Daily2011

OK ladies I have had this DVD for over a year and it is still in the plastic wrap and dusty on the DVD shelf. After reading the tread and deciding that for health and wedding reasons (only 8 months away and on a beach no less) I need to get my butt in gear!!! I have some major pounds to drop. AND I bought my dress a size too small on purpose. Tomorrow morning, level 1 and I have a date! Wish me luck and I WILL be reporting in tomorrow. I need you all to keep me motivated and on track. Please help. committed Christa.

nmurch: what are your colors? Maybe I have to buy them from you in Mexico . He is your Jr. High sweetie? That is so romantic! I can't believe that you have waited two years already for the wedding and have almost another to go! I might be more ahead if that was the case. We are not "officially" engaged as he has not asked that question, just "when are we getting married" and then started to plan. We are doing the ceremony at the gazebo and I haven't figured out the reception site yet, outside or open air restaurant for sure. We are going to Mexico in January, right? I am trying not to add too much for cost and luggage reasons. I don't want to have to figure out how to get all of that down there and back. I do want some personal touches though and need to figure out how to make that happen.

I really like them! They look great! I get the thing about the extra ribbon though.

nmurch you get married the day I arrive!! I have been struggling with STD and invites. I agree I would like them to have a pop about them but not cost me a fortune. I can't decide on both or just invites and I am putting the cart way before the horse anyway as I don't have a guest list together yet anyway (mine or the FI, who claims to have over 500 people for it!) You sound so much more organized than I am. What are your plans for location and the like? Josie: I thought about shoes like that but them someone mentioned what happens if you get sand in them? They will be like sandpaper with all the shoe material. I need to stop listening to people!

crazy girls:Jerseylicious

WE are at 4pm at the gazebo for the wedding. I have not figured out the reception yet but am sure that if we get our wish it will be either outside or at one of the open air restaurants. We are going all the way to Mexico it would be a shame to be inside unless we have to be. I have emailed Claudia to figure out what is available. I haven't figured out any decor either, but know that I don't want to do too much. I planned a destination wedding because I wanted the setting to be the decoration. I also don't want to stress out about all the stuff we would have to pack. We are trying to come up with some options for some sort of OOT bag or gift or extra reception or event for our guests but don't have any idea what that might be. As a type A personality being this laid back isn't really me! How about everyone else? What are you planning?

surprise: I know I had the hardest time finding non-flip-flop flats! It was a choice between some $90 dollar ones at Nordstroms and a couple of $15 pairs at Target. I went with the Target ones! As much as I love shoes, $90 for one day shoes I can't fit into the budget. I keep thinking what I can do with the extra $75. (I have kept the receipts of course and will return them if I find "the shoes".) We spent a LOT of time coming up with the Barcelo too. It was not my first choice, but I am very happy with it. It came in waaay cheaper than the others we were looking at and was VERY kid friendly (we have lots of folks traveling with small ones) and offered a variety for our guests. I think we will all love it! Where and what time are you getting hitched? What are your thoughts on reception? What are your bringing?

Cara! That is exciting! What are the other plans you have made? Take lots of pictures and we are all so excited to hear the details and wish you all the best! BIG HUGS!

Hey, I have a quick question that I think I know the answer to but an not sure... If you want the option of one of the open air restaurants for the reception that takes the Strawberry level or above right? It is the same as a beach reception. What is everyone doing for a welcome dinner?

Ok the dress is mine!! I am so excited. I also bought two pairs of shoes for it now as well. I figured I had better get them in the Summer rather than wait off season! I'll post pictures so you all can help me figure out which ones! It seems like a lot of us are doing the Barcelo! I am sad that I will miss you all on the 19th. We leave on the 18th.. We will have to try for a cocktail.

What beautiful weddings everyone has had! It makes me so excited for mine. I just got the note that Claudia is my coordinator. Does anyone know if we can make changes to the preliminary selections that we make when we are first assigned a coordinator?

