laura b

I got this in my email and thought I'd share with you guys. Karisma hotels (El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Seaside Suites, and Azul are offering a fall wedding promotion for next year. They say if you book by Feb. 1, 2008 and have your wedding between Aug. 15 and Dec. 28th, 2008, you get the following (using the codes) Free anniversary trip (WEDRTRN) $900 spa credit (WEDSPA) Free room upgrade for you and two other rooms (WEDUPGR) Hope this helps someone.

I'm late to this, but I'm in, too! As I posted somewhere else, I've gained 12 pounds since the wedding! And haven't changed any eating/working out habits. Yowza! I'm off to run the dogs then headed to the gym. I'll check in later. Oh, and for the person who works from 9-6, I'd suggest signing up at a gym that has early morning availability, and getting there in the a.m. (if you wait til the p.m., you'll always be too tired). When you set your alarm at night, just say to yourself, "alarm off, coffee, then off to the gym." Sounds corny, but it works. The other thing you can do if you skip your a.m. workout is plan dinner (if you cook for your family like I do) that is in the oven for at least 30 minutes. Prep it in your work out clothes, then as soon as you pop it in the oven, head out for a run. This is good for me, too.

Ooo, I haven't been here in a while, but you girls might just have what I need (again)! Even though I work out nearly every day and really watch what I eat (no refined carbs ever, hardly any sugar, everything low-cal), I've steadily gained 15 pounds since the wedding. Yikes! I'm so perplexed by it, I even got off birth control (which I got on for the honeymoon), but that didn't help. So, I really need motivation and more tips. Thanks for the posts! Laura

Karen- Ha! That's EXACTLY (pretty much) how our AHR went. People started getting there while I was still setting up (and grungy) so I had to run to the B&B we were staying at to change. Lo and behold, the dress I had brought (the one I wore at the reception at Dreams) had been dry cleaned, and I didn't check it before I packed it for the AHR. So, guess what. The drycleaners had completely ruined it! All the little rhinestones all over the dress were gone, leaving little strings everywhere. I flipped the F out. Anyway, long story short, I clipped the strings and made do. Of course, on the way back to the site, while I was trying to fix my makeup, a big blob landed on my (already ruined) dress. Sometimes you just gotta laugh. And of course, the margaritas didn't hurt, either. And then my best friend and I did the Thriller dance for everyone as a surprise (long planned before the dang Phillipinos stole our thunder) and it was all good. Anyway, aren't you so glad it's all completely over and you can enjoy Jay and life together!?

Tammy, I'm late to this, but those are ab. beautiful. I love how you did everything. And you looked so gorgeous!

I did the single mom thing for the first part of Jude's life. He was so excited when he found out that Michael and I were getting married (Michael is Jude's "best friend"), that there was no way he wasn't going to be part of our day. He was our only attendant...best man/ringbearer, and I gave him a "family bracelet"--basically a surfer bracelet I got for all three of us in the same style that we all wear now.

At last is a great song...one of my best friends walked to it. What are you walking off to?

I also got married at Dreams with 30 guests. I had my reception in a private room at Portofino and it was great. There was no music although we had discussed it before my wedding day. That's the only thing I was really disappointed about. I only paid for the silver package, and it is $19 pp after the first 20 pp, I think, but they don't really count that closely. I wasn't billed for as many people as I had. In fact, my total was just under $2K, which is remarkable for such a (in my opinion) beautiful wedding and reception. I did attend a dinner on the beach, and sand in the food wasn't a problem. The other thing I was afraid of, which was it being too hot in July, wasn't really either, because of the nice breeze. I had a few seniors as guests, though, and I didn't want to chance not having a/c for them. So, if you think your guests will be comfortable, I would def. recommend the beach reception setting (so pretty), but if you have seniors, I might would go with Portofino (private room). The thing about choosing everything once you get there is really right on. I had all kinds of ideas about flowers and decorations, and Sandra just handed me a book, I picked out my decorations and cake, and it all turned out great. Let me know if you have any questions.

Lisa- Those are awesome! It makes me wish I was there...we could've stayed an extra three weeks, right? Congrats, girl. And you look so beautiful! I especially like the one of James with his attendants all scattered. That one's good. And it goes without saying that all the ones with you in it are luv-lee.

Karen, that's a good idea, you're sweet. One of the things I got from my mom, that you might be able to include, is some charms to pin on the inside of my dress. So maybe you could find like a lucky star or horseshoe, a butterfly, something blue, and something old of yours, and it could be her good luck and something old, new, etc.

Jen- I hear Ana y Jose's is great. Check that one. I also saw them building some down the beach when I was running. Kacey- You were def. there! We were there from the 4th (jay/k's wedding) til the 14th. Very loud, obnoxious group with luchadores masks.

P.S. Although my photog. did a great job.

Oh my goodness! You look so beautiful! And you've probably already said this, but I didn't have the patience to wade through 3 pages of responses...who was your photographer?? Because they did an AWESOME job! Those are the pictures I would've loved to have for my wedding!

Kaykay... but that picture was taken at Dreams! Were you there for mine or Jason&Karen's weddings? Hey, and I'm in Austin, too.