bre

Hi miki- Welcome to the forum and congratulations! I lived on Oahu for five years so let me know if I can answer any questions for you. Do you have any locations in mind yet??

great ideas. thank you so much!

thanks for the consoling words to my almost incoherent babbling post. I truly appreciate them I tried it on and all was well with the world and my dress. They were not snooty like they were on the phone and I left very happy with my dress. I've decided that I need to scale back my sessions with the personal trainer and not be such a food nazi b/c, as my body is now the dress fits perfectly and that is the most important things. Holy lord, I'm getting married in 15 days to my best friend and I can't wait! Thanks for talking me off the ledge!

Quote: Originally Posted by Raeka I know how you feel; we were completely stumped on what to get my parents (they paid for our wedding too). We decided to make them a scrap book with all the photos in it from the wedding. We’re also looking into getting them a digital picture frame with the professional pictures loaded on it. I love the digital picture frame idea! that might be a winner. I've planned on doing a photo album all along b/c on of the things they are paying for is the photographer but this would be great b/c they have a ton of amazing photos that just sit on their computer. THanks for the idea!

So I called to schedule an appointment to pick up my dress before we leave on the 15th. I was hoping to pick it up next Thursday 1/10. The woman told me I could come in any time since I'm just picking it up and I don't need to try it on. But I want to try it on b/c I haven't tried it on since 12/8/07, I think I've lost a little weight, and they've done alterations since the last time I tried it on. I'm not being crazy, right?? I paid A LOT of money for the dress, if I want to try it on I should be able to try it on. (I think I'm having my first bridezilla moment!) So she told me that I need to come in tonight to get the dress b/c if I've lost too much weight then it will need emergency alterations. Which I'm sure they'll charge me an obscene amount for in addition to the over $400 I already paid for alterations. $75 of which was the fault of the seamstress! (Another long story....) Uurrggghhhh. This is so stressful! My sister didn't try on her dress when she picked it up and when her wedding day in St. Lucia arrived the bodice was all messed up. She's still upset about it 7 years later. So it makes me nervous. Plus, I still want to drop a few more pounds which I know I shouldn't be doing b/c I know it will mean I need alterations but the idea of being in a bikini in front of my friends and family has become pretty motivating. I'm not going to lose a lot, I just want to feel good about myself at the pool. I know if I did lose weight and picked it up next week I would need to pay for emergency alterations. I think there is just a part of my brain that is not ready to have the dress because I know I could be in better shape that I am. Although, another part of my brain freaked the other day b/c we are so close and I don't have the dress. I think I'm losing my mind... Deep breathes. Deep breathes. Thanks for letting me rant.

Oh, I like the idea of an excursion. I bet they would love to do a zip line! ( I know that sounds weird to say about one's parents but it's true). They are super romantic though so that's what made me think massage and dinner on the beach.

My parents have very generously given us money to help pay for the wedding so I'd like to get them a nice gift to say thank you. Any ideas?? What have other brides done? Should I do a sentimental keepsake or a fun gift like a couples message and a candlelight dinner on the beach?

Welcome to the Forum! I'm from Boston too! One thing to keep in mind with the west coast of Mexico is its distance from Boston. It's typically 8+ hours from Boston to Los Cabos. That's why we choose the Rivera Maya. It made it possible for people to come for just a few days. But a really long flight makes it harder to do 4 days. While you could pull off a May wedding, you should talk to some guests first. That's just a few months away and people need time to plan vacations with their jobs and sometimes save money. Of course, the resort availability is another big issue. Here is a helpful post with info on the RM if you are interested. http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t4276 Happy planning and let us know how we can help!

I was told by my jeweler that it depends on the particular band and engagement ring. I'm going to have to have my engagement ring reset to a cathedral setting b/c now it is a low setting. Some one told me though that you can get a spacer ring to wear in between to protect them. I might do this b/c I really like the look of both of my rings.

Quote: Originally Posted by KellyMN Do you mean how did i save the file? I sent it to our guests as a four page .pdf attachment via email. Oh.. and by the way, I should mention that I stole a lot of the copy (fun facts and stuff) from Bre - she was my inspiration Kelly-- you took what I did and made it ten times better! I love it ! Looks great!

