Maura

Trisha, I've been thinking about you ever since we last talked. I'm glad having all of us here has helped you. Sending warm wishes your way and a big hug for you and Travis. Whenever you need to talk, we're all here!

Quote: Originally Posted by Christa Maura, I booked Bradley for 4 hours, and it was plenty. Although, we did not have the travel time, so perhaps you should account for that and up it to 5? Christa, was your timeline otherwise about the same? Where did you put that extra time that you didn't spend traveling to/from a church?

Quote: Originally Posted by Mrs.B 2008 Wow i am really sorry to hear that you are dealing with this. I think that it is ridiculous for your parents to demand that you keep their name. 1st of all - you are a grown ass woman - 2nd you are becoming a family with your FI and plan to have kids and do not need ANYONE's permission to change your name or not change it. and 3rd - if they are willing to miss your wedding b/c they cannot manipulate you into doing what they want, then shame on them. I totally have to agree with everything Alyssa said here. I do, however, understand the cultural issue and wanting to respect your parents. I am a journalist and I personally don't give a rat's ass about keeping my last name, I am looking forward to taking my FH's name when we get married --- although I am well-established at my job with my maiden name and will continue to use my maiden name for publishing purposes. It's just too much of a pain to contact all of my sources and let them know my name is going to change in August. Legally, I will be changing my name to have the same last name as my FH, and in the future, my kids will share his last name also. I'm marrying into a Mexican family in which tradition is very important, but even they can understand that I need to keep my maiden name professionally because of what I do. My last name is sort of like a brand trademark that people trust. Can you just keep your maiden name for professional purposes but legally change your name to your FH's last name? Your dear old dad doesn't really have to know about it. I agree with Kate and I don't advocate lying to the rents, but.... your dad is way out of line on this one. If you let him tell you what to do now, what are you going to do when your kids are born and he insists they carry your last name and not your husbands? I think you really need to put your foot down on this one, as much as it might cause an argument, you ARE a grown woman and this is your choice to make, not his.

I got this reply from Bradley about what he thinks a good timeline would be. He put his changes in { }: >>1 hour getting ready photos {30 min.} 20 mins travel to church {20 min.} 1 hour ceremony {probably 45 min.} 30 mins photos outside the church w/family {20-30 min.} 20 mins travel back to resort for reception {20 min.} 45 mins to 1 hour of photos of us alone {30 min.} 2-3 hours for reception {60 min.} Reception shots will be lighted with a flash and/or long exposures so I would not spend much money here, some but not much. Total: 4.0 hours You should get excellent coverage with this amount of time. << Of course this is for 4 hour coverage that we originally thought would be enough. But with the way he laid it out... I feel like maybe I should add another hour or two. What do you think?

Thank you all so much for all the birthday wishes!! I had a very nice relaxing day filled with good food and presents My FI's parents called to wish me a Happy Birthday before my own parents haha... and my FFIL told me being 25 makes me a viejita haha. Anyway, I had a wonderful day and it was that much sweeter checking into the forum last night and seeing all your nice messages! Thanks again!

Corey, good luck on your exams! We miss you around here and can't wait to have you back posting every day

Well, I was super nervous about trying on dresses because it was my first time. But I actually had fun. The place I went doesn't allow you to take photos but my friend was able to sneak a few. They hardly left us alone long enough to get the photos she was able to take! The only two we were able to get photos of were Monique Lhuillier gowns. I also tried on some Alvina Valenta gowns because there was a trunk show, but nothing I was crazy about. This one was two piece (skirt separate from the lace top) and even though the top didn't fit me and my girl there had to pin it shut with super strength pins for it to close over my boobs, this is the first dress I tried on that made me really feel like a bride. She also tied the sash up too high, but I did like this dress a lot. I about died when I saw the price though! This next one I absolutely loved on (but hated it on the hanger -- what Melissa said about trying everything on even if you think it looks ugly on the rack is so true!) but couldnt get them out of the dressing room long enough while I was wearing it to get a photo, haha. It's a drop waist and made me look 15 pounds thinner! The boning in it was actually very comfortable --totally to my surprise. The only thing is that I'm having a church wedding and the dress is strapless, so to customize it to cover my shoulders would be like another $400! The price of this dress was even worse than the first. Totally out of my budget, but I felt great wearing it. I have an appointment next Saturday at White Chicago, a place that sells new, sample and "once worn" designer gowns, so we will see how that goes. Totally glad I only took one friend with me on the first time out though. Some other girl there had an entourage of like 8 people and it was making ME nervous! By the way for those of you who haven't tried on gowns yet... the one hour appointment goes by incredibly fast! I think I only tried on a total of 4 gowns. OH! And Abbie don't get depressed about the size thing. I'm normally a small size 8 and they were bringing me 10s and 12s. My plan is to have my seamstress rip out the actual size tag and sew in one that I feel more comfortable with people seeing

erica, i havent sent out STDs yet, although the friends i'm inviting already know all the details so the STD will be mostly a formality. i dont think its tacky at all to have tammy confirm with you people who aren't on your invite list. one thing that i'm finding with a few friends is that they don't understand what the per guest cost is. i even have one friend who's engaged who doesn't think her fiance can come, so she took the liberty to invite someone else as a date! i had to politely tell her the invite was for her and her fiance only. in fact, i'm thinking about doing the same thing you are so as not to have people book who arent invited. i have friends from elementary school who i havent spoken to in at least 8 years try to invite themselves...coworkers...grad school friends who i havent spoken to in 2 years. what is it with people inviting themselves?! if it makes you feel more at ease and more comfortable to have tammy check on a list before letting people book, i say do it!

