GracieBebe

I think paying for the hotel/airfare is more than generous for your attendant gift. Someone else also suggested that you can get them a nice card/write them a note that thanks them for coming and states that your attendant gift to them is their hotel/airfare, etc. FH and I are sort of doing the same thing. We are paying for all of our guests' accomodations for the week of our wedding. We are basically saying that this is our wedding favor to everyone and will write them a nice note stating so. As for our attendant gifts, we are still trying to think of something.

Is this an etiquette requirement? My WC is part of the package but we are paying her 15% of our total wedding. Considering the fact that we are spending over $35k+, we are actually paying her a decent amount. To tip her on top of that seems like just another cost that we hadn't planned for. Do you have to tip everyone who is a vendor at your wedding? Photographer, Caterer, DJ, Pastor, 3-piece band? That's a lot that adds up in tips. Is this custom different in Europe? Thx,

Here are a few interesting encounters I've had with celebrities: 1. Back in high school, my school went to a yearly art fair/festival that lasted a week, where the students can participate in workshops, show their art, dance, theater, etc. A different school every year hosted it. Well, my freshman or sophomore year, it was held at a school in Kansas. Robert Kelker Kelly (played Bo on Days of our Lives in the mid-90's) was there hosting a Shakespeare workshop. I was a big fan of Days back then so I participated in the workshop. He also hosted a Theater Combatting workshop so I signed up for that too. He remembered me from the Shakespeare workshop and chose me as a volunteer to demonstrate various ways to fall or throw someone. Well, I'm not that familiar with the moves and on one of them, where I was supposed to fall back and roll over my left shoulder, I didn't turn my head to the side enough and ended up wrenching my neck. Ended up with neck problems for a couple years after that. LOL! 2. Another celebrity encounter was at a local bar that I used to go to all the time in CT. I'm embarassed to say, I am a big fan of the Backstreet Boys. When they were in town for a performance, AJ (the bad boy) from the band came into the bar with his g/f and his entourage. They came around the time the bar was closing and after the bar kicked everyone when they closed, they let AJ and his group stay after hours. Since I used to go there all the time, they let me and my friend stay too. I bought him a shot (SoCo and Lime) at the bar and played several games of pool with him (my friend and I loved to play pool back then). He was pretty impressed that 2 girls could shoot a decent game. Funny thing though - 2 wks later, he was admitted into rehab for alcohol abuse. I like to say I contributed a small part to his alcohol abuse. Another celeb I met that same night in that same bar was Tony Todd (from Final Destination and other movies). He's a local from Hartford and happened to be out and the bar also let him stay late that night. Another one of my friends ended up going to some after hours club with him that night. 3. Also got to meet Cameron Mathison (All My Children, Dancing with the Stars) at an airport in Newark (I was layed over there on my way to visit my mom in L.A.). I was the only person who recognized him at our gate. He was with his wife and son, but he was so hot!!! I went up to him and asked him if he was on AMC, and he said yes. Then everyone around me started asking him questions, etc and it was kinda cool. 4. My most recent celebrity encounter was with Jim Parsons (Sheldon from Big Bang Theory) a couple Xmas's ago. We went to a friend's holiday party and her husband's best friend's girlfriend's best friend is Jim Parsons. I think I have the link right, LOL!!!!! Anyway, he came to the party with her and a couple other friends. I saw him and nudged FH and said, "OMG, That's Sheldon!!!". He was like No way, why would he be at a Xmas party all the way out in the middle of nowhere, CT? (Our friends have a place in a really small town in CT). I was like, it has to be him! It looks just like him! So I went to our host and asked her if it was him. She said she knew he was on tv but didn't know what show. That confirmed it for me. So I text message another friend cuz Big Bang Theory is her fave show and her fave character is Sheldon and told her he was at the party we were at. She was like NO WAY and that I have to take a picture! So I finally got up the guts to talk to him (cuz I didn't want to disturb him if he was there to have a good time) and asked him if he was really Sheldon and that my friends, FH, and I watch his show every week and if I could take a picture with him. So I got to take a picture with him on FH's camera phone! Lighting wasn't the greatest, but I sent the pic to my friend and she freaked out!!!! It was kinda cool!!! Lastly, this didn't happen to me, but one of my friends. She and one of her friends went to a Brian McKnight concert and got to go backstage to hang out. She gave Brian her # and he called her later that night for a bootie call...which she answered!!! She couldn't figure out how to get to his hotel so my BFF was giving her directions as she was driving over there. This was years ago, but I do remember that it happened a couple days right before the Grammys. Anyway, that's all that I can remember for now.

