KatyKo

I honestly don't know what I would do without this site! I would not have anything cool...I will tell you that! One thing I am concerned about is lugging all this stuff to the DW. Would it be tacky to give out the OOT bags before the guests leave for the wedding? Almost everyone going lives in the same town, so it wouldn't be difficult to do...that way they can bring what they want and I don't have to have EVERYTHING in my bags Thoughts anyone? I don't know the eitiquette of OOT bags

That is too funny I remember seeing Hanson when they played a free concert in Charlotte...I get made fun of for that now. I am going to see Bo Bice July 5th with my Mom. She is a huge fan, I think he is alright, but she has backstage passes and I am actually pretty darn excited about it Have fun!

Quote: Originally Posted by redheaney You look like you had a great time! Love that picture of you guys "getting into it!" LOL. That girl to your right has GOT to be your sister? Actually, no, she is my best friend...my sister is in the black and white dress to the left of me in some of the other pictures.

Quote: Originally Posted by IslamoradaBride I think your hair looks beautiful curled like that-- soft and natural. And your dress is stunning on you! Are you going to wear a veil or headpiece? I think flowers would look nice. I am leaning towards a flower in the hair

This is a great idea! I forwarded it to all my girlfriends who just love the arm-outreached-photos. Thank you for sharing!!

Thank you for posting this. She is so sweet. I donated to the site and listed under the "instructions to the seller" my name and BDW. Good luck with everything, I will keep her and you in my prayers!

Have so much fun! Definitely take your camera phone and an open mind...other than that, just have fun and don't be scared...you will know when you find the one! And of course we all want to see what you try on!! My Mom burst into tears as soon as I stepped foot outside of the dressing room with my dress

Quote: Originally Posted by Melissa G I really like your dress! Did you get it at Poffie Girls in Gastonia? That is where I got mine and the mirror and walls look familiar. I did get my dress at Poffie Girls in Gastonia. I thought it was fate because I called all the locations listed on the Watters website and they were the only store that carried a sample of that dress...and I grew up right down the street from Poffie Girls This is the dress I always pictured in my head when I thought about getting married! Thank you all for the nice comments

Quote: Originally Posted by DanielleNDerek Dress is beautiful. I really like the hair, i've been trying to find a pic of hair similar to that for my wedding. How did you do it? curling iron or curlers? Thank you My hair is naturally a bit wavy and I have a way of "scrunching" it. I wash it and comb it out then scrunch it to my head to create waves. To make it as curly as that picture, I think took a fairly skinny curling iron and wrapped strands of the hair around the iron (don't curl it the way it is suppose to be used, just wrap around whole iron). And it created a wavy/curly look. I had tried curling it that way on my hair after I straightened it, but it didn't stay, with the already wavy hair, I woke up the next morning with the curls still in tact And got lots of comments on how it looked professionally done. And as for my FMIL...I am very lucky! She is so wonderful...a bit hyper...but wonderful. She is just thankful to have a girl to spoil, since she has two boys.

This past weekend my Mom and Will's Mom threw us an engagement party at Murphy's Tavern in Charlotte. We had a small buffet of pick-up foods and the karaoke started when we were done eating and mingling. Will's Mom decorated the place with posters of quotes and poems about us. She even sang a poem she wrote, on stage, to the tune of the Beverly Hillbillies theme song. It was hilarious, I hope someone got a video of it! Everyone sang and danced the night away and it was great. Here are some photos from that night KatyKosa/Engagement Party - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting I also ordered my dress (I mentioned that in another thread but now I have a picture of me in it) and I fixed my hair for the engagement party and thought it looked pretty good and lasted for quite a while, so I was thinking it might be a good option for the wedding. Take a look KatyKosa/Wedding Ideas - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting Let me know your thoughts

I like the sash as well. Several people have mentioned they are using this dress for BMs too...where is the dress from? I haven't found my BM dresses yet and I like this one

Your pictures are beautiful! Thank you for sharing...I have now been inspired I was trying to find a great location for our e-session and since we met while we were students at UNCC...that location is perfect! Thank you

Raquel Glitter-Heat

Our plans are to spend a couple days before the wedding and a couples days after with our family and friends. Then they will head home and we will stay an extra few nights to have our alone time We figure with flight costs being so high, once we get there, it won't cost a whole lot to stay another few days. Our TA found us a great rate for our AI resort in Punta Cana, DR.

