starchild

Yari I have tried their iced coffee and it is really good. McDonald's coffee used to suck but they've stepped it up in recent years!

haha..the fries are good! The last two times I went it was only for the tea...the drive through people were like "that's all?". I'm going back to the spot that had the good tea. It's been really hot here and it is so refreshing and has lots of ice! And 32 ounces for $1!

Very random, but does anyone drink this? I hear MickeyD's has been selling this in the South for awhile now but I guess they just decided L.A. people might enjoy it too...lol I was driving and thirsty and saw the sign, so for $1 I got a ginormous cup of sweet tea. It was really really really good! It is real brewed tea (not powder mix) with sugar and lemon. I got another one from a different McDonald's a few days later and it was not so good. It kind of tasted like it was made in a dirty coffee pot....eww I googled it and it seems there are very strong opinions on the stuff - some people saying it's nasty and too sweet, some saying it's delicious and tastes like "real" southern sweet tea, and some saying it tastes different at different McDonald's. Who's tried it?

Quote: Originally Posted by Kat81 I think no matter where you put her she will be totally excited and nobody is going to care. Yep, that's the truth! Just put her in a sundress, it doesn't have to be a "traditional" formal flower girl dress..afterall your DW is not traditional, right? Have fun shopping

Do you have a wedding coordinator? That should be the person who handles the starting/stopping of music. If not you may have to delegate the task to a responsible guest. We used our own CD's but our site had a sound system. I don't think there is anything wrong with using a CD player. I would just make sure the volume goes loud enough to drown out waves/background noise. It may not be the higest quality of sound but you'll be able to hear the music and it will work, so if you don't care I say go for it! Good luck

Kash you'll love Ines of my soul...great book!! (and my faveorite author) Sorry to hijack

Just got these...here are some pics of the terrain going/coming from the ceremony site to the parking lot. As you see it's difficult in heeled shoes but it's worth the small hike!

Haha...I swear they are smarter than us at that age! I'll be tuning in to see who he thanks at Christmas!

Quote: Originally Posted by Morgan I think that's why we start so many "who else has x months to go" threads. It doesn't seem right that it can be so easy. An no one is going to start a thread saying "I have nothing to worry about!" You only read about the worries. So it does feel odd to not have any problems. Good point. I assure you all that it can be done without worry and stress if you let it. Even with obstacles, it's all how you approach them. When your wedding becomes an "event" in your mind, that's when small things become major issues. My advice is to try to think of it as you marrying the person you love, and everything else is extra Happy, fun, and relaxing planning wishes to everyone )

haha...then that must mean you are prepared! I went through something similar. In fact, when I was new I posted a thread asking if anyone else was not stressed out, because I read so many threads where brides where stressing about decor & details. To my surprise I got a lot of responses from people who also were pretty much done with the big stuff and letting the other pieces fall where they may. You're doing yourself a huge favor by not over-thinking things because I think most of us married gals will tell you that the details aren't what you leave thinking about in the end. Good for you!!! As for the nerves...I suggest meditation and alcohol...hehe

Mrs: Drea B2B: DougsGirl (Abbie)

Quote: Originally Posted by Hartyt509 In reality I will be gutted if she doesn't even make the effort to come and it probably will end the friendship we have, but I refuse to be held to ransom by someone that likes to take but not give anything back lol So in short, if she can't make the effort or at least tell you how she feels, back off, cut her out of being a BM and let her deal with it. Life is too short to deal with your own problems let alone someone else's that doesn't give a rats ass about you lol Amen to that!

You can try talking to her but I wouldn't try too hard and if she's making it difficult then drop her. This may be the one time in life when you aren't "supposed to" cater to other people's personal problems, they should be concerned about you or at least mature enough to talk out what is really going on. I had minor BM issues so I understand the frustration, but in the end you need to shake off the dead weight. Don't feel bad for wanting to surround yourself with positive and happy people. Good luck )

I agree with the previous poster to ask guests to pay the deposit themselves. From my experience, as well as what I read here all the time, people will flake and if you have to eat that money or end up with more credit than you can use at that specific hotel, you won't be happy. Good luck!

Quote: Originally Posted by LC_Rachel haha love the poems. I received a starfish from Paula V. I think this is following the "old" starfish guidelines. Who do I pass it on to when I return? Is this a questions specifically for Shelley? If I'm not mistaken, I think that is the starfish I sent Drea, Drea sent Susan, and Susan sent Paula! If that's right it's pretty amazing it hasn't broken between the suitcases and shipping! Did yours come with a striped journal that I wrote in?

Yep, it's out of hand and like someone mentioned I think some parents try but their kids go behind their backs...i.e. leave the house dressed one way and change when they can. If you are 16 with a job you can buy your own gear, you know? But there are also irresponsible parents, and I blame them more than pop culture. Fads come and go and always will but the "cool" parents are doing their kids a huge disservice by letting them be so out there. Even in high school I could never show my belly...I think to this day my mom would have a fit if I wasn't in a bikini and my belly was showing...haha I've turned my little cousins in for their myspace content. Their mom made a profile and said add me to your friends list or I shut it down...now they can't get away with much online because she's all in their business - ha! They probably hate me but whatever, there are a lot of nasty old men out there!

You guys are too cute (love the flower in your hair)! I think it's pretty cool that you went back to where you met to have them done, thanks for sharing )

Drea your condo is the cutest!!! Maria...$85,000 Even at $285,000 that would be a steal. Darn my geography and my parents for birthing me in California! What some people pay for mortgages on a nice home we pay in rent out here. We do have the great weather and scenery, but shoot...sometimes I think I'd be willing to move somewhere less desirable to have a home. And Amy, I feel your pain! We looked at a place a few months back near Pico & Barrington and they wanted $1350 for a small, old, and ugly 1 bedroom with no balcony or patio. Westside Rentals is your best shot if you're willing to pay for listings....good luck!

