amjohnson

Okay so here are photos of the real starfish from Michael's and the red decorative starfish. The real ones are in a garland but I started taking them apart, not too difficult...there was a bit of hot glue on the end of each when the string was attached but I just carefully used an x-acto knife. I think I may order more though on Ebay. The red starfish are from a company called Time 4 Crafts (CTG Brands Inc). They do have a website but I couldn't seem to find the starfish on it. I may email them and ask them if they come in any other colors. The Canadian Dollar Store where I got them at carried red and light blue ones.

Good question, I really didn't think about getting my dad anything...he hasn't really been involved in our wedding, he himself just got remarried a few weeks ago. What would be appropriate, do I need to give something? He is helping us out with our AHR. For my Fiance's mother, I made her her fascinator and got her a pashmina. The idea of hats of some kind for the guys is good. I saw one bride and groom on here gave all the men visors, the same color, they were golfing.

Jennifer, Swim Co has really nice on piece bandeaus...they are more pricey then La vie en Rose but they had a lot on sale at the store at Balzac mall. Some of the one piecers had tummy hugging stuff....I got a nice black swimsuit I think at winners and didn't realize it had it in it...but I do feel nice and tight;)

Hi Jennifer, I couldn't find your original post about the pashminas you got in Calgary but I went there yesterday and ended up buying 9! I was trying to remember the deal he gave you? I bartered with him a bit and got 9 for 85$ plus tax. I got the ones with the paisley design, I got four ivory ones, three red ones to go with the bm dresses, one for my FMIL and a turquoise one for me to go with my Fiance's kilt...I got an ivory and black one. They were 10$ each so I got one for free I think..lol...He tried to mess me up but I used my teaching math skills and called him on it..lol.... Also for ladies in Calgary, if you haven't thought of swimsuits or bikinis yet, my best friend reminded me that I should get at least one bandeau bikini so I don't get wonky tan lines before the wedding. If you are somewhat endowed in the chest...it is harder to get a bandeau that fits! I did have luck though at the Balzac Mall/Cross Iron Mills at Swim Co...on sale, got one bikini that fits really well! We don't have Swim.Co's in Edmonton. I got another red bandeau bikini at La Vie en Rose and I got four swim suit bags for my BM's and me. Pretty happy with my purchases!

Hi, I just got the starfish garland from Michaels..going to take the string on the starfish but they stink just like yours! Did the smell go completely away? I am thinking about airing them out and even spraying them with air freshener or light perfume? lol...I am so sensitive to smells and really don't want them to stink up my suitcase like I think Tori said. Thanks!

Ladies, I want your advice? I bought plastic tumblers with straws a few weeks ago for my oot bags instead of coffee cups like a lot of you are doing. I thought my guests would use them just as much and you can still put coffee in them as they are double walled. But, my fiance thinks it is a crazy idea...waste of space and doesn't think our guests will use them. I don't agree...thoughts? I have been to all inclusives before and I know they give you drinks in small plastic glasses and having a tumbler is more convenient. He hasn't been to an all inclusive. Advice? I don't want to give them if my guests aren't going to use them.Thanks!

Hi. I am going to create survival bags like a few other brides did so the advil, poly to go, band aids etc are all together with a label like the ones someone put in templates. I found clear craft storage bags that seal at dollarama. I agree...save some space. I want to get all my oot bag stuff ready to go in the next couple weeks, then I am planning on packing them in a suitcase and going to see how much it weighs....if I am over I will have to get my FI to take an extra bag too!

Hi, Thanks for information. I am going to email my travel agent and see if she can make sure we are staying in the newer area. I am wondering if I should get my guests to contact the hotel? Some booked on their own or online. Why do you wish you brought ribbon instead? We are going with an outside photographer. We aren't planning on having a DJ. I think we're going to bring our laptop and speakers so we can have music and dance a bit at our reception.

Hi Laura, I am not a past DT bride but I agree with you...it seems like there are many costs not outlined when you receive your initial information from the wedding coordinator. What I have discovered so far that you may already know is that if you get the Dreams of Love(Silver) or the Ultimate package, the set up for the ceremony, chairs, etc is covered as long as you don't have more then 20 guests then I am pretty sure you need to pay a set up fee. Also, I emailed Natalia last week to ask about decorations...if we get them to do it or we do it ourselves, they charge 4$ per person. Since we are only going to be 15 or so, it's worth our while to get them to do it. I am just going to make sure that the materials, instructions, photo of centerpieces/table are easy to follow as I know the language barrier may be an issue. We just decided to upgrade to the ultimate package last week. Here is how we came to that decision. 1. I did like you, I looked at the prices for all the add ons that we wanted: mariachi band trio set was the main thing we wanted to add. Cost to add: 650$ Difference between the Dreams of Love and Ultimate package, 700$. Then we considered what else we would gain with the Ultimate package, chair covers, an extra floral centerpiece, massage for two or facial for two. These things along would cost way over the 700$ difference in packages. Also, if you have not received the flower pdfs, I posted them a couple days ago. The choice is limited for what is included in the packages. We are likely to silks for the BM bouquets for this reason and using the ceremony centerpiece and the dinner centerpiece for our reception. I am going to ask that they are identical. Upgrading can cost extra money. I hope this helps you. I look forward to hearing from past brides about other costs. Happy Planning!

Check out Michael's...they are the only place in Canada, and locally that I could get them without ordering online...if you aren't ordering lots, it's not worth the shipping cost. Michael's sells them one by one for 7$ each...crazy..but if you get the Starfish garland, there are 9 in the bag and you can take the garland apart. The bag is 25$ but if you get the 40% off, it works out to 12$....I will post photo later tonight of this bag and the starfish glitter I got at a dollar store.

I agree, great start! I think a few more feathers would add a bit to it. Have you thought about a little more bling in the middle? I know when I made mine and bm's I changed my idea a few times. There is one aisle at Michael's that has ...can't think of what they are called...pendants etc. Also check the wedding section...I took hair pins apart for the bling.

Hi MJKH, So I love your turquoise dress! I wish I would have found it sooner...one of our colors is turquoise and we went with red dresses but now really having second thoughts. Here is an idea for a DIY project for turquoise vases, are you taking them with you to your DW or is this for your at home reception? I am really thinking about renting my vases from the resort...don't want to think about travelling with glass vases. But, if you pack them in your carry on, it should all be good! Here is the project...There is a spray at Michael's in the spray paint aisle that will frost glass. Michael's right now has turquoise vases in a few different styles and sizes...they would look really nice frosted!! They also have pink vases if you wanted to stay to pink but I think turquoise is an accent color for a DW is really nice...like the ocean.

So I am in Calgary today and plan on hitting the Pashmina shop, The Christmas store...I think someone said they had starfish there...I got two bags of Sugar starfish garland at Michael's yesterday and the girl have me the 40% off both bags as the coupon on the website was no longer there...the new flyer had been uploaded. Great deal! Paid 20$ for 18 starfish instead of 50$! I found a great find yesterday at a Great Canadian Dollar store in St.Albert, just outside Edmonton. They have small red and blue starfish...look like gems or confetti...more for gluing on things. But I bought all the red ones and I will use them in my table centerpieces with my shells and sand. But I also plan on using them as decorative confetti on our dinner table for the reception! I think the name of the company that makes them is Twisted 4 crafts, don't have them on me but I will post a photo tomorrow so you can maybe try and find them in a store near you. The cool thing is the woman at the store told me that I could call the owner of the store and try to order more in! I asked if they had more colors available but she didn't know. But they had red and light blue ones. Great option instead of ordering real mini colored starfish!

What type of room did you upgrade to? I know we upgraded but can't remember to what...lol...I do know it isn't an Ocean view as a lot of people said they could barely see the ocean...I know it is a larger room. We are hoping to get an upgrade when we check it...they usually do this for couples getting married there. Did you get asked to sit through a 90 min presentation, like a time share thing? My dad just went to Dreams Puertos Aventuras for his honeymoon and they sat through it but got three free nights for any Dreams Resort, so they may use it for our wedding. So we are planning to sit through it if they do that at DT so we can get more free nights toward our first anniversary. We get two free nights for our anniversary if we stay 5 days or longer, because we had our wedding at a Dreams Resort.

Holly, This may sound like a silly question, but when you did your luggage tags on VP, did you just type the words...Name,. Address and inset this on the business card template? Thanks...I am new to VP...completely

Lol..thanks for the tip about the tequila tasting! Luckily we are getting married on the beach. But if you have any photos you want to share that would be great! I can't believe it's less then 5 months away! Trying not to think about the cold weather now while it's so nice out!