Phew!!! The Health Bar is really similar to Gaviotas, just across the walkway. See you at Guacamayas!!

so I freaked out and didn't read all the posts. The Health Bar is on the way to the casita section, just across from the beach. I don't recall how well it would fit 40 people. Were you planning on having dancing? B/c I don't think it could accommodate dancing too. As for someone's recommendation of Tucanes, I hope she doesn't offer you that one b/c that where our private dinner is from 6-10pm. This is so stressful! Don't you feel like you have no leverage?? Here in the states you could threaten breach of contract but you can't do that down there and they know it. I'm so afraid that once we get down there they are going to change everything on us and there will be nothing we can do about it...

Shea was is very interesting here is that I am having my cocktail reception from 4-6pm at Gaviotas on the 19th... What is going on!?!?!? They had also told me that my rain location would be the covered pool area. What time are you having your cocktail reception? I can't believe we'll be in Mexico in two weeks!!

We are going to do eight nights. Arrive Tuesday, so that we can be sure to be there for the blood test on Wednesday morning to make it a legal ceremony on Saturday. Then we leave on Wednesday. I would have like to spent a few days at another resort but I'm in grad school plus working full time and FI is a chef so taking the extra time is hard. But we're dreaming of a honeymoon all alone in Italy later in the year.

Brian what great photos! You and your wife look like you had an amazing day. Thanks so much for sharing with us. If you have time the rest of us EDR couples would really love to read a review. I'm only 19 days out so any last minute advice would be much appreciated

Quote: Originally Posted by cheese_diva I used double sided tape to adhere the white cardstock to dark brown paper.. then I used a glue dot ripped in half to adhere the crystal. Did you indicate on the menu or on the place card who ordered what entree?

so scrap booking tape will hold up in travel and heat? I feel so clueless... My FMIL had to go with me to Michael's to buy the paper but I didn't think about attaching the two. she works there and I think she was almost embarrassed by my lack of knowledge. I won't be getting to many invites to craft fairs! Ha!

okay, maybe "do-it-yourself" isn't the best term here... How about "do-it-forum"?? So I'm trying to make my menu cards it will be one layer of white cardstock on top of a layer of metallic cardstock. The questions is... how do I stick them together?? Glue stick, glue gun, double sided tape? I'm clueless here. Thanks!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by jfwolfe72 Thank you, thank you, thank you! Do you know if the hotel will let us hand deliver the bags? I like your idea of giving the bags out during the HH, but my fiance wants to put them in their rooms, instead. I could go either way, but I do NOT want the hotel to deliver them and charge us $3.00/bag! I'm don't see why you couldn't deliver them to each room but you would need the list of room numbers. The resort if huge too so it could be a pain to lug the all around. What would you do if people aren't in their room? I personally wouldn't leave it on the door. I read in a review ( I think it was KiteSurfBride) that the bags they had the hotel deliver were not always delivered on the day people arrived. Some didn't get theirs until the day before they were supposed to leave and the bags for the BMs with nice gifts were "lost" for a couple of days. I just wouldn't take my chances, plus I don't mind slurping back a few martinis if it saves me a few bucks!

Quote: Originally Posted by shannon Ditto this!!! Can we steal your template, Bre? Here is the template. It is in pages which is an Apple design program (similar to publisher) so I"m not sure how helpful it will be to PC users. I had to delete one photo to make it small enough to post but I'm pretty sure you don't need a photo of us ;-) Wedding Letter Template.pages.zip

Quote: Originally Posted by jfwolfe72 Bre - this letter is GREAT! It looks like you've got all of the details nailed down to the very last one. I really like the idea of handing out your welcome gifts at the happy hour! That takes away the headache of going to the rooms and handing them out! Better yet- it means we don't have to pay the hotel $3 a bag to deliver them whenever they feel like it! Plus, it's a great way to make sure we see people the day they arrive. And, I'm giving pashminas to all the ladies and will let them chose from 3 different colors.

Great catch ladies! Last time I ask FI to proof read... I just double checked on check in time and united said two hours for international. I wouldn't do three hours anyways since we have a connection as do almost all of our guests. Thanks for all the help!

Thanks! I must admit that I used a template from Pages- a design program on my Mac.

Hi ladies-- I need your help! We are just 22 days out from the wedding and I want to send my update letter to our guests. I think I'm done but is there anything else I should add? Anything about the Riviera Maya, EDR, the airport, the day of? I feel like I must be forgetting something... Attachment 1319 TIA Wedding Update Letter.pdf

I bought two bags yesterday at target. they were $2.99 per bag. I'm guessing about 15 rock per bag.