Ayita

After getting back to Houston with skin starting to itch again after shower, I think it's confirmed : it's the water... I'm getting a shower filter. You might also want to try this, it could hep ? Here are the major brands compared : Comparing Shower Filters

Oh and if you're comfortable bare feet you can try this : Beach Foot Jewelry - Island Importer

I have been wearing all summer some flip-flops with one of these cork soles... so comfortable they were more comfortable than being bare feet ! And they were were pretty, too. Maybe not "wedding pretty", but pretty enough to wear them every day ! Surely they do not qualify for "grandma" look. I got them at DSW. Try and look for these cork soles

First one has this little something that makes it your dress rather than just a dress...

Present ! I went to a party held every last Saturday of the month (it's called "Rent" because this is when you have to pay your rent ) to this - now closed - club, the 1415. I was only in Houston since 4 months and one of my friends took me there, together with his girlfriend (I was the one to introduce them to each other, ndlr). So after a few hours I'm there dancing, and there's this cute guy right behind me... he looks down at me and says "Do you wanna dance ?". I give him THE look (up and downer...) and reply "But I'm already dancing !". He didn't get discouraged and said "But do you want to dance... with ME ?" So we danced , we went on the terrace and had a drink and talked and had more drinks , and he did a few things that night that caught my attention... first he had an interesting conversation even though he was a little drunk ! Not asking me "so how is it to be in Texas" or "do you really eat snails" or "is it true French people do not wash", well, the kind of crap you usually hear in a club ; when I got up to go meet my friends, after having left him my number, he actually came and joined us and talked to them ; he spent the rest of the night with me but without becoming nasty ; he kissed me good night but did not ask for anything else. And he is really cute so usually this kind of guys, well, they try at least once Not him So here we are now ! We moved in together about 9 months later and got engaged after a year (on our anniversary ! He says he wants to keep the dates to a minimum ). He's the sweetest guy ever As someone said above : you go to clubs and you are a quality person, so there sure are some other quality persons there...

Hi Andrea, I've always been very prone to exczema, like everyone in my family. I thought I was done with it when I discovered I'm actually allergic to detergent (ie, I cannot use real soap. I have to use body wash with no soap and the lowest chemicals possible). I've been Ok for years but it started all again about two months ago - approximately 2 weeks before I got engaged. It first developped on my pubis, then eyelids (ouch), then arm pits, then inner thighs, then inner arms... red patches that itch like crazy, specially after a shower Nice really. I've done the following and it really helped : - first I eliminated from my diet all the stuff I had started to take recently (principally soy yogurts), in case I would develop an allergy, plus milk and dairy that I know I have a hard time with. - I also eliminated those of my cosmetics that had chemicals or fragrance in them. I'm using Weleda for body wash (it's all natural even the perfume that is essential oils) (they sell it at Walgreens), and another organic brand (I don't remember) containing aloe, but with absolutely no fragrance, for lotion. It's super hydrating, with no side effect. Pay particular attention to everything that is made with petroleum (they are moisturizing but can be very irritant) - went to see an acupuncturist. I thought if it had any internal cause (like stress or some organs or energy), it would help. And it did ! At first he did not act on the right root cause but then he identified it and the herbs he gave me really relieved me (specially the itching part). - I'm taking Evening Primrose Oil. It's really recommended for eczema (hydrating you from the inside and giving some needed nutrients to your skin). 3 capsules, 3 times a day. You can find some at whole foods, their house brand is not too expensive and good quality. - I'm also taking some supplements that support liver function - If you can find some, calendula creams are also usually great on eczema, to soothe the rash and help healing. You can find them in the baby section, or in Whole Foods or similar stores. I'm using a Boiron one. Something that I know also really works is cortisone creams (helps against rashes), but I could never resolve myself to use some... although I know there are some that are pretty safe : http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/bro...h/rash%20cream More advise here : natural organic make-up - Eczema: Getting the facts (it carries more links) My eczema is almost gone. The acupuncturist said it was stress. Honestly, I think it was both stress and the water... it started about a week after Ike, when they added so many chemicals to the water to keep it safe to drink... and my eczema really receded since I got to France on a business trip. It actually stopped to itch after the shower right away when I got there. So either getting to France got me less stressed, or the primrose oil worked tremendously (I had started only 2 days before), or it's the water... Good luck anyway !!

