cougs

hi i went back and found the thread where i posted pretty much the same dilemma ... seriously these girls really helped me put everything in perspective. if you have the time, definitely give it a read-through, especially LC_Rachel's comments (she went through this situation herself, to an extreme). everyone told me to ask myself if a DW is really what i wanted ... and i have to say, the answer is yes, no matter who comes! http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t27511

Quote: Originally Posted by Christy335 But the first couple weeks of a low carb diet always make me really cranky. I feel bad for my FI, but he'll appreciate it when I look my best on the beach! yeah those first few weeks while you're trying to break the carb-dependence really do stink! the headaches are the worst (but maybe i got them mostly from giving up caffeine at the same time)!

Quote: Originally Posted by Christy335 Thanks a bunch! I'm excited to be in it with everyone. I'm doing low carb, which worked wonders for me before. The belly weight is usually the first to start coming off. Also, I don't know if anyone does diet pills (or if that's a taboo) but I love Xantrex-3. Thoughts on diet pills, anyone? welcome aboard! i've done low carb before and while i liked it and felt great when i was doing it, it was very slow-going for me ... i tend to fare better with a more balanced approach, like ww or similar. if it works well for you, GO FOR IT, just remember to get your body the nutrients it needs (take vitamins, eat veggies, drink plenty of water, etc.) ... so many people mistake low-carb to mean just eat meat meat bacon meat and nothing else. LOL as for diet pills, i don't see why they should be taboo, but i'm personally terrified of them. seems they always find out that they cause some kind of medical problem and then they get yanked off the market (then again, i don't really like taking ANY kind of medication)! if you do use them, just pay attention to your body, and certainly discontinue use if you notice any weird symptoms/side effects. best of luck and welcome! these girls are a great support system!

my fiance's parents stayed there (back when it was still sunscape, not dreams) and they loved it. it can only be better now that it's dreams!

that is AMAZING

i've never been a fan of the little people on top, even when they're amusing, but that's just me. i think you should definitely go with something that shows your personality, however strange LOL. those who know and love you will "get it!" how about a snake coiling around a grenade? you mentioned a grenade before and i saw silver grenade cufflinks on ebay LOL maybe your FI will like them? do "squaddies" (haha for forever now i've been wondering what the heck a "squaddie" was LOL) wear dog-tags like the military in U.S. do? i was thinking about 2 dog-tags with your names on them wired onto a heart-shape? or are hearts too typically girly for you? LMAO we're back to a snake around a grenade aren't we?

i personally wouldn't do a AHR STD. it will be clear they are invited to the AHR and not the DW if you send the invites as a wedding announcement, i.e. "we are happy to announce we got married in riviera maya on such-and-such a date! please join us in celebration at ..."

we bought the bose portable docking station for our wedding, but i know there are other more affordable docking stations out there that other BDW brides have used that worked out fine. we stuck with bose because we knew for sure it would be loud enough (we have family who use theirs for outdoor parties all the time). sure, it cost $400 (actually we got ours refurbished from a bose outlet for less), but we saw it as an investment. at dreams cancun, just using their sound system for a few hours would have cost about as much (and a dj even more), without having anything to show for it afterward. this way we spent the money, but we own an awesome system.

gorgeous dress! hey, now that you have your date and venue picked, don't forget to update your profile info!

oh i wanted to add that people bringing gifts to your destination will most likely not be a problem, with the recent added charges on luggage! as for mailing, i think most people would think it unwise to mail something to a destination you will only be at for maybe a week.

i think it's generally seen as poor etiquette to include registry information in your wedding invitations. registry information normally is included in bridal shower invitations only. of course, everything with destination weddings is a little different. LOL i personally did not include it in my invites, but i do have registry info posted on our wedding website.

i made a similar post not too long ago and of course the girls here all gave great advice and perspective. it's been said a million times, but remember who and what your wedding day is really about, and keep in mind that those who don't make it there are the ones who are missing out. when everyone comes back home saying how beautiful the wedding was and what an incredible time they all had, the no-shows will regret missing it. my "matron of honor" is definitely not coming. got that news the other day. i can't lie to you and say i didn't cry for a few hours over it, but in the end, i know everything will turn out exactly the way it was meant to.

mods, is there any way of alerting all our dreams tulum brides of this? sometimes it's easy to miss a relevant post and this one is very important, especially if their wedding date is soon!

