AllieH

I tackled a couple of wedding DIY projects this weekend and thought I'd share them here: glittered silver shells for the reception tables - wooden shells from Michael's dollar bins a few week ago, modge podge & Martha Stuart White Gold Glitter. some serious sparkle!! and this will be our cake topper - I'm going to glitter the sides and add two skewers to poke it into the cake. a wooden letter from Michaels, diamond glaze and glitter (diamond glaze over the glitter too so it doesn't shed on the cake). my iPad doesn't take the best pics..ah well.

Steaming is going to be the best option. If you don't want to pay the $40ish to get it professionally steamed, maybe hanging it in the bathroom when you run a really hot shower will help. Personally, I'd go ahead and get it steamed. Your seamstress should steam it again after the alterations anyway.

wow - that's a great price for a beautiful dress!! congrats!!!!!

thank you!!!

Is Mike one of the approved vendors for EDR? Or do we have to plop down the outrageous outside vendor fee..?

this is really pretty!

it's been a little quiet here - how are all of you doing?

Updated list! (if this is more annoying than helpful, let me know and I'll quit). Stina9562 – April 20, 2012 Amanda50388 – April 30, 2012 TheWolforts – May 12, 2012 Msbritbrit57 – May 19, 2012 mrendic - June 9, 2012 ElDorado2012 – June 30, 2012 ONEILL12 – September 15, 2012 Jillsepher – October 11, 2012 Allie H – November 5, 2012 Feb 2013 - February 15, 2013 JNitschke - May 25, 2013 ah - you're right. the paper lanterns will look better lit. guess I'd better look into this!!

I do a shellac or gel every time (two different brands). I've found the gel is more durable for me vs. the shellac, so I will do gel before I go. If they get discolored, they can be soaked off with acetone really easily. and EDR's salon should have acetone for you to use. then you can always get a regular mani there the day of or day before so it'll be pretty for your big day. at least - this is my plan!

updated EDR Brides list! Stina9562 – April 20, 2012 Amanda50388 – April 30, 2012 TheWolforts – May 12, 2012 Msbritbrit57 – May 19, 2012 ElDorado2012 – June 30, 2012 ONEILL12 – September 15, 2012 Jillsepher – October 11, 2012 Allie H – November 5, 2012 Feb 2013 - February 15, 2013 JNitschke - May 25, 2013 Stina! You leave soon!!! Jennifer - I really wasn't thinking about lighting the paper lanterns. My assumption was Tucanes will have enough lights that we won't need to light them (and I'm still hoping Tucanes will be available for us). Jessica - what are your thoughts on that since you've been to the venue? (and thank you again for the insider info!!!) Ashley - thank you for sending me the template for your programs. Very much appreciated!!

I'm going with starfish and orchids as our symbols that will be throughout the wedding stuff. We also have some shells in our logo, and waves around one of our monograms. So lots of beachy-themed stuff.

My paper lanterns and parasols came. They are awesome!!! I need to order a few more lanterns - I goofed up on ordering some of the sizes, but not a big deal. I'm going to use the small ones as my aisle decoration and around the top of the gazebo, and the rest for decorating the reception (whenever we figure out where that will be!). I may reuse the small ones on the tables as part of the centerpiece. The parasols are awesome - got two orange stars that will be beautiful. they will be in front of the gazebo in the sand, and then we'll use them for pictures. I went with the mango & turquoise lanterns as well. Now I just need to find some turquoise and orange ribbon to match! I got them from lunabazaar.com - great prices, and they shipped really quickly.

oh Jessi - I'm so sorry he was attacked!!!! that's awful. I'm glad he's starting to feel better, and hope he continues to heal. I don't have any tips for you about not being nervous about large dogs - you probably SHOULD be extra cautious about walking him where the dogs roam freely. there isn't much you can do if another dog decides to attack, and the only thing you can do is avoid it in the first place. as far as him being fearful of the vet - what does he value? does he love toys? scratches? treats? I would use whatever he values most as a reward when you go to the vet to start re-associating it with good things (treats! toys!) vs. the ointment and medication.

Danak - I just sent you an invite just in case you didn't get one from anyone else! sorry if you already had it..

I love these Nicole! Jessica, thanks for the info regarding the dress steaming service and set up fees. Really appreciate the firsthand info!