Bienvenidos Anya! I'm getting married at the Westin Los Cabos on August 9, 2008 if you ever want to talk! There aren't very many girls here who are planning at the Westin... just me and one other that I can think of, but I have lots of info I can share with you if you'd like.

i also really like the marriott marina. i've always gotten exceptional service there and its really nice. the yacht club restaurant is also delicious there! if you make it over to seaport village theres this cool little store (i forget the name of it) that sells seashell night lights and other assorted pretty things with seashells. i agree with the other gals also that the gaslamp quarter is fun

good luck! i have my first appointment to try on dresses tomorrow! we'll both have to report back with our findings, haha. dont forget to take your camera!!!

lorilou, how pretty! i have an appointment at ultimate bride tomorrow morning and now im really excited!

Quote: Originally Posted by Heidi YAY!!!!!!! I'm so glad you've seen this!!! I actually went onto Amazon.com yesterday and ordered the DVD; I'm sooo excited!!! My brother & sister are going to flip! Yaaay Heidi I'm so glad my Christmas movie addiction is doing the world some good, haha. You have to let me know your brother & sister's reaction when they see you got it on DVD!!

Heidi! Boy am I glad you started this thread. I love Christmas movies and I am a bit of an aficionado on them if I do say so myself. My aunt and uncle own an animation art gallery, so I'm well versed in all things to do with animation because I used to work there in the summers from the time I was 14-21. First of all, I am very familiar with the California Raisins claymation Christmas special from 1987. I used to love this as a kid! I have fantastic news for you --- this has been available on DVD since 2003 Here is the link to it on Amazon! Amazon.com: Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Plus Halloween & Easter Celebrations: DVD: Krisha Fairchild,Tim Conner,Todd Tolces,Brian Cummings,Johnny Counterfit,Greg Black,Ron Tinsley,Barry Bruce,Will Vinton You can also watch "Herb & Rex" in 3 parts on YouTube here: YouTube - Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas 1 of 3 One of my favorites is this old stop-motion animation short called "Hardrock & Coco & Joe: The Three Little Dwarfs" - it is from the early 1950s and is something my mom watched on WGN-TV growing up here in Chicago. WGN (channel 9 here) still plays this every Christmas. A few years ago, this became available on DVD and we bought it as a gift for my mom and she cried. It was done by Centaur Productions and written by Stuart Hamblen. Watch it on YouTube here: YouTube - Hardrock, Coco, and Joe Also stop-motion animation done by Centaur in 1951 was "Suzy Snowflake" - also shown on WGN in Chicago. Watch it here on YouTube: YouTube - Suzy Snowflake (1951) The also did a "Frosty The Snowman" which is not stop-motion, and was done in 1950 I believe. Shown on WGN originally just like the others. Watch it here, I totally loved this as a kid and still to this day can sing the song by heart!: YouTube - Frosty the Snowman *All three of these are on the same DVD, my mom totally flipped for it! The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer you all are referring to as claymation is actually stop-motion animation by Rankin & Bass from the early 1960s. View a bit of it here: YouTube - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Rankin & Bass also did the following stop-motion animation movies: The Year Without a Santa Claus, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, Little Drummer Boy...and a couple I know I'm forgetting. They also did a regular cel animation version of Frosty the Snowman with the little girl character named Karen -- here is a link to what it looks like on YouTube with a dumb soundtrack, but you'll recognize the animation: YouTube - Frosty The Snowman As for real movies, I watch the "Christmas Story" with my sister and cousins every year. We always laugh at some of the parts that remind us of our crazy family. A few years ago, Urban Outfitters started selling a replica of the leg lamp at Christmastime, which I think is hilarious! I also love the following and watch them every year (I own all but one): National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (FI will watch this with me) Muppet Christmas -- so hilarious. I don't own this one but wish I did. The Dr. Seuss animated How the Grinch Stole Christmas (not a fan of the Jim Carrey version) White Christmas (I am in love with Bing Crosby) A Charlie Brown Christmas Home Alone (it was filmed right near where I grew up and I know people who were extras in the skating pond scene!) Elf and Love Actually is a new favorite of mine recently added a few years ago. Has anybody ever seen the movie Babes in Toyland with Laurel & Hardy? I watched that with my cousins every year growin up! So as you can see, I'm a Christmas movie freak. I have a whole shelf dedicated to Christmas movies in our living room, haha. My FI made me watch Bad Santa with him a few weekends ago when it was on TV and I thought it was pretty funny. (eeks sorry I just wrote a novel!)

