cristinimartini

Hi Everyone! I missed the boat on getting a Real Touch bouquet since we're getting married around the time when most recommended vendors weren't taking new orders when we decided on a DW...soooo, that means I'm getting a real flower bouquet from the resort. It's hard to tell from all the posts of reviews which flowers are real and which ones are fake! (Which is great!) I search through the threads and found lots of ideas, but I just don't know what's an option once I'm there. The WC sent four photos of example bouquets and they were umm, not what I expected. One looked like the flowers were picked on the side of the road. That sounds bad, but I was saddened to see something like that as an "option". I asked the WC what flowers I could pick from and I don't think she understood my question. I wanted to know things like roses, tulips, orchids, etc. My question is: Does anyone know what flowers are available in the DR (in May, too!) that would be an option to order from the resort? We don't have any real requests (I wanted peonies, but I know that's not an option if they aren't fake) other than something tropical looking. Our color is a light yellow, so I think almost anything would go! I figured I'd throw this topic out there and pick all your fabulous brains!! Photos or links are always helpful! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! (And yes, I am down to 13 days until we leave )

Congratulations on what sounds like an amazing time and a beautiful wedding!!!!!! Thank you for the very thorough and very honest review!!! We leave in two weeks exactly and I'm happy to hear that what I'm planning (which is bringing next to nothing) is good enough!! How did your step-daughter like the kid zone? I'm sure she had the time of her life!!!! My only concern now is what to pick for my bouquet! LOL...I wish I had found a trusty Real Touch Florist who could make one in time for my May wedding, but all the ones I liked were booked already...I'm happy to say that this is my major stressing point right now hahaha... Welcome home and time to catch up on the BDW happenings!!!! Can't wait to see your wedding pics!!!!!!!

Thanks for posting a picture of your bouquet Nbulldog! I leave in about 2 weeks for our wedding in the DR and have been trying to figure out what kinds of flowers are available there, so I can come up with some sort of scheme. I don't want to have my heart set on one thing and then when I get there find out those flowers aren't available...our wedding was too last minute to order Real Touch Flowers by any reputable vendor, so I'm hoping for something nice done by a florist down there. Seeing your bouquet really helps!!! Thanks again!

Hahaha...oh Jenise! I AM, but i'm scared!! LOL...I've seen the work Jennifer does and that's my only saving grace! I've been moisturizing like crazy and I'll be getting my hair cut this week and colored this week. I don't think I'll be bringing too many props. Maybe his favorite tie, one piece of lingerie, a cute pair of panties and some heels. From what I hear, she has some other props that I can use. We get one hour of photos and three outfit changes, so I'm maximizing my "change" time hehehe...I opted for the makeup being done by a professional, so that should be awesome too!! I still haven't told FI what I'll be doing on Saturday, but I figured I'll let it be a last minute emergency thing... We finished our centerpieces this weekend and that's the only DIY thing I'm bringing with me. The favors should be here either the end of this week, or the beginning of next and I've actually started to put stuff aside to pack! I always do it last minute and my motto is, if I touch it, it comes with me. So if I use it to get ready everyday, then I pack it....not leaving me much time to pre-pack! Oh well...I'll have the important stuff. I pick up my dress next Friday and FI picks up his suit from the tailor's on Wednesday! Then it will be real... Oh yeah! I also found the necklace I'm wearing with my dress!! HOLY POOP is it a fabulous piece! I think it's going to out-comment the dress for sure! Hahaha...It's a lot more bling than I originally planned for, but this is something I'll wear again, so that's my argument hehehe... I also talked to Sharron at DPC and decided we're having a "Dessert Hour" instead of a cocktail hour. We're having the fire dancers come, and it won't be dark enough during cocktail hour to actually enjoy them, so I asked to have the cake and some other desserts set up outside so we could enjoy both at once. She managed to make that happen for us...I guess I'm the only one who has ever asked for that? Oh well...I score some originality points I guess. I still haven't found any information on flowers in the DR. I saw a couple bouquets (not at DPC, but at other DR resorts) and I really wasn't impressed. I wanted to do fake flowers from the beginning, but none of the recommened florists were taking orders on such short notice. Bllllahhhh... We'll see what happens. I'm easy going, so I doubt it will bother me tremendously anyway! What's new with you? Don't worry about the FB thing...I don't go on FB often. Ask Eliana! My area still says Orlando from when I was living there! My profile picture is from my older sister's wedding in 2007!! If any of you ladies want to add me, my email address is [email protected]. I'm looking forward to our June meet-up!!! It'll be here before we know it!!!!! YAY!!!!!

