Well its near the end of business on Friday and I am still waiting for three proposals from independent wedding planners…

Wedding Planner 1 is the one we met with when we visited Aruba. She’s pretty busy right now and told me she would get me a formal proposal by the 30th of June, so she’s cool. I’m certain she’ll follow through.

Then there is Wedding Planner 2, who was recommended to us by the Aruba Marriott. I emailed her on the 12th of June. She didn’t reply to the email but did finally call me on the 19th of June, a week later, explaining that she had been busy. I was busy at the moment that she called but told her that I would like to talk more, maybe on Monday. I admit she called at kind of a bad time so I wonder if I seemed hassled at all. Anyway – I followed up with an email Sunday night, the 21st, thanking her for the call and letting her know that I did still want to talk to her. I also mentioned that I was pretty anxious to find out if she would be able to do the draping and what the cost might be. (If its going to remain out of our budget I’d rather know now and move on to other ideas. If it is in the budget its going to really restrict what else I can do so I’d like to know that too since I am trying to figure out what kind of budget I may have available for a welcome party.)

Well now end of business on Friday and I still have no word. No more calls and no reply to my email. The previous week she did say that she had been busy that week as they had just moved, so I’m trying to give the benefit of the doubt here. Still, a quick note saying ‘I haven’t forgotten about you’ would be nice. I can’t help but wonder – does she not want the business since this wedding might not be as lucrative for her given that its at the Marriott?

And then wedding / event planner 3 recommended from the Aruba forum. We exchanged a few emails on June 15/16 and he wasn’t sure yet if he would have our date available but said he would let me know. I also sent him a follow up email on the 21st inquiring if at least the canopy might be available and what its pricing might be but haven’t heard back.

I have to admit I’m feeling a little down as I cannot get these answers. I guess that’s part of the ‘planning from afar’ and choosing such a small island. This isn’t one of those cases where you can just move on to another vendor. Particularly for something like the canopy draping. So I’m feeling there is a pretty good chance it won’t be available (or affordable). Its not that its THAT urgent – the wedding is still 4 months away.

This is all quite an exercise in patience and flexibility. I guess its probably good for me. =) I’ll wait through the weekend and email the Marriott planner on Monday to see if she’s heard anything.