Peach

I am not sure about my borrowed, but here is the rest: Something Old: I do not have a picture, but I have 2. My grandfather passed away last summer, and he and my grandma were married 66 years at that point. I am going to have copy of their wedding picture on a charm in or around my bouquet. My other one is a purse my grandma gave me when she was cleaning out her closets. It is from one of their anniversaries - she thinks the 10th. It is a fabulous little white clutch COVERED in beading. And talk about vintage! This is not it; but it is a similar one I found on etsy. My grandma also gave me the artificial flowers from her own wedding that sat in rings on top of vases and candle holders. I am intending on using a couple blossoms in my garter. Something New: My dress! My jewelry... pretty much everything! Something Blue: Blue is one of our colours. There is a blue centre in my hair flower, and my shoes are also very blue. SO... any ideas on a great "something borrowed"?

Gorgeous!

I was planning on doing this too... but it is kind of not working out. My FMIL (who I am close with and was intending on treating too) is going a week early, and has already booked her pedicure... I doubt she will want another when we get there! And my mom is the same way. My sister (and MOH) has expressed little interest in it too. SO I thought I would pay for their hair, but now they all want to do their own! So... well, I guess that is one less thing for me to pay for! I am paying for my sister's dress though, so that is good. And for my stagette we are going to a spa, but it is too far in advance (like, a month and a half) for a pedicure or manicure to last. So I guess they are on their own for it! I think it is a great idea though, and if possible, try to do it ahead of time. Plus, what a great way to relax with the girls during last minute planning and prep? Awesome!

Yes, and only a few Punta Cana photographers will come out to Samana. I would recommend talking to them as soon as possible.

Oh, if none of that works, if your mom insists on the dress, talk to your photographer and explain your concerns - it is amazing what they can do! As simple as not placing your mom next to your bridesmaids on the day of sometimes. Chances are, in pictures, you are probably the only person who notices.

Ooh, tough one. Maybe casually go shopping with her one day and point out other dresses? If you are comfortable, maybe carefully - and kindly- tell her you are not a fan of her choice. You could always word it, like you are sad you missed out on the experience of shopping with her. Otherwise, I say evaluate how important it actually is to you. I am sure I will not be overly happy with some of the choices of our parents and siblings; but it shows their personalities, and it is what they like, so oh well... okay! Hahaha - it will make FI and I look all the better. Also, maybe get a second opinion on whether or not the dress will actually clash; I sometimes think it will look awful, but later in pictures it is fine. Ask a friend; hopefully it looks okay in pictures?

As to your original question, I have NOT read the books. I probably will, eventually, but I have read excerpts and... meh. I read a lot, but I do read poorly-written books too (which this one is) just for fun (like, light summery reads). But there are lots of other "romance" and "erotica" books out there better written. The subject matter does not bother me at all... Like I told a friend of mine, when she lent me the books.... some of this stuff sounds like, well, a Tuesday. Too much info I am sure, but I guess I am saying that it depends on the audience. For me, they are not well-written, and are not really serving to give information or open our minds to new experiences, so, well... meh. A lot of my friends have read them, and pretty much said the same thing. They were fine, for entertainment, but just fine. Plus, I have a hard time getting over the fact that they started as "Twilight" fanfiction. Bleh. And I do read and watch non-intellectual TV, books, movies... more often than not. I just really do not feel like I would get anything out of these particular books. I don't know, maybe I am wrong? Is there something I am missing?

We were really torn on whether or not to use the hotel photographer, especially since we are on a budget. In the end, we have decided to book Caribbean Emotions to come from Punta Cana. The travel expense and hotel stay is more than the package we booked, but we are getting a video as well as the pictures, which was important to us, so I think we made the right choice. At least, I hope so! I have only heard good reviews about Caribbean Emotions, whereas I have heard NOTHING about the hotel photographer (including a name?). I still am unsure if we are going the right way, but at the end of the day, years down the road you have the pictures and that is pretty much it; I would just like to know what I am getting ahead of time!

Oh yes. Ours is more work and stress than the AHR itself. Gotta love parental involvement. Sigh.

We just said, "_________ and __________ were married in an intimate ceremony in the Dominican Republic on July 18, 2013. Come celebrate in Alberta the vows shared in the Caribbean." Simple.

I got the regular size ones, when you used to be able to find them for free. I started putting together my OOT bags this past weekend, and am so happy with them. They are a bit small, yes, but for individual people they work perfectly. They could definitely fit a towel and book and flip flops. (Maybe with the towel rolled up and sticking up out of the front.) We were able to fit all of our OOT items, even for the couples, in one bag, totally easily. So, the couples got two bubba kegs, a camera, a small "In Sickness and in Health" bag, postcards, a deck of cards... all with a little room to spare. No problem.

When I get home, if you like, I can see if I have mine saved on my computer and pass that on to you.

On traditional wedding stationary, I believe the bride's name goes first. To invitees, you put the man's name first. For example: To Mr. John Smith and Jane Doe OR To Mr. and Mrs. John Smith. That is very traditional, though. I put his name first on some things, and mine first on others. It just depended on what it was and the way it all looked.

We are only have 14... including us and the wedding party! And our wedding party is only 2 (a best man and maid of honour)... we are still doing programs, but we are doing fan programs, so they are actually acting more as a way to keep people cool. July in the Domincan... any way to keep cool will help! It is just a bonus that it also works as a program!

