BeautifulBridetoBe

Bump...let's hear more!

*UPDATE* I am REALLY GLAD I had an all-white wedding, as I have always dreamed of one. It looked amazing...and the pictures were beautiful! I told my guests, via our wedding website just that...as suggested by Neen: " We are dreaming of an all-white wedding. White weddings represent the purity of love which is what we pray we will always share throughout our marriage. In keeping with this theme, we ask that guests wear white ensembles to the ceremony...."white" can be white, off-white, wintersilk, magnolia white, tan, beige, eggshell...whatever shade of white you wish! Feel free to change for the reception!" All of our guests complied and most wore pure white. In the sun, it looked awesome! Only one or two changed for the reception. Now, some people were not too happy because they wanted to wear their favourite blue dress. But most people do own something white and because it was a tropical wedding, almost anything goes. The complaint was that white does not alway look good on paler complexions or bigger figures...so those guests had the option of wearing the tan colours. Most people were happy to wear a simple white sundress or a white shirt and pair of khakis. Those who needed that splash of colour wore it in their accessories: turquoise necklaces, coral rings, etc. Happy planning!!!!!!

Hey: I have stayed at a few resorts in Punta Cana and got married there. The Dreams is beautiful and so it the Iberostar. If we want an up scale locale, then try the Paradisus Punta Cana or the Majestic Colonial. I think you may be disappointed if you go to a RIU property in Punta Cana...depending on the type of holiday you are after. Hope this helps!

Hey: I have 2 bands and did this as well....wore my engagement ring on the right and had both bands on my wedding finger. We just changed them into the proper order for the pictures. I also have a 3rd band that I used during out Christian at-home ceremony...so it gives me options and choice.

I have a Sunquest horror story that began like yours...NOT TO FRIGHTEN YOU, but to let you know what happened to me last year and what you can do about it. Six months before my wedding, Sunquest said the flight was sold out. We were getting married at the RIU Palace Macao and Sunquest is the exclusive provider of the RIU resorts in Canada. We were shocked...so early in advance? And so we other arrangements for our guests of land only with Sunquest and other flights from other carriers. Then suddenly, the flight was available again....and more guests booked...weird, no? Then the bomb really dropped...7 weeks before the wedding...the flight was not sold out...or back on....But CANCELLED!!!! Due to financial restraints in this recession, Sunquest was sending fewer planes to the Dominican Republic. NO PLANE was traveling to the DR via Sunquest FOR MY ENTIRE WEDDING WEEK. We had deposits paid in the DR that were not refundable for THAT WEEK and international guests flying to the DR for that week! My wedding with the resort was booked a year prior (and you know how hard it can be to get availability at a resort...you have to do this monhs in advance!!!) I was in shock....what now? Let's talk disaster!!! - Remember I said that we had booked other people on other flights? Well, they were now outta luck! There was no way we could get them refunded. My international guests were booked for that week from their countries...no changes there. My TA at Flight Centre told me she was doing everything she could. Sunquest would not budge on the dates and I would have to change my wedding date. Recall, I said that Sunquest is the exclusive provider of the RIUs in Canada...so we were at their mercy. Our guests were livid...they would have lost money as they were travelling with other carriers and would have to cancel and many of them would not get to attend the wedding with the date change. So I did what any destination bride, 7 weeks from her wedding date with this fiasco would do! I GOT MAD and got on my computer. I researched Sunquest/ Thomas Cook Travel and found out who their top executives were....Thank God for the internet. And I sent EVERY top executive an email: the CEO, the VP of marketing, the VP of sales, the supervisor of Group Sales all the way down to my TA. I told them that they had ruined my wedding with their "sold-out" fiasco and now cancellation of the flight! I learned that "sold out" is often what they put just to stop selling seats when their schedules are not confirmed. And I waited. The very next morning, my TA asked me what I had done and told me that I had "lit a fire" at Sunquest! Apparently, the executives were not impressed that the CEO got this email and were now working to fix my situation. We fought for 5 days with them, going back and forth. In the end, it all worked out. We asked for: 1. a plane to fly on our original dates 2. refunds for all of our guests that had to book seperate flights and separate accomodations 3. everyone on the same plane! 4. they would honour the "21st person goes free" promotion...as a result of the date changes, we only had 18 adults that were going. We got: 1. a plane that went down 4 days later (same week, we just shifted wedding date) 2. refunds for all of our guests that booked separately 3. everyone on the same plane 4. they honoured the "21st person goes free" promotion, even though we only had 18 5. $100 gift vouchers for our guests 6.$200 gift vouchers for us We were the only wedding that got this, as other weddings were also affected. It pays to stand up for yourself! So, not to freak you out, but to let you know that if it seems to be going this way, send me a PM....I have all of the emails you need! Good luck!

