elisamarie

Thanks for sharing your pics! LOVE the response from the White House - what a great thing to put in the scrapbook!

Thanks for sharing your pics! I especially love the girl's dresses! Everyone looks so tropical!

Here's mine: _$968________ $ for 7 nights occupancy (double) - cheapest room option possible at your resort (inc airfare and taxes) ___62______ # of invites sent ____30_____ # of guests attending ___Playa Pesquero, Holguin Cuba______ Resort Name ____4.5_____ # of stars of resort

We haven't done a site visit. I don't think it's necessary. I've researched the resort enough and know some people who have been there and said it's fabulous that I'm not worried about the resort not living up to anyone's standards. Research the resort you are staying at, and remember to disregard the best reviews, and the worst reviews, and somewhere in the middle is the truth! At the end of the day, if you are married, then your goal is achieved! Everything else is a bonus!

I agree, give a speech thanking them all, if they feel bad because they realize that they haven't done anything to be thanked for, then that 's their problem. Your bases are covered and you showed class by thanking everyone.

Hi Everyone! With only 27 days to go, it's definitely crunch time with my DIY projects- so here are my DIY place cards!! I am having 30 people at the wedding, so I decided to do just place cards with no escort cards. The umbrellas I found at the local grocery store of all places for 50 cents for 20 ! I had the names printed at Staples and the font is Hybiscus I bought the coloured cardstock at Michaels. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out and I hope you can use them as a starting point for yours!!

1. How old are you? 33 2. At what age did you/will you get married? 33 3. Do you have children? NO 4. Did you think you would marry the person you are with now? Yes, I knew while we were on our blind date 5. Were you ever engaged or married to someone other than the person you are with now? No 6. Do you want a garden wedding, beach wedding, or the traditional church wedding? Beach wedding! 7. Where did you/will you get married? Playa Pesquero, Holguin ,Cuba 8. First dance - classic waltz, slow and sexy, or fast and spicy? Slow 9. How many guests did you/will you have? 30 10. Do you want/did you have an extravagant wedding or a simple wedding? Simple 11. Vows - traditional or something you make up on your own? Still deciding, I think will we end up writing our own vows together 12. How many layers of cake did you/will you have? Don't really care about the cake 13. Is/was your wedding/reception at a hotel? resort hotel 14. When did you/will you get married - sunrise, mid-day, sunset? getting married at 4 pm on the beach 15. Did you/will you have your reception outdoors or indoors? outdoors 16. Plan every detail down to the napkins or let someone else decide? planned myself 17. How did/will the bride enter? walk 18. Song to walk down the aisle to:not sure yet 19. Song to make your exit: Not sure yet 20. Will you/did you have a solemn ceremony or a light one? Light 21. At what age did you think you would get married? 27 22. Who to invite - practically everyone or a select few? Everyone 23. Wedding menu - fine dining or simply delicious? simply delicious 24. Champagne or red wine? Champagne 25. Honeymoon right after the wedding, awhile after the wedding, or no honeymoon? we are going to Panama one month later 26. Was your/will your honeymoon be at a place special to you both or somewhere brand new to you both? New! 27. Who will pay for the bills? Us 28. Living together: Not before marriage or absolutely before marriage? Absolutely before 29. Anything else about marriage you'd like to say? The best things in life are the things that are a complete surprise!!!

Hi Ladies! After spending time reading through everyone's family dramas and wedding stresses ( including my own!) - I thought about a book I read many years ago that I find really helpful for anyone and especially brides during this time. The book is called "The Four Agreements- A Toltec Wisdom Book" ( perfect for you Mexico brides!) it is by Don Miguel Ruiz. He is also the author of " Mastery of Love" which is really something profound to read if you are engaged or married. Here is just an excerpt for you from "The Four Agreements". It has helped me through tough points in my life and I share it with you because I think it is also fitting for weddings!!! THE FOUR AGREEMENTS: 1) Be Impeccable with you word = Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love. 2) Dont' take anything personally = Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering. (this one I find really important - I found it hard to not take it personally when people RSVP'd NO to our wedding, only to find them booking trips for themselves at the same time. I try to remember this rule when I feel insulted and it helps. I hope it can help you as well) 3) Don't make assumptions = Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life. 4) Always do your best = Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret. Well, there's a sample for you, I hope it helps anyone going through wedding stress or even your general life. I really enjoy his writings and I wanted to share them with you. Best wishes!

I am so sad to hear your story. Number one, you need to leave that house, no matter what you have to sacrifice , you cannot keep living there because you'll never heal until you get out of that atmosphere. I hope you have somewhere that you can go until you get back on your feet, because where you live right now is just toxic. Time will heal, I promise. Life continues and something bigger and better awaits you. What you have gone through right now is just a small fraction of your life, and you will look back on this someday and say " wow those were bad times but everything worked out perfectly". It always does. Trust me, I know.

I'm a casino dealer!

We are getting married at Playa Pesquero in Cuba, and honeymooning at the Royal Decameron in Panama!

I love this idea, and the idea of two categories with prizes awarded at the AHR. I'm definitely going to do this !! Thanks for the idea!

I LOVE your pictures! I love the one of his reaction seeing you in your dress and I love the one with the parasols!! Beautiful!!

Hi everyone! I would love any advice or comments on a honeymoon destination. We are getting married in Cuba during the week of Nov 29 - Dec 6. Due to my work vacation bookings , we are going on our honeymoon in January. Here are 3 ideas I have been tossing around: 1. Mexico - there are some great deals right now on some really nice resorts. My problem is are we going to want to go on the exact same kind of vacation that we were just on one month before? 2. New Orleans - a lot of girls I work with have been here and love it - there are so many cool things to do and the food is supposed to be fantastic. 3. A cruise - We've never been on a cruise, and I don't like the whole "scheduled" idea. But I do like the idea of visiting multiple islands on one trip. If you have been on any of these trips I would love to hear your feedback. Thanks ladies!

I think 2 AHR's are ok, if they're going to be casual events why not? I also think there's nothing wrong with a potluck party, have a slideshow of your wedding pics and some great food and snacks ! If you would have only one AHR, what province would you pick to have it in? Would some people be offended? I say if you can afford to have 2 casual ones then do that !