As someone else said December is probably one of the more expensive times to go, but I would check with a TA to see what you would be looking at. Good luck!

No, I don't believe you can either. There are a few companies that do weddings there so she may find one able to accomodate a large group.

Cool. I want to submit the same book I sent you already )

Heck yeah! Every song reminds me of something...lol There are a bunch of songs that remind me of my best teenage summer ever (like that "come on ride the train" song lol) When my friends or I hear them we call each other...we're dorks Also whenever I hear "I want to sex you up" by Color Me Bad it reminds me of junior high when I had a crush on this boy at school because this song was always on the radio then.

Quote: Originally Posted by Raeka Thanks Jamy! One of my co-workers leaves next month for her wedding at the Valley of Fire. i just passed along your review. Looks gorgeous!!!! She said thanks for the tip in regards to heels. No way! She'll love it, how exciting! Christine and Natasha you guys both got engaged in the Valley of Fire? Too cool! Christine I remember your pics but for some reason I thought it was Joshua Tree. They told us you can camp there. Were you guys camping or just day tripping? I'd never heard of it either until this wedding but what a cool place to visit! Her dress didn't get too dirty, just slightly red at the bottom. She had a bustle (sp?) but even with that the train hit the ground, so the photogprapher suggested she tie it up for the ceremony so it was clean for her pictures. I was going to get a rubber band out of my purse..lol..but her FIL grabbed it, and tied the whole thing in a knot because it was so long. And it actually looked decent so we left it for the ceremony since she was facing forward anyway! I did carry it when we walked down though, but my wedding dress got more dirty at the beach!

We were married June 2nd and it was sunny, dry, and hot. From what I recall researching April and May are still pretty inexpensive and not near as hot as June/July/August. It wasn't unbearably hot in June but rainly season starts midway through the month. Just something to consider.

I recently attended my girlfriend's wedding at Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. She booked it through Las Vegas Weddings (Valley of Fire Weddings) She eloped and this company was able to put it together for her with relatively short notice. We stayed at the MGM Grand, really really big hotel but nice. The room had 2 showers which was a bonus when DH and I were getting ready. I recommend the MGM for one main reason - airport check-in. At the Vegas airport we were able to check in to our room while waiting for our luggage to arrive on the carousel. When our luggage came we got it, went to the hotel, and went straight to our room. No standing in line or waiting around when we got there....it was the best part about the MGM to me! A few room pics: The limo arrived at the hotel at 3:45 p.m. for a 4:00 pickup. The bride was running a little late so we didn't leave until about 4:15. The driver was really nice and took all kinds of back streets to avoid rush hour traffic as best he could. We ended up on the 15 North for about 1/2 hour, then when we got off the drive was at least as long. It was a 2 lane road, some parts really windy, and nothing for miles. We were joking about all the bodies buried there and how we felt like we were being taken to get wacked...lol The drive seemed a lot longer than any of us thought it would be and if I were driving myself I would have thought I was lost. The scenery when we got off the freeway started out looking like this: Then this: Then this: Then we reached the entrance to the park and drove another 5-10 minutes to the site. The ceremony was supposed to start at 5 p.m. but we didn't get there until about 5:45. When we pulled up in the limo the minister (who has been at it in Vegas for 40 years) was there waiting with the photographer. The wedding was small so all of the guests rode in the limo with the bride and groom. We got there and made the introductions, then went straight to the ceremony spot to get it started while there was still good sun. The minister briefed the couple on what would happen, the photographer set up a video camera on tripod, then it started. Start to finish the ceremony was 5 minutes, tops. They chose not to do vows or anything extra. They used the standard photographer that came with the package and he was snapping away during the ceremony. It was absolutely silent so all you could hear was the echo of the minister bouncing through the canyons. Valley of Fire is beautiful...pictures don't do it justice. The colors of the rocks and foliage, combined with the vast open spaces and utter silence, was breathtaking. Anything but your traditional Vegas wedding and we may as well have been in Utah for as far removed from the strip as we felt. Afterwards he took formal pictures of them, and some of the guests (all 4 of us!). I haven't seen his pictures yet so I can't comment but he was a nice enough guy. My advice: Find out what time the next wedding is. The minister, photographer, and limo driver all had to be at the LV airport for a helicopter wedding at 8 p.m. The minister left immediately but the photog. & driver had to be there for the pictures. They were given ample time for photos but the driver was flying on the way back because he was on a deadline. I'm talking 100+ mph...in the limo. He was a surprisingly safe driver at those speeds so I guess he does it often...haha We were ready to get back to the city so we didn't mind rushing, but someone else might. Heels are tough to walk in here. There are no steps, just paths. This company uses a spot where there is a small incline going up to and down from the site. The ground is dirt and rocks. The bride, myself, and the other female guest were in heels and it was no small task to tip-toe through there without falling or twisting an ankle. Consider your shoes carefully or bring a pair of comfortable shoes to get up there and then switch. I meant to do that but forgot. Overall I think that this is an excellent site for a Vegas wedding. There was no reception since the group was small. Instead we went out to dinner at a restaurant located in Planet Hollywood Hotel called Pampas. It is a Brazilian churrascaria and was quite tasty and reasonably priced. Any questions, feel free to ask ) Some more pics: