VALERIE

We used Fare Deals Fare Deals Discount Travel Do keep checking! I swear I called 15 travel agents to help me, and then i decided which one to go with based on several aspects... customer service, experience in destination weddings, price, packages, etc.

Quote: Originally Posted by LEIGH Not only do they not look finished, but are they going to mail alright with the starfish glued on? (is the starfish gonna be crushed when they open them? Should I get busy and make some else to go around them or something?) Do any of you have any experience with these? And can you think of anything that I can add to jazz it up a bit?! Or do you like them simple like that and then surprise everyone with all of the color once they get there? Help! Leigh - Your invites are very similar to the ones I sent out, so I'm going to share what I learned! I put mine in regular 'greeting' card envelopes from Staples. I found that the smaller the starfish, the better they traveled (the larger starfish seemed to break easier). I made sure to get glue on each arm/leg of the starfish, this seemed to help (versus just a dab in the middle). I also think that my ribbon was thick enough to take the brunt of some of the post office handling. Also, when you take them to the post office, be sure to ask that they not put them through the machine (this will smush them completely!). In the end, I wish I would have spent a little more and got the padded envelopes. Hope this helps!

Congrats! The best advice I got the week before I left was... Don't stress about it now, you can't change much! Everything will be perfect! Live in the moment, and most of all enjoy your new husband!

We gave my Matron-of-honor her gift the weekend before we left for Mexico. I got her a really nice, engraved jewelry box with the wedding jewelry inside. We actually paid for the Best Man to go, so that was his gift! I just didn't want to mess with moving the jewelry box to Mexico and then have her bring it home. If it's something smaller, I would totally do it the night before. Then, they can admire the jewelry before they have to put it on too!

Absolutely, we are all going through the same comments (or did!) at some point of another. My parents and sister were no board from the very beginning. They were the ones telling me not to listen to the others! My brother could not afford it, so he didn't go. Truth be told, I offered to pay for him, but he still couldn't 'afford to take the time off.' I was upset he couldn't be there only for the fact that we were prepared to foot the bill. My fiance's family was more hesitant, and voiced their opinions more. I knew that one of the families really wanted to go, so I basically took their top dollar that they could afford... and found the resort and everything else based on their top dollar. In the end it worked out fine, but I still wish we would have been somewhere nicer than the resort we ended up with. Ironically, we are all planning on doing another trip in 2 years! HA! This time, I'm not planning! lol

I struggled for quite some time about the first dance song. I found this song at the very last minute and ABSOLUTELY love it! I thought I'd throw it out there for the rest of you.... Feels Like Home by Chantal Kreviazuk

Quote: Originally Posted by OneLove valerie.. about what time did the sunset on your wedding day? Well, our wedding started at 5 pm. At that time the sun had begun to set already, so it was beautiful! The ceremony was over in 25 minutes, we toasted and cut the cake.... then ran off with the photographer to get some photos. It was too dark to take photos by 6:15 pm.

I got married in Playacar (about a 20 minute walk south of Playa Del Carmen) this past January! Welcome! The location is absolutely wonderful and amazing! Take a look around and ask questions! We are all happy to help!

I had three personal camera's (my sisters, mine and my sister-in-laws) set up. One from each side and one in the middle of the aisle. My mother-in-law is a teacher at the local high school and actually teaches the video-graphy class! We were so lucky! She took the three tapes and cut them together, put some photos in where the video wasn't good, and added some music. It is so awesome to look back at the day! She also made one version that is extremely cut to the important parts only - I think it 10 minutes long or less. This is the version that we showed at the AHR and show if anyone wants to see it. Nobody really wants to see the 30 minute version other than us.

I'm so glad you asked the question! If I had to do it over again, the first thing that I would change is the time of the ceremony! IMO I would suggest 4 o'clock or 4:30 for the ceremony. We had a 5 pm ceremony and ran out of daylight for the photos. We actually had to stop because we were out of light and didn't get some photos that I really wanted. Just my opinion. Use or toss.

Thanks ladies! I ordered #1 simply because most of our family and close friends want the photo of us facing the camera. Now they can have all of my favorites!!!!! You're the best! By the way - I ordered from Shutterfly. I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out!

OK, so I can't even believe I am telling you this... Ready..... I went and found the cheapest, cutest ring. My husband is a mechanic at a trucking company and also farms. He will probably only wear the ring when we go out, if that! His ring cost...... $90! Ha! But he loves it!

Keep looking and search for a great deal! You will find it! We went to the Riviera Maya for 7 days and paid $1200 per person (all inclusive). Good luck!

Quote: Originally Posted by Julesr Hey all, while you are out there looking on the net for information if you happen to see Monogram Cake Toppers that are a good price (and deliver to Canada), can you send me the site, or post it here. I want to get one, but I don't want to pay $50 for it, that is a lot in my opinion, I would rather not have one. Thanks in advance guys. I really loved the one that I ordered, so I'm going to throw that website out there too! I chose this one - Looking for acrylic cake top - round? Shop Jean M It's $25 (including the personalizing), plus a little for shipping. I have it sitting on my shelf now, right next to the wedding photos! What a cool keepsake! This acrylic cake top is fast becoming brides’ favorite! The round cake top features the verse “an unbroken and neverending circle symbolizes a commitment of love that is neverendingâ€. It is printed with your monogram, with your first names only, or with your first names and wedding date. 4" diameter Here is the website for all of their toppers - Looking for cake tops? Shop Jean M

Quote: Originally Posted by jpkw Valerie - welcome back!! do you have a picture of your aisle with the starfish?? sounds so cute!! I don't have a real good photo, but this is the one that I do have. They just lined the aisle on both sides with the large starfish - looked pretty cool!

Thank you so much! So helpful to have someone else's opinions!

I just can't decide which photos to use on my thank you's! Can you help?! Please vote... my new husband is no help at all! Thank You V 1 - Thank You V2 -

We did the AHR thing, and I really wish we wouldn't have. We loved it and had a blast, but it was so not necessary. My biggest mistake was planning it so close to the wedding! We returned late on that Sunday night, and the party was that next Saturday. We hardly had things unpacked and people were at our house ready to stay the weekend! Like I said, it was fun... we did the whole get dressed back up, provide dinner, gt a DJ and dance. Maybe I'm biased though because our DJ sucked! It was also below 0 outside, so people wanted to get home. We were packed up and leaving the reception hall by 11:30 pm and in bed by 1:00 am. If I were to do it again, I would have waited until the summer and had a backyard BBQ. One thing that we did have (that people enjoyed) was a photo slideshow of the entire vacation playing as people walked in and during the cocktail hour. After the dinner, we showed a cut version of the wedding ceremony. We also did the whole gift registry thing. Didn't get much off the lists, but it was still helpful setting up the house.