KRama

Thanks for the posting and the discount code! I just ordered 30 and with shipping and the great conversion rate right now (I'm in Canada) they worked out to $1.25 each! I even ordered them in my wedding colors as suggested. Yay for my first OOT bag purchase!

I've seen a lot of us on here and thought it would be great to be able to share our local vendors and resources. Share any and all of the following! What travel agent/agency did you use? Where are you having your AHR (if you're having one) and which caterers/DJs/florists are you using? Where did you buy your dress? Where did you have good/bad experiences? Great OOT bag finds? Looking forward to hearing from some fellow Calgary brides!

Sarafish81 - That's probably the other reason I won't bother with the vaccine any time soon. 6 hour wait in Calgary?? NO THANK YOU.

Here's mine! It's the exact opposite of what I thought I wanted. When I went shopping my criteria were strapless, no beads, no lace...well I ended up with all three! The shop owner insisted I try it on and when I came out my mom, sister and grandma all gasped and told me that was it! I ordered it back in August and it doesn't come in until January. I miss it! I'm so tempted to go back to the shop to try on the sample again...I can't wait!

I personally won't be getting the shot. I have never had a flu shot so I don't see why I'd get one now. In my opinion, those who are more vulnerable to the flu should get the H1N1 vaccine since it can cause complications to already existing medical conditions. As for me, I'm a healthy 26 year old who exercises regularly and eats right (most of the time!) and that's how my body will fight the virus.

We're having our AHR 5 days after we return. I'm sure there are many people (including a bridesmaid!) who think I'm crazy for doing it so soon but we really didn't want to lose the momentum from the DW and we have plenty of excited friends and family that are going to want to see us. I'm taking the whole week after off work so hopefully that's plenty of time to get organized for it. I'm also a corporate events planner so I'm used to being super organized and delegating responsibilities! As for your FMIL, she needs to realize that this event should be about you and her son, not her as the host.

I like the 2nd one the best!

You're back!! CONGRATS EMME! That seemed to go by way too fast right? So glad everything went well for you! Can't wait to see the pics!

Quote: Originally Posted by diamondpooch The next thing you should do is book your travel agent, get some quotes and email those quotes to your guests with a date deadline with when they need to have their deposit in by. My TA gave my guests two weeks from the time she put the hold on the block of rooms to put in a $50 per person deposit down and it worked! Every person in my party that's coming is confirmed nearly 8 months before my wedding. I highly suggest you do that next! I did the same thing. First we sent out a "wedding update" email letting our guests know what our plans were (Mayan Rivieria, travel dates, airline, etc) and gave them a head's up that we would sent another email in a few weeks with pricing and they should be prepared to put down a deposit of $150. Once we got our quote from our TA, we sent it out and guests had two weeks to call her and apply their deposit. We have 30 people and another 10 confirmed but are booking later. So excited! I plan on sending out formal invitations closer to the date (say March-ish) with excursion info, group activities, wedding timeline...stuff like that.

Quote: Originally Posted by yencie Hi, Who did you get to help you with your monogram? I think I'm technologically challenged as well! lol Hi! I used Jenn Johnston Designs that I found on Etsy (san diego graphic designer: wedding monograms, business logo design, photo cards, and more). I paid $10 for 7 monograms and the turn-around time was fantastic!

I can't WAIT until they get back to hear all about it! Mine is still WAY too far away!

It sounds like they don't allow outside photography but since you already paid a deposit, they will consider it as an exception...? It also sounds like they think this issue is YOUR fault for not asking which is rediculous. From all the posts here, I had assumed that this would be a NEW policy for NEW wedding bookings at the resort. Seeing as how your wedding is only two months away, I don't see how it's fair that they are telling you this now!

Nicitica, I LOVE your monogram! I'm actually really jealous of it! Did you make it yourself? Thanks for the feedback! I love the first one the best too.

