punkie569

We are doing a cocktail party about a 1/2 hour after the ceremony. That way we can get pictures in with everyone before that starts. We'll be doing our 1st dance/toasts during that time as well. Then there is a break between that party and dinner(1/2 hour). After dinner it'll be a free for all. Whoever wants to party can party. We have under 20 guests coming so for us a private reception not only didn't fit into the budget but it would have been too big of a party for our small group. Good luck!

Glad I found this thread cuz I was wondering what we were going to do ourselves. I think Ann has married a few of my family members but of course I can't ask them because we don't want anyone to know we are doing the legal thing here. I was worried this was going to get complicated but it sounds like it won't be too bad if we can find a commissioner we like. Thanks for all the info!

We are doing the legal part here and only the symbolic ceremony at the resort. I pieced together the vows from some of the brides here and made it our own. I didn't like the script that the resort would have used for us. We will be exchanging rings and doing the sand ceremony as well as they have something for us to sign so it looks official. I'm sure our guests won't know that any of it wasn't "legal".

Wow those look great! You did an awesome job and they are a great price. Honestly those look better than the ones I had professionally made. Be proud!

I got mine at Michaels. I needed black and white and luckily they had a big pack with both colours for $5. Scrapbook stores are always a good bet too but you might have to pay more. Could work out ok though if you had to pay shipping charges from somewhere else.

I didn't know about OOT bags before I came here either and I don't know what I would do without having them. We are bringing everything down with us and assembling them there. I found 2 small suitcases for $15 to bring everything we need with us because I figured it was cheaper than shipping it and this way I know it will get there.

I've used the search and I've opened the attachments and I've yet to find something that I can use. It might just be me and my lack of computer skills but I've had a hard time saving the images for me to use. Maybe once you have enough posts you can find something that works for you but I just wanted to warn you it might not be as easy as you think. Good luck!

So far I bought my tote bags, tissues, lense cleaner wipes and hand sanitizer. I've been going in every so often to see if they have anything for my centerpieces and vases for the sand for the sand ceremony. Can't remember who mentioned it but I did find a website that sold the Umbra frames for the sand ceremony that shipped to Canada. I think it was just under $40 including shipping. I love it!

If you get the emails with the premium business cards for free go with those or wait for them to come up in an email. Those are the ones that don't have the Vistaprint logo on them. When I first used Vistaprint I got the regular business cards and they had it on them but I've never had the logo again since I've been using the premium cards. As for the pens don't order them for free right from the site otherwise you will have the logo. Again wait for the email offers. What I've found is if you have the option for advanced editing you won't get their logo on your items. I've now ordered tons of stuff from Vistaprint and other than those 1st business cards I haven't had their logo on anything else and I haven't had to pay not to have it on things either.

My dad and his wife had a friend sing at their wedding and it was so beautiful and such a great thing for her friend to be able to do for them. I agree that you should have both songs. It really is special to have a friend be able to do that for you and you shouldn't miss out on that or using the song you really want for your 1st dance.

I've been worried about the same thing. We are having a cocktail party in between the ceremony and the dinner and I'm so worried that everyone will just be standing around waiting for dinnertime since not everyone drinks. We aren't having a reception so this is where we figure we will play music and just hope even a few want to dance. I'm hoping that the music we pick will inspire someone to get out there and shake it. I'm sure after all our worrying everything will work out fine

What a great idea and what a way to get your son into carrying the rings. It turned out super cute.

Great thread! I'm at a total loss for what I want to do for favours at our AHR. I want to keep the costs down but there are so many cute favours out there. I love the idea of a candy buffet but it's adults only and I don't know if everyone loves candy as much as I do. Keep the ideas coming!

PM'ed you. I'll take the meds if they are still available.

Too bad my wedding at EDR isn't until next year. What a great idea giving it to a BDW bride though. Very nice of you. I hope someone that can use this sees this.

I knew I could count on you lovely ladies for some help. Thank you so much for the feedback. I really appreciate it. I will ask my WC now if we can switch it to 3pm instead. Thanks again!!!!!!

I'm really hoping any brides that have either just gotten married or will be getting married in the next few weeks can help me out. I am getting married on Nov. 10th/2010 and I really wanted our ceremony to be later in the day so we could have sunset pictures. I had the option of 3pm or 4pm for our ceremony. I was told that the sun sets at 5pm at this time of year so I picked 4pm thinking we'd have a short ceremony and also on the advice of our TA. Our WC has said that our ceremony will run until 4:30 and now I'm worried that we won't have enough light for most of our pictures. FH is dead set against doing pictures before the ceremony since he thinks it'll be bad luck to see me beforehand. We will only have the photographer for 2 1/2 hours and we can't afford to have them any longer. So should I see if I can change my ceremony time to 3pm and possibly miss out on sunset pictures or should I keep it as is because we will have enough time? I really appreciate any feedback on this. Thanks!

Hmm I didn't realize that it was proper to handwrite them out. I wasn't going to because I have awful writing as well. Guess I'll have to figure out something. My sister is the only person I know that has really nice writing but she's also a perfectionist and she'd probably do every single one twice just to be sure. Thanks for cluing me in!

Sorry but I agree with the brides on here that say be selfish and it's your wedding. I can't believe that she would even ask you to do this. That to me is selfish on her part. I don't think it's being the bigger person by caving in either. She should never have asked you in the first place so why should you sacrifice what you want for her? You have probably put a lot of time into planning your wedding so why should you share all your hard work? Why is it necessary for her to even renew her vows during your wedding? Why can't she plan something nice at home that is all about her if her concern is money? Personally I can't see why anyone would want to share their special day/week with anyone whether it's getting married for the first time or renewing your vows after 10 years. I have a cousin that is getting married next year as well, who wasn't invited to the wedding, tell me that she wanted to come so she could combine my wedding with her honeymoon. That ticked me off and this is way worse. I hope this works out how you want.

Wow that is a ridiculous price! And this is why I decided to bring my own bouquet. I didn't get real touch flowers but a really high quality silk and I'm paying $140 for my bouquet and 4 bouts and that included shipping. Luckily I don't have bridesmaids to buy bouquets for either. As much as I love flowers and think they are important it amazes me how pricey they are and it's hard to justify the cost. I hope your WC can work with you and get you a better price.

Good idea. I'd love to see what other brides have done.

On our 3 year anniversary Sean's Grandpa passed away. Neither of us wanted to get married ever. We were living together for 2 years and considered ourselves committed which was as good as married. After that though we decided we needed a different anniversary date so that's when we started talking about marriage. We just had our 4 year anniversary last month and for my 30th birthday(they are a week apart) I got my ring. We'll have been together 5 years when we get married. I was actually surprised at how many brides on here that had been with their FHs for so long before they decided to get married. I love that there is still romance in these relationships after so many years. That is what makes a good marriage!

FH and I met through lavalife as well. He sent me a smile and while I thought he looked like a nice guy he didn't seem like my type. We sent a few emails back and forth and since he wasn't a creep like most lavalife guys I met we decided to meet for drinks. We hit it off (he is just like my dad. Don't they say you marry someone like your dad?)and he asked me if I'd like to get together the next day so I said sure. We met at a park and went for a walk where he kissed me for the first time. Then he goes and asks me to go shopping with him because it's his dads birthday and he needed to get him a gift. Who does that on the 2nd date? LOL.....When I told my mom/friends they were like "ohhhhh that's boyfriend/girlfriend stuff" and I just laughed at them. The next week it was my birthday and I thought to myself "ok we've been dating for a week so let's see if he does anything. If he brings me flowers then I know he's a keeper". Guess who showed up with a dozen pink roses? That won me over and even though I didn't want a boyfriend I couldn't let this one get away. After a year together we bought a place and we've been happy ever since. We are total samesies and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Very cool idea and I like Erin's idea of doing your own and just do key tables. A cake would look awesome on a table like that.

I love this idea. Who wouldn't love a taco bar, right? Good thing I'm having tacos tonight cuz this thread made me crave them even more!