Hi, well we picked Belize just to be different! I wanted some where warm and sunny but not too crowded. I'm from Portland, Oregon and Jason is from Green lake, WI. We met in portland and we moved here but I do weddings everyday for a living so I didn't want a big deal (I work at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center). We fly in on the 8th and stay on the island till the 14th (then were heading to the jungle) We are staying at Casa Tortuga so we are having the wedding right out on the beach infront. Easy Easy! The house even comes with a cook so I think she's doing our dinner, we only have about 15 people going. Did you find a good deal on airfare? It was a challenge but we ended up only paying $550 per person.
I haven't thought yet about going to bastille days, Maybe. What about you? Anyway, Lets talk about maybe getting together, I keep reading that there are alot of fun drinks to try in belize! Or maybe meeting in Milwaukee. Can you get out of Ramons or are you stuck? You probly don't want to lose your deposit. Wow I'll shut up now Talk to you later

Yvonne
Ps: You can also email me at yfreeman@hiltonmilwaukee.com if that would be easier!

[This message has been edited by ybon (edited 07-11-2001).]

A bunch of us from the board are meeting at Ramon's 8/7 at the purple parrot bar. You are more than welcome to bring your group and join us! Congrats! (See A Pirate goes to AC thread)

Hey, fellow "Belize brides." Sorry to cut into your conversation! It sounds like you have your act together with your weddings. My guests (as well as my fiance and I) are all staying at the SunDiver up north. That's where we're having the ceremony and reception as well. I'm so excited! Less than 2 months to go.
Ybon - where are you going/staying in the jungle? We're not sure where we're going to go yet, so any ideas would be great. We are thinking of Chaa Creek or Black Rock or Bananna Bank in the San Ignacio area or maybe going to Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. I think we're going to play it by ear and decide when we get to Belize.
If you two have any ideas for my wedding, let me know that, too! Iraida's making all the arrangements except for the food, etc. That's being done by the hotel.
Here's one suggestion my mother thought of (and is taking care of). She bought these really cute tin buckets at Home Depot and is putting all sorts of goodies in them for the guests. Sun tan lotion, bug spray, mints and snacks, picture frames with sea shells, etc. She's of course also including a disposable camera in each bucket. We're going to put everyone's names on their camera and have them give my mom the camera to get developed, and then she'll keep a copy for us and send the double prints to the person who took the pictures. Also, we're going to get some black and white film and have someone follow us with the photographer and take black and white shots while Kay's taking color shots. Just some ideas you may want to use.
I hope all is well in WI. I'm burning up down here in Texas. 100 degrees plus today.

Wow Turnbun! That is hot!

I really liked the idea that your mom has for the guest welcome gifts! I will have to use that one! Thanks so much for the idea! I'm using Iraida and Kay also. Are you getting a band? We are, but wish that we could get a tape or something to listen to before hand on what they play. Ugh, I just feel so unorganized with the whole wedding. Our plan is simple and we are sticking to it but now we have to decide what type of food we want for our little reception for 20-30 people. Oh well! Are your plans coming along well? Your wedding is coming up real quick, right?

Tammy

Hey, It's me ybon (i'm at home, I didn't have my password for my log on name) Any, I am so excited and talking to other brides and people that are getting married in belize just gets me more pumped! I love the idea of the little buckets, I was wanting to do something but I didn't know what. I think everyone should run away for thier wedding, oh wait if they did that I'd be out of work!! haha I think when we go to the jungle we are staying at Crystal Paradise in San Ignacio, but I don't know. I really just want to be able to horseback ride and do the cave tubing thing, how cool is that?! Sounds like your wedding plans are going well, just have fun, that is why we chose the place we did right? Wisconsin is lovely today low 70, Try and stay cool in Texas!
Yvonne

Ybon-
Where did you get your $550 tickets? Did that price include taxes? If so, that's definitely the lowest price I've seen from PDX. I have some friends from Portland coming with me in October and would love to get that price. Please let me know, and best of luck to you with your wedding! IJ

Islandjunkie- great name by the way! Any way got the ticket on skyauction, you bid on them it's a great way to go. I actually live in milwaukee now but you can get the tickets on skyauction and fly from anywhere.
Have fun and good luck!