We'll be going from CT to France and the distance is 3,406 miles. However, my mother and sister will be coming from CA and will have to travel 5,597 miles.

That sounds so awesome!!!

I didn't know if this should go in the Traditions section or the Food section, but... So, I'm not sure if this has been mentioned here before (and if someone already thought of this, kudos to you!!!), but I was trying to think of something different to do for the tradition Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and came up with......Martinis!!!! Here they are: Something Old - Classic Martini w/Olives Something New - Apple Martini (fairly new and most people like them) Something Borrowed - Rasberry Vodka, Sprite, Splash of Cranberry Juice (my fave drink and although technically not a martini, it's in the vodka family so I consider it "Borrowed") Something Blue - have to figure out a martini to make with Blue Curacao What do you ladies think?

I am so sorry to hear about your Grandfather. I hope he gets better soon. As for your husband (and please don't take this the wrong way, I'm sure he is a wonderful man which is why you fell in love with him in the first place), but he is being petty and selfish. You had an ACCIDENT. It might technically be your fault in the eyes of the insurance company, but given the weather conditions, and the stressful, emotional state that you are probably in, etc, it could have happened to anybody. He should be thankful that you and the other person weren't seriously injured! He is allowed to be upset and mad at the situation, but he doesn't have to be "punishing" you like he is by ignoring you and not texting back, etc. That's manipulative and a bit like emotional blackmail, especially when you are going through such an emotional time yourself. Also, another food for thought, what if the situations were reversed? How would he feel if you were to treat him like he is currently treating you if someone close to him like one of his parents were deathly ill, and he had a car accident or something? If you gave him the cold shoulder, would he be as forgiving? If yes, then I say just wait it out b/c his annoyance/anger will blow over. If no, then this is something that needs to be discussed between you both. I hope I didn't come off sounding very harsh, but I am empathizing/sympathizing what you must be going through. Best wishes!!!!!

Hey Everyone! Just seeing who's getting married this Sept 2009. I see posts for other months, that I thought I'd round up all the Sept brides! Hope to hear from ya!

We're also combining our wedding and honeymoon in a 2.5 wk period starting in France and then going to London and then Amsterdam. Including airfare, our cost is approx. $20,000 (but that also includes renting the entire accommodations we are staying at for the first week for us and our guests - the other locations are for us only and are on cc points). That should include an approximation of food, drinks, excursions and anything else we might want to try, see, rent, or do (for us only).

Have you thought about having one custom made?

I am definitely getting my soldered together because my wedding band is a wrap so my e-ring fits right in the middle of the it. It would be so annoying for it to constantly twist around and not be lined up properly. I plan on having them soldered right before the wedding so I guess the last few weeks before we get married, I'll be ringless... :-(

We're are renting the entire Chateau de Challain in France for a week (for all of our guests) and as part of our wedding and honeymoon with a couple day trips to Paris and then afterwards, FH and I (and whoever wants to join us from our group at their own expense) are going to London for 3 days and then Amsterdam for 5 days. The chateau we will be staying in the 1st week looks so amazing that we can't wait! The place looks fabulous!!! Check out these pics here. ChateauChallain's photos- powered by SmugMug

I was in the same boat you are. Since I met FH, I gained 30-35 lbs in 3 yrs! I finally realized how big I got when I saw pics of me this past summer at a friend's bacherlorette party and I was like, "What fat girl ate me??" I used to be 125 lbs when FH first met me. So, I went on Nutrisystem and I've lost 24 lbs so far since Aug. I stopped Nutrisystem in October, but it really taught me to eat several times a day and to watch portion control. I really could eat what I wanted, but I just had to be careful how much of it I ate. I want to lose 10 more lbs but I'm trying to do it on my own by watching what I eat. It's not as fast as when I was on Nutrisystem, but it's still slowly coming off. I used to be able to eat a huge/large meal in one sitting. Now, I can split it up into about 4 normal meals. I couldn't believe I was packing away that much in 1 sitting. And the NS food was pretty decent. So 10 more lbs and I'll be happy. 20 more lbs would be ideal, but I'm not pushing that hard for it. Don't want to be anorexic or anything. Just want my wedding pics to look good. Luckily, I have plenty of time till then. FYI - Nutrisystem has a free online forum you can join that also lets you track calories. And their calorie tracker has a lot of common name brand foods such as fast foods, frozen foods, etc. I found it really useful. G'luck with the weight loss! I know how tough it can be.

