litl_april

Another thing to consider with Hawaii, is right now, at least for the US (sorry, I don't know about Australia) is flights are pretty low cost..the trick I've found, seems to be Tuesdays for booking. FI and I booked our flights with hotel and car package from expedia and the flights were right around $650/round trip (Flying in to Maui, out from Honolulu). I have to go home in April (from Iowa going to North Dakota, about 10-12 hour drive) for a dress fitting and bridal shower/bachelorette and a one-way ticket (b/c FI would be coming later but can't get more time off work b/c he's using basically all his vacay days for wedding/honeymoon) is the same price as our round-trip Hawaii ticket! Unfortunately, this means one of us will be driving (already the plan) and the other riding Greyhound, haha! Also I've got a lot of friends and my family who've found low-cost accommodations that are still rated well on places like TripAdvisor.com. We got a Marriott in Wailea room for 1/2 off during an Expedia sale! So browse around...it might turn out to be reasonable prices if Hawaii is where you'd love to go. Hope this helps!

I decided to go with a Dallas Cowboys garter for FI. Came as a set and it turned out really cute. Ordered it from girlygirl_garters on ebay. She was super fast too!

Finally have a halfway decent pic of my ring...couldn't zoom in real well as my camera is wearing out (time for a new one), but here it is!! I love it...FI picked it out himself! I'll try getting a better view from the top...it has a marquise on each side of the round center diamond and three baguette diamonds next to each of those.

We're getting married in Maui in June and have never been there beforehand either. We decided to use a wedding coordinator and selected Deanne of Precious Maui Weddings. She has been nothing less than wonderful!! Deanne has always been quick at answering questions and offering advice. I'll be honest, when we first started out, I was worried about what things were going to look like considering we can't visit prior, but now I can't imagine getting married anywhere else! Congratulations! If you have any questions feel free to let me know. You'll find other very helpful people around here as well!!

Oooh, nice! I might have to drag FI to Old Navy this weekend

When you kept clicking next page after next page of the "You know your addicted to BDW when..." thread even though your eyes are droopy....and the worst part is, you came on earlier in the day, ONLY planning to post some new stuff that came in the mail and you don't even get that done because there's so many new/fun things to read. Not to mention, you're supposed to be spending the day printing and cutting inserts for your invitations but keep getting pulled back to the forum because that Unread Posts link is just oh so tempting!....OOPS

LOL, I feel for you!! FI just asked his last week...wedding is the beginning of June! Quite a ways back a friend of his brothers was asking him if he was BM and his brother responded "I don't even know if I'm in the wedding!" I felt so bad but this was something I was leaving entirely up to FI! Don't get me wrong, I got on his case...but it still took months. Good luck! Hopefully he asks them soon!!

Hi Lisa, good luck in planning! Planning a destination wedding will likely result in complaints from many (but then again, so do at-home weddings). The most important thing is that you and your fiance are both happy with your decision, so sit down and really talk about it. You'll find lots of helpful, wonderful people on here as well as great information!!

Welcome and Congrats, Vanessa!!

Great to hear that your sister's surgery went well!

Welcome, Rebecca, and congrats! I can't blame you at all for changing your plans to a DW, after all of that planning! I'm sure the wedding will be beautiful!

Thanks! This is a great checklist!! I had always been finding the standard ones difficult to use.

I am so sorry for what you are going through! It's completely understandable how much you want your sister at your wedding. I will keep her (and you, as well as the rest of your family) in my prayers, that she has a quick and easy recovery from her surgery!! Try to stay positive for her, I can only imagine she must be worrying about making it too.

I think they are very pretty! I do understand what you're going through, as I (just like many), had the same stress when doing my STD's and now with working on the invitations. I spent many hours fussing over them in Publisher, worrying about color, font size, the works. It eventually worked out just fine. LOL, of course, now I'm stressing over my DIY invites so I'm back in the boat with you! Don't worry, this will pass and you will make it through alive! I promise!!

Great! Thank you, Carly!

Welcome and Congrats! You've found a great forum for many, many ideas!!

