DWandMJ

You girls are so awesome!!! Thanks a million!

I remember seeing some beautifully composed OOT welcome letters in the past, but I failed to earmark them as samples, and now I'm just kicking myself! I've been scouring through the hundreds of pages of ideas, and can't for the life of me find them. Would any of you fabulous ladies (and gents) be able to point me in the right direction? Much love! And thank you!!!!!

Its our legal day!!! And exactly 2 weeks to our wedding. We depart for Mexico in 11 days and almost everything is complete (AHR is another story, but a couple of months away) Left to do: Gift for my sisters Welcome letter for OOT bags Construct FI's starfish bout Teeth Whitening Paste ceremony reading into a decorative journal Have FI's pants taken up a little and the only stresser..... Pick up my wedding rings. Last we knew, the parts to make them were in, but they hadn't been put together yet.... eek!

Can I just say that I love this thread! You girls are so wonderful with your insight, reassurance, and overall companionship! Whether its the wedding or just my own neurotic tendencies getting worse, I've had the catastrophic thoughts too. We're leaving for Cancun is 3 weeks and our legal ceremony is next Thursday, and FI decided that he wanted to go on some male bonding week long hunting trip that required them to drive from California to Missouri and back again, returning home just two days before our legal. WTF!

Nibs- Thats the way I understood ours, too... and I'm actually freaking out a little bit because within the last couple of weeks, two people told me that they would be coming, but were going to stay off grounds. Aside from FI and I, we've only got 9 people (including 3 kids) attending as MP guests.

Quote: Originally Posted by Dana_C For the ladies who were already married at MP- did you have a tasting or just decide based on your preferences for the reception dinner? I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to print menu cards if we may end up changing our minds later on or once we get there...what is everyone else planning on doing? If you're into it and its within your budget, go for it! But, unless you're planning a formal sit-down event, I don't think menu cards are really necessary.

Are nerves kicking in for you yet?

Oh! We'll just miss you. We're departing on April 5th. Right now the biggest stress (at least with regard to the ceremony) is getting my dress altered. My mother is doing it, but it hasn't even been fitted yet. Other than that, its only minor things that can be wrapped up pretty easily.

I have more or less an opinion poll...and please be completely honest if I'm far off in left field.... FI stated that once we're married, he will modify his $500,00 life insurance policy to include me as a beneficiary, however, he said he would make me 50% and each of his parents 25% to ensure that his brother and sister were taken care of. When I expressed my opinion that he has a responsibility to me and his subsequent children, and I wasn't fond of the idea because after taxes consume 50% that would leave me about $125,000 toward a mortgage, funeral expenses, his children's college, help out with the loss of 2/3 of our household income, etc... meanwhile his brother and sister look at it as an opportunity to go on a shopping spree on someone else's dime, he told me that it really bothered him that I felt that way and asked how selfish could I be that I wouldn't want his siblings to receive something. Sure they would lose a brother and his parents - a son, but their futures wouldnt come to a screeching halt the way his widow's would. I realize this is a terrible thing to think about, but realistically, is my perspective on the whole thing entirely warped?

Okay... mild panic attack... I just realized we depart for the MP in only 3 1/2 weeks....

Of course, just my opinion, but I would avoid streaks in your hair. As pretty as it is for the day to day, imagine twenty years down the road when trends are long gone... it could make you look pretty dated. You want classic beauty on your day. Although I'm partial to the brunette, if you go blonde, I would definately keep it a darker blonde.

Quote: Originally Posted by ErikDaGenErik Hi Katt, Here's the information on the live performances: Price $1,215.00 USD P/ 45 minutes show •Mexican Folkloric Ballet with live Mariachi (8pax) (No sound system or lighting) Price $3,120.00 USD P/45 minutes show •Folkloric Mayan Ballet (Includes live drums and flaute – prehispanic style music) / (Lighting is not included) 12 pplPrice $1,850.00 USD P/45 minutes show I worked with Nancy to get the performance time down to 30 minutes for timing purposes. We have the free reception too. I am still trying to get the 75 room nights though. I am not that far away, but i dont think I will make it =( it sucks cause if 2 of my family members didnt book with Orbitz and Expedia, we would make it for sure. For the free private function, you actually only get 2 hours of the reception. anything beyond that is $60 per table, per hour. I confirmed this with my WC in Miami. Make sure you include the extra horus in your budget so you won't get any surprises. We're getting the DJ too! Package 1 with the video slideshow. Nancy and I were doing a lot of e-mail exchanges last week and she told me that she would be extremelt busy this week. I am not expecting an e-mail from her since she's probablt working on other brides right now. Your day is almost here as well! Hang in there and best of luck =) If you're that close, is it an option to just pay for the couple extra rooms?

Just interested if anyone is planning to tip the WC? And if so, what's fair?

Let the festivities begin! Bridal Shower tomorrow!

Let the festivities begin! Bridal Shower tomorrow!

