BillysBride

I'm getting similar mugs in white from an ebay seller. (just paid $20 for 20 of them + shipping). I am doing a little blurb/logo on crystal clear waterproof labels, and just putting them on. The labels are dishwasher safe and should blend nicely. I'll post pics when I'm done. All together, paying approx. $35 for our OOT bag mugs sure beats the heck outta spending the hundreds I would have had to to get them laser printed. We didn't need many, and even if I have to do more, it's still way cheaper for us.

OOooooh, FIRE! It's beautiful and looks beautiful on you!

Quote: Originally Posted by Amarillis I have to go against the grain on this one... I truly believe that it is inappropriate to expect anyone who is not invited to the wedding to be expected to attend other pre-wedding functions, including showers, engagement parties, bachelorette parties, stag and does, etc. (in my opinion, the only exception is an office/work hosted celebration-shower). This is why you are my girl. I think it's a little bit tacky. Not a lot, mind you...but a little. I'd be worried about people thinking "So we're not good enough to share in the actual act, but you want our gifts." NOT that that is your logic AT ALL, I'm just saying for me what I'd be worried about. I definitely feel like if it's co-workers or something, yea, thats fine. But I'd have a hard time thinking about how THEY were justifying the invite in their minds. I think just seperating, ceremony guests from AHR guests is one thing; that is easily justified by keeping the wedding small/just "family". People understand that and think, hey..it is what it is. But to throw in other stuff like showers and bachelorettes and expect them to come with still no invite to the actual ceremony...eeeeh. Not for me. Theres a good chance that there are very few people, if any, who would think like this. I admit I can be peculiar:)

Another option is to pay the down payment for the dress order, if you are going with a traditional bridesmaids dress from a shop. That way, the order goes into processing without inconvenience or additional nudging from you. You can pay as little down (well, the minimum to get it ordered) or as much as you like to get the ball rolling. I personally think this is a GREAT gesture and one more affordable to many average and tight budget brides. Something else I wanted to add; I think it is really unnecessarily rude NOT to take an individual bridesmaids financial circumstances into account when selecting a dress. Luckily, I've only been asked to be in one wedding where the bride lost her mind and was trying to make us were a dress that was SEVERAL hundred dollars. For my circle, that's excessive. We all either have kids, are single gals on average incomes, paycheck to paycheck couples, etc. If all of your friends got it like that, great. lol But I think that for a most gals, this is a gesture of friendship and support....they shouldn't be expected to over extend themselves on a dress they most likely won't wear again, regardless of what we might think when we pick it. Alot of the J Crew and Victoria's Secret dresses are a great option too! Unfortunately, depending on the dress size range of your party and how formal your wedding is, those won't work for every situation.

I'm thinking of you, girl!!! Hoping it's ALL of that because nobody deserves it more and there is no diva as fly as you!!!

My assumption is that Nick and Sharon reconnect before the end of the summer. They are playing along with the whole "Cassie's prediction" thing, and I think that the majority of fans want to see things made right with that couple because of all that went down after the kid died. I blame Nick..jackass. I mean, who cheats on, then LEAVES his wife after they lose a child, regardless of the details? I'll be seeing Daniel (along with Billy Miller/who plays Billy Abbott) next month, so I'm hopin for more details! This will be my first time meeting Billy since he joined the cast-he seems real sweet and we'll hopefully be getting him to join a podcast for the site if we can work out the scheduling.

OK, I'm back....I try really hard not to take the Lord's name in vein, but GIRL...YOU were lookin fly, fierce, fabulous and WORKIN that camera!! Durante was on FIRE...you guys make a beautiful couple (bring on them babies!) and the photos just absolutely capture the love and FUN you guys have together!! You're right, your photog is a genious! Everything looked beautiful (and have I mentioned that dress? Go 'head girl)...you guys had a blast, of that I have no doubt. Congrats on a beautiful, moving ceremony (I teared up looking at YOU GUYS tearing up), beautiful photos to look back on, and a celebration worthy of your love!

