Peach

Well I actually really really love DIY projects.... I am a very crafty person, so any excuse to make stuff is a good one! I saw a pic of the banner I want to do off the Martha Stewart website.... so I think I will go that way. Escort shells are the same idea as escort cards, except you write the names on little shells instead of cards.... if you search on this site, I am pretty sure this is where I saw them. They look pretty cool. I am very excited to get to work on some of those projects.... and I suppose, with a list like that, I should get started soon!

I was also wondering if someone had the email address for the wedding coordinator. We want some information before we book, and I cannot seem to find it on the website... Or rather, I cannot seem to get it to work (weird link on my laptop). I am wondering about the ceremony... can there be a religious one? I know the judge is included, but can the ceremony include religious elements? This is really a deal-breaker for someone in my family... Does anyone know?

WOW That was so awesome! You go girl! I totally agree... think of how good that was for your marriage! I truly think you are starting in a good honest place now. And what is even more, if things start to go backward again (crossing fingers that is a huge no) you and your FI both know who is responsible... it was all out in the open! I am totally in awe! Way to go! I also want to thank everyone for offering supportive words and suggestions to me too... My mom is continuing to be the same (we did pay her a visit) but I guess I really cannot be surprised. I am just focusing on positives as much as possible. My dad also told us we cannot (yes, CANNOT) invite any of my extended family. The logic being that, since my grandparents cannot come, it is not right to ask aunts and uncles and cousins. I thought we could ask and let them decide, but apparently that is not an option. And, since family cannot come, he is not sure that we should have other friends and stuff too.... sort of a family-is-most-important-solidarity thing. So now we are going to be struggling to get our minimum number to book. Grrrrr.... Oh well... if FI family is excited, they can come; it is better to be around the ones who are truly excited anyway. I just always thought I had this huge, fairly close family. Oh well. AND my dad (who IS actually excited about me getting married, BTW, he is just struggling with the idea of a DW, but he is trying really hard) said that the whole family would not want to come in the summer anyway (they are farmers.... cannot leave growing crops)....I reminded him that, since I am a teacher, I get summers off, so it needs to be then.... and besides, isn't it most important that I am there? haha! Plus, he told me that it is so hard to plan, since we do not know if my grandparents will even be alive.... and I reminded him that that would be true wherever we get married. There is ALWAYS drama about the wedding, no matter where it is... At least all of our drama will still result in us getting the wedding we want!

I want to do boudoir pictures as a wedding gift, but I just do not think I can afford it, so I was thinking about doing some DIY instead. I have been researching about it, and want to make a book for him, but I am wondering, can you upload pictures to make a book on sites like kodak if there is some nudity (it would all be tasteful, obviously), or even "racy"? I am not sure... Anyone have any experience with this, or anything to recommend?

Do you guys think there should be something else besides Bubbas? We are going to put little things in them, but do you think there should be something besides that?

lol All I can remember is this one episode of That 70s Show (I think) where Eric picks the ugliest stuff he can find just so Donna quits asking him to help... lol

Thank you!

This sounds ridiculous! Seriously.... who does he think he is?! I think you should sit down and explain how you are feeling to FI, and how you are just not upset; you have had enough. So much for your wedding party being there for you, huh?

Love!

Yeah, my thoughts are just, when else will I get to wear a long flowy dress? But I DO really like that he wants to be involved...

Depends on what they are laughing at. Usually, LIKE. Because it makes me laugh too. In Law Wedding Wars on Slice

Okay here is my original list. I hope I quit adding to it! The only thing I have done is the "Will you be my bridesmaid" cards. I love DIY - so much fun and thanks to you all for all of the great ideas! o Wedding Save-the-dates o Wedding invites o At Home Reception invites o Wedding programs o Menus o Welcome books o One-month brochure newsletters o One-month island music mail-out CDs? o Pashimina labels (for BMs, moms) o Bubba keg labels/tags o Dinner table name place cards – shells! o Dinner table numbers o Monograms! o Wedding song list o Photography must-have lists o Thanks for booking/packing list o Big day timelines o Card box (AHR) o Centrepieces? (AHR) o Photographs (AHR) o Bridal party tanks o Will you be my bridesmaid cards o Guest book? (either a book of photography about the place or a photobook of pics of us…) o Sign for guestbook o Cards for parents o Thank-you cards to wedding party o Card for fiancé o Barefoot sandals o Thank-you cards o Jewelry (for BMs? Moms? Me?) o Favors for AHR o Favor tags o Frames, signs, etc. for AHR o Mr. and Mrs. Signs for AHR o Cake toppers o Bubble toppers/tags? o Lighting for AHR (candle lanterns) o Hair flowers o BD pics? o Engagement pics? o Bridal flip flops o Book marks o ‘Reserved for’ ceremony signs o RSVP postcards (or postcards for AHR?) o Invite to girls spa weekend? (or should the girls do this?) o Hair flower? o Jars/vases for AHR o Bouts for men? o Tray for escort shells (name places) o Just married banners (etc) for AHR (Martha stewart online) o Vellum candle luminaries (AHR) o Children’s activity book o Tags for disposable cameras o Photographic scavenger hunt cards o Playing cards covers (two of a kind)

