cougs

so glad you had a wonderful experience and i LOVE the back of your dress! congrats!

not married yet, but ladies don't forget to bring a button-down shirt or zip hoodie to wear while getting hair/makeup done! it would suck to wreck your gorgeousness trying to pull your shirt over your head! i am also going to remember to pack splenda ... not sure if they have that everywhere, and i don't care for other artificial sweeteners. in fact, i may be putting it in our OOT bags since we have so many diabetics!

Quote: Originally Posted by PhillyBride09 The only problem with this is they will not seat you, unless your whole party is there. yeah i know ... we will just have to make sure most of us are there at 4, so we get one of those large booths or something.

Quote: Originally Posted by ~Stephanie~ By the way, just talked to my MOH, she just announced her wedding will be a month and a half before mine. She doesn't know if she can afford my trip now. AAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!! WTF?!?!?!?!?! first of all, way to try to steal your thunder by planning to get married BEFORE you. secondly, she already agreed to be your MOH ... please tell me she doesn't expect you to be HER MOH, all smiling and happy at her wedding when she's screwing you over! honestly, how does she even expect you to be happy for her? i would tell her i can't afford to be a bridesmaid so close to my own wedding either, lol. of course, anyone else hearing this crap would probably say WE are the ones being b*tches about it. thank god we have this forum where there are people who understand, lol. people make me so mad. i'm so sorry.

pre-wedding sale! need to pay for my photographer, lol! (more stuff to come as i get it together ... see also http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t40572). PM me for paypal info if interested. hair flower purchased from etsy seller MarlaJDesigns (5 swarovski crystals in center, coque feathers, attached to snap hair clip). i paid $20 ... asking $15 + shipping: coloriffics sierra wedding shoes in IVORY, with 2.5" heel, jeweled ankle strap and ribbon bow, size 9.5, new in box (i'm going with red shoes instead!). retails around $70 ... asking $40 + shipping: smooth long bridal bra, new with tags size 38C (same as is sold at david's bridal. bra doesn't fit me ... if you normally wear a 38 you will probably need a 40 in this bra ... will probably fit a 36C best). tags say $69 ... asking $50 + shipping:

oooh i just got so mad on your behalf reading the last couple posts. it's one thing if someone really can't afford your wedding trip, but another thing entirely to fake it with some sob story. my matron of honor (niece) said she and her husband couldn't afford it (because they are trying to fix up their house ... mind you, all cosmetic sh*t that is unnecessary, before they start trying to get pregnant). luckily my mom & sister are coughing up the money and PAYING for them to go. so i'm grateful, and all happy she'll be there, but she and her husband are getting a free trip and contributing nothing toward it but personal spending money. WTF? if anyone's trip should have gotten paid shouldn't it have been mine? LOL FI's brother has always said he's not coming, can't afford it because of school, etc. but he managed to buy a $1000 flat screen tv in time for the superbowl. what.ev.er. and final example, FI's half-sister "couldn't afford to come" (not even a few days) but managed to plan her family's 10-day trip to disney THE SAME WEEK as our wedding. then she couldn't understand why FI's/her father got so mad when she posted all about it on facebook, LOL. it's all in where people's priorities are. unfortunately, we can't make people spend THEIR money the way WE want them to. it can sting a bit tho when we learn we are nowhere near a top priority.

Quote: Originally Posted by cdc0427 I really like those shoes. I wanted to dye them a different color though. I thought that all Touchup shoes were dyeable. Is that true? sorry, not true. most of what touchups carries is dyeable, but some shoes they offer in ivory, silver, red, black, etc. and those are not dyeable. it might be that the ones with bling can't be dyed? that would suck. i'd take a look -- it's possible they carry that particular shoe in a dyeable version. they are really nice!

aww alyssa sorry you can't come! i'm sure we will do another one. i don't think the poll will be necessary then ... i think splitting the difference and starting around 4 will probably work for most. correct me if i'm wrong, ladies! i hadn't really considered the fact that because there's a game that night, chickie's could be PACKED. (i wanna go to the game now!) we should probably try to get a good count on how many people we have so we can get seating to accommodate us. we don't want our entire meetup to be in the parking lot, lol!

