JoanneIreland

Congrats and welcome to the forum!

Joanne's BLUE Starfish : Bride's Name Location Resort Wedding Destination Travel Dates Travel Completed? Lisadias Canada Now Jade Riviera Riviera Maya, Mexico April 22nd - April 30th 2011 Yes Mrsrice11 NJ, USA Iberostar Rosehall Montego Bay, Jamaica June 10th - June 18th 2011 Yes scali715 Boston, MA ? Punta Cana, Dominican Rep July 13th -July 20th 2011 Yes Mrssylvester2b Pittsburgh, PA ? Turks & Caicos August 6th - August 13th 2011 Yes Islandgirl910 Yonkers, NY Iberostar Rose Hall Suites Montego Bay, Jamaica September 6th - September 17th 2011 WITH TIFFANY NOW futuremrstgun San Antonio, TX Iberostar Rosehall Beach Montego Bay, Jamaica October 6th - October 16th 2011 No JoanneIreland Ireland & Boston Barcelo Maya Palace Riviera Maya, Mexico November 14th - November 20th 2011 No MichCraw Montreal ? ? December 3rd - No celticgirl Ontario, Canada ? Jamaica January 4th - January 11th 2012 No SummerDawn Canada ? Cancun, Mexico April 15th - April 22nd 2012 No Spaterson ? ? ? May 2012? No Bojanglesgirl MN Moon Palace Cancun, Mexico July 14th - July 24th 2012 No deesanders33 Houston, Texas Paradisus Punta Cana Punta Cana, Dominican Rep August 8th - August 18th 2012 No MichCraw - Where is your wedding (resort name and location), and when is your return date. Can you also send me your address as I will be sending this on to you? Celticgirl, what resort are you getting married at? SummerDawn, what resort are you getting married at? Spaterson, what resort are you getting married at and what are your travel dates? What is your location?

It's official - it's September ladies!!!!!!!

Just had a reply, so quick!! This is what they said : Dear Joanne, Yes, of course, before shipment, we will send you the pictures, please do not worry. The dress is not finished yet, it will be finished within this week, then we will send you the picture within this week. Is it ok? Sincerely babyonline --------------------- OK so I feel better now. I will post the pictures once I get them, and will follow up with more pictures once the dress arrives.

I just logged into my babyonline account to send an email to inquire if they would be emailing me pictures soon (order was placed 15 days ago, and they quoted me 15 days), and found the status as "waiting shipment". I'm going to be so annoyed if they ship it without sending pictures as I was very clear about this.

This is gorgeous, love it!

Courtney that picture is waaayyyyyy too cute! Your fiance is going to love it, such a great idea!! So between my hours on hold to Expedia and not being able to leave the house due to the hurricane, I got a huge start on DIY projects, thought I'd share a few with you girls ....... Our wedding day color theme is yellow with a bit of orange, but our OOT bags are blue themed, so hence the mix of colors! Tags for bubble wands : Tags for OOT Bags : Tags for Wedding Favors : First Aid Kits and Survial Weekend Bags : This is a rough first draft of our menus, ordered vellum paper that I am waiting on : Our DIY Ringholder (glued a starfish to a clam shell, lol!): So yesterday my boss (who's based in Ireland), called me and asedk me if I could fly back last night for meetings for the rest of the week. Due to the hurricane I couldn't get a flight (backlog of passengers I guess), so am heading to Ireland this evening, so there goes my boost of DIY activities for now!! Will be nice to take a break from wedding stuff right now! And even though it's a work trip I get to see my family and play with my 2 year old niece!!

Enjoy Dubai, one of the very best vacations I've ever taken, you will LOVE it!

Girls, just wanted to let you know I am just home from doing my BD shoot!! My heart is still thumping in my chest and knees still knocking off each other, but all I can say to you is DO IT!! I was so nervous and was so doubtful about this, but glad I went through with it (hope I say the same when I see the pics, LOL!). It's really suitable for any bride, any shape, size, age ..... it's just a lovely thing to do for yourself, and I can't wait to make the photo book to surprise my fiance on the morning of our wedding :-) PS : Love all the hair do's above, they are so lovely.

Beautiful, looks a bit like Kim K's 2nd wedding dress!

