proti007

Glad you found us Kelsie! For anyone else, the Calgary thread is here: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/thread/51281/calgary-brides

Hey ladies! Just came across this forum, hurray! My wedding is on July 27th, 2011 at Dreams Los Cabos, and we have 34 currently booked (including ourselves!). 3 months to go!

Just wondering if there are any other brides getting married at Dreams in July 2011! 3 months to go!

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in: We're getting married in three months, and our AHR is about a month after that. I also come from a big European family (I'm Greek and my FI is Ukrainian) and we've come upon many of the issues you have with regards to "etiquette." I've had to remind my mom over and over that the same wedding "etiquette" does NOT apply to DWs!!! We've already had the big, Greek engagement party in Toronto (about 100 people), to celebrate with my family and friends there. We did serve a plated dinner, hire a dj, have our priest bless our rings in a special ceremony, give bombinierre (favours), have a seating chart, etc. It was, in essence, a mini-wedding, very formal, I wore a beautiful floor-length cocktail dress and my FI was in a three-piece suit. Our AHR is taking place in Edmonton, where my FI and his family are from, and will have about 300 people, predominately his side, and our friends from Calgary. I will NOT be wearing my dress. thinking it was "tacky" never really crossed my mind, but rather that my wedding dress is special, only something I want to wear on my wedding day; so for me, it was more a feeling of it being "inappropriate." Our reception is not a "wedding," just like our engagement party wasn't. There will be a dinner at the AHR (buffet-style) and a band. I am doing favours for the AHR, but not as costly/fancy as those for our e-party (we gave crystal mosiac glass candleholders). Partly due to the fact that the e-party was way more per per guest, and partly because it was more formal. My AHR will be WAY more casual, and I'm making homemade jam that I'll be canning in pretty little mason jars - it just fits the theme better. Ultimately, you have to do what you are comfortable with!!!! Anything goes Natalie

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in: We're getting married in three months, and our AHR is about a month after that. I also come from a big European family (I'm Greek and my FI is Ukrainian) and we've come upon many of the issues you have with regards to "etiquette." I've had to remind my mom over and over that the same wedding "etiquette" does NOT apply to DWs!!! We've already had the big, Greek engagement party in Toronto (about 100 people), to celebrate with my family and friends there. We did serve a plated dinner, hire a dj, have our priest bless our rings in a special ceremony, give bombinierre (favours), have a seating chart, etc. It was, in essence, a mini-wedding, very formal, I wore a beautiful floor-length cocktail dress and my FI was in a three-piece suit. Our AHR is taking place in Edmonton, where my FI and his family are from, and will have about 300 people, predominately his side, and our friends from Calgary. I will NOT be wearing my dress. thinking it was "tacky" never really crossed my mind, but rather that my wedding dress is special, only something I want to wear on my wedding day; so for me, it was more a feeling of it being "inappropriate." Our reception is not a "wedding," just like our engagement party wasn't. There will be a dinner at the AHR (buffet-style) and a band. I am doing favours for the AHR, but not as costly/fancy as those for our e-party (we gave crystal mosiac glass candleholders). Partly due to the fact that the e-party was way more per per guest, and partly because it was more formal. My AHR will be WAY more casual, and I'm making homemade jam that I'll be canning in pretty little mason jars - it just fits the theme better. Ultimately, you have to do what you are comfortable with!!!! Anything goes Natalie

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in: We're getting married in three months, and our AHR is about a month after that. I also come from a big European family (I'm Greek and my FI is Ukrainian) and we've come upon many of the issues you have with regards to "etiquette." I've had to remind my mom over and over that the same wedding "etiquette" does NOT apply to DWs!!! We've already had the big, Greek engagement party in Toronto (about 100 people), to celebrate with my family and friends there. We did serve a plated dinner, hire a dj, have our priest bless our rings in a special ceremony, give bombinierre (favours), have a seating chart, etc. It was, in essence, a mini-wedding, very formal, I wore a beautiful floor-length cocktail dress and my FI was in a three-piece suit. Our AHR is taking place in Edmonton, where my FI and his family are from, and will have about 300 people, predominately his side, and our friends from Calgary. I will NOT be wearing my dress. thinking it was "tacky" never really crossed my mind, but rather that my wedding dress is special, only something I want to wear on my wedding day; so for me, it was more a feeling of it being "inappropriate." Our reception is not a "wedding," just like our engagement party wasn't. There will be a dinner at the AHR (buffet-style) and a band. I am doing favours for the AHR, but not as costly/fancy as those for our e-party (we gave crystal mosiac glass candleholders). Partly due to the fact that the e-party was way more per per guest, and partly because it was more formal. My AHR will be WAY more casual, and I'm making homemade jam that I'll be canning in pretty little mason jars - it just fits the theme better. Ultimately, you have to do what you are comfortable with!!!! Anything goes Natalie

Love # 1, with #5 flowers - they are STUNNING!

