Peach

It usually takes a little bit after you reach 150 posts, just for your status and such to be updated.

Absolutely like! Early Christmas shopping?

So, I am beginning to look online for wedding dresses. I have been told by many people that I would look good in a short dress. Some background: FI and I will both be in our late 20s, neither married before. We are getting married on the beach. No one has been to a DW before. FI is planning on wearing a white (or ivory) button up short sleeved shirt, and khaki coloured pants, both in linen. He is super tall (6'7" with his sandals), and I am quite short (6'2" barefoot, but I will obviously be wearing platform sandals). I think the height is the reason people are recommending I go short. Like FI says, do I want to look like a curtain? (I am looking at chiffon or other flowing fabric). However, I am wondering if a short dress will feel bridal enough, you know? At first I was thinking, no way, but I have since looked at many pictures of shorter dresses and can consider it now. I am planning on trying on both long and short, but I want to focus a bit more. Everything is going to be very simple with us, and I do NOT want to be a 2-dress bride (simply because of price and simplicity). I guess all of this leads to my question: did anyone who went for a short dress wish they had a long one? Any regrets at all?

As for travel agents, I emailed a bunch of travel agents. I responded to the first few that responded to me, and then went by speediness and efficiency of communication, and deal. I am actually going with a local travel agent here, but we are the only ones in the area, and everyone else is going to be booking by phone/online. So, communication was very important. We are just beginning our planning, but are really happy so far. Research!

Yay! New things! Looks awesome!

Awesome! Love seeing DIY stuff!

Yeah I think I like that idea too... focusing more on fun beach reads. I guess the problem is, I do not really read those books typically, so I do not know what is actually good. I like wedding or beach themed ideas though; I saw the Carrie books, that could definitely work for my sister. And I will check out Emily Giffin for my friend... Or something like that for my mom too ... my FMIL likes literary books, but she will still want an upbeat one, so I will just pick up the latest paperback for her then. Thanks for the help. Whenever I make up my mind I will let you know. I have lots of time, so I intend to pick them up as I go.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! REALLY???? Wow, I am excited, can you tell? I really wanted to go to Davids to save some money, but could not justify spending so much to go some where to save money... it would not really save anything! However, Edmonton is a little more feasible... Still 5 or 6 hours, but it is closer for my mom... This is awesome! And my wedding is so far away it will probably be open before I need to go shopping! Yes!

The other option is to find nice copies of our favourite books - The Hobbit and Pride and Prejudice, respectively, but I am not sure that they would appeal to everyone. OR if anyone has any recommendations of books about the ocean, or a beach, or something like that as a setting, that would be great too.

Okay, I really want to give the ladies nearest me - my moh (sister), bm, fmil and mom - some nice gifts. I am already giving them beach bags full of stuff... barefoot sandals, pashminas, jewelry, travel items, etc.; very similar to ones posted on here. I am also thinking about getting them each a meaningful book. I am stuck with WHICH ONES! My fmil is an avid reader; I will probably just pick one out at that time that I know she will like. My mom is the opposite; when she does read, which is rare, she likes it. She mostly sticks to Danielle Steel and such. My sister and BM both are occassional readers. My sister goes through phases of being book crazed, then nothing at all; she will be just about 18 when we walk down the aisle. My BM and friend reads more Jodi Piccoult style books. I am a total English nerd, and love all books, especially classic novels, and think it would be a cool addition to their bags which they are probably going to get right before getting on the plane (so they can read them during the flight). I would love suggestions of books for these ladies. I am thinking "Little Women" for my sister, but beyond that I am not sure. What do you think of this idea? Or if you have any suggestions, please let me know!!!

Love it!!!!

