AlmostMrsForbes

Those Maggie dresses are so pretty! Those might work for you, Lee, as they are a little shorter in length. Most of the Maggie gowns have corset backs (not sure about the short ones) - which end up being really flattering. Good luck! Can't wait to see what you pick out.

these are beautiful! quick question - did you take them the day after your ceremony? and, if so, did you use your actual wedding dress? i've heard a couple of girls say that they just went and bought a cheaper white dress for the TTD session. can't wait to see the rest!

Oh, Jessica ... he is perfect. So cute! Congrats on the new addition to your family. Can't wait to hear all about it once you've gotten some much needed rest!

I love that look, too, Lee! Take a look at the Mori Lee website in the Voyage collection. Then, you can see where they have dresses in your area and go try it on. The website is Formal wedding dresses Voyage collection from Mori Lee. HTH!

hi! i think black bridesmaid dresses will look great. it will lend a bit more formality to the ceremony. my girls are wearing black dresses - just below the knee. my fi and groomsmen are wearing kilts (fi is scottish).

I vote for #3 - it is the one that I'm doing in black - I know, not very beachy, but FI is wearing a kilt (he's scottish)! :-)

Thanks so much, ladies! I appreciate all of the advice! We had a wonderful holiday with my family yesterday - and it made me feel so blessed that my family has accepted FI so completely and considers him to be part of the family. FMIL in called yesterday evening and just went on and on about how lonely she was and trying to make FI feel guilty. I took all of your advice to heart, though, and just let it roll off my shoulders! FI didn't seem to bothered by her guilt trip either ... I guess the less reaction she gets out of me/us, the less she'll continue with her craziness! Thanks again! Hope everyone had a great holiday!

ok - someone might have already posted this ... but i'll add for those of you who NEED to know - and who don't mind not being surprised, check out [spoilerFix.com] SpoilerFix.com messages to the visitors!. i know - takes the fun out of it, but it will give you a quick Desperate fix!

I think you're right ... and I keep trying to empathize with that ... I know that would be hard. Every time I start to feel better about our relationship, she pulls some crap like this ... whatever it's her issue, I suppose.

Thank you! I knew I was not completely crazy! Anyways, I have a theory that she likes to pretend that I don't even exist! Most parents want their children to be happy - and have fulfilled lives. Not her. I seriously believe that she'd like FI to single forever and to move home with her. Weird. The last time she was up, someone mentioned us starting a family. You should have seen the look on her face. She was like ... "whoa, one thing at a time." Come on! We've been together 4 years! Won't she get a big surprise ... we plan to start a family soon! Oh ... and by the way ... she still insists that I call her ... "Mrs. ____" I swear - I don't know how FI got to be so wonderful!

OK - please tell me if I am being completely insane ... as my darling FI seems to think I am. FI's mother (who I've not ever been close to) lives in another state. We spent Thanksgiving with her (it's just her ... not remarried), and are now spending Christmas with my parents. My parents love FI, and include him in everything. Anyways, FMIL sent a Christmas card to our house - just for him. It did not mention me anywhere in it! When I pointed it out to FI, he asked if I was "looking for things to be upset at her about." I told him that i didn't need to "look for things" and that, of course, started a big fight. It is a general point of contention with us. Generally, she is cold and critical - she always makes comments about how much I do or do not eat, when I last exercised. FI claims that she does this to everyone - which is true ... but doesn't make it right. Anyways, what do you guys think? Is the card thing rude - or am I being overly sensitive? My parents would never have done that!

I'm so glad you kept the gifts ... and that psycho-girl didn't get the response she was looking for. I'm sorry ... you don't "forget" the mother's name on a baby gift without intending to get some sort of reaction. in any event, you have a lot of great gifts and she's out a bunch of money - and pride. see ... this website is so great - gives you a chance to consider your response and get feedback! I give you kudos, though ... knowing me, i would probably have flown off the handle and sent the whole lot back! :-)

I agree! No rules ... you wouldn't be happy if you couldn't have those closest to you. My FI has two more groomsmen than I do bridesmaids. I worried over it for a while - thought the pics would look "unbalanced." Then I decided to just go with it. Not worth worrying over. Just ask whoever you feel closest to.

I'm getting married at the Riu Ocho Rios in Jamaica. They (the on-site photographer) supposedly charges a fee ($200 - and you have to book him for your videography). If you don't pay it, I've heard that he tries to sabotage pictures. I'm having a hard time with this fee, though - I can't bring myself to pay it - it seems like extortion - especially when it is not the Riu that is charging it. I don't have a contract with this guy, and I have not signed anything with the Riu saying that I won't use a separate photographer. I think this may be an uphill battle though ... I'll probably just pay the $200 for peace of mind.

Carly - you should totally have your reception there! I'm having mine on May 19th - and I noticed that you're getting married a couple days before! It is much more affordable than I ever would have thought!

Hi, Mo! Thanks so much for posting the pictures! I absolutely cannot wait to have my reception there, too. Everything looked beautiful - and everyone looks to be having so much fun!