Ashley, everything looks great! And I have to agree with Lesa: my groomie and groomsmen are also wearing the same J.Crew suits, I am using the same lanterns from Z Gallerie (in white) and I have your bms' dress in my closet! Good taste lady

It's been a few months since I started this thread, and I'm so happy that everyone who contributed to this thread has done so in a thoughtful, respectful manner! With my wedding now three months away, I've started to finalize my list of to-dos for the big day, and an OOT bag is still not on that list - although I will be mailing a welcome package that will include a welcome booklet (info on the week's events, resort info, and a who's who) and custom luggage tags for our guests. I've learned from a lot of the brides that ARE doing OOT bags that they are NOT planning on doing wedding favours. My FI and I are absolutely giving favours at our wedding (coming from a European background, we call these bombinierre, and they are a MUST!), which will be pashminas for the ladies and a cigar station for the men. I think the overarching point that most brides have tried to get across is that guests DO appreciate the work that we do put into these things! They just don't have to take place in an OOT bag form!

They look gorgeous! I totally agree with you about DIYing the invites. I ordered my actual wedding, info and response card from a letterpress vendor, but put everything else together on my own (labels, burlap bellyband, vintage seashell envelope liner and kakumuthu shell embellishments). I can't even imagine what the cost would have been if I hadn't partially DIYed them. Here's the link to mine:http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/thread/71644/my-gorgeous-letterpress-wedding-invitations-lots-of-pics

Thanks Sandy!!! No, I showed it to Greg. Even though it is a mini-me, I think we can all agree that the dress doesn't look like that in real life! lol I have a few more curves than bobble-head Nat! I feel your pain with the luggage!!!! We'll be packing for the 10-day wedding trip AND the two-week honeymoon right after. I cringe thinking about it! I was looking at Westjet's baggage charges and the good thing is they charge per bag, not by pound! Woohoo! We're bringing a TON of stuff for the wedding (lantern centrepieces, rattan chargers, miscellaneous extravaganza - TG I'm not doing OOT bags!). What's the story with your wedding dress? How are you taking it? I'm also flying with Westjet.

Hi everyone! I just got my custom cake topper from Lollipop Workshop on Etsy! It is adorable, detailed and exactly as I had asked! They even managed to replicate my dress and my FI's suit! Take a look and let me know what you think! I would HIGHLY recommend this seller!

Hey ladies! Just thought I'd share: My custom cake topper just arrived! Ordered from LolliPop Workshop on Etsy! They even replicated my dress and Greg's suit

Thank you for the compliments everyone

I order all of my paper from GMUND. They're based out of Europe, but ship to Canada. High quality, professional paper that GD's use. www.gmund.com

MissNatalie, Today is your wedding day!!! Congrats on becoming a MRS!!! xo Nat P.S. - You are missing a blizzard here in Calgary! Lucky you

I would pick either #3, the one on the left where you're both smiling and laughing (love it!) or #6 (also B&W and light poring in....STUNNING). Your photographer did a spectacular job - a good mix of photojournalistic and portrait!

Ours is yellow, burlap and white with sea glass accents;

Thanks Nairay! We're using the same paper as the backers for our menus and the inside covers of our wedding programs.

Hey Dreams brides! So yesterday it occurred to me that other Dreams brides MUST have posted some videos of their weddings, and I came across Angel Zapien!!!! He is a videographer in Cabo who has a whole Dreams section on his website of videos! I've now watched them all!!! Enjoy http://angelzapien.com/category/dreams-los-cabos/

I just wanted to send a big congrats to Teira, as she is now a WIFE! And also a huge good luck to KiwiBride, who is getting married tomorrow! Hurray! Congrats to both Dreams brides, can't wait to hear all about your weddings!

We used Wedding Window; I think it's the most comprehensive by far (but not free!).

Thank you thank you thank you everyone! They're in the mail; I can't wait for our guests to receive them!

Sandy & Linds - Thank you! They were a labour of love!!! I will be sure to bring one next time we meet up. And Sandy, congrats on you LC!!! So exciting

We got my FI's suit and all off the groomsmen's pants/vests at J.Crew (online). They have two suit fits, one that is more classic (Aldridge) and the other that is a slimmer fitting suit (Ludlow). We've gone with the Ludlow cotton fine-stripe in faded black: