Peach

Don't worry, this is still going on in my life. We keep going back and forth on what to do... good luck with your decision...

Your dress is pretty... I think that you should go with your gut... if you have always had your heart set on an organza dress, maybe try it out? Not sure though, but I think this might be the perfect opportunity to do what you have always wanted.

Yes, I know what you mean. We are getting married in DR. Very expensive.... looking at about $2000 a person for us, and that is low season! But we figure, we are only doing this once... We have been to the Mayan area before and loved it! In fact, if we weren't going to the DR, that is where I would have chosen. We were at the Grand Sirenis. It was absolutely incredible. That whole area is just so lovely, great choice! Happy planning!

The parents will be receiving something. I doubt my parents will even come to the wedding, but his have been extremely supportive since day 1. I have purchased beachy purses for my moh and bm, and got 2 more for each mom. I have been filling each with little items, that the moms will get regardless. I know FI's mom will be there. I have already purchased her a special necklace (she brings me home a necklace from every trip she goes on), and I will definitely be doing something else too, because I know that she will step in wherever my mom falls short. The dads are tougher. They are getting shirts like the groom and best man, and they are also getting "father of..." ball caps, but I am not sure what else. For me, I knew I would get something for my folks even if they aren't helping and we are not close. I just felt like, NOT getting them ANYTHING would make me no better than some of the things they have done. It would make it so much worse. However, I want to do something nice to show appreciation to the people who are really making an effort, even just to come!

Hi! I am also doing message in a bottle invites, but I have most of my materials already. I was wondering, though, if you would be willing to sell just the boxes and the starfish for them. If so, how much would those items be? I may also be interested in the coral ribbon and tulle, depending on prices. Please let me know, and, if so, what the shipping would be to southern Alberta, Canada.

This is so interesting to read! I think we will do modified OOT bags... they are going to be really nice, and act as favours. I do not think we will do the first-aid or hangover kits.... we do not have many people coming, and those who are are really organized, seasoned travelers. Maybe I will just pack more bandaids, tylenol, etc., and let people know I have them... We ARE buying bubba kegs for each person, and filling them with little things... decks of cards, spf lip chap, epns, and postcards. We are only personalizing the bubbas for the bridal party; everyone else just gets tags. I made a very detailed passport information/games packet for each couple too. PLUS we are giving each couple a thin, pocket-size video camera. They were on a ridiculously good sale. I do not think most of the items in the OOT bags would be used by our guests, including the bags themselves (though I am giving bags to the bridal party). I would much rather spend the money on really nice things for them than on little things, but that is just me and our guests. There is a lot of drama with our wedding, and it will only get worse as the engagement goes on. I really, really want the people who make the effort to come know that they are really appreciated.

I would love to hear about the menu as well! This is the email I got regarding menu choices... Set Menu Bodascayo levantado.pdf

I can beat you both! For us it was 8 years before getting engaged, and it will be bout 10 when we say I Do.

You are very welcome! Hope it is helpful in some way!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this! I have now been told that my entire family will likely NOT be there. I am trying to pay for my sister to come, since she is the only one really psyched for us, but she will only be 17 at the time, so I do not know how it will go. I have been so worried about missing them and possibly regretting it the day of. The biggest thing keeping me from changing my mind is that they could make it work if they really wanted to; it is just not a priority at all. So, if they come they come, and if now, then I will missing out on crazy whining and drama.... not a bad thing either. Thank you so much for posting this! I feel so, so much better hearing from another bride dealing with her own family, after the fact, and not regretting anything. You have no idea how much it helps me to have read this.

lol, no worries! I may seem organized, but that does not feel the case. I am the kind of person who starts getting lots of stuff done, but have problems finishing those activities/projects, etc... BUT I can certainly post a copy of what I have so far for our mail-out brochure. It is going to go out about 6-8 weeks (theoretically) in advance of our trip, so I have LOTS of time to change things, which I know I will. For example, I found cute paper pads with headings like "What to pack" and "Don't forget", so I think I will post those lists on there instead. But anyway, as it stands, this is what I have so far... Hmm, I just realized you do not have 150 posts yet - I will send you a PM as well. brochure.docx

