AfricanVenus

These are great ideas! Thanks Butterfly! I know what to serve now at my AHR

I'm using star lanterns too. I gotta buy them, and assemble the LED lights before I go away. I hope this works for them!

QueenDiva- The sauce for the crab sounds amazing! I'm heading to Jamaica this Thursday, and can't wait to eat some callaloo and ackee and bammy and...everything I can get my hands on to ruin my exercise regimen! I'm debating whether soup is a great idea for a summer, beach wedding in Mexico...

@ Orionandmari072510: I dig that your rings are different and meaningful @perry1217: The overall look is really interesting! I like how different it is, being on angle. Nice!

BUMP!

That's the spirit love. Let go and let flow. This is NOT about them! Be blessed and congrats on your wedding!

I included that information on my website as a "heads up" type of situation. Here's the language I used: "Additionally, while the food is included with the cost of staying, keep in mind that tipping the staff is customary and sincerely appreciated." Just couch it in conditional terms and no one will get offended.

@ Prettie: When is your wedding? If you still have a lot of time, see how far you hair grows b/t now and then. Your options might change as a result. If not, then I would go with a beautician in Jamaica. They know our type of hair and have done so for folks weddings. Talk to people like Lisa who can give you the hook up. All the best!

Hey ladies! I found a website that has tons of ideas for Chocolate Brides, including natural brides. I even wanted to swipe some of those ideas! Here's the link: Chocolate Hair. Have fun...

Just wanted to start a thread about what people are serving/have served at their weddings. I have an idea of what I want, but it'd be nice to hear some other ideas. Here's what we're thinking of offering our guests: Hors D'oeurves: Duck Carnitas, Lemon Shrimp Cones, and Quesadillas Appetizer: Crabcakes Soup: Tortilla Soup Entrees: Chinese Glazed Duck Breast with Sweet Potato Purée and Chile guajillo - Agave and Cilantro Sauce Grilled Lamb Chops with Braised Asparagus and Creamy Polenta in Rosemary Jus Roasted Salmon over Sautéed Arugula with 10 Chili Oil and Mango Sauce Vegetarian Option: Puff Pastry with Poached Leek and Champion Duxelle in a Creamy Butter Sauce Dessert: Raspberry Vanilla Creme Brulée. So, what're you cooking up?

I adore your dress. Simple and classic! I'm really into lace, and this just captures the beach theme well. And, a little bit of blong goes a looooong way. Great taste

Thanks for the explanation. I've seen them being done at my salon, but never heard of his one. I thought it was something like a stocking cap with the hair glued to it. I had no idea you could leave the hair out. I'm thinking to do my weave with the split cap idea. I want to leave my front, sides, and back out, but more than just the edges. My hairdresser HATES to do that, as she thinks it damages the hair, but she told me she would do it every other installation. So I figure if I don't leave my edges out for the next 6 months until my wedding in June 2011, then she'd be more willing to hook me up, lol.

My family is Jamaican by birth and descent (including my sister and I). On my mother's side, we have Indian (from India) and Scottish. My father's side has been virtually unchanged since the Africans were brought to Jamaica. The oral history says they're from Nigeria and Ghana.

Yea, another sista who got married in Mexico! You look absolutely stunning! Way to hold it down. Congratulations!

We are because our officiant is our pre-marital counselor and friend. We're inviting him b/c he took time to leave the U.S. to officiate in MX. Be kinds rude not to invite him to the reception, lol. It's just him though.

They're worth the money, because now some of my guests don't even want to tear off the RSVP card! lol I'm getting such great feedback and all my guests want to keep it as a memento. It's cool to see it thru their eyes. I'm so used to seeing p-port invites from being on here so much, but a lot of people have never seen anything like it and their excitement is really sweet. Thanks for all your compliments and well-wishes!

My mom and others keep trying to convince me to get another dress, but I like the contrast of this elegant dress being roughed up by the elements. It's not that I hate my dress I say. It's for artistic reasons, lol. Hopefully she'll get it. I'm not gonna tell her. Just gonna show her the pictures My dress is mostly tulle, and it's sorta heavy on the bottom. I can only imagine it'll be heavier....but hopefully not full of the day's catch, lol.

I've been wondering about this topic myself. I think we'll wear the rings when we're heading to MX and just give them to our respective holders the day of. My hotel has some reviews for staff dipping into the safes, so I'd rather not try that. I'm also considering having the hotel manager hold the rings in their safe for us. Plan A, for the Type A person I am is leaning toward wearing the rings up until the wedding. Plan B is to have the hotel manager keep it. We'll see!

I won't be offended if they ran to the bar to get drinks. I also wouldn't be offended if they asked the waitstaff to bring them some. I just wanted to make it clear to my guests that my FI and I weren't "providing" it, meaning they shouldn't expect it during the cocktail hour or the dinner. I suppose I'm not too worried because the majority of my guests don't drink and they all know each other. However, should they feel so inclined, they just have to go the extra length for it is all. Thanks for everyone's thoughts!

Crowds: Black Friday shopping

ThomasJsGirl (by the way, is that a reference to My Girl, the movie?): Alcohol is now a vehicle for comfort?! Uh-oh. And yes, I did say it was for spiritual reasons in addition to all the other ones I mentioned. I'm with IslandBride8 in what she said about it taking away from the feel of the wedding I'm trying to generate. And in all fairness, weddings always "force" personal preferences: from the food, to the music, to the location (i.e. a DW in the first place ain't fun for some people $-wise), etc. I don't see how the lack of alcohol is any different. We have weddings where there is no real food at the reception (i.e. dessert-only). Should people not show up because they're not really getting fed anything substantial? I think, for me, the purpose of a wedding is to celebrate two people taking a step together. How the couple chooses to celebrate is entirely up to them. I'm not asking my guests to sit on rocks while they witness my day, lol, so I think they'll be comfy in the virtual paradise we're doing our wedding in. I appreciate your thoughts, but I can't agree.

I was just wondering, is there anyone else out there having a dry wedding, but not for budgetary reasons? I looked around for this topic, but the bride was mostly concerned about her grandmother's level of comfort. My FI and I aren't drinkers, not even socially. I've heard it all before: "You just haven't found the drink you like!". It's not specifically for spiritual reasons, which does play a part, but I simply just don't like the taste like I don't like shrimp, lol. (Yea, that's a whole 'nother thread) I've thrown it out there that there'll be no alcohol at my wedding, and some have balked at the concept. Others have tried to persuade me to at least have it available. Since I'm staying at an AI, it is available in theory. However, it's not something that will be served. I guess I'm a little surprised that some of our friends/family know us well enough on this point, and yet insist there be a lil "sumtin-sumtin" anyway. I know it's a common phenomenon to have alcohol, but I don't like it, never have, and don't want it. It's a waste of money on top of my feelings about it. Anyone else struggling on this issue?

It certainly helped me! Thanks

I like #2, but throw caution to the wind if #1 is where you feel the most special in. You only get one shot, so go big or go home

Sorry I took so long to respond, lol. I'm using a "proxy" WB for the wedding and will get a custom-made band after things settle down money-wise. I have no idea what it will look like. All I know is that they have to take a mold of my ring and craft a shape out of it. I'd like my WB to be flush up against my E-ring though.