People are booking!

YAY!  We've had a few people book through Sally already and we've had a few people that have booked on their own.

Please don't feel the need to book now but don't be afraid to call or email Sally to see what the prices look like.  Also, it doesn't cost any extra to book through her.  (The resort and airlines pay her to book more people, her clients see no mark-up.)

Eight and a half months is closer than it seems!

Few Things...

Dan and I will be staying in Punta Cana for 10 days.  We were considering a 7 night getaway but we have to be in Punta Cana for 3 business days prior to our wedding that would mean we need to be there Wednesday and 7 nights from that would have us leaving the day after our wedding.  I hope to be laying near some water in the sun all day that day.  Just for your travel plans, we'll be there starting on Wednesday, August 29th.  (By the way, that is Dan's birthday too!)

He also said that the picture that I put up is a bit out dated.  It is from my good friend Marsha's wedding and that was a bit ago.  So here's a more recent picture or two of us.  Braving the Chicago chill on Halloween weekend.  No, we didn't dress up, I decided I would rather be warm than festive.

And lastly, I did get a few Save the Dates marked return to sender (one in particular I KNOW I have the correct address.)  Please let me know if you are checking in on this blog and did not get a Save the Date.  I may have to keep a look out in the mail.

Thats all!  Love you all, hope you had a fabulous Turkey Day.

Carly

Did you get some mail?

So we got the 'Save the Dates' in the mail.  Pretty much all it said was we are getting married and to check the blog.  So if you didn't get a 'Save the Date' let me know and I may need to double check your address.

We sent them to a lot of people.  We even sent them to people we were unsure if they would want to or be able to travel.  Dan and I went back and forth a lot on this subject.  We wanted everyone to know that they were invited BUT we didn't want people to feel obligated to go OR feel obligated to buy a gift if they could not (or even if they do) attend.  Honestly, friends and family, we just want to share our love of travel and figure we could be a good reason to go somewhere new.

I'm sure that I have a long lost cousin or two out there wondering why they got a save the date.  Well, come to the Dominican Republic for a long weekend, relax, soak up some sun... We'll be there and I'll be the one in white.

I've gotten a few questions, sorry Kelly, about travel how the insurance and all that works.  Sally will have better answers than I would.  How I understand it is, if you book the charter (bit more expensive) then should any mother nature disaster happen, you get tickets to the new destination free of charge.  If you book through Sally just a regular flight, there may be a 'transfer' fee but you would not have to purchase a whole new ticket if there is a change of venue.  As an agent she can cancel and do crazy things with no penalties like we would as regular 'Joes.'

Also, if you are considering going to Punta Cana for Labor Day weekend next year, please feel free to bring your children, your favorite travel buddy, that person you've been crushing on...  The more the merrier...

Talk to everyone soon,
Carly  (and Dan)

Ps.  Sophie, would you like to come?

It's All Happening!

Hi Friends, Family & anyone else that would like to take this journey with us -

In the words of the Band Aids of one of my favorite movies; "It's all happening!" 
It started last week, we went to order our Save The Dates and the crazy lady wanted $2.50 each.  Now, we are sticking to our motto that 'anyone that wants to come is invited...' so that is a lot of Save The Dates.  I did a little research and last weekend I ordered the supplies to make them myself.  I know I said no crafts; but I was really excited about these so I gave myself the out.
I took Monday off of work, mental holiday, and decided last minute to visit the satin dress.  I ended up falling in love with a different dress at the same store and that dress is now MY dress.
On Thursday we got word from Sally that she's got pricing and we can tell our guests to start booking and she recommended that we lead the way.  So... we have talked to her about days and we will probably book our trip in the next two or three days.

These are some major milestone in the whole wedding planning.

It's starting to sink in... We're getting married in 10 months.

Things to know:
~We'll be keeping Sally's contact information up at all times on the blog.  Please feel free to contact her to see if she can work with your time, monetary, and other constraints.
~We are recommending that you do use Sally but please feel free to search around yourself if you would rather not use an agent.  (Sally will be helping with our guest list and such, so please let us know if you are not going to book through her.)
~September is hurricane season.  We've done our homework and hurricane's do not typically (one in every 17 years) hit the Dominican Republic.  We will not be tempting Mother Nature.  We will be spending the extra money for trip insurance.  SHOULD anything threaten the island for our event, Sally should be able to scramble and get us a new location to have the vacation/wedding.
~The weather picture on the blog is real time.  Please feel free to come back as often as you would like to see how the weather is.  For the Chicago folks, in a few months it will really make you ready for the sun.
~Feel free to contact Sally/shop around prior to getting the Save The Dates.
~If you get a save the date, we've handmade them all so they are made with love.
~If you don't get a save the date, come anyway!

It's all happening.

Glass of Wine in Hand

As of Sunday, I had every intention of cooking dinner tonight.  I was sure that by Wednesday I would be inspired.  I was sure.  Granted, even on Sunday I didn't have a clue what I would be inspired to prepare for my soon-to-be.

So as of right now... I'm blogging with a glass of wine in my hand while Dan cooks.  Isn't he wonderful?  I'm sitting on the couch, watching TV, relaxing and he's slaving over some grilled salmon.

Ok - to the actual point of my post.

I've decided that I need a calendar.  I have the suggested timeline (Real Simple Weddings gave me that.)  So I'm going to plug all the "need to's" and "get done by's" into an online calendar with reminders and such.  I'm not really an organized person.  (that might be an understatement)  If I'm proactive and have lists and timelines I shouldn't fall into that category of stressed, crazy bride, right?

So, if our Save the Date's are late, if the invitations aren't quite on time... you can either blame the disorganization OR the glass of wine in my hand.  (Personally, I'm going to blame the wine.)

Cheers!

Officially Less Than a Year

I'm sure most of you saw my Facebook post.  Yesterday was one year.  I was SO excited.

I mean, I was really excited about it.  So as I was driving back home after a 'lightening-ed' out football game and a wonderful post game gathering; I was thinking, "Ok, what are you excited about?"

I mean is it the wedding, vacation aspect, the big day' bride centered attention...

Then I started worrying, "Oh gosh, you are being one of those brides who is only concerned about her big day - not the meaning behind what the big day is..."

POOP!

But all my concerns were dashed away when I got home.  There he was; sitting at his computer.  I had brought him food from the post game gathering and he was very thankful.  He and I talked about our days.  We played a little Words by Post (it's Words with Friends but we can't seem to find the REAL Words with Friends on our phones.)  Sat on the couch together... 

Yes, I am excited about a tropical vacation with my friends and family.  Seriously, who wouldn't be?  Yes, I'm excited about the wedding.  Yes, I'm excited/nervous being the "center of attention."

But at the end of the day, I get to come home to Dan.

When I think about it like that, I'm more excited.  Save the dates, invitations, photographers, cakes, dresses... really the only thing that could go wrong is one of us not showing up.  I solved that one - he's trapped at a resort.

So here's to me - figuring it out; I get to be excited because its going to be super fun AND because nothing is going to ruin what I already have.

OK - this was a sappy post.  Sorry.  I did order a sample save the dates  (I can't bring myself to call them STDs like I've seen on some websites.)  Pretty sure just about everyone I know, knows the date at this point.  But they are cute and they'll have some additional information... maybe.

Waking up With a List in Your Head

So everyone said that you will start waking up on Saturday and Sunday mornings with lists in your head.

But seriously, I have over a year!!

So this is the first morning that it's happened.  This past week Dan and I were looking as Save the Dates.  We are finalizing the invite list.  And just doing a general pre-cursory check.  And then I realized that all of my contacts were saved in a Palm. (Yes, I know, old school.) 

I just saw that Palm recently.

It was the Saturday morning after Bo's basement flooded.  It was in a battered ziplock baggie with unused Christmas cards from the last 3 or 4 years and about 6 cups of brown tinged sewer water.  I remember thinking, "ugh, what a waste."  My brain never even went to, "oh crap, all of my address are in that Palm and I'm going to be needing those."

So here I am, Saturday morning, emailing friends and family, as politely as possible, asking for addresses. 
Maybe there is hope that it will be a while before "the lists" wake me up again.

Why did it have to be SATIN?

So I just wrapped up the weekend of dress shopping with mom.  We hit: White Exchange, Eva's, Mira Couture, Bloomindales, Macy's, JCrew, Bloomies (again), Nordstrom's, House of Brides, LKM (local joint), David's Bridal, and Demetrios.

It was a lot.  And out of all of that, I'm crazy about one that has a satin underlay.  Satin!  Do you know how hot it is going to be in a satin dress in 95 degree weather?  I couldn't do it.  I couldn't pull the trigger.  Mom was ready.  She loved it!  I love it but ... SATIN?!?

