Simistar

Okay, so because Michael is so awesome, he got us our disc of images to us today! now THAT'S quick service:-) And, best of all, it allows me to post some actual pics here, as promised by the thread title, haha :-) More coming!

Okaaaaay... so call me crazy, and I probably am, but I'm going to go ahead and assume y'all aren't axe murderers or anything and volunteer to have a BDW get together at my place!-) Maybe? :-) Unless everyone thinks that's weird... then we can meet somewhere else:-) But I thought we could have a fun night of drinks, food and rock band! And if ddk5576 lets us know when exactly she'll be here, we can plan for maybe March..? I know, I know...who knows where and what we'll all be doing in March...but just though I'd gauge the enthusiasm/lack-of :-)

Quote: Originally Posted by Sita&Nate Simistar is right, we should do a BDW get together!! Yeeaaaah! Maybe in March...? I think she'll be here by then...? And lots of time to plan, lol:-)

Quote: Originally Posted by Girasole I like the wand idea. I bet they were easy to pack too! VERY easy...light and don't take up too much room! (and we didn't have to worry about anything "spilling"...which is what I was worried about with bubbles:-))

Thank you SO SO SO much everyone -- I love that y'all love them as much as I do:-) It DOES somewhat make up for bad wedding pictures...but mostly for the bad experience we had... Michael W. made it all so much fun and stress-free... Afterwards, my DH and I were like, I guess that's how we were SUPPOSED to feel with our wedding pictures, haha:-) Quote: Originally Posted by Erika J Great Job Micheal! And YAY Michelle for pics you are proud of and noooo douche baggery ! Erika J -- you just made me laugh so much I spat tea out on my keyboard at work:-) Quote: Originally Posted by michaelwachniak The Black and White shot with the fuzzy hats and the tree w/ lights should be blown up and set above your couch... I Love it THAT much! That's exactly what WE thought! In fact, I think we're going to blow three of them up and frame them for our living room.. We love them THAT much:-)

Quote: Originally Posted by Morgan I wish he would have made you put your arm up for a few just for old times sake So funny Morgan! I think I'm "arm-in-the-air" sensitive now...I kept thinking while the pics were being taken, Keep my arms down, keep my arms down, lol:-)

Hello ladies!! For any of you who read my pro photographer review for our wedding in Mexico, you'll know we were NOT happy with our wedding pictures. So, we did a one-year anniversary shoot yesterday with the most excellent and talented photographer Michael Wachniak, who is a vendor on here (and also lives in the same city we do:-)) I cannot say enough great things about Michael... He asked us lots of questions beforehand to make sure he was going to capture "us" and give us pictures we'd like... We decided on a kind of fun shoot at a local outdoor ice rink since my husband used to play hockey and I used to figure skate... Michael was a real trooper b/c it was FREEZING out yesterday (and snowing!)when we did the shoot! But at least he got to wear long underwear We nearly froze our arses off too, but it was worth it... He got some AMAZING shots and I'm so happy to FINALLY have pictures I'm proud to show off, lol:-) And, okay, I lied a little bit in the heading...I don't have pics to post YET...but I will this week! However, Michael blogged us! So you can check out the highlights of the shoot here: Michelle + David: Couples Session | Michael Wachniak Photographer Blog Hope you like them as much as I do, lol:-)

Quote: Originally Posted by Princess402 Michelle I love your pics! I also really love your outfit - you and your husband look fantastic, and so glam!!! What a unique idea for a photo shoot! Quote: Originally Posted by Erika J OH how fun and romantic! I love them!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you both SO much...it is SO nice to finally have pictrues I'm happy to show off:-) Princess402 -- again, so jealous you'll have wedding pics by Michael:-)

Oh, just found Michael blogged us! So, until I have the pics to post myself, here are the highlights on his blog: Michelle + David: Couples Session | Michael Wachniak Photographer Blog Should be the first posting, under couple's session, Michelle and David:-)

Quote: Originally Posted by Princess402 Oh I heard he was shooting a couple in the snow yesterday - that must have been you! I can't wait to see your photos!!! So glad you went ahead and did that Hopefully these photos will help make up for your disappointing photography experience last year. Mike is photographing my wedding next year. And you're right, in addition to being amazingly talented, he is super nice and enthusiastic. I heart him a lot!!! That's hilarious -- yes -- that was us! :-) It was FREEZING, but worth it b/c the pictures he got are awesome! I am SO jealous you'll have him shooting your wedding...you'll have amazing pictures!