We had an all child wedding party consisting of a flowergirl, ring bearer and bible bearer between the ages of 7 and 10....no adult participants. It worked out just fine...and much cuter. It was cheaper too because kids fit off the rack ! If i had to do it over, I would have 6 kids to even it out...still no adults. And kids steal the show My niece, my flower girl acted as MOH...she held my bouquet and parasol at the alter, which meant a lot to her.

From one beliver to another, I can really appreciate what you are saying. So I am sending encouragement your way It is true that our weddings are stressful times and possible that stress is getting the best of us all. But it is equally important to think this through carefully, pray and ask God for His guidance...because He loves you so much and always wants what is best for his children. Of all that you have said, the issue of trust sticks out to me. It suggests that there is more going on than wedding stress about budget and menu. If trust is an issue, my concern is that you are building on a less than solid rock. The pros and cons list is a great idea and I will take it one step further. When you pray about this situation, pray about that list as well. Perhaps see someone else in the church that you trust that you can talk to that can provide you with guidance and encouragement in your Pastor's absence. Or an older married female, like a mother figure that can just listen...and pray with you. My advice may not be popular beacuse it involves soul searching 25 days before your wedding and most people just want to get married today and work it out later. But the truth is that you both deserve God's best...because you were made by Him with such love and care. Be sure....so you can enjoy the benefits of love and marriage with your life partner. My prayer for you is the peace that passes understanding in this situation, with whatever you choose. I'll be praying for you

And if I may one more time... I've been married for 3 months now and let me tell you...a DW was the best decision we made. Not because of all of the fun we had, but for some very practical reasons. First off: we invited 171 friends and family members to our DW, knowing that many would not make it. What we did not expect was that some would not even REPLY. To this day, we have yet to recieve our RSVP cards back or a word about if they even recieved our invitation. They have not even called to congratulate us on our recent nuptials. It showed us how much we actually mean to some people. So, if we had listened to my MIL and had the at home wedding, we would have invited 171 people, most of which who would have come as we were picking up the tab. In reality, their genuine care for us shows in how they have ignored our invitation or complained about the wedding we want to have.Our wedding would have been filled with those who at the end of the day, may not really care about us, but would have welcomed the occassion to get dressed up and have a meal. So have the wedding YOU want to have. A sencond great reason: we are not in debt. Debt wreaks HAVOC on a new marriage, especially large wedding debt for a wedding you did not enjoy. It's not your cousin Mildred who has to get dressed and go to work every day after to pay for the wedding bills...it's most likely you and your FI! We are saving for a house and looking into taking a cruise this fall to enjoy being husband and wife. We would not be able to achieve our personal financial goals with a big at home wedding. Bottom line: have the wedding YOU want to have....not just the honeymoon you want to have. People will try to talk you into an at-home wedding and then you can go to your destination for your honeymoon. NO...have the wedding you want to have....those are your memories and your photographs. They should be what you want.

We contemplated working with them because we were getting married at the Riu Palace Macao. I was very nervous about using them because: * the quality of work displayed on their website is not very good. There is lots of shadow and grainy images.There wedding video is terrible. * their price had doubled from when we first contacted them to book *I did not find that they responded to emails So after thinking it over, we decided to bring a photographer with us instead...AND I AM SO HAPPY WE DID! On Caribbean street is the Antilla store. I walked in and talked to the service representative. She told me that they take about 20 - 30 photos of the ceremony ONLY! Or that is how many I would recieve after final edits. They will leave your reception after the cake is cut and do not spend much time with you as you are getting ready for the ceremony. The CD you recieve will contain between 250 - 300 images...that is really not much! Honestly, I would research other options.

We stayed at the Palace Macao and got married at the gazebo at the Palace Punta Cana. In terms of architecture and ammenities, the resorts are WORLDS apart! There is a majestic elegance about the palace Punta Cana that cannot be rivalled by the Macao. The PPC is truly palacial...if you go to the Macao expecting a palace, you will be truly disappointed. Having said that, I was told by those staying at the PPC that the quality of food and service is comparable. If you have a choice, choose the PPC....I wish I had. Your guests will thank you....

