KittenHeart

Quote: Originally Posted by Shandalier Oh, and I think we are going to hire a videographer from their options for just a few hours - the ceremony and some of the reception. Tiffany said that runs $400 or $500. Shandalier - You DID get an amazing deal!!! Nice job!

Congrats and welcome! Our weddings are less than a month apart

Quote: Originally Posted by Katie_2010 oh my god KatKen, that's awful. I know as much as we tell ourselves it doesn't matter, it still cuts deep. hopefully she'll see sense and book last minute - unless she's got some big reason for not going (which she should have told you) then she should be there, no questions asked. Is there a chance she's maybe finding it hard? emotionally etc. from the little I know from what you've posted 2 things come to mind as to why she may not be going - 1st. does she get on with your FH? approve of him etc? or 2nd. could she find it really hard on a day as special as that and your dad not being around? maybe she's running? I hope your FH makes it an extra special time for you, no matter what happens with your mum. Katie I WISH those were the reasons... my fiance asked for her approval before proposing to me and she told he "I could have asked for a better son-in-law" they get along better than her and I do! My father and her were divorced when he passed away so that's not the reason either. I just get nothing from her.

Quote: Originally Posted by Nikki07 Ugh, I know its horrible!! The only family we have coming is my brother and possibly my sister...she's another non-committer. FI has NO ONE on his side lol! I've gotten to the point that I just don't care....it's not about them anyhow. I know its hard to stomach but don't let them ruin your experience. They'll be the ones that regret it. Why is it that your mom isn't going? Especially when you've offered to pay!! She doesn't like flying which to me is a LAME excuse... and how bad does it look that my FI's relatives are coming from Australia, London & Canada. All my relatives are in CA & CO... so it should be easier for them. I won't let it ruin my day, it's not worth it

Quote: Originally Posted by meghan KittenHeart that is terrible!! What is her issue with going?? It must be something else aside from cost if she wont' go even when you offer to pay! Family and friends can be so stressful when it comes to stuff like this. I don't know why people can't just be supportive. They must not realize how important this day is and how they are letting us down by acting this way. She's afraid of flying... which isn't an excuse to me. More people get in car accidents the plane crashes! She's had a few flights before but would a fear a flying stop you from your only daughter's wedding? It wouldn't stop me... although I'm not afraid to fly so I don't know.

Quote: Originally Posted by BillysBride After all this time (we settled on a date LONG ago) I'm actually feelin a lil' pressure/pinch now that we're inside the single digit mark! Is that wierd or what? I'm just so used to being able to say "We still have over a year"....it's just strange. I can just see myself at 6 months. Ready to dive off a roof top somewhere. LOL!!! I feel exactly the same way! We're under 10 months! Seems like a lot of time and not enough all in the same! I feel stuck... I think a dress is the next thing to do and get people that RSVP'd to freakin book! What are you doing now? I feel lost again like I did in the beginning

These pictures are so inspiring! You all look so sexy!

Congrats and welcome! I've been to Spago in Beverly Hills, fantastic choice! The atmosphere is sophisticated and feels like you are secluded from the public. The food is some of the best I've ever had in my life. You are going to absolutely love it!

Quote: Originally Posted by Nikki07 Meghan - Originally I was going to send out invites, but with the really poor responses and lack of enthusiasm on the whole thing I chose not to throw away the money.....I figure those who want to come will come. I have a wedding website and asked for RSVP's on there so that at least I had an idea, and when people were too ignorant to even do that is when I decided to scrap the formal invites. I had sent reminder emails..... I honestly feel like I was proactive about the whole thing lol. Ah well what can you do! Both my sister and Mom avoid the topic of booking like the plague! My mom hasn't even given me a for sure yes! Ugh. I just keep telling myself that it will all work out. I guess I was just curious as to how your guests were cooperating so that I know for my own peace of mind that I did not make a poor choice in terms of a TA. I felt it was a good deal, you obviously did and so do your guests! So that alone makes me feel better! Meesh - good luck! Can't wait to hear all about it when you get back! What is with family! At least this didn't happen to you... I've been engaged for almost a year and a half, I've tried every way possible to get my mom to tell me if she's coming or not, she says EVERY single time, "I don't want to talk about it now, let's talk later" Later never comes. Then I went with her to her company party last week and all her co-workers gushed about my save the dates and my wedding website and loved it so much and asked all these questions and then it comes out, one says, "we're on your side by the way, we can't believe your mother's not going!" Gulp.... all of the women she works with know she has no intention of coming to my wedding and this is how I found out. I kept thinking she wasn't planning on it but I also kept telling myself it would work out for the best. Oh and also, my father is past away so now I have no family that will be attending my wedding. I even offered to pay her whole way there, flight, room, everything. Makes me sick to my stomach.

