saraluvsmikey

What JayKay said, quoted below... This is the #1 reason I'm doing a DW. I come from a small-ish town where my parents know A LOT of people, and I knew if I had a wedding at home, it would be 1) SO EXPENSIVE and 2) not intimate. I want our close friends and family. My mom is really struggling with NOT inviting people, so I told her if she's buying the invites, go ahead and invite all the family, because we know in the end, the ones who want to be there, and the ones WE WANT to be there, will be there. We know extended family won't come, but they can't be offended because they were invited. We are also having 2 AHR receptions (one in California for me, one in Chicago for FI.. and I'm forgoing a bridal shower), they're going to be backyard BBQ affairs, nothing fancy at all! And pretty much everyone is invited! (: This is the best way we can think of not offending anyone, plus celebrating with family friends that have literally known me my ENTIRE life. Sara

No, you're not limited to her people. She just won't give you the money-back guarantee of course!

Thanks all!! Feeling better then! I don't live in DG anymore, but used to! With Mike's family.. They live VERY close to you, Ann! They live East of Main on Ogden. Across from the Dog Spot. What a crazy, small world.

Nice to meet you! Thank you, Erica for telling me I'm not behind... I need to keep reminding myself it'll be ok. Destination weddings make me feel like I can't control, just gotta trust. HA My fiance's family is still in Downers and I'm down there every other weekend, I know the area well! I would love a meet up in the future, would be lots of fun!

I am in the same boat, verstrepens! My mother's parents said they're not going, which upsets my mom the most. They say they don't want to go because *IF* something happened to their health, they'd be in Mexico. However, they drive across the country by themselves (CA --> southern ontario, or CA --> NC) once or twice a year. My grandma had an appendix scare last year somewhere in Aspen and it was NOT good, but that doesn't keep them from making the trek. So, at this point, I feel like the health excuse is just an excuse. They just NEVER want to leave the country... We have a strong feeling if my mom's whole family can make it (money is the issue there), they won't want to be left out and decide to come. My mom keeps saying, we're not asking them to come for a whole week! They can stay for 4 days and not miss out! So, at this point, we're hoping they'll pull through. Your situation sounds different in that you're very close to your grandma... It's probably your dream that she's able to attend! What have you decided? I have heard a common theme among destination weddings... someone says "NO! I DON'T WANT TO GO!" and then they decide to go, and have the TIME of their life. I feel like my grandparents need to trust that Playa del Carmen is a good place, why would I want to get married somewhere scary?! Sara

I LOVE this thread... I am a very proud crazy dog lady, and it breaks my heart that my puppy can't be at the wedding! We are having a local party a couple months after the wedding where he will be at! He is my fiance's and my FIRST child (; I love the table numbers having a picture of the dog incorporated. I am totally stealing this idea! Might even have his picture attached to my bouquet.... Why not?! He's my child. HAHA

How much are you looking to spend? I know my fiance is really excited to make a custom bobble head of his best friend as a gift... They're kinda pricey, but we're just having 1 attendant, so it's ok. They're really funny and I'm sure any guy would get a kick out of them. But, that's just me.... (:

If you can speak the language, that's half the battle! The wedding planner I am using has a 100% money-back guarantee on all the services I book through her- She says she trusts all the photographers she recommends, all the djs, etc. That provides me with some much comfort! I would be terrified that someone I found & booked on my own wasn't totally trustworthy on the big day... Ya know? Just something to think about... You're already doing so well without, and if your sister is willing to coordinate the day of, you're quite lucky! (:

Hello all! So so happy to have found this group! I would be interested in any and all advice and wouldn't be opposed to maybe a Chicagoland meetup down the road... (: My name is Sara, I'm a California girl, but moved to Chicago in 2009 after college to be near my boyfriend..... and now he's my fiance! I first lived in the city (Wrigleyville), then moved to Downers Grove (where he's from.. HELLO to all the DG girls!) and now I live in Schaumburg. Most of my family is in California, and ALL my friends are on the west coast. Mike's family is all in Chicagoland, so instead of picking a place here in the US and having the wedding be one-sided, we decided to throw everyone off and get married in Playa! HAHA We are getting married in 3/13. Haven't solidified a date yet, we're working with a wedding planner to finalize things. I'm in the very early stages of wedding planning... If I start to really think about it, I start to stress myself out that I'm behind in planning, but for right now we're stalled until we can book the church. At this point I won't have much to contribute, advice-wise, but I certainly could use some moral support! Besides that... I'm a Full time nanny in the city, a part-time language coach for Rosetta Stone (I coach Asians in English online) AND I'm in school part-time completing a certification to compliment my bachelor's. I'm a busy girl... I also should include that I have a Pekingese who is the love of my life (sorry, Mike) and I spoil him rotten. HAHA Very nice to meet you all! Sara

That's adorable! I love your user picture with the doggie! Is that your dog?

Simply adorable! Thanks for passing along all those ideas!

Hello! I'm a newbie, just starting my planning... Haven't had anything to say on this forum quite yet, until now! We are experiencing a lot of "Why do you want to get married there?" from my side of the family. I feel bad that's it's my side of the family, but I should have expected it. My grandparents travel across country in their truck once or twice a year, but they HATE flying and would never DREAM of leaving the US. I know they used the violence as an excuse, which I think is hilarious because my grandmother wants us to get married where my fiance and I live, in Chicago. I have seen SO MANY people get arrested right in front of me in Chicago, it's laughable. I'm not saying I'd get married in those parts of town, but I'm just saying, Chicago is NOTORIOUS for crime! So, this has been a struggle... but our wedding is over a year away. Maybe they'll come around? Love that Huff Post article! I love the comment about how NOT to get murdered: don't join a drug gang! I traveled to Colombia by myself after high school and met up with a Colombian friend and everyone was telling me how dangerous it was. I just told them I wasn't planning on running off into the jungle or accepting offers to become a drug mule during my visit!! (: xo Sara

Hello! I'm a newbie, just starting my planning... Haven't had anything to say on this forum quite yet, until now! We are experiencing a lot of "Why do you want to get married there?" from my side of the family. I feel bad that's it's my side of the family, but I should have expected it. My grandparents travel across country in their truck once or twice a year, but they HATE flying and would never DREAM of leaving the US. I know they used the violence as an excuse, which I think is hilarious because my grandmother wants us to get married where my fiance and I live, in Chicago. I have seen SO MANY people get arrested right in front of me in Chicago, it's laughable. I'm not saying I'd get married in those parts of town, but I'm just saying, Chicago is NOTORIOUS for crime! So, this has been a struggle... but our wedding is over a year away. Maybe they'll come around? Love that Huff Post article! I love the comment about how NOT to get murdered: don't join a drug gang! I traveled to Colombia by myself after high school and met up with a Colombian friend and everyone was telling me how dangerous it was. I just told them I wasn't planning on running off into the jungle or accepting offers to become a drug mule during my visit!! (: xo Sara