Quote: Originally Posted by Hartyt509 I'd confront her and ask her when she lost her backbone!! but thats me lol I'd let it go but make sure she knows you don't believe her. If you are sister's you won't need to say much for her to get the hint and let her know you were gutted by what she did and that you would never put anyone between the 2 of you but obviously you have different views on your relationship and leave it at that. I'd also back off and let her sort herself out with selfish boy, just make sure she knows you are there when it goes tits up but don't put yourself out for her anymore you're so eloquent, harty ... LMAO all the time at your colloquialisms

Quote: Originally Posted by Kelly C It was a really good time. I about died when they brought out the flower. I actually had a girl come up and ask if I was getting married. I said "no my friends just hate me." hahahahahahaha that's awesome! i loved the caution tape too. but you said these pics were from the first half of the day? uh oh ... i can only imagine what the pics got to be like as the night went on ... LMAO! looks like fun to me!

wow not bad at all for using a timer and running back and forth to pose LOL! i mean the end product is VERY sexy and beautiful, but i imagine there had to be some pics in the bunch that were downright hilarious or unflattering. i think i would have been cracking myself up the whole time. LOL! but that's the beauty of digital cameras (just erase the bad ones ... they never have to see the light of day) and of course photoshop rocks! you did a fantastic job! and i agree with others here, if i had your body i'd walk around all day naked or in sexy lingerie! your fiance is going to love the book (and i adore the "wife" panties ... so cute)!

ladies, i went ahead and set the camera timer and took some before pics ... let me tell you, i am HORRIFIED by what i look like from behind. (reminds me of that movie ... is it "death becomes her" where her head is on backwards and she says "why didn't anyone tell me my ass was this big?! LOL) the front view wasn't much better, but i guess i've come to terms with that because i see it in the mirror all the time? i think i've had a really warped view of exactly how heavy i am. i mean i know what the scale says isn't pretty, nor is it even close to healthy (can't believe i'm telling you all, but BL4 start weight = 240.7), but that picture of my back, ass, and thighs is hideous. that's NOW, and frighteningly enough, NOT the heaviest i've ever been (this time last year i was about 15 pounds heavier). so i guess this is to say that there's no way those pics will see the light of day, unless i lose about 80 pounds and want to show off the difference (maybe by the end of biggest loser 2983523469? LOL). i should print it and put it on the fridge tho. a happier note, today, i did squeeze all that into a pair of old navy jeans i haven't been able to fit for awhile. so yay for being on the road to recovery!

Quote: Originally Posted by dainanewell I think I always knew things wouldn t work out between us but I didn t want to realize the truth.....thanks so much for all your support!!! i understand this completely ... i was with my ex for 7 years. in hindsight, it had been over for a long time and i was in denial, trying to make it work in part because we had been together so long and i didn't want to face starting over. we were not even engaged yet after 7 years, and the clincher for me was when i asked myself whether i would say "yes" if he proposed. i wasn't sure. cutting ties with such a huge part of my life and starting over was scary, but i'm so glad i did. when i first began dating my fiance tom, it was like ohhh ... THIS is what love is, THIS is how i should be treated, THIS is what it is like to trust and be trusted ... he didn't propose for 2 years, but i honestly would have said yes after 2 weeks. it's hard to recognize that you are not getting all you deserve ... until you DO start getting it. and i believe you will. i'm sure with your strength and character there is a man out there who will give you all that you deserve. take time to heal of course, and be a support for your children. moving home to be with family is a good idea ... surround yourself with those who love and support you and your children. i wish you all the best, and know that we are all always here for you when you need a shoulder.

are you sure you're not a model with a smile like that? those pictures belong in a magazine they're so perfect! great photographer i'm sure but you two certainly look like you made it easy!