Mesita, I wasn't even there and I'm crying FOR you! Your happiness about the entire experience is just RADIATING through your whole review. I'm glad it came off so flawlessly for you guys! Blessings to you both! Now- I'm off to immerse myself in those pics..you know I'll be hollering back atcha! CONGRATULATIONS, MRS!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Sensatori Bride Hi Ladies! I am back and just posted a review here: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/fo...032#post857892 There is a link to my pro slideshow as well! ~Mesita Mesita!!! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Off I go to read your review! LOVIN' the siggy pic..y'all look gorgeous!

Quote: Originally Posted by Jacilynda i bought a crystal one in silver for my sis but i'll look and see if maybe there are some gold ones. I sooo know about the money. I realized today that I leave in 1 month and 3 days and i still have a few thousand to pay.... ouch! joe and I started the sacred diet yesterday, already down 2.6 lbs but since both of us are doing it we already went through 2 watermelons, 4 mangos, a whole pot of soup just yesterday. today is veggies so i had to make more soup, and veggies to eat. I've spent $60 on food for this diet already and I'll probably only make it through tomorrow. Its an expensive diet! but so far its working so worth it I suppose but at this rate I'll spend over $200 for 1 week of diet food!!! And i bought most of our veggies at the farmers market so i got a better deal than the grocery store. I've been hearing about it, but haven't done any research! Sounds like something I might try maybe the month before the wedding? Get myself as beach ready as possible. lol Lose that last ten lbs worth of jiggle so I can feel comfy in my stuff. Since my gown is corset back, I wouldn't have to worry about it affecting the fit I guess. If it's an expensive diet, it's better if I don't even go there now...heaven knows I need to chill on the spending. Wish we could live off Top Ramen and salisbury steak, but I don't think it would go over too well at my house. Estella-thanks for the head's up on the gold tone necklace! I'd looked a while back but not seen anything...this might well do! I'd love to get them "real" but, heck..gold? lol In my dreams (their's too, but whatever). I'm getting them gold makeup bags I think, so this would be a nice lil' something to go inside and call it a wrap. I have a tendency to think things are never enough/finished, so I need to keep myself in check.

Quote: Originally Posted by estella1007 You guys are the best! I am def gonna order those necklaces. Prob not until next month though. I just paid of our cruise balance (yikes!) ordered my palm leaf bags, bamboo fans,and got all 3 of our passports today. Then I went and blew $90 on fruit,veggies, and soup ingredients for that sacred heart diet. I need to chill with the spending. It's this forum though! Every time I see something cute that one of you does, I feel like I need to do it too! I will let you know how the necklaces work out when I get them. Oh, I swear it feels like I could have written this post. It's to the point where after all this time, I got used to saying "in a year, in a year, in a year" and now it's already moving too fast. Don't know how I'm gonna get all this paid for/done in the time we've still got even with 10 months! I would love to get those necklaces, but not sure how it would work out since my accent color is gold. lol I feel like they couldn't wear them for the ceremony, so I'd have to say specifically "umm..here ya go. But don't wear 'em til later." hahaha

I agree with the other girls; you can't please everyone and ultimately, when you look back on your wedding day, the biggest thing is that the TWO OF YOU were happy. BUT, I will say this. Reading your initial post, it's clear that a BIG part of your happiness is spending this day with family. If it turns out that you have a large number of family members either unwilling or unable to make the trip, you may want to consider a contingency/back up plan. Not because it's fair, but just because it sounds like you may not be a bride who can be happy if everyone she loves isn't there for her wedding day. You can't control whether or not they all show. You can only do what you feel in your gut will make you happiest. Its something to think about...