For the the last year I was set on using "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," until about a week ago when I heard Amy Seeley's "Gravel Lines". Although it doesn't sound beachy or really romantic, my mind was flooded with the memories of the night that FI and I first met and is remnant of our unfolding story.

IMO, $370 to serve 35 guests is far too much, but then again, you'd be a captive audience and they know that.

We're just over a month away and the details are pushing us over budget... Wedding gown ($330) Accessories, eye lashes, shoes, and undergarments ($500) Tanning ($60) Hair/Makeup/Mani/Pedi ($185) Dress steam ($50) Groom's attire and accesories ($125) Decorations ($200) Horse Drawn Carriage ($130) Fans & OOT ($175) Flowers ($200) Parent's gifts ($100) Attendants gifts ($100) Photography ($850) TTD Photography ($550) Stationary (DIY invitations/thank you cards/oot bag letters) ($175) Airfare ($1200 - Father paid for so free!) Hotel accomodations for 7 nights at Moon Palace ($3060) Civil ceremony + license in States ($75) Passports ($215) Grand Total = 7000 + tips + any extra excursions beyond those included at resort Less Mom and Step Dad's Contribution of $2000 = $5000. Not to mention the uncalculated expenses of the AHR which are expected to ring in around $2500 Overall, I think we did ok, not fabulous, but after everything is said and done, we're still at 1/3 the average cost for a wedding, plus we're getting a week at a five star all inclusive thrown in. My accessories can and will definately be used again. FI's attire can definately be worn again (if I can talk him into getting dressed up to take me out on a date). And we cut some costs with DIY stationary, my mother made my veil, is making the sash and doing the alterations. We're only having about a dozen guests, however, I don't think having twice as many guests would change too much (or eloping to the same resort for that matter.)

Sharin' some love! Just breathe and pace yourself. I agree, too, about the checklist. It'll allow you to take one bite at a time. How many events in your life are going to take this much planning and energy? Just enjoy it while it lasts. Everything that is supposed to fall into place, will, and some of the small things won't really even matter on the big day. That to-do list will shrink each week. And in the end, you will be married to your prince charming

Quote: Originally Posted by Camie78 Pete and I have split up the wedding planning duties where I do all the fun stuff and he does all the crappy stuff like getting all the documents together, finding the justice of the peace, etc. I've been bugging him to get the details for the justice of the peace and get a list of everything that we need (we are getting married in Texas and then having the Catholic ceremony at MP). Well, he did all this and asked me yesterday over IM, "Do you want to get married on March 20th?" Then he went on to say, "We've got an appointment with Lance (jeweler) on Monday for our rings." For some reason that scared me and now I'm totally nervous. I didn't sleep at all last night. Reality is hitting - I'm going to be legally married in less than a month! Jeepers. I can't believe it is already March. I feel like I've been twiddling my thumbs for months and now everything all the deadines are quickly approaching. So much to do, so little time. That's why I'm posting this from work:) Our legal day is on the 19th And the reality is starting to hit me too... like a brick wall of #@ %#@*!

Quote: Originally Posted by rach220 Hey girls...maybe someone on here can help me out...I let FI pick out what he wants him and his GM to wear (probably my first mistake), but we are having difficulty locating the outfits for cheap... He wants to wear black pants and a long sleeve french cuff shirt. I want to find him really lightweight pants and everything we find in black is wool...maybe it's just the time of season. The shirt doesn't matter as much...he hates short sleeve button down shirts, so he will just be rolling up his sleeves after the ceremony. Does anyone knows where to buy nice white shirts with the french cuff? Hopefully it will cool off at night (our ceremony is at 5)...I think he's a little crazy for wanting black but whatever... Any help would be appreciated! I got FI's french cuff at Dillards and didn't bother to shop arround. I did see some through macys.com as well as bluefly.com.

Quote: Originally Posted by momslehcar Jennifer- We started out with Maribel and now have Claudia for our WC. We're only four weeks out and just changed our dinner plans last week, she didn't seem to mind. After going over our options we decided to have our reserved dinner the night before the wedding. Our ceremony is at 4:00..then on to the pics...then we reserved the Tucan terrace for our cocktail reception from 6 to 9. I've heard that there's plenty of food included with the cocktail reception and because we get the first hour free we're just going to add on to that. There were others that did this (Betsy?) and it turned out to be a great money saver and a great time. We've added lounge furniture and are renting the sound/light music system. I think you have time to change your mind several times yet! Whats your wedding date? We may be running into each other

Which one was last weeks episode?

Wahoo, I can check FI's attire off the impending 'to-do' list! I don't have a picture of him in it, but it looks hot Pair of charcoal Perry Ellis flat front slacks with a Kenneth Cole woven striped white on white french cuff shirt. I'll put him in a pair of silver cuff links with his oxblood belt and shoes and he's set.

I confess... That watching Platinum Weddings is depressing as hell. At least the richies are helping to rotate some funds back into the economy, eh?