echo2_62

Oh man, FI and I haven't even started shopping for wedding bands yet, although it is high on my list of things to hassle him about I think it makes him nervous because then it's REAL (haha, because planning the wedding is the girls thing, wearing a wedding band is the guys thing LOL!). I think we're the most atypical because we aren't doing an AHR and as best I know no showers for me. It's just totally not our thing and I think most of our friends understand that pretty well (our families both live in different provinces so our moms can't spring too much on us!). I've even declared that my bachellorette/stagette party isn't going to be at the bar, but rather at the all-season paintball fields!!! I'm SOO excited for that. The girls can still dress me up in whatever ridiculousness they want, but I get to play paintball too!!! That aside, I think if you want your guests to know that no gifts are required you could add a comment like "since I wouldn't be able to share any gifts with the group, we'd love you to bring a tasty treat to share instead" and then just have your mom and bridesmaids help spread the word that you are just happy to have your guests there and you have no gift-opening portion planned for the shower anyways.

Haha, I love my mom! She's so excited about our wedding that she has been googling anything and everything that pops in to her head about the resort, the area etc. Anyways, she found this link that gives some really nice 360 views of the resort and I thought some of you might like it for yourselves or if you have a wedding website on the go (like me!). Dreams Puerto Aventuras 360 views

Quote: Originally Posted by caribbeanLover It was so simple in making the flowers (except for this bloody bow I'm trying to make, not so easy) just collect the flowers you want as a bouquet, and tape it very very tight with floral tape. Then you do the same with the ribbon. and you have yourself a bouquet!! Any question, more then happy to help in any way. SOrry for the delay in reply. Trying to figure out some other health issues now!!! Quote: Originally Posted by caribbeanLover echo2_62 I am so sorry to hear you even had to go through pain like this. And those dumb test hurt like heck!!! I hope your doing much better now, your pain free and able to eat all the things you like!! Do you still deal with pain? Thanks for the tips on the bouquets! My sister is pretty handy with these things, so maybe I'll enlist her help and see what we come up with. Did you just get your flowers at Michaels or were they from someplace else? As for the stomach issues, I really only have occasional symptoms now and they're much more manageable than they used to be! The one conclusion that doctors had given me was that the problems may have been stress induced (or increased/exaggerated by stress) which maybe I shouldn't be surprised about given that I was dating my EX at the time when the problems were the worst!! LOL! So two reasons that I'm super glad to have made said ex an ex - I rarely have stomach issues and of course ended up with my FI!!!!!!!!!! I got the best deal in the world!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by *Nadine* echo2_62; small world, Im in calgary as well and my FI is also from brandon!! Check with your FI and see if he knows the Speers. Geoff (my FI) is 25 and his brother Garrett is 29 I think. It seems that most people know someone in his family, but then again it is Brandon!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by mwcfarms I called Dreams directly their 1800 number of of the resort page and I got 330 dollars for single occupancy for one night. That's the same number I called too Is your wedding on a weekday? I'm wondering if I was told two nights because mine is on a Friday? Some places want to make sure you book the whole weekend because otherwise they might not book the room on just a saturday night - apparently. I didn't have any luck trying to book online for one night either... boo.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jennybell1 I just started my OOT bags and so far have done really well. I got my tote bags from Walmart - usually $20 each and I got them for $5.00 (great heavy canvas bag with leather straps and polkadot inside lining - they are so cute!). I got my suncreen $2, body butter $2, hand sanitizer $1.27 and bandaids $1.00, chapstick $1 all at walmart. At dollarama I got breath strips 2pkgs for $1, deck of cards $1, welcome books $1, 12 pack of tissues $1. I am also getting the individual sized advil and immodium from work as we get those free to give to our patients from the medical companies. I still have to try and find some travel mugs and maybe a few other things but otherwise I am almost done. Just have to put everything together. Planning on going to the states in October to see what goodies I can find over there, bc lets face it - they do have some pretty rockin deals over there. Love the idea of OOT bags! WOW!! You've nearly got your bags done and still have TONS of time to get them all assembled too. Way to go! I hadn't thought of checking the dollar store for the breath strip things so that might be a quick stop on my round of errands today And of course walmart is always a good stop so off I go!!

That's a beautiful dress! Congrats!

Quote: Originally Posted by Rainfall echo2_62 My travel agent booked one room for me for my photographer. I am not sure how she got around it but it came to $415 for 2 people. SO I know you can do it! Hmmm, that might be an option for me! Who is your TA?