This has been nagging at the back of my brain all day, ofcourse. So I thought I'd turn to my friendly BDW search engine to see if any other brides had ever encountered any info that might help our sitch. I can across this..from SanFranSarah, who was married just a few months ago at Ana y Jose. I'm wondering if THIS is what the corporate wc is referring to, only she doesn't realize she needs to tell me it's referencing NEW law?? Hi (again) Ana y Jose friends. I emailed jackie re: officiant and she got right back to me saying this: "there is a new law that allows only professional officiants for ceremonies (with or without a pay) that also have a legal working permit to officiate in Mexico. This is a new law and there is not much information on how to get the permit etc, and it is changing a lot of plans for many of our future brides, so we will still allow anyone you want to marry you, no problem" Whew. . . . . . . If this is what the deal is about, then I'm still wondering why she can't just say, plainly "it is against the law in the country of Mexico for anyone who is not specifically licensed to perform weddings, either civil or symbolic." lol..KWIM? IF that is the case, then wouldn't it be obvious by now where my confusion is coming from? Not sure why SHE is confused if this is the new law..should be clear that I'm unaware of the restriction. I'm trying to find what I can about any new laws enacted in 2009..nothin yet. Anyone come across this and know anything I'd really appreciate a head's up.

Giving this a bump because it's exactly what I need to know!

All I can suggest is contacting the hotel. Theres some very general info out there that I found with 10 seconds and my search engine, but not detailed. The hotel's web site his here with a contact name and email. Hotel Cabanas Maria del Mar - Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Doesn't seem like there's much else out there as far as photos or actual rate info online, you'll have to request it. I think the owner of the hotel is actually the event coordinator. Found a tripadvisor review from someone who was married there and very pleased, but no photos or details. You can always try contacting that member via tripadvisor private message/email. The review is here: Went for our wedding! Loved it!! - Review of Cabanas Maria Del Mar, Isla Mujeres, Mexico - TripAdvisor

Quote: Originally Posted by estella1007 Thanks! I think I will order from the place you used. That way I know the product is good. How were you able to get multiple? I don't see a buy it now option. Normally all you need to do is send them a message letting them know you need multiples. Since it's China, most of the good sellers still respond within 24 hrs...just expect a little bit of lag time. Most combine shipping or set up a an auction for you specifically with the amount of items you want to purchase.

Awww, girl! I don't blame you, I'd be salty as heck too. How many of your guests have already made their arrangements?

Her response. I am so done. Seriously...DONE. Can't deal with any more today. Am typing a response to her and will probably NOT be reading anything else I receive til tomorrow. I'm going to forward this crap to the TA and see what she is able to do. From her: A minister is a professional, has knowledge and experience in symbolic ceremonies and give to the couple a certificate to remember that special date. I do not think anyone could have the same value as a minister. I understand that is not a legally, but The community of ministers cannot act outside the law, if one foreign wishes to act as Minister in Mexico for pleasure or business has to ask permission and the hotel is obliged to inform you. If any other doubt, do not hesitate to let me know. I'm forwarding this nonsense to the TA and seeing what she has to say. This is ridiculous. Anyway, here's my final response for the day: R****, I have talked to many, many brides, including my sister, who have had either family members stand in and lead their symbolic ceremonies, or had the on site wedding coordinators offer to do it. That is where my confusion is coming from as I have never heard of it being a problem. We do not care about whether the person is a professional or a member of the ministry; that is not a personal requirement to us. We plan to write our own vows and do not need an expert to simply lead us through them. The ceremony will be short and very traditional. If we were to choose someone from the wedding party to lead it, they would not be conducting business or getting paid for their participation. It was a complete suprise to me that this is something that the Avalon is unfamiliar with, so please bear with me as I try to figure out what is best to do. If having someone outside of the "community of ministers" perform the ceremony is not an option, we need to know that specifically. Ofcourse, anything that adds additional cost to the wedding needs to be taken into consideration for us with our budget. So very simply, I need to know if we are able to have a regular member of our wedding party, NOT a professional, lead us through the ceremony and if having the on site coordinator do it is an option. If we had a family member do it, they are obviously not a member of any professional clergy. I hope this clarifies our needs and desires. If it is simply the hotel's policy not to allow non-clergy to lead ceremonies, that is something we need to know. I know it is not the policy throughout Mexico since as I've stated, we know many people who have married in Mexico and had either family or coordinators perform the ceremony.

