AllieH

I'm a big fan of KW and have been several times. What about doing seasoning as a unique favor? the Key Lime Shoppe in KW makes this killer datil pepper seasoning. it's like a lemon pepper seasoning, but has more "tart" or "kick" to it. my FI's mom also knows someone down there who does custom spice mixes for favors and such. Let me know if you're interested and I'll track that info down. Another idea might be the key lime white chocolate chip cookies that KLS has. If you like key lime, of course. Those are a couple of food ideas for you anyway that just scream "key west" to me. good luck with all of your planning!

PS - I missed somewhere that they do a "custom" menu for the Cocotal dinner. I had one created/printed for our guests that matches the rest of our wedding stationary. It was cheap enough with the other stuff I had printed. It's a 4x8 postcard. (and now you have a preview of our wedding stationary!)

We changed it for the airfare - I used my miles for one ticket, and wanted to make sure the outbound flight is direct. The only way I could get that on the reward ticket was to move the departure date to a day earlier. So didn't really save much at the end of the day, but we get an extra day before everyone else arrives. I had asked Natalia to send me some of the cakes that the chef had created for previous/recent brides. She said she attached them to her reply email, but she didn't. So I asked her again. She keeps saying to send them pics of what I want, and the chef will confirm if they can do it. But I don't want to get them to try to recreate something - I want to see what else they have done so I can have realistic expectations (besides Nikki's cake). We haven't confirmed any of the extras, although she's quoted them for me. You can bet if the price goes up we'll have a discussion. We probably won't do too many extras though, the prices are just more than I'm willing to pay. I love this process so much! I need a "serenity now" smiley...

ah ok - so your friend eats fish, that's good that there are still some choices! the hotel is bad at responding. it took about a week to confirm our changed arrival date. can't wait to see your bracelet! I hope they are able to find an ASL interpreter for you. any chance one of your family is able to do it? I'm doing good. the responses are a little faster than before, but still too slow for my tastes. but what can I do? grin and bear it, and focus on the more positive/fun stuff.

A friend of mine highly recommended Secrets Maroma.

Leanne - these are beautiful!! I think they are some of my fave TTD pics ever!

Nikki - I'm so sorry to hear about your FIL. will be thinking about you both! Brittani - loved your video sneak and pics. GORGEOUS! Jill - how's everything going girl? Has Natalia gotten you the answers you needed regarding the dinner? Everything is ok here. Work is crazy, plus I'm studying for an test as part of an industry designation. Because I procrastinated, I'm slamming a college course's worth of studying into 3 weeks. Good times.. I ordered our favors today, and also booked our airfare. We're officially going to be at EDR for 10 nights - 10/31 - 11/10. I'm ready!!! Hope everyone else is doing well!

I had the same challenge as you - my FI didn't want to have "2" dates, and wanted to do the legal ceremony in Mexico. I did not. I finally told him that it will be much easier (and less expensive) for us to do the legal paperwork here and have a symbolic ceremony in Mexico. We will do the legal deed before we go to Mexico, so it's official when we are there (this is important to both of our mothers...but we will keep it hush hush). Some of my friends know our plans, but we'll do a symbolic certificate, etc. and really no one will know the difference. It took some convincing for the FI - reassuring him that the legal day will not be any vows, any rings exchanged, etc. Just signing the paperwork and getting it filed. I don't think he's completely happy about it, but he'll go along with it.

Nikki - those are GORGEOUS!!!!

I don't know that I have any magic words of advice. I do think you need to get her on the phone and talk to her rather than continuing to go back and forth via email. Tell her you know you're probably bugging her, but you're really concerned about your dress given the circumstances. And be honest with her about it too - it's been 3 weeks past the expected ship date, and she isn't forthcoming with tracking, etc. so you don't know if you should be looking (and saving) for another dress, or if you should wait. See what she has to say, and if it makes you feel any better about waiting. If not, go hunt for another dress. It sucks. big time. I'm sorry you're dealing with this!!!

those are gorgeous Stina!!!!!!

