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Quote: Originally Posted by AlmostMrsForbes OK - first, thank you for your review. After all, isn't that what this forum is for? If you can't give your honest opinion of how you felt, what you liked/disliked, etc. what good is it? It's not like you posted negative reviews on her website or something. Additionally, I didn't think the review was "bad." OK, so there were aspects that you didn't like. You conveyed, though, that you really LOVED your pictures. It's like she forgot to read and/or process that part. Next, her response really bothered me: "I hope you realize how unfair it is to make comment on a forum where I can not also make comments about the negative experiences I had or defend or explain the comments you made - such as your train which would never sit properly because it was an add-on of a clump of material that did not move well." What is this all about? I think she is confused about her role as a wedding photographer. Why would she make comments about "negative experiences" that she had with you? In what arena is that (a) relevant or ( appropriate? You purchased a service from her - end of story. She's really doing a lot of damage to her own reputation with her childish response. I'm sure she did work really hard and put a lot into the wedding. That is her job, though. If I draft a contract/documents, etc. for a client, really work my butt off, and in the end they're not happy with them, I can't respond emotionally. I can't imagine ever responding "well ... working with you was a negative experience, too." How ridiculous and unprofessional. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. I didn't even notice that remark. What would be the point of her posting negative comments about being at your wedding? Weird? She kind of did too. On her website she said the beach wasn't as sandy white as cancun. It's not like you ranted about her. With each negative comment you posted something positive. OK, I was trying to see her side, but I really don't understand why she would email that to you.

Quote: Originally Posted by SunBride The minute she saw my review she deleted all her photos from the dreams tulum facebook group (and also removed me from her professional facebook account) because she said that she can't imagine anybody would want to see them after reading my review. Yikes! Wow that is her loss. Now she won't have your pictures for her portfolio. I hope you can straighten it out. You don't have to be buddies, but hopefully you can come to an understanding. I'm not sure why she hated Punta Cana so much either. Theft will happen at any tourist spot. maybe destination photography is not her thing. She'll figure that out in time if it isn't.

Thanks for a photographer's view Leigh. It's great to hear your prospective. I do feel that the discount you get for hiring someone who is doing one of their first DWs does come along with getting someone who is more stressed about the situation. Hopefully as she does more she'll be able to keep her cool better. Again, I don't think there was anything wrong with your review. You have posted so many great, detailed reviews on the forum. I think I just can see her side a little too from an outside perspective.

Quote: Originally Posted by xandrafaye I think that I need to lay off the caffeine too because I'm laughing hysterically right now & my rabbit is looking at me like I've gone insane!!!! Is your rabbit getting jelouse? Does your rabbit want an outfit?

Quote: Originally Posted by becks I'm sorry, how can you read this thread and possibly think that!!! Personally, I've discovered that ferrets and clothing are about the funniest D**N thing to ever grace my world!!!! Of course, I openly admit to having a severely skewed sense of humor. I mean, c'mon... how can you not giggle at this: (is this nibblet in drag) not drag. that's him in a school play. He played the role of "chorus line flower #3" But, if you ask me he was the star of the show.

Quote: Originally Posted by JamaicaBride062108 I love the title "The Weed Ferret". It set my brain off on a whole different tangent...The Weed Ferret, I wonder if that's like the Weed Fairy, sorta like the Tooth Fairy, but for stoners...That's funny because I had a friend in college who had ferrets and he was the biggest stoner ever, and we're back to the Weed Ferret Fairy! I love the way my mind works sometimes! I think I need to lay off the caffeine! If you leave $25 bucks under your pillow she delivers you a sack of weed? Anyone watch friday night lights (the tv show not movie)? there is a meth addict with a ferret on that show.

Quote: Originally Posted by PenMarie ha!..that's actually supposed to be a "fairy" costume...not sure about the autograph -- she got a little "full of herself" after she won that costume contest, so she might be charging a small fee now..hehe Oh I see. A diva ferret.

Quote: Originally Posted by SunBride THANK YOU, that is exactly my point. My photographer should not be adding to my stress level. In fact, in between the time I booked and left she was the only thing that caused me stress, and it was really bugging me because I was trying so hard to not stress and I was being so successful at that with all other aspects of planning. Thank you for the support ladies, I really needed to hear this. And I'm very happy to hear that my review did not ruin her reputation, becaue I really didn't want to do taht, she did a fabulous job with my photos. It's just that in a perfect world I would have gotten a photographer who did pretty much exactly the same job, but didn't stress me out. So I wanted to warn others that if this concerns you, than maybe you should think carefully before hiring her, it's not like I went out saying "DON'T HIRE THIS PHOTOGRAPHER". One part of her reply was: "I hope you realize how unfair it is to make comment on a forum where I can not also make comments about the negative experiences I had or defend or explain the comments you made - such as your train which would never sit properly because it was an add-on of a clump of material that did not move well." Okay, we did have some problems with my train because it was detachable and the clasps weren't tight enough. Once we realized this problem (because I noticed it wasn't hanging right), my mom tightened teh clasps and it was fine and I thougth it was beautiful. But why didn't she notice it was clumpy and see if it was fixable? I mean I understand if we had tried to fix it and it was still looking clumpy, but basically she's saying that she thought it was clumpy and she didn't even bother seeing if tehre was anything she could do about it. And how rude of her to say that it was "a clump of a material". Was that during the ceremony? The BMs are supposed to handle it, but you said no one told them that. It's an awkward thing to bend over during a ceremony & fix a train. i still hesitate to do it & I've been a MOH several times. But if it was not during the ceremony then she should have caught that. Anyway, i agree I wouldn't want any part of my dress described as a clump.