I was a MOH for my best friend who got married last month... we did a Vegas weekend which was so much fun but the best part was this. We decked her out with a naughty veil, a sash, rhinestone stickers, garter etc. All of us tied bachelorette part caution tape around different parts of our body, some the arm, some the leg, ankle, waist, hair etc. I bought glow bracelets which were the hit of the party I got at Michaels for 15 for $1. We put a bunch of them on and headed out to a club. The theme was truth or dare, but everything really was a dare. I spent time compiling list of bachelorette dares online, they have free lists at some websites. We were outside on the patio of a club and did dares out there, within an hour we had the whole outside area looking over at us and offering to help and getting in on all the dares, it was the most fun I've ever had in my life. =)

Quote: Originally Posted by TammyB We had individual wedding cakes at our wedding. I love these!!!!!! How very cute

Congrats! Welcome to a wealth of knowledge! Good luck on your planning

Another question... has anyone used wedddingdressmart.com I'm pretty sure they are knock offs and they have a return policy which is strange too...

Quote: Originally Posted by JCrosby Has anyone heard of weddingdressmart.com? They have tons of Maggie Sottero dresses for $350! And the shipping is free...even to Canada. It seems too good to be true...maybe they're knock offs? Did you happen to ever order from weddingdressmart.com The dresses are so cheap and they accept refunds! They HAVE to be knock offs...

Heya date twin! Nope, there are a ton of us getting knock off's. lol I actually ended up landing a good deal from a salon in the UK that had my dream dress for less than half price, but I'm getting my TTD dress made from one of the ebay sellers. It's a combo of two dresses (top half then bottom half). I see a loooooot of brides here on the forum that are looking for good knock off's. The whole wedding process is nothing but endless expense-gotta save that money where we can! Hey!!! I totally didn't notice that! Wow I didn't even think of combining two dresses to make the one I like... this is so exciting! Makes you start thinking you can get two dresses if you want I just started looking and for some reason they don't seem to carry the dress I'm interested in at the moment which is Melissa Sweet. I was also thinking about just trying on the designers I like they have available to see how they fit first. I also found bestbridalprices.com which has discounted real dresses and you can return them... I was looking to see if anyone had dealt with them at all but I don't see it.

I am SO happy to find this thread... I thought I was the only one looking for a cheap replica of my dream dress. Thank you ladies for sharing this makes me feel SO much better

Quote: Originally Posted by jmb0902 I'm torn! Here are my top 2 choices... do I choose tradition... or HOT?!? 1. Kate Spade = Tradition -OR- 2. Stuart Weitzman = HOT (P.S. these come in white too) OMG I'm so in love with both of your shoe choices! I hope you got both

Wow you looked amazing!!! Thank you so much for your review it makes me hopeful and excited about my own wedding

Katie, You have everyone booked! Oh how lucky! That's the hardest part Well as soon as I finish my passport invites I'll show you and if you need help I'll send you the template and whatnot. =) I definitely think part of the fun is doing all the crafts and projects for sure! I'm a planner and I'm already nervous about stuff so I'm doing it way in advance but that's fine, feels better that way. Amy

I love them! I searched and searched for cards and just found crappy ones, you totally scored

