JQLong

Kmarch85....you were a beautiful bride! Congrats!!!! Also, thank you very much for the detail in your blog. We have exactly 3 months before our big day and I am getting anxious. Yamina has not responded to my emails but everyone keeps saying not to worry....and I am not going to. Congrats!!! JQ

Happy 3 months to go atalanta!!!!!! Are you beginning to get nervous? I have been on a mission to get things doneby the 30 day to go mark. We are almost there!!!!!! JQ

Hey there atalanta!!! We are date twins!!!!! 7.04.2012 - jqlong, Dreams Rivera Cancun, Mexico!!! YAY!!!!!!

Thank you!

Hey R~! Thank you! How is married life? Hope you are well!

Thank you. Some of the pressure is off...but I am still nervous about being a gracious host to my guests in Mexico!

I just sent you a PM..... Thanks JQ

Ok….this is my confession… So…..another reason I have been MIA is because my fiance (now husband) and I got married on Valentines Day. He Mom is not traveling with us and we wanted her to be a part of our union. Also, he is a contractor at his job and does not have any insurance. The plan had always been to have a legal ceremony at home as opposed to having to translate form English to Spanish then Spanish to English….Also, we always make a joke that we wanted to make sure we married each other and not….I don’t know….goats! I contacted our local town clerk at the beginning of February just to see if they performed ceremonies, and the woman I spoke with was very happy to tell me Yes….and…..that for Valentines Day, the Township clerk is having special ceremonies at a location other than just his office! The location was a historic mansion in a few towns over. I immediately called my fiancé and told him, that all I wanted for Valentines Day is for him to marry me. He agreed! (We were going to do it on March 1 – our 4 year Anniversary but….) I was very excited and then was forced to shop for a dress…Now…I already have my gown for Mexico and I was NOT going to wear that! Since it was Valentines Day (and my Mom told me I would not look like a harlot in red!) I decided to find a red dress. My honey wore a Black suit with a red tie. Ok…I am a self-proclaimed “barganista†and I was hell bent on NOT spending a lot for a dress. I looked high and low….Sheesh…you would have thought shopping for a red dress would be easy around Valentines Day! Well….after an extensive search….I ended up at a Macy’s and at 8:45 PM on a Monday night…(also in a dern turtle neck and blazer!!!) I found my dress on a sale rack!!! Whoooo…..it fit perfectly! It was marked down from $114...to $43.00!!! Oh...wait...it gets better...... Next dilemma was shoes…..here is where I get REALY excited….I waited until the day off to get my shoes (not intentionally….I just was trying not to spend a fortune on them)…So I went to DSW in my area (with my $5.00 birthday coupon….oh yeah…my birthday was 2 days later…). As I mentioned, I am a barganista…..I sauntered to the clearance rack and BAM!!!!! I see a pais of cute black strappy shoes…they were marked down but because I was on the phone, I had not done my normal quick calculation on what I would have been saving…..so I get to the register….and the saleslady scans the shoes….I was just ending my conversation and had not looked at the screen. She scans my coupon and I said “Shut the front door!!!!!†My shoes were $3.99! Yes ladies….$3.99! They were marked down to $40.00 then 80% and then my $5.00 coupon! After causing a scene at the register….I pad a promptly rushed home to wake my fiancé up and brag about my shoes….Ok…. now back to the story….. Initially we thought only his Mom would come and we needed another witness. My Mom was very upset with the entire idea of them not being there so she and my Dad took off work to join us for our special day (they live 1 ½ hours from us). For a 10 or 15 minute ceremony, I felt kind of bad having them drive so far. The day was equally special because it was my daughter’s 16th birthday! My MOH and her Mom even made the 2 hour drive to be there. All and all the day was amazing! The weather was beautiful!! My daughter who normally has basketball practice happened to have the day off from practice so she was there. I was so very happy. This in no way has diminished the excitement for our big day in Mexico!

Today officially makes 100 days to go until I walk down the aisle. We are super excited and I find it very hard to concentrate at work as the days go by. I am day dreaming constantly. I look at all the threads and search for everything under the sun!!! The time really does fly when you get caught up with work, children and just everything else besides wedding planning. I have not posted anything in a while as I was waiting for this 100 day mark… But “watch out now!â€â€¦I am ready!!! 100 Days!!!!!!!

Hey!!!!! Coco.....its close girl! Everything looks wonderful! I am so excited for you!

