laura b

There is one on the first page of Sol's of just the bride sitting on a bench against a yellow wall. that's the one I'm talking about.

And this one which comes in a few different colors, but none of them are green/purple. It's Fabucci.

I also found this one: It's a gloria del rio suit, but I'm not convinced it's the one you're looking for.

Did you look at the one on Sol's?

And was the top just two colors, or more?

Here's the I Do thing: The bride thing I'd need a little more description, but it reminds me of the pic in the first page of Sol Tamargo's galleries. I love that picture.

Is this it? This is the closest I've found so far. It's more magenta and aqua than purple and green, but... If this it, it's a Soak bikini (http://www.soakswimwear.com). And this chick has a page what tells you how to make your own. http://tops2bottoms.com/2007/05/how-...ur-own-bikini/ DIY swimsuits! Who'da thunk?

That picture is awesome, Sarah! I can't wait to see the rest, but how come I can't view any pics on Juan's site? Is it because I'm on a Mac? This makes me even more glad I decided to do a TTD, although I'm a little worried that my photographer won't do as good a job since she's never done a session. I've shown her the TTD website, though, so maybe she's got a good idea of what I want. Anyway, I digress. Those pics are awesome! Did you get attention from other guests at the hotel? Did you feel self-conscious at all? It doesn't show, if you did!

Oh girl, I am so on this! I have to run to a meeting and then the gym, so no one find it until I get back! See you in a few.

Sarah- Those are awesome! Can't wait to see the rest.

Welcome! I don't know anything about the DR, but I'll help with any other planning questions you have (because I'm so good at planning my OWN wedding, heheh)

I've always found Cheaptickets and Orbitz to have the best deals going. I looked into your time frame and found them to be about $1831 pp which is not that much cheaper, but cheaper nonetheless.

I'm really torn between sending the OOT bags out ahead of time with luggage tags and welcome letter or having them as a welcome gift when people get there. If I send them out ahead of time, it might cut down on double packing for some people, and then they have space in their suitcase for it when it's time to go back home. And then I will still have something small to welcome them with at the hotel (though I don't know what). If I give them out at the beach, it might be a nice surprise, but people will probably already have beach bags, sunblock, etc. But I would save on postage. Is it tacky to just drop the bags off at people's houses on the doorstep if they live locally?

I got them at the Dollar Tree. That place is really amazing sometimes. The stickers we're just going to make ourselves on the computer. The FH designed our invitations, so he'll just use that design to make stickers for the candles and also we're going to use the same design for the koozies (an outline of a pink hibiscus). Finally, things are taking shape. Now if I could just find some shoes!

I looked at both the sippy cups and the lanterns. I wanted to get lanterns for the AHR, but Michael said, "let's not worry about that right now." Of course, when we want them, they'll be gone. Did you put the sippy cups in the OOT bags?

I love that dress, too! You look so pretty. But, now, wait a minute. Why does Jess get to have a wedding in Hawaii AND in Cabo? (pouting)

They're not bad for $1 each. And that flower part is a front pocket which is pretty sweet.

And P.S. I think Jeff's red rose looks awesome.

Sarah- I think Jeff's right. He's so lucky to have someone who went to such trouble to have a perfect day. I'm not one to well up, but it made me a little veklempt (sp?) that he said that to you. So flippin' sweet. Can you also plan my wedding? It's only in 5 weeks...totally doable! (breathing in paper bag). Time to take another CP!

Ditto what everyone else said. Aren't you so happy?

I dragged the FH to the Dollar Tree around the corner, and he was grumbling the whole way, saying, we're never going to find ANYTHING, and as he's on his cell in the store, he points to these little perfect straw bags. And gives me this, "how do you know EVERYTHING?" look. So, we bought them and some frames for our guests, and some tin candles. We're going to make stickers for the candles with our little hibiscus logo and name and date on them. We also have sunscreen, playing cards, after sun care and chapstick all purchased at a dollar store (except the after sun stuff on eBay). Now we only have the koozies, cds and luggage tags to make. Woohoo! and

I love the sparkler idea, too. My photog took an awesome wedding pic at another wedding with the couple running under sparklers. One word of caution, though. We were in the RM last year on July 4th (specifically at the Grand Oasis RM) and they said we couldn't have fireworks or even sparklers because the thatch on the palapas was so dry that it might start a fire. Now, I assume if you're buying your sparklers through your hotel WC, then your hotel allows it, but for those of you who aren't, I'd check. I'm going to check, because I think it's such an awesome idea. And I'm a July 4th baby so I love sparklers. And on an unrelated note, my FILs are in Plano. Yes, the FH is from the Mean Streets.

I bought from Gianinarbridal online. They're the same sort of thing...custom made wedding dresses from China. I do like my dress, but it's a little...off. First of all, even though I sent them my measurements, it's quite big. Second, the color's more yellowish than ivory in my eyes. Not the same color as in pictures. There are parts of the dress I really like, but overall, I ended up buying a second, way spendy, dress from a local shop and am using the Chinese dress for a trash-the-dress session. Now, since I am a spendthrift and LOATHE the idea of spending mucho dolares for something you wear once for 30 minutes, I will give you some advice about another route you can go from eBay. I suggest buying something from an actual designer, but on auction. I got a beautiful BCBG dress for my reception for $100. I think it's under my pictures on here. Also, I was eyeing this store http://stores.ebay.com/Couture-Bridal-Gallery for a cheapy cheap Pronovias. My (second, after the first failed eBay wedding dress experiment) grand plan was to try on a Pronovias gown here in Austin and then get an idea for the fit and bid on one from this store. I also think this person has some pretty dresses http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZlit...coutureQQhtZ-1 like this one for $120. Anyway, best of luck to you!

Kate... They look like this. A guy is selling his on eBay, but it's slightly used. $200. I'd imagine you don't want to buy a used one. Although this one on eBay is very nice and doesn't look used at all (but I can't tell if it's 2005) http://cgi.ebay.com/LNIB-Mens-TAG-He...QQcmdZViewItem Other than that, they're kinda hard to find online. Apparently they're pretty nice. Your FH has great taste! (but you knew that, of course, when he got down on one knee!) Hope this helps. Oh, and wait. This place is selling the same model, brand new. And they have 100% good reviews on eBay. It's like $1500. http://cgi.ebay.com/37-OFF-NEW-TAG-H...QQcmdZViewItem

Well, in response to part of it (how are people feeling a couple of months away), I can answer that one. I'm about to lose my mind, but seriously. Work keeps me so busy that I don't have time for the wedding stuff. I feel like the time with my nine year old son has been seriously affected by the wedding planning. I had hoped to have everything done by now and just sit around on my one day off week and lay by the pool and work on my pretan, but that's not happening. No OOT bags yet, no welcome letters, no thank you cards made, heck, I'm still not fully registered (my shower is on Saturday, thank you). I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned so they'd be all purty and it turns out I need a mouthful of work done. Not to mention that since the visit two weeks ago, one of my wisdom teeth broke and so now I have to get my wisdom teeth removed. Before the wedding. The dentist stuff is around $1K even with insurance. I hate my job and started crying there the other day and called and begged the FH to let me quit and support me (of course he would, but of course I would NEVER let him). So there's my (non)blog rant. Sorry, couldn't wait for the non-bug version to be released! Back to it... Laura (oh, and P.S. my seamstress is charging $140 to make like three little alterations to my dresses. Seems ridiculous, right?)