clgriffi7

Past brides: did you base your ceremony on the script provided by Claudia or did you write something entirely on your own? I am hoping it is the latter because what I have drafted is nothing like the script in futuremrsroo's post from Claudia.

I am not married yet but I can give you a bride's view that is planning to do it. 1. I have attended local weddings where they did a sand ceremony and I thought it was really meaningful. At one wedding they actually chose to have many different colors and involve the bride and groom's parents. (The parents poured first - "laying the foundation") I also love that this is something tangible that you can keep from your wedding day that you can display next to a framed photo from your wedding day. 2. As for getting it home - I think a frame might be easiest. I ordered the following frame from etsy: http://www.etsy.com/listing/61083327/unity-sand-ceremony-frame-with-engraving?ref=pr_shop The frame came with the following instructions (I don't have them with me so I am paraphrasing): The part of the frame that holds the sand is a clear plastic box that fits into the frame behind the etched glass. The box is removable and has a hole on one end only. After filling the box during the ceremony you tape over the hole at the end of the box and flip it over and insert it into the frame. So now the hole of the box is pointing down and is inside the frame so it cannot empty and the cut-out in the top of the wood frame is now over a solid part of the plastic box. Two things I will do: 1. After the ceremony I plan on tapping the frame/box to settle the sand as much as possible to fill it up to the brim - repeating a few times if necessary. This way there will be no need to redo it once you get home. 2. possibly putting something (like a piece of a cotton ball) between the sand and the tape before I flip the box over to make sure the sand never makes its way past the tape.

I haven't purchased mine yet, but I saw this idea from a previous BDW bride and I saved the info. I think these clutches will make a great gift - and if you were to put something inside, then even better... http://www.etsy.com/listing/59668329/bridesmaid-clutch-you-choose-the-fabrics?ga_search_query=bridesmaid&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5201379 You choose the fabic for $36

It is disappointing that the extras are inconsistent and you can't count on them. For some of the small things it is a risk to not pay for them and just hope you get them free. For example, I think the white flags look great on the beach and I would love to save the couple hundred dollars on them and get them free - but I am not sure if I am willing to just hope they show up. That is really unfortunate about the rose petals since you paid for the real ones. It is frustrating to not get the free extras that another bride might get - but it is just maddening to not get what you paid for... Hopefully none of those things change the way you think of your wedding.

Soon2BMrsS Oct 21 (travel Oct 18-25) futuremrsroo Oct 28 (travel Oct 26-???) mgl27 Oct 29 (travel Oct 24-Nov 1) clgriffi7 Nov 5 (travel Nov 2-10) bnwedding2011 Nov 8 (travel Nov 5-12) hairdos11 Nov 10 (travel Nov 6-14) shannonb528 Nov 11 (travel Nov 7-13) Wow!

Sonn2BMrsS Oct 21 (travel Oct 18-25) futuremrsroo Oct 28 (travel Oct 26-???) mgl27 Oct 29 (travel Oct 24-Nov 1) clgriffi7 Nov 5 (travel Nov 2-10) bnwedding2011 Nov 8 (travel Nov 5-12) shannonb528 Nov 11 (travel Nov 7-13) Chris - Thanks for the well wishes for all of us in-betweeners. Time seems to creep by when you are at this stage....

A lot of places charge a fee for an outside photographer but they wave the fee if the photographer is staying as a guest. It would be worth asking that question either to the resort directly or finding the thread for that resort on this forum and asking the brides there.

Thank you...it is Allure 8705. For those ladies that haven't started shopping yet - please think about your budget before you even decide which bridal shops to go to. If you go to a shop with expensive dresses you are almost guaranteed to fall in love with a gorgeous designer dress. But if there is no way you can afford that dress, then please don't put yourself through the heartbreak. The expereince of a champagne service bridal boutique just isn't worth it if you end up in tears.