these are the shoes i'm wearing ... and i'm glad i picked such a high heel cause i got away without needing a hem on my dress. my alterations cost enough! i'm sure my mother will hate that they aren't ivory like the dress but OH WELL! i'll just remind her i could be wearing a red dress.

i recently found a girl i went to high school with on facebook, and it turns out she's a photographer these days (in the los angeles area), and does boudoir!Christa Meola Pictures, Inc. Women the following is from her blog ... thought it made sense to share it in this thread: Ten Tips on How to Feel Relaxed & Sexy when being Photographed 1. Focus on Having Fun Make your goal to have fun, not to get great shots - that’s my job Everyone looks their best when they’re genuinely having a great time. 2. Visualize I know this is very Tony Robbins of me, but he’s not the only one who recognizes the power of visualization. Make it a practice to see the experience of having a great time, feeling sexy, everything going smoothly, seeing the photos and loving them. Be specific and visualize from your point of view, as if you’re in it. 3. Get Inspired Look at movies and art for inspiration, tear pages out of magazines and begin to recognize your style and sensibility… what is sexy to you? This will help you communicate with your photographer and help guide the shoot. 4. Show Up With All You’ve Got When I say show up, I don’t mean to just show up. Bring it. And be open. Karen deserves all the credit for the success of her shoot, because she showed up, really stretched way outside her comfort zone and gave it all she had. 5. Be Sensual Use your five senses during the shoot: play music, have a bite of chocolate, a sip of wine, put on a favorite scent, wear a kick-ass outfit you feel great in, and think of memories that make you blush, smile, and sweat… Do everything and (well, almost) anything that gets you hot. 6. Be Silly Any shyness tends to go right out the window after the first few minutes or so of being silly. I am the biggest ham during a shoot, and I embarrass myself frequently (not always on purpose), but this serves me well as it usually puts everyone at ease. Just goof off and have fun! See how outrageous and silly you can be - it’s easier for the photographer to tone you down, rather than fire you up! 7. Create Movement I often hear but I don’t know how to pose. Well that’s good, let’s not do that! Create a little action, however, so there’s energy in every shot. C’mon you all know how to flirt! If you’re on a shoot with me, I can show you some sexy moves (hey hey). 8. Remember the Context The sheer fact that you’re in front of the camera being photographed is damn sexy… it’s powerful and vulnerable at the same time, which is an unbeatable combo - enjoy it! 9. Fake It I’m not telling you to fake the real deal, but if you don’t feel 100% confident and sexy while on a photo shoot, FAKE it. Works every time. 10. Be Yourself Honor who you are, in this moment. Don’t wait to lose a few pounds. (Besides, I’m a pro at retouching, and Photoshop is the best personal trainer in the world - more on that in another post!) But it’s important that you FEEL sexy, so if working out for a few weeks is going to do that, then great. But let’s not wait for all the planets to be aligned and your bangs to be the right length. The time is now. You are sexy and beautiful just as you are. Bonus Tip: And of course, add alcohol

ok someone told me it was free on comcast cable's "on demand," so i am actually sitting here on my laptop WATCHING it play on my tv, LOL. i just wanted to check it out to see if it seemed like something i'd be able to handle, as i'm very overweight and out of shape. so far it doesn't look too bad (i'm talking level 1). i'd be giving it a try if it weren't 1:30 a.m. and i wasn't my landlord's upstairs neighbor, LOL. don't think he'd appreciate the jumping jacks! haha it just got to the part with all the lunges ... now i know why tom's aunt couldn't walk on sunday!

Quote: Originally Posted by BeachBride10 I can understand why a couple would do the sand ceremony thing and include a a stepchild to symbolize the blending of the family, but for those of you who have done a sand ceremony or are planning to do one, would you include your kids you have together in this process or not? Our two daughters will be in the wedding, but do they need to be included in the sand ceremony? they don't *need* to be included in the sand ceremony, but it could be very nice to include them. you would just need to figure out how to word things, ya know? or their inclusion could be as simple as carrying up the two containers that you and the groom pour into the main container.

i have 30 red organza sashes for sale ($25 includes shipping, paypal please) ... they were a great buy, but i found the "burgundy" sashes to be a closer match to my bridesmaids' dresses. each is individually packaged, and then 10 are bundled in a pack. only one sash has been opened. with shipping, i paid $27.66 total ... just trying to make my money back since i ended up purchasing different sashes.

so it's saturday the 18th at chickie's n pete's in south philly by the stadiums. let's decide if it's afternoon or evening! cattie has already mentioned it would have to be evening for her. i could go either way. everyone else chime in with: afternoon! evening! or either! or if someone can add a new poll, that would be great!