Quote: Originally Posted by Yari I have six episodes on my DVR that I haven't seen yet. Looks like I will just hit the delete button. It is so unfortunate how many shows bite the dust. No need to delete them. They're still fun to watch!

I just heard that from my friend!!! I love LJ!!! My g/fs and I will tivo it and get together on Tues and watch it together. This sux!!!! Any chance they'll change their minds? I thought it was a pretty good show and pretty interesting. I agree, it does remind me of SATC but that's natural since it was made by the same creator. Are they at least going to finish out this season (aka til next May) or end it after the holidays? Oooooh, maybe that's why they're having Victory get together with Joe next episode, possibly?? At least that's what the previews hinted at...

OMG! We might have fireworks at our reception (it was offered as one of the extras)...Does that make me a bridezilla??

Mood: Go getter Fun: Escape Artist Habit: Junkie Monkey Social: Fun

Quote: Originally Posted by *Casey* This probably isn't it, but maybe... YouTube - CINZIA & FRANCO Yeah, I just checked out the youtube video and it's not it. Guess I'll have to keep looking.

Quote: Originally Posted by sunsetbride1 I just did a search on the WETV forums... I personally have never seen the episode, but one of the ladies on there posted this site: M'Lady updo on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Is that it? I saw this pic and the only thing similar about it is the bit of hair that comes over the shoulder. Cinzia had gorgeous barrel curls piled on top of her head and her bangs swept to the side. And she had these really pretty hair jewels all over. As for the You Tube link, thank you! I can't get to YouTube at work, but I will definitely check it out at home and take a print screen of it. I tried looking on slice.ca and the episode for Cinzia is not listed there. Thanks everyone!!!!!

Yeah, I did check out the WE tv website and they don't have anything in their archives or galleries. I did check out slice.ca and they have episode guides but no pics.

Hi Everyone, I was watching reruns of Rich Bride, Poor Bride the other day and saw a bride on there whose hair I just loved! Her name was Cinzia and her hairstyle was absolutely fabulous. But when I try to search on the web for her to find a pic of her do, I can't find anything. Can any of you ladies help me out? THX!!!!!!!!!

I just spoke with my TA and she told me we would be clearing customs in Nantes (our final destination), not in Paris. That we would only be changing planes in Paris. Now I'm really confused!

Hi Melinda, Just sent you a PM before I saw your reply to the post. I think you're right that 45 min might not be enough time to get through customs and to the next flight then. Here is our actual flight itinerary through Air France: September 4 Departing JFK @ 7pm September 5 Arriving Charles De Gaulle @ 8:50am Departing Charles De Gaulle @ 9:35am Arriving Nantes @ 10:40am September 12 Departing Nantes @ 2:30pm Arriving Charles De Gaulle @ 3:35pm Departing Charles De Gaulle @ 6pm Arriving London @ 6:15pm September 15 Departing London @ 12:50pm Arriving Charles De Gaulle @ 3pm Departing Charles De Gaulle 5:35pm Arriving Amsterdam @ 6:50pm September 20 Departing Amsterdam @ 3:25pm Arriving Charles De Gaulle @ 4:40pm Departing Charles De Gaulle @ 6:50pm Arriving JFK @ 8:50pm Thx! BTW, thank you about the website and WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!!! :-)

FH and I (mainly FH) are paying most of everything ourselves. My mom paid for my dress as my b-day gift and will pay for FH's tux for his b-day gift when we buy that (can't seem to drag him to the store to try one on, but we have some time). His mom has offered to pay for the rehearsal dinner and bar bill. But we're not having a rehearsal dinner; instead, we're going to have a welcome dinner that was included in our wedding quote which also includes a cash bar for the wedding reception. We're still trying to decide if we want to have an open bar and how much that's going to cost and we'll pick up the tab for that if we decide to have it. We want to take as little as possible from our parents. This has been mentioned in Dear Abby before and if I remember correctly, Dear Abby states that it used to be the tradition that the bride's family paid for the wedding; however, in this day and age, it is customary to pay for your own wedding and if your parents help and/or pay for anything, that should be considered a generous gift.

Hi, I loved your guest book pages. Did you make them or buy them somewhere? If you bought them, can you tell me where you bought them? Thx,