UPDATED LIST - added myself - SO glad I found this place! October 2007 Brides JerzzyGirl - wedding October 12, 2007 - had a GREAT time! November 2007 Brides Maureen/Mo: wedding November 9, 2007; there from November 3-13th December 2007 Brides Cali/CaliaA07: wedding December 18, 2007 There Dec. 14-21 January 2008 Brides Becky: wedding January 23; there 1/19 - 1/26 Becky (bex1975): wedding Jan 26; there 1/23-2/1 Cherie: wedding January 17th, there January 12th-26th February 2008 Brides Janelle (Jmhein): wedding February 12, there 2/9 - 2/16 JamaicaBride08: wedding Feb 8th, there 2/3-2/10 Therese (chicago88 ): wedding Feb 15th Natasha (pouchie) wedding Feb 7th March 2008 Brides Carolena7: Wedding on March 8th, there from 3/5 – 3/12 Anna: Wedding on 14th March, there from 6th March - 21st March Octavia: March 15, dates there 3/12-3/19 Kimmykatbride: March 26, 2008-there from 22-29, then in Negril for 1 week April 2008 Brides Heidi: wedding on April 4; there from 4/1-4/8 Jen (J&M): wedding on April 9 Jocelyn: wedding on April 10; there from 4/5-4/12 yboone98: wedding on April 11; there 4/9-1/13 Mandie (pook2b) wedding on April 11; there from 4/8 - 4/22 Amanda: wedding on April 17; there from 4/12-4/19 May 2008 Brides md_ocr: wedding on May 10 Albrosious: wedding day on May 12th leslie: wedding day on May 14th; there May 10th-24th Lizz: wedding on May 16; there from May 10-19 AlmostMrsForbes: wedding on May 19th; there from May 14th-20th (then off to Couples)! Jenn08: wedding on May 23, there from 19-26 Davina: wedding on May 29; there from May 26-June 1 June 2008 Brides FutureMrsButler08: wedding on June 14 JuneBride2B: wedding on June 14 July 2008 Brides Brittney: Wedding on July 12; there from July 9-14 MrsInTraining: wedding on July 19; there from July 16-23 RiuBride2B: wedding on July 26; there from July 23-28 November 2008 Brides Dara: wedding on November 1st: there from October 27 to November 3 GeminiLibra: wedding on November 15

I would like to have a couple of acoustic guitars, or a string quartet. I wonder if that will be possible to find there, and what kind of hurdles I'll have to jump through to get them onto the property ... Here's hoping ...

Yea! I'm getting married on May 19th, and will be there from 14th - 20th, and then at Couples from 20th - 25th. Our prices were: For us - $2200 per person, for 6 nights at the Riu and 5 nights at Couples, including airfare from Columbus, Ohio. These are for the oceanview rooms. Our guests are paying $1060/per person for 4 nights/5 days at the Riu, including airfare from Columbus, Ohio. This was part of a group discount. Hope this helps!

I'm glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm sure it was nice to relax after all the wedding stuff. We had a really good one, as well - although lots of traveling. So far, we have about 30 guests confirmed, although that could jump in the coming months - way more than I thought! I guess we are going to have an open bar, and are working on the menu. I'm having a hard time cutting it down. We have to offer a steak option because my dad and my brothers are kind of meat and potato guys - but I don't want to limit it and not offer people all the delicious jamaican/italian food. So, I think we've decided to offer 3 appetizers (shrimp, conch, and mozzarella) - Eva said they could set it up like stations so that people could enjoy during cocktail hour. Then, we'll limit the salad options and offer all of the dinners. I will still plan to make my own menus, though. How was the wedding cake that they got for you? Did you give them any input on what you wanted? We are still having our wedding @ the Riu. We're going to do the Beach Gazebo location. The ceremony will be at 2, and then the reception at Evita's will start around 5:30 or so. I'm also planning to hire an off-site photographer from Jamaica (Brian Design - Photography & Website Design by Brian Nejedly - Ocho Rios, Jamaica) - so I still have to work that out. Eva hooked us up with travel arrangements ... I'm assuming it's Lee's. I think we're going to use them (based on your glowing rec) for our trip to the resort, as well as for my brother and sister-in-law (since they'll be traveling with an infant). Sorry so long ... I'm becoming completely obsessed with this place!

That is great! I'm so excited. I've gotten a very good feeling from Eva. I'm so glad we made the decision to have the reception off site. All of our guests are traveling so far - I really think it will be nice to get them off the resort for a little while and treat them to something different. I'm going to look into the regae band - sounds really fun. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and that you are relaxing and enjoying married life!

Hi, Ladies I apologize if there is already a new thread for this (i didn't see one) - was just wondering what all of you are planning to do for music. I know that I've heard that a lot of people are planning on using a CD. Has anyone heard of hiring live music? Thinking of string quartet or a harpist or something ... I'm assuming you can find that sort of thing in Jamaica?

Hi, Mo Thanks for the great review - I can almost picture everything. It sounded beautiful, and your pics were gorgeous. You mentioned that Evita's was good. I'm having my reception there on May 19th - and Eva has been wonderful so far. In the end, is there anything you would have changed or would have liked to know before hand about Evita's? Everything with that part of the planning is going so easily ... it seems almost too good to be true. Congrats, again!

Hi! How can you girls tell when other peoples' times are? My TA booked my time slot with Chandlyn, and I haven't received a confirmation code or anything from the TA (althought I'm hoping she has it). Is there a way to look on the RIU website and see what is avaialble? Thanks!

Thanks, Ladies! Those are really great ideas - I think I'll talk to my TA about having people book individually.