gkashmira

What are you guys planning for your reception dinners? Buffet? Plated? and which ones? I think we may go for the Caribbean Cook-out and then add the pasta station for an extra $8/person + $60 for the extra chef. It comes out to $53/pp before tax and all that stuff. I thought the Italian buffet looked good too but my FI didn't want to do Italian... What do you guys have in mind?

Well you could upload them to a photobucket account and then paste the links here. Or you could upload them to your gallery and we'll all go look at them! Hmm.. maybe Tammy could put them up for us. Tammy, are you out there?

Quote: Originally Posted by CABOBRIDE200 I had originally set a budget of $2,000 for my gown. I ended up falling in love with one that was retailing for $700 - $770. I ended up ordering the dress from RK Bridal in New York. They will beat any on-line price quote by 5%. I felt comfortable ordering from them, because they are listed on the manufacturer's website as an authorized retailer. The lowest quote I was able to find online for my dress was $499, so I ended up buying the dress for $475 with no tax because I live outside of NY. Also, there was no shipping cost, per my original on-line quote from another retailer. RK bridal was quick to reply and confirm my order. I ordered the dress a few weeks ago and it should be here by the beginning of February (assuming all goes well). Here is a link to my dress: http://www.casablancabridal.com/Prod...n&SubCat=2006# Good luck finding the dress of your dreams!! Jessalyn - That dress is gorgeous! And great price!

Good point Jaackie - i was sort of thinking the same thing... PLus if more than 50 people come then I'm really starting to spend WAY too much on the RD...

Great idea ladies! I need to figure it out soon! The problem I'm having it that the RSVP function on my website is weird and people need to have their individual "code" to respond... which I didn't realize or send out earlier. I need to somehow incorporate this into the invite or the response card... Maybe adding a line on the response card? Ahhhhhh! I also haven't definitely locked down the RD sight. I'm torn between Casa Natalia or Baja Cantina... two VERY different places. Casa Natalia can do a full dinner with wine for 50 people for $5K (with tax and service chanrges included). Baja Cantina can do a taco bar and open domestic bar for 50 peeple for about $4K... so what would people rather have? I have no idea. The food at Casa Natalia will be WAY better but then the bar is limited and the atmosphere is a lot more formal. At Baja Cantina it'll be more of a bonfire on the beach with taco buffet and could be fun but also is sort of similiar to what we're doing for the Reception... jeesh! Either way I'll also need a bus for guest to go to/from the venue... Ahhhhhh! I just wish I didnt' have to decide this all now. But if I want to include it in the invite then I need to. So maybe that'll be my decision. Procrastination. yes, I think I vote procrastination.

Great info! Their flowers look so pretty!

You are all fantastic - thank you so much for your help! Tasha - I love that you found your dress on eBay! So what I've learned is that there are great dresses at every price range and it all just depends on what looks good on ME... Though I probably won't be trying on any $10K dresses... Was the sample sale at Saks all sizes or just tiny sizes? It seems like wedding dresses run super small so I doubt they'll have my size in a sample... unless they carry one of each size for try-ons. I'm definitely going to check out Weddingbee and Preownedweddingsdresses and EBay - any other recommendations?

Quote: Originally Posted by EDYTA also forgot to add...I will be wearing my dress 3 times once in Cabo than reception in Toronto and in Calgary....so I just justify it that way Edyta - If you divide the cost of your dress by 3 then you got a great deal on it anyway! is it posted up in the dress thread? I'll have to get check it out!

Quote: Originally Posted by AQHARIDER I spent $495 on my dress and $230 on my veil. I could have soooo easily spent $4-5k on a dress so I didn't let myself even try something like that on. I just kept shopping until I found something under my $2k limit. I was pleasantly surprised when the dress I fell in love with ended up to be very inexpensive! My advice- find what makes you feel beautiful, but set your budget ahead of time. Once I found this dress, I would have paid for it no matter how much it cost, I loved it so much- luckily it was cheap! Sarah - I LOVE your dress! Is this a new one? Your waist looks so tiny!

I hope you guys don't think I'm RUDE for asking! (I am just really overwhelmed with the dress buying process so I'm trying to gather as much info as possible before I veture out there! Can you tell what a neurotic person I am?!? Thank you all so much for your help!

OK, my lovely ladies... I am starting to research possible dresses for my wedding (of course - what else?!?). And I was just wondering on average how much the dresses really cost... I see a lot of dresses online that are imexpensive... I just wonder if people have had good luck with these! You don't have to answer if you're rather not of course but maybe you guys can tell me what I can expect to find at the different price points? Is there a huge difference between a $500 dress and a $5000 dress? What is it? I have to admit that I've just never spent even $500 on a peice of clothing before so I'm really confused... and i want to look gorgeous (of course!)...

