ChocoTaco7568

Prompt reply, but not really happy with the answer... disinfecting water, really? Everyone knows that water needs to reach a certain temperature to be affective for sanitizing, so if it just sits there at room temperature, dip after dip of dirty glasses aren't contaminants and germs just accumulating and transferring? How often do they change this "sanitizing water"? Glad I provided my guests with tumblers.

Hey Kisha, Don't worry, it all falls into place. Experimenting with my bridal look was my first full on introduction to makeup. I never owned foundation prior to this, I was just a mascara and lip gloss girl. I use to have a friend apply my makeup or I had an appt with MAC for special events. It's all about layering and blending. Start with the basics, perfect those, and build from there. Good Luck!

Definitely not over-reacting. We (including our guests) have a lot of money vested in our wedding/vacation and shouldn't succumb to sub-par service and accommodations. Granted it’s not a 5 star resort, but it’s not a Motel 6 either. I have high expectations, but they are practical and grounded in reason and I expect them to be met. If the resort isn't aware of the problme(s), then I can't expect them to fix/make any improvements.

Quote: Originally Posted by ironman I will send a PM to their facebook page. I don't want to post my concerns on their wall, in fear it will show up for my guests to see in their newsfeeds! I'll send one now, and recommend all brides reading this do the same! Awesome! I also understand wanting to keep things private, but I personally thought I might get better results by tactfully making my concerns public...back to the idea of not being so easy to ignore. Any of my guest who have liked or look-up Now Jade on Facebook are also quite familiar with tripadvisor and the negative reviews within. If nothing else, my guest act as added leverage to raise concerns, which is a good thing. Just my $.02.

Quote: Originally Posted by ironman Thanks for the review and congratulations I read it last night and had wedding nightmares overnight. I wonder if there's any way to flag this glass-cleaning situation to the resort? This isn't the first time I've heard about it being a problem, people have also posted on trip advisor about this problem. Quote: Originally Posted by shannonmarie Possibly contact Olivia Rodriguez who runs Jades facebook page? I agrere with shannon. I have personally sent PMs and posted message to their FB occasionally to raise concern and I have also had discussions with my TA and requested that she relay my concerns to the resort directly. The more proactive we are collectively, the more inclined the resort will be to remedy these issue (just my opinion). It easy to ignore 1 voice, but not multiple especially where large wedding groups are concerned. I think they will be more apt to listen especially if it starts to impact their relationship with our TAs and wedding groups not wanting to execute room block contracts.

Thanks Beth. I love my dress even though I feel it looks different on me now that I've lost weight as compared to that photo which was when I first found it during a bridal appointmet. I wish I could find more excuses to wear it after the wedding though. January will be here beofre you know it!

Thanks Shannon, I still have more to post but can't seem to find the time (DIY projects, mock-ups and misc wedding stuff). I consider having the resort apply my makeup using my products, but I’ve been practicing my bridal look for the past year and have better confidence in my own application. I’m using 5 different shadows, and 3 different eyeliners to achieve my eye look (extreme, I know); I can only imagine the different ways this can be layered and applied and all the sudden turn into something very different than what I want. My Face is safer in my own hands and I actually think it will be less stressful for me.

Quote: Originally Posted by Kal520 Went for my final fitting on Monday...expecting to take the dress home and it was way too big! So now it needs to be taken in again!! I feel like I haven't lost they much weight since my last fitting but apparently I had. And my dress has a lace up corset so I didnt think this would be a problem at all. So now we leave in about a week and I still don't have a dress in my possession...slightly freaking out. Obviously not the ideal situation but you have nothing to worry about. When we start our alterations 6-8 weeks out we assume that it this long process that needs ample time, when in reality it's just our seamstresses managing their time by adding a huge buffer (understandable, but also overkill). I started my alterations 7 weeks out, my second fitting was 3 weeks later, third fitting 10 days later (Bear in mind that my seamstress forgot to complete a hefty number of alterations from my second fitting, but completed them 24 hours), final fitting 3 day after that. I just picked up my dress this past Saturday; 11 days before leaving There's nothing like a hard deadline to light the fire under their butts. It be different if you were just getting started and needed major alterations, but a 1/2"-1" isn't a deal breaker in the alterations world. Just think of all the last minutes bride who go though this process in 2 weeks, or who have to changes seamstress last minute... it all works out!

Quote: Originally Posted by shan0487 (God blessed me with a nice butt and no boobs! haha). LOL... that's my motto too!

Lindsay, you totally rocked that dress; what a gorgeous bride! Thanks for your words of reassurance regarding Pilar and the resort (less the dirty dishes). Congrats newlwed!

Quote: Originally Posted by Rpc51 OMG!!!!! Thank You!!!! As a dark skin bride, it is so hard finding products that don't transfer. I wish I could hug you right now, lol. I forgot to mention 1 item - Boscia Blotting Papers. It didn't matter what foundation/application I used, there was no getting around periodic blotting to control sheen/oil, but I was able to go the longest with MUFE HD (typically 5-6 hours without blotting). I do like the Boscia blotting papers b/c they were quick, easy and left my makeup in tact.

