BillysBride

Hey girls. Thus far, we've booked our photographer, venue, made arrangements for the cake, flowers and my mom and I have plans to start hitting the crafts stores to start putting together centerpieces and miscellaneous decor. I got several package options from various coordinators, and the ones we were most interested in, we sent a breakdown of what we would need from them to their email addresses. Well, I got one quote at $1200! And thats not including the "donation" we have to make to the priest! That seems a bit ridiculous to me. At this point, I'm thinking all we'll need is someone to oversee that the details we've arranged are carried out according to our specifications. We've nixed the idea of a reheasal dinner and plan to simply have a cocktail hour and small dinner reception after the ceremony mainly because we know that dinner will be necessary due to our sunset ceremony. The hotel is sending me the information/prices lists for meal plans and service. Am I missing anything? What do I need to have "coordinated" beyond the basics of time line flow and details for the big day? I guess I'm being cheap (ok, I know I'm being cheap, but hell I've got four kids) I'm to the point where I'm about to throw up my hands and say we go alone and have it done just the two of us out on an open beach some where with nothing around us but the officiant.

Just wondering if anyone knows what kind of range the RM has for Calla Lillies? I woke up inspired this morning, and finally decided on the accent colors I want to use. My whole color scheme will be Chocolate and Caramel as the base colors, with sunset colors as the accents. I was messing around on theknot.com this morning and seen some gorgeous bouquets with callas ranging from Mango-Deep Orange-Dark yellow and would love it if I could use those.

I'm going natural...I have always imagined wearing my hair in wild curls with my wedding dress, so I'm gonna do it. I'm even going to add some extensions to the back to thicken it up since my hair doesn't have that extra 'pop' I wish it did. I also found these ivory hair pearls...I'm going to wear about a dozen of them, scattered throughout the curls..just here and there. Heres the link... Pearl Hair Accessories As for my hair...this is the closest I've seen to what I'm doing. Figures that its on a celebrity, but Jada is ok. hahaha

Ah, Shelley. I think I have a clue just how disappointing this is for you. Its something every bride worries about as she plans her day. BUT in your case...the news isn't as sad as it could be. You are both still in love. You are both still going to share your lives together. Yes, we all get caught up in the wedding furor..we all look forward to the details, but in the end, as we remind each other from time to time during times of stress....its about the two of you and the commitment you share. Thats still there, and you can still be married at any point, in any way you choose. You've got your prince....thats what counts. Its a testiment to your love for each other that he could be honest about his feelings with you, and YOU could support him this way. You'll have your day....

Quote: Originally Posted by akh nope - but he refused to see it, even when i'd ask if he wanted to! he'd even leave the room or plug his ears if i described it. Mine too! Its so cute, my maid of honor was here and I pulled a pic of it up..he goes "Whoa, wait, wait wait!" and left the room. And this man is not generally the superstitious type!

What a beautiful bride you made! Congratulations!!

FH has vetoed the idea of pics before the ceremony. He wants to see me for the first time when I walk toward him....and I figure I won't fight it, since I'm making most of the big decisions according to my own preferences. He hasn't disapproved of much of anything, so its no big deal for me to give him this. I think its sweet of him. Has anyone else found the things that your fiance DID care about to be odd? I mean, the stuff that I went to him with before deciding..he was like "I don't care." But the things I had no idea he would give a darn about, he is putting his foot down on. Wierd.

Beachbride, isn't your day coming up soon? I thought I remembered you having a ticker, but I don't see one now!

I found these yesterday online for $2.50-2.75. Everytime I've seen them previously, they have been $5 and up, so I wanted to post this for anyone who is still wanting to give these. I already asked all my girls, but I think I may still order some of these, and just send it with a small gift..just as a way of sort of formally asking and showing that I appreciate their saying yes. Wedding, Bridesmaids Cards and Gifts, Paper Style

Quote: Originally Posted by foxytv My BM's are sizes 0-20+ ... so I have similar issues. We chose this dress and everyone seems very pleased with the way it fits different sizes. It was $145+ in the bridal stores, but I found a website where it's $106 and free shipping, so that's what they went with. Free shipping? Say what? Please, do tell. I found similar dresses on Ebay, but they are overseas and the shipping is outrageous. And ya, maybe I'll post a seperate thread asking for help hunting down those skirts!

Hmmm..I was going with a Maggie Sottero dress I had found a couple of months ago, BUT I started looking for a dress for our TTD shoot and came across THIS. Now I'm thinking of just forgoing the original choice and going with this one for both the ceremony and TTD. What do you guys think? Its very non traditional in a way, and I wasnt into the trumpet bottom dress style.but I like it on this one for some reason. I already bought it and its being shipped..only $169! If I just go with this one, it will free up a nice chunk of change for other things. And I don't feel like its a second choice..I really do love it. Just have to see myself in it to be sure. I posted in another thread that I am definitely getting rid of the boob flower though!

We'll have a small guest list too. I plan to blame it on the expense. We aren't in a rich circle of friends anyway, so I'm just going to say "I didn't want to imposition anyone by asking people other than family to bear the expense of coming. If we were doing it at home, I'd have everyone we know there." The people we aren't inviting are the people who probably wouldn't want to incur the expense just for us. They aren't close relatives, and they aren't close friends, so I would feel kind of odd expecting them to travel all that way on their own dime for us.

Not to be a downer, but my Dad is gone..passed on '00, but still very much a part of our thoughts. I want to include his memory in my day, so at our formal reception back home, I'm having a slide show put together to Luther Vandross' "Dance With My Father". Theres one line that just makes me break down everytime I hear it...the end line to the chorus. The song talks about dancing on dad's toes as a little kid, then him spinning you around in the air. The end of the chorus goes... "How I'd love, love, love..to dance with my father again." I'm sitting here bawling just thinking of it in my head. Great.

Quote: Originally Posted by Morgan Sounds cute. Do you have the picture? Might want to consider letting them wear any style black shirt or pick one with sleeves. You said one of your BMs is a 24. Anytime I've been in a wedding with someone who was plus size they always wanted sleeves. I think it's important to make sure they are comfortable in what they are wearing. Are these what you are talking about? Wow! Those are EXACTLY the kind of skirts I'm talking about!! I love the colors there..so rich. I can actually see broadening my colors to include all of those which would make flower selection SO much easier! Where did you find those? And yes, my plus size bm is definitely wanting sleeves, but being so sweet about it with the classic "Its your wedding, I'll wear whatever you want and be happy" line. That just makes me want to accomodate her even more. If someone was being a witch about it, I'd probably do whatever I wanted, but with her being sweet I just can't. They are coming a long way at a lot of expense just out of friendship, so I want to do whatever I can to make sure they enjoy the entire experience.

Bre, I love, love, LOVE the bodice! Just the right amount of detail to set it off. You look lovely in it. Congratulations!

Thanks for the feedback ladies. A few suggestions here have struck a chord with me, and I'm going to start re-searching (get it?hahaha) tomorrow. I'm thinking of going casual...or at least less formal. I saw some wedding photos a while back where all the bm's were in different colored Mexican peasant skirts with the tiers. They each had a black tank and the bride had about 8 bm's I believe. It actually looked very pulled together and I know it was ultra cheap. I can see going with those skirts if I can find them...anyone have any suggestions, please let me know.

OK, so I'm feeling guilty about having my "girls" take on so much expense between their attire and the trip. Not to mention, I figure I'll have less worry of someone "bailing" over finances if I downscale this some how. I had picked a mix and match set from Eden Bridals, but I'm still waiting for the call back from the shop to see how much. I'm nervous its going to be too expensive, so I want some stand by dresses. My maids run from a size 2 to a size 24, so you know the issue of comfort comes into play. Anyone find a site, or store that has a good selection at a great price?

Welcome, Julia! Don't feel alone, there a few of us '09 brides here! We are also getting married in April as well, and for the same reason that you are! I want everyone who means something to us to be able to come to our wedding, and this is the best way we could think of to make sure that happens. You're gonna love this place..lots of helpful ears and hands.

Quote: Originally Posted by lyrebard If I'm not being too nosey, what site did you decide on? Was just in Tulum, so now I'm quite curious! Not nosey at all! No such thing here I don't think. lol The wedding will be in the beach chapel at the Maya Tankah resort. Its a small property and only 3 star, but we are fine with that as we aren't...ritzy people and don't want a ton of other guests enjoying our time with us. So far, it looks like we are going to have the welcome dinner at Mezzanine in Tulum. My coordinator just emailed me this morning to say she talked with them, and they are willing to host small groups only, and for now, I think we'll only have 15-20 guests. I will know more after our STD's go out and we start getting some feedback. If we can't do it there, we have decided to use the reservations restaurant at the hotel, which half of me is thinking that would be a more logical solution anyway. Ooooo, someone who just left Tulum. Boy, do I wanna pick YOUR brain! Take any pics?

Quote: Originally Posted by lyrebard Having just come from the area, I can tell you that the cafe really is fantastic. We only ate breakfast there one day, but I wanted to just go straight down the menu and order everything on it. I'd have no reservations in recommending them for your mini-reception. Where are you planning to have it? -lb Excellent question.........lol We are working with the WC right now trying to figure that out. We may just end up doing everything on site. As it is, we are thinking of doing a full welcome dinner, and then just cake, champagne and appetizers after the ceremony...like a cocktail hour.

Ha! Gift? I'm giving him a lifetime with me and these children. And a beautiful beach wedding that he doesn't really have to lift a finger to plan. THATS what I'm getting him.

Quote: Originally Posted by starchild How cool is that!! They are beautiful and I love the names. You must have your hands full!! I agree that it's better not to take that chance on waiting for the price to drop. The dress is very pretty and that's a great price. Happy planning ) Thank you very, very much. You know the way to a mama's heart is through compliments about her kids! hehe

Quote: Originally Posted by starchild I think it's gorgeous! Perfect for a TTD. BTW, love your siggy pic...do you have quadruplets? Yes! We have two year old quads...Meryn, Kellen, Nico and Layla. With them in mind, I am trying to cut costs wherever possible. I saw this dress a while ago, but it was a lot more at the time. I guess it didn't sell, so they reposted it for $169...I am thinking now that had I waited and let the auction expire, the seller might have relisted it even lower, but I didn't want to take a chance that someone else would get it. Be just my luck to find the one I wanted, and miss out on it by trying to be too cheap. I'm happy though....thats a decent price, and should something come up to nip my budget even further, I can always use that as the wedding dress too if need be. I like it that much.

Eeeeeeeeeee!! I FOUND IT I FOUND IT I FOUND IT!! I literally had A Moment when I saw this thing. Its perfect..just what I was looking for even though I didn't realize it til I saw it. And I'm getting it for $169!!!! I love it. Heres the TTD dress ladies! I'm getting rid of the boob flower when I have the alterations. I've never been big on the mermaid thing, but this is a non drastic silhouette and I think I'll have plenty of leg room. I wanted the TTD dress to be kinda oo la la sexy and different. What do y'all think?

Thanks, Paula! I'm browsing them right now. BTW, LOVE your costume pic! haha