torilynnsmith

In the end it is your day and you have to do what is right for you, when you look back on your wedding day YOU and your husband will be the ONLY ones who remember the day so YOU are the only ones whos feelings matter. I know what you mean about wanting your family there. After pushing for a beach wedding my whole life and after announcing it almost a year ago (we got engaged in July 2010) that we would be doing a DW this May when we finally booked both my parents started giving me a hard time. "why dominican?" "Do we have to hang out with these people all week" "we have a lot going on, a trip in may november, a cruise in may, its our 25th wedding anniversary this year (2010)" ummm we got engaged in JULY I am pretty sure you knew a wedding was coming... we are paying for it they just have to get there!!! Both FI and I have decided it doesn't matter if it is just us two or 100 people joining us we will be having the wedding out way and I can't take time to worry about everyone else, it just isnt worth it! Keep your chin up and remember it is your day, that is all that's important!

Haha no problem Shahlo!!!! I am a little bit of a shop a holic so I guess it comes in handy for this!!!!! I will keep you posted on any additional finds!!!!

Fantastic thank you!!!! I was going to buy the spanish for dummies mini books but I think this is a better idea, another DIY to add to the list!!!!

Not sure, just something I read in another thread. I believe they are worried about resale. One of the brides mentioned making up your own receipt?! Not sure how that would work but ya another thought....

I think we could share shoes Leigh!!!!! I might end up going for Navy shoes though, works as my "something blue" and my theme. I like both the shoes you posted though!!! May get them for my girls, I'd love for them to do green shoes!!!! Can you post a picture of your mesh dollar store OOT bag when you have a chance?! I don't think I have seen them!!1

Hi Lindy, We are having our Ceremony at 3PM I originally was hoping for 4 or 5 PM but FI does not want to do pictures before our ceremony so our 3PM actually works out for us well. We will be doing our ceremony at 3PM it is about a 1/2 hour followed by a champagne toast and maybe some groups shots, I would assume most of this will be done by 4PM We will then do our family and bridal party shots (45 mins or so?!) followed by just the 2 of us! Our dinner is at 6:30 so I think timing wise this will work out best for us. I think it all depends how many shots you want and how long you are having your photographer for. We will do our girls bridal party and guys bridal party separates, as well as FI and family, and me and Family separates before our ceremony so that it is out of the way. Will you be doing a first look or pictures before your ceremony? I think that helps with a later ceremony!

If you search on here you will find tons of different suggestion for luggage tags and OOTs I think anyone can do OOT bags and keep them in their budget, it is really easy to get carried away but we wont be doing favours just our OOTs so tjhat saves some budgets. I think it's just a fun addition to the trip for your guests like Leigh said. You can get self laminating luggage tags, and many other options!!

OMG!!!!! That's great!!! I can't believe you have a 15 and 11 year old! you look fab!!

haha that's ok!!!! Their website is pretty good! I was looking and there are actually lots of cute dresses... just confuses me more though! No idea what we are going to go with!

Ya, that's what I thought, doesn't seem like anything amazing, at least not for our OOTs... maybe if you wanted to do some early christmas shopping lol

No problem!!! I have never seen them anywhere here in Canada but if I do come across them I will let you know!!! I was at walmart today and checked out the travel section, they have men and womens "travel kits" they are plastic zipper bags with a deoderant, toothpaste, travel toothbrush, razor, shampoo, conditioner and maybe a lotion in them they were under $5, thought that if someone was looking at putting these items in their OOTs this would be a great purchase for them! The other thing I saw was a 52 pack of individually packed wet ones. They were $1.27 or something which is even cheaper than the dollarstore (they have 24 packs for $1) I am sure some of you have read in the key hard holder thread but Walmart also has the stretch key rings for $1.97 for a package of 6! This is probably the best price I have seen. I was going to buy them online but I think it makes sense to save the shipping. They come with 2 hot pink, 2 navy, 1 green and 1 brownish grey colour. I would love to just get navy and green ones but that's probably not possible. If some was is interested in the other colours let me know and we could go together on it! They also have retractable badge holders as well as the badge holders all very reasonably priced. I know this was one of the things I expected I would have to get online so I was excited when Janine posted about it in the other thread!!! I think that is all I had to share today!!

