becks1581

My situation is really similar to yours. I stumbled upon my dress at a sample sale and couldn't pass it up....even though my wedding is a year away! My weight doesn't really fluctuate so I'll prob start alterations about 2months out. I think I'll feel better getting it started a bit on the early side.

Luis is [email protected] Maybe try emailing him and just ask for costs/quotes to see what he says. This is the price he gave me when I first started inquiring back in December. We set up our site visit then and reserved a date but haven't signed a contract or paid a deposit yet. I'd be bummed if prices went up in the interim! That's SO awesome that your mom is on board and excited. I've got a fairly traditional family who, for the most part, isn't sure what to make of this whole destination wedding business. My parent's are supportive but my conservative grandparents think I'm nuts! On the bright side, my friends are super excited for the vacation :-)

Thanks for all of the sweet comments about my dress. I can't wait to wear it and am excited to almost me at the one year mark! Welcome Jen! I had a hard time picking my resort too. I'm using TA Jill from the forum and she was really helpful in coming up with an edited list. I also felt like family members weren't very helpful because they just thought everything was nice and pretty much the same (and didn't seem to share my obsession with the details!). We picked The Royal in Playa del Carmen at first but now it looks like we'll choose Hacienda Tres Rios. The Royal seems great but never gave us that private, intimate feeling that we wanted for the wedding. We're going to Mexico this May to make our final decision and sort out some of the details. Mexbride- Have you looked at the Ramona Keveza Legends Collection? I just saw one of their new dresses that was fit and flare/ lace. It looks soooo pretty!

I'm not speaking from experience but I think that it would be cute for you and FI to make an entrance in your wedding attire, maybe do a dance or welcome everyone and then you could change into a more comfy 'reception dress'. That way the guests would get to see you in your dress but you wouldn't necessarily have to wear the gown all night. UNLESS you want to wear it all night, in which case I say go for it!!

Hmmm...Luis previously told me via email that the cost for symbolic ceremony was $350. The exact question and answer were: 1. What is the cost for the wedding ceremony? Do you have set packages? If a simbolic seremony the cost is about $350.00 usd but if is a legal the cost will be $700.00 usd I wonder if it changed?? I also wonder what the 'very simple' centerpieces look like. $40 is super cheap!! Thanks for sending over this info. So helpful!!

Hi ladies, so excited to see this thread! I've been a idistance runner for a long time but just found P90X and am excited b/c I def think it's what my body needs. I tend to see more body-changes with resistance training (while running is therapy for my brain). I'm currently feeling the soreness from Plyo and ab ripper. Your comments have me cracking up about Dreya and Tony. I'm sure I'll get a few laughs out of it during my workouts. On to arms/shoulders today!

My photographer was thrilled to hear that FI and I wanted to do a 'first look' and take photos before the ceremony! I think that this is becoming really popular, esp for less traditional couples (which you probably are if you're having a DW). I think it's great because you can have a private moment before the ceremony and will feel less rushed. Plus, I want to enjoy at least part of the cocktail hour with my guests. So... I say go for 6pm, you'll have beautiful dusk lighting for your ceremony and the bathing suits will be off the beach by then. (Oh...and don't you just love wedding nightmares? I have a recurring dream that I forgot to write the ceremony and have my dress altered!!)

Oh man, I totally agree...that guy would NEVER let his wife hear him say that. These guys would probably have a different tune if they were the ones that had to go through pregnancy. (Although I admit that I did laugh when I read his comment). P90X...I did plyometrics and abs last night and I'm totally feeling it today. I guess I should expect that from something called 'Ab Ripper'! Mexbride--You're right, the Priscilla in Tyson's is pretty limited. I actually found my dress at their store in Orlando where my family lives. It was huge and amazing. I tried on a Bliss dress at Hannelore's, the organza in the dress was really light and felt great for a DW. Here's my dress...it's lace with tulle at the bottom. Picking lace was a surprise for me:

Quote: Originally Posted by mexbride83 Prettypigpig - I'm willing to give advice to any brides that want it, but people always want to hear about the quickest and easiest way to lose weight, when in reality it's all lifestyle changes. That's why the type of people that dietitians usually see are those who are sick due to their weight (diabetes, heart disease, eating disorders, etc)... the rest are out there reading diet books and the bogus websites! However, my focus is actually international nutrition and hunger issues. I'll be spending my summer working for the World Food Programme in Malawi. I cannot wait! Becks - Where are you dress shopping?? I'm actually planning to buy my dress in DC, since I'm up there plenty anyways. I'm going shopping in May, and I'm trying to pick a couple of places. Thinking Hitched, Riziks, and Ellie's in Alexandria. Maybe White Swan in Vienna as well, I have a friend who got her dress there and loved them. I actually bought my dress a few weeks ago at Priscilla of Boston They have a store across from the mall, right by Tiffany. I never went to Hitched but have heard that it's a great experience. I would also add Hannelore's in Old Town Alexandria to your list. They have a great selection, my runnner up dress was actually a Lazaro that I tried on there.