Quote: Originally Posted by Alyssa also as for Silk City - do you mean the diner part or the club part? the club part ... apparently dj dee jay is there on saturday nights spinning "anything you can shake your hips to." lol

Quote: Originally Posted by PhillyBride09 Lisa, Was your Shower this past Sunday?? Mine was :-) It was fabulous and another stepping stone to the big day!! Are you getting excited?? yes! i was right about both dates, lol! some friends threw a co-ed party one on the 28th, and the family/bridal party one was sunday! we have so much stuff and no where to put it! everyone was so incredibly generous! and yes, i'm starting to get excited now ... it's so close! i can now say "i'm getting married next month" and that's just crazy! my dress *finally* came in, and my first fitting is tonight, so it's going to seem so much more "real" now! ladies, try not to stalk your registries *too* much, lol. not only was i not surprised about the shower dates, but i basically knew almost all the items i got. the only real surprise was the amount we got in cash/checks/gift cards!

if my "best gay" was still alive i can guarantee we'd be out at the gay bars ... ALWAYS the best time. sadly, he passed about 2 years ago ... still can't believe he won't be at my wedding! on a happier note, thanks so much ladies for all the great suggestions. we were already looking at el vez (though might be pricey for some) and el azteca (we used to frequent the one in the northeast before it closed ... very yummy margaritas!). my MOH suggested possibly silk city afterward? i had also thought about lucky strike (never been there, but sounds like fun), but never heard of north bowl ... gotta check that out too. those might be better options as i will likely have some older ladies (my two sisters are bridesmaids and they are 50 and 48!!!) mixed with 30-ish girls. actually, i'm not sure if my sisters would come out beyond dinner ... they might feel awkward. it would be 20 girls if *everyone* came ... probably more like 10 of us in reality, lol. oh and all you philly girls should check out this thread: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t36815. we still need to nail down a time, but we're doing a BDW meetup at chickie's and pete's in south philly on saturday, april 18th!

a coworker gave me a heads up about my name coming up in a conversation about employees posting on facebook during the work day. you know how there's a time stamp on your updates? so anyway, no facebook for me at work anymore! be careful, ladies!

i have to admit, i'm older than your average bachelorette, and therefore i haven't got a clue as to where to go out in the philadelphia area for a bachelorette party. anyone have any ideas/suggestions? we were considering a mexican restaurant followed by a bar/dancing (but where). nothing too crazy and especially nothing involving greasy stripper boys, lol. [i found this (Awesome 80s Prom, Off Broadway, Bachelorette Parties, New York) which looks amazingly fun, but it's in NYC and i just don't think everyone will want that much hassle involved (limo or train, possibly a room, etc.). why can't this be in philly?]

we considered registering at amazon.com

woohoo fiesta!!! i'll be stopping there tonight!

haha "picture hungry whores" LOL ... that's SO us! looks like we will have 3 weddings' worth of photos to view very soon (10th, 11th, and 14th)! that's so exciting!

i thought i'd be able to help but two more people just booked and i will only have 5 extra ... and that would be taking the chance that we don't still have stragglers! sorry! i'm sure someone out there will have them!

Quote: Originally Posted by SunBride I think they look absolutly BEAUTIFUL! Great job. If I had to make a suggestion, I would probably say that they are a little on the large side. I would suggest taking out the burgandy stuff at the top and just keep the little bit of burgandy on the side. That will also give a little more attention to the lily and the orange at the bottom which I think is just beautiful. But that's just a suggestion, I think it looks amazing just as it is! hmmm, my first thought was "no way, the dark red orchids are the most important part!" ... but i have to admit the corsage IS a bit on the large side, at least if it will be pinned on. they'd probably be ok as is for wrist corsages. i will definitely consider paring it down a bit. thanks for your advice!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Betsy It looks great! I wouldn't add a thing! How are they wearing it? On the wrist or pinned? not sure! right now i have it made as a pin (i actually have the pin back wired on), but i'm thinking i could add an elastic to the back as well to give them the option?