I think it's a great idea! I know my friends/family would love that idea too. If you want to make it a little more classy, try finding glass/plastic ice buckets, fill the bottom with those small river rocks and maybe mix in a few plastic tropical flowers with the ice and among the bottles at the top. (Looks cool in my head) haha

I absolutely know how you feel! I'm in Calgary, AB and we had a good 3-4 inches overnight as well! Today's high is -6 (20 F) It's AWFUL! We were up to 30 degrees only 2 weeks ago! And of course, the whole city seems to forget how to drive in snow over our 2 months of summer and it's complete chaos on the roads. Remind me again why we live where we do

I know how you feel! I spent countless hours trying to make one myself and finally realized I don't have the skills to do what I want and enlisted a pro! I used Jennifer Johnston Designs that I found on Etsy (Custom Monograms Logo Design & much more by jennjohnstondesigns) and she did a fantastic job. I paid $10 US for 7 different monograms and I love them all! Now my problem is picking my favorite! I would highly recommend saving yourself the stress and getting someone with the know-how to do them for you. And it's so inexpensive!

Exactly what I was going to say...totally use them, it's a great way for you to save money, but definitely cover up the labels with your own. You can make them for super cheap and your guests will be thrilled with the personalized goods!

So I finally accepted the fact that I am technologically challenged and enlisted some help in designing a monogram. Now I have too many to choose from! Here are my favs: Thoughts? Opinions?

SWITCH! They should know better than to mess with a bride and her wedding! I would get your travel agent to call around to other operators and see what they can offer you. They'll probably jump at the chance to help you since they are taking your business from a competitor! My TA recommended Air Canada Vacations since they have their own flights (not contracted like other operators) which rarely get cancelled.

I got a group rate through my travel agent and my guests are saving about $100 per person. Not a lot but enough to get people to book through her! Just curious, for those who are getting their guests to book separately...would they book whenever they want? I'd be nervous that people would wait TOO long for a last minute deal and there'd be no availability.

Quote: Originally Posted by kris My fi and I are going to be Hal Johnson and Joanne Macleod from BodyBreak (if you remember that haha) or I really wanted to be the Jamaican bobsled team from cool runnings lol I LOVE the BodyBreak idea! I'm so stealing this for next year!

We're going to an International themed party for Halloween. The host sent out invitations assigning us to a specific country. We have to bring a food or beverage from that country and wear something that represents it. My FI got Brazil and being a boy, the only "Brazilian" he could think of was "Blanka" from Street Fighter! He's modifying a Hulk costume to look like him. I got Canada. A good friend of ours is a Tim Horton's owner so I'm borrowing a uniform from him and going as a Tim's employee! Going to be hilarious!

Yuck, that's no fun. Don't you just wish that your attractive, intelligent friends could just fine attractive, intelligent men?? As for your friend, is there someone else that she may be able to invite to stay with her? I have a similar situation with my bridesmaid. Her husband is refusing to come, says it's a waste of money (WTF That's a whole new story...). She was concerned about paying extra and staying alone so I told her she could bring a friend, her cousin, her mom...whoever to take his place!

Quote: Originally Posted by badrianne Hi I'm a May bride too! May 15th Puerto Aventuras, MX! I'm so excited only 7 months left I have my dress Almost done glueing my invites Working on OOT bags Wishing all the people who said they were coming would actually commit w/ our travel agent Wishing that I wasn't the only one who thought 7month was really soon Tell me about what going through all you other May brides minds... May 12, 2010 at the Gran Bahia Prinicipe in the Mayan Rivieria! I have my dress & bridesmaids dresses, sent out the STDs and have 29 people booked so far! I want to do invitations, OOT bags...everything now but I figured I should wait until January-ish... I think 7 months is still too far away! PS. LOVE your monogram! So original!

I don't plan on doing anything at the resort since, like Carly said, the bathrooms are public. But I do plan on decorating them at our AHR. There's not much we can do short of demolishing the 80's style turquoise counters and stalls of the community hall but I plan on putting fresh flowers, Bath & Body Works soaps and lotions, candles and an amenities basket (hair spray, tampons, deoderant, etc).