Hi, I like your lanterns, I did see them...sadly they don't come in my colors, turquoise and red. I did find some turquoise decorations at the party packagers store and got a few turquoise battery lanterns at dollarama. I am making my own Martha Stewart Paper Puffs...They are great to hang from ceiling or go down the aisle...not sure what I am doing down the aisle. I am leaning toward getting fake turquoise petals for each side down aisle. Honestly, I don't want to add anything into my suitcase!!! Getting a little worried.

Hi Coco, Although Dreams Tulum is further from the airport, we liked how it was in a less populated area...no other resorts share the beach!! Looking at the reviews and photos, we thought the feel of the resort matched what we wanted the most. Both are close to Golf courses which was a must as my FI is from Scotland and his family is coming for two weeks to make it worthwhile and they love to golf! I hope that helps! Read reviews and go with what both of you is the right fit for you. My dad just went on his honeymoon to Dreams Puerto Aventuras and loved it so I don't think you can go wrong with either resort. Dreams resorts have a good reputation!

Hi J and G, I have an idea that you may like, I have seen beautiful shells that were pearlized on one of the threads on here. I bought metallic champagne paint from Michael's and painted long and thing twisted shells that had texture on them. I will include a few photos so you can see. These are Dollarama shells, they are nice natural too but they look nice painted. Just an idea. Also, if you go into the plant section, they have feather pics with more natural feathers, peacock feathers may look nice with the blue and purple shells. Again just ideas. The spiky things are Christmas decorations and come in quite a few different colors. One of two short ones may look nice with or instead of a feather...idea.

Hi Ladies, Since we are all sick of Oot bagging...or should I say spending money on oot bags, I think it is time we think about what we are going to where at our DW's. I know we have mentioned Beyond the Rack but I thought I would include the link, starting on Sunday, the 14th, quite a few stores are having sales on dresses! Although I haven't bought anything from Beyond the Rack yet, I know you have to get on and buy early as the sale doesn't go on all day and once items are sold out, the sale is done. Here is the link. http://www.beyondtherack.com/event/calendar#upcoming_events

I wanted coral too. The only coral I have seen is fake coral at home sense. Silly question what are Shell Bouts? I am making my table centerpieces with some curly fake willow that is sparkly and looks a bit like coral. Once I am happy with my result I will post it.

Holly, I really like your luggage tags. Do you do them in Vistaprint? I am still trying to figure out how people are doing the front and back by using Vistaprint. We're thinking of getting them done at staples but designing it ourselves.Can you tell me how you did them? We're going to do a photo on one side and info on back...likely glue them together. Thanks!

Hi Manda, I joined Beyond the Rack today...great suggestion! I have a friend getting married in St.Lucia and she told me about the site because of the dress sales. Tori, it lists upcoming events and tomorrow I think they are having a dress sale!!!

Hi Tori, Regarding the dresses...I wanted to double check to see if you could order on the elan international site as I thought it looked like you needed to be a buyer or business owner and unfortunately you do. But...don't fret...I searched and you can find and buy elan international dresses etc on the Made American Style site. I put in an order without completing it...prices are really reasonable! The same convertible dress or almost the same that I bought for 72$ including tax is 40$US + 17.88 shipping and handling for Canadian insured mail..so still less then what I paid. I did check out the Canadian designer dresses, really nice too...sadly 128$...local is usually more pricey. Anyhow, you have some options but the best would be if you could find a store that carries them. Victoria Secret has them too and I think if you spend so much, and you need to return something...it may be covered....I think my girlfriend had to do that... http://www.madeamericanstyle.com/women-apparel/dresses.html Take Care, Ann-Marit

Hi Tori, I got the dress at a store called Sublime in St.Albert, just outside of Edmonton but I have posted the link below. A swimwear shop near you may also carry them. I haven't tried to register on the site yet, but I am hoping I can order online. They have lots of really nice dresses that would be great for a hot destination. Here is the link. The dress I got is under convertibles and is SL5000. Victoria Secret also carries a dress identical to the other dress on the site, the red one. I have that one and love it too! https://www.elan-usa.com/#/c-womens-convertibles/