Kristie, any dress alteration updates?

Quote: Originally Posted by Furturemrsg Hey Ladies....So we leave in less than 3 weeks! I am stressed to the max on getting everything finished. We already started packing but still have so much to do. On top of this...We found out yesterday we are pregnant! I am so nervous now about leaving the country! I am not sure how many weeks I am because my cycle is complicated. We thought we would try in Jamaica but I guess there is no trying this time around! I did hear from the doctor today and so far my labs are all good! I just have so many emotions! We totally wanted this but wasn't expecting it 3 WEEKS before! lol This is fantastic news, congrats to you and your FI! Congrats and travel safely!

Hey Rcp, I had similar concerns...I selected a few days over the summer of 2012 to do full face make-up test to prepare for my bridal look. I choose days were the high was 90+ and went to Sephora 3 times and MAC once. Make-up was applied between 10:00 and noon and wore until I went to bed. The task: I wanted to be tear-proof, transfer-proof, sweat proof, able to endure humidity, photo ready, 12+ hours of wear and something mattifying. I went to the gym on these days, watched a movie that I knew would make me cry, and checked transferability by blotting my face with a white shirt throughout the day. The following is what I finally went with. If you want to know the complete list of items I experimented with let me know and I can provide those too. Primer – Tarte Poreless 12 Hour Perfecting Primer, creates a great canvas, really minimizes pores and it’s waterproof. I also like Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer Foundation – Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation (great color selection for darker skin tones) Concealer – Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Concealer Blush – Smashbox Factory Airblush Whipped Cheek in Berry Bliss with light sweep of MAC Mineralize Blush in Lovejoy on top (I have a few more recommendations if needed but this is my wedding look) Bronzer – Nars Casino (subtle glow-my day time option) or Laura Mercier Golden Mosaic Shimmer Color Bloc (more light reflecting, great for evenings) Contour – Really hard to find a contour for dark skin so I use a matte eye shadow from MAC 2 shades darker than my complexion Highlighter – Concealer 1 shade lighter than skin tone and mixed with Nars Illuminator in Orgasm EyeLiner – Stilla Stay All Day Waterproof Liner (liquid liner) Eyeshadow Primer – Urban Decay Original Primer Potion (love this stuff, it’s been my go to for 3 years now) Eyeshadow – MAC has the best pigments in my opinion. If you want to know the specifics for my eye look let me know. Mascara – Lancome Power Mascara Lon Wearing Formula (what I would use if I wasn’t getting lash extensions) Brows – Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil Lipliner - Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil Finishing - Make Up For Ever HD MicroFinish Powder Optional investment - Original Beauty Blender Sponge, this truly gives a flawless application. If it weren’t for my wedding I probably would have never purchased this thing, but I was aiming for perfection. I can’t believe I’m putting all this stuff on my face, but I love my bridal look and how it photographs. Each item above really make for a complete and polished look.

GROOM/BM ATTIRE Both Justin and his BM will be wearing Linen pants with a matching vest by Perry Ellis. We considering having Justin wear the matching blazer but thought it would be too warm but wanted him to stand apart from his BM. So Justin will be the only one wearing a necktie. We bought a dress shirt from Nordstroms which has a small white tonal paisley pattern and subtle sheen. It dresses up the linen perfectly. The pic below is prior to alterations Groom Shoes BM Shoes MOH ATTIRE We only have an MOH and BM, luckily for me I only had 1 person to please and we have similar taste so there was never any level of conflict. I desperately wanted a chartreuse green dress, but after looking at dozens of brands and swatches, I quickly realized that it just wouldn't happen; this is also the moment when I decide to tweak the color scheme of my wedding a bit to include eggplant. After 3 stores and 20+ dresses we knew this was the one before she could even get the zipper up. It was everything we were looking for... short, chiffon, well-constructed, and something she actually likes enough to wear again without feeling/looking like she should be in a wedding party. Again, since I only have the one MOH, I didn’t really care how she accessorized the look, but did request a metallic heeled sandal.

Hair Inspiration I love up-dos and think they perfectly accentuate a women’s décolletage, but I have scoliosis and a pretty gnarly scar on my back to prove it, so no up-do for me. I found this pic of Carrie Underwood and loved it. Extensions? Yes please! The added length will also act as camouflage to my scoliosis. I’m going for a combination of these three. Make-up Wedding day make-up is actually included in my package, but I have zero interest in being someone’s guinea pig on my wedding day. This may sound harsh, but I have had more failed make-up consultations (by professionals) than successes and I don’t want to waste my time having someone do my make-up just so I can hate it and have to do it myself. And I would prefer to purchase my own makeup that I can keep than pay for a trial. I tested out multiple products this past summer to make sure I was sweat, tear, humidity, and transfer proof. Anyway, this is my inspiration and the look that I’m coming pretty close to perfecting, the only change, is a more pronounced plum/eggplant smoked eye.