Quote: Originally Posted by Celina Beautifulbridetobe - I think it is awesome that you stood with your mom the night before the wedding! What a wonderful memory to have Thanks. Actually, I stayed with my mom the entire week until I got married. We arrived on a Thursday and our wedding was 5 days later on the Tuesday. We came together on our wedding night and for the remainder of the trip and for our honeymoon.

I have waited so long to post to this thread What I would do again Have a destination wedding: I am home now, married and debt-free! It was all the tropical elegance that I wanted. Had an all-white wedding: we asked all guests to wear white and shades of white. It looked FABULOUS and elegant. Even the reluctant guests, said it looked great!The pictures are amazing. Took a leisurely bubble bath on my wedding day, journalled and prayed. It grounded me and I remember it. It brought me peace and I have record of how I felt and what I was thinking on my wedding day. Stayed with my mom in a room instead of FI: My FI and I do not live together as we were saving this for after we were married. We had 5 days before the wedding and two days after. I stayed with my mom and he with his uncle. It gave mom and me time to bond and prepare before I became a married woman. On our wedding night, we moved together into a honeymoon suite. It was traditional and I would have it no other way. Distribute OOT Bags: Guests seemed really appreciative of them and used the contents throughout the week. Brought along a photographer: Our resort photographer would not have done the job that our take-along photographer did. She caught moments during the week that would have been lost forever. And we have over 2000 pictures...we found out that the resort photographer would have taken approximately 20 of the ceremony. Used Vista Print for STDs and Invites: Our STDS and invites were beautiful...so much so that people called to RSVP beacuse they did not want to send back their response cards and break up the package! Made luggage tags: these were very nice and USEFUL. At the airport, FI and others were able to identify the luggage that belonged to our group and grab them off the conveyor belt quickly and easily beacuse of these 10 cent blue tags! Bought my dress at David's Bridal: I was able to look beautiful for less and it did not kill me to trash it afterward. TTD: These pictures are by far the most unique of the whole trip! FI and I have decided to have them blown up and developed in black and white or sepia...to use as a photo collection for our bedroom. It was worth the 5 am wake up call. All little details: crystals on this, rhinestones on that, bows here, flowers there....I noticed these things and they made me feel great. Fans and parasols: the day was extremely hot and sunny. Guests appreciated these extra comforts and the parasols look great in pictures. Kept the cake in the package deal: upon advice from this forum, we stuck with the cake included in the package. They made us a 3-tier vanilla cake, adorned with white lillies and roses. It tasted great and was a great focal point. What I would NEVER do again...can you feel the vehemence? Invite anyone but immediate family and those who truly have my best interest at heart: I wish more than 1/2 my guests never came. I learned that it is one thing ocassionally see certain family members and friends and another to spend a week of vacation with them. I am re-evaluating some of my relationships as a result. I found that some members of my family were terribly selfish...and the attitudes of some of my "friends" was unbearable. Choose your guest list very carefully. Those of you having very small DWs and larger AHRs are on the right track. If I could do it all again, I would. Choose the RIU Palace Macao: In Canada, this hotel is rated a 5.5 star property. This is simply not true. It is a 4 star at best. My guests were expecting great quality...and we were disappointed. Upon return to Canada, we spoke to Sunquest, the tour operator and sole provider of the RIU resorts and were told, yes, they are aware that the hotel is no longer up to "palace" standard, but they cannot and do not usually downgrade their properties. It is an older palace...a 14 year old palace!. So when they began "palace" class 14 years ago, it was a palace then. Since then, palaces have improved greatly! For example, the RIU Palace Punta Cana is also rated 5.5 stars...I invite you to compare these two properties....they are nowhere near the same star rating. Funny...in the States, the Macao is a 4 star....it impacted food, the reception...everything. Have too many people around me as I got ready: sometimes when you are calm, other people have a way of transferring their stress and negativity on to you. As the bride, you really don't need this. Choose a white bouquet: I had an all-white wedding, but I love bright exotic flowers. I wish I had chosen my bouquet as the only splash of colour. And the bouquet is never truly "white"....white flowers are actually more creamy coloured. Focus so much on the wedding that I missed the fun: my advice is play in the ocean with your neice. Paint your toes on the beach with your girlfriends. Eat lunch with your grandmother. Throw your nephew into the pool....Enjoy this time. You may never have your friends and family all in one place again. Hope this helps...