Welcome back and Congratulations, Erin!!!!!!!! I can't WAIT to hear ALL about it! Hope you all had the time of your lives!!! I'd love to take a look at any pictures you have up on FB! My email is [email protected] Eliana-- Add me too!! :-)

YAY!!!! Classadiva!!! I'll be there on May 8th!! We'll certainly miss you...but I'm soooo thrilled ot hear that you were happy!!! I think we all will be! Seems like Jennifer makes a lot of women smile ;-) I hope you can post a teaser or two! What did you bring? Anything you wish you would have had? I'm going alone...do you think that's ok? I know a lot of people bring friends with them...

Tara-- GORGEOUS PICTURES!!!!! It really looks like you all had SUCH a fabulous time...I can't wait to be there! 20 days!!!!!!! Ahhhhh!!!! You may have already mentioned this, but were your bouquets real? They look amazing!! Catherine-- Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our ceremony is scheduled to take place at 4pm, but like you said, Mother Nature dictates the real schedule :-) I'm glad you got to hang around and enjoy a few more days in paradise!

Hi Pazzesca! We're neighbors!!! I'm in Lyndhurst :-) I think most of the girls on this forum will agree, a DW is the way to go!! I planned my older sister's wedding in NJ since she lives in North Carolina and the amount of money spent was out of CONTROL! I'm sorry you had to cancel your first one, but like Jenise said, everything happens for a reason... You're going to love this forum! Welcome to your new addiction! Quote: Originally Posted by Pazzesca Hello future NJ Brides!! How did I just find this thread?!?! Anyway, I grew up and lived in Kearny, Hudson County and presently living in East Rutherford, Bergen County. I actually booked the Imperia in Somerset for my wedding. However I eventually was laid off for a while and then had to move unexpectedly because I was renting an apartment in a 2 family house and it went into foreclosure and the bank wanted me and my FI out. Plus other financial set backs that come with life on occasion. After thinking about my wedding situation I realized a DW was the best thing for us! I was tired of trying to make other people happy and having a wedding in NJ would just be impossible for me financially. So we cancelled the Imperia and are working on getting married at Le Blanc Spa and Resort in Cancun, Mexico!! My fiancé and I are prepared to have hardly anyone come to the wedding and we are just fine with it. We are just looking forward to being in a beautiful location and getting married. That is the only thing that matters to us at this point. So glad to see so many other NJ Brides planning a DW!!

Yes, thank you Michele!!!! Count me in! (I was just talking to Jenise about this!) I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe if we get enough of us, we can get some sort of special or deal worked in?

Quote: Originally Posted by elifrigo girls I'M A US CITIZEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!! My most sincere congratulations, Eliana!!!! I can't wait to have a celebratory drink with you!!!!!!! That's really wonderful news...

Jenise- Congrats on the purchase!!!! I know that fun feeling for sure!! But I didn't have to wait to wear mine since we did our legal ceremony less than 12 hours after we actually bought the rings hehehe...Since FI lost his job (as you know) I told him that I don't need the matching wedding band to my e-ring right now. Having the one we bought spur of the moment for our crazy wedding ceremony is awesome enough and he can buy the 2nd wedding band for our 1-year anniversary. He's super sad about it, but I'm not. I'd rather not put us in a bad situation financially over wearing another sparkly ring. We decided that we're not going to wear our wedding bands after we send them out to be polished until our ceremony. I've never actually worn my e-ring without my wedding ring since we had sent it out for sizing and didn't get it back until AFTER we were already married! I think the next 4 months are going to fly by for you!!!! Pretty soon you'll be pulling it out and crossing it off your check list of things to pack!! I can't believe how soon I leave. 22 days until we're on the plane! OMG!! Have you figured out what you guys are doing about the Continental flights? Are you leaving from Newark or JFK... Eliana- What a thrill for you!!! How exciting!! Please keep us posted on what happens! We'll have a really great reason (other than the weddings) to celebrate at Jose Tejas' in June! YAY!!!!! Thanks for all the help with my questions ladies! I'm hoping that I can figure out this photobucket thing so I can post a planning thread, even though I'm not really planning much. I get my dress on May 14th and leave on the 19th, so it'll be close but I hope to have pics of that, centerpieces and favors at least. I'm not bringing a lot with me, but I thought I'd share with the group what I can!