Hey girls, I posted a thread recently in the vendors section of this RM site, however either it was in the wrong section or the title was not precise enough... anyway it got only open 23 times in 5 days and I'm pretty sure 4 of them was me... so I'm posting it here hoping to get more feedback ! Obviously if nobody opens it I'm not going to get answers It's this one : http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t32294 I need to know if any of you have worked with any of the listed WC and if yes what was your feedback... thank you so much for your help !

The 35 is stunning !!

So, if you're a national from a "visa waiver country", starting Jan 12, 09, you will have to request a prior authorization to travel to the US. And it can be refused. Well... a prior authorization to travel to a country is what I call a "visa"... where is the waiver ? ESTA Authorization Essential for all Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Countries Beginning January 12

These are gorgeous ! I love love love them. here are some other places where you can browse (I've looked at untraditionnal dresses myself... before going back to something more bridal, but still a little bit different - you can see it in "show us your dress") - colourful bridals Try this link and look at "pronovias fiesta" and "Manuel Mota fiesta" Pronovias - Vestidos y trajes de novia - Wedding dresses and bridal gowns - grupo - colourful prom that can do it : Prom 2009 dresses and Prom dresses - Jovani beyond 2009, exotic prom dresses - Good luck in your hunt

Hello, yes it can be a little overwhelming when you start going through this forum but after the first few days (weeks ?) it gets better and it really helps... actually it helps you seeing things you would never have thought about before, it gives ideas, AND you don't have to do everything that the other girls are doing. Actually, when you make a poll you would be surprised how many different brides are in there ! Not one does the same then the other... I can only offer advise on the point 5... you can have no attendants or to the contrary, as many as you want. You can pick 10 if this is the case ! The party does no have to be even (your FI can have only 1...) And you don't have to distinguish one between them, either ! They can all be MOH, or all BM (this is what I did : all of them are BM). Also, being a MOH is not necessarily a favor you have to return (it depends on your relationship to the brides you've been the MOH of course). My BM are none of the friends that I've been BM for... So really, do as you feel ! If you want your parents to be your witnesses in order to avoid hurting feelings, it's fine. If you pick only 1... it's fine. If you pick 10... it's fine too ! This should not be a thing to stress on

Glop glop ! I've not sent STD nor invitations yet and I already have two guests booked ! My parents ! Yeah !

Hi everyone, so we're getting married on May 2nd 2009 in a small boutique hotel in Playa Xcalacoco, a small place between Puerto Morelos and Playa Del Carmen. They don't have wedding packages, nor their own WC (they just recommended me one but I'm totally free to pick up whomever I want). We are going on our site visit on Dec 18, 19, 20 and hope to meet with a shortlist of WC (hopefully not more than 2 or 3)... We will be married legally already (a nightmare to do the formalities for French civil registry if doing it in Mexico), and I don't know yet if I want a spiritual, traditional wedding, or a Mayan ceremony (but not the one with the circle, the other one...). I do know I want a simple set-up : an arch or a canopy, chairs or benches, flowers, that's about it. I will of course need help finding my vendors (cake - not provided by the hotel - hairdresser, make up artist, etc). Would you guys have anyone to recommend ? I've started to look over the web but there are so many ! Here are the ones I found so far : Paradise weddings Micas de Miralls Papillon Weddings Caribbean Blue Weddings Cancun Weddings Weddings in Playa Weddings Riviera Maya and of course our forum member Yazmin de la Mora I obviously don't know any of them. Any hint, suggestion, comment, review, is welcome. Thanks in advance ! Ayita

Welcome to the club of accomodating brides that want to be nice with their bridesmaids I had picked up the same dresses originally (in a different color though) ! I thought that if they could pick from different dresses, from the same designer (so that the dresses could have the same fabric and color), it would be easier... ... well, it turns out, it's not the case.... It takes them longer to pick a dress, than it took me to chose mine ! Because they could not agree on the first ones, we have exchanged dozens of emails on dresses (and with one BM being in Peru, one in France and the last one in Houston it's not easy). Still nothing. So I decided to give them a shortlist of 5 designers, with 4-5 selections from each designer. And I asked them to give me their favourites, by order. I'm gonna make 3 combos, and they will have to pick a combo. If they don't pick a combo within one week I'm gonna chose for them... it drives me crazy !!!

