AllieH

Oh I LIKE that headband!!! very pretty!

Ah I love that dress!!!! So different - I really like it too! Yeah, I tried on a couple of "typical" destination wedding dresses. One made me look prego, and the other wasn't bad, but it just didn't make me feel like a bride. I wanted something lace or with ruffles, but didn't want to look like a cupcake. I got Sophia Tolli's Xandra dress: http://www.topbridaldress.com/product.php?productid=41535 (knock off dress site, but has the best pics I've found of the dress). It's probably a little much for a beach wedding, but who cares. It's my dress, my day. And I'm going to bling out the jewelry too. I really wanted a blingy headband, and that didn't work well with the low key necklace I was working on. So I'm going all-in with the bling! here's the jewelry I want: http://www.etsy.com/listing/60801184/sale-bridal-rhinestone-crystal-headband (headband, necklace and bracelet) I think I'm going to do starfish studs as my earrings. the shoes are where I'm still hunting. I want teal or aqua shoes, preferably a wedge or a mary jane with a 2-3" heel. I need the extra height! I'm hoping I find something when the spring sandals come out in the next couple of months. yes, I'm an obsessive planner.

Our wedding is officially booked!!!! WOOHOO! Natalia did confirm that if we pay for a private dinner the day of the wedding, the day pass fee is waived. If we do the free wedding, with no private dinner, it's $72pp for 8 hours. For any other day it's $80. And she said that 80% of the wedding guests needed to be booked at the EDR (which isn't an issue for us, but could be for some). You may want to ask again about that since you are paying for a reception. Us brides gotta stick together

those are so cute!! can you share where you got the plastic envelopes and lanyards?

It's a Maggie Sottero http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?line=d&page=1&style=AD3300

Cvantine - thanks for the heads up about the day passes. I will ask our wedding planner about that (Natalia is who I'm working with). We aren't sure if we're going to do a private dinner/reception or just go with the free one at this point. seriously? 2 years later, nothing? wow... I guess I'd much rather have the confrontation than someone just disappearing.

That's a good point. I will remind them that they'll need to set up their own shuttle to/from the resort, that taxis aren't necessarily easily available. you bet - we've already told them they'll have to buy day-passes for the day of the wedding. I get they have timeshares they need to use, but then they also miss out on spending the rest of the time with everyone. meh, can't please everyone!!!!

wow Avens - amazing wedding! thank you sooo much for sharing your planning.

hi Amy - yay for another November bride!! Love, love Chicago!! my previous employer's office was there, so I spent 5 years visiting every couple of months. I'll be up there again in April for a friend's birthday. can't wait. tell us about your invites and dress. is your resort Mexico? Jamaica? DR? (clueless...that's me)

oh wow - I feel bad for you girls!!! at least I was waiting to ask her and hadn't gone through that yet. much less to buy their dresses and gifts, and then they bail?!? at least it's confirming my thinking that we won't have a bridal party at all. UGGGHHH some people have no manners. calls would have been nice. and yes, you find out who your friends are. I have a feeling there will be a few less people I talk to after all is said and done. I agree with advertising your rooms/fares - maybe even have your travel agent ask some of her previous AI clients to take advantage of it. fills your block, and they get a discounted rate. win-win, right?? even with all of my whining about a couple of key people not going (my sister, and my friend I just mentioned), we have 13 rooms and 24 people booked, and we're 280+ days out. I think we have 5 or 6 more rooms, maybe another 10 people we've heard from who said they'd book in the next couple of days. and then 6 more who will stay off property (timeshares). even expecting that some of them will drop out as final payment becomes due - I really cannot complain.

Susan these all look FABULOUS!!! where did you get the teeny tiny starfish and shells for the MIB invites?

I saw it this morning (catching up on my DVR). I like the 1st one she tried on better than the one she picked. I thought it was interesting that she's doing a DW. Wonder where...I didn't think there are that many resorts in Cozumel.

Hey JayKay! While you were celebrating your big day, we finalized ours. We'll be traveling Nov 2nd - Nov 10th, with our big day on Nov 5th. WHEW!!!

Mia - your ring is stunning! Lauren - I love the style of your ring! I agree with shopping around, or going custom. The custom can usually be found for a reasonable price at a smaller family jeweler (vs. any big chain jewelry stores). Good luck with that search! Elise - love your ring!!

oh mercy, that would have been extra frustrating! and I have to say I like dresses when they AREN'T on models much better.

gorgeous!!!!!!!! I think you should bring the seamstress along too hehehe

isn't that the truth Brenners?? I loved Maggie, and I loved Justin Alexander. Neither of them loved me very much. Sophia Tolli on the other hand hit a home run, and so I'm a Sophia bride! Funny enough...I almost didn't even try on my dress b/c it looked boring and plain on the hanger. Glad my friend talked me into trying it!

Nikki - when I was trying to choose, the one thing I kept in mind is that "no matter which resort you choose, it'll be beautiful, and you will get married". Have you put together a list of all the things you're looking for in a resort, and then checked them off against the resorts you're looking at? that may make it easier to compare them and choose. If you want a place to start, I can post mine for you. And that probably isn't the way you wanted to lose 10lbs right? I'm thinking about you and hoping your surgery goes well, and you have a quick and easy recovery!!! Elisa - where do you live? I'm a little bummed, my girlfriend who has been gung-ho about our wedding the entire time has decided she can't go. I was waiting to ask her to be my unofficial bridesmaid (wanted to get her booked first so there was no pressure), and she's one of my closest friends. But her SIL decided to do a DW in Vegas in June, which means the savings my friend had set aside for my wedding will now go for the SIL's wedding. I'm so sad, hurt and kind of pissed too. I know it's out of my control, and everyone makes choices. and family trumps friends - lots of reasonable things going through my head. but it doesn't change how disappointed I am. *sigh* So now I don't think I'll have anyone getting ready with me except my mom (my sister isn't going either). I'll get over it... but just bummed right now.

thanks for all the info on the dress code. that is something I'm trying to figure out and convey to our guests. I am thinking of telling them to bring a couple of pairs of slacks "just in case" (plus I'd like them in slacks for the wedding anyway). I've started my correspondence with Lomas, and so far am pretty happy. I've gotten an email back within 24-48 hours each time, and compared to some of the stories I've heard, it is reasonable. (and I'm trying to keep my expectations in the reasonable level lol) Now I just have to fill out their form and put down the deposit to make it official. YAY! On the downside, I just found out the girl I was hoping to ask to be my BM (or unofficial BM) won't be able to attend. Her SIL decided to have a DW in Vegas in June, and my friend can't afford to do both. #@*($@#(*&~ were the words I had for the SIL. but what can you do?! ah the ups and downs of wedding planning.

Julie- I was actually looking at that very one last night!! Definitely looking on ebay, etsy, and anywhere else.

Have any of you brides who've ordered knock off dresses, also ordered a knock off veil? I'm toying with that idea, as I can't imagine paying $200 for the veil I want (chapel length w/ lace). Thanks!!

I want a veil. but I'm not going to pay a lot of coin for one either!!

now that's a heck of a love story!! how exciting that you two are finally together, and planning your wedding. CONGRATS!!!!

great pics!!!!!!

oops -and your adorable kiddos too - didn't mean to leave them out!