AfricanVenus

Depends on the vibe you're going for. Some wear their wedding dress, and others dress more casual or slightly formal. I think it's all in the tone you're going for. Sounds like you wanna wear something semi-formal from your description.

I'll be walking down the aisle to "I Found Love" by BeBe and CeCe Winans. The organist from my church, as well as one of my dearest friends, will be singing it. I think the lyrics are so beautiful, because it can be a love song to Christ or your mate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYftQ0B_zvg

I'm with Jszy. Keep it intimate and simple between the grandparents, the couple, and maybe your parents.

Thanks ladies!

Ok, so I have to thank Rebecca Aslin for her creativity and patience in doing my invites! They turned out great and my guests are really feelin' them. My pictures are sorta dark, so I'll explain a lil about what you're supposed to see, lol. Our theme, "Stars Over the Sea" was displayed on the cover (all done by Rebecca!) and inside cover for the formal invitation. The inside pages are travel, itinerary, and wedding info. The last picture is of a Ghanian Adinkra symbol that means "Except for God" (it says it on the back) and the symbol was the background in our passport. The RSVP is a tear-off card with 2 responses: "Olé!" or "Oh no!" ( my funny sense of humor). Here it is:

These look fantastic. I also thought you did them yourself, lol. I have the tear-out RSVP card on mine also. They should come in by next Wednesday. Uber-excited!

This is a great question! I would be paying for more people to come, more flowers, staying at a villa, Elizabeth Lloyd or Medina for photography, Plush Catering, and to stay in PV longer. The list could go on and on...

@jenandmark: No problem. Glad I could help!

Found another creative guestbook idea:

I went to CT with my school back in March and it's a beautiful spot! I know they have plenty of wineries there, so you have plenty to choose from. There's the big one by Franschoek named Roeschental (sp?). It's name is along those lines. Our group also went to Mhudi Winery, which is a black-owned winery a ways away from the first one I mentioned. Our airline was South African Airways I believe. We flew out of JFK and did a nonstop. On the way back, we stopped in Senegal, got disinfected, and headed to JFK. I think no matter which airline you fly out of, you're gonna have an expensive flight just b/c of the distance. We stayed at the Protea Chain Hotels, one called Protea Fire and Ice Hotel. Great place that's near everything in downtown CT. It's also got a cool, modern, psychedelic atmosphere. The service is great and you can't beat their breakfast buffet! Just Google or go on TripAdvisor and you'll find it. Hope this helps. Any questions, just PM me.

Ditto! Gorgeous dress Cindy. My dress is Gaudi by Pronovias. Can't wait for this bad boy to come in! I just feel like a goddess in it!

I'm going half on the dresses and making sure the price is something manageable in the first place so it'll seem like nothing to pay half. I couldn't have them come all that way and not help 'em out, you know? I selected the gown styles which are varying colors of turquoise and let them select the dress that worked for them (I wanted their dresses to mimic the one-shoulder style of my dress). For one of them, I'm not going half on. We made a deal that if she did the makeup for the bridal party (5 people) at a given rate, then she can pay for her dress. We're both happy with the arrangement. I think it depends on your budget and the friendship you have. I don't want money to interfere in our friendship in any way. I want them to feel that I care about their budget and the strain my wedding may put on them, which I do. I know they're my girls, my road-dawgs, and they're ecstatic for me, but gotta exercise wisdom with DWs...

For our ceremony, it is important to us to keep it straight spiritual and symbolic. We saw a beautiful ceremonial rite one that we wanted to add. It was a handwashing ceremony. The couple basically washed their hands in a bowl to symbolize the washing away of the past (whatever it may be: sins, mistakes, past relationships, hangups, etc) so that they can start their marriage a-fresh and spotless. We're going to do this in addition to taking Communion, which most know what that symbolizes. Getting excited just thinking about it! I'm hoping the program will go something like this: Opening Prayer Giving Away of Bride Pastor Blurb Groom Song Written Vows Handwashing Communion Traditional Vows (?) Pronouncement Jump the Broom (?)