Oh, and it was a wee bit over budget.

We'll see if I'm still obsessing in a few days....

How to Make Carly a Bit Nervous Part 1 (I'm sure there will be more)

Did we say September 3, 2012?

I'm pretty sure both of us mentioned it at some point or another.

On May 26th we sent a credit card number to the resort in Punta Cana to reserve our date and time.  Dan called the credit card company and said there will be a large 'purchase' in Punta Cana and this is authorized.

On June 8th the credit card company declined the charge due to it being a 'possible fraudulant charge.'  Called the credit card company reiterated that this is a valid charge.  Emailed the resort explained what happened, 'please do not give someone else our date/time; try the card again.'

As of today - the card has still not been charged.

Our wedding coordinator, Gara, insists all is well and 'everything is in order.'

I'm not sure what that means, but I'm sure I'll feel a bit better when there is an ACTUAL deposit on our date and time.

So Far Away

I just reread the blog where I introduced Sally.  October is so far away.  I want to start booking now.  I want to start getting excited about a warm, sunny, tropical vacation.  Why, oh why, did we pick a date so far away??

A long lost friend of mine, we'll call her CaCa to protect the innocent, just announced that she will be getting married.  She and her 'to-be' have decided to go to Punta Cana in the fall to tie the knot.  I'm so jealous (and kind of amazed that long lost friends can still be on the same wavelenght.) 

She has the dress pick out, rings picked out, and she'll be all tanned and MARRIED this fall.

I guess I still have a lot of planning left.  I mean, I don't have a dress.  I have no clue what Dan wants for his ring (of course, I know what I want.)  I know my colors but not who will be wearing them.  Do you think I'll be able to figure out all of that stuff in 1 year and 2 months?

UGH!  1 year and 2 months.

Everyone says the time will fly.  I sure hope so.  1 year and 2 months seems... so far away...

Email Updates

Good morning friends,

It was brought to my attention that some of you who are following the blog are not recieving email notifications when we make updates.  Well, you will be happy to know that with a dash of technical black magic I've included an email notification feature.  It just requires a little help from your end. 

Type your email address into the nifty text box on the right hand side of the page, under "Follow by Email."   Click submit and you should receive a security verification popup. Please follow the instructions to pass the verification process and once completed, you will be added to our email list.  Anytime we make an update you will be emailed.  Let us know if you run into any trouble.

Thanks!

Tech Support aka Dan

Everyone Meet Sally - now don't email her until October

Happy Tuesday!

So as you might have figured, we, again, took the easy way out.  The thought of coordinating our friends and family in Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma and Texas flying to Punta Cana on different days for different stay lengths was a bit overwhelming.

A travel agent was a MUST. 

We found Sally. 

I'll admit, I was skeptical.  (Carly writing this one.)  I had a whole list of questions and I printed them and reread them before we met with her so that they would be fresh in my mind.  Well, I loved her.  Dan knew I liked her... immediately. (He knows me so well!)  She gave us so many ideas and really put me at ease.  I was worried about asking ya'll to spend the money.  I was worried about different packages that people might want.  I was worried about getting everyone the best bang for their buck.  She talked through all of that with us BEFORE I even asked.

So here is the deal.  Sally is going to help us organize.  We are going to encourage that everyone book through her (not demanding - just encouraging).  She does not just use one booking agency, she will scan through several regularly to get us the best prices.  Her goal is to get us the best deal, so that more people can go, so that we talk about how wonderful she is.  BUT she can not start booking anything until October.  So I'm going to post her information if you want to check out her website (or if you are in the Chicagoland area and are looking for an outstanding travel agent.)  But again, she will not be able to book anything for a few months.  (Don't worry, we'll send save the dates!)

Sally, meet our friends and family.
Friends... Family, meet Sally Kincaid

Sally Kincaid
President
SAL TRAVEL
(847)991-2500
saltravel@saltravel.net
http://www.saltravel.net/

Love Carly (and Dan, he approves all posts)

The Rolling Ball

So once you start, it's kind of hard to stop.

We have our place, including but not limited to food, drinks, DJ, venue; we've picked out save the dates; we have ideas for invitations; I like some colors; we've started guest lists; and today... I'm making appointments for dress shopping.  (Mom is headed to town in July and the two of us are hittin' the stores.) 