Though I'd throw in a completely different idea:-) We did ribbon wands, which people used to party with and for funny pictures throughout the night, lol:-) Found a random pic online to show you what they look like (sorry, if you've ever read my photographer review, you'll know he didn't actually take any pics of them, so I can't show you how ours looked:-)) Here's the company we ordered from...and they were cheap too! (as in price, not quality:-)) I think we got to choose two or three colours per wand and they were only $6per dozen... Wedding Wands, Wedding Wand, Wholesale Wedding Wand, Wedding Favor, Wedding Novelties, Wedding Novelty. Just click on "Wedding Wands" on the left-hand side if you want to check them out:-)

Hey Everybody! We took everyone's advice and did a photo session with a local photographer yesterday!! It was kind of a one-year-anniversry shoot:-) The photographer is a vendor on here -- Michael Wachniak -- AND HE ROCKS!! He was SO nice and accommodating... and he took kick-ass shots. I'll post some soon I promise!!

Hey there!! Did you ever get the PM I sent you back...? :-) I live in Vancouver (in the city, not a suburb...if you need help with outlying areas, I won't be much of a help:-)) and grew up here, so honestly, if you need help with anything, please just ask! If you need to know good areas, restaurants, etc...ask away! Maybe we should all do a BDW get-together...when do you arrive here...? We could do a welcome wagon party, lol:)

You know, what's funny is, it didn't even occur to me (stupid, silly me:-)) that people would assume their children and/or whole family was invited... but that's what happened!:-) The invites we sent out were clearly addressed to X and X... We got married at Secrets Maroma, which is adults only, so I think many people realized their little children couldn't come as soon as they looked into the resort... However, there were some people who had grown children who just assumed the whole family was invited...which they weren't... (* we wanted to keep our wedding SMALL!:-))... My MIL had to call them to clarify...(since these guests never told us their plans, but did mention it to my in-laws...) Anywaaaay, point is, it IS a good idea to somehow make this clear...whether it's on the invites or your website.... b/c you may be surprised at how many people ASSUME they're invited, when they're not:-) (I know I was :-))

We didn't have BMs or groomsmen either! I also just wanted my friends to wear whatever they wanted and we wanted our ceremony to be quick and casual..and we just didn't feel like a "wedding party" fit into our idea of this:-) That said, two of my close girlfriends were basically "honorary" BMS in that they helped me a lot the day of, in terms of making sure things were set up properly and helping me with my dress etc:-) However, we've never regretted our decision to NOT have a wedding party:-)

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Quote: Originally Posted by mlabbe I wouldn't suggest to get into the Vancouver water at this time of year, but you could still get some awesome shots! It's not the same, of course, but it could be fun! There's some great photographers in Van (I'm flying one down for my wedding) and some of them have quite the affordable "engagement session" packages that you could use for that. haha -- no -- the water would be FREEZING!:-) And yes -- I've been looking into some photographers here to do an almost "engagement session" type shoot, since we never did engagement photos anyway:-) Which photographer are you flying out??

Quote: Originally Posted by newyork6156 Mandiland - In my opinion and after being married there in JULY I would have my reception inside a closed in restaurant. Aside from the heat, I would not want to chance the mosquitos. Our cocktail hr was outside and just as we were moving in for the reception the bugs came out. We all would have been so uncomfortable if we were staying outside for the reception as well. Maybe the bugs would not be a problem and maybe they would. I'm just the type of person that wouldn't take that chance. Also, maybe the bugs wouldn't be that bad down towards the water more where there is more of a breeze, but we ate at those restaurants and we had a slight bug problem there at night. I agree that those restaurants are beautiful and would be nice for a reception, but I'm just not one to take chances. Fair enough! I was there in December and even though I had prepared all our guests to be ready for the onlsaught of bugs, we didn't really have any...Again though, that was December:-) (I've heard it all really depends on the weather more than the time of year...i..e if it rains, and then is warm and humid after, the bugs come out...if it stays warm and sunny, apparently they're not very bad...) So, yes, if you don't want to take any chances, maybe stick to completely inside, rather than an open-air palapa... BUT, if you're not TOO worried about the bugs, these restaurants are beautiful:-) Quote: Originally Posted by Mandiland Thanks so much for all of the pictures and info!!!! I see the fans in the pics of the seafood restaurant but don't see any walls....how does it stay cool? (Unless the walls are glass and I can't see them.??) It's open-air...so no walls:-) However, the fans do provide some air conditioning and keep inside the palapas cool-ish... of course, it's not as cool as being in an enclosed room in air conditioning, but perhaps in the evening, when it cools a bit outside, it would be okay...?

