mochamakes3

Lisa, have you checked Michaels and/or Home Sense? I think those would be your best options so that you can actually see and feel the frame. Or maybe look on this site, I don't know if they ship to Canada though. http://www.personalizationmall.com/Personalized-Sympathy-Gifts-Personalized-Memorial-Gifts-d1161.dept?storeid=32

It doesn't matter who is doing your hair and/or makeup, or the language they speak, it is always best to bring pictures. It is the easiest way to show what you want.

Congratulations Erin! That's so romantic and amazing! Now you'll be the first one of us April brides to get married. So excited for you.

Apola, that is horrible. But I am glad to hear that you are doing better and just need to relax and enjoy your engagement. Sounds like you need a stress relieving day away from wedding frustrations.

Laura, That's good advice about the folic iron. I have issues with anemia so it has always been a consideration. I figure I will have an indepth conversation with gyno before I go off the pill. BTW, I've been on it 15 years.

Actually, many TA's are able to negotiate the group benefits. The resort just wants a group contract and will only count reservations made through that specific contract. There has been brides on here that were able to negotiate including all rooms no matter the reservation method. As long as you have your TA confirm and include the group benefits in your contract, I would not worry. The wedding collections are not more expensive if you book through a TA, if you book through a member you get a 20% discount. Otherwise, this 20% goes to the TA as a commission. However, right now you can use the promotional dollars to pay for the wedding collections. And most of us brides look at the packages and realize that it is more cost effective to purchase individual options to customize our desires. There is no cancellation or change fees for membership reservations, but you are still charged the wedding cancellation fees. Especially since you are pretty much booking last minute, look into a TA. As someone that booked through a membership, I wish I had gone with a TA. Guests can only make reservations through the wedding department, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. This doesn't always fit people's schedules. Even if you book a group contract directly through the resort without a member you get an online group booking link. There is also poor service from the Miami department. I would prefer someone local to be available to answer my questions. Just my opinions since we're getting married there in 2 months, and I am not at all pleased with the membership service.

I think they only book 2-3 months in advance, and you have to have your reservation paid in full.

Adales thanks for posting the picture. I am pretty sure we will order from them as long as we have enough room in our luggage. Do they all have the same design painted on them?

Erin, I redeem my points at the grocery store. In a normal year, I will earn a couple hundred and use it for the big Christmas grocery shopping trip. Two years ago we bought a wii with the points and I had planned on buying a ps3 for FI last year, but he ended up winning one. So now I have something like $1000. And probably enough hotel points to stay two weeks for free. We were going to use some of those points to extend our wedding week, but decided it would be too much work to switch resorts.

Proper etiquette dictates that you pay travel expenses if you are having a "traditional" wedding, for a destination wedding you are not entitled to pay for their travel but can assist if possible. Most people arrange a special excursion or gift.

Lisa, I don't think you're crazy. I think you're BRAVE. I'm crazy for just putting off the whole finding a dress thing for so long. My credit card company must love me this year, between wedding stuff and $5000 a month in travel expenses I'm really racking up the points. I won't have to pay for groceries for months! Maybe even a whole year!

Laura, I totally agree with spending all day on here. I try to restrict myself since I'm working with an internet stick but that just doesn't happen. I have a lot of stuff on my desk for work right now, but I would much rather be on here. Erin, I think they started that new section just for us. We are definitely the highest posters so they need to keep us happy haha.

Laura, I can't wait to get home after our wedding and just catch up on sleep. And go back to not spending money online everyday! I might just have to start a wedding business or at the very least start helping out some of my engaged friends.

Laura, we will give one to each person. Same reason as Brandy. But we're probably only doing one OOT bag per couple or single.

Lisa you are brave for having the skirt on your real dress changed. I would be so nervous after spending that much money. I am glad I decided to order a second dress, I feel like it is definitely more my style and I get excited when I see pictures of other brides wearing the dress that I copied the skirt from.

akotha, Some other brides suggested Alberto, that's who I requested.

Laura, It's a good price and they should be easy to sell. There's not many postings for us cdn girls so you shouldn't have trouble. I'll have extra card holders which I hope to sell on here too. But mine are thicker multi card holders.

Brandy, I don't think it looks bad. If it does, then those people are just jealous. You're really lucky to be able to have a DW, AHR and honeymoon. We don't have enough vacation time for a honeymoon, so I'm hoping for a babymoon for our anniversary.

Brandy, I think there will be so much going on that they won't notice. Or maybe we will give them the photo books are AHR? When are you giving the BM gifts?

Brandy, I take on these silly projects because I am stuck in a hotel room by myself every night. There's not much else for me to do. My only problem is that I usually only get a chance to go shopping one day a week so I really have to plan out everything I might need. I have a ton of other stuff on the list too, but these are my important ones right now. I wanted to do the Coach wristlet thing for my MoH but my sister would frown on that, she wants LV because Coach is cheap in her eyes. So even Tiffany jewelery is out. I am going to have my neighbor make them bracelets to wear for the wedding and maybe earrings too. I'm so glad their dresses have a high neckline so we can skip necklaces. But I would like to give them a pretty gift too. Maybe for the parents we will just do photo books.

Laura - someone else suggested checking out Acklands Grainger. They are a safety supplies store with locations everywhere. I'm pretty sure they would carry them and will usually let you break open packages. I don't know about pricing though because my company shops there almost everyday, so we usually get a big discount.

Erin, I'm glad you finally found something he liked and in the right color. I wish that I could find a check list for a destination wedding. I want to make sure I have all the little things covered but all the lists I find are either focused on local weddings and catering or don't cover all our little shopping lists, like sand ceremony and table cards. For FI & GM, we still need to make a final decision on ties, FI is going shopping with them this weekend for shirt and pants. Both his parents need attire. I need shoes, but am holding off until dress #3 arrives. Need to order BM jewelery. We need vases for sand ceremony, I didn't want the traditional set. I need to make paper cones for rose petals. Need to find paper for programs, waiting for a good card stock sale at Michaels. We need gifts for parents, BM & GM. (suggestions?)

I think we have been pretty quiet on here the last couple of days. Laura, I'm glad to hear you are getting things accomplished. I am slowing working on our Mr & Mrs chair signs. I have the plaques painted, so tonight will be the big challenge of writing on them. Wish e luck. I'm not quite sure how to tackle the project.

Erin, I think FI is just worried that it will happen the first time we try. He wants to be able to enjoy our newlywed life for a little while, but is certainly looking forward to little ones running around. On the other hand, I worry that it will take a long time.

Shipping killed this for me. I was too worried about the quality and shipping to Canada was almost the same price as the items.