Quote: Originally Posted by Katie_2010 glad I'm not the only one!! we're there for 2 weeks from 2 - 16 and hopefully getting married on the 7th! because we're flying in from England (UK) we are making this our honeymoon as well - this is not such a cheap option as we first thought!! aww we wanted to Sky deck ceremony but as we booked through Thomson (our TA) we couldn't as they don't offer it. we're going to have to see if when I get my wedding coordinator, if they'll let us add it on. we haven't got where the reception will be yet either - guessing that also comes when we get our W.C. what are your plans so far? everyone seems like pros on here! have you got your own photographer or the one with the hotel package?? Katie. I know right?! As this adds up I'm like wait... I thought this was supposed to be the inexpensive route! LOL, I just keep telling myself, relax it's a vacation too You should ask Grace (who is my WC too with Karisma) to see if they can book the sky deck for you. My TA just requested it be done and Fabio let him know it was booked. Ok this is what I've got so far, which doesn't feel like enough: Secured wedding date Secured ceremony spot Signed a contract and blocked rooms at the resort Created my wedding website with all the info and RSVP location Designed, crafted and put together my STD boarding passes and sent them all out Booked my photographer who will do my engagement shoot next month and fly down to shoot my wedding day. He is traveling for free, staying for 3 days and shooting my wedding so he will technically be a guest. Wedding bands purchased Wedding party selected and accepted Chosen a friend to MC the event Picked our first dance song (I think) and started downloading songs for wedding dancing since we're using my iPod Next we're designing two different postcards with RSVP by dates for those unresponded and for those who have RSVP'd that they will attend will get a postcard nudging them to book early for good pricing. I'm not getting ready to try on wedding dresses and discover my flower choice for my bouqet and start my DIY project for invitations etc. =)

Quote: Originally Posted by lolo Hi everyone!! I am sooo excited, I finally booked a wedding date and put a deposit down with my TA!!!!! Thanks to all of you who helped me with my price dilema. I found a local TA and she is awesome! She was willing to work with me and get the best price I could. Can I be put down for a March 3, 2010 wedding please?? I am working with Grace and she is also awesome!! Congrats!!! How exciting

Quote: Originally Posted by Katie_2010 ah thanks guys ) KittenHeart - we have requested Friday 7th May to get married - still waiting for confirmation. We didnt think you could get married at the weekend but obviously you can! We'll have to compare notes as we'll all be there at the same time! What date are you getting to the hotel? amy - thanks for yours too...I didn't realise Azul Beach was a seperate place! Just rushing to get into bed but will try to reply more tomorrow. Katie. xx Oh wow Katie, how fun! I was hoping I'd get to meet a BDW bride there while I was there! I am arriving there Tuesday, May 4th and leaving Tuesday, May 11th We are doing the Sky Deck ceremony and Zocolo reception I would love to exchange timing advice with you, I'm kinda lost at the moment as to what to do!

Quote: Originally Posted by Katie_2010 hey everyone... I've just joined so feel a bit lost! We are getting married in the hotel in May 2010 (just waiting confirmation from the travel agents that we can have the date we want!!). I just don't know where to start!! I'm not even sure what I should be planning or organising! If anyone's got any quick tips to help me get started that would be really, really appreciated! hopefully I'll be able to get online tonight and have a look through what you have all said already ) thanks all...sooooo excited!! xx Congrats and welcome!!! I'm May 8th 2010, what date are going for?

BillysBride - I definitely agree with most your arguements against me, it's not a SUPER huge deal and keep in mind I haven't complained to her or her husband ONCE. The cleaning up after the wedding AND the next day was too much for me and it sent me over the edge. I think the sashes, and the shower and bachelorette, of course, I had more control over these and I could have thrown them much more inexpensively than I did. She did know the cost however. I wouldn't have written this vent AT ALL if it hadn't been for the clean-up part, seriously I would have taken this all as wedding help stuff and the 8 months we spent planning her wedding and me helping her out I've been fine. Like I said in the beginning, a budget, an inexpensive wedding, no frills wedding isn't a problem. Extremely cheap is tacky and no thanks or grattitude was my issue. Trust me I know, my wedding is next year so this just really put things in perspective for me as a bride. The people coming to my DW and in my wedding party are my favorite people in the world, I would NEVER want any of them to feel taken advantage of or NOT appreciated ever. That was my point I hope I didn't offend anyone because that definitely wasn't the purpose.