Thanks. I totally agree with coconoir1908 - the right price is different for each bride. Each bride places a different importance on the dress. Each bride also has a different idea of what makes a dress beautiful and the more intricate the more expensive. But as long as you know what you can afford when you start shopping and you stick to that budget, then you will be fine. Just don't let a consultant talk you into anything more expesive that you have budgeted!

Welcome to the forum and especially this thread!

So for Oct/Nov we have: Sonn2BMrsS Oct 21 (travel Oct 18-25) futuremrsroo Oct 28 (travel Oct 26-???) mgl27 Oct 29 (travel Oct 24-Nov 1) clgriffi7 Nov 5 (travel Nov 2-10) bnwedding2011 Nov 8 (travel Nov 5-12) Exciting that there will be a bit of overlap for a few ladies to see each others' weddings. Just 3.5-4 months for all of us...about time, eh? Sorry - I have been engaged since last June so it will be a long 17 months in the making. Courtney

This is how I picked my resort: 1. First you have to narrow down where you want to have your wedding (Mexico, Jamaica, etc). If you could narrow it down to a town on the island (like Ocho Rios or Negril) or a location in Mexico (Riviera Maya or Cancun) at this point that would be helpful. I chose Mexico because the flights would be cheaper for guests, and I chose Cancun because 1) the ride from the airport would be shorter, 2) the beaches are fantastic (thus why the area because famous), and 3) access to night life for the younger guests 2. Based on personal preference and the guests you really want to come, decide if you are looking for family friendly or adults only. My fiance's brother has 3 kids - so adults only was not an option if we wanted him to be there. 3. Decide what type of wedding package you want. Do you want it to have a private reception (ex: on the beach) or is a reception in a portion of one of the resort restaurants what you want? I definitely wanted a private reception where we could have a DJ and a dance floor. 4. Look at ceremony and reception locations at the resort. Make sure you are happy with at least one of these locations. I wanted to have my ceremony at a gazebo and my reception on the beach. BUT I didn't want my gazebo ceremony to be right in the middle of everything (ex: right next to the pool) - so I looked for a gazebo where you can actually get pictures of the wedding without getting an old man in his speedo in the background. 5. Then look at resort reviews to help you narrow down the last few resorts. Look at reviews from brides, but also look on tripadvisor for vacationer reviews. Remember that you and your guests need to have a great vacation expereince as well. Hope this helps!!! Of course there is no wrong selection so don't stress out too much over it.

My dress was between $500-$600 and I absolutely love it. (pardon the other bride to be in the background). I am sure that choosing a dress without lace and beading really helped to keep the price down - luckily I have simple tastes, so I didn't want those things. Another way to save money is to find a bridal store in the area that provides a little less service. Where I live there are 2 stores (45 minutes drives to each, but worth it) that don't require appointments and don't give you a personal assistant. The dress shopping expereince may not be as nice, but the price ends up being cheaper. And if you can manage to go on a day during the week there is no one else there so you end up getting the personal attention anyway. As for a TTD - I had initially wanted a second dress because what girl doesn't want a second wedding dress? Then I decided that the pictures would be much more meaningful if it was THE wedding dress instead of another pretty white dress. Yeah - I might not be able to swim well, but my fiance has been warned that it is his job to not let me drown. One thing I read from a bride previously married at my resort is that she had her dress dry cleaned after her TTD but while still at the resort so she didnt' have to bring a wet dress home. She said it cost $85 - which is cheaper than I could get it done at home.

You would have to think that even if they won't let you trade for something else, they would at least be willing to serve it to you when you want it! I was thinking that if I keep the champagne (and end up buying an extra bottle for the extra people) that I would rather have it during the reception for toasts instead of right after the ceremony. I can see right after the ceremony being appropriate if there were not going to be a reception (for example if it were just the bride and groom or a vow renewal ceremony).