Just to add to your list...I'm (Christine) May 24 at Dreams Punta Cana :-D

Eliana, I got my dress in West New York, NJ at Isabella Bridal...very cheap and very quick!!! I went to DB as the only other store and was NOT impressed (mostly with the service) as well as the originality of the dresses. They had to order my dress but had it withing the week instead of 6-12 weeks like every other store was saying. Maybe we can do Jose Tejas on Saturday around 11:30AM that way Eliana can make it there, hang out and then be back in time for work...

Eliana- GORGEOUS INVITES!!!! I can't imagine all the work and planning that must go into translating everything into three languages! We just had to do one and that was tough enough! You should be very very proud of them! Beautiful!! General Question for the group: Does anyone know if you're having a dinner after your wedding (not a private reception) in one of the restaurants, does the dress code still apply? I'm guessing it's yes, but someone in my party is insisting on wearing shorts and I don't think he'll be allowed in to the restaurant (if we choose to go that route)...ugggh...silly questions..

Hi RosiePosie!! I started laser hair removal in February of this year. I go to American Laser Centers, so I'm not sure what the equivalent would be in Vancouver, but they've been great so far! One tip: DO NOT ACCEPT THEIR PRICE AS THE FINAL PRICE. If you go at the end of the month, when they're quotas/numbers are due, they'll definitely be willing to work with you. ALC has constant "coupons" or "discounts" like Buy One Area, Get One Free or 35% off your first package, 40% off your second...etc. The laser should have a cooling system built in to minimize pain and discomfort both during and after treatment. With my skin, you can't tell that I've been lasered after my treatment, but some people do turn red for hours, up to a day or so afterwards. ALC recommends treatment every 6 weeks, so I will have had 3 treatments by the time I leave for my DW. My packages with them include 6 treatments, and then two years of maintenance treatments if I need them. So I'm happy with that! The technicians I've had think I'm crazy because I laugh at them when they ask me if it hurts. The first time I went in, I actually asked the girl if she had started yet because it didn't feel like anything but a piece of plastic rolling along my leg. I tell them to crank it up to the highest setting because it doesn't hurt. They just shake their heads. I mean, I have some tattoos, and I don't think they hurt, but I guess I have a high pain threshold. You never know how you'll react to it until you're actually doing it. When you go for your consult, ask them to test it on you. I never did, so I was nervous my first time, but then quickly realized it was nothing. My little sister is the one who got me to go, but she did it the long way. She did it part by part. I said "do it all!" and so I ended up paying about 60% of the price she did. I'm very happy with the results so far!! The hair which is darkest on the skin which is lightest is the hair that will go quickest and you'll see the best results after just one pass. Usually that's the bikini area. Your hair will be gone until your hormones or drug regimen changes. Depending on your age and health, it could last for a LONG time. Let me know if you have any specific questions!! Best of luck, and my vote is to GO FOR IT! Christine

Came on the forum real quick to see what my Jersey girls were up to :-) Thank you all for keeping your eyes and ears open. I'm really hoping something opens up soon, and will be willing to let him have the time off so soon after he'd be starting. Blahhhh... I'm on another arts & crafts kick this weekend, so I've been busy with my rhinestone hot-fix gun hehehe...Spend the afternoon in NYC at M&J Trimming so you KNOW I'm certainly keeping busy. Such a gorgeous day out! I hope you all got to spend a little bit of it outside! I'm definitely up for Jose Tejas. I've been there before on or around Cinco de Mayo for my stepfather's birthday, which is ON May 5th...soooo, yes, it's always been busy there when I went. Food was good! Couldn't try too many drinks because I was driving, but it will certainly be a great place to meet up! You ladies are the best!! Thank you for your help and thoughts!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by jerseykitten Christini - that sucks about your FI - I got laid off last year - it's a horrible feeling - i sent you a pm with my contact info - I'm a recruiter and i know a lot of IT recruiters - maybe one of them can help him. I'm good for Woodbridge too. I wanted to send you a formal Thank You on this thread as well, Michele! I am so appreciative of the support and help ALL of you ladies provide. It's really an amazing place and I'm so grateful! This is a tough spot to be put in, but knowing others have survived surely helps!