Congratulations! The pictures and the wedding look amazing. What a beautiful bride!!

Mexbride- That's so funny! I bet moving to Alabama was a big transition...but I also bet that everything seems SO inexpensive now!! Josietom and prettypig- My fiance and I have both been talking about how we want to get into really good shape for the wedding. I love to work out and have been into distance running for a long time but also just started doing P90X. Holy crap is that tough!! And for all of the wedding-show fans, I saw an ad on TLC today that said there will be a 'wedding marathon' next Friday...set the DVR :-)

Congrats on your engagement Eadon! It's great to have another potential HTR bride around here!! It is definitely confusing at HTR b/c there aren't set packages but I think that it works out in our favor in the long run...no paying for things you don't want or need. I've been working with Luis and from what he's told me, it's $20pp for cocktail hour/reception and another $20pp if you want to do a welcome party. Decor, flowers, entertainment are all extra. I THINK that cake is included in that rate but I'm not sure. I'm going on a site visit in a few weeks so hopefully I'll have a better idea details and costs after that. Keep us posted if you hear anything from Allibe!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Cindy* My dress is Mikaella and I love it. Can't wait for it to come in in July. Mikaella Wedding Dresses - Wedding Dress Style 1406 | Brides.com Ooooh! I always notice this dress in magazines, it's so pretty. I can't wait to see it on you!!

Oh Lynn, Reese looks just GORGEOUS on you, your FI is going to be stunned. It's so flattering and unique. I tried it on and was seriously in love but didn't think it went with the look of my wedding as a whole. Now I think I need to find another reason to wear it ;-)

You guys are SO adorable and you did a fabulous job on your book. The Madlibs idea is so fun and unique. Great idea!!!!!!

FMIL is planning a big pre-wedding party in our honor that she will host at her home. She wants to be able to celebrate with friends and family in FI's hometown, particularly the more 'extended' family-friends who aren't being invited to the wedding. It's going to end up having more guests than the Mexico wedding, 90-100 people and all from his side (he's from NC, I'm from FL and we live in DC). SO...my question to you ladies is do you have any thoughts on what she should call the party or how to word the invites so that ppl will understand that the DW wedding is small and all aren't invited. It would def be easier with a post-wedding AHR but we all kinda want to be done after we return from the honeymoon! Thanks!!

Mexbride- You and I must be practically neighbors! I live in the Woodley Park neighborhood of DC. I LOVE Tyson's...it's definitely shopping heaven in this area (and total trouble)!

Great idea to start this thread!!! I'm most likely going to be May 7, 2011. FI and I are going to Playa this May (I like to call it our negative one year anniversary) for a site visit. We are visiting the Royal in PDC as well as Hacienda Tres Rios but are leaning toward HTR because it's a smaller/more intimate resort and only does one wedding per day. Other than that, I've purchased my dress, hired DJ Doremixx and have a photographer that we will be flying in. I also have a quote from Shavon's wedding silks and am planning to use her for bouquets and bouts. Oh...and the boarding pass STDs are in production! I'll have to get some of my pictures together to post too. I can not wait until the one year mark!!!!!!!

These look great. I really love how colorful they are and the turtles on the envelope are a great detail!!

I'm def bookmarking your planning thread. You've done a wonderful job putting everything together and I just love all of the romantic details. Thanks so much for sharing and enjoy your wedding!!

Lisanicole, Your dress is gorgeous! I love the asymmetrical bodice and how the back comes down just a bit. I can't wait to see a picture of you in it!!

Hi girls, I was just reading through the recent posts and I really feel like even though I HATE that any of us have to go through such familial anguish surrounding our weddings, that there definitely is comfort in knowing that I'm not alone in any of this! My family is pretty traditional/conservative and can not for the life of them understand why I'd want to get married in Mexico. They all continuously talk about the financial burden of the trip yet they go on elaborate vacations every single year. PLUS, it's not like anyone ever offered to contribute anything to the wedding in the first place!!! SO...while it's frustrating, I try to remember that we are all going through this and past DW brides always comment on how much fun everyone has, how special the day was and that they wouldn't change a thing. After all, it's our wedding and we should celebrate the start of our new lives in the way that best reflects us!!! (end rant)

Thanks Matt...glad to hear that you liked HTR! I was actually just wondering if you had seen places within HTR that were cool for ceremony/reception. LOL, I've stressed myself out looking at millions of resorts already ;-)

Great dress! Your bm's will look great and def be thrilled. Cute sandals too! Good call buying both...you'll get lots of non-wedding wear out of the other pair.

Holy cow, your friend is amazing...she could seriously go into business. I'm a huge fan of real touch bouquets and yours are gorgeous (and even more special b/c it's hand made by your MOH)!