I completely understand your concern. In March last year I was doing the same research as I have a few daily medications. What I did, and it mentions it in this link, is separated all my meds in to a separate ziploc for easy viewing of security and pulled it out of my luggage along with my ziploc of 3-ouncers. In the link it also says they don't require it, but do recommend, having the meds labeled to ease the process. I didn't have a problem. My leaving the states was on a cruise ship but the regulations were pretty much the same for flying and I had no problem here either. TSA: Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions I also found a section that allows you to contact with questions and there's a page for medications, so to really play it safe (which can never hurt!) you could probably submit the concern there and hopefully they reply! https://contact.tsa.dhs.gov/DynaForm.aspx?FormID=60 Good luck! Happy countdown to your wedding!

Welcome Thanda! I'm getting married in Maui this June. The coordinator I am using is Deanne of Precious Maui Weddings, Maui Weddings Hawaii Wedding Packages Hawaiian Weddings Planner I am from a small town and got the recommendation from someone we know well. Thus far, Deanne has been awesome. She's taken care of so many things and even before we finalized using her services, she provided so much information, quotes, tips, etc. She's always gotten back to me in a timely manner with answers to questions and such. Actually, we originally had emailed 3 others as well as Deanne and she was the only one who responded! I'm not sure if another planner would be necessary if you go through a resort. I imagine not, but again, I really don't know. We're getting married at the Seawatch Restaurant. They, too, have a coordinator on site, but I have found it much easier to work with Deanne as we are having the reception at a different location. I, too, was very overwhelmed with all the different options, but I promise, it will get easier! It just takes time to figure things out. You'll find a lot of info and assistance on this forum!! Congratulations and happy planning!

Ooh, that second dress is GORGEOUS! I can see why you love it! Go with what you feel. Like the other girls have said...I do believe that you have to go with what you love. I tried so hard to go with a "destination" style dress but just wasn't feeling it in them. When I put on the dress I went with...I just felt perfect. I've had doubts, still thinking I should go with the flowy, beachy dress...but when I put it back on at the seamstress's shop...I still just knew it was right. If you feel that what is right is the second one, go for it on selling the first.

So this is the first post I'm actually starting...(*shock*) My uncle died Tuesday and my heart is breaking primarily for my one cousin, his daughter. Her wedding was only 11 days away...I don't know if she's going to continue with it or postpone, I know how much he meant to her. She was always kind of the Daddy's Girl of the family (a family of 3 girls/3 boys). What makes me feel worse, is I'm stuck here 10 hours away because of the stupid weather. I feel so much like I should be there, but it would have been irrational to drive home as it sounds like we'd be driving in ugliness the entire way, and flying was unfortunatly out of the question as there's no way we could afford it...must have to do with it being Valentine's and President's Day weekend. Not to mention, my birthday is tomorrow..and FI wants to take me out, and I was looking forward to it...but now it just feels wrong to celebrate when everyone else will be mourning. I don't know what to do...just needed to get it out somewhere.

Congrats! That would be so much fun!! I have a friend who will be there on her honeymoon around the same time (Don't know exactly what date they're flying down)!

Aww what a cutie!!

I'm going to be ordering from Pearl Necklace - Pearls - Wedding Gifts - Bridal Jewelry - Pearl Necklace Sets Ratings look good from numerous sites and for what they have to offer the prices seem really good, too.

Great list of things important to remember!

All the etiquette I've read basically says anyone but the brides immediate family (can be seen as the bride asking for gifts or something I remember reading). The bridesmaids should definately try to throw a shower I would say. For myself, my bridesmaids and my FI's aunts want to throw me a shower and since we recently moved out of the state they figure on going in together and throwing one that way since there's really not time for more. I know this isn't real technical, but hope it helps. Here's what I found from an "A-Z Etiquette" guide website and the link in case you want to take a closer look: Bridal Shower Etiquette - Who should host the party? Traditionally the maid or matron of honor hosts the party. Some experts state it is an absolute no-no for a family member to throw the bridal shower and other experts say the modern rule is more relaxed and the old rule can be ignored. Perhaps it is best to consult with families involved in order to decide how closely you should follow any of the old rules. A bridal shower rule that has not changed is that the bride never hosts her own bridal shower. Bridal Shower