Hi ladies!! I'm good with Woodbrige, too!!!! P.S. FI got a call last night after a big corporate meeting at work and found out he is being laid off as of today. I'm SOOOO very upset...what positively BAD timing this is. He works in IT, so if anyone hears of anything or knows anyone, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know?! I heard him tell his boss that he doesn't know how we're going to be able to afford this wedding, and it made my heart sink. He's not the type of person to just sit around until something comes up, so I know he'll get a job doing anything at all just to make sure we're okay financially, but I really did NOT expect this at all.

June 12th is good for me too!! If I had a choice, I'd prefer to NOT have to drive down the shore on a Saturday during the summer, but I'd be willing to sacrifice for the good of the group :-D

Hi! Just wanted to make sure if you DO do this, that you wrap the pack in some cloth or a barrier so that it's not placed directly on your skin.

Hi girls! I understand your professor problems very well... When I was in graduate school I purposely chose a male advisor because the majority of the women in the department were, how can I put this nicely, unstable? One day they were great to work with and talk to, and then another day it was just devil-woman time. OMG, I couldn't take the back and forth. Luckily, all of us students were in the same boat, so we were able to joke about it and know when to stay away from them and hide in our labs :-) Now I'm on the other side and actually a professor myself. One of my two full-times jobs is to teach Pharmacology to nursing students, and so far I have yet to have one of those "days". Something I've learned is to read and re-read an email before you send it. It's really quite easy to "journal" something (where you just basically throw up your words and how you feel at that moment) and hit the send button because there's no face-to-face contact. I can guarantee you, Karen, that she probably wouldn't have said those very same things to your face. When there's no one there to defend themself, they kind of puff up and get a lot angrier than they normally would. I'm totally NOT defending her, but I do understand how she could write something so ridiculous and let it slip by. I'm glad to hear you told her so!!! That's great!!!! My FI works for a woman who is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, and she called him one day to ask a question. He answered her on how to fix it, but it wasn't going to be as easy as she was hoping (meaning, she'd have to wait for something to be delivered) and so she yelled at him like it was his fault and then hung up the phone on him. He told me he went up to her office and called her childish and unprofessional and told her that if she ever wanted him his help again he suggested she act like an adult and be rational. My jaw just about hit the floor! You're right Karen, you WILL make it! And all of the crap you're putting up with will just melt away VERY soon!!! In less than 5 weeks you'll forget about this drama!!!! The hard part for all of us will be coming back to reality... Booooo.... But at least it will be fun to wait and see our pictures :-D

Hi ladies! I'd love to meet!!!!!! Two of my Saturdays (19th and 26th) so far are booked up with Graduation parties. I actually got a STD card for one of them, LOL... Kriz- Welcome!!! Yes, there are a lot of us Jersey brides here...we're all too smart to pay the crazy prices for a wedding around these parts. How's the planning going so far?

I'm so excited for you, Erin!!!! It looks like you're all planned, packed and ready to go!!!! I hope it's everything you've ever dreamed of and MORE!!! Congratulations on the legalities too...both today and the past weeks... Best wishes and happy travels!!!!!!!!!!

I wanted something that was different... I purchased a personalized hanger for each confirmed guest from Aressa on Etsy: Etsy :: Wire Hangers I have pictures of the actual hangers if anyone is interested! PM me... We had a yellow ribbon since that was our color, and on the back, in yellow, we had written our date (May 24, 2010) and Dominican Republic. I figured it would be something practical and unique, AND easy to travel with! The seller was awesome!!! SOOO QUICK! Even with such a large order! She was able to give me a discount as well, since I ordered so many. I can't wait to give them to my guests!!!!! It's been hard keeping it a secret from my family!

Hi Jodie! I understand your situation...and I wrestled a lot with "who should I invite" based on issues that people have with each other in my family, not even between me and them! I didn't want to worry about who was going to fight with who, and how uncomfortable it would be for ME. So after putting a lot of thought into it I realized that I was making it harder on myself and I needed to stop. SO, I invited all of them. I let THEM make the decision to come or not. If they had an issue with someone, and it was bad enough for them to NOT want to be in paradise for my wedding, then so be it. But I couldn't decide for them. You may invite him, and he might not even go! You said your relationship is more like a friend, so maybe you can casually go through your wedding party with him and mention your stepdad is walking you down the aisle. Sounds like he wouldn't be too surprised at that, and may actually cause him to reflect on his own relationship with you, and his family. I think you made the right choice in asking your stepdad to do the honors. He earned the title. Best of luck!! P.S. FI and I talk about taking a trip to Scotland to tour the Macallan distillery...our favorite!! mmmmm....hehehe...