Dee, you said it best that once your packages are laid out it does seem kind of obvious which is the better choice on paper. But even with that aside, if the Photsmile package was your second choice (and sorry that Moments was booked for you!) then why settle for a choice that was further down the list?? I mean, if the price difference was significant then maybe it would be a bigger decision, but for $50 difference - go with the highest on the list!!! You're lucky that the photographer is willing to cover the hotel cost as well! When I called DPA the other day to get a quote for a room price, they said I wasn't able to book only one night, that it would have to be two So I have emailed Jacy to ask her what the deal is with that. Now it's just the waiting game to see what she says. If that is the case, I'm totally just booking the resort photographer for the ceremony and then buying day passes for our own photographers. What a hassle!!

Well it's not that we can't really afford the photography, its more that FI is a bit (or a lot) tight with his money and in his head he can't justify the money for what he thinks is only a few hours of work. He doesn't sem to realize all the additional work that goes into the photos aside from just click-click-click... Ginalyn, I realized that I wanted our pics in nearly the same way! I initially thought I was okay without them but as I see more and more I have realized that I do want them. And it's been my one real request for the wedding all the way through. I'm not even worried about getting pictures from our ceremony so much as the ones of just the two of us in a TTD-type session. I just want to go book it myself because it causes arguements between us when we do get talkng about it (FI is just as opinionated and stubborn as I am, haha!) but I'd still feel bad if he wasn't quite comfortable with it. But you can't believe how excited I was to hear that the photographers I want are available to do our session (moments that matter)!!!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by amygirl1169 I just ordered some off eBay on another BDWer's recommendation: 50 Business ID Card Badge Holder w/ Zipper Vertical ZV - eBay (item 260472359405 end time Oct-04-09 09:45:20 PDT) I think it came to about $12Cdn with shipping. Now I'm looking where I can buy those coil bracelet things: Another Cdn bride had said she found them at a Dollar store, but it wasn't a Dollarama... what other dollar stores are there?? Thank you so much for adding the link to the ebay user you bought them from. I just ordered two sets, although we're only anticipating 60 ppl max so I will definitely have a whole bunch left over that I'm happy to share with someone who needs extras. Just let me know! We're doing travel mugs for all our guests so I think I'll buy mini carabiners to attach them. Knowing my friends, their drink cups will never be far from hand! LOL! As for dollar stores, there are TONS in and around Toronto. I used to live in Burlington and I think every other strip plaza had a dollar store of some sort so it may just take a little more hunting around. And nearly every mall will have one too so just hit up all the malls in your area. I think they usually have them near the cash desk?? Are you looking for certain colours too? I send enough stuff to my parents there that one more package in that direction wouldn't be a problem if you need some extra eyes hunting...

Quote: Originally Posted by mwcfarms Woohoo, booked my photographer for the day. Yay. Ordered my TTD and bridesmaids dresses today. Phoned my TA and asked her why my updated group prices were 600$more than I could get online lol. I want people to book through her not the website. Would be nice to have all together but I dont want people wasting money. Almost finished my STDs just a bit more embossing to do. Oh and ordered sample cardstock for my invites to see if I like it. I feel accomplished this week. Damn girl you've been busy! You totally should feel accomplished!!! We had similar issues with the travel agent and I got so frustrated that we just ended up getting people to book on their own. I've found that WestJet has had the most consistently good prices so check if they have your resort as a destination if your TA can't get you better prices. $600 is a huge difference!!! I'm in "negotiations" with FI right now over the photography. He thinks its an absolute waste and that they're all just out to gouge you on prices. This is the one specific wedding request I've had throughout all of our planning. But I can get the photographers I want on our wedding date so it might be the one big thing I put down my foot on. Kind of frustrating but I'm trying my hardest to have a lot of patience.

Tracy, I definitely think your flowers stand out more on their own with less blue stones in the vase and it looks wonderful. And I am totally jealous of your BM bouquets! Are they easy to make/assemble?? I wasn't sure if I was going to attempt it, so maybe you can PM me and pass on some of the details, unless of course everyone else wants your tips and tricks too!! I agree that the white ribbon would be a good way to go so I can't wait to see the test sample! And congrats about the remission!! I don't have crohns but have dealt with it in the past and I have chronic stomach problems of my own so I can relate a little bit. My doctors actually thought I may have crohns/colitis but nothing showed in any of my tests. Still, it must be a fantastic feeling for you to be symptom free, given everything you've had to deal with! I hope it continutes well for you! Erin - those towels and bags are fantastic!! How many guests are you having at your wedding? I'd initially been thinking that I was going to do individual bags for everyone but we've got about 50 people expected to come so I know the costs are going to get up there quickly so maybe a bag per two is the way to go. The only bags that I've bought so far were from Michaels. They had really cute canvas bags embroidered with Bride or Bridesmaid on them and they were on sale for $7.99!!! I figured they'd be getting a special bag anyways, so I may as well start out with the bag itself!!