Shoes - check
Flowers - check
Cake - check
Photographer - check
Videographer - check
Hair - check
Mani/pedi - check

Now... about attendants...
How is it, you may ask, that I know what shoes I'm going to wear but have not asked anyone to be in said wedding?  Easy, I'm not wearing shoes!

My concern is that more than a handful of friends are either prenant, trying to get pregnant, hope to have given birth by 9/3/12, already have small children or are somewhere in that bunch...  Kind of hard to have someone to commit to Punta Cana when who knows if they will be able to travel. 

Ah well, if you are reading this - be wary of rolling balls headed your way, you might be on my hit list.
Love,
Carly

He Beat Me to the Punch

Ok, so we didn't 'exactly' wait until after Adrienne's wedding to plan a little.  It just got to be too much fun while we were looking.  

Dan loves to get the best deal for your money.  And I, well, I just really like the pictures.  Turquoise blue water, white sand, palm trees...  Perhaps it is the Chicago cold...  But I could look at pictures like these all day long.

I can see myself under that hut in the distance; reading a book or taking a nap.  I am someone who knows how to lounge on a beach.

I am also someone who would go snorkling or diving (yes, we are both SCUBA certified) in the perfectly clear water.  Or just walk along the surf, with plenty of sunscreen and not a care in the world.

These are just random pictures but the great part, they were both taken at the resort we have chosen.  Yes, I'm trying to temp you.  Is it working?  The countdown has begun and all will be invited.

Talk to everyone soon.
Love,
Carly

September 3rd, 2012

It's official - we have a date.  Signed the forms and sent the deposit, we are going to Dreams Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic!  Only 16 months to go...

http://www.dreamsresorts.com/drepc/

More details to come as we get closer.  It's too early to start booking,  but never too early to start saving.  So pinch those pennies and skip the morning latte, there's going to be a party in the Caribbean and everyone is invited.

Dan

Where to Look - When You're Not Looking

Ok, so we started in Greece.
A quick browse online and some fancy spreadsheet calculations and we figured out - HOLY CANOLI Greece is expensive!
Now, it wouldn't be all that expensive for us.  We plan on staying a bit.  And once you are there, the hotels and food aren't so bad.  The flights were a deal breaker.  We can't ask people to spend over $2K per person for a 4 day stay.  If everyone was going to stay a week+... that would be a different story.

Next, we travelled to Florida.
We looked into Destin, the Keys, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando...  You name it, we looked.  (Again, we aren't "looking" until June.)  Those lucky Georgia folks would have had it easy.  There were problems with all of these locations.  Our main problem, the hotels were expensive and trying to organize food and/or restaurants for everyone would be a nightmare.  Also, those places wanted head counts already.  This frustrated Carly.  (Seriously, people haven't been invited yet let alone RSVP'd!!)

We headed a bit further south to Aruba.
We poked around the Caribbean for a while but Aruba really stood out.  Flights from Dallas and Atlanta were pretty good.  But as soon as we started to dig into the resorts, we started finding problems; "all-inclusives" that didn't include lunch or drinks, places that didn't do receptions, couples only resorts, and some places that recently got some shady reviews.

We are currently peaking, without looking, at Punta Cana.
We are trying not to get our hopes up...  We are still looking for September 2012 - so everyone will have plenty of time to save.  Yes, we have heard that September is hurricane season but we've thought about that and done our homework.

So keep saving your pennies but you can now afford to treat yourself to a dinner out once in a while, keeping in mind that these are all bathing suit locations.  :)

It Begins

So, if you are reading this, you probably know us.  If you know us, then you know that Carly has been dying for it to happen, for a while.  And now that it did... She is stalling to make decisions!  She has the perfect excuse too, one of her BFF's is getting married in a few weeks.  We've decided to hold of on any planning until Adrienne and her Dan fly off somewhere fabulous for their honeymoon.

That being said, yes, we have been looking at things.

Dan's wishlist includes: a beach, family and friends, and a calm relaxed Carly.
Carly's wishlist includes: a beach, family and friends, some additional friends, perfect weather, bare feet, whitewashed walls, the perfect dress, a hairdo that won't end up in a ponytail, fabulous venue, and Greece.

Uh huh, that last word was Greece, as in the country in Europe on the Med.

So, we are starting to save our pennies but haven't signed any dotted lines.  We'll get the word out as soon as Carly can make up her mind.