Stina - yes, we're on the edge of Arlington & Fort Worth. We were all fine and clear at home. Had to take shelter in downtown Dallas while working today though - fun times hiding in the stairwell waiting for the tornado to pass. Here's the updated list! Stina9562 – April 20, 2012 Amanda50388 – April 30, 2012 TheWolforts – May 12, 2012 Msbritbrit57 – May 19, 2012 ElDorado2012 – June 30, 2012 ONEILL12 – September 15, 2012 Jillsepher – October 11, 2012 Allie H – November 5, 2012

PS - I kept getting confused, so I put together a list of our EDR brides and their dates if you guys have them listed. Feel free to add yourself if you'd like!! Stina9562 – April 20, 2012 Amanda50388 – April 30, 2012 TheWolforts – May 12, 2012 ONEILL12 – September 15, 2012 Jillsepher – October 11, 2012 Allie H – November 5, 2012 so we have 3 coming up in the next month or so!!!

Natalia told me the same thing about having one of my guests do the set up - "they'll interfere with the staff". I've just emailed her to ask what the set up would cost, along with renting vases for the centerpieces. we'll see if we can get a response from her. I have heard it's pretty standard to charge a fee to set up things. What I'd heard was it's a fee per person - so TheWolfort's providing flat fees is the first I've heard (and I'm going to use it as leverage!!). Stina - you aren't by chance having orange as one of your colors are you? I'm so sorry to hear he was laid off! that blows. I can meet you at Uncle Julio's ANY time for margaritas - just say the word.

what a wonderful wedding! I love the purple. I love your table numbers and such - you guys did a great job with the design. thank you for sharing!

I have ordered my sash & hair flower. They are on their way, can't wait until they get here!!! She was amazing to work with. Highly recommend her shop. http://www.etsy.com/shop/browneyedgirlsboutiq

I haven't yet decided on a favor. Part of me would like to do something super easy & simple like a GC to the resort for folks to use at the spa, on an excursion, in the gift shop, whatever. The other part says we have to do something. I'd love to do some sort of travel mug, but those are going to be bulky to get down to Mexico for 45 people. I'm thinking we're going to do handmade ornaments for everyone with our wedding info. I think we'd do the top shell as our ornament. We'd do wind chimes for our parents, and one set for us as well. Here's where I found these: http://www.theweddingdept.com/seashell-chime-favors.htm The other item I like is the starfish wine stopper. These are at Wedding Paper Divas http://www.weddingpaperdivas.com/boutique/beaucoup/product/198/starfish_wine_bottle_stoppers.html both are somewhat inexpensive, so we might do both. MBFGW: Seriously - the girl today was 15, marrying a 20 year old who's been in and out of jail. wow. and those dresses are unbelievable. for the first communion and the wedding. the rest of their outfits are also shocking.

We have the same thing you do. We had to book a casita for 7 nights to get the "free" wedding. which was fine, that's what we planned to do anyway. We have 21 rooms right now, but I think we have 1 or 2 people in a single for 3 nights - so that really cuts down on our credit. Ah well..whatever it is will be helpful. My Saturday morning entertainment is watching My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. Anyone else hooked on this?

I'm hoping we get upgraded to a swim up casita. So we've got 3 EDR brides in late April, early May?? Stina, Amanda and TheWolforts all within a few weeks. So excited for you ladies.

I want to go snorkeling and to see the ruins. But I don't think we're going to pay for the group to go. I have thought about setting a couple of excursions up that people can reserve so we all go at the same time, but not sure if I'm going to do that or not. I may just let them contact the resort to set those things up as they want to (one less thing for me to worry about...). I have no interest in checking out the bar scene elsewhere - we've already paid for it at the resort, so I'm staying on property. Maybe if we get bored after folks leave we'll check out cancun or playa (yeah right! bored on the honeymoon...). Ashbrooke - would LOVE to see your program. my email address is allisonlharper AT gmail DOT com if you want to send it that way. thank you in advance! My photog is one of my friends, and she'll be staying there the 3 nights so there's no additional fee. We are going to do the iPod for the ceremony and the reception. TheWolforts - I'm also interested in the system you found at Costco. clue us in?? We're trying to decide if we're going to buy something and drag it down there with us or pay the outrageous rental fee. Amanda - yes, I'm working with Natalia. your wedding is coming up soon!! just a couple of weeks before TheWolforts'. I can't wait to hear about your experience.

nooo no sorry ladies I didn't mean to freak you guys out with my OCD lists. I'm trying to get as much done as I can now because my busy season will be June - October for work. So I won't have as much time to work on the planning. I did forget to add the whole "write ceremony" to that list - another key item... I found the wooden Starfish & shells at Michael's in the dollar bins by the check out a couple of weekends ago. they had a ton of beachy-themed stuff. do you have one near you?? I can try to take pics of them for you tomorrow when the lighting is better. they are good sized - as big as the palm of my hand.