Should I renew my vows?
 

Hi, everybody! I have finally booked our trip to Sans Souci Lido for 8 days/7nights for $4,500. A bit pricey, but we want to go all out before we try to have a family. Anyway, while money is not a great concern, I am wondering whether or not to renew our vows. I know it is free, but by the time you buy pictures and a video, that will be about $500. Also, we would like to go just to relax and not have to worry about getting new clothes and being nervous, etc. I do regret not having some pictures, though. I was thinking I could buy a little white dress and my husband could wear a white shirt, tan pants (whatever) and get someone to take pictures of us with our own camera in our less than fancy clothes! I could buy a bouquet, I guess. I dont know. What do you suggest? Would I regret it if we didnt go through the whole thing? Like I said, I just want some pictures of us in Jamaica with my hair up and wearing a sort of wedding dress (we got married before a justice of the peace in July.) The main aggravation is scheduling a day for the ceremony, the anxiety (my husband gets nervous as do I), and also the money for pictures and videos. BUT, on the other hand, it may well be worth the $500 or so for a video and pictures. How much hassle is it to get married or renew vows? Is it only an hour or so long, half a day, does it take up your entire day??? With all the spa appointments to keep up with, not to mention snorkeling trips, sunset cruises, the falls, etc., I just dont know if it would be worth the extra time and, of course, the money. Please comment!

Sounds like a complete waste of time, energy, and money... <BR>

Doesn't the free wedding come with at least one picture? My co-worker got married at Grand Lido. She just wore a white cotton sundress & sandals, did her own hair, etc. Her husband wore tan dockers and a nice shirt. Just clothes that you might have to ware anyway to some of the restaurants in the resort. If you're going to be there 8 days, why not renew the vows as soon as possible, like the first, second or third day. Perhaps in the morning so that you get it done and then you can enjoy the rest of the day. I would do it, but that's me. I'm getting married at Sandals Dunn's River in April. But again it's up to YOU and YOUR HUSBAND. <BR> <BR>Good luck and congrats!

Missy - Congrats!! My wife & I were just married 3 weeks ago at the SuperClubs resort in Varadero, Cuba, and it was terrific - what could be better than getting married (or renewing your vows) on a beautiful tropical island? We paid extra for the video & photographer, but we also met a couple there who had a really nice professional-style camera; we gave them a couple rolls of film and they agreed to take some more pictures for us (different angles, backgrounds, etc.) - they came out very nice; it was more than worth it!! <BR> <BR>Also, the ceremony itself was very beautiful, and included a cake & champagne. Also, it was very hassle-free & stress-free, since everything was arranged ahead of time between our travel agent & the resort's Guest Relations Manager; all we had to do was pick our spot once we arrived, and show up for the ceremony 3 days later!! I know that it works the same way in Jamaica as well. <BR> <BR>As far as tying up a full day, that wasn't the case. The ceremony itself was all of 20 minutes, the cake/champagne was another 15 (with pictures), and then we had the photographer for about 45 minutes after that. We started getting ready about 45 min before the ceremony, so the whole thing was about 2 hours out of the day. <BR> <BR>Trust me, it will be more than worth it to you - it will make your vacation that much more memorable; if you're spending that much money to somewhere beautiful like Jamaica, why not do it all?!? As others have said, though, it's entirely up to you & your husband. Enjoy your trip either way, Missy! <BR> <BR>Tim

Missy, <BR> Go for it! My husband and I were married at Couples, Ocho Rios in June <BR>1998. Our ceremony, reception, pictures <BR>and video took all of 1-1 1/2 hours. It <BR>is well worth it to renew your vows. You <BR>will treasure the pictures for many years. Ours turned out beautifully, and <BR>we only purchased the smallest package. Once we got home (they gave us the negatives), we made copies for our parents so that they could have their own albums. I think a simple white dress looks much more beautiful than all the frills, veil, etc. Whatever you choose, you most certainly will have a great time! Let us know what you decide. <BR> Heather <BR>