you shouldnt open your gifts at the reception if for no reason other than the fact that not everyone may have brought a gift (whether they just didnt buy you one, or they already sent it to your house so you wouldnt have to lug it home) AND that you don't want anyone to feel bad or uncomfortable about what kind of gift they got you (like if they couldnt afford a really nice gift and then you open it up in front of everyone, and somebody makes a face or a comment about the quality of the gift...) gifts should be opened at home in private, you dont need a show with everyone watching. youll send your thanks later. use the reception as a time to enjoy being with the people who came!

leia, i didnt even think about this but now that you mention it, after seeing that post yesterday about the nasty stuff on hotel glasses, i think i'm going to bring my own toasting flutes! i'm sure the hotels will provide both toasting flutes and a cake serving set no matter what though.

Happy Birthday Carly! Have a wonderful day!

do you know the name of the font? that would help... try dafont.com - they have tons of free fonts arranged by category of what kind of typeface it is!

i would second jilly's thoughts on atlantis in the bahamas. my parents took my sister and a few of her friends there about 5-7 years ago and didnt really care for it that much. said it was overpriced and not as nice as expected. they ended up going to the bahamas again a year or so later and stayed somewhere else they liked much better. my FI's family went on a cruise to hawaii last year for christmas an absolutely loved it. he raves about it still, a whole year later! they did the celebrity cruise line and really really loved it. that's sad they wont do mexico. there are so many beautiful and affordable places. of course you need to be conscious of not drinking tap water/careful with salads and fruit that cant be peeled, but that's really not that big of a deal. my FI grew up in mexico city and i cant recall for sure but i think it was when he was vacationing in acapulco about 10 years ago he got horribly sick... and then another time he actually got cholera on vacation somewhere in mexico (i want to say that was in veracruz maybe)! the truth is, you can really get sick ANYWHERE. a good family friend of ours ate a salad in jamaica and ended up so sick he was airlifted to the US a few days after eating it and they removed a parasite about 6 ft long that was in his spinal column. you have to be careful no matter where you go, not just mexico.

if it's not too late, i'd highly recommend this blush: O-Glow by Smashbox. Fragrance, Cosmetics & the Finest Facial Skin Care Product Selection at Sephora.com it's a liquid/gel blush, you only need a little smidge, and it does not rub off the way powder blush can. It's $26 but lasts forever. I bought my last tube in August and I'm not even halfway through it and I use it nearly every day. and for mascara, i love Lash Injection by Too Faced ($19.50) Sephora: Too Faced Lash Injection: Mascara I've never had a problem with this mascara running, and I cry at everything, haha.

my best advice is that if you can afford to get a personal trainer (often you can do a "group rate" for two people and that way you and FI can work out together with the trainer) then do it. it's some of the best money i've ever spent. clearing out your junk food will only be a temporary fix. eventually you'll be dying for a taste of potato chips or something and will give in. trust me i know! if you have a trainer teaching you the proper way to exercise, its a lot easier to do it right. even if you only see the trainer every other week, it helps keep you motivated. and if you make a bad food choice, you know you just need to work extra hard, which will motivate you to make less bad choices (hopefully). also, if youre like me and tend to keep extra weight mostly in the hips and tummy, your best bet is doing lots of cardio. i run on the treadmill for about 2.5 miles 2-3 times per week on average on my own and it helps me. if you dont like running, the elliptical is great and so is an exercise bike (regular bike, but if you can do spinning, thats great too!). strength training in addition to the cardio will definitely get you fit. ooh also i notice that doing lunges across a room is great for my legs! it sucks while youre doing it, but the results will make you happy. there's a gym in my condo building, so if i'm not feeling like running, i will go watch desp. housewives or some other show my FI hates watching and just walk at 3.5 mph for the entire hour. sometimes i'll rev it up and run a bit during the commercials. as for diet, try to avoid cooking with salt and bad fat as much as possible (a little EVOO now and then is okay if you're not using it to fry stuff). lots of green veggies are good. my trainer gave me tons of nutritional info when i started with him, and i lost 25 pounds in 4 months following a healthy eating plan and exercising 4x a week.

Hi Faith & Scott, I'm a cabo bride getting married in August 08. We're planning our reception at the Westin Los Cabos. Feel free to ask any questions! Welcome to the forum, you'll love all the info you can find here!

her name is katherine. i used to think she was just a witch, but after last night i kinda felt sorry for her when bree busted her husband by accident. totally bummed the next part of the episode isnt going to be for god knows how long!

you only had him for 2 hours? wow! i figured for sure you wouldve had him for 5. you had just one camera then? the pricing on his website says $739 for 2 hours and i was totally on the fence about a video before until i saw yours!

angela, how many hours did you do? (p.s. you should compliment him on the navigation of the website, everything is so clear with prices and hours and what you get, etc!) omg. im crying your highlights video is so fantastic and is making me so excited to get married!!!! you looked so absolutely beautiful and your day looks like it was so perfect!