That's a disaster ! I went to the hairdresser today. I wanted some highlights - that he did fine the last time - but today I just ended... blonde ! The color is so unnatural. So pale. So close ot my skin tone. I hate it !!!! (( Is there any way to re-color it ? Or will it end up all yellow or pink and I should wait for my hair to grow back ? The bad news is - my hair grows so slow - in six months from now they will have grown only 3 inches or less (I had not done any highlights since January and the roots were like 3.5-4 inches). What can I do

I do the following not necessarily in this order : - drink a glass of water - drink a flavored tea (no sugar, or sweeteners) - do something : read, computer, cleaning, phone call, walk, go to the gym... - chew gum - brush my teeth - take deep breaths for a minute (yoga breaths) - eat a healthy snack close to the craving... if it's cheese : a slice of low carb bread with low-fat cheese spread (boursin for instance - hummm) ; if it's ice cream, a Weight Watchers ice cream ; if it's fries, I will boil a potatoe, slice it and then cook in the oven with cooking spays. You have to be inventive If it's chocolate try one one square ! It's not that awful and it can actually cure it. - think about my body as an external part of me that wants food but my mind is stronger (yes it works ) If nothing of this works : I satisfy the craving. In limited quantity. I make sure that the limited quantity happens (that can involve buying a pack of stuff, taking one out and throwing the rest away before eating). Indeed if the craving resists all of the above it means I will eat all kind of things to try and forget it but at the end of the day it will still be there. So rather satisfy it - it will be out of the way !