Quote: Originally Posted by 2010wedding I am having my ceremony at 5 and having pics ahead of time. My pal here in calgary is a pho-tog and said the afternoon sun around 4 is a beautiful time to have pics....I wanted a dusk wedding so had to have our pics before. Janna I may have the same situation of getting pictures done before our ceremony but I'm curious, are you going to wear a different dress for your pictures than you will for your ceremony?? I just had some relief from finding and buying my dress, and now I'm debating getting a second dress if I can find one I really like at a cheap price. We're doing a symbolic wedding (although our guests don't know that yet!) and had originally planned to do the legal part when we got back. I just don't want to 'ruin' FI's surprise of seeing me in my wedding dress before our ceremony. Agghh! What to do!??!

Okay so I just found a potential loophole that may help some of you on the photography aspect. I'm still waiting to get email confirmation (yes, the email is sent!) but Sandra sounded quite confident in her reply. IF you choose to make use of the resort photographer (ie. he's still getting the benefits of your wedding), but still wish to bring in your own photographer, then you would only be required to purchase a day pass for your photographer(s) and would not be required to pay for overnight accommodations. That being said, there are still a few details that would have to be clarified based on your specific situation. We're currently planning just to go with the basic wedding package where the photographer is not included so in my mind, the cost of a room for the night for our own photographers vs. the cost of the smallest package with the resort photographer is relatively close and at least I'm getting a few extra pictures out of the deal too. For those of you that already have the photographer in your wedding package I'm not sure if this would work quite the same, plus I know some of you were going to substitute the photographer for other items in your wedding, but it might be worth asking!!!

Just an FYI... I was at Michaels last night and bought a few canvas bags on sale - one with Bride and two with Bridesmaid embroidered on them. They've been in the wedding section for a while now and I thought they were cute before but they are now on sale for $7.99!! Down from $24.99 or $29.99 each!! I figured that I would make each of my bridesmaids a special OOT bag so these were perfect! I don't know exact measurements but they would be large enough to fit a beach towel at least. Also, while I'm still fairly certain that I'll be wearing flip flops or slides under my dress, Michaels also had a couple pairs of really cute satin topped slippers with a little bit of beading across the toes for $29.99. For all the Calgary area girls - the Coventry hills location had some, but the new north Sarcee Trail location didn't have them at all so I'm guessing they've been around a while. I might try a couple other locations because the one size available is a tad small, but would work still if I wanted a nice cushy pair!

That is such a gorgeous dress!!! You're going to look absolutely stunning! YAY for finding the dress!!!

Okay this is silly, but since we're all April brides I'm sure you can relate (especially doblauvelt!)... In exactly 7 months today I'm getting married!!!!!!!!!! I felt the need to make the declaration since it's the first "x-months to the date" moment, having just secured our exact date a few weeks ago

Hooray! I just recently found my dress, too, after going to a lot of stores so I can totally understand how happy you must be right now! Good for you to keep an open mind and stick it out. It's a hard thing to do!

