MikkiStreak

I saw what he had posted on his website and it was somwhere between Aunt Velma traveling with her disposable camera to the wedding and the fine art wedding photography that everyone wants. The photos were clear, there wasn't any over-exposure / under-exposure, neat and crisp... but were they the quality of a $3K-5K photographer? No. But, not everyone can afford to spend as much on a photographer as their whole wedding budget... So hopefully, this will be an option some brides can explore.

Ann, I like your wording too... It actually fits the situation well. I want to acknowledge both sets of parents without really implying something that isn't true. Thanks! M.

I need something that curls the eyelashes. I have long, thick and *straight* eyelashes. Even an eyelash curler doesn't work. And if I try fakes, there is a gap between the fake and the real lashes. If this stuff would curl my lashes, I'd buy a case of it....

I know everyone would love to have the fine arts wedding photographer, but some people simply can't afford it and have to do basic photography. In my search to get pricing for a photographer, I came across a guy in the Cancun/RM area who is running a limited special. He will photograph a wedding (if I remember correctly, like a 5 hour/all day timeframe) for just $1. The prints are not included, there are no albums included, so all of those would need to be purchased afterward. I don't have his name/info with me, but if anyone wants it, let me know and when I get home tonight/tomorrow, I'll PM the info to you...

No, because the photography is the excuse you can use to encourage them to change. Think about how many family photos were taken when they were younger and everyone needs to be similarly dressed. Same rule applies here--- And if they are wearing suits instead of tuxes, they should be grateful they get to dress so casually and be willing to coorindate/match with the colors. I think it's a good idea to keep the bright colored attire in the B/W or sepia photos. Get one color, just in case it doesn't look too bad, but you could always give them the color and keep the B/W for yourself.

My parents are retired and elderly (dad is 85, mom is 73). They both have had failing health and aren't able to attend our wedding. Well, they have paid for all the weddings of my siblings, but those also happened when they were younger and weren't living off their social security and savings account. So last night I was talking to my dad and he said they would give us $1000 toward wedding expenses. I told him it wasn't necessary because we had always planned on paying for the wedding ourselves. But I also know how stubborn and prideful he is, so if he remembers and hands us a check, I probably won't refuse it. My question is this, I know tradition says that whomever pays for the wedding has their name on the invites. His contribution is about 1/5 of what the wedding is going to cost. So I'm trying to figure out if I should include their names on the invite or not. The prideful part of me doesn't want people to think my parent's are paying for the wedding, because we really are paying for the majority of it. And then there's his mom---- who's monthly income from social security and pension isn't enough to pay her expenses (which is why his sister lives with her and takes care of her), so they aren't able to contribute at all. Which is fine, but I also don't people to think if they see my parents names on the invite and not his parents, that my folks are paying for everything and his aren't. What would you do?

Amy, OK, I know I shouldn't even be thinking this since it's taken so long to find a place--- but this place looks so amazing, I gotta ask---- can you send me the pricing info you have? I'm too tempted, can't resist!!! PM me or email to [email protected]

I like that idea! Sometimes I want to look at invitations, but only DIY ones and still have to scan thru them all to find what I'm looking for....

Quote: Originally Posted by zoegirlTX I did a travel newsletter/brochure type of thing. I apologize for not knowing how to link everything here or upload stuff, but you can see photos of all the pages here & I"m more than happy to share the template (it's in MS publisher). Amanda, Glad to see you're on here! When I fist signed up on The Knot, yours was one of the first bio's I came across and man, was it helpful!!! You're planning info really put me in the right direction and made me realize all the things I could do myself for the wedding to save money! Before that, I hadn't really thought about it... Maria

I love the "In-Law" and "Married Life" thread suggestions! I also like the idea of access being allowed once you hit your marriage date because it is something to look forward to. Maybe a "DIY" section on home decor---- God knows there's enough of us who like to tackle projects on our own that we could really supply some good home re-model/decor ideas...

All 3 look great! My favorite was #3. You might want to talk to your photographer and see what they can do about toning down the sparkle. They may have a filter that they can use on the lens to reduce the glare/star effect. I also loved #2, without the sash.

I think some of it depends on where you're getting married too. When we were looking into St. Thomas, every resort, restaurant, WC, vender said 6 months was plenty of notice for them to schedule our wedding for a Saturday night. But in Mexico, we wound up moving the date out a month because that was the first Saturday night opening they had. I agree that most people start planning early simply because they want to allow their guests time to plan/save for the trip. Even though our TA offers payment plans too, they still have to be paid in full 45 days prior to departure. So we're sending our notices out with about 9 months advance notice...