November 2008 Mike & Michelle - November 7, 2008 - Iberostar Lindo/Maya Micki & Carlos - November 7, 2008 - Curacao, Netherlands Antilles RJ and Stephanie-November 8, 2008-Dreams Cancun Erin and Cameron-November 8, 2008-Sunset Da Mona Lisa, Los Cabos Raymond & Lily - November 8, 2008 - Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach, Los Cabos Amanda(2bebridejamaica)& Jason - November 8, 2008 Beaches Negril Jamaica Tara & Patrick - November 9, 2008 - Dreams Los Cabos Kristi & Neil - November 10, 2008 - Dreams Cancun Heather & James- November 10, 2008 - Dreams Puerto Vallarta Nicole & Tyler - November 12th, 2008 - Dreams Tulum Tanya & Kevin - November 14th, 2008 - Riu Palace Los Cabos Jessica (ladycheese) & Dominique-November 15, 2008-Punta Cana, DR Angie (AwesomeBride) & Keith- November 15, 2008- Couples, Negril Kristin (GeminiLibra) & Ronnie- November 15, 2008 - Riu Ocho Rios, Jamaica Samantha (PDXlove) & Damon - November 20, 2008 - Dreams Cancun Christine & DJ - November 21, 2008 - Sunset at the Palms - Negril, Jamaica Eden and Brett (bande200 - November 26th - El Dorado Royale Amy & Greg- November 27th -Valentin Imperial Maya, Mexico Melissa & Ben - November 27th - Paradisus Riviera Maya Melissa & Kendall - November 28th - Dreams Los Cabos Erica & Larry - November 30th - Grand Palladium Palace, Punta Cana, DR December 2008 Susan & Jason - December 5, 2008 - Dreams Los Cabos Amy & Michael - December 5, 2008 - Dreams Tulum Danielle & Anthony - December 5, 2008 - Couples Swept Away, Jamaica Miriam & Herman - December 5, 2008 - Bavaro Princess, Punta Cana, DR Brianna & Danny - December 6, 2008 - Dreams Cancun Athena & Byron - December 6th, 2008 - The Royal in Playa del Carmen Ra'Shunda & Jason - December 6, 2008 - Secrets Capri in Playa del Carmen Laura & Josh - December 7, 2008 - Dreams Tulum Red & Matthew - Hopefully December 8, 2008 - somewhere in Jamaica! Sonia (chonee) & Juan - December 8, 2008 - Barcelo Maya Colonial Resort Anna & Sean - December 8, 2008 - Maui, Hawaii Kirsten & David - December 11, 2008 - El Dorado Royale Dianna & Eric - December 11, 2008 - Riu Ocho Rios Jamaica Andrea & Kevin (Kevsgirl) - December 12, 2008 - Shangri-La Caribe, Playa del Carmen Toni & Mike (Phillygal) - December 13, 2008 - Iberostar Rose Hall, Jamaica Me-Lihn and Matt - December 18, 2008 - El Dorado Royale Jamie & Duke - December 28, 2008 - Las Caletas, PV Terri & John - December 29, 2008 - Holguin, Cuba, Playa Costa Verde January 2009 Sara & Ron - January 3rd, 2009 - Riu Bachata P.P Becky & Sean - January 5th, 2009 - Riu Ocho Rios Andrea and Bo(Davematthews16)-January 7, 2009-Barcelo Maya Palace Kelly & Ron (KLC77)- January 10, 2009- Paradisus Riviera Cancun Erica & Chris - January 10, 2009 - Barcelo Maya Beach Jodi and Hal- January 11, 2009- Beaches Boscobel- Ocho Rios, Jamaica Erin & Martin - January 13, 2009 - EdenH Real Arena - Dominican Republic Kristy and Mike- January 16, 2009- Dreams Cancun Michelle and Steve - Janauary 18, 2009 - Dreams Cancun Julia & John - January 20, 2009 - Las Caletas, PV Kate & Bill (soontobeamrs) - January 23, 2009 - Playa Fiesta, Puerto Vallarta Tracy & Jeff (savvyfashions) - January 23, 2009 - Dreams Tulum Amy & Chad - January 28, 2009 - Barcelo Marina Palace, Varadero Cuba Amy & Brian - January 28, 2009 - Jamaica Lindsay & Jamie - January 28, 2009 - Grande Palladium Bavaro, Punta Cana Chantal and Sheldon -January 20, 2009 - Dreams Punta Cana February 2009 Andrea (Pug3636) & Alan - February 4, 