EVKnowsitall

Gorgeous- mine is somewhat similar except my center stone is smaller and its a three stone band. Your ring is beautiful and your wedding is almost here! congrats!!!!!

So awesome I love it! My rings are too thick so I couldn't ever do this. I do have a right hand though hahahahahaha. We just got married and I'm already talking vow renewal. 5 years! Congrats. I hope to be there too in a few years! I love that you chose black diamonds. Modern, unique and you're right it goes great with your set.

LOL Yea it blew my budget to smithereens but I can understand why it was this number. Keep in my her resort La Reve is not an all inclusive and is a slightly higher property than others- although it is absolutely gorgeous. Also- she had 60 guests. That's pretty uncommon. Although DW's range in size, I rarely hear people with that number of actual attendees. People anticipate that many or invite that many and end up with less. I'm always amazed when people have such large destination weddings. At our resort there was a couple with over 100 guests. It was kind of intimidating lol they overan my small crew at the bar and they were all dressed in white- at least they were very nice lol but more people means more money.

No, we did our first look on the hotel grounds. I chose not to wear my veil for the first look because I wanted to save some element of surprise for when I walked down the aisle. It worked! because he totally fought back tears when I walked down the aisle (I wanted him to cry we had a bet) My wedding was at 5:00 PM in the church but at 6:30 we hit the beach to grab some beach shots and that's where we realized the parasols wouldn't work. Even the veil was a little of an issue. I took just a few shots with it and then took it off. And I was kicking myself because I wanted to do one with both of us under the veil and in the chaos of it all, I didnt. At my AHR however, my friends and family grabbed my veil while I was dancing and encircled my husband and I and threw it over both of us like the parachute you run under in kindergarten haha. I loved it and the pics are pretty cool- Since you are on the fence- here are a few: I am biased but I looooove cathedral. I say get the cathedral and use the shorter one for the rest of the time. Something to consider. It made me feel so bridal- since you give a lot of that up with a DW. Church in DR Dancing at our AHR under the veil Had to hold the veil to dance Me dancing and the veil swinging into my husband- we got a good giggle from this pic One professional shot- my photog for my AHR only gave me a teaser lol

Sorry- one ribbon on the middle lamp and no ribbons on the other two on the sides- sorry can't type today lol

Those lanterns are great. I wish I had found them for my wedding because we were on the beach and the candles we had would not stay lit bc f the breeze. I got frustrated trying to make my centerpieces and just purchased them lol. But the lanterns I absolutely love. I kind of like the ribbons- maybe just one pink ribbon on the lamp and the middle and the other two lamps with no ribbons at all?

Yea one of our guests couldn't get into Vento because he was wearing linen shorts. He had to go back to his room to put on long pants. I thought he looked fine- it was a linen shirt and shorts with shoes, but he had to change. It wasnt a big deal though. My husband wore these shoes he got from a store called "They Call it Spring"- they look similar to vans- but a little dressier- and he got into all the restaurants wearing them. Then again- he wore long pants and button down guayaberas so when everything is put together it dresses the shoe up. But those who havent traveled yet- definitely have the guys bring one pair of semi-dressy shoes. The girls can get away with almost anything lol

My veil

I have to be honest- I really wanted to do OOT bags but it was more stuff to lug down, and no one complained about not getting one. Perhaps you can settle on one souvenir that you really love. I see a lot of couples buy tumbler cups with their names on them and while I was at my wedding, I saw a huge wedding party of 100 people and they had the cups. they really come in handy because my resort gave us paper cups when we were in the pool and beach bars and we had to ask them to double stack them. Tumblers are great for everyone to put their drinks in.