I vaguely remember hearing something on the news about research on Trimspa showing it didn't work. But I might be wrong on that.... I haven't heard anything about the others. Maybe a dietician or doctor would have some advice on how to kick the metabolism into high gear too? I would bet there are different foods that would help increase, or different patterns to eating (like always eating breakfast, or eating more meals in a small quantity, etc...)...

Curious, for those of you who made your own STD's to send out- what did you use for an envelope? Did you order heavy-weight envelopes or just use regular business/letter envelopes?

We found our TA by going to a bridal show. There were a ton of TA's there. We met with them and some of them we knew we wanted to meet with them and others we knew weren't a good fit for us. We met with about 4 TA's before deciding on our TA, who is a DW/HM specialist.

I agree with Jennette--- option 1 to continue to invite them. Even if you have FI tell them that he doesn't want them invited, in their minds it would be easier to blame you than to think their son/family member doesn't want anything to do with them. We have a slightly different situation going on in my in-law family. My sister-in-law has a grown son who has cut her off because he doesn't think she caters to him and his (bitch) wife enough. None of us can stand this woman and I would *hate* it if they actually showed up at our wedding. But for the sake of being a 'better' person, we are inviting them and if they were to attend any of the functions, we would be gracious to them. If you give them the invite and they decline, they will look like the ass'es they are. If you don't invite them, then you look like the ass. It sucks beyond belief, but sometimes it's easier to bite down the emotions and keep the peace just to prevent thing from exploding even further.

Quote: Originally Posted by NABUMBAH love those Christa! Mine are done and I am putting together the info for the calligrapher ... I need to take a photo to show ya'll. they turned out great. Sorry, quick hijack---- what all is the calligrapher doing? The invitation wording on each invite, or just addresses? I used to do calligraphy years ago and wondered where I would use this in regards to the invites....

Jill, The photos are beautiful--- And Lenita looked absolutely gorgeous! It looked like the wedding was a lot of fun!

My 15 minutes of fame: I was a classical recording artist when I was in high school. Had 4 albums made/sold by the time I was 16 and toured the US in my jr-sr year of high school. Pretty cool--- got to perform to Pres. Reagan at Lincoln Center. Second thing is that I used to do 'go-go' dancing in my early 20's at various bars. I wound up dancing with "Stomp" and "Lords of Acid"....

Half the time I look at some of them and think "The only reason you walk upright is because beer is stocked on the top shelf in the grocery store..." Neanderthals....

Jason, My thoughts exactly! I don't refer to people as "My Mexican fiancee..." or "My black sister-in-law", etc... because it simply doesn't matter. Jamy- I love the way you think! OMG, that is hysterical---

God, I just have to say it---- I absolutely am *hating* my job right now. I am so sick and tired of the redneck racist a-holes in our company. And of course, it's all disguised with the PC-accepted bigotry statements of "I'm not a racist but I'm so tired of (insert race) claiming racism when they get fired" or they start talking about how they don't think there's any reason to have EOE/AA... Ummm, hello dum-F**K, you probably wouldn't understand in your little white wealthy republican world what unfair treatment is like. And it's the nasty crap they say too, that *isn't* disguised.... It just makes me want to scream!!!! AGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH---------------

I'll have to check into that---They told my TA I would have to pay $300 to their photographer if I brought someone else in. Whether that's to book them into a room for the night or just a flat fee, I don't know. I'm hoping one of my college friends can make it to the wedding because he owes me a photography favor and having him shoot my wedding it!

I noticed that on Expedia too, but I just assumed it was because I was searching too far out for a date... Are you allowed to bring in an outside photographer at del Mar? Our Lindo person said we have to use their photographer. When I looked at his website, it was ok, but nothing too impressive. That was the only disappointing so far. But our TA is making it very clear to the WC that there are going to be some guests (as well as myself) who are photographers and not to give us a hard time about seeing pro equipment from someone else.

I like this thread--- I was wondering whether to use the RSVP function on our website too but questioned whether people would use it. I know quite a few people will because my FI gave the website address to about 10 people and they immediately started it to other people who knew us, and the next thing we knew, there were something like 110 visits that first day and some logs in the Guestbook. But we also have some older family members who aren't as PC savvy and a couple who don't have PC's too. So I'm thinking we'll send a semi-RSVP with our STD to get a feel for how many rooms to block and cut back on formal invites. Then the formal invites will go out with mostly online RSVP references and a handful of certain people will get cards to mail back. Damn, so much to think about and figure out!!!