ooh please send me your prices too! I'm no where near you for this october session that was mentioned but I'd still be interested! Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by doblauvelt Thank you all for the pick-me-up. It's much appreciated and you're right, I shouldn't stress so much about the similiarities. It's just hard to not think about it with the fact that my wedding is pretty much the next one any of my family members will be at. I just gotta shake it off! Echo- I went horseback riding during my cruise not too long ago and my crotch hurt like hell. The idea is nice but I don't think I'll ever get on a horses back ever again LOL! Just about spit my drink out giggling over this!! I guess in my mind I was thinking the old fashioned side-saddle approach since you'll be in your dress and everything but I guess I could have said that!! LOL! And to ride off I pictured a bride sitting sideways across new hubbies lap... and just now realized that my FI wouldn't necessarily go for that either! So yes! Go with the carriage and forget any ideas about your guests thinking the two weddings are alike!! hahaha! Quote: Originally Posted by caribbeanLover I was going to do the exact same centerpiece, until I realized how much they would weigh.. so I made something totally different. Let me know what you guys think be honest. It's very light on top of it all, I got the sets at the dollar store, so each centerpiece will cost $6. (But does it look real fake?) I LOVE those blue & purple together flowers!! Have you tried a vase with just clear beads in it, or maybe just a few blue ones? I wonder if it might make your flowers stand out on their own a bit more without competing. I always find it's the stem on those flowers that are most difficult to make them not look fake so I think you've done a great job having them hidden away inside the vase the way you've shown them! They're going to look beautiful!!! Good job finding a light alternative!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by doblauvelt good news! my dress came in and my mom just went to pick it up! i can't wait to see it when i get home from work!! bad news- over the weekend i went to ohio for my cousin's wedding.. and guess what? his ceremony is exactly like mine!! there's was lakeside in a gazebo, mine will be beach side in a gazebo. the bride came in a horse-carriage, i will come in a horse-carriage...they had a violinits and guitarist, i will have a harpist...i don't want to look like i'm copying them and i'm sure i can re-arrange/change some of my wedding package but WHAT AM I GOING TO DO??!! i've already paid for my wedding package but do you guys have any ideas on how to make things a lil different? i was really excited about the horse-drawn carriage ride with my dad and the gazebo/beach ceremony, too needless to say it was a beautiful wedding but now i'm kind of bummed bc i wanted to see myself in that situation, that sounds so selfish but it's true! Hooray for getting your dress today!! I bet you are so super excited!!! I'm totally the person who wouldn't be able to wait at work all day, I'd want to leave early! As for your wedding similarity I was thinking, is there any chance of you being able to ride the horse in - without the carriage?? And then if you planned to ride it out with your new hubby afterwards then you could both ride out on it? Not sure if you're allowed, or if you'd even be comfortable doing that, but I'm sure it would be amazing and still make it different from your cousins? And I think with the music you'll still be okay because having a guitarist or harpist at a wedding is a fairly regular (and beautiful!!!) tradition so I doubt if many of your guests would draw out the comparison there, I think. Overall, with your cousin being married more local to where you are, and you having a DW, there will be so much about the surroundings and theme and atmosphere that are different between the two that your guests won't even be thinking about it! Don't give up on having your dream wedding!!! p.s. I was having a similar issue because FI's brother & SIL also did a destination wedding in mexico (puerto vallarta) a couple years ago and I was a bit bummed out thinking that his family would all feel like we were copying them. But I think because we're on the caribbean side and have a totally different feel for our entire wedding that it made me okay with it. Oh and that I made sure we went with different colours and a very different dress I hope you're able to do the same!!

okay maybe a dumb question here but.. can someone help explain to me how this stuff with vistaprint works? Especially the free items of course, because right now it will only let me get one item for free... and as you can imagine ONE pen isn't quite enough for OOT bags!! haha! Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by badrianne You are so right, being flexible depending on the weather is probably the best plan. However I want to be able to plan my decorations and that's hard when I don't know where my ceremony/reception will be. Thanks for letting me vent. On a happy note, I started buying OOT bag stuff and invites are almost ready to go to the printers. Yay for getting the invites ready to go! I printed mine at home this weekend and was working on the assembly too. I wish I could describe for you how funny it was having FI put the little two-sided tape squares on my corners for me! We're doing the boarding ticket invites so of course the tape squares had to go in between each card which adds up the numbers really fast!!! But I figured it was a good job for him and wouldn't scare him away from helping with other parts too What have you got on your list for your OOT bags? And how many guests do you think you'll have? I realized that for 50 ppl the cost was going to get up there quickly if I wasn't careful.

Quote: Originally Posted by silverangel Hi...my name is Amanda and I was born and raised in Winnipeg. Have lived here all my life and don't think we'll ever move. Technically we now live just outside the city. I just had to add that I love the pic of your boxer!!! We've got a brindle female and I don't think we'll ever have any other breed! Ok well I'm pulling for a boston terrier, but they're just boxers in smaller bodies. LOVE my boxers! Quote: Originally Posted by Riyko Hi everyone, I'm stephanie I was born in the US, but i've been living in Oakville, Ontario since April 2007 Quote: Originally Posted by KRama The FI and I are a rarity...born & raised Calgarians still living in Calgary! Yay for Oakville! My grandparents still live there, and I lived in Burlington On, as well as St.Catharines On all during my schooling. But I was born in Calgary and lived there when I was young and have lived back here in Calgary for another four years or so.... it would be hard for me to move away. FI is from Brandon MB and sometimes tries to convince me to move back there. Maybe one day. But I told him there needs to be two horses added to the deal... think it'll work?