Everyone below (except us) are also getting OOT bags. with a bubba keg, mini "in sickness and in health" kit, some vistaprint items, postcards, handmade bookmarks, passport-style welcome books (still need to be done though), and a mini flip camera (the big item!) Well, I am just going through all the gifts so far, since it is starting to wind down now, so I thought I would post what we have got. Brothers: I have two brothers, both of whom are coming with us. They are getting these in their OOT bags, along with all the other OOT items. I want to put something extra in there too, since they are helping with the wedding and AHR; my one brother is recording himself playing the guitar for my walk down the aisle, and my other brother is being the emcee at our AHR (and maybe DW too..) So this is the one I do not know about yet. Moms: The moms and my bridesmaid/maid of honour are getting some similar items. Each couple is also getting an OOT bag; this is in addition. My future mother-in-law's. She is also getting a tank top identical in colour to the bridesmaid and maid of honour ones, but with her title "mother of the groom" on it instead. Here are the items: - photo bookmark (purchased from Michael's dollar bin last summer during clearance sale, so I think it was about 40 cents.) - nail file with sea shells (also Michaels during clearance) - SPF 30 lip balm (sale at Shoppers Drug Mart) - organic flavoured lip balm (etsy - the moms and girls are each getting a different flavour - things like margarita and rum punch ) - bath confetti (michaels clearance) - pen (with beach motif - also michaels clearance) - coconut body lotion (travel size - walmart) - vistaprint personalized pen - pashmina (ardene's) - vistaprint keychain - flip flop keychain (I am known for my ridiculous flip flop collection - they were a bag of I think 8 for $1) - starfish bottle opener (a bride on here sold me these! Love them!) - travel crib board (my future mother in law, her parents, and my future husband have crib games almost daily when they visit for long periods of time.I had to include this one! From the dollar store. ) - wristlet (I love these - from etsy) - barefoot sandals (made by me) - personalized bracelet (also etsy -my mom, bm and moh are getting these too... oh and I of course had to have one for me too!) * Not pictured: I wanted to give something extra to my FABULOUS FMIL. We have always given each other pieces of jewellery from every time we have gone on vacation separately. So I found her a pretty moon stone necklace that I want to give to her separately. She is one of the most awesome people, and I really want to say thank you for including me in her family right from the get-go, no questions asked, no pressure. She is super welcoming. But I do not want to make my own mom feel bad by giving it in front of her, so I am keeping it separate to give it to her privately, or maybe for FI to give to her for me, like the night before or something. Anyway..... This one is for my mom. Mostly the same; here are the differences: - vistaprint bag - not pictured: My mom's "Mother of the Bride" tank top, in sparkly letters like mine Bridesmaid: This one is for my bridesmaid, who actually is not even coming to the wedding. I am still wanting to give this to her though - she is the one who is actually planning my shower and stagette, and she will be at my AHR. She just had a baby in January and our resort is switching to adults-only before we get there, so I know she would be there if she could. This one is a little different: - flip flops (old navy) - bikini bag (walmart) - picture frame (dollar store - I am going to put a picture of us together either from the stagette or shower before she gets this) - Small candle - personal compact mirror (Michaels clearance dollar bin) - little notepad - flower-shaped lip balm (just because it was cute... I think also Michaels) - foot scrub brush and file (um no idea, but I am going to guess Michaels) - tropical flower nail file Maid of Honour: This one is for my younger sister, and maid of honour. She is not getting a separate OOT bag, so those items are included in here too. Also: - vistaprint t-shirt with map of resort on it (FFIL made this) - travel nail file set - bridesmaid kit (from Michaels - it has stuff like double-sided tape in it) * I also got her a special maid-of-honour gift; a strand of pearls with pearl stud earrings. I will probably give these to her separately, on the morning of. We also bought the bridemaid dresses, and I made mini seashell hair clips too, but I do not have a picture of those. We offered to pay for hair for the moms and my sister, but they all declined, since they want to do their own. Dads: Each is getting one of these: And I want to find something else for them too... probably similar to whatever I get my brothers. Best Man: FI is only having a best man. We got him (and the dads) this shirt, since FI frequently drinks daquiris for breakfast at all inclusive resorts: From vistaprint. I am debating getting my brothers them too, but then only two guys along will NOT have one... so maybe all guys get one? I dunno. We also bought the best man his shirt (Old Navy linen, to match FI; but we asked the best man to wear khaki coloured pants) FI wants to get him an engraved beer stein, since they enjoy drinking and gaming nights frequently. He says he is just waiting to figure out what to engrave... I am not sure why that is hard... It will be similar to this one: Everyone is also getting a personalized card I made (I made the envelopes too!). GROOM GIFT: I got this from etsy. It actually has two coordinates on it; the top is our wedding location, the other is the location of where we were in Mexico when he proposed. I also got him a personalized hanky (just plain white men's one with our date on it - I got a matching lace one). Also etsy. And I made a BD book for him. He bought me the package, so he knows I had pics done. but he doesn't know about the book. I just did that through mixbook. MY gift: I happen to know what I am getting. He bought me the bracelets I will be wearing. He knew I was looking for jewellery and he did not want me to buy the same ones on my own, so he showed me the ones he got. They are super sparkly. He also is getting me fancy new sunglasses for the trip... kind of an upgrade from my dollar store ones. WHEW. I think that is it.