classadiva

Quote: Originally Posted by kuteliya Gosh D im so sorry your going through this! First thing is first, I do agree that maybe you can find a similar style of a dress that you can try on AKA cut and sleeve option(strapless, halter etc.) so that you know if that dress will favor you at all. Second of all, if you are going to do a TTD and have already decided not to use your original dress i would place the order for the China dress. I dont regret the decision of ordering my TTD from China at all it fit like a glove having it custom made which also gives you an option JIC. Also i dont remember if you posted this already( i think you may have) did you go to RK Bridal and Kleinfelds yet? TBH i would first concentrate on getting the best fitting cut on your body and then narrow down the choices to details etc. What are the dresses your leaning towards now? Have you tried the style/cut etc. of it yet? Seaching through the web i found this article that I hope is of some use in finding accessible plus size samples :. Once the my wedding is over if you want next week i can call and pester the bridal shops i visited in NY to see about their plus size sample selections. They were small boutiques but i do think i noticed a couple of plus sized choices so ill definitely let you know. Hugs!! Awwww...thank you so much for finding this link and the offer!! So sweet. I think I may just have to pound the pavement and go to the smaller stores on Long Island and in the boroughs. BTW...good luck on your upcoming wedding!! Your dress looked stunning on you!! Sheree...I think I will go back to RKBridal and give it another shot.

Quote: Originally Posted by Sheree10 Good luck with finding the dress. I spent my whole summer looking for the right one and eventually found it on my third trip to David's Bridal. Don't worry, the right dress is out there, don't settle! Keep looking so that you can see what looks good on you and what you like. I know you're in NYC, have you checked out Kleinfields? I've never been there but they're having a huge blowout sale on Monday 1/18. What other places have you been to? Well..I went to the Kleinfeld Blowout sale in December, Bridal Reflections, RKBridal (the best plus size selection), David's Bridals, Macy's Bridal Store and a local Brooklyn shop. I am having problems with shops that have plus-size samples in shapes other than A line...although...I have even started trying on A-lines as of late. If you have any other ideas...I am open to them!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Alyssa Thanks for posting this. just an FYI we don't allow repeat threads in multiple parts of the forum. the other 2 you posted were deleted and i moved this to the Travel Forum. please make sure to review the forum rules (FAQ in red below) so you have a better understanding for the future. thanks! Oops...sorry about the multiple postings!! I didn't know which forum to place it in since it affected three different areas. Now that I see that it has been placed in the Travel forum...that makes perfect sense and I should have posted it here in the first place. Again...sorry.

You look absolutely GORGEOUS in your dress!!! Just stunning!!! You will make a beautiful bride.

Just an FYI...since the Domincan Republic borders Haiti I just wanted to post this....there has been an earthquake in Haiti within the past hour measuring 7.3 on the richter scale and they have issued an tsunami warning for neighboring Caribbean locals including the Dominican Republic: Tsunami Fears After Haiti Earthquake A tsunami watch has been issued in the Caribbean after a major earthquake struck the island of Haiti. Substantial damages and casualties are expected following the quake, which measured 7.3 on the Richter scale, and two powerful aftershocks which followed. A hospital and a three-storey building in Petionville have reportedly collapsed. A reporter for the AFP agency said a tractor was already at the scene trying to dig out victims as people fled onto the streets of the impoverished country in panic. No details on causualties were immediately available. The epicentre of the quake, which was initially reported off the coast, was located inland, only 10 miles from the capital Port-au-Prince. It was followed by two powerful aftershocks, measuring 5.9 and 5.5 on Richter scale. The tsunami watch is in effect for Haiti, the neighbouring Dominican Republic, with which it shares the island of Hispaniola, Cuba and the Bahamas. A US government official in Haiti reported seeing houses that had tumbled into a ravine. "Everybody is just totally, totally freaked out and shaken," said Henry Bahn, a visiting official with the US Department of Agriculture. "The sky is just gray with dust." Mr Bahn said there were rocks strewn all over the place and he saw a ravine where several homes had been built. "It's just full of collapsed walls and rubble and barbed wire," he said. Earthquake Hits Haiti: US Geological Survey Issues Tsunami Warning | World News | Sky News

