Sarah

Ahhh! Christa, the dress is stunning on you:) You don't look boated, silly girl- you look beautiful! That looks totally perfect for your RD dress.

Rebecca, others might know the answer to this better than me, but isn't there a 50lb weight limit for checked baggage? I just want to make sure your bag of OOT and gift stuff isn't too heavy. Maybe you can pay extra, probably depends on which airline you are on...

Christa- I forgot how gorgeous your dress is! You looks sooo beautiful and teeny-tiny! Kash, I bet this style would work well for you. I tried this type of dress with the pick-ups and I am sadly just too short for this kind of dress. It looked like the dress was wearing me, not me wearing a dress!

Quote: Originally Posted by NABUMBAH Kash, back in college i worked in an upscale bridal salon. Things that work really well to make you (general) look smaller are: gowns with a rouched waist gowns with a dropped waist gowns that have an X pattern at the waist. I would not recommend: natural waist anything with too much detail around your mid-section I do think that strapless is usually a good choice, even if you have large arms. Generally all that white fabric just makes you look bigger. I would also look for an aline gown. Try to shy away from anything with pleats, and gathering around the waist. If you want any help looking for gowns I would be happy to join you. I am in OC by the way, there is NO freaking way that you are full-figured. Yeah- she's crazy to say FF! No way, silly girl I agree with your dress types, I'm not a big girl by any means and could stand to lose a few pounds so I think the types of dresses you suggested make anyone who needs to "lose a few" look better. A rouched waist really helps draw your eye to the side and hids some poofiness! Quote: Originally Posted by SASSYGIRL Yeah! It makes me sick to think that you are calling yourself "full-figured" that must mean I am a whale! Although I do appricate your post since it is something that I have been thinking about too. I am currently a comfortable size 14. I would love to be a 10 when I get married but need to keep working at it. I am just outside of LA and would love to get together to go dress shopping with a group of the girls on this board. I think it could be really fun! Sarah, you're not a whale, you look beautiful in your pictures! I wish I lived in Cali so I could go shopping with you girls! I can't wait to see what you end up with Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira So as many of you know I am trying to shed some pounds before I head to the stores to try on dresses. But I'm hitting up against needing to start serious dress shopping in the next month or so (to give enough time for it to be made/fitted etc.) So on that note I thought it would be a great idea to take a poll and get some feedback on what the best styles are for a "full-figured" bride. I'm not exactly "full-figured" but I'm not very thin either so I'd really like to find something that's flattering and can create the illusion of a waist (which I don't have much of) I keep reaching for empire waist but then people might htink I'm pregnant! I certainly don't want anyone asking me the due date at my wedding! What do you think is most flattering Sleeve length: Strapless Halter Spagetti Cap Sleeves Full sleeves 3/4 sleeves Sleeveless 1-inch straps What do you think is the best dress length? Floor length Tea length Just below knee-length Knee length Again, Kash- you're silly, you're not full-figured, you just have a few pounds to lose! I would definitely avoid empire- that only flatters the super tiny girls! It definitely was not a good look on me... Sleeves: I vote strapless or halter. I also agree with Janet's post about a v-neck, very flattering. I'm a traditional girl, so I vote floor length! Quote: Originally Posted by SarahMc I lost 100 about five years ago doing slimfast and exercising. I want to lose at least 40 more, but now I combine slimfast, a diet journal and exercise - I'm a little tired of slimfast! SarahMc- that is so awesome! Good for you, you must be so proud! Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira Great advice Janet - a V-neck sounds like a good idea - helps balance all the skin showing on my arms! BTW When I wrote "A-Line" (so generic) I didn't mean the style of dress was generic it just seems like everything I look at says "A-Line" and then they're all different! You did a perfect job descriing your dress! I think that so many dresses are classified as A-line, but it really is a flattering line to a dress for so many body types!

Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira OK, so I've been doing WW for about 3 weeks and I've lost 1 inch around my waist and hips (yii-peee!) and about 5 pounds (I lost 1 lb. but then managed tyo gain it back in one day when my friend was visiting and we went out for Mexican food and I ate chips and salsa and drank 1/2 a margarita... But I think I'm back down now. So anyway I thought I'd pass along some of the stuff that's been working for me: 1) Water. This stuff is like a miracle weight loss elixir! I should bottle it and sell it as an "amazing weight loss tool - just drink 2 quarts a day and you are sure to lose weight - gaurenteed!" Seriously - this stuff is no joke. 2) Tomatoes - I love them. 1 cup has 0 points! I like to eat a handful of cherry tomatoes with my lunch. 3) Progresso Garden Vegetable soup (low-sodium sometimes) - 3 points and delicious and filling. Today I added one serving of Trader Joe's tortilla chips and had a tasty lunch for like 6 points... 4) Low fat cream cheese or goat cheese - add one Tbsp. to any bland pasta sauce and for 1 point you now have a delicious "rich" (but not fattening) cream sauce. 5) Dreamfields pasta. It's half "whole wheat" and half regular semolina. And comes out to half the points of regular pasta (which means you can eat either more of it or opt for something extra). 6) Trader Joe's Pomodoro Sauce - 1/2 cup = 1 point. I have other jars of stuff in my fridge that are like 2 or 3 points oer 1/2 cup. Plus it's delicious. 7) Western "Alternative" Bagel (1 pt.) with 1 tbsp. low fat cream cheese (1 pt. is one hell of a delicious snack! Pria 110 calorie bars - 2 points and great in the afternoon at work for a 3pm snack. 9) Shopping. There's nothing more motivazting than going shopping and having clothes start to look good again yay! 10) Pickles. Ok, so I guess I should eat too many of these guys 'cuase they're loaded with salt - BUT they are great if you're craving something salty/crispy and basically 0 points. 11) Dannon light n fit fat free yogurt - no sugar added. Find the one thaty's 60 calories and it only has 1 point (versus the 2 the rest of them have) 12. Low fat granola - 1/3 cup is more than enough and plop it in your yogurt for a 3 point breakfast. 13. lean Cuisines - I love the Santa Fe Rice & Beans. It's creamy and delicious and has 6 points (even though the box says it has 5 - I plugged the info into the website and it comes up as 6) 14. Polenta - pre-cooked (slice into rounds and "fry" in cooking spray). Filling and delicious w/ pasta sauce. 15. Quorn Naked (fake chicken in the frozen section) - 1 peice - 1 pt. So I haven't quite incorporated to exerrcise part but i figure one step at a time or I'll get overwhelmed... Anyway I hope my list can help something else. the biggest thing is the water - man that stuff really works! Awesome suggestions Kash! I have found some of the same things you have. My current favorite is Orville Redenbacher Smart Pop mini bags. A whole bag of popcorn for 2 points! It keeps my snackiness happy. I also survive on sugar free jello for 0 points and sugar free jello pudding for 1 point. I also love lean cuisines. They have pizza for 8 points!

Quote: Originally Posted by NHPT so far mariana has been amazing in helping me plan our wedding. somewhere on this board tammy posted a review of a wedding at dreams and they had AMAZING things to say about mariana- so i think the change was a good one Nicole, how have you found is the best way to correspond with Mariana? I have no complaints, but i just haven't contacted her about much so far. I would really like to know what their decor options are, but last time I asked she sent me pics of the gazebo...Maybe I need to be more specific. What are you having her do for you so far?

Quote: Originally Posted by host i'll send you the jpg so you can email it to cake bakeries and maye to see if she can help. here are some more pics...(click on the pic to get a bigger version) Ooh, I love the really elaborate one with chocolate and flowers- awesome!

Welcome to the board, good luck with your planning! A cruise wedding sounds really fun

That is a very cute idea if you had a red theme. It also would be cool for Sarah (Sassygirl) since she's right around the 4th of July..Not sure what your theme is Sarah.

Quote: Originally Posted by HBBRIDE Hi Tammy, Thanks for asking! My dad had a complete Mastectomy on Oct. 3rd. and is now having preventative chemo. He is in great spirits. His breast cancer did not spread to his lymph nodes which we are so thankful for!!!! This was huge shock and ordeal for our family. Breast cancer is everywhere however the precentage in males in very small. My dad will have preventative chemo for the next 9 mos. This was super hard to deal with at first (and at times still is) but we are very thankful that things are looking up for us!! It was hard to think about our wedding when everything was fist happening but now that he is okay....we are SO thankful!!! Now more then ever we want this party to be rockin!!!! Kristi, I am so happy to hear he had a successful Mastectomy and is on the road to recovery. How scary for your family, but it sounds like you have a good support system in place. Best of luck with his recovery! Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira Kristi - I'm so happy to hear your dad is doing better! That must have been so hard for you - and what a relief to know it didn't spread! By any chance did you snap any pics of the weddings? What kind of flowers (or color flowers did they do? Kash, you crack me up! Quote: Originally Posted by host you are so bad... to have this compete stranger take all these pics of your wedding lol- that's what i thought too