Have not done a thing...and need to. Not sure why...just no motivation, although I know bikini bodies don't grow on coconut trees...

If I have learned anything during this season of planning my wedding, it is how inwardly focussed guests, friends and family can be. As brides, we must realize quickly that most people want us to have the wedding that THEY want us to have...the one that suits them, their schedule, their wallet, their taste in food and music, during a time of day when the sun is shining on their good side, where the carpet will not interfere with their new shoes and the cake is lactose-free because they have an allergy! They will complain about anything that does not suit them, ignoring the wishes and wants of the bride and grrom because they believe they have some entitlement to your wedding! After all, they are the groom's sister, bride's mother, groom's best friend, etc. They forget that they have the blessing of witnessing your special day...and that's it...that is all they are entitled to. A thick skin is necessary, and so is a firm, sweet spirit. This firm, sweet spirit will allow you to smile and explain for the 10th time that yes, you will be getting married in Los Cabo...and you'd love to have to have them with you, but if they can't - that's OK. You'll have a daiquri in their honour.

I've seriously been thinking about this as I have one person that I did not invite to the wedding because I know that she cannot afford to, I did not want to embarass her, we ran out of invitations and we had to realistically start cutting back on the guest list.I was not worried that she would hear I was getting married and she wasn't invited because we do not flow in the same circles at all. She is an older woman and a dear motherly friend to me. But the more I think of her, the more saddened I become when thinking about not having her at my shower beacuse etiquette dictates that only those who have been invited to the wedding must come to the shower. She would love the time out with ladies. So I have decided, to heck with etiquette! Destination weddings are acquiring rules of their own anyway and are not bound by traditional rules. I invited her - however I did not include a gift registry card in her invitation. I do not want a gift from her - all I want is her presence. I explained the situation, telling her that all I want is for her to join my family and me in celebrating this time in my life. So I think that you can invite people to the shower that may have not been invited to the wedding - but you cannot request gifts from these people. Let them shower you with their love instead.

That is beaautiful. I love the way mantilla veils look.

That is very creative! Great job!

Our resort does 3 weddings a day. And they are booked solid the week we arrive. So yes, this is going to be interesting in terms of who gets what restaurant for their reception, what ceremony sites will be given to whom.... Now I have a headache...but in God we trust.

Hmmm...really not a fan of menstrual suppression for months at a time. I read an article recently about taking a "menstrual holiday" or menstrual suppression - what they've called taking the pill for months at a time or even a year to give the body a break from menstruation. Some doctors have suggested that a monthly period can be unhealthy for women because many find it inconvenient and it inteferes with their emotional, psychological, physical and professional well being. I say be careful what you believe. Many doctors have different opinions. Considering that menstruation is a natural occurence for women, I am not sure that the healthiest way to stay healthy is to take drugs that manipulate the natural functioning of your body for months in a row. If an overly extended menstrual holiday was natural, they body would do it on its own. Menstruation has it's benefits...like shedding cells from the uterus that can be cancerous, instead of allowing them to build up. And the long term effects of menstrual suppression are not known. Psychologically, menstrual suppression can begin to send the message that there is something "wrong" with the feminine cycle and it must be controlled or tamed. We often attempt to plan, stage and manage every area of our lives...I get worried when we try to remove our periods for long periods of time to plan, stage and manage them too. I believe in informed choice. I tried to find the article..it was in Chatelaine magazine in November, but it is not online. So I found this instead...listing equal pros and cons of menstrual suppression for long periods of time. Menstrual Suppression

I saw a small palm tree punch at Michaels in Toronto...I want one too for my luggage tags so I'll look again.

OK...so as if destination wedding planning was not stressful enough.... The Public Health Agency of Canada (the Canadian Federal Government) has strongly suggested that travellers headed to the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana and Bavaro) take anti-malaria medications and tablets. Link below or you can google the agency. Reports of malaria: Travel Health Advisory - Travel Health Program, Public Health Agency of Canada http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/media/adv...al_faq-eng.php And to top it off, the same alerts are all over the RADIO in Toronto! I just heard this travel advisory/ warning for the DR on the radio and my beloved girlfriend just called me worried. Her doctor suggests she and her children take the medication before travelling to my wedding. Needless to say, she is not impressed. I did a bit of research..on these pills, you should not consume alcohol....at an all-inclusive Caribbean vacation resort...so you can guess how many happy people I will be surrounded by! Some users have also reported sensitivies to the drug and just a general feeling of malaise while on it (which can happen with any medication), but hopefully not while you are trying to enjoy a relaxing holiday! Sometimes you take these pills for 2 weeks prior to your trip and sometimes for 4 weeks after you return. Oh my...... We feel we should tell our guests of this and suggest that our guests all talk to their doctors about this to get medical advice. How do you suggest to your guests that they may want to talk to their doctors about anti-malaria medications before going on vacation for your wedding without causing panic and alarm and anger? Already, I can feel the "why didn't you pick another island?" coming..... We just want our guests to be safe...not sorry.