Quote: Originally Posted by kelleymathis Hi! I am looking to plan a December 2010 wedding in the Bahamas. I love the Versailles Garden at the Ocean Club but am debating whether to do the ceremony and reception here, or just the ceremony. Anyone also planning a wedding here? What have you decided to do for the reception. The price sheet they gave me listed some pretty crazy prices, I am wondering if they are negotioable... Happy Planning! Hi, Welcome to the forum and congrats!! I am so excited to see so many new Bahamas brides!! As for the Versailles Gardens...I really considered having my ceremony there but opted to keep my ceremony at the Atlantis on the beach. I don't think the price for the site is negotiable at all. I do know that many brides opt to have the ceremony there but the reception elsewhere such as at the Atlantis or or one of the restaurants that are located at the marina at the Atlantis. I think that if you have your reception indoors at the Atlantis and wedding ceremony elsewhere, you are not subject to their per person minimum. The Ocean Club is BEYOND pricey. There was a great article with pictures of a bride getting married in the Bahamas at the Versailles Gardens and having her reception at Club Martinque recently..I forget now but I posted it in the Bahamas forum. Take a look in the Bahamas forum...there are many posts about the Versailles Gardens.

QueenDiva...yes I checked out David's Bridals...I did not find anything. Beth...I have checked out that thread...this is why I'm even considering ordering a dress from China. My wedding dress however would not be ordered from China...but from an on-line site that is an authorized seller of the dress I like. I was thinking of ordering my TTD from China and if for some reason I hate the main dress...I could wear the China dress if I liked it. Melidell...no...you don't sound like a downer...these are some of my very thoughts too...I'm just running out of options in terms of trying on dresses.

Well..I previously posted that I ordered and cancelled a dress that I loved about three weeks ago after seeing myself in pictures of myself in the sample. I have since tried on some more dresses...some were okay...but none had the wow factor for me. My issue is that I am a plus-size so the samples are limited. Also, no one has a sample of the dress that I love. I thought that it would be available this month but it seems that no one has ordered my dress as a sample for their store...at least none that I have been able to find and I can't contact the manufacturer...they only send back an e-mail with a FAQ's list. So...time is ticking...I want to order my dress this month and all I can think about is the dress that I have only seen in pictures. I have no idea what the fabric will be like. I have no idea how I would look..yet I think this might be the dress. Also...there is a cheap dress from one of the China sites that caught my eye from the start. The only game plan I can think of is to take one last ditch effort and go back to the shop where I purchased my first dress/cancelled dress because they had a large selection. If I can't find anything, I can order the dress I love on-line from them or netbride. However, I will likely not get my dress until April at best and I will be in a BIND if I hate it. It's inexpensive enough that I can probably re-sell it. However I will have no dress. This is why I am thinking of ordering the dress from China just in case too...that is under $200 and I was going to use it for a TTD session in any case. If I hate both...I become a THREE dress bride!! URGH!! Not to mention the expense of it all. What do you think? I can't believe that I am in this position...I never dreamed of ordering my dress sight unseen. Has anyone done this?

Okay ladies...first and foremost thanks again to Saphire for her research....it has been much appreciated. If anyone else is interested, please send a PM or leave your e-mail address. I THINK we may be winding down our search. Thanks.

Hi Melanie, Welcome...I am another Bahamas bride!! Have you checked out the Bahams forum? If not...please do so...some great info there and we NEED more Bahamas brides!!

Your pictures are beautiful...and Karla...what a beautiful bride you were!!

What a great idea!! Have you checked out Compass Pointe for a wedding? From some pictures I have seen, the resort looks much more secluded than others.