take those whose opinion you value most, and who will also support you regardless of their own opinion. If that's just your MOH, then do it. you can invite the rest of the girls when you actually purchase or pick up your dress, for fittings, etc. the more girls that are there, the more opinions to contend with. and the less likely that you can make them all happy, when what is really important is YOU being happy with the dress. one of the # rules of dress shopping is don't do it with a large entourage. that said, if they all took the big group with them shopping the first time, then you might expect some hurt feelings if you don't do what they did/expect. and that's ok - it's your wedding, do what you want. just know you'll have to deal with those feelings... I went initially with my mom & a good friend. 2 different friends went with me to pick it up, and a 4th friend went for my 1st fitting. by that time, I was done with everyone else's opinion, so I just went by myself for the 2nd fitting - it was a really zen "OMG I'M GETTING MARRIED" happy moment too, so I'm glad I went back alone. they did take pics at the 2nd fitting that I could send to my mom (and friends). my opinion and my friends want all the details too - they don't want any surprises!!! it's sort of driving me crazy because I would like some surprise. We ended up with an electronic STD that had our website on it for the booking info. I'm working on the paper invites now, which really aren't necessary (except for the dinner choices and welcome dinner RSVP), but I'm going to do it anyway. in hindsight, I wish we'd done what you are doing with an early passport invite, and then I probably would have done a boarding pass/pre-travel/dinner RSVP - much smarter!!! have fun with all of your planning. and don't stress - this should be fun, right? (I'm still working on getting into a happy place with all of the planning, but it's getting better!). Quote: Originally Posted by chiquita8302 Next week will be dress shopping!! Question for you girls... when you went to just start looking at dresses, who did you invite? I have a large group of girlfriends/bridesmaids and I am thinking it might be overwhelming to invite them all the first time I go, so I was thinking of secretly going with my MOH... and then once I have a better idea of what I want and where I want to go, then I can invite everyone the next time... but I wouldn't want the girls to be hurt that I didn't keep them informed all along the way, because that's kind of how they've all done it. (most of my bridesmaids are girls I've been friends with since 6th grade, so we've all been each others bridesmaids)

both of you have very beautiful pics!!!

just my opinion - most of your guests won't be able to tell the difference between white and ivory (or natural). and most people do look better in the ivory, regardless of whether or not they tanned. When I was trying on dresses, there was a gorgeous Indian girl with dark skin trying on dresses. the ivory was incredibly beautiful on her. she was insistent on the white - which also looked pretty (she could have worn a paper sack and been drop dead beautiful!). the difference when I was watching her was that in the ivory, I saw a beautiful girl, and then a beautiful dress. In the white dress, I saw the dress first, and then the girl. again...just my opinion. good luck with your choices!!!

I had my 2nd fitting over the weekend, and while my dress is still a work in progress (you can see the lace hasn't been tacked down underneath my arms), I'm loving the changes!! we changed the neckline from straight to a soft sweetheart, and she took the bodice in a little. It makes a huge difference. The hem is just pinned right now. And here's a look at the bustle - it has a chapel train that is layered with the organza (it's pinned also):

Kristie - gorgeous dress!!!! and you can bling it up with the jewelry. I like the natural.

WOOOHOOO!!!!!! I'm so excited for you. Hope it all goes well, and wishing you all the best.

gorgeous dress!!! I think your dress lends itself to a number of different jewelry styles. You could totally bling out on the jewelry with bigger pieces. You could also do an non-traditional statement necklace with a bright, colorful broach or colorful beads.

you are welcome! I also wanted to share that Staples has a $5 rebate on most of the Avery address labels right now. and since you can do their rebates online, and even have them posted to a paypal account, it's super easy.

I just received my dress label from MondeDesigns. It matches our colors perfectly, and she was also able to use the same font that we used on our invites. I'm going to have it stitched into the lining at the hem of my dress. It's big enough to sew into a pocket to put a keepsake in as well. I just love it!!

hi EDR brides!! how is everyone?? my FI is in NYC this weekend for his bachelor party. so I've had the house to myself for a couple of days - very relaxing!! I've watched several chick flicks while he's been gone, and have also been working on my invites. Yes, ahead of schedule, but I'd rather do that than study lol I also had my second fitting today for my dress - she had done the neckline alteration from a straight across to a soft sweetheart. it looks AMAZING. I can't wait to wear it!! hope you ladies are all doing well and enjoying the weekend.

PS - I should have said they also make these as return address labels; I have those as well, I just haven't printed them yet.

Avery makes "clear" labels that you can print at home. They aren't totally clear, but more like a cloudy cellophane or velum paper - but way, way better than white. This is what we're using on our invitation envelopes. they look really good!! I will try to take a picture later today when the lighting is better.

we are flying our photographer in as well. she's a good friend of mine, and I couldn't imagine anyone else doing our photos. We did a couples session with her in early 2011. With the comped nights, it works out about the same as hiring anyone local. I have the peace of mind in knowing her style fits with mine, and trusting that the end result will be amazing. That's worth it to me!! Plus she gets to share in our special day, which is most important.