Sarah - I think in may you should be safe. The key is really just to ask the airline before you buy your tickets. Or of course you can ask your TA...

Quote: Originally Posted by NABUMBAH looks like this is where we'll be honeymooning. Chris just won a charity auction for four nights here. Looking forward to it! Fantastic! You're going to love it!

Great job Sarah! That's awesome! I know I stalled out because I ate out too much and all tyhe same but I neeed to be strict again too! OK, starting right... wait for it... wait for it... NOW!

I think my mom and I are going to look at dresses over the Thanksgiving Holiday... well maybe - I guess the holiday might make it crazy. Should I make asn appointment?

I have no idea where our budget ended up but it's probably closer to the 20K mark since our original plan of having 50 people is out the door. The thing that is cheaper about an AI is that when you have a wedding at an AI (or even if you don't have the actual ceremony but you do have the reception, etc.) is that all the food and drinks are generally included. Sionce the guests are already paying to be staying at an AI then there is no additional fee for them. There is generally a set-up fee per person but this comes out to way less than what food & drinks wsill cost. However if you do not plan on holding your events at the hotel than this may not be a good option for you... Tammy would know better though... Where are you planning on getting married right now?

I love that idea! Would a florist understand what I'm asking for? I would I word it?

wooo-hoooo Rebecca! We will miss you but have a WONDERFUL time and enjoy every second! I hope everything goers perfectly and beautifully!

I think a cruise is wonderful! I suggested it to my parents as well as the alternative... turns out THEY don't like boats that much!

How did you guys get the word out for your rehearsal/welcome dinners? Did you include a card in the invitation? Did you send out a separate invite? Did you send a letter to all those who responded yes letting them know about it? I want to get going on my invites but since I haven't decided 100% about the details (when, where, who, what, how...) I am hesitating having them printed. I know if we were doing a normal RD with just family and the wedding party then there would be separate invites... but since everyone who's invited to the wedding how do I word it? I'm thinking I might wait until I know who's coming... but what if it's too late by then?

What a sweetie your HUSBAND is! No more "F" "I" for you Mrs. MM!

Tammy - Maybe you're right - I might need to just go in there and try on every dress they have and figure out what works! Strapless is sounding less and less scary! BTW - Thank you for saying I look thin in my picture MariaElena - You looked so beautiful and thin it's hard for me to imagine you dont' have a waist (and trust me I can relate on the "most hated body part!")! I will have to try on a corsett top with the V detailing and A-Line. It sounds like we may have the same probelm! definitely very helpful advice!

Well I do good all day long with counting and everything but when the nighttime comes either one of three things happen: 1) I make food, count it all up and all is well 2) I make food count it all up and all is wel... until I feel hungry again. Mostly I've been curbing this urge to eat more by slicing up a big apple into small peices and then eating it really slowly peice by peice. BUT there has been a few days where I just ate more food - even if it was healthy. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal and would be the "flex ponts" but since I (and this is obviously a bad trend that I need to break) had a friend visit me for night from out of town we went out for mexican and even though I ordered well (shrimp and rice) and took 1/2 home I still ate the chips and salsa and drank some of a margarita... which I am just counting as my 35 points (who knows how much oil and crap was in the food too!). Anyway that was last week on Thursday - the first day of my week! 3) All is well but then my FI makes dinner and I dont' know how to count up what he's cooked with becuase he made it before I came home from work. And I have to eat it because he's all proud and spends tons of time preparing these meals and trying new recipes... But the big thing that I think you nailed right on the head is variety - I have basically been eating the exact same thing everyday for every meal... might explain why I'm suddenly not as satisfied! Ok, I'm going to try it! Anyway, tomorrow I need to go back and weigh in (I also missed one meeting/weigh-in) because it was the same day my friend came into town... hmmm... it's all starting to make sense! rebecca - you are So close to your wedding - when are you flying out?

Natasha - you need to let them handle it! It;s their time to shine at work and YOUR time to shine at the beach!!!

Certain airlines put restrictions on excess baggage (extra peices of luggage or luggage that is overweight) during certain heavily trafficed months. Continental Airlines to Mexico and the caribbean does this fairliy often. But other airlines do it as well - if you plan on bringing heavy bags or extra boxes/suitcases etc. please check ahead of time so you don't get denied at the airport! Continental Airlines: http://www.continental.com/web/en-US...e/embargo.aspx Restricted (they will accept 1 peice of extra luggage I think) During following Dates to Cabo: November 15, 2006 - January 15, 2007 March 30, 2007 - April 11, 2007 June 4, 2007 - August 31, 2007 This is a pretty big chunk of the year and it starts next week - so make sure your airline isn't doing the same for the high season (now)! It's just go to know ahead of time...