That was too sweet...a high compliment indeed!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Sapphire723 Timberly, how much did you pay? The cheapest package with hair and makeup that she quoted us was $725. I just want to be clear and fair, we have to make sure that we are comparing apples to apples. Each package is different and comes with different numbers of outfit changes and pictures, etc. Jennifer's packages start at a very reasonable $425 which is not out of line with what I have seen. That does not include makeup or hair or an album BUT she has her own studio so you do not have to rent a hotel and she has some accessories already and you do not have to all come in on the same date to get the discount. I am not advocating anyone...but I feel bad when I see a photographer's rates quoted in a vaccum. Also, who knows what deals have been cut with others and it really is not fair to put someone....the photographer or the bride... out there like this...this is why I asked for private messages. Maybe I am sensitive because I too have my own business (not wedding related) and if my clients were to begin to compare prices over the internet..forget it!! Each situation is different and we have no idea of knowing each circumstance and package. JMHO and not meant to insult anyone at all. Bottom line...myself, Saphire and others are loooking for a boudoir package that is reasonable.

Quote: Originally Posted by vdaybride Just a word of advice DON'T purchase a book from the photographer!!! The average price of their books are $150-350! You can EASILY make your own book on sites such as Mypublisher, snapfish, shutterfly, blurb and probably a few others. Personally I like publisher and blurb the finished product looks so professional. The cost of my book (that I did myself) was $56 including shipping AND extra pages AND I had a coupon code and received a free book. When I brought up designing my book, my photog actually recommended that I make my own (I already had that in mind because I created photobooks before) For the size book I made a photographer would have charged $200!! If you want to take a look at mine PM me and I will share the book via email. When your package includes books, this is where the price is driven way up.. Jennifer that I recommended before gives you 50 edited shots included in her pricing.. I heart her can't you tell. I'm glad you said that. I think that when people consider the cost which does not include the cost of a book, this gives people pause. Making a book ourselves might actually save some money. I like that Jennifer works out of her own studio and has some of her own props. I also like that we all do not have to book the same day to get the group rate. I also would much rather pay a little extra and get someone that comes recommended. Many thanks to Saphhire that has been investigating other options for us too. If anyone comes up with anything else...let us know. We are not wedded to using anyone in particular...we just want a good deal from a reliable professional that does good work. I think I'm leaning towards Jennifer and buying my own book now.

Quote: Originally Posted by GregsBride I've worn weaves and gone swimming in them before, but I will warn you that unless you get a high quality hair you will definitely have problems with tangling and shedding. I've never worn a lace front before but since they are held on with glue I wouldn't think that it would be a good idea to swim in one. Also, my stylist told me that they can do a lot of damage to your hairline. Thank you...I guess a weave may be out for me then...I need to be able to get in the water every day.

Hi ladies, Love all of the ideas here!!! I just don't know what to do. I have never worn a weave and am thinking about doing it for styling purposes for the wedding and honeymoon. I need something I can swim in and will not put unnecessary stress on my hair. What about a lacefront wig? Can you swim in these?

Quote: Originally Posted by Sheree10 For those in the area still looking for their dress, Kleinfield's is having a MLK sample sale and trunk show on January 15. Check it out! Appointments slots will likely be filled quickly. I got an e-mail from the knot about it. It also included a discount off of the sample dresses and accessories. Also...just an FYI...those of you still looking might want to go to the Macy's bridal salon. I am going to the one at the Herald Square store. They sell Demitrious dresses exclusively. I stopped in a week or so ago and they had a decent selection and some reasonable prices.

