cougs

it's not just the shop, it's the cut of the dress! i am disproportionately pear shaped (my hips are about 15 inches bigger than my waist!) ... in an a-line dress i wear close to my everyday size, but if i were to choose a straight or form-fitting skirt (not that i ever would!), i would probably need about 10 sizes bigger. i haven't dress shopped anywhere but online so far, and feel that the best cut for my body would be an A-line dress with an off-the shoulder or portrait neckline (something to widen my shoulders as i have none, and to balance my big ol' hips). of course i love all the slinky numbers and the dropped waists and trumpet skirts, but i need to be realistic ... for me, they just wouldn't work ... not even if i dropped 100 pounds as my body just isn't shaped that way. best advice ever is to "know your body!" that said, my "fact-finding mission" at david's needs to happen! i need to see a dress actually ON me sometime soon!

oh i should add that when my sister eloped in florida, my mother rounded up the immediate family/friends (about 20 people) and had a party in her home, where she made a huge spread of food and we drank and watched their wedding video. my mom was still upset that her daughter had eloped, but felt a little better being able to see it on video and celebrate with them. some family gave them gifts too (and that was for a 2nd marriage that was an elopement). i certainly don't expect gifts if people aren't invited to the actual wedding, but it would be nice!

we will be doing some sort of AHR, but it won't be a "wedding reception," per se, just more of a eat, drink, and be merry sort of thing. way too many people for a backyard or house party (about 200 or so, which is why we're getting married in mexico in the first place ... only maybe 40 are attending there)! we plan on showing the wedding video and maybe a photo slideshow. we will probably have a friend dj, and serve beer and sangria, maybe margaritas, and a mexican-type buffet or even just hors d' oeuvres. i don't think i will be wearing the dress again. if you need to rent out a hall or have catering, in my area it seems the markup for "weddings" is outrageous. don't call it a wedding, and it's just a banquet or party and suddenly so much cheaper. someone else mentioned it here, but we won't be calling it a "wedding reception" on invites either. i think i might say something along the lines of "come toast/celebrate with the newlyweds upon their return from mexico." FIESTA!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by SIMBASIM I then received a call from my bank stating that my Visa Check card cannot be used over seas. um WHAT?!?!?!?! that's gonna be a BIG problem if they don't take visa check cards!! that's what i use for EVERYTHING, since i no longer have any credit cards (and neither does my fiance). what the heck are we supposed to pay with? money orders?

that's a beautiful dress! i can't believe you're using something that gorgeous for your WELCOME DINNER! haha i wasn't sure i was even going to *have* a welcome dinner!

bad news about using the spa area only after 8pm, and himitsu only before 4pm! do you have any photos of the area at himitsu?

great pics ... CRAAAAZY wind in that one gazebo picture ... holy crap! i'm so nervous about that ... i really cannot stand to have my hair all back from my face (hate how it looks on me). another bride on this forum said in her review that her (now)hubby switched sides with her so her hair wouldn't be blowing in her face the whole time ... might have to consider that since the wind in everyone's pics seems to have a definite direction! so what if it's a little backward? so are we! hehe

yay for red shoes (LOVE!), and congrats on your marriage!!!

tlomlad, congrats on finally getting some real, concrete answers to your questions! the bit about the day passes is certainly good news!

Quote: Originally Posted by gen moriya "that day was booked by another coordinator" *GASP* that is just TERRIBLE! i think when we finally get a date we are going to have to pay them IMMEDIATELY! can't risk thinking we're all set to find out another coordinator gave our date away! AAAAAAHHH! this sh*t is crazy! city hall, anyone?

Quote: Originally Posted by Hartyt509 I don't have that feeling at all and never have lmao I've been engaged for about 4 years whenever anyone asks me I said no hurry or depending on who it is "whats it got to do with you" lmao well, i don't know how old you are, but i'll be 36 this month (not like all these 20-somethings on here) and i've never been married ... my family had given up on it kinda like tula in my big fat greek wedding ... "we would have *NEVER* thought TULA" ... and besides having given up on me, the in-laws are seriously wanting the grandchildren, and they seem a little scared that the old biological clock is tickin' ... i'm afraid once we say "i do" they are going to lock us in our room and not let me out 'til i'm pregnant! hehe

anyone have ballroom pics? that's the only place i've NEVER seen ... i'm starting to not believe it exists! hehe

PROs and CONs for riviera maya: PRO: riviera maya resorts overall seem to be more affordable than those in cancun hotel zone. CON: depending on which area of riviera maya you choose, your ride from the airport could be anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours! (the long ride was my deal-breaker for dreams tulum) CON: there has been some discussion about the beaches in riviera maya not being quite as nice as those in cancun (not as turquoise blue and clear, and seaweedy). again, could depend on which area of riviera maya you choose. PRO or CON (depending on your perspective): some parts of riviera maya are far from *everything* (if you like seclusion, privacy, calm ... then it's a good thing). many resorts in cancun hotel zone are within walking distance to nightclubs, shopping etc. (if you like more of a party atmosphere, think you'd like to venture outside the resort, or want entertainment options, this is good!) good luck!

Quote: Originally Posted by foxfirejg Some of the pictures I've seen have made the resort look very cement and unwelcoming, but yours all looked very nice! i agree! aside from the perfect location (surrounded on 3 sides by water) and the awesome gazebo and lighthouse (and dolphins!), the *resort itself* actually looks a little ugly (architecturally) compared to others in the area like the riu resorts, or even dreams tulum (gorgeous!). however, these pictures look very nice ... still sort of minimalist, but clean and modern ... not ugly at all!

Quote: Originally Posted by Hartyt509 God I hope thats not ours - FI will do his absolute nut if its religious in any way lol LMAO! that's kinda what i was feeling ... i'm hoping to see the full legal ceremony beforehand and hoping i'll be able to make a few changes/additions. *crosses fingers*

i tried zappos but all the red ones i liked had too skinny of a heel, like a stilletto ... i'm ok in heels, but only if the heel is a little more substantial. other than that, (and especially once you add a few beverages) i'm a wobbly mess, haha!

Quote: Originally Posted by Hartyt509 aren't you getting married on the 14th lol who the heck knows!?!?! hahahahahahaha LMAO! we are so screwed up! all our switching around, checking out other places, and whatnot -- one minute it's a cruise, the next it's somewhere in riviera maya, and now we've come full circle back to dreams because of the kids stay free thing! (i knew i'd get my way in the end! i've always been a brat like that!) we are finally (seriously!) trying to get the 28th or 29th now, so that most of our guests (and my fiance) won't need to take off work/school one of the weekdays (memorial day). memorial day is a paid holiday (for most) in the US, but is not a holiday in mexico, so we should be good getting our 4 days in to be legal! yay! i'm *finally* getting that excited/nervous feeling ... we could actually be BOOKING something this week!!! FINALLY!!! (we've been engaged over a year already and it's getting really old telling people we don't have a date set yet!)

Quote: Originally Posted by Morgan you can, but your certificate will be dated the friday before. well that sucks. if i wanted a different date on my wedding certificate i'd get legally wed at home and save myself all the crap, ya know? thanks for the info tho!

that sounds like it has to be the symbolic/religious ceremony ... i need to know the wording of the civil legal ceremony, and i think that's what jodey's looking for too ... ANYONE? is there anyone already *legally* married at dreams cancun who can help with this?

Quote: Originally Posted by Cassondra2009 Hi! My wedding is on a Sunday and I was told that you could only do a symbolic ceremony NOT a legal ceremony on a Sunday. We are planning to get legally married in the US prior to our wedding in Cancun to avoid the extra paperwork. If you need a legal ceremony I would contact Claudia and/or Gaby to reserve another date. Hope that helps! Cassondra Anyone know whether legal civil ceremonies can be held on SATURDAYs?

Quote: Originally Posted by Cassondra2009 Now more importantly (j/k) where did you find these fabulous shoes?!?! they are actually DYEABLES and the style is "passion." they are listed as available in white, black, and silver (pictured), but since they are dyeables, i'm assuming i can make them any color i want! my fiance couldn't care less about shoes. he'd probably be just as pleased if i wore sneakers (or more so, haha!), but i want to feel sexy, and those shoes are HOT!

i really would like to wear (high!) heels on my wedding day, mostly because i carry myself better in heels (better posture) and taller almost always = thinner! besides, my fiance is 6'4". do you girls think if the wedding was at the gazebo, and the reception on the terrace, heels would pose any sort of problem (other than the normal foot-aching)? i guess i'm thinking of pictures and all the rocks by the lighthouse and whatnot. opinions i want HOT SEXY RED SHOES! ideally, something like this (but RED!):

Quote: Originally Posted by karahmia Everything looks so wonderful! It will truly be an amazing day! Your flower girl and ring bearer are too cute for words. I love their outfits! Have a blast we can't wait to hear all about it when you return! FYI there's a typo in your sig file: should be "symbolic ceremony" other than that, i think it's really cute!

Tammy, this is off topic but who was your dress designer?? I love your dress and am looking for something off the shoulder (NOT STRAPLESS!!!)!