2009 - RCCL Western Caribbean Cruise Garrett and Jaime - February 5, 2009 - RIU RM Palace, Playa del Carmen Kate (kleslie5) & Steve - February 6, 2009 - Playa Fiesta, PV, Mexico Nikki & Dean - February 14, 2009 - La Ropa Beach, Zihuatanejo, Mexico Jenny & Greg - February 28, 2009 - Le Méridien Cancun Resort & Spa, Mexico Kris & Joel - February 28, 2009 - Riu Montego Bay, Jamaica March 2009 Angel & Sanford - March 1, 2009 - Dreams Cancun Jess & Greg - March 3, 2009 Georgetown, Cayman Islands Jamilah & Larence - March 21, 2009 - Montego Bay, Jamaica Tara & Hiram - March 23, 2009 - Sandals Grande Ocho Rios, Jamaica Lynn & Gareth - March 25 2009 - Sunset Jamaica Grande Ashli & Matt - March 27, 2009 - Secrets Capri, Mexico April 2009 Ana&Michael - April 1, 2009 - Dreams Los Cabos Mamie & Joshua - April 2,2009 - Bavaro Princess Kim & Chris - April 4, 2009 - location unknown at this time! Kerry & Graham - April 4, 2009 - Capella, Cabo San Lucas Whitney & Erik - April 4, 2009 - El Encanto Inn, San Jose Del Cabo Kayte & Craig - April 9, 2009 - Riu Palace Tropical Bay, Negril Jamaica Carolyn & Paul - April 11, 2009 - El Dorado Seaside Suites Gisele & Gavin - April 15, 2009 - Riu Montego Bay, Jamaica Tracy and Ken - April 21 - 2009 - Gran Bahia Principe Akumal Manney & Jamie- April 22, 2009 - Riu Santa Fe, Cabo San Lucas Selina& Artie-April 23, 2009- Occidental grand xcaret Nancy & Kenny - April 23, 2009 - Majestic Colonial Andi (CODestBride2009) & Reggie – April 24, 2009 – Las Caletas, Puerto Vallarta Leslie & James - April 24,2009 - Occidental Grand Xcaret, Riviera Maya, Mexico Michelle & Jeff - April 24,2009 - Meliá Caribe Tropical, Punta Cana, DR Diana & Anthony- April 25, 2009- Dreams Cancun, Mexico Savannah & Billy- April 25, 2009 Maya Tankah/Tulum, Mexico Jenny & Brad - April 25, 2009 Azul Sensatori Ali & Patrick - April 25, 2009 Cabo Surf Hotel, San Jose Del Cabo, MX May 2009 Shannon & Chris - May 2, 2009 - Gran Porto Real Resort, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico Beth & Jay - May 2 2009 -Dreams Tulum, Mexico Muriel & Jovan - May 2, 2009 - Playa Xcalacoco, Mexico Jaymie & Ales - May 4, 2009 - Dreams Cancun, Mexico Cindy & Anthony ~ May 4th, 2009 ~ Moon Palace ~ Cancun, Mexico Shannon & Kenny (Shay2679) - May 07, 2009 - the Royal PDC, Mexico Wendy & Ivan - May 9, 2009 - Azul Sensatori, Mexico Kelly & Chris - May 9, 2009 - Unknown, Riviera Maya, Mexico Starlene & Jason - May 9, 2009 - Riu Negril, Jamaica Kelly & Joe- May, 13, 2009 - Dreams Cancun, Mexico Nyssa & Joel - May 13, 2009 - Gran Bahia Principe Tulum, Mexico Miranda & Colin - May 14, 2009, Melia Cayo Guillermo, Cuba Marie & Scott - May 15, 2009 - Dreams Cancun, Mexco Meagan & Jeff - May 15, 2009 Dreams Punta Cana, DR Maggie & Tim (IslamoradaBride) - May 16, 2009 Islamorada, Fla. K & R - May 22, 2009 - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Bianca & Chris - May 23, 2009 - Dreams Puerto Aventuras, Mexico Kristy & Chris (froggie1013) - May 23, 2009 - Villa Capri, St Lucia Terry & Yamille - May 23, 2009 - Paradisus Riviera Cancun Jaime & Martin - May 24, 2009 - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Tina & Nathan- May 24, 2009- Negril, Jamaica Carla & Mark - May 27, 2009 - Gran Caribe Real, Cancun, Mexico Lisa & Tom (mummergirl) - May 28, 2009 - Dreams Cancun, Mexico Jenny & Bryan (SoontobeMsKniss) *May 28, 2009- Dreams Los Cabos, MX Melissa & Jason (missybee99)* - May 29, 2009 - Key West, Florida Erica & Brandon - May 30, 2009 