Well....Labebita911....That is a tough one. Chances are the resort you are havign your weding at will charge people that are not staying at the resort a fee (could be $50+) to attend the wedding. This is usually the case when it comes to AI resorts. Although DW are relatively inexpensive, it is a major headache. My fiance and I lost our initial deposit because we were going to have our wedding in St. Thomas. Although we are paying for the wedding ourselves, I discussed with my Mom....prior to booking. Well.....My darling Mom....waits until the first STD went out (with tentative pricing) and then decided it was too expensive. We had also left a room block deposit of which we were able to get back. Once we took a step back and realized that St. Thomas while beautiful was not AI and very expensive. We went back to the drawing board and are now within 6 months of our wedding in Mexico. I would find out from the resort....if they charge a fee for guests to attend the wedding & reception. I would advise my guest of this additional fee and I would NOT under ANY circumstances offer to pay it. As many of us have said (and already know)...the day is for us and our Future Hubbies. Its so hard not to get aggravated though.... Just concentrate on the two of you. We are sending our invitations our tomorrow (has all of the travel agent info)....after that....I am done... I will not debate pricing or anything of the sort. As much as I want people to be there, I look at it this way...the less people...the more intimate...the less money we will spend.... Good Luck Girlie! JQ

This such an awesome idea. Thanks Tammy!!

2012!!!!!! It's finally here! We get married on July 4, 2012!!!! We are suiper excited and nervous at the same time! Congrats to all the 2012 Brides (and Grooms!)!!!

We have decided that we are just going to have a BBQ at my parents house to welcome the new couple. I agree with all that have sad...it defeats the purpose of doing a DW. As we are on a budget we are concerend about how much it would cost to do an AHR. What we must remember is getting married is relatively cheap....What cost the most is the reception....so.....that is the reason why my honey and I decided to go away.....to keep the cost down. I was thrilled (just yesterday) when my Mom agreed to host the BBQ at her house. now we can invite those that will not make it to Mexico. We will decorate the yard, get cute (little) favors and enjoy an overall good time with family & friends.... I'm SOOOOo excited!

I will keep a look out this time too. And the next time I will have my fiance get one too! The Groupon I used did not include shipping but....there is a little note that says if you spend $25.00 over the $70 voucher....shipping is free....so......naturally I gave in...because the shipping for what I ordered would have been about $21.00 anyway. So I figured in total I spent @$42.00 ($17 for the Groupon and $25 for the extra items for free shipping). I ordered: 9 t-shirts 1 hat 1 large tote 1 small tote (free) 1 pen (free) 1 notebook (free) I decided to concentrate on buying stuff for our wedding party and my parents....at least until other guest start to book. So....we must all keep our eyes peeled for the vistaprint Groupon deal!!

Yes it is! I can redeem mine today.....I was like a kid at Christmas waiting until I could use it. Because I am still waiting for our final numbers, I am concentrating on getting things for our wedding party. Here we go.......

JayKay....I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited for you! What are you doing today? I'm sure I'd be too excited to sleep! Go JayKay!!!!! Congrats Girl!!!!!! We can't wait to see your pics!!!!! JQ

I know! That would be very nice......Do you take PATCO? We are going in opposite directions.....too funny! With regards to your programs....I agree....do not reprint the programs! It seems that we as brides go above and beyond for everyone else for our special day. I understand people are traveling and paying money to be a part of our day but we need to remember just that....IT"S OUR DAY (AND OUR FUTURE HUBBY'S). PS - If you need a WOOOSAAA moment before your wedding to meet for a drink or two....let me know!

Hey Coco....I live in South Jersey and Work in Philly! Center City...

Heyyyyyyyy....MsFoxxxxxxxxxxxxy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 Thanks for the tip....I just bought the groupon! Thanks for the tip! I am soooooooo addicted to Vistaprint so this certainly feeds the addiction! This is actually the first Groupon I have purchase so I am super excited! Thank you! JQ

Awesome!!! I love getting a great deal!

I am a Germ-O-PHOBE! So naturally I think most people are like me....I agree that having them at the resort is a great idea....I also thought of hand wipes...but they would be too messy....

OMG! You are nervous too? I thought it was me just being excited....I am excited...but also very nervous. I think I know that it is now within 6 months...Hard to believe because he propsed last February! Good thing is, I have done a lot....dress....bridesmaids dresses.... But...yet I still feel like I am nervous because until people start to book (Oh yeah....I am in that boat too!) I can't truly plan what we are doing to do as far as the reception.... But....Yes....Girl!!!! WE ARE ALMOST THERE!!!! Happy Planning....We will count down together! JQ

My wedding colors are yellow & turquoise...I recently decided that I would love to incorporate Fuschia as well. I'm looking for interesting ways to include fuschia. My dress is Ivory....my girls are wearing yellow....Should I wear fuschia shoes? (they are probably easier to find thatn turquoise)..... I am thinking the flowers will be yellow & fuschia w/turquoise accents......

Ms. Coconoir..... You were extremely eloquent & mature in your email despite the difficult message you had to convey. Sadly, the reaction was not equally mature. It really seems that wedding bring out the worst in many people. Emotions run high and it typically is directed towards the bride ....and they wonder why we become BRIDEZILLAS!!!!!! I have to say....I am not sure I would have been able to keep my cool with that response.....but KUDOS to you!!!! Go Coco...Go Coco! It's your day! Take care....and keep the positive vibe flowing!!! JQ