Quote: Originally Posted by Kat81 It is a little bit different when someone is there telling you what to do. Like Jeremy walked us through a lot of it. He catches a lot of them without you knowing while he is telling you to do something. As long as your FI can have fun with it someone will catch some great shots. Just make sure he is loosened up!! Make sure the boys give him a shot before the ceremony ha ha haha he'll probably be loaded LOL

Quote: Originally Posted by Jeremy_Gilliam Thanks everyone, Kat made it easy! yeah obviously kat is beautiful and radiant ... but i have to ask ... what's it like when a couple DOESN'T make it easy? i don't mean if they're ugly (haha that would suck) but for instance my fiance isn't very affectionate/huggy/kissy and really isn't a picture person. it's like he doesn't know how to smile for a picture. most of our shots together are so stiff and posed with either a cheesy fake smile from him or he looks totally disinterested LOL. and then there's his aversion to lipstick ... what's a girl to do? is he just going to be impossible for a photographer to deal with? should i give up all hope of gorgeous wedding photos?

Quote: Originally Posted by starchild I don't really see it as a big deal. Nobody will mistake her for the bride and a DW is non-traditional in itself, so don't feel the need to apply tradition when it comes to your mom and what she wants to wear. It sounds like you don't think it is a big deal either, but you may be concerned that 'people' will talk or say it is not right. We get overwhelmed with wedding things so I understand the question, but imho this doesn't matter. Many brides have mothers who are dead or not involved in their lives...if their mothers made it to their weddings I bet they wouldn't care what color outfit they put on. Just a thought thanks, you kinda said what i was trying to say (that "people" might talk even if she the bride had no problem with it), but your way came off much nicer and much simpler ... in hindsight what i said sounded a little nasty and i didn't mean it that way at all. and as for the perspective you had at the end ... that's the way i feel. i just want my mother THERE ... she keeps asking what color she should wear and is it ok if she wears pants and i keep telling her to just wear whatever makes her feel beautiful and comfortable that day. we almost lost her in a car accident last year, so what she wears is the least of my concern!

another point to be made here is that whether or not YOU have a problem with it, it's common opinion that it's a major faux pas for anyone other than the bride to wear white. i don't think you really want other guests murmuring about how rude they think your mom is, and certainly your mother doesn't want that either. she will probably be meeting many people for the first time around your wedding, and that's not a very favorable first impression. editing to say i think the all-white weddings are very cool tho!

it cracks me up how people think they can just invite themselves and anyone else they feel like to someone's wedding even when they are not contributing a dime! now i'm having the opposite problem ... my matron of honor called to tell me she will not be coming ... that she and her husband can't afford it. and then all the "please don't hate me" emails ... what.ev.er. anyway, about an hour after she dropped that bomb, quackquack found me on here, and we are definitely going to be having a drink (or seven) together since she will there the same time as us! i'm so excited to have another BDW bride with me!

Quote: Originally Posted by Hartyt509 Cheers for that!! I wish the ARSE would answer my emails I've been emailing him for months with no luck! So much so i've booked my TTD with someone else and i'd have happily gone with thim to make life easy yeah i was surprised to see someone actually got an answer from him because i knew you'd had no luck at all! i think his photos look fine. seems that when we go thru dreams we'll have to pay to get all the photos on disc but if he's taking 250 i don't want him choosing which 50 are the best. i want them all, so i'll definitely be buying the disc no matter what. i work in photoshop all day and would be able to make even not-so-great photos look pretty damn good. besides, what if the only picture of a grandparent doesn't make his cut? i'd be pissed. i think his work looks plenty good enough for me, but they all seem stretched out on his site (disproportionately tall or something).