There are LOTS of rumors floating around about Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) potentially leaving the show. Personally, I wouldn't blame her. Damn shame after all these years, but seriously-what are they doing with her character? Nada. She's on the every-three-years-let-Victor-screw-up-her-existence ride. There's gotta be more even for a vet whose been on the show so long. Anyway, so Sharon lies about the who the baby daddy is...yada yada yada. Nick is crushed, Jack is thrilled, ofcourse. It doesn't last more than heartbeat, because in July they all find out the truth anyway. I'm betting poor dumb schmuck Jack forgives her AGAIN regardless. For a ruthless guy, he sure plays the sap when it comes to Sharon. For the week of June 29: Victor is blackmailed. Please, someone tag on "and murdered" to that so I can throw a party. Phyllis is betrayed and arrested. Finally, some good damn news. Mac decides on Billy for her future. Great. That leaves Raul free...FOR ME! tee hee hee!! Now can we please replace this actress? She sucks. Cane gets his DNA test results. Geez, you mean the from the frozen blood that shouldn't even be viable for testing since it was in a standard deep freezer all this time? For the week of July 6, all KINDS of Phillip III returns Summer ends up in the hospital as the result of a severe/life threatening allergic reaction. Ofcourse this leads to an obligatory Nick/Phyllis moment that Sharon will arrive just in time to see....she ofcourse reacts by lying. This time about the paternity. Okey doke. I so don't care anymore. Lily gives Cane back her ring. Oye.Freakin.Vey. There are more twists and turns comin than the average NY pretzel. By the end of the summer, we're all supposed to be left with our mouths hanging open. All anybody is saying is that "all is not what it seems" and "let it play out..keep watching". I trust that this includes the mess with Cane because I am not a happy camper right now. Oh, and also in July? Lily thinks she is pregnant...... I'm assuming this is different than the last two times she has thought she was pregnant because they are "spoiling" it. What would make a FABULOUS storyline is her being diagnosed with ovarian cancer AND being pregnant. Think of all the juicy possibilities. That is the ONLY way I will be ok with this cancer rumor...which I do think is coming.

Quote: Originally Posted by DanielleNDerek Ashley you cant feel bad about not inviting fi's family to the wedding. It was his choice and should be his choice. You cant force him to talk to his mom either. Even if you know everything that happened to him, you may never really understand fully how he feels about what he's been through unless you were in the same exact situation. Maybe you can talk to your fi after the wedding about having his family over like his aunt and cousin, i wouldnt even bring up his mom, and show them your wedding pictures and tell them about the wedding. But honestly you really need to let your fi do what is right for him. You cant push him into anything. This is EXACTLY how I feel. It is not for us to judge from the outside looking in, how someone who has been abused chooses to respond to it. As painful and uncomfortable as it might be for you to witness his distance from his family, think of how it must make HIM feel? To be so in need of keeping his mother out of his life that he has been willing to sacrifice his extended family as well. You have to trust his gut and his judgement in this. Only he was there and only he knows what it was like to suffer what he did at this woman's hands. I wouldn't push him to talk to her nor give him any more phone messages. People change, absolutely. But part of the change needs to be ACCEPTANCE that it's possible the damage they did is irreversible. Just because she may have turned over a new leaf doesn't mean he to open communication with her or have her in his life. As far as the Aunt, it wasn't your call and not your fault. You have nothing to feel guilty about. If you guys are having an AHR, maybe you can try to include them in that? Otherwise, I'd just make it clear what the circumstances/reasons are that you can't invite them to the wedding now. They need to understand this was your fiance's decision and he had his own reasons for it. Coming to you and forcing guilt and responsibility is inappropriate. Your fear about Brian being capable of cutting you off is something I think you know is just knee jerk. This woman spent heaven knows how many years depriving him of the love, safety and security he deserved as a child, then who knows how much longer after adulthood? His decision to put her out of his life isn't something that happened in response to just up and getting mad one day. It's the result of years of suffering and heartache. Can you honestly ever see yourself doing anything as bad as that?

Well, in all reality, it is what it is, ya know? lol She could have delivered the news with a lot more diplomacy, but ....if she KNOWS that's how they are, it's not necessarily her fault. I'd say plan on most of those that were invited attending. She has to know them well enough to be a good indication, so err on the side of caution. YES, it sucks big time and isn't fair. But maybe just look at it is as 95 yes rsvp's which is what you may have ended up with anyway had everyone acted like adults and responded the way guests never do, ya know? Some HAVE GOT to miss it, but since you can't know how many....I don't think you have much choice.