I would just come right out and ask here if there is anything specific she would really like to be a part of. My FMIL never got to go dress shopping with her daughter when she got married, so she wanted to be part of that experience with me. Mind you, she's involved in politics and hasn't been able to make the time and I ended up buying my dress without her (but that's another post entirely...). Anyway, do what makes you feel comfortable. If there's a specific part of your wedding plans that you know she'd be good at (ex: calligraphy, designing table cards, picking out flowers- whatever her "thing" is) ask her to help. Otherwise, just as I'd suggest with your own mom, it's your day and you call the shots! If she's as busy as she sounds, she might make a obligatory small commitment and never follow through, so have a back up just in case!

I like Janet's idea of the flowy shirt/pants, especially if she's not especially "girlie". It will look feminine, yet make her comfortable. Looking forward to Janet's pics!

Wow Kristina! I think you've taken over my title of the lottery queen!

Quote: Originally Posted by gkashmira Maria Elena - can I hire you to make my wedding an exact replica of yours? It seriously was amazing! You are fantastic! I agree kash- it was so beautiful! I am just hoping maybe I just absorb some of her creativity and organization, then I'd be all set!

That is just plain scary. I keep telling my prospective guests that they're getting a great rate through my room block, that it's much safer to book through a TA, but yet, some insist they want to book through Expedia or Orbitz. ARRGGHHHHHH!! I just hope they make it!

Quote: Originally Posted by NATASHA I Janet - I highly recommend a digital photo frame. You can get a great one from Frys for less than $150 (you have to go to the store, though - they don't have any good ones online). Give it to your parents and then surprise them after the wedding with a SD card populated with pictures from the wedding, showers, etc. It's such a great gift! I love that idea Natasha. I was actually just looking at those yesterday. They have a 7" 64MB one at Sam's club right now for $119.63 online. They also have other larger ones.... http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/sea...mpleitemtype=0

I chose Dreams Los Cabos because We wanted to get married in Mexico We wanted somewhere on the beach with a location with a beach view, but didn't necessarily want to get married in the sand (Dreams has the most beautiful gazebo) We needed somplace that allowed children We wanted all-inclusive We wanted ocean view rooms We found Juan Carlos Tapia's website and he led me to this forum and with all the Dreams brides on here, it seemed like the thing to do! We loved the view in Cabo Pictures were one of the most important things to us, so I will confess much of our decision to get married in Cabo was based on the fact that Juan was there!

Quote: Originally Posted by TAMMYM Hey everyone, I just seen this posted on another forum.. Great price for OOT bags, check it out.. http://www.cheaptotes.com/ Great bags, thanks Tammy! I see you all got your answer regarding what OOT stands for- you are too funny!

That looks like a beautiful idea Jackie. The pictures of the ponds look gorgeous. It says they do Catholic ceremonies too.

Edyta! I love those dresses! Where did you find them- they will look awesome

Quote: Originally Posted by host sarah, since your wedding is smaller you may not need another WC especially since marianna is handling you wedding and in the past ericka (who is no longer working for dreams) was the one that had problems. I think that is the direction I'm leaning towards. i'm just worried about the decor. I don't want anything really elaborate, but I love the idea of flower is large round cylinders (kinda like what you had for your AHD). Do you think Mariana can arrange that or would i have to rent it elsewhere, like Fun & Motivation?

We haven't officially booked it yet, but we are planning to go back sometime probably Feb or March. We got 2 rooms for 2 nights with our contract so we just have to pay for air. During my second visit I plan to meet with florist, cake baker, finalize decor, etc. Now I just need to make a decision about a coordinator. Maybe I'll add a separate post for that.

Welcome to the board, good luck with your planning! Tammy, that Costa Rica villa looks amazing!

Quote: Originally Posted by KACENGG Thanks so much for the points. I guess I better get active on this site now! I'm more of a lurker since my wedding is still over a year away....but I've sure got tonnes of wonderful ideas from you girls. thanks again! No problem. It's amazing how fast the points add up once you get active on the board!

Quote: Originally Posted by Ryjaxs19 Oh good. Sometimes I wonder If anyone is even interested in these places I keep reading about. These reviews are great Jackie. Even though I'm not getting married there, I like to know of other places I want to visit someday. My FI and I love Mexico and will probably go every year.