Sorry I dropped off the face of the Earth. I have managed to catch a horrendous cold/allergies. I have been laid out flat since Saturday. Way to ride the happy anticipation right! Book the wedding on Friday and then get sick for the next week! I can't say that I have gotten much farther in the plans other than getting things booked. I have not gotten the dress yet but still plan or ordering it tomorrow when I get into town. this is the dress: David's Bridal - Chiffon soft A-line with beaded lace on empire waist and back. Now I suppose it is time to do the guest list. I need FI to get me his part (he is claiming to have 500 people so we'll see). If I get that timely enough I will do save the dates if not, it will be straight to the invites. Wish me luck!

Sorry to be so delayed in getting back to you. I never got the notice that anyone had posted. I got them in Austin, MN. They were still there as of last week. I hope that helps!

OK girls...I am about to become one of you officially!!! I am taking the deposit to the travel agent as soon as she gets me the amount with the travel insurance!! I am soo excited!!!!! We are on for January 15, 2011. This the date and travel booked I can now turn to other planning items. I sure hope the site selection is the hardest one because this one almost did me in. Tomorrow I can order my dress. I have it all picked out after dress shopping with my mother in January. I am so excited to share this journey with you all! Yay for us!!! Christa.

OK girls...I am one of you officially!!! I am taking the deposit to the travel agent as soon as she gets me the amount with the travel insurance!! I am soo excited!!!!! We are on for January 15, 2011 at the Barcelo Maya Palace in Playa del Carmen. I can order my dress tomorrow. I have it all picked out. I am so excited to share this journey with you all! Yay for us!!! Christa.

hoping the sun will shine all day: this weekend

Sabrina: What package did you have and where was your location for the wedding and reception. It looks just beautiful! What lovely pictures you have. Christa

sparkly:RING

family:children

No honestly, even though he is talking 500, I'd love no more than 20-30. It is a convention not a wedding the higher the number gets. I am planning destination because I actually might remember who was at my wedding with around 20-30. Any more than that and I may never have a recollection of who was even there! I want something way more personal. FI is just worried about leaving someone out and he owns a hospitality business and doesn't want to offend his clients who think they know us personally. I totally will be hawking the list and we will have some conversations about it, but bottom line, these folks are not spending 1500 pp to come to our wedding. They don't know us that well! Hence, I feel pretty safe with sending out 200-300 invites and getting a MUCH smaller response.

We are right there together!! I have been very diligently working on the positive attitude. I also could not be more thankful for that strong and hardworking mother. How she did it, and she was younger than I am now, I will never know. PS I was in the job search mode not too long ago and I feel your pain. The whole market sucked out here 12 months ago. It is marginally better now but not by much. Just hang in there girl. God has a plan we just are clued into it.

photos:expensive $$$$

JodieP-- funny thing is the FI thinks he has 500---YES 500 people to invite. I have not gotten his list yet but can't imagine that we know 500 people let alone have 500 to invite. If that is the case, my foot is going down as we are not paying the postage on that! Plus, how close are these people anyway as we don't get 500 Christmas cards and certainly never send out 500.

Thanks everyone for being so supportive. As you all have said, my dad was never one of my "must have" people at my wedding. Those folks are coming and have been supportive as always! It is those folks who have helped me get to this point and will share the day with us. Aisha--you are so right! It is my mother who supported me, laid all the foundation, and is responsible for me being a successful lawyer! My father had little to do other than genetics. That is why he was never going to be giving me away in the first place. On a separate note, my FI is basically unemployed right now and I know what you meant on the other thread about planning a wedding that way. It means a LOT of compromise and positive thought and creativity to plan the day the we have always wanted. I sometimes thinking we are doing this on a wing and a prayer as any financial setback could place things in peril. That's what we paid the insurance for right!

I too am sending out about 250-300 invites AND having an AHR. Same theory though of not wanting anyone to feel left out. We are banking on the assumption that not more than 75 will come at the top limit. God I hope it's less than that. We are already getting a bit of flack from both set of parents about the destination thing. Anyone else?