Mrs. Martin

All RIU's state that 80% of all your guests must stay at the hotel (where the wedding is taking place) in order get married there. And for those guests that are not staying at the hotel, you must pay for a guest pass. Even your vendors need passes. Yours aren't expensive because the RIU that I'm getting married at is charging us $100 per guest pass (Yikes!). We're spending close to $700 on just passes

Quote: Originally Posted by Alyssa Ok -i am going to be honest - i would have them re-done. they do look cute but look very 'home-made' and i think home-made is OK if it is intentional KWIM? now i am a bit of a perfectionist so my opinion might be on the more extreme end but if it was me i would want them to be more consistent and a bit more professional looking. I hear what you're saying. I'm not sure what I'm going to do because I think deep down inside, they probably won't matter, but I'm not 100% convinced of that yet ! Considering I still have to spend $ on my BD pics (i finally found a photog I liked!), alterations, and my FI and I are purchasing a 2nd home (woo hoo!), I can't justify on spending one more dime on the darn sand dollars! So, I think what I will do is take them with me and if I hate the way they look when all the decor is put together I'll just have them removed. (That's what I'm saying right now, so incase I change my mind I'll advise you!!!)

Quote: Originally Posted by NotYourAverageDW Oh my goodness! They look AMAZING! Honestly, I can't see anything wrong with them. I really do think they look lovely and have a great relaxed feel to them. Were you hoping for more of a formal look? Thanks, you've all been so sweet & supportive!! I didn't want them to look formal, just cute and neat. I think they look messy because my writing sucks! Quote: Originally Posted by nicoleandscott i think they look great! i understand it not being exactly what you envisioned at first, but they look SOOOOOOOOO close to your inspiration!!! i would stick with it...put them away for a few days, think about other things, then come back and re-evaluate the situation. good work! Thanks, that's a good idea! The more I keep looking at them the more I'm going to get emotional about it. I'll give myself a break from them this weekend!

Quote: Originally Posted by Hartyt509 I can't see whats wrong with them! Ahh, you're sweet, thanks! I just had a poll here at work (I know, I have officially lost it) and they all said the same thing- They said that if the wedding was very formal, then they would understand why I would want them done proffesionally. But, since I'm having a semi-formal beach wedding, that the writing and sand dollars go along with everything else. They "claim" it adds charm and character because I wrote them myself. I don't know if I believe that part, but I guess it does add a little of that personal touch!?!

I'm really hoping to get the bathroom basics (towels, mats, etc.). My FI's house has 1 bathroom and we are purchasing a house with 4, so we need bathroom stuff desperatly. So far, no one has purchased those items

I tried resizing it, can you see it now (not that they are even worth looking at!).

I had a bridezilla moment last night- My aunt came over to work on these these last night. She was writing the names on with a pencil first, she tried erasing a few times and broke three. I was furious, so I decided that I would take matters in to my own hands. I couldn't stop; I just kept on writing! I wrote the names on all of them and I HATE the way they came out. I think they look so cheap and my vision of what I wanted is completely ruined. I completely regret not paying for the calligraphy!! It was really difficult to write on these because of the curve and texture. What should I do, should I buy more?! I really don't want to spend the $$ on more, but I really think they look crappy!

Dang, it would be cheaper for me to fly to Colorado and have her shoot my pics!! Congrats and good luck!!

The specific one I liked included hair, makeup, outfits (or you can bring your own) with two hours of shooting. They offered a few pages for free if you purchased a photobook. That was a little over $1,000. It's less if you excluded the hair, makeup and outfits, but from what I can tell on the pics their hair/makeup people and costumes were awsome (made the girls look like one of the Pussycat Dolls). There were cheaper ones, but the pics looked a little dated on the websites. I saw yours and they looked great!!! Maybe it's just the location, but those types of photo shoots are a lot here. I'm sure if I keep looking I'll find cheaper rates. I don't have much time left before the wedding.....

I've been curious too!!! I've been searching for a photographer in Los Angeles and most of them are close to $1,000! I really had my heart set on taking BD pics, but now I'm not too sure because of the price.

I love your pink bouquet! Those flowers are soooo pretty!!! I'm not too sure what color I would go with if I were you. The pink is beautiful, but it would also be a nice detail if your bouquet matched the color of your shoes! I like the idea of dark calla's! If you are set on orchids, this is all I was able to find that would match the color you needed. Hope it helps a bit!

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!! There are too many of you to reply to, so I will try to respond to everyone's comments/questions at once! I wasn't planning on using that same font as on the picture, but I didn't want handwriting either (it will look too formal). I just wanted really nice writing (like monotype corsiva font) and not just anyone can do that. I went to a few craft stores today and tried different things as alternatives. Stencils won't work because of the way the sand dollar is curved. It actually made it more difficult to do. I looked into different sorts of label/papers (rice paper, etc.) and it won't work on the shell because of the texture. I tried outlining a name myself with a pencil (very lightly) and then erased it. This may work, however, when erasing it leaves a dark stain (even if it is a clean eraser) and you have to be very careful because the shell is so thin. I would have to use a semi-thin, Sharpie-type pen to outline the names because other types of pens/markers leaked and spread beyond the lettering. I only had 7 extra sand dollars incase I made a mistake and now I'm down to 3. So, I think what I'm going to do is order more to have a few extra and MAKE my aunt at least try with a pencil and then outline the names with the pen. It will still be cheaper for me to order extra than to get them professionally done. I would rather spend the $90 on clothes for my trip or ANYTHING ELSE other than calligraphy. Sorry this is so long, but I hope it helps anyone who wants to do this in the future! Thank you all for your suggestions because I really was having a hard time with this! I know this is such a petty thing to stress about, but I just kept imagining me looking at my wedding pics and seeing everything looking great with the exception of my sloppy-looking sand dollars!!! I'll post pics when we're done with them!

*UPDATES ON PAGE 3* I need your advise! I ordered these beautiful 4 inch sand dollars to use for placecards and I want the guests' names written on them (the pic below was my inspiration). My aunt, who has great writing, offered to write the names for me. Now that she saw the sand dollars (which seem super delicate), she's afraid of messing up and ruining them and is no longer wanting to do it for me. I researched a few people locally that did calligraphy and the best price I was quoted was $2.00 a shell (and that is not an exact quote, she wants to see them first). I'm not trying to be cheap, but I can't imagine myself spending almost $90 on signatures!!! But, I don't want the writing to look crappy either. They are part of the decor, so I want them to look nice! Should I spend the $$? I know the font on the pic example looks very simple, but the way the shell is curved and being that they are so delicate, I would be afraid of someone trying to write on them that is not a proffesional. What do I do

Wow, this is the first time I hear of any charges to set up decor items! I never even thought of asking my WC if there is a charge at Riu for this! I just assumed she would do it as long as I have my decor ready and give her examples of how I want it set up. Now I'm a little worried because I have about 50 guests too. I'm sending her an email right now....

We're getting married at Riu Palace Las Americas and we have to pay for day passes ($100) for each photographer. Each Riu resort may be vary though.

Quote: Originally Posted by syl1115 I love them. I think the colored raffia is a good idea. You're my wedding date twin!! Can you believe how fast it's coming up?! I bought some brown raffia yesterday because the orange and pink colored raffia I found was not in the shades I liked. The brown actually looked really nice. I might just stick with that, but I will keep looking!

Quote: Originally Posted by kerryjbrown I am in Irvine, Orange County...where were you? I saw the bin but it was empty. you must be from here and got them all before me Ha ha, sadly only the LA county and the Inland Empire Targets were taken over by me, not OC! Maybe another BDW bride from the OC took them all, they just won't admit it!!! I went all over the place and just happen to find them (in Rancho, Chino, Norwalk, and I went to Pasadena's Target yesterday), but these are all out of your way. I'm sure you will find them when you least expect it! I found some of the OOT bags I purchased months ago (and was told they were sold out) at Pasadena's Target yesterday, so you just may end up finding the mani/pedi sets when you are no longer looking for them!

I can't get over how beautiful that location is!!! Your wedding looked amazing and you can tell by the pictures everyone was having a great time! I love the picture of you two far away on the bridge together, so pretty!

Quote: Originally Posted by meagan they look great! Super job! Now you all have me thinking about this!!! The more I cruise this forum the more things I keep thiniking about!!!! I guess I'll add it to the list! My brain is working a mile a minute and my wedding isnt until July 09! Whats wrong with me! Thanks! I know how you feel! There are so many talented girls here with great ideas, it's hard to narrow down exactly what you want to do for your own wedding!

I'm doing the same thing you are planning to do, 1 per couple and singles get 1 bag. I'm adding multiple items such as chapstick, Motrin, etc. for the couples bags. My mom invited one of her friends who then invited her two sisters which I have never met. I'm only giving them 1 bag and they can share what ever is inside. I'm not sure if that's rude, but I don't know them nor did I invite them, so oh well!

Quote: Originally Posted by kerryjbrown So you have all convinced me....I have begun my Target hunting! Today was my fist trip (went to go find these mani/pedi kits). They were out but...I did manage to pick up the initial basics for my OOT bags! YEAH! Thanks for all the great tips/advice (I didn't even know they had $1 buckets) I always thought it was a travel section.... Where in CA are you from? I went to 3 different Targets yesterday () and they had the mani/pedi kits.

Quote: Originally Posted by Ana Cerda I have 10 glass centerpieces. I am giving 10 family members to take one each and carry it to Cancun. That will be their carry on luggage. That's what I was planning on doing as well! We have 22 people traveling with us, so I will be putting them to work and holding my boxes!

Quote: Originally Posted by ash0628 i think they look great to where did you get that coral from? sorry if you already posted this JCPenny is having a home sale and includes all their summer decor. I found tons of coral there and they were $4.99 each.

Love your centerpiece!!! They are so pretty! Since I'm having long, rectangular tables, I don't have enough space to add anything under (plus the bottom of the candleholders are pretty wide, so I would need big mirrors). That's the only reason I chose high candleholders. If I could find long mirrors, that may work. I have to look!

Here's a pic of what my centerpieces will be looking like (so far). In case you can't tell from the pic, there are candles inside (just not lit). Keep in mind, I will be adding plenty more starfish and shells around the centerpiece. I was also planning on adding tea lights and more shells along the table runner (my tables will be long and not very wide, 4 tables total). The table linens that the hotel provides are white, so I thought a brown runner would give it a nice contrast and it's one of my wedding colors. Any suggestions or comments? I was planning on adding a third vase, but I can't find these anymore! I'm also a little bummed that I didn't add my accent colors (mango and pink) to the centerpiece, but I couldn't really figure out how unless I added flowers. But, I wouldn't even know where to include them if I chose to buy flowers. I don't really want to spend much more on the centerpieces because they are not too much of a priority for me. But, I don't want them to look blah either, you know what I mean?! By the way, for those who helped me find coral- I found some at JCPenny on clearance for $4.99 Excuse the background, my kithen counter is the only place I could find space to set my stuff up: