for your dream wedding, yet those that care will either a) make every effort to be there for you, or b) tell you straight up that they'd love to come, but really can't - which is the risk you know you're taking when planning a wedding abroad.

The friends of OH that got married in South Africa last month were so totally overwhelmed at all the people who made the effort to come - from Poland, Canada, Australia, the UK! - and it made it all worth it. Plus we got an awesome holiday out of it so it wasn't a major sacrifice!

But it wasn't what we were planning and I think we'd have preferred to spend £5k clearing our debts but sometimes you just have to say yes to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

That's just my opinion... Follow your heart Birdie (and other such cheesy cliches!)

ETA: How slow am I?!

clearmydebts

poddle911 wrote: »

These lovely ladies are right, of course! It's your day and you do need to choose whatever will make you and OH happy. If you've got your heart set on the Caribbean, then go for it! As CMD says, once you've committed then other people can too.

I do agree with Dinah that it is difficult to ask people to use their holiday allowance and blow their budget for your dream wedding, yet those that care will either a) make every effort to be there for you, or b) tell you straight up that they'd love to come, but really can't - which is the risk you know you're taking when planning a wedding abroad.

The friends of OH that got married in South Africa last month were so totally overwhelmed at all the people who made the effort to come - from Poland, Canada, Australia, the UK! - and it made it all worth it. Plus we got an awesome holiday out of it so it wasn't a major sacrifice!

But it wasn't what we were planning and I think we'd have preferred to spend £5k clearing our debts but sometimes you just have to say yes to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.

That's just my opinion... Follow your heart Birdie (and other such cheesy cliches!)

ETA: How slow am I?!

Great advice Poddle

We have been invited to a wedding in Italy this year. It is not ideal with the baby coming but we are definitely going as this couple put 110% effort into our wedding. We won't be going for as long, as my parents will be minding the baby (6 months old) but I wouldn't miss it for the world

Birdie85

You may be slow but you're worth it Poddle!

People may think that OH and I are being selfish wanting to get married where we are but we wanted it to be the one opportunity for everyone to go away together to a fantastic resort for a really good time. There are couples within our friendship group that aren't that close and we want to bring everyone together to have fun and get to know each other better, they're all great people so there shouldn't be any falling out. Big holidays aren't going to be on the cards in a few years time thanks to the babies that will be coming along soon so we wanted to create the opportunity for a bit of a blow out. It just seems to have been blown out of the water by some people!

tinkerbel

Poolie wrote: »

Tete - She is flying to and from Gatwick which means I need to drop her off and collect her. Flights are leaving at 07:40 and back at 22:30 so a bit late for anything.

I think I am going to have to get myself up and get the flower myself as she will be very embarrassed.

If it were me poolie, I woudl just secretly shift the whole valentines thing to THIS weened if you can, and do all little bits for her this weekend and just spoil her etc, and then I would do something like pop a cute card/other into her bag for the trip so she sees it when shes gone!
Just my thoughts, thats what I would like lol!:o

poddle911

Birdie85 wrote: »

You may be slow but you're worth it Poddle!

Aw thanks *blush*

tinkerbel wrote: »

If it were me poolie, I woudl just secretly shift the whole valentines thing to THIS weened if you can, and do all little bits for her this weekend and just spoil her etc, and then I would do something like pop a cute card/other into her bag for the trip so she sees it when shes gone!
Just my thoughts, thats what I would like lol!:o

That's a brilliant idea Tink! V romantic and with the element of surprise

Birdie85

That's a lovely idea Tink!

We don't have any big plans for V-Day, OH said we could go to see the film Valentines Day (I'm sure it's because Jessicas Alba and Biel are in it!) and then have pizza or something, nice and romantic! It will be 1 year since we got engaged on V-Day so I may drag him round the shops to look for wedding rings!