I know how you feel...one of my BMs, who has been my best friend for over 10 years now...sent an email to our group of friends (we have an email group to keep us sane at work) and casually mentioned she wouldn't be making it to my engagement party within the email about everything else. She didn't acknowledge me or even my engagement party...she just said...I won't be making it Saturday. Grrr. You'd think they could at least pick up the phone to call you!! Oh well, their loss...she will be missing a ton of karaoke fun and good food

These are wonderful suggestions. Through my TA, I can post a "honeymoon registry" where folks who can't attend the DW can give money to help us enjoy the island through excursions like all these. Of course, I am also looking forward to just relaxing and being with my hunny...but...I can't wait!

That is so wonderful that you take care of recovered mill pups. Once I get a house (right now I live in a condo) with a yard, I hope to begin fostering dogs as well. It is a lot of work and I give you props for giving your time to the pups! Thank you (from another animal lover)

I am hoping to get married in Punta Cana, it is so beautiful! I have been looking at the Occidental Grand in Punta Cana. I posted earlier asking if anyone had any ideas about it and now seeing this thread it doesn't look like anyone chose that resort! Did any of you PR Brides or Soon to Be PR Brides look at Occidental Grand during your planning?

I have only talked to my TA, who said that she has had several brides to be married there...I have just not seen anyone on here to even mention it. Of course, I would love to hear everyone's opinions on here, since I have gotten so much great info on here already.

We are probably either going with Punta Cana or Cancun area because we can get direct flights there from Charlotte, NC. Obviously we will have to fly...but I'm just afraid paying it all at once will be overwhelming to our best friends. I'm sure it will be fine...just having a mini freakout

I am just starting out planning and working with a TA. They offer a payment plan, but told us that in order to book the flight, you have to pay for that in full and can pay monthly for the remainder of the cost. I understand that the airlines probably won't take monthly payments because they have to book it immediately, but this worries me, as this is the most expensive part of the trip. I'm afraid my close friends and family who want to go so badly, will not have $500-$700 just laying around to put as the "down payment" to go on the trip. I rarely fly, and have never been out of the country, so it just might be me being naive, but is this too much to ask...or is this normal for people who travel by air?

...Punta Cana? There may be a thread already, but I can't find it. All I see are Paradisus and Dreams. My TA quoted us for the Occidental and it looks nice, but obviously all pictures on websites look nice. Help...anyone? Thank you

My TA told us that it was for the paperwork and other things that had to be done before the judge would marry you. Not sure what all this entails, but we have decided to do a civil ceremony before we leave and just have the symbolic ceremony for the DW. Hopefully this will save some time, money and stress

I haven't quite set the date yet, but the date we are attempting to get married is two days before the date my parents got married 30 years prior. So I hope to plan a suprise renewal of their vows while we are at our destination wedding, hopefully on the day of their 30th anniversary. My parents have done so much for me my whole life, not to mention they are still happily married, so I think it deserves celebration. I can't wait to see their faces

So I have only been engaged for 1 month and we haven't confirmed where our wedding is going to be yet (we are talking to our TA tonight about that)...but I had a productive weekend! On Saturday morning, my two best friends, my only sister, my Mom and my future Mother-In-Law all met at Poffie Girls in Gastonia, NC for an appointment to try on dresses. I had posted earlier (I think), talking about how I have always had this gown in my head and it was so specific I was afraid I wouldn't find what I wanted. Well, I did. I found the dress on watters.com and called all the stores carrying their line in NC to find only ONE store with the dress I wanted. It was the first dress I tried on that day. I had gone to David's Bridal earlier and didn't find what I wanted. My Mom didn't get emotional at DB, but she said she would when I found "the one." As soon as I stepped out of the dressing room, my Mom lost it! Granted, the dress was 2 sizes too big, but I could tell that it was the one! I don't have the pictures downloaded yet, but here is the dress: WTOO BRIDES | Bridal Gown Collection | Style Adriana | Ivory beaded peau d'ange lace halter gown. Sweep train. I hope that worked! So I ordered the dress that day. Apparently Watters takes a while to come in, but I have it ordered! (check!) I also asked my two best friends to be my bridesmaids that day. My sister is my MOH and my cousin will be my 3rd BM. (check!) I also found an amazing website. Etsy :: Your place to buy and sell all things handmade This is a marketplace for people who have unique gifts or handmade gifts. I put in an order for bags for my BM's gifts and for unique passport covers to match each girls' personality. I have met two great ladies through that site and found a million things I want to buy already!! (check!) I also purchased a dress to wear to my engagement party (check!). My sister found it at Kohls...and it was 50% off. I am loving checking things off my list. So far this has been so much fun! I know it gets stressful, but this is great motivation to continue to look for things throughout the year, so I don't have to end up spending a lot of money in the last few months before the big day!