Wow! Thank you all for sharing your stories! I am feeling so much better that it is not just me.... though, quite frankly, I do not have it nearly so bad. I just got engaged about a month ago, and even before we were, we knew we wanted to do a destination wedding. I knew I did not want to do it in the small town I am from.... my entire family lives there, it is the middle of nowhere, and I only go back about once a year. I did not want it to be all about me - no, not even me, my family - and nothing about him. We love to travel, and so we chose a DW. Let me preface this with saying, FI is an only child, and we are both the first grandchildren on any side to be married. I am the oldest of 4. We have all of our grandparents currently, but my moms dad is going downhill pretty quickly. I knew that my moms parents could not see me get married unless it was in that hometown, which is not an option, so why not go very far away? Anyway, my mom and I have always had a rocky relationship, we are pretty cool but polite to each other, she is a really really negative person who I am pretty sure is bipolar but refuses to believe anything is wrong. I have had to place distance between us over the years because of the effect she has had on me and on my relationship with FI - very very toxic. We knew there would be issues when I told my mom - from the beginning - about having a DW. Very negative comments, and she doesn;t want to contribute any money - fine, but they spend thousands and thousands on my other siblings for much less important events. She refuses to talk to me about my wedding, though to begin with she actually sounded a little excited. I (foolishly apparently) thought that maybe this would help bring us together... all those bonding with mom moments, you know? I asked her if she wanted us to come visit after we got engaged (in mexico). she said, maybe, if she didn't have something better to do. I asked if she wanted to see the video of our engagement (we had the camera going). Again, oh, if she has time. she is a stay at home mom, for heavens sake! the video is 4 minutes long! Seriously, she doesn;t have time? I have already been told how selfish I am. They go on vacations all the time... and asking them to spend one watching their eldest get married is selfish? really? I get along very well with FI mom, who IS excited for the wedding. i do not mean to be catty, but I guess I know who I will be spending those mom bonding moments with if this continues. Sigh. Sorry for venting. I do not have it as bad as some of you, I know, and it helps that I can vent about it. FI knows and understands, but reasons that she has always been like this, why am I letting it bother me so much now? Thank you again for sharing your stories, I am so impressed by how you are handling these difficult situations.

Thanks for posting this - super easy to use!

And this location would be even better! I am from southern Alberta, and I am okay communicating by phone/email, but some family might feel better if the TA was closer. I want to stick to someone Canadian, and would love to find someone who specializes in the Dominican (we are looking at Samana area). I have never traveled through a TA before, but I want to make it as easy on my guests as possible, and I know that having a TA will make some of them feel more comfortable traveling.

Does she specialize in weddings in a particular location? I am really looking for someone who is Canadian.

America Ferrara How to Train your Dragon

Oh dislike Pets in the house

Yeah, this is actually one of the things that stresses me out the most... He knows what looks good on me, but is stuck on the idea of me wearing a short dress, and I am really not sold on it... so maybe if he sees other styles that will help too.

I really like the wine toppers, do you mind if I ask where you got them?

Like to watch, but dislike doing. FI is from a ski town... I like ski weekends because I read with fancy coffees inside. DIY projects?

I dunno.... I want him to like the dress but I want him to be surprised, and he is opinionated.... not one of those, "whatever you choose you will look gorgeous in" types.... maybe show him a few, get his opinions, then kick him out? Or take him separately first to try out some styles really early, months before I start shopping....?

This thread is HILARIOUS!

Oh fun! Nancy Travis - Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (the first one)

Hahaha - mine is so strange.... he usually does not like talking wedding stuff, but definitely has an opinion on everything, which is fine - he has great taste most of the time (obviously, he is marrying me!). EXCEPT he is taking it so far that he actually wants to come along to help me pick out my wedding dress! AAAAAAHHHH!!!! He reasons that he is my fave shopping partner (true) but seriously???? I think either really involved or really uninvolved are both bad!!!