SarahTD

Alex- That's about right. Nerves and excitement. Mostly excitement right now because of the trip. I think the nerves will hit me closer to the actual ceremony. I don't know why I'm nervous. All I have to do is not trip and say "I do" whenever anyone asks me a question . I'm very excited because Marcelo and I actually get to spend two weeks solid together. He doesn't work where we live so I'm lucky if I see him on weekends. I still have most of the packing to do. I keep piling it up near my suitcase, but I need to actually start committing to what I am taking. I have what I hope is the final fitting for my dress tonight. Saturday is the leg and bikini waxing, etc. I think I've talked Celo into getting a pedicure with me on Monday before we drive to Houston. I also have to wrap up all my OOT bag stuff because my mother is bringing it with her because I don't need it until they get there. I told her I was putting it in a dark bag and not to peek. I sent out a huge email today with information for all of the travelers about the trip and the resort based on 7 months of research. Still lots to do, but manageable. I'm sorry about your day out in London. That's a bummer. Your hen night will be lots of fun though. Post pictures!

Hi Kym, You are going to have so much fun! I checked on getting my MOH's hair done and it was $70. I think there might be an additional charge if you do it in your room. When are you going to be there? Sweetness, have a wonderful time. We are going to be there May 31-June 11. Will you still be there? Alex, you haven't lived until you've had a s'more! That's so scary about the volcano ash. I would be so stressed out. It should be totally clear by the time you go, right? Viki, you're going to have a great spa day. How fun to be able to hang out with a best friend of 30 years. I hope my best friend and I stay together that long. It feel like we will. She's my MOH and this is her first Caribbean trip so I'm excited to show it to her. I also have a friend of 20 years coming to the wedding also. I haven't seen her in years so it should be a lot of fun. Sarah

I guess this picture speaks for itself.

Hi everyone! Here's is a photo of me and my wonderful shower hostesses- my mom, MIL, best friend and her mom. I had a great time and the ladies gave me lots of great gifts. It was an international shower too- at any one time English, Portuguese and Spanish were being spoken. Alex- I haven't chosen my venue yet. I have definitely decided against the beach and I'm going to look for a place that is kind of away from everything. I'll let you know what I discover. 2 weeks!! Talk to you soon.

Hi ladies! I am off to my wedding shower. Alex, we weren't given a chance of flowers. I think they are orchids. I'm not sure why I think that, but I'm pretty sure I read it in the description. My wedding is at 4 pm. Enjoy your drink with us I will check in with you all later.

Well, you guys looked great, my fellow Texans

Maggie- those are wonderful! I love the two of you dancing by yourselves. You look like you feel you're the only two people on Earth.

Viki- Thanks so much for saying that. I know my mom is pretty excited. I got her a locket to wear to the wedding and I put a picture in it of my dad from their wedding so he can be there with her. I am going to give it to her way early in the day, though, so we can recover from the first wave of tears. I think it's wonderful and special that it's only going to be the two of you because, really, that's what the wedding is all about. You're under the mistaken impression that I invited all these people! But, seriously, you're going to have a great special time. I know you can upgrade the flowers, but I don't know about the cost. You have to set it up pretty far in advance so I would try to wrench some information out of your wedding planner ASAP. Do you have Dania? You may have to use an actual wrench. We're not doing the private dinner. I have been to another Sandals and a Beaches and had nice romantic dinners in the restaurants. Alex- I think the parasols are a great idea! Can you hand it off to your SIL and have her give you your bouquet? I did arrange the flower ceremony through Dania. I think the ladies will really really appreciate you including them in the ceremony. I leave for Houston a week from Monday!!! I remember back when it was 7 long months. Wow.

Thanks! The flower ceremony would be great for your MIL and SIL, I'm sure. I think it takes place at the end of the wedding ceremony. It cost $100, so $50 per flower, which is ridiculous. I really wanted to do it, though, so my MIL would feel part of the ceremony. My mom is giving me away, my best friend is MOH and his dad is the best man. My MIL is feeling a little left out. She doesn't know about the flower ceremony so I think it will be a nice surprise for her. All these secrets! It's like throwing a wedding surprise party . I was a theatre major so I tend to lean toward the dramatic. My best friend laughs at me because I keep calling the wedding guests "audience" and I'm keeping the music a secret for impact. Oh well, at least it's a day where people will actually let me be the star LOL. I probably won't get away with it after that try as I might.

Alex, I forgot to answer your questions. Our flight is about 2 1/2 hours to Miami and then 3 hours to Antigua so it's not too bad. We are driving 4 hours to Houston the day before, though, so we can do it all in one day. We chose the Beautiful Beginnings and added a bouquet for my MOH and a boutonniere for the best man (my FIL). We are also doing the flower ceremony where we give a flower to each others moms. We're then doing the 1 hour reception with an open bar and my big splurge was the steel drum band. Nothing says Caribbean to me like a steel drum band. So excited!

Hi Alex... I honestly hadn't thought about it in terms of days. I was still thinking about it in weeks. Wow, down to 18 days! That is the strangest feeling. I'm almost 35 and this is my first marriage so I've been "single" so long. I am excited about changing my name, but it feels a little weird too. My mom loves Marcelo and is so excited about me marrying him, but she feels weird about my name change too because my dad died when I was 12 and it's his name. We will all adjust. It's just a lot of big changes! You are so lucky to have great in-laws. I do too. They moved here to our town about a year ago from Brazil. His dad is going to be his best man. Viki and Heather...Are you getting so excited?!?!?!