Yeah, hate to say it, but I would talk to another travel agent. I also think you can get your dates far earlier than that too. We are going to a small place, in a low travel season, and we can still book about 14 months in advance. Just because prices aren't out for dates on travel sites like expedia, doesn't mean travel agents don't get prices earlier. As far as Thursday, we are getting married on a Thursday, too. We are getting there on a Saturday, so I do not like having such a long break before we say I DO. But oh well! Whatever works, right? No, don't panic! I am starting to get things because I wanted to start doing things now, and there is only so much I can do ahead of time. Part of the reason we are having a long engagement is so we can spread out the spending a little Plus, I like wedding stuff, and love doing it all for as long as possible...

Yeah, we were talking about that. Unfortunately, all the places we would WANT to do the legal, are not options; my family really only wants it in a church. Well, some of my family does. Some think it is stupid to do a legal ahead of time. We have decided to talk about it ourselves. We will decide what we want to do. We will either tell them or not. If we invite them to the legal, they can either come or not. Whatever. (Can you tell the kind of drama I have been dealing with?)

This is so cute! To whoever posted the turtle cake topper, i LOVE it! We are doing something silly too... I thought about getting one made (with a Leafs jersey, and so on), but FI came up with a new idea, and I absolutely love it! So, FI went through his childhood toy collection in his parents basement one day, and found a little Han Solo character. I am finding a height-appropriate (I'm over a foot and a half shorter!) Cinderella. I am a HUGE Disney nut. I love that it is quirky, and his idea, and so us! Until we put it together, I do not have a picture. But I will post one when we get it. We might use a different one for our AHR.... but we will see...

I'm spoiling them! I am giving them beach bags-purses. They have barefoot sandals, lip gloss, flip flops, picture frames, and small gifty items. Then I got them bracelets from etsy. I will also pay for their attire, and necklaces to match. They are also getting bubba kegs (all our guests are), and just today, we ordered some very small, pocket-sized video cameras too. (They were regular 200, on clearance at walmart for 40. Seriously.) I am most excited about the cameras! I am hoping for lots of footage of our day! (Ulterior motives, you see!) Anyway, it depends on your group, what they like, and what you want to spend. I only have 2 girls in my bridal party; one of whom is my little sister! Have fun. This part is my favourite part so far!

We are going to get my bouquet and FI's bout with our wedding package. I bought parasols to take down too, for my bm and moh. I am also making shell bouts for the bestman and dads, and wrist corsages for the moms and bm and moh. I am going to get my sister to do my makeup. I am pretty laid back about that, but she is still going to practice ahead of time on me. I will be using the resort's hair stylist I think. I haven't heard amazing things, but I hate my hair and do not want to fight with it on the day. I picked a photographer, but cannot book until I book the wedding itself, and cannot do that for another 3 months. Sigh. So hopefully he is still around then. There is a photography/videography package I have my eye on. But there are some photos included in our resort package too. Just spend some time looking around, deciding what you want, and prioritizing. I am super indecisive, yet am finding this aspect of planning pretty easy. Probably because I spend so much time looking at stuff online to see what I like! Good luck, and have fun!

I have been doing a little off and on, wedding-related, but I came across this a while ago, and wanted to post it. I LOVE this song, and the proposal is so cute. I do not like this song was played in Breaking Dawn, since I am far from a Twilight fan (I did read them, though, at least). Maybe people won't remember that by July 2013? Anyway, I thought this was really sweet; I actually got a little teary-eyed. Thought I would pass it along! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbmd5BcnYhk

No worries! I'm the same way! We're getting married July, 2013. Cannot even book until May at the earliest. BUT here is my timeline for STD, etc...: STD: As soon as we book (about 14 months early). I would do this between a year and 18 months in advance. Some people need a LONG time to book off work, but you know your guests. Mine are made and saved. Just about ready to go! (We're doing boarding passes) Invitations: Looking to do these maybe 6-8 months in advance (message in a bottle invites). We want to hand-deliver as many as possible, so it may take a while! Before-you-go brochures: These are also done and saved on my computer. These will go out about 6 weeks in advance. Arrival Information: They will get these when they arrive (or maybe at the airport); they are passport-style. Plus, I will be sending out invites to our AHR. Probably about the same time the brochures go out. Hope this helps. I do not think there is a specific rule as to when to send things out, this is just what I figured out. Some people send "thanks for booking" notes. I might do that too.... have not decided yet.