Quote: Originally Posted by TammyB Ok so I remember back when I got married many women were upset with JC because he was behind in his photos, ono bride posted a VERY honest review. JC commented to it and accepted that is was a problem and is taking the steps to correc it. My point in telling you this is because IMO she should have accepted the review as it was and took it as a learning experience. That is pretty sh*tty on her part that she is blaming you for ruining her rap. Shame on her.. BTW on this forum we are happy to hear comments back from vendors, sometimes it helps to see both sides of the story. Ya know? Yeah, reading JC's response impressed me. I think the feedback will help him improve his business & he handled it great. if she would have handled critism like JC did I think it would have only boosted her rep.

I just went back to your reviews. She did a weeks worth of photography & all the work that goes into it afterwards for $800! It looks like she put so much into your wedding to possibly to get great feedback to do more DWs in the future. She did your edits amazingly fast. I imagine it's just really hard to put so much into it & then read anything negative. But, I think your feedback was all constructive. Hopefully it will just help her improve her business. I can be a really anxious person & I have found that when I'm in work mode & everyone else in in play mode it's really hard for me & I'm not fun to be around. But, getting that critism was good for me & I'm so much better at handeling stressful situations. I'm learning how to not stress out others when I'm stressed. I've also been influencing my mom to be the same way (we are basically the same person) & our holidays are getting to be much more fun. I feel like if i tried to be a wedding photographer I'd have a hard time not coming off as a drill seargent. it really impresses me how a great wedding photographer can do what they do. It takes some serious people skills & a ton of stamina. So when i read your review I just saw some of my own flaws in what you said about her. It inspired me to work that much harder at managing it. I don't want to be a stress ball at my wedding. I can't imagine being in her situation & spending a week with strangers trying to fit in, then having a lot of work to do while there.

Quote: Originally Posted by PenMarie HA!!...hey, guys...Morgan just pointed me to this thread -- I saw "Nibblet" in her signature and thought she had ferrets and pm'd her to ask. I actually DO have ferrets, but I'm, boring and don't dress them up..somethign about ferrets and clothes don't quite go together for me..ha! But the above picture just happens to be a jill (female) that my breeder bred...NO, my breeder doesn't dress up her ferrets, but at some of the ferret shows they sometimes have costume contests -- the lady who owns this little girl is big into crafts and sewing and embroidery and she made this outfit for her little girl. btw, this thread is hysterical!!...wish I had some pics of my own to share -- my guys are all nekkid (no clothes), so that might not be appropriate...ha! You know the weed ferret? Wow! Can you get us an autograph? I agree, ferrets in clothes are hilarious. I had no idea until I googled "ferret in tux." Just put little censor bars on your free-love nudie ferrets so we can see them.

Wow, I didn't think it ruined her rep. I was very impressed by her pictures & the review didn't make her look bad to me. But, I know it can be incredibly hard to read a critique especially when it was about her personallity. Her feelings are probably really hurt. it looks like she worked her butt off to get you amazing pics (& tons of them) and feels insulted about the critique. But, we do appreciate honest feedback. That is what makes a forum so useful for planning.

My prewedding meeting will only be 30 minutes so i won't have that to keep me busy. I can definitly stay under an umbrella by the pool. I just want to make sure the sun avoidance doesn't get in the way of having fun. I don't think it has to. The day before the wedding we are going to the ruins at Coba & snorkeling in a cenote. I will need to slather on the suncreen for that trip. last time I was in cancun I got an amazing tan. The best I've ever had. I'm hoping instead of burning I tan. I think as long as you are really careful & know what kind of protection your skin needs you can still participate in all the fun stuff before the wedding. My dress has straps, but is really low cut. So as I pick out tank tops & stuff to wear the days before I keep my dress in mind. But, that means everything I wear will be really low cut. I even got a swimsuit coverup dress with a plunging neckline. The only thing I didn't find was a swimsuit with straps that do not tie around my neck. I wanted one that had straps like a bra. I was surprised they were hard to find. So I'll need to be careful with my swimsuit. I'll only wear the tops with thin straps before the wedding because those dont give me tanlines as long as I move the straps enough.

