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

Hi Ladies, Yes, I have weird days off this Week do to the Circus Parade. I need to work on sunday! I love the message in the bottle idea, but my mother in law to be wants to make some thing more home made and she's willing to do it so, okay.
Just a question?, Did you guys do Like an ivite or just kinda like an announcement with a if you want to go you can thing? I just don't know what to do.

Tammy, The garage is great, I want there last saturday and had a great time! What kind of racing does Andrew do? I ask because Jason loves Speedvision! Sorry to hear about your flight getting canceled! I hope nothing like that happens to us, I get alittle nutso if my plans get messed up. We went to Paris and Amsterdam last year and got bumped and I went off on the poor service agent! I just thought we were never getting there! I think we got a great deal on airfare to Belize and even a better on on casa tortuga, Jason's mom bought. haha Happy wedding to us.
Okay, I do have a question, What are you doing about flowers? I am also going through Iriada but haven't talked to her since I sent my deposit, does she do flowers? I don't need anything but a bouquet, I think. Ahhh So many Things i haven't thought about, I just realized I am not organized at all.!!! Oh before I forget, I e-mail you some cool places in Portland. (I'll be home in august, to bad it's not till the end of the month).

Turnbun- Did your doctor suggest shots? I've been going back and forth and just don't know. Reading this board makes me think I really don't need them. Any cooler in Texas?

Ybon,

The person here, Shelly @ Special Occasions in Milwaukee, was my invitation person. I told her that we are having a destination wedding and that we are inviting about 40 guests. She advised me to send out itinerary letters letting people know that we are getting married, the date and that we really wanted them to go. Also, it stated that we are holding a block of rooms at Ramon's until May 15th and that if they were interested in going, they needed to contact Maryann @ Sunseeker Vacations. (This letter was sent early May.) If you are going to need invites and want her number, let me know. She has tons of books to look through and is just about the sweetest lady I have ever met! Last week, Andrew and I finished our "formal" invitations and have placed the order. We should have them in three weeks. These will be the common ones, where if the people are going, to fill out their names, their arrival date and where they are staying. This will give us a better idea of how many are actually going. So far, we have 23 definites that have reserved air and accommodations.

Andrew is the Crew Chief and lead engineer for Realtime Racing in Saukville. The car is an NSX and you can't miss it, it's white and day-glo orange, #42. They race all over the country in World Challenge GT and right now, are second in the points with five races to go. You guys should come down to the Garage if you aren't busy Friday night. It starts at 7 PM and the TV's will be tuned into Speedvision so Jason should have a good time! You can check on realtimerl.com, click on crew and then click on Andrew Armistead. There's a picture of him and that way if you guys decide to meet us out, you'll know it's us...you'll know what he looks like. I have dark hair and I'm sawed-off...only 5'3".

For flowers, the plan is to have my mom create my bouquet the day of the big event. I haven't decided if the bridemaids and guys will have any, it's up to my mom. I think I read that there is a flower shop there. The person who runs it is Dulce, I think, and their e-mail address is denwolfe@btl.net. I believe Iraida can arrange to have someone do your flowers for you also.

That bites that were not going to Portland the same time! Over Labor Day, I will be in Monterey, CA for a race, then October I will be in Atlanta and North Carolina. Andrew is leaving next Tuesday for a race in Sonoma, CA but I decided to stay behind. I went to that race last year and with the whole racing, wedding and honeymoon thing, I pretty much used up all of my vacation so I really didn't have any more time left!

After our wedding in Belize, we are coming home for a week then high tailing it to Florida to hop on the Golden Princess for our Honeymoon. (Compliments of my parents. I can't wait to relax and over indulge in food and booze!!!

You can e-mail me at my job, also, if it's easier for you. My typical hours are 8-5 PM.

Well, some shut=eye for me. We went out to the Farmstead in Cedarburg for dinner and I'm pooped!