Alex- I think it's really cool that you're FIL is walking you down the aisle. You must be very close to him and I bet he's thrilled he gets to do that. My mom is walking with me. I asked my stepdad to give the first toast because it was always my mom and me when I was growing up. She burst into tears when I asked her Is anyone hearing from Dania? I sent her an email yesterday morning and I haven't even gotten an acknowledgement that she got it and is working on my question. She frustrates me. I have barely sent her any emails over the last 7 months and, of the two times I did, one time she called me Stacey (my name is Sarah) and the other time she hasn't answered. Anyway, it's still not ruining my excitement. It's so close, I can smell the salt air and taste the Dirty Banana!

And when I say 21st, I mean 31st. Jumping the gun a bit.

Heather, how long are you going to be in Antigua? We are getting there the afternoon of May 21st.

I think your pictures are very inspiring and you should be really proud. You got me out of bed this morning to do cardio core and balance. I will thank you now because I think my hips may hate you in a little while . Anyway, keep it up. You look awesome!

2 weeks 'til I get to Antigua!!! Yay!!! Can't wait to go scuba diving. I'm lucky as far as my guests go- they are all arriving on the same plane and we are all staying in the Caribbean side so it should make for a fun arrival as we will be there a few days before they get there. I'm already worried about pictures. I think I am going to take your advice also, Melody, and talk with the photographer beforehand. I know we want the video and I have heard the photographer can get in the way of the videographer so I am going to nip that in the bud ahead of time. I also love the idea of the postcard in the bags! I am going to do that! I also heard of a really cute idea I thought I'd pass on. A couple who did a DW had a photo taken of themselves in their wedding clothes with a "THANK YOU" banner. They then used that photo as their thank you cards to give people who had given them wedding presents at their at home party. Alex, your hen party is YOUR party. Let your friends pamper you. You don't have to buy them all gifts.

Alex, I feel the same way! I keep wanting to tell people about the cute stuff in the bags and then I remember it's supposed to be a surprise. My best friend caught me in a moment of weakness (wine-induced) and I told her about her MOH shirt, but I'm hoping she's forgotten about it. I think I'm going to give them out as the friends and family arrive. We are going 6 days before everyone else so we're going to meet them in the lobby. I think that's when I'll give out the bags. Sweetness, you must be so excited! You have to tell us all about it when you get back. I'm actually starting to feel like I'm getting married. It's been kind of unreal up til now and I was actually more excited about the vacation than the wedding. Now, with my shower coming up and putting the welcome letter together and my mother crying more often, it's starting to feel real. I can't believe it's 3 weeks away! We actually get to Antigua 2 weeks from tomorrow which is soooo exciting. How are you guys feeling?

You look awesome! Good for you!! I am going to go home tonight and start the second month

Alex, I think shot glasses are a fun idea. I love getting personalized stuff. It feels like some thought went into it. It's costing me a lot too, but what the heck. We're going to have so much fun giving these bags out, it will be worth it!

Alex, the suit is beautiful! I think cream is perfect for an island wedding. Also, your OOT bags are wonderful. Viki, that is exactly what I was thinking! People have calmed down a bit but there was some grumbling at the beginning. We kept telling people "you don't have to come. This is for us". That shut them up a bit when they realized we were serious. Thank you!

Viki, Thank you so much! I am getting ridiculously excited. We got engaged in November and the next day picked the wedding date and place and have been excited ever since. My fiance kept telling me to pace myself, but it really never flagged. I can't believe it's getting so close. Here is a question to the destination brides out there: Did any of the people who are coming with you to your wedding complain about the cost of going or try to make you feel like you should get married locally?

Viki, I don't know about the cell service, but I've heard that the internet service is spotty at best. From what I understand, you have to pay for it even to use it in the lobby and then most days it doesn't work. This is from the reviews on TripAdvisor so I definitely don't know that first hand. As for cell service, you may have to add an international plan for the time that you are there. Your wedding is coming up quick. Congratulations!!

I'm getting married on June 6, 2011 at Sandals Grande Antigua. Very excited! We're doing the BB theme with the flower ceremony (giving flowers to the mothers) and the 1 hour reception with a steel drum band. We only have 10 people coming with us so it's a very "manageable" sized group. I have OOT bags and I think we're just going to greet everyone in the lobby with their bags instead of trying to have them delivered to their rooms. It's so nice to see read the experiences of other brides!

Alex, how could they be rubbish? We do these things not because the people coming actually need extra bottles of aloe but to show we care and that we appreciate them coming so far to spend our special day with us. They are coming from our hearts and they can't be rubbish. I thought hen night was like our bachelorette party. Is that not right? The shower here is where the women get together, usually during the day, and give presents to the bride and the bachelorette party is where they get the bride good and pissed to celebrate her last nights of freedom. For my OOT bags: first of all, I got a dozen neon colored small duffle-type bags for people to carry their beach stuff in. the personalized shirts for the women and hats for the men flip flop shaped deck of cards a personalized drink holder that has a stick figure of a bride and groom and our names a personalized money and key card holder that says "To Have and to Hold" I had stickers made that say "In Sickness and In Health". I'll put those on the bags with the aspirin, bug wipes, aloe, etc. That's all I can think of at the moment. I'll put my welcome letter in and some information about the resort and the island. Have a great day!

Cute fish! I shudder to think what would happen to a fish named Sean T in my house