June 2009 April & Michael - June 1, 2009 - Wailea, Maui, HI Monique and Derrick - June 5th 2009 - Riu Ocho Rios, Jamaica Hanna & Josh - June 5, 2009 - Grand Palladium Colonial Mayan Riviera, MX Pauline & Roger - June 6, 2009 - Grenadian by Rex Resorts, Grenada Amanda & Thomas - June 6, 2009 - Dreams Los Cabos, MX Carolyn & Michael- June 6, 2009- Gran Caribe Real Cancun, MX Crystal & Branko ~ June 10, 2009 ~ Grand Palladium, Riviera Maya, Mexico Ashley & Dave - June 11, 2009 - Valentin Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico Sorcha & Shannon - June 12, 2009 - St. John's, NF, Canada Jen & Brian - June 12, 2009 - Azul Sensatori, Riviera Maya, Mexico Roe & Seamus - June 22, 2009 - Bermuda MarieSam & Tommy (msam007562) -June 26, 2009- Las Casitas Beach & CEA Center, Akumal, MX July 2009 Kim & Eddy - July 3, 2009 _ Iberostar Del Mar Stephanie & Robert - July 10, 2009 - Honolulu, HI Rosemary & Miguel - July 11, 2009 - Dreams Cabo San Lucas, MX Kathleen & Dan - July 17, 2009 - Boscobel Beach, Ocho Rios, Jamaica Nicole & Michael - July 28, 2009 - Las Vegas, NV August 2009 Jacilyn & Joe (Jacilynda) - August 8, 2009 - Hotel Akumal Caribe, MX Monique & Eric - August 15, 2009 - Dreams Los Cabos, MX Karen & Dan - August 15, 2009 Michelle & Brent - August 19, 2008 - Wynn Las Vegas, NV Tiffany & George - August 22, 2009 - Dreams Los Cabos, MX September 2009 Marijke & Rob - September 1 or 2, 2009 - Parga, Greece Grace & Mike - September 9, 2009 - Chateau de Challain, France Amy & Clint - September 11, 2009 - Cancun, MX Lisa & Gary - September 17, 2009 - Maui, HI October 2009 Natasha & James - October 7,2009 --RIU Palace, Cabo San Lucas Heather & Matie - October 22, 2009 -- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Ashley & Dustin - October 17, 2009 -- Dreams resort and spa cancun Emily & Kevin - October 28, 2009 -- Melia Las Dunas, Cayo Santa Maria, November 2009 Jodey & Simon - November 12th 2009 - Dreams resort and spa Cancun Alicia & Rob - November 14, 2009 - Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Joanne & Mark - November 14, 2009 - Iberostar Grand, Mexico Mirna & Louis-November 15th 2008-Dreams Cancun Leslie & Gerry - November 16th, 2009- Majestic Colonial, Punta Cana Valerie & Ryan - November 21, 2009 - Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa Mary & Paul - November 28th 2009 - Puerto Vallarta, Mexica Dustin and Ashley October 17, 2009 At Dreams Cancun December 2009 Jen & Kenny - December 12, 2009 - Excellence Playa Mujeres Nadine & Jesse -December 30, 2009 - Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa January 2010 Ginalyn & Jeff- January 2, 2010 - Cancun, Mexico Aimee & Theodore- January, 8, 2010 - Iberostar Tucan, Mexico Shannon & Lauchlan- January 27th, 2010- Puerto Vallarta Mexico February 2010 Melissa & Sean- February 10, 2010- St. Thomas USVI Linda & Ton- February 22, 2010- Costa Rica May 2010 Diana & Roque - May 1, 2010 - TBD Samantha & Jeremy - May 5, 2010 - Tybee Island (close to Savannah, GA) Christy & Ed - May 8, 2010 - Negril, Jamaica Victoria & Eric- May 11, 2010- Excellence Riviera Cancun Resort Belle & Jean-Claude - May 27,2010- St. Kitts, B.W.I. Craig & Fiona - May 28th, 2010 - Moon Palace October 2010 Michelle & Will - October 20, 2010 November 2011 Theresa & Todd (Kaiko) - November 11, 2011 - Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Raaa lovely ! This is my all-times favourite store ! Can't walk out of it without something in my hands. Thanks !