Well, we opened up a joint account for the wedding and know how much each is to put in. That account is like for the major things: venue, flights, hotel, photogs, videographer, etc. However, I'm paying for the incidentals out of my own account: makeup, hair, bridal accessories. We're going to be over budget, but it's within the amount that was acceptable for us to do so. I think secret stashes are necessary for things that may pop up that you didn't budget for.

We're getting married June 2011. I just bought my FI's ring last Saturday because the ring he wanted was on sale for 50% off! We figured, why the heck not?! When he's finished paying off my E-ring, he'll move on to my WB. It's going to have to be custom made to fit. My sister and I went to a bridal expo and they gave us gift cards for two free wedding bands. I told him, so he wouldn't stress himself out with all we got going on, to just get my WB using the gift card and we'll use that as my WB for the wedding. We ordered that last week too (he even ordered himself an E-ring to ward off the ladies he says, lol). After we come back, and things settle down money-wise, then he'll buy me the custom WB.

I'm hoping too! It's gonna have chantilly cream too. Yummy! I'm a little nervous because the recipe is from Naef, but the hotel agreed to make it. Hopefully it'll all turn out ok, since we can't afford to do a site visit.

Our cake is going to be champagne infused white chocolate cake with fresh strawberries (I detest chocolate, but loooove white chocolate). The cake will be a mash-up of these two cakes: (1) http://www.flickr.com/photos/forgoodnesscakes/4702105614/ and (2) http://www.flickr.com/photos/17067850@N00/4605247647/ Instead of the henna-like designs on the turquoise cake, we're going to do the coral designs of the second cake, but keep the hexagonal shape, colors and gold beads of the blue cake.

@MaggieandJay: I found the shoes at www.ninashoes.com. I know how you feel! I wanted shoes in the turquoise family and all the search results just didn't move me. I even contemplated a DIY project on the shoes, but I saw these (still don't know how I came across them!) after months of searching and the other shoe not working out. All the best in getting a pair!

I've tried, believe me! I think the online UK company is the maker and seller of the shoes, so I couldn't find them anywhere else. I mean, I was -ahunting, lol. My sister even suggested getting a cousin to buy them for me and ship it over, but I felt weird asking a cousin I barely talk to to do that for me, lol. I think the other shoes are just as fine, so I'll make it easy on myself and get those. I may keep looking for my own purposes though...

@JetsettinBride: I'm going with the Nina's because the other shoe can't be shipped to the U.S. My colors were turquoise/teal and gold, so both shoes would've been fine. I'm more partial to the Nina's anyway because the fan embellishments on the other shoe may have gotten caught in the dress as I walked.

I'm trapped between these two options: or

I wanna do a spin on this inspiration board...

We still haven't changed our Facebook statuses for a few reasons: 1) We're inherently private people. 2) We both have exes that regularly try to check up on us via NewsFeed and mutual friends' comments. 3) We both decided we would not change our status until we're married. FB can be a blessing, but it's ultimately a curse, lol. We simply told our nearest and dearest first by phone or in-person, and then the news spread little by little. There are still people I see frequently that don't know I'm engaged! It's kind of fun actually... One of my distant friends heard about it from her mother (whom I'm close to), and congratulated me on my FB wall. I immediately took it down and sent her message explaining why. I don't like even congratulating people on whatever it may be via their Wall. I will do it thru a PM so as not to put their business out there in case it wasn't public news yet. I think you just have to follow the lead of the couple. It's their news to share, so let them set the tone.

Turquoise/Teal and Gold. Our theme is "Stars over the Sea" so we wanted the gold from stars and the turquoise from the sea.

I came up with the idea to get a huge world map and have the guests sign over where they think we should go on our honeymoon. Whoever guesses right will get a gift basket of Mexican-themed items like salsa, tortillas, a Puerto Vallarta T-shirt, a Mexican candy all in a sombrero. Thought it would be fun and interactive.