Quote: Originally Posted by amesharpe First and foremost we got engaged on the beach so it just seemed fitting to get married on the beach. Secondly, I have the attention span of a goldfish. There is no way I could have made all the decisions associated with a traditional wedding. I find it's much less stressful to pick a destination, resort, wedding package and then go from there. Thirdly, I've been a bridesmaid 8 times and every bride has said to me that they wished they had more time to just enjoy their weddings. They felt they spent too much time talking to invited guests they hardly knew. Our wedding will be large for a destination wedding (50-100) but I'll have a whole week to spend time with all of our guests. Lastly, everyone who makes the journey with us I will know is there because they want to be and not because they feel obligated to come because we invited them someone who has been a bridemaid as much as me! (I'm signed up for my 9th). This was a big one for me. I wouldn't want to do the mingling the couple has to do at a large wedding. I have found that as a BM we get to have fun & dance & do whatever we want & the bride is off small talking with a 3rd cousin twice removed. I think we'll have 28 guests total for the whole weekend. I wanted no more than 30 so it's working out perfectly. I would like to see local wedding tradition change so people could get away with just inviting 20-40 guests without ruffling feathers. Often people are just there because they feel obligated & they were just invited out of obligation. What's the point?

what no margaritas? sounds like she is opposed to fun. is she trying to be more traditional maybe? trying to keep it elegant? I dont care for elegant. I like fun

Then just tell her you've already done the work & are really excited about it. If she knows it somethign you really want she probably won't fight you on it. Then at the AHR people will probably be raving about the candy buffett & she'll come around.

I find anytime my mom thinks one of my ideas sounds bad I just have to show her a picture. She was so against trashing the dress until she saw pictures. When I described my invites I could tell she had a weird image in her head. Yesterday she asked me for another because she wore out the first one showing everyone. Your FMIL does seam really sweet. You can tell she tried really hard to nicely tell you she doesnt like the idea. I agree, I'd rather have a margarita & candy than some coffee. EDIT: typed this before I saw you sent pictures. This thread is active!

i don't get why she cares? this is exactly why I wanted a wedding in mexico. I didn't want to do any planning through someone. If I had a wedding back home I'd have to be running everything past my mom or his mom. Everyone has different tastes & I don't want to have to explain everything I want to do or justify it. When people see the finished thing they'd probably love it. But, sometimes it just sounds weird & people are turned off by some image they have. What if you sent her a picture of a candy buffet? Or told her you've already done a lot of work on it & would hate to scrap what you have?

I would tell them it's fine for them to come along on the vacation, but that you want the wedding events to be small & intiment with only people youa re very close too.

or you can just personalize them with a paint pen. I even tested it in the dishwasher & it doesn't come off.

OK I think I got it. I'm emailing them too you. Hopefully the files are not too huge. I made you a jpg, psd, & pdf. One of those should work. They are 300 dpi at 18inches by 24 inches. High res for a huge print.

I guess you haven't received my PM yet. I'm going to shower so I can go to bed, but I'll check back afterwards to see if you emailed me the file. I can probably fix it.

Quote: Originally Posted by Maura hair will be up, here are two of my inspirations: Emmy Rossum - Ann- I like shorter earrings with an updo like what Emmy has one. Some of your pearl earrings looks about that length.

I'm PMing you my email. I was off to bed, but you sound like you are in a crisis

Dress (Macy's)230 alterations (just hemmed)30 Mike's clothes100 shell sandals (kohls)10 hairflower DIY10 Starfish necklace (Kohls)15 earings (already had them)0 bracelet- pearl from grandma0 hair 100 total clothes495 Save the dates (100 vistaprint postcards)12 Save the dates postage14 Thank you cards (leftovers from Sarah- sent money for shipping)10 prewedding brochure (25 vistaprint)7.45 20 invitations (vistaprint)9 40 invitations (vista print)21.45 20 invitations (vistaprint) + 100 postcards with website & TA info11.45 invites cardstock (AC Moore)9 invites envelopes17 invites postage30 website (weddingannouncer.com)0 invitation total= 97.9 stationary stuff total141.35 OOT bag postcards10 OOT bag cups 152 cups (for AHR too), 2 paint pens, 4 pages rub ons30 OOT bag first aid kits (14)15 OOT bag 96 immodium (made pouches)10 OOT bags advil (made pouches)5 OOT bag SPF chapstick (30) (ebay)7.57 OOT bag misc printing10 OOT bags master locks (16) ebay36 OOT bag chapstick label vista print3 OOT bag stuff from oriental trading (24 coin purses, 24 totes, 50 carabeaners)40 OOT bags glasses wipes sam's club8 OOT stuff from lauren7 OOT bag total (16 bags with stuff left over & stuff for AHR)181.57 organza bags for petals (ebay)6.5 real petals when we get there20 starfish for bouquet15 36 multicolored hand fans (asianideas.com)25.6 Hotel ceremony fee (symbolic)360 Ceremony total427.1 Our flight & hotel2086.12 trip to coba for guests300 travel & fun total2386.12 guestbook (shutterfly free except shipping)8 photobook gift for gma (shutterfly, free except shipping)4 hankies for mom's DIY8 tips (very few vendors)150 misc total170 Mike's wedding band tungsten from wholesale website20 my e-ring (no wedding band) $700~not counting in budget wedding band total20 Grand total3,821.14 plus the cost of photography I honestly feel like I'm having a million dollar wedding. I have loved every bit of planning for it. I am so excited for the group vacation, the great time with Mike, and the awesome pictures when it's all over. If you want more details about my stuff, look at my BDW blog. I tried to include links to everything to show how I made it & what it costs.