Talk to ya later!
Tammy

Iraida is taking care of my flowers. I am just having a bouquet for myself. Actually, I'm going to have the florist make three bouquets and tie them all together and after the ceremony, I'm going to take them apart and present a bouquet to each mother and keep the other for myself. My friend did that at her wedding when she tossed the bouquet and it was so cute!
As far as shots, if you are going into the jungle, I'd get them. I went to a travel doctor, and they said better safe than sorry. She said we would be exposed to malaria and Hep A for sure and maybe Hep B and typhoid. So I went ahead and got the shots. Which wasn't cheap! I think if you are remaining on AC, you are fine. If not, get the shots. I'm kindof paranoid about health stuff, so I'd be worried if I weren't vaccinated.
I love your message in a bottle! That was such a great idea! As far as invites, I sent a few invites to those who I was sure were coming, and told everyone else that if they wanted to come to let me know and I would send them an invite. We burned CD's of some favorite songs to send with our invites. The first song is "Come away to Belize with me" by Jerry Jeff, and then the CD is grouped into different sections: first, courtship, love songs, then "Will you marry me" by Springsteen, then fun island songs ("Changes in Latitude" "Iko Iko", etc) then wedding songs (Cannon in D, Ode to Joy, Lord's prayer, etc.), then celbration songs (Let love rule, Put a little love in your heart, etc.) and then "Cowboy Boots and Bathing Suits" by Jerry Jeff. Our guests LOVED it and all say, "I listen to your CD in my car all the time!" It was my fiance's idea as he was a big Napster user before it was taken down.
So, that's my idea for the day. Keep the ideas flowing!

TURNBUN- I LOVED THE CD IDEA!!!

That is so cool! What a great idea!! My brother will be having a destination wedding some time hopefully soon, and I'll let him know that idea!

Thanks!
Tammy

Hey Tammy, Just read the board Hope you check again but I think jason and I will be going to the Garage. I'll be looking for you. I'm 5'8" and blonde, Jason is about 6'1" and has dark brown hair and glasses. See you there.

Hey Tammy, I was great to meet you and Andrew we had a great time! Lets do it again sometime soon.
Im at work today, yuck yuck. I seemds to be doing nothing but answering Circus Parade call. Talk to you soon.

That's awesome you girls were able to meet. Isn't the Internet awesome? It brings people together that would have never met otherwise.
My fiance has an NSX, but rarely drives it. I think it's sitting in the garage with a dead battery now. However, it's his little toy he'll probably never part with. I think I'll choose not to tell him of what your fiance does for a living. Lawyer turned race car driver just doesn't sound like a good idea.
I am sending out a letter to all of our guests today about what to bring to Belize and what types of activities, etc. are available to them. Also giving little snippets of the weather, the currency, how to get to the island from Belize city, etc. We also "adopted" a family through Iraida, and we asked everyone to bring some necessary items for them if they would like to help the community since Belize is so poor. So I put the info. about the family in the letter as well.
What are you guys doing about wine/champagne/alcohol? I hear wine is so expensive there, and I hear it's not good at all. I think Joe and I along with my mom are going to buy a bunch of wine and champagne and give a bottle to each guest to bring with them (only one bottle per person allowed through customs - if they check) so we can serve that at the reception. Just an idea to cut costs! Then we'll have the hotel restaurant whip up some rum punch, so everyone can have wine, champagne, or rum punch. The rum punch was pretty cheap - about 12.50 a bowl, which holds about 12 glasses. I guess we should throw some beer on the drink menu as well. Need to check on the cost of beer.
I hope you had a great weekend. This is one of our last "free" weekends before the wedding (so much to do: showers, weddings, visiting with relatives, etc. - so little time!). Seven weeks from today....
Keep me posted on any more good ideas!

Hey Ybon,

It was really great meeting you and Jason!! Andrew and I had a fun time talking with you both! Too bad you had to work so early on Saturday. Well, we can meet out again soon.

Hi Turnbun,

Those are great ideas that you have. We are bringing champagne also, most likely about eight bottles- one to each family member! I heard that also that there isn't any good champagne there.

That's cool that your hubby-to-be has an NSX. What year and color? You should have him fix it so you can cruise around in it! They are such beautiful cars!

Well Ladies, I must work today! Talk to ya's soon!

Tammy

I think his NSX is a 94 or 95? It's red. It's fun to ride in, but with all the hills and curves in Austin, it scares me a little bit! The battery is just dead, so we just have to jump it, I'm sure.
My wedding is 7 weeks from yesterday. Very exciting! I just found out that the fiance has to go to Houston for work for two months, though, which really sucks! Long distance right before the wedding. YUCK! Oh, well.
I hope you girls have a good week!

Turnbun,

Jump the battery and drive it everywhere!!! You are so lucky to have one! They are such fun cars.

Usually at the beginning of the race season, Andrew, my fiance, is at Texas Motor Speedway. I have never been there but plan on going next spring. Have you ever been there?