I say, all this is very personal, it's a question of taste ! If you like bright blue and bright pink together, go for it girl ! The little touch of orange is your third one, your highlight - 3 colours are not too many I think (I'm doing orange, lime green and purple). It's a beach wedding so you can be more cheerful and bright than in any other place - I think it's the perfect place to express yourself with bright colors if this is what you feel like.

Quote: Originally Posted by ikupoo If you think about it, if you have a wedding at home and invite lots of people, that could cost even more than having a destination wedding. Your parents may not realize that. You may want to get the price estimate in both situations and present it to your family. In my situation, my fiance is paying for his family, but we asked them to contribute as much as they can. True that - it costs more at home if the family pays for the wedding but if they are just attending it, it's actually cheaper for them tohave the party at home... My comments are based on the assumption that you guys are paying for the wedding - not your family. They would only pay for their trip.

Welcome to the forum ! You might also want to investigate smaller resorts / hotels, that have less rooms which means you could actually book the whole place with your guests and therefore, privatize it. There are a few places that have 10-20 rooms... some of them even have like 4 rooms only... if you have more guests they could stay at another place but at least you would have the wedding place all for yourself.

I have the same kind of issues the other way around : my family can afford it, not my FI's family. We thought about several options. One of them was actually to elope - have our beach wedding, just the two of us, but do a live broadcast (they do it in Hawai, Bahamas, Azul Sensatori on Riviera Maya) so that people could be there - even remotely. Or, elope, have our beach wedding, make a video, and throw an AHR with the video playing and people coming just to celebrate. Or both video and broadcast. We finally decided to make the party on the beach, with no AHR (maybe a party back in France this summer). We picked up a location that is close (2H30 travel time) so that people would only have to stay 2 nights (more if they want, but if they can't, that's only two nights). I'm giving one night vouchers for the ones that really need to be there and that I want to help (FI parents for instance) and I'm paying for his niece (still a student). We also did not select an AI because if you don't eat and drink a lot it's actually more expensive. Because it's not an AI this place also does not charge day pass for external guests. They also don't impose me to fill up a certain number of rooms. We decided on a hotel rather than a restaurant, because the rental of the location (for the restaurant) was adding up to the same amount I would have to pay to actually fully privatize the hotel if my wedding is more than 40 guests, but say only 20 rooms are booked. So all in all, it's gonna cost about 600-650$ by person for people with vouchers that will stay 2 nights, and about 750$ for people without vouchers for the same time (2 nights). Pretty reasonnable, specially if you can plan a year in advance (that's 50$ a month to save), and/or get airfares lower than 500$ (if you book a year in advance I think it's less than 500$). If you decide to actually rent a restaurant (for instance Al Cielo could do it), you can even get lower than that, as people can stay in cheaper hotels if they want to. It's just more of a logistics nightmare... in my opinion. I still think people can save 50$ per month to come to their loved one wedding... however broke they may be. It's all about how you pick up your location ! Hope this helps !

Errr... does the engagement ring count as something old ? Can't think of anything... Can't think of anything borrowed either...

It took us a month and a half and it seemed to me like an eternity because we're on a tight schedule here (7 months between engagement and wedding...). We went all over the Caribbean ! I knew it would be on the Atlantic side because a lot of my guests are coming from France so Hawai wouldn't do it. I think I know all the hotels in all the Islands - I used Trip Advisor of course, and also Travel Impressions. So helpful. I usually start by the negative reviews - I know how to recognize the person that will complain about anything and everything... (some people even complain about the poor state of the road to the hotel... ) - when 3 or 4 reviews add up to the same thing (mosquitos... beach farther away than described... restaurants closed... etc), I take it as an objective observation. We ended up eliminating Bahamas, Jamaica and Puerto Rico because we couldn't find a place we liked ; Antigua, St Lucia, St Vincent because it was turning too expensive for most guests ; Punta Cana, Curacao, too far and not enough direct flights from Houston ; then we ended up in Mexico and I thought it would be quick but NO ! Places I liked : did not accept children. Or imposed crazy room filling quota (like : 80% of the guests had to stay in theproperty... how can I guarantee where my guests want to stay ?) + daily pass fees + wedding packages with a lot of stuff I don't need and none of the stuff I need. Or were just too expensive. When I finally found THE place, my TA warned me that it was not sold by wholesellers and so, it could mean taking a risk (if something happens, we stay with nothing...). But I finally decided to go for it. It's a very small boutique hotel (25 rooms only), secluded, no policy about outside vendors, no internal WC so I'm free to chose, and they have been so accomodating so far. I hope I won't regret it... I'll let you know

OK things are moving things are moving ! Yeah ! Done : - picked BM and GM - decided on guests lists - picked the place (halleluia), place deposit on the room - picked the date - picked a date for an on-site visit (but changed it since and wait to hear from the hotel...) - got FI band - ordered the dress - picked a color theme - ordered the flowers Almost done : - bridesmaids dresses - my band - File paperwork with French consulate Remaining to be done : all the rest ! Let's see : - send invites - FI attire - grooms man and Best woman attire - flower girl and ring bearer attire - bands "cushion" - shoes and jewelry - my something blue... and my something borrowed - photographer and videographer - chose a WC (my hotel does not carry one) and organize ceremony - find hair inspiration and make up inspiration - find haidresser and make up artist - book honeymoom - book plane tickets - prepare prenup - get married legally - celebrate legal wedding - monogram - Thanksgiving dinner - hey you're in the wrong list you ! - OOT bags (which implies : all contents) - fans - gifts for BM - centerpieces (almost forgot ) - menu (TBD when visit on site) - wine (same) Wow. The list does not look so long ! The next urgent things are the photographer and the WC ! I must say - thank you all for your lists I wouldn't have known where to start ! Obviously I never did that before