Hey Ybon,

You must be at home today. I e-mailed your work address yesterday about my wedding stuff:

Hi Yvonne!

Yeah!!! That is so cool!

Speaking of Portland, I will be going there on August 2-6th for a race. My fiance, Andrew, works for a race team out of Saukville, so he travels about a dozen times a year. I go to about half of them depending on if I can fit it in my work schedule. I have never been to Portland, so when it came on his race schedule I made it a point to go. Anywhere you suggest that I go to? (ex. restaurants, bars, clubs, etc.)

That really cool that you work at the new Hilton! I was thinking about going to take my brother's girlfriend's son but haven't yet, will wait until it gets colder outside, maybe next spring. Is it worth it?

Well, as far as the airfare thing goes: we bought a package deal (yeah right!). The whole thing was $2922.00 for air and stay at Ramon's in the honeymoon suite. The part that sucks is that our flight from Milwaukee to Belize has been cancelled so now we have to leave from Chicago. Then, Ramon's did some screw up and gave the night of the 10th away to someone else, so the morning of the 10th, we have to move out of the honeymoon suite and then go to the presidential suite. What a drag!! You got a real good deal, I think!

I am so excited to go party my but off in Belize. I've been reading a lot about the drinks too and they sound like tons of fun to try.

I am not sure if we are going to Bastille Days. Friday night we are going to the Garage, I haven't been there, but Andrew's race from last month will be on Speedvision so a lot of the race guys and their significants are going to watch it.

I think that would be a great idea to meet and have some cocktails, either here or Belize.

You can e-mail me here at work as that's pretty much where I always am during the day!
Talk to ya soon!
Tammy

I'm glad you liked the bucket idea. My mother is very creative. I'm sure they'll look very cute when she's done with them. Joe (my fiance) and I wrote a little note to our guests to go in the buckets as well. I think we're going to put them in a little bottle - "message in a bottle."
I'm so excited about getting down there! We are thinking of hiring a band, maybe even Barefoot Skinny if he's around. We hired guitarists for the ceremony and want something more festive for the reception. At the SunDiver, there are a lot of options for where to hold the ceremony (on the pier or beach?) and reception (inside restaurant, outside restaurant, poolside?). We'll make those sorts of decisions when we get there. I was panicking about how little control I have of things, but that's why I'm doing it this way - so I don't have to really plan much, so now I'm just happy to not have to worry about place cards and bridesmaids (friends are coming, but no wedding party) and DJs and reception halls, etc....
I just got my shots for the rain forest part. Typhoid, and hep shots. It HURT! Better safe than sorry, though.
Keep me informed on what you guys are planning so we can steal each others' ideas! 46 days until we leave....YIPPEE!!

For our wedding "itinerary" letter we sent out in May to our guests, we did a message in the bottle. Andrew and myself did them and they turned out GREAT! We purchased clear glass bottles (the smallest ones- I think they were 187 ml) for $ .60 a piece, bought corks to cork 'em for $.03 a piece and some paper that had a really light beach scene with a sunset in the background for $.15 a piece. Then, Andrew went to one of the guys that does decals for the race cars and had them create, "Tammy and Andrew" and then under that was, "November 10, 2001." We put those on the bottles and Andrew took them to work and glass bead blasted over them to give them a frosted look. When that was done, I picked the decals off and our names and the date was clear and see through but the rest of the bottle was frosted. It turned out great!! Then I whipped some wording together on my PC and printed it on the pretty paper, rolled them and tied them with rafia and placed them in the bottle. After corking, they were wrapped in tissue and placed in tubes and sent via USPO.

I tried to listen to some of Barefoot Skinny's stuff at home last night on my PC but my PC is ancient so the download took forever. I will try again when I have some more time. Turnbun, what type of music does Barefoot Skinny play?

You are lucky that you don't have to worry about a bridal party. I am having a little one with only two couples. Andrew and I have already picked out what him and the guys are going to wear and I am having my future mother-in-law make my non-traditional dress. I just have to find something for my maid of honor and my one bridesmaid to wear and then this piece of the wedding will be done!

115 days until we leave. It sure is coming up fast for us!

Tammy