NamasteLotus

Thanks Peach... kind of used to it sadly LOL... it'll be fine, but yes, big events = more than usual drama LOL ... It's our week and nothing will ruin it

AM, sorry honey... totally a stressor, ...it would be nice if the family could help out... I don't know what I'd do if that happened to us. We ended up helping a few of our close family/friends with some costs to help them get there, but we did it earlier on and now we're still stressed about stuff you didn't think about $$ .... if you got money from any showers or gifts, would you be willing to help them with their costs?... you have to ask yourself how bad do you want them there to take on that extra financial burden though. Hopefully the family will help out with the costs... but for them they might be more concerned with saving that money to survive off rather than spend what they've been able to save and spend it to get there...it's a hard position to be in since they still have no guarantee at having a job when they come back? If he found another job, would he be willing to rejoin?Can they wait any longer or do they need to cancel now to not lose anymore money?

Thanks Camy.... we didn't make that cutoff...guess I'll be sharing the wealth with more people than I thought LOL

Me too..seems my stress levels are constantly riding high and I'm going cocoloco too LOL

Ann-Marit!! Hi Sweetie.... I was a late joiner to the site LOL... yes, so excited, just 17 days till departure and 22 till the wedding... frantically trying to get all the loose ends taken care of .... Send you message on FB to catch up xo

When I was last there (Mississauga, they had the "Happily Ever After" Ribbon, White with black writing with some sparkle to it. Less than 3 weeks to go... I'm running around making my "Get to Know the Guests Pamphlet" "Itinerary" and finally the program (yes, this is super important but the wedding coordinator hasn't been very clear in what order the ceremony is or what kind of flexibility we have ie-readings or anything... trying to work that one out frantically. Thanks.

When I was last there (Mississauga, they had the "Happily Ever After" Ribbon, White with black writing with some sparkle to it. Less than 3 weeks to go... I'm running around making my "Get to Know the Guests Pamphlet" "Itinerary" and finally the program (yes, this is super important but the wedding coordinator hasn't been very clear in what order the ceremony is or what kind of flexibility we have ie-readings or anything... trying to work that one out frantically. Thanks.

Hi Peach, did you mean me re: sentimental/tangible? Well, if my mom still can't handle a birthday cake and card for my step-mom (tangible) then it's really her issue, I can't babysit her anymore when she acts like a jealous child over normal behaviour (that she expects me to show my stepdad - she wants it to be only a one way street). Have a great week!

Hi Charity Dawn, i plan on doing just that... our flight is 5 hours long... I'm already carrying down extra stuff for the actual ceremony and decorations down there (the resort wanted close to $1000 USD) for chair covers and sashes and 6 vases with flowers.... for 30 people.... Plus I have the gifts for the attendants, my million accessories for the wedding (and we are staying for 2 weeks) there are 5 people who aren't flying down on the same flight as us, so I will be bringing theirs with us, but the others are all getting their bags at the airport... we are going to make sure they "check in" with us before "checking in" their luggage. Our OOT bags will have the following: all couples get 1 bag but each their own item as per the list below (except the doorknocker since they are in the same room), all singles get what's listed below (All in a reusable tote bag from Flip and Tumble) http://www.flipandtumble.com/shop.html (We got Heroez, Drops and Birdie mixture) 2 magazines per person Organic Chapstick (We're pretty organic people ourselves LOL) A personalized tumblr cup with straw (http://www.discountmugs.com/nc/sports-bottles/2276/16-oz-double-wall-acrylic-tumbler-with-straw.htm) Kleenex Package Some candy/chocolate Word Find Puzzle Book Natural Gum Itinerary Get to Know the Guests Pamphlet Resort Pamphlet Welcome Letter from Us Customized Door Knocker (designed by an Etsy vendor designedbyme) I figure that way the guest has something to do while on the flight or they can stuff it in their bags before checking it in. I'm already spreading the wealth of what I'm bringing up I'm tapped out with luggage allowances for me, my FI, and MOH and some family LOL

Hi Peach... I would say to go ahead with comparable tangible gifts (the purses say), but then try and arrange something more special for your fiancé's mom, like a mini spa session together, or a special time in the privacy of her room balcony/patio to share some champagne or wine together on the terrace, maybe make a photo album for her... of pics of you & your soon to be hubby (like a storyline of your relationship) and include pictures of his family too... I know my FI's mom complains she never sees the pictures he takes LOL. I know what you're going through only with me it's I always have to watch how I treat things between my mom and my step-mom...I know my mom will just "love" it when I do something special for my step-mom during the week for her b-day LOL.

These are my barefoot wedding sandals, I ordered a size 7 but they fit a bit snug and had to buy some clasp extensions from the local craft store: And these are my wedding shoes for the reception and ceremony/reception when we come home (got these for a GREAT deal on Beyond the Rack for 1/2 their normal cost!!: Love how the blue peeks out from under my dress

OMG... $3500!!! And I thought mine was bad for $944.... (chair rental, chair covers, chair sashes, 6 vases filled with water and orchids submerged) - THAT's it.... I ended up sourcing stuff out myself for chair covers and sashes at a fraction of the cost and am using a local florist to rent the 6 vases and get 6 orchids WAY cheaper than my resort offered (saving us nearly $490 USD)... I was appalled since we were also already renting out a restaurant for $1800 for a private reception... they didn't even having "options" for decor, just a decorated archway and table - take it or leave it... that disappointed me since it's part of our wedding package (included) but clearly only if you really aren't picky or won't care that it will clash with your colours and theme (which in my case it totally did) I sourced most of my stuff out from : http://www.save-on-crafts.com they only ship to US though, so you have to either use an outside shipper to get it to you (some listed on their website) or send it to someone you know and have them send it to you.

Hi there... we leave in 25 days for Smugglers Cove Resort and Spa... in total we will be 29, so my guests found it completely within their budget.... (From Toronto we managed to get roughly $1635? per person double occupancy on a standard room - that included 2 promotion discounts for early bird, etc). We started planning it in February not long after our engagement.... we upgraded to a Garden View Room and got the basic wedding package included... So far I've heard nothing but great reviews about them/the resort and services on FB... I'm kind of OCD in my planning though and trying to do it all ahead of time... Everything does add up though... the chairs we thought we were getting (based on the brochure picture) were actually an upgrade and they wanted a RIDICULOUS amount of money for chair covers, sashes (with chair rental it would have been $464USD) and when I asked for them to replace the arch (as we are getting married on the beach) with other decor (6 vases filled with an orchid stem and tinted water) they wanted $480 USD... this prompted me to start searching for my own stuff to save costs... I am bringing down my own chair covers and sashes as well as I found a local florist to rent vases and buy the orchids from (bringing my own water tint mixture too)... in the end rather than paying $944 USD ($464 for chair rentals covers, sashes and $480 for 6 vases with flowers) we are paying roughly $487 ($116 for chair rental, $105 to rent 6 vases with an outside florist, $96 for 6 orchid stems and $170 in chair covers and sashes I'm bringing down)... that was a savings of $457 USD!!! It was important for us to cut costs where we could since we were already paying for a private restaurant reception ($1800 USD) since our group is too large to be accommodated within the regular areas of the restaurants and have us all sit together. I am just asking my friends and family to help carry stuff down, they are more than happy to... the coordination has been pretty smooth, Lorna the coordinator answers all my questions promptly, but sometimes I feel like I have to ask the same question 3 different times to get the full answer (with no hidden surprises)... All in all... time will tell...