Tammy

I've only been to Tx motor speedway once to see a concert. Never been to the car races. The concert was so crowded and it took us 5 hours to get home when without traffic it would have been 30 minutes. Bad news. I hope they've improved to road ways out there! Now I live in Austin, which is about 4 hours from the speedway. It's near Dallas, but I guess you know that! It's a nice stadium. I worked on some related legal stuff and learned a lot about it.

HI Ladies! I had a long weekend full of circus! I saw more horses and bands then I'd ever wanted to see. Jason and I were just told by his dad that we better get moving on invitations! I thought I was more orginized but I guess I was way wrong so today during work I need to make phone calls. I think I am with you two on having our guests bring in Champange and Alcohol. Nothing is worse then a hangover on bad wine! I still love the bucket idea, I decited that i'm going to do that, hope you don't mind. What about cake, are you having cake? See I am very un-orginized!

That's a good question. I haven't thought of a cake either. I guess that I will have to start on that one too!

Maybe cake comes with your dinner at ramons? Maybe I don't need a cake, but then what will I mush on jasons face? If you find out something Let me know!

As for cake, I'm skipping it because it's too expensive. I'm just having dessert with dinner. Tazmara at SunDiver described the dessert, I think she said they were, well, let me go get the e-mail, and I'll paste it here....
Here's what Tazmara had to say about wedding cake and the dessert they will serve at our wedding:
Wedding cake is very expensive $600.00 BZE to start.
What about Individual Coffee Bombes
What is a coffe bombe you ask... well it is a formed ball of ice cream with
a center of cake crumbs, ground almonds(can be ommitted if you have people
with nut allergies) chocolate, and brandy. Decorated with chocolate leaves.

That sounds so good! I'm not a huge fan of wedding cake, so I opted for the above dessert instead.

I hope you girls are doing well. My poor dog broke my window today and cut herself and had to have emergency surgery! YIKES! She's like a child to me, very pathetic.

Take care and keep the questions/ideas flowing!

OH - please use the bucket idea. My mom will be very flattered! I'll try to post some pictures when we get back....

A cake is not included with our deal at Ramon's and Andrew and I envision that if it was it would be a really, really dry cake for some reason. So, maybe we won't have a cake...I'm still trying to figure out the food part. Ugh!! I really like the ice cream bombe idea!

I will have to go Home Depot to look for the buckets soon. Then, at least I will have them and I can start collecting items over the next couple of months to put in it: camera, bug spray, sunscreen, etc. I should do that this week as Andrew is out of town. We'll see.

I talked to Jason last night about cake and he laughed! He thinks maybe I'm thinking about this wedding stuff way to much (You can see i'm the one who has done all the planning) I guess we don't really need it. Looking for more Ideas come on Ladies throw me something fun.
Tammy, Are you heading to Festa this weekend?
Maybe we can meet up. I will also try and e-mail you some fun information and places to be for Portland soon.

One idea that I have (my fiance doesn't seem to hip on is this):
After all is said and done, and we've had the party and everyone's about to go to bed, I want to get a picture of Joe and I jumping into the ocean with our wedding clothes on (my dress is very informal and not too heavy, and I really have no real desire to save it). You know, like we "took the plunge." I just think that would be so fun! He seems opposed to it. We'll see! The thing I'm looking forward to most is the day of the wedding, the boys are going fishing so I won't see Joe before the wedding, and the girls are staying at the hotel. Tazmara has hired a masseuse, manicurist, pedicurist, etc. to come in and give all the girls beauty and relaxation treatments. We'll have a champagne lunch and just relax and indulge. I am so stressed out right now, that's all I can think about! That may be a fun thing to do with your "girl" guests.
We're also tossing around the idea of hiring a local drum band for the reception and have someone come to teach us to Punta! Now that sounds FUN! Joe's got white man's syndrome, though, so he's not much of a dancer.

Hey ybon, I'm not sure if I'm going to Fiesta. Andrew left this past Tuesday to go to Sonoma, CA and won't be home until this coming Monday. My brother's girlfriend's b-day is today (which I forgot :0) so I might have to go out with them. My best friend takes pity on me when Andrew is out of town so she wants me to go to the Dells with her, her man and her daughter. Are you guys going?

Turnbun, I like the idea of the jumping in water! Who knows, maybe your man will get really drunk and do it!