Picked up my mat at Dollarama today for my "shoe parking" at the ceremony. I love this idea so much. I am going to wait a bit to do my paint brushes but I think this will be a hit at the wedding, I love the little details!

If you go on the victoria secret website they list all their fabric contents, hope that helps Lindy.

I think it is a stretch cotton lycra blend. Most of the VS dresses are.

I suggest ebay!!! http://shop.ebay.ca/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=shout+wipes&_sacat=See-All-Categories I think that'll be your best bet for lots of individual packed items.

Alright, so I headed over to Bath and Body Works today to check out the big sale. Lots is on for 50% off but I was more interested in the "minis" and travel sized stuff sooooooo........ Most of what I was looking for were on for 2 for $5 or 5 for $10 this included: The mini Candles (great colours and smells) 3oz shower gels (I would use these as bubble baths as all our rooms have indoor and outdoor jacuzzis) 3oz cream small room sprays -there was some other stuff as well but this gives you the gist of it **one thing I did notice is that at the front cash the shower gels, creams and sprays were on for the same price but didn't say "sale" so I assume that it is their standard pricing. I liked that I saw it because I can wait until they get more stock so everything coordinates. The mini hand sanitizers .5oz were on for 50 cents each. It thought they were just too tiny. You can get the 2 or 3 oz ones purrell at dollarama 2 in a pack for $1 so I think that's what we will go with. I didn't end up buying anything because they didn't have the coordinating smells. I wanted the same cream, spray, bath and candle ideally. I didn't need every bag to be the same but at least the 4 pieces in each bag the same. I think I will head to the one in Mississauga to check it out as ours here was fairly picked over. Hope this helps! Any other questions let me know!!

OOOO who are you flying with Leigh? What did they say? I am pretty sure we are each allowed 2 checked bags so we should be fine!!! Fingers crossed!

We don't have them at our Walmart here!!!! So sad

I will keep checking back with you!!! You're awesome, Thank you thank you!!!!

They sure do!!!!

GOOD FOR YOU!!!! I am so so happy to hear it, it is your and FIs day and you DO NOT need the extra stress of someone who thinks it is your duty to cater your day to them! It is not ambitious at all, that is the beauty of a destination wedding. I would however suggest getting on dress shopping ASAP. I haven't bought mine but we are doing a Feb 2012 wedding but it often can take 6+ months for them to come in once you order. Other than that a destination wedding can be as easy or as complicated as you want to make it. Join us in the February 2012 Brides thread!!! We were originally looking at getting married in Jamaica, check out the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites/Beach/Grand. We fell in love with this resort but it was definitely out of our budget. The more affordable options we came across were the Grand Bahia Principe and Grand Palladium. Just get a GREAT GREAT GREAT (I cannot stress that part enough) TA who specializes in destination weddings. It took us 5 or 6 TAs before we found one who would help us out. I don't think you need to wait until August, if you get the right TA they will get you the best possible price and many tour operators have price match guarantee!!! If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask!!! Five boys?!!?! I thought you only had the 3 Leigh!!!! OMG, I don't think we can meet in person, if Patrick ever found out he would want me to find out all your secrets for boys, I think he wants his own hockey team!!!!!!

I am from Ontario too!!! Where are you located? Happy planning, when is the date?

Welcome Ryan, you don't see too many Grooms on the site but I can assure you this will be a great resource! Be sure to read the FAQs, it will help you get used to the site, the acronyms and how to use it most effectively. Also use the search tool to look for any information you are looking for, it is almost 100% likely that someone else has already asked the same thing!!! Happy planning!!!

I will report back Leigh, is there anything specific you are looking for?!

Never even thought of party packagers but you are so right they would have awesome stuff!!! I will have to check it out!!! Thanks for posting the link! Shahlo posted about the lip balm last night and I contacted an avon rep right away. They have some other lip balms for .89 and .99 as well but the .79 is definitely the best price. I have seen 2 no name lip chaps at the dollar store for $1 but they don't have spf and you really dont know the quality. Our dollarama does have the 2 aquafina lip chaps for $1.25 so that is slightly cheaper but again no SPF and they are the tall skinny ones. I just heard that Bath and Body Works is having their semi annual clearance sale so I will definitely be going to check out the deals on hand sanitizer and lotions. I have seen the larger size travel purrells at the dollar store for 2 for $1 so that is a good price too but I would like lotion for bath and body works as well!!!!