Quote: Originally Posted by Sapphire723 I totally know what you mean! The whole place was really overwhelming. It's like Home Depot for dresses... awesome prices if you know exactly what you want and where to find it on the rack, but really chaotic if you don't. I went there with two of my bridesmaids and I had trouble finding a dress I liked right away. They have a limit of 7 dresses (which I totally understand when they're busy and other brides are waiting, but there weren't any). The "consultant" didn't help us find anything. I put on a dress, and before I could even say anything about it, she looked at me and said "No." I was OUTRAGED! It wasn't as if the dress made me look like a circus freak. What if I was in love with that dress? Who the heck is she to tell me what I should or shouldn't get for my wedding dress? Anyway, after trying on 7 dresses that I didn't like, she told me that I was going to have to come back another day if I wanted to try on more. There wasn't anyone else waiting. I politely informed her that what she was really telling me is that I wasn't getting my dress there, because there was no way I was purchasing one of the dresses I didn't want but had already tried on. I wasn't going to drive back there from CT just to see if they might have something I want. She finally agreed to let me try on a few more. I ended up finding one that I really like (Edimburgo by San Patrick which is a Pronovias line), and I will probably return to buy it... but from a different consultant! Overall-- good selection and good prices if you can get past the Warehouse shopping aspect of it. Sorry your consultant was not good...but glad that you found a dress that is a strong possibility. Definitely ask for a new consultant. They really do have a good selection.

Quote: Originally Posted by Puzzled-Bride sorry didn't mean to be confusing, i had contacted what i thought was the hotel directly, but who i got was the sales manager who does the hotel booking for the weddings (i clicked their contact us on their website). We are getting a group rate I guess by going through them directly. We just thought because our group was so small it would be pretty easy, contact hotel tell them what we wanted find out what our guests needed to do to book for the rates quoted and done. It's really not working out like i planned. Are you sure that the group rate is not already in place? Maybe your guests can book now. Did you call reservations and see if the rate is already available? Also, get on the phone and call someone in charge at the hotel. I think it is perfectly reasonable to expect a return e-mail by now. Remember...you are spending your good money. They advertise that they want weddings at the resort....someone needs to respond to your concerns...even if it's to say I got your message and will get back to you shortly.

Oh...this was good...real good. Isn't it something? I thought a DW would be a lot less stressful...turns out...there are just different stresses.

Yeah!!! Another Bahamas bride!!! Congrats!! Check out the Bahamas forum if you have not done so already.

I wouldn't worry. I love Tripadvisor and I try to write reviews of places that I visit. You have to understand....it is all about preference. Don't get me wrong, some properties get very well-deserved boos. Others...it's about preference. Some of my favorite resorts are not as highly rated as others. For instance, the resort where I am getting married at. I laugh because I can tell you that I have been or visited most other resorts in the area and this property is by far head and shoulders above the rest in my opinion. The key word being...my opinion. Many others that I know have been to my resort and are not as equally enthralled as I!!! LOL Oh well....whose right? Them or me? I say that we both are. You have to really READ the reviews and not just look at the ratings numbers to see what it is about a resort that ticked someone off. It may be something that you actually like or something that would not bother you in the least. Like I said, it's all about preference. I have to agree that you have to watch out for competitors whom post on the site. Some are SO sensitive. It is quite a turn-off and gives me the impression that they are not above manipulating their ratings. The truth is....there is nothing stopping a resort from fluffing up their ratings or downgrading the ratings of other resorts. IMHO though...Tripadvisor usually gets it right. When you find opinions on the opposite end of the spectrum and virtually split down the middle...it usually comes down to some sort of preference that people will not admit to having.

Okay Ladies...I contacted Jennifer. Her prices seem fair and she offers a discount for 2 or more bookings....10% off for 3 or more bookings. 5% off for 2 bookings. If less than these amounts actually shoot...we do not get the discount. There is also a possibility of a credit towards purchasing an album if many more of us book. This is not written in stone. Also...we do not all have to shoot on the same date or time. I also like that she shoots out of her home in Queens, N.Y...so we do not have to pay for a hotel room. She also already has some props such as feathers, long pearls, a football etc. So...I will send each of you that expressed an interest a note. Send me your e-mail via PM and I will forward a copy of the e-mail I received from Jennifer to you. You are also free to contact her yourself if you have any questions. I just would like to know who is in and whom books so that we can make the most of getting a discount and a possible credit.

Okay ladies...let me look into it and get prices and such and I will get back to you!!