Eun-sil, I love your dress! It's so beautiful. It's amazing how you think you want one style and end up with another. If I had that dress at home I'd be wearing it every day, lol! Courtney, I think it really depends on the store, the details of the dress, and how much alterations you need, but I think about $300 is more in the ball park. Mine is NOT a corset back so I will need to have the sides altered, probably a hem, and a bustle and I am anticpiating around $300. I wanted a sweetheart too but the bridal store was able to order this way so it saved me some money (the dress i wanted wasn't sweetheart, but there was something similar that was, so they had the designer make it with the bottom of the one I liked, and then make it with the top of the other dress). I should have my first fitting on September 15th, which I don't think is too far in advance. I'd rather have the first one as soon as I can, and the last one as close to the date as possible. So when I go in on the 15th I'll probably wait about 3 weeks before going back again. Happy Friday everyone!

Thanks!

Tiffany I am THRILLED you have it! I was fearing my little guy was gone, but so happy he made his way safely to you along with the journal. I can't wait to read it when it comes back to me! Don't forget to update it (and even add a pic from your wedding/bouquet) before sending it on to the next bride. Just one more after you before it comes back to me for my own wedding and then I will start passing again!!

Did you try the online chat? I ordered a dress last week from babyonline and the communication was great, no problems to report so far! Now saying that I did sent an email today asking for a quote on a dress for my sister and haven't heard back, but it was only a few hours ago.

Everything about this dress is gorgeous!!

Hi, I could add you to my blue list but it seems to be gone AWOL!! Mrssylvester2b w w w was was last to receive it but haven't had responses to my emails to her. Islandgirl910 - I assume you haven't heard from Mrssylvester2b ? scali715 - you had the starfish before Mrssylvester2b , do you have further contact details for her? I really hope we get the little guy back to continue this. I really wanted it back for my November wedding.

Eun-sil, so happy for you and your dress!! Can't wait to see pictures!! Alysam4785 .... yyyaaaayyyyy another bride in Boston!! I think it sucks that JetBlue didn't contact people!! We found out when future sis in law was trying to book the Monday direct flight and was told there was none!! I see your wedding date is the 5th, so you will be gone before me, but would have been funny if we were on the same flight! We went to mexico last year and there were a few girls on the flight carrying big white garment bags so I'm not expecting to be the only bride.

"felt" not "left" but I guess both could count!!

Thanks Courtney! l honestly left so much better after talking out loud here yesterday. Thank you ladies. Quote: Originally Posted by clgriffi7 Joanne - I am so happy for you! More than anything I am happy you don't have an unfortunate event hanging over the rest of your wedding planning. To me it makes perfect sense that you feel better after venting to us. Who else could understand the stress you are under better than us?!

Well Pucca, Larson is going to be a very much hugged guy, lucky man!! LOL! So tell us all more details, you obvoiusly had a HUGE day today ..... you got your dress!! Congrats! How did it feel? Right now I bet you are either wearing it or looking at it!! Are you walking on air? Oh congrats on such a big day, so happy for u!! So nervous about seeing mine. Hope I like it when it comes in! We need to start a new thread for real names, LOL! Pucca and Sxtc - what are your names?

Expedia / JetBlue fiasco updates : --------------------------------------- So after discussing with my fiancé, we decided to pay the $300+ for an extra night and opt with traveling a day earlier on the direct flight, rather than deal with a layover. I called back Expedia this evening for this purpose and just spent almost 2.5 hours on phone (about 90% of that on hold!!), and spoke to a lovely guy called Larson. I explained the situation and told him rather than connecting flights on our original date, we would pay for the extra night and go on direct flight the day before. When I called yesterday I was transferred between 5 different people, and even though I already asked and was told no, I still asked Larson the same question - due to the inconvenience caused perhaps JetBlue would change us to direct flights on the way home also???? We had originally just booked direct to Cancun, but as we weren’t as fussy on the way back and saved a bunch of money we booked flying back via Fort Lauderdale rather than the direct. Larson said he would call JetBlue and check, and although I waited on hold for ages, he checked back with me every so often to let me know he was himself on hold (my faith in Expedia was returning at this point). After a very painful wait, Larson came back on the line and told me YES they will change us without charge to the direct flight on the way home!!!!! It really does go to show that your opinion of a company (negative or positive) can come down to one person. After 5 awful representatives yesterday, this one guy changed my whole view! Courtney I know you mentioned earlier that you had a change with Expedia that you weren’t supposed to be charged for and were, so will be tracking closely myself thanks for knowing your experience! So on top of the return flight change to direct instead of layover, Larson said he wanted to give me a coupon (I asked all 5 yesterday if they could discount the hotel room for me considering the situation and they all said no). I expected this coupon could only be used for a future Expedia reservation, and as I’m sitting there on the phone wondering where we’ll use it, Larson says “so with the coupon your extra night is $221â€!! Seriously, this guy rocks! I asked him if I could fill out a customer service survey, send email, talk to his boss …. Etc …. Man was he happy! His boss however was on “lunch†(where are they located??), and I said it was OK to have her call me back when she returns. He made my day and I am happy to say I think O made his! Waiting on the call back and can’t wait to sing his praises! So yes we have to spend $221 more than we anticipated, but for that we get an extra night in paradise and get a nice short non-stop flight back to Boston J Big point to make – when we originally booked, the cost of us getting the non-stop flight back was working out way more than $221, so now we are getting that plus an extra night. Silver lining in every cloud!! Yes, I was stressed and upset yesterday, glad I was able to look at it being not the end of the world, focus my frustration on DIY, and in the end it worked out even though costing us a bit more. I feel like I had a very lucky day and outcome so want to send my good luck wishes to all you other November brides!! Also a big thanks to being able to vent here. As soon as I typed up my venting post here yesterday I almost immediately felt better. Does that sound odd?