My wedding is November 5th, so it looks like we have the following: Sonn2BMrsS Oct 21 (travel Oct 18-25) futuremrsroo Oct 28 (travel Oct 26-???) mgl27 Oct 29 (travel Oct 24-???) clgriffi7 Nov 5 (travel Nov 2-10)

I voted "Maybe" because there are a lot of conditions on my response. I am bringing my photographer with me - so not being allowed to bring a photographer (even as a guest) would be a deal breaker. However, I am not planning on using any other outside vendors for my wedding. One of the reasons I was drawn to a destination wedding is because it was supposed to be easier to plan because you are given fewer options (example: the bride chooses the flowers, but the resort chooses the florist). (Note I said supposed to be easier because when you factor in a legal wedding and AHR to plan you actually end up planning MORE than a traditional at-home wedding.) But of course I only felt comfortable using the resort's vendors after seeing lots of pictures and reading great reviews from previous brides. I would be truly upset if that policy were thrown at me last minute because you would not have that opportunity to check out those vendors (not to mention that you would likely lose deposit money for the vendors you had booked!).

Another question ladies: Have any of you tried trading out the dessert in your dinner package because you are having wedding cake? I know previous brides have said it is not worth upgrading the cake because you have the other dessert that comes with dinner - but what about upgrading the cake and ditching the other dessert options (in exchange for something else of course - maybe the cost of the cake upgrade)?

You looked fantastic in your long wedding dress and that short dress is to die for!

I bought a bracelet (in the color shown) for each of my flower girls (my colors are light blue and navy blue) for their gifts - the girls will be 3 yrs, 2 yrs, and 12 months at the time of the wedding. I bought them from seller LittleDiddleBoutique. BELLA Children's Personalized Name Bracelet made with Sterling Silver and Swarovski Crystal I also bought them light blue hair flower headbands to dress up the casual white cotton dresses we bought from baby gap. Below are pictures of the blue flower and then an example of what the flowers look like on a skinny stretchy headband. Seller: AliBugBowtique. The girls are my fiance's nieces and have black hair (but very short hair as it just hasn't grown in) so hopefully the flower will be a cute addition for pictures! It is sooooo easy to spend a lot of money on "extras" for the wedding that can seriously add up!

It seems like the "standard" is to have the wedding at the gazebo, the cocktail hour on the Terrace (overlooking the gazebo), and then reception either on the beach or in a ballroom. I am not sure where the cocktail hour is if you are having your reception on the Terrace. I think I remember a bride saying she had her cocktail hour in some garden area - but I don't know where that is...

At present, I plan on having a dance floor for a beach reception. My total will be in the 24-28 range, so it will definitely be a small group too. After seeing the dancing pictures of the light up dance floor I decided that is what I wanted. I know it is a lot of money (and totally unnecessary), but it is what I want :-) I am sure my fiance will have a fit when we go over that line item at the meeting with Claudia...

Here is a link for the average weather conditions in Cancun throughout the year. It seems as if May through October are the warmer months and November through April are a bit cooler. But when the average high only changes by 9 degrees F for the entire year, you know you have chosen a great place to get married!!! One thing to keep in mind with a December wedding (like mine in November) is that the sun sets earlier, so that may impact what time you might want to have your ceremony. http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/MXQR0138 Also, with a low temperature around 70 deg F in the winter months, it might make the addition of pashmina's to the OOT bags more practical. I plan on adding them because even though 70 is still warm, it will likely feel a bit chilly after the heat of a sunny day (especially with a sunburn like I am sure most of my guests will end up with). But imagine how nice it will be to dance at your reception on the beach (at least that is where mine will be) when it is nice and cool....

Exciting!!! Best of luck and tell us all about it when you get back....

barbiebride24 - Your pictures are fantastic............Congratulations!

I joined in on the starfish passing for 2 reasons: 1. it is a special bond to have with other brides, to know that each of your wedding days are connected by the same detail item 2. the starfish can be your "something borrowed" and if you are in on a blue starfish it can also be your "something blue"