I'm not paying for mine. I think it's a lovely gesture, but not expected and almost impossible for a lot of us on a budget. I do wish I could, with them traveling as they must to be a part of it. So the concession I've made is to choose an affordable designer and allow them to choose their own style, which offers dresses from $100-300+. I would NEVER ask them to pay more than around $150-that's just me because I think much more than that is just excessive. But nope, can't afford to pay for theirs.

Quote: Originally Posted by DanielleNDerek Savannah does she realize your having a symbolic ceremony? Her response makes it sound like your trying to get legally married in Mexico. You guys, I SWEAR, I have repeated it in almost every email. It was part of the intitial info SHE requested yesterday "Type of Ceremony (civil/vow renewal)" on the info form. I've said it in like ten different ways, 12 different times. lol It's amazing. I feel like I'm starting to frustrate her, not that I give a damn. We're BOTH getting frustrated, but on my side, I cannot fathom why the hell she is saying what she is unless she truly doesn't know the difference. Ayita-I hadn't thought of having staff perform it either til I seen it was the norm. If they won't let staff to do it, I'll get a pro. Family/friends performing it is just not for us. I'd be uncomfortable and feel even more like it wasn't really a ceremony. I'd also feel like the guests were feeling the same, like the ceremony wasn't real or meaningful. "Hell, thats Uncle Joe up there...they are sooo not married!" lol Don't ask me why, but having a staff member do it would be fine. My latest response...am I being unclear? WHAT AM I DOING WRONG??!! ARRRRGH! R*****, I am not understanding. Since the ceremony is not legally binding, why would the officiant need to have official permission from Mexico? We will be legally married here in the U.S. either before the wedding or after our return from Mexico. This is just a ceremony for our family and friends to witness and enjoy. Please clarify.

Morgan- I'm really not feeling the idea of a family member...or even a friend. lol You're one of the dozens of folks I remember having their WC officiate and so I'm really suprised they seem so taken aback by the request. Odd. But this is a smaller resort that is more out of the way I suppose. Jacilynda- lol, I get what you are saying. It's just different strokes. I think everyone who knows me (even here on BDW) knows I'm the first person to crack the hell up about something completely inappropriate. My entire family is the same, but Billy has approached the entire issue of the ceremony so seriously, it's definitely made me appreciate his outlook more. He's very set on it being the tie that binds us and is taking it all so soberly, it's got ME very hesitant to have it be too light hearted. I like it that he's being so serious-it's romantic to me! We could both laugh all the way through the legal ceremony and not care, lol. Girls, I have GOT to share this with you. Her response to my earlier email asking for clarification on the issue and broaching the subject of our bringing our own officiant. Her first line is in reference to my saying I was suprised more staff involvement wasn't the norm. Dear Savannah, Well, we know the importance of this kind of events for our guests. That's why we do not. If you prefer to bring your own minister, no problem. Just be sure he has the official permision to lead ceremonies in Mexico. The hotel could be fined in a possible inpection. Kind regards, R***** de** M*******

Quote: Originally Posted by Jacilynda An officiant for us was much more expensive than $400. Of course we aren't doing ours at a resort but i just assumed people used an officiant or family member, not staff or WC. We have a cousin doing it for us. I can personalize how we want and have someone we love do it and be part of our day instead of someone I've never seen in my life. I don't really care about the whole stranger-doing-it thing. In fact, I think that actually works better for me than it would if someone from the fam did. I cannot under any circumstances imagine one of my goof ass brothers standing in front of us "marrying" us. lol We just don't have that kind of serious vibe in my family and I don't even know if anyone is capable of it. If we pull someone from the guest list for it (which presents another problem since ours is so small), it would have to be a family friend for sure. I've already sent out some info feelers for outside officiants, so I'll either try my best to find someone under $400 or have a family friend do it...but hopefully she'll get back to me and say the on site coordinator can do it.