REBECCA

Quote: Originally Posted by lbourassa would you recommend getting a signed contract from the hotel with a detailed and itemized list of inclusions/exclusions?? My biggest fear is getting there and finding out that we have an extra billion dollars to fork out for things that we assumed were going to be included... About a week before we left, I emailed mariana a pretty little itemized invoice in excel of all of the charges I expected to pay. She loved it and thanked me for doing her job for her. I felt better because I created it, so there were no surprises. And in the end there weren't! I did the same for Maye Cortinas, my wedding coordinator. I also brought printed copies of all e-mails where they confirmed the invoices were correct, just in case. I recommend printing out all of your e-mail correspondence regarding those important things. Menu, prices, special things they agreed to do (that may be conviently forgotten).

Quote: Originally Posted by weez Ok so heres another one for you guys! Not sure if someone asked already so sorry if you did, but, as far as the actual marriage goes, do any of you feel that there is a difference in your relationships now that you are hubby and wife? Have heard that no matter how much you think it wont, the day to day dynamics change? True? Thanks guys! Funny Day to be asking this. I have a beef with my Hubby right now, which I will post separately the the venting section!!!! We lived together before we got married, so that part doesn't feel different. But what is a weird adjustment is the sharing money thing. It is really hard to get used to. Before, you have your money and he has his money. Now there is always a discussion about spending money, saving money for a house, all of your debts are now one debt. That stuff is an adjustment. Our relationship? That part is great. it does feel great to have that commitment and know the other person has commited to growing old with you. It is a really nice secure feeling and I often think, while snuggling on the sofa on a sunday morning, how wonderful it is that we have the love & support for each other that we have.

I did the Dreams wedding package, which was basically the free ceremony and $20pp for ceremony set up & cocktail hour and $20pp for reception set up. A bouquet was included, but I didn't use it. I had my own made. I hired Maye Cortinas to coordinate my wedding and basically sent her pictures if things I wanted and she sourced them for me and quoted me a price. I booked my bouquet & flowers, music, cake, centerpieces, paper fan favors, firedancers, & luminaries through her. I used Mariana at Dreams for the food, set-up, tiki torches & wiring of the chinese lanterns. I arranged the photographer, videographer on my own and purchased the Chinese Lanterns on my own. I attached a copy of my budget if you're curious? Let me know if you have anymore questions?? Final Budget - Dreams.xls

Ladies, I stumbled across this looking for wedding hair sites for a friend getting married. I'm sure you ALL has seen this, but just in case, it has some really pretty ones. I guess flowers are big right now. Slideshows http://weddings.theknot.com/gallery/...aspx?gallery=7

Great Sig Pic Jen! I can't wait to see the rest of your pictures!!!!

One of my girlfriends was talking about something like this? I am very interested. Let me know if you find out what it is called?? Mine drives me crazy sliding around all the time! So, when you wear them separate, you can't see the attachement pieces

I was planning on wearing a veil initially, but decided against it. I wantewd to look more casual and a veil really dresses things up. But some arguments I have heard are that you only get to wear a veil once in your life, so do it! I even had a friend wear her hair up with a veil for the ceremony and for the reception wore her hair down, curled (with an iron) with the sides pulled back and no veil. It is up to you. Both are very pretty and I don;t think it is too much to wear the flower and the veil together.

I agree with the other girls. Blame the FI. I definitely wouldn't keep her in the wedding in lieu of hurting her feelings. In fact, after the stunt she pulled it is probably better to not have her in your life anyway. Seems like she likes drama and planning a wedding stirs up enough of it on it's own!

About 2/3 of the people we invited sent wedding gits from our registry. A few came right after the STD went out. We were surprised! We also got a few cards with Checks at the wedding in Cabo and a few in the mail. We got around $1800 in checks and the rest was stuff from our registry.

Quote: Originally Posted by sanchez0014 I've been looking at the Cozumel Palace and it looks georgous! they also allow kids at that resort so I think that is where we will be getting married. On our honeymoon we met a couple honeymooning there and they loved it. They also said the food was amazing! Congrats!!

Congrats!! We're working on that next week. We're going to get qualified next week.

I vacationed at The Bahia Principe Akumal about 4 years ago (right when it opened). Oh...it is SO beautiful and they have a great swimming beach area. The people staying at the Bahia Principe Tulum wouls walk down the our beach bcz it was way nicer.

Yes, I agree with the others. I put the actual time. You can put all of the other details in a Welcome Letter (if you're doing OOT bags).

VERY cute!!!

If they look good, why not! But make sure the silk ones aren't more that the real ones. Have you price-compared?

1. In the end was it worth all the money? Ummm....I say yes. It was a lot of money, but I can't think of anything I would have wanted to cut out. Cabo is expensive. Smaller budgets can probably create the same thing in quieter parts of Mexico for less money. I would have gone to another location before cutting anything out. 4. What is the minimum # hours someone should hire a photographer? I say four hours. That is what I did and I got most of the major events of the night covered. However, if you can afford it book five hours, I would do that. If I had just one more hour we could have gotten some of the fire dancers and some more of the dancing at the reception. Juan preety much split after the first dance. He asked if I wanted him to stay and I should have said yes! Friends took a lot of picture too, but, when you put those photos next to the Pro ones, they look like crap!