Ok you girls are making me feel guilty - running shoes and work out clothes just got added to my "To Pack" list!! sxcT - I like your idea to let family bring stuff home for you, am going to do that too, thanks!! Better than lugging it to our honeymoon resort too, plus my family are going to my house in Boston after Mexico and will be still there when we get back. Pucca - yes I went to town last night with the DIY stuff with an that pent up emotions!! Thanks to everyone for your support!! Anyone's house starting to look like a factory? I feel like I have wedding stuff and projects everywhere, LOL! And I'm now on first name basis with my UPS guy, he's been here so many times! Don't know what we did before online shopping!

LOL, yeah we will be gone a while. I am taking just over 4 weeks off work, we will be at our wedding hotel for 13 nights (was supposed to be 12!), and then 6 nights at our honeymoon resort. Thank God it's a sun destination and not a winter one, could you imagine how many bags of clothes I'd have for that??!! So happy bikini's don't take up much room! I literally have a bikini for every day, LOL, and clothes wise I will have to recyle some evening wear but I don't mind. What's going to get me is stuff like the suncreen, aftersun, shampoo & conditioner, cleanser, moisturizer, etc ...... I also have an obsession with shoes and bags, so am trying to be good and bring the minimum, so one silver sandal and one gold I'm thinking. I'm debating bringing running shoes and workout clothes. I don't want to waste the room if I don't use them, which I never would do on holidays, but at the same time I am worried with all that all inclusive food and booze, what if my dress won't fit me!!

Thanks Courtney! I'm not too happy with JetBlue and Expedia, but hey no point worrying about something that is outside my control, have enough of other things to worry about instead!! I think we are going to just go a day earlier and fork out the money for an extra night. My parents, sister and niece are flying in from Ireland to Boston a week before the wedding, and were booked on the same flight as us, so they are in the same boat too and have to pay for the extra night. Mike's parents and sister are booked on the flight the following Monday, so they now have to pay extra night too so we are all getting screwed! I finished all the tags for the bubble wands last night and they look so cute! I also started working on my DIY parasol.I definitely wish there were other destination brides around me so we could have a huge DIY party with loads of wine, haha! Same as you, everyone saying they'd help but of course no one does! Thank God I was with my family at the time of the DIY invites because I would have went stir crazy doing them alone! Wow Courtney that's a lot of sunscreen! I started buying sunscreens and aftersun lotions too (pick them up if I see them on sale), and am concerned about the weight. I can't even begin to imagine how much baggage we are going to have and how much it's going to cost!!

Expedia SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hate to say that because I've booked with them so much in the past and never had a problem, but was pre-warned that it was only a mattter of time!! Should have went with an agent when it came to our wedding. Anyways, bottom line .......... JetBlue cancelled direct flights on Mondays which is what we were booked for, so offered to change us to a layover flight the same day (which we definitely do not want, terrified of loosing luggage containing wedding items), or going on the direct flight the previous day but we have to pay for the extra night accomodation ($350) and Expedia are still not able to confirm if we will have to pay money or not to the day earlier. I spoke to 5 different people (oh the transfers!!) and they all had a different story. SIGH!! I definitely was upset with this unforeseen issue today, but I just said to my fiance - hey if this is the biggest obstacle for us, then you know what we are going good! Trying to look on the positive! I had a bit of build up pi$$ed off energy so used that to do a DIY task and did my "bubble tags". At least I got something done whilst I was on the phone for 2.5 hours! Then poured a glass of wine and finished the rest of the bubble tags. LOL, I wished we all love by each other so we could do massive DIY tasks in one!!