Quote: Originally Posted by Boo Sorry this is kinda off topic - we have decided to get married at Secrets Maroma in Nov 2010, but as we have families with kids who will be in attendance we will stay at Secrets Riviera Cancun and then hoping to have the wedding and our honeymoon at Secrets (I emailed Cecilia but she is yet to get back to me) do you guys know if kids can walk on to the Secrets resort the day of the wedding? and is it a problem that only two of us will stay at the hotel? As far as I know, children are NOT allowed at SMB, even for the day... This may have changed in the past few months, but I know about a year ago when a few hotels were shut down and brides were being shuffeled around resorts, those who had children even just attending the ceremony and reception (not staying at the resort) were not allowed to do so... However, like I said, perhaps this has changed... maybe another SMB bride knows...? Or, may mean waiting for an e-mail back from Cecilia

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Forgot this one! It just shows inside the restaurants... there are fans and air conditioning on so you don't get too hot:-)

Oaky, uploaded some pics to photobucket:-) Here are some shots during the day (sorry, don't have any of it at night) of Oceana, the seafood restaurant... Close-up: Further away: BTW, Oceana and the steak restaurant (Seaside Grill) are right next to each other and I'm sure share the same kitchen, so if you don't like seafood (or conversely, don't like steak) I'm sure you can order either at each restaurant... (in the above picture, Seaside Grill is in the palapa on the right-hand side) I'm sorry I don't have front-on pics of Seaside Grill, but here's a shot from the side...(just when it's starting to get dark...you can kind of see how nice the lights will look...) Again, it's right next to Oceana... It faces the pool, and then on one side is this grassy area... Another shot, a bit darker...unfortunately, still from same angle: Hope these help?:-)

Quote: Originally Posted by Mandiland I know I want my reception indoors because it will be hot in July, but I don't know which restaurant. I didn't like the pics of the ballroom but maybe it looks better in person I see a lot of the girls used the World Cafe and it looks beautiful. We are having 50+ people so I guess we will need the whole restaurant if we use that one...is the rest as pretty as the red room? What would be the 2nd best indoor spot? Sorry, I never actually checked out the ballroom... Just my opinion, but I figured if we went all the way to Mexico, I didn't want to be in a ballroom that looks like it could be anywhere, lol:-) Again, though, just the way we felt about it... As for another indoor option, perhaps you could ask about using the Oceana restaurant (seafood restaurant) or Seaside Grill (steak restaurant)...? Both of these restaurants are kind of open-air, right next to each other under a large palapa right beside the pool... and b/c they're under the palapas they're kind of air-conditioned and cooler.... These restaurants look gorgeous at night right beside the pool, so you guys would have a great view as well... I'll try to find some pics and post them:-) Quote: Originally Posted by mlynnea So after all your comments about all the people around in their not so flattering attire, I'm thinking about maybe bringing some kind of stakes and tie some ribbon to them....making an implied "fence" around the ceremony area..? Do you think that would be too much? If Cecilia would let me do it, it might help make it more obvious that people need to not pass the ribbon. Obviously they could just walk around it if they were really nosy, but it might at least send the beach go-ers the message that it's a "private" space. Thoughts? I don't see why Cecilia would say no to this, as long as you guys take care of it yourselves and don't "fence off" too large of an area (so people won't complain)... In fact, maybe don't even ASK, just let Cecilia know that's what you plan on doing:-)

Quote: Originally Posted by mlabbe You could always have a vow renewal in a few years, wear that Amsale dress again (that's the first dress that I tried on, and it made me cry - it was *the* dress but I couldn't afford it) and get proper pictures! Hey there! What's funny is -- I couldn't afford that dress either:-) But I made an agreement with my DH that I would sell it after, to recoup some of the money... So, that's what I did! Which was great -- but also not-so-great, in that I won't be able to recreate any pics in it:-) BTW, if you are still wanting that dress, did you check out any sites like oncewed.com and preownedweddingdresses.com or even partypop...? If you don't mind wearing a dress that's been worn for a few hours, you might be able to find it at half (or even less) than the original price... (afterall, someone wore mine after!) And thank you for the sympathetic words about our pics -- it helps;-)

I agree with the other girls... go for it! why not?? I know lots of 40-something ladies who look like a knockout in strapless gowns/dresses:-) That said, I also agree you should try on different styles -- even ones you don't think you'll like, b/c if there's one thing I learned wedidng dress shopping is, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW! :-)