I agree. I think it is better to put them on the STD's so the parents don;t start planning for the wohle family, then find out a couple months before the wedding that they can't bring their kids.

Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira Thanks darling! I know - you are right. I guess I was just so relieved my first week when I weighed in after vacation at only 1.4 up... so I wasn't expecting to go up AGAIN. But in my (weight's) defence I DID eat Italian food TWICE and even ate a peice of cake. I have a tendency to be too hard on myself (at least I know) but my sweet FI and I talked through it last night and he's going to help me count up the points in our dinners (which he makes for us since he's out of work right now). Whenever I count up the points AFTER I eat I always realize that's I've eaten WAY too much. So now he's going to write down what ingredients and in what quantities he uses ahead of time so I can count up the point BEFORE I eat. On another note - I have not been exercising AT ALL! sigh.... I need to get on that! Don't get too down on yuorself Kash. We've all been there! I gained 8 lbs from my wedding until after Christmas! Just think that if you weren't doing WW it could have been WAY worse than 4 lbs. You are paying attention now, even though you may have had a couple moments of weakness. You weighed in, got a wake-up call and we're starting a new week!

Quote: Originally Posted by LALA I feel your pain Glenda- suit all day, no breaks, etc. The only bonus I have over you is a set end time to work. I'm at the gym at 5:30 pm. Maybe these tips will help: - work out both weekend days. Even if it's just walking a lot, bundle up and head outside. - try getting up 30 min earlier. It's not a drastic change for you sleepwise. You can do some squats, crunches, lunges - all quiet activities. - I second that walking more during daily activities. Get off one subway stop early and walk the rest. - Get a step counter and set goals for steps per day. You'd be amazed how many steps you can cram in. Good idea! You's be surprised the workout you'll get from squats, push ups & crunches. You could get some dumbbells and incorporate that into your work out. That would be plenty. Have you tried Pilates??

Quote: Originally Posted by SASSYGIRL I am down 6lbs since starting bootcamp the Monday after Thanksgiving. I know I am a lot stronger than when I started. My clothes are fitting better and I can run futher everyday (still not a full mile with out walking some of it.) As far as the diet part our instructors make us commit to not eating the following things after 3PM each day: Rice Bread Pasta Potato Refinded Sugar This is easier than given up those items forever but trust me at 2:59 I am seaching for my last bite of yummy stuff. The idea behind the 3PM cut off is that your body starts to shut down for the day after that time and will store everything you put into your mouth. In the morning when we work out it is better to have protien and veggies that have been stored rather than pizza and pasta. Also the other thing they really stress is drinking at least half your body weight in oz. every day. This is a lot of water but I guess it is what your body needs to work its best! Thanks Rebecca for keeping us all on track - you are our own little WW meeting leader! I love it! I also think it is awesome that you have continued to hold your self accountable AFTER the wedding. I am sure your hubby loves it too! No problem Sarah! You seem to be doing really great. Keep up with the excercise and diet. I remember it was coming off really slowly, then BAM it started dropping off really fast and people started really noticing. That is a great feeling and really motivates you to keep going! It is important to keep up with the diet and excercise together though! Running is really great and if you keep that up, you will defnitely see your body start changing FAST! It has been hard to keep on track after the wedding. I still need to lose 6 lbs to get back to my wedding weight. It is really hard when you don't have the wedding goal! Thanks for the 3:00 PM tip. My husband and are going to try that!

Yes, we had luminaries too! Maybe you can find some floating votives then the wind can't blow them out? I'm sure they make them.

Hi Ladies, I found this on Red Envelope. I am going to just use the 200 prints Juan included with the wedding package and make my own album. Check it out: RedEnvelope

Quote: Originally Posted by AQHARIDER OK, I don't know if this will make sense, since I'm STILL recovering from how bad I was during the holidays! I was down 7.5 at the middle of January, then gained 5, now down 2.5 from there (when you include the 1.4 I lost this week). So, I'm still not back to where I was in December, but I am also working out and lifting weights regularly now, when I wasn't before and my clothes fit better... Good job Sarah! The point is your were DOWN this week!! And 1.4 lbs...that's GREAT!

It definitely helps to have a support group. I did WW two or 3 times in the past, and the last run (a year before the wedding), I joined with 3 or 4 girls from work. We would leave on our break and go weigh in really quick together at WW (our office is pretty flexible) every Friday. We would share recipes, etc. I lost 20 lbs. I have NEVER in my life been able to lose that weight (except when I would get my heart broken -- break up weight..got love it--J/K). But anyway, I was able to do it last year because I had support and we made it fun for each other. As soon as you stop counting or paying attention, it is SOO easy to "forget" about thing you put in your mouth. It ALL adds up. That is why if you write everything down, you will be more cautious, and start seeing results.

Quote: Originally Posted by NATASHA I would go with the solo guitar and the firedancers. AND I would get sparklers for each of the guests. Rebecca, didn't you do that? It makes for GREAT pictures and they're like $2 or $3 per person. No, that was Meahgan. But I agree, they are fun..probably REALLY fun when you're drunk! Ha Ha