Yikes. Can I make a suggestion? Think about it, and, if that is what you want to do, DO IT. I have heard nothing good from my side at all. Even my own parents have said they might not come. It really bugged me. Now, I think, "fine, don't". It is just one excuse after another. You give an inch, they take a mile. Finally, we just said, forget it. We are going to do what WE want. At the end of the day, if they really want to be there, they will be. If not, they won't be. They are welcome too, but they are not going to weigh me down with such incredible negativity the whole engagement. So, if you want to cancel and replan, do it. Decide what you really want, and what is most important to you and your FI. And then, do it. Take into account the people most important to you. But, at the end of the day, you have to do what will make you happy. Good luck!

Hey, other Krysta! There is a thread somewhere here for recessional songs. There are some great options! For me, I am thinking either 500 Miles (like, from Benny and Joon.... I think it is by the Proclaimers, OR Bruno Mars, Marry You OR, (and my current fave), Beach Boys: God Only Knows. I LOVE that song, and am for sure going to use it somewhere. Just not sure where yet.

seashellsbyseashore That is the store I got my sand dollars from. I just received them, actually! I messaged her to ask what I wanted, and she quoted me a price, as simple as that. I HIGHLY recommend her! I haven't gone through the whole package yet, just peeked at it, but I am so, so pleased! We are using ours for place names, too! Love them!!!

Congratulations and beautiful area! I love the Riviera Maya! We too are having a long engagement. It will be two years. A little less than a year and a half left, now! We knew, even before getting engaged, that we were going to have a destination wedding, and we have been completely upfront about that to our friends and family since day 1. For us, we needed to get married during summer months (I'm a teacher... built in time off), and one year wasn't enough time to save up enough money. Some people have really appreciated the early notice.... even if they do not go, they know about it and can book vacation time and save money if needed. We made a website and forwarded it to our close friends and family, but we have to wait a bit longer still before booking for sure... As soon as we book, we are sending out save the dates. Then, about 8 months out or so, we will send out invitations. At least, that is the plan. Some people will respond negatively to different aspects of your wedding. I have heard some pretty nasty stuff about having a long engagement, and, even moreso, about having a destination wedding. But, by being completely upfront about it since the beginning, we can always say, "Well, it's not like they didn't know...." lol. People who want to be there will, if possible, make the effort to start saving money and such. Other people won't. I definitely don't think it is too early to start looking at stuff. I have been making a few things and picking up odds and ends here and there.... and looking at lots of pictures! Enjoy your engagement... it is somewhat stressful, but SO much fun too! I only hope I continue to say that over the next year and a half! Again, congratulations!!!

Thanks for all the nice comments, everyone! When I designed it I didn't know our date, I just wanted our initials, something simple (or, rather, easy!), and I wanted to use this for envelope seals... I wanted guests to look at it and want to come on vacation with us! Hopefully I achieved that.... I wasn't sure about it, but all of the wonderful comments have helped me make up my mind! Thanks so much!

Hi! I am using someone local to Lethbridge. I was concerned, since FI and and I are the only ones from here, but she was great about responding to emails and questions online very quickly.... the communication was very important to me. She will be coordinating people from various towns, even from the States. I hope it works out; I am forseeing some difficulties with some of my guests. Anyway, you can do what I did. I sent out a LOT of emails one evening. Basically, any travel agent with a website in Lethbridge. Then I briefly conversed with the first few who responded. It made my decision easy. I also know some brides rave about the travel agents on here, so you may want to check them out too.

This is GORGEOUS!