Missy, <BR>If the renewal is free and you are already paying a high price for staying at the resort, why not? You are worried about loosing a day's worth of relaxation time? I am from India and our wedding traditions take 2-3 days! I have two albums full of really good photos and about 3 video cassettes worth of coverage of the whole ceremony from June 1997. Believe me the time you take to get these photos and video done will be well worth it. We have spent a few cozy weekends looking at all the videos or the photos and re-capturing the magical moments. These are momentoes that are worth whatever money and time they cost. And if you don't get these, what else do you have to remember the special times with - I am presuming you don't have too many photos from your wedding in front of the Justice of Peace. And why don't you two wear the clothes you wore at the your other ceremony (if they are suitable for the Jamaican weather)? I would say go right for it! But that's just my opinion ... you two should really do what YOU want to do ... that's what weddings should be about! <BR>Congratulations! <BR>/Sherry

Go for it! My husband and I were married by a JP in Alexandria VA. While we do have a funny story (he lectured us on maintaining separate bank accounts and hand-corrected his typos on the marriage license with white-out -- we got there when his secy was at lunch) we had no pictures. A year and a half later we had the time and money for a trip to Guadeloupe, I was 5-months pregnant. ("Yes, kids, this was our honeymoon, but no ...") <BR> <BR>23 years later, we've been to many lovely places together, but have few pictures of ourselves dressed up as a couple in romantic settings (all cameras are different, waiters and by-standers good intentions don't always do a good job, etc.). You will never <BR>regret having done it!

Missy, I gotta know....are you going to renew your vows or not?????

Missy, <BR>I got married at the Justice of the Peace as well in 1996. <BR> <BR>Just renewed our vows at the Charela Inn in Negril, Jamaica. Was it worth it? Hell, Yes!!! <BR> <BR>Our wedding included 1 roll of film (36) and 25 pictures developed in Jamaica by the photographer. <BR> <BR>Everyone here back home keeps ooing and and aahing over how beautiful the photos are. We have the best wedding photos of everyone in our families who ever got married! <BR> <BR>Trust me, you won't regret it ever!!! The reason we did the wedding was to have the photos as momentos. Besides, its nice to have something to show your child or children later on. <BR> <BR>We did not do a video because only 2 friends were able to make the trip to Jamaica. So, if its only you and your husband who will be there(no wedding party) skip the video and just do the photos. A video is useless without enough family and friends there.

DO IT! My husband and I and our 4 children went to Jamaica 12 years ago and were married on the beach at sunset. It was informal yet beautiful. 10 years later, just the 2 of us renewed our vows at BEACHES in Negril. Short ceremony,1 nice photo, cake and champagne. We met a couple from Canada who stood up for us and also took lots of snapshots. A wonderful memory. Not much fuss. <BR>Eileen and John <BR>

I think everyone is right and I should renew my vows - I would LOVE to have the pictures. And I am going to do like you said your friend did, Christine, and do my own hair and makeup, wear a sundress and Carl, my husband, can wear his tan dockers and maybe a white button down shirt. I think it will be worth it just to have the pictures!! I heard that they have someone (at all the resorts) who goes around posing you just right all over the most beautiful spots at the resort. We are going to do it!! BTW, we are still waiting for my husband to get his annual leave approved for April 6 thru April 14. Wish me luck!!

I think everyone is right and I should renew my vows - I would LOVE to have the pictures. And I am going to do like you said your friend did, Christine, and do my own hair and makeup, wear a sundress and Carl, my husband, can wear his tan dockers and maybe a white button down shirt. I think it will be worth it just to have the pictures!! I heard that they have someone (at all the resorts) who goes around posing you just right all over the most beautiful spots at the resort. We are going to do it!! BTW, we are still waiting for my husband to get his annual leave approved for April 6 thru April 14. Wish me luck!!

I think everyone is right and I should renew my vows - I would LOVE to have the pictures. And I am going to do like you said your friend did, Christine, and do my own hair and makeup, wear a sundress and Carl, my husband, can wear his tan dockers and maybe a white button down shirt. I think it will be worth it just to have the pictures!! I heard that they have someone (at all the resorts) who goes around posing you just right all over the most beautiful spots at the resort. We are going to do it!! BTW, we are still waiting for my husband to get his annual leave approved for April 6 thru April 14. Wish me luck!!

Missy, <BR>My friend that I told you about....She told me that her husband wore a collared shirt (like a golf shirt) and navy pants (like Dockers). <BR> <BR>Also, I'm getting married at Sandals Dunn's River on April 10, 1999. Maybe we'll run into each other somewhere in Jamaica! Best of Luck!!! <BR> <BR>