I want part of the traditional 1 Corinthians read. And I really like this one... I am a total English nerd, and I have this and a quotation from Romeo and Juliet for our programs. (it is in my signature). What greater thing is there for two human souls than to feel that they are joined together to strengthen each other in all labor, to minister to each other in all sorrow, to share with each other in all gladness, to be one with each other in the silent unspoken memories? George Eliot I LOVE the Velveteen Rabbit too! And I am seriously a HUGE Winnie the Pooh fan; in fact, as a suggestion for a reading from a young person, what about a short quotation from Winnie the Pooh? http://thinkexist.com/quotes/winnie_the_pooh/ I also heard one about, "How do you spell love? You don't spell it. You feel it." Or: What about collecting some examples of "Love is" as defined by kids, pick a couple of your favourites, and have her read them? I post them around my classroom at Valentines Day. Here are some sites with them: http://www.rinkworks.com/said/kidlove.shtml http://www.religioustolerance.org/love_is.htm Hope that helps. I also like Variations on the Word Love by Margaret Atwood. It probably is not for all brides, and I do not know if we will use it...probably not. But here it is anyway. I really like it It is quite long. Maybe only part of it? Variations on the Word Love This is a word we use to plug holes with. It's the right size for those warm blanks in speech, for those red heart- shaped vacancies on the page that look nothing like real hearts. Add lace and you can sell it. We insert it also in the one empty space on the printed form that comes with no instructions. There are whole magazines with not much in them but the word love, you can rub it all over your body and you can cook with it too. How do we know it isn't what goes on at the cool debaucheries of slugs under damp pieces of cardboard? As for the weed- seedlings nosing their tough snouts up among the lettuces, they shout it. Love! Love! sing the soldiers, raising their glittering knives in salute. Then there's the two of us. This word is far too short for us, it has only four letters, too sparse to fill those deep bare vacuums between the stars that press on us with their deafness. It's not love we don't wish to fall into, but that fear. this word is not enough but it will have to do. It's a single vowel in this metallic silence, a mouth that says O again and again in wonder and pain, a breath, a finger grip on a cliffside. You can hold on or let go.

Oh, that sucks. I can sympathize.... my mom is being totally unsupportive too. FI's family is helping us a little with the DW, and my parents are helping with the AHR, supposedly, since that is our compromise (it is back in my hometown, which is what they wanted). My family is not offering to help at all with the DW, and all they are doing is complaining about the cost of travel. Grrrr.... So what we are doing is putting OUR names on the DW invite, and on the AHR invite, but included a blurb about it being "hosted by _____" my parents. It is pretty informal though, and that can easily be removed if they go back on what they said and choose NOT to help us out. Because, you are totally right. ONLY the people who help pay for the wedding (especially considering your other family members are contributing so significantly!) should be on the invite, according to etiquette rules. And, considering she is not even going, how can she expect her name to be on it? My guess is your grandma did not hear the full story. But I do understand how it sucks to have people mad at you.... just know that you did the right thing, and stay focused on what matters; you and your groom and your life together! It can be very stressful, but remember, this too shall pass.

Congratulations! We looked at Punta Cana originally too; it is our back up plan if we cannot for some weird reason get Cayo Levantado. One thing for sure.... Punta Cana is absolutely GORGEOUS! Happy planning!

Oh, I am so sorry to hear that. I am actually tearing up here.... Thank you for sharing your story with us, and I am glad that we were/are able to offer a shoulder and an ear right now. (And always!!!) And I do agree with the other ladies. Thank God you are finding this out now! It must be so difficult for you! I was just thinking about you yesterday... I am so sorry. You sound like you have a great attitude about it right now, confusing though your situation may be, and you should be proud of that. And yes, I think a fresh start - closer to people who love and support you and are actually there for you - is exactly the right idea. All the best always. You deserve it. Hugs.

Wow! Awesome pictures! Gorgeous!

That is what I was thinking too... at first I thought it would seem weird to have winter shots when we are getting married on a beach in the summer, but I think the contrast might be fun. Sort of, an "I love you all the year through!" thing!

lol, yes, my parents have told me that a DW is selfish... parents are funny creatures, aren't they? Ah well... Glad it all worked out and they ended up loving it!

Yes I have heard of this... very cute idea! What are you giving for prizes? Maybe have a few.... most creative shot, most unexpected, most romantic, most scavenger items complete.... that sort of thing.

Thanks for asking! Actually, we did not get to do them. It was freezing rain the whole time we were visiting the inlaws (FMIL is taking our pictures - she actually used to be a photographer!). So that just did not work at all. I am quite disappointed, actually. But I am going to get someone in my family to take some in the winter out at my parents' farm, if they agree. Then I will have winter and summer ones... (we did a few shots already). Actually, we are not getting married until 2013, so if it still is bugging me, I can do it next fall too! Engagement pictures through the seasons! I cannot wait to see yours too! Be sure to post! yay!

sxcT, that is GORGEOUS! I dunno, you look pretty stunning now!

I imagine it is only free shipping to locations in the States?

OH MY GOD.... LOVE the shoes! I literally just squealed a little... which confused my dogs and FI. Apparently it is too early to be that excited about something, he says. Great pictures! Love them! Cannot wait to see the professional pictures, but it is so awesome that you got to see some candids early! Enjoy the rest of your honeymoon, congratulations, safe trip home (but do not think about coming home just yet), and we all, I am sure, cannot wait to see the final posts when you do get back!

Yes, a good idea.... you get to switch off with more jewelry! How on earth can you go wrong with that?!

Everything looks awesome! Congratulations!