3 and 5 are very nice.

Weddings are hard on our single girlfriends...we have to remember that. I did not entertain this idea of BMs for this EXACT reason. Weddings seem to surface everyone's issues, wishes, wants and needs. Why is that? Then as the bride, we are left in tears. We cannot endure this any longer. Let us all band together in agreement - on our wedding days, we need and deserve to be surrounded by those who love and support us most. If anything compromises/ jeopardizes that, it should not be included in our day or minimally incorporated. As I have been thinking of my wedding journey, I cannot say it has been the most happy time of my life because the expecations of others have made it more stressful. The other day, I was upset and I thought, you know what? These are not the memories I want to have of my wedding - stress and anger and sadness and dissension and such because of other people. So I made up my mind to enjoy this process, but my enjoyment comes at a price.... I have to let go of those who are making this a hard time for me by letting go of their wants and wishes and expectations, so that mine are heard and my heart is not heavy. I want to make it to my wedding a blushing bride...not a bruised one. So my advice is this...we have to let go of those who are making us miserable and ruining our memories of this amazing time in our lives. Letting go does not mean getting rid of, but releasing them of our expectations. We expect them to be happy for us and treat us with the love and respect that we deserve. We are right not wrong to expect this. But maybe they cannot give it to us right now because they are thinking of themselves. Maybe these are not the best people to be your bridesmaids...and that's OK. They are in a place where they are thinking of themselves and what they don't have. I don't think that makes them bad people, I just think that makes them unable to be what you need right now. Let them be guests. They will be happier that way and as you stand beside the your new husband at the altar, you will be surrounded by his love....and not their sadness/ anger about not having found a love...yet. Weddings are hard on our single girlfriends....we have to remember that. I am having an all-child wedding party of little people who think I am the best aunt in the whole world! So much so, that my 10 year old nephew asked if he could give me away I cannot ask for more love than that.

I see your wedding is in June. Do not let Easter pass you by! There will be tons of cute and cheap Easter dresses for little girls coming out in the next few weeks. That is when I plan to shop!

Help, girls. My bridal shower will be an elegant breakfast/brunch affair at a golf club/ course on a weekend morning. I have always dreamed of this type of shower...white linen and tea, etc. I just thought of a ladies' time out...where we can just converse and have a cup of tea together over a leisurely breakfast. Truth is, the venue or event is not entirely suitable for children. As a golf club, they do not ban kids, but the environment is not really conducive to kids running around. They do not have a children's room as it is an adult facility. And they will want to run around...(can't say I blame them - they are kids!) I have thought of keeping them busy with activity books, games, etc. but those distractions only last for so long and that requires someone to care for them (most likely the mom herself) and takes away from the purpose of my shower - to get together with women in a nice atmosphere and celebrate my upcoming marriage. Not many can say they get to go out alone a lot! Personally, I see nothing wrong with having a ladies' bridal shower for a few hours where the kids are left at home and mom gets to come have an uninterrupted meal and some adult conversation...but I also know that some mothers are attached to their children and a few hours feels like too long. So they may feel offended that children are not invited. Another issue is my 7 year old niece..the flower girl. She is at the age where she is playing wedding with her dolls and can't wait to be in the wedding. She sends me pictures of the dresses she wants to wear online and helped pick out my wedding gown. It would be great to have her there...she is a part of the wedding and easily entertained. But if we say no kids, we cannot very well have her there! Can we? It would not be fair...or would it be OK because she is a part of the wedding? Truthfully, the issues is...and I hate to say it...the little boys!. I have 6 nephews...and if they come it will be game over. It's not their fault they run and have to play...they're boys! They just happen to be harder to entertain than girls. They get into a lot more. So my mother suggests making it "Girls Only"...that way we only get the females - young and old. Many concerns.....Any ideas?