I paid for my own wedding and I still wonder how other people paid for theirs lol. I am one of the brides who worked three jobs. I know, I am nuts but I have different life circumstances than you- no school and no kids and I am a HS teacher so that means nights and weekends were free. I really only took the second job bc I insisted on having an AHR- now what I am about to say will sound a little foul and I am not at all materialistic- but from a financial standpoint- it was a pretty bad investment. We got back $2,500 in gifts on an AHR where we spent $15,000. I don't mean to sound harsh, but the people who came with us to DR- I didn't expect anything from them- however the people who came to the AHR, while I knew I would not break even, I expected gifts, sure. As one friend put it- your wedding should be your first financial windfall. He spent nothing on his because the brides parents paid and he made $35,000 back in gifts and they bought a house. Surely it was because the "AHR" people considered just a party- but I sent out formal invitations, paid a DJ, paid for decor, and paid a catering hall. What we got back wasn't even enough to cover the cost of the DJ. I had friends I've known for years- been to their weddings and given generously, give absolutely nothing. Luckily I prepared myself in advance for this and I'm not upset, I'm actually just surprised. Why the AHR? Because our DJ who I paid a $1,800 deposit to when we were not having a destination wedding, would not refund our money. It was a lot to lose so I planed the AHR around the DJ, especially when I saw the guest list to our DW dwindle- coupled with the pressure my family put on me to have something for my guests who couldn't attend (btw just putting it out there that all those same family members DID NOT attend the AHR- they went to neither party). I'm not going to say I totally regret it because I had a blast and I got to wear my dress again and share moments from my DW- but our phone with all our honeymoon pics was stolen- yes stolen- and it was simply too much money! If I had it to do again- I would have just stuck with the DW and not had an AHR. Our total on both was $35,000- $20,000 for DW and $15,000 AHR. And we paid for it on our own. We made a separate wedding savings account and mid-month I transferred $1,000 from our checking accounts, at the end of the month, I would wait until all our bills- rent, car, insurance, phones etc, were paid and I would transfer what was left over the day before we got paid again- usually it would be $200-$500 which meant I saved $1,500 a month. My husband and I have the same income and its not a lot but we were super stringent. Then I added the two jobs- I am a HS teacher so twice a week for one hour, I tutored kids and I also did test prep at my school on Saturdays for 3 hours each Saturday over the course of 16 weeks. I bartended 3-4 nights a week. The bartending is what paid for the AHR- so if I hadn't had one, there'd be no need for that job. My husband was against the AHR and I insisted and he said "Our money isn't going to the AHR if you want it so badly pay for it on your own" Challenge accepted. He was upset I took the bartending job- he didn't think I would, but you cannot challenge a Puerto Rican woman. I say 15k is a reasonable budget- but if we wanted to stay within that, we needed to have it at a different resort. We chose Paradisus and they are more expensive than most resorts and their outside vendor fees are astronomical- so we budgeted $20,000 to accommodate. It took us a year and a half- we extended the engagement to be able to save- that is another thing to consider if you are at the very beginning and haven't selected a date. But we didn't use our credit cards, we didn't take out a loan, and we didn't borrow from anyone- although a few people volunteered in case we needed it. So for all the tired feet, headaches, and pain- it was worth it because now we can save for our home. And yes- I'm still bartending- because I am a teacher free for the summer and if I took a second and third job to pay for a wedding? I can definitely do it to pay for a house. New goal!

We're wedding twins! I got married July 5th in DR. Your dress is a beauty!

OMG!!!!!!! First- you look gorgeous! I love your dress. Second- I love that your husband wore his military blues. Third- You guys look so great together Fourth- your new married name is my maiden name! LOL I kinda miss it. I have to learn to love my new last name and also how to sign it. Went to the bank to change my account name and still signed my maiden name lol habit Congrats, your wedding looked beautiful.

Thats a good idea @angelnjewels. I had my nails and toes done at home the day before I left and I had them seal it with gel. It lasted for three weeks, because even when I got back home, I didn't change my nails until my AHR. I reluctantly had tips because my real nails are pretty long but they kept breaking and were uneven. Hey Kel- I saw you and your hubby on Arrecifes FB page lol. I was going to write "I know her" lol but I technically don't hahaha As Kel said- hair and makeup- you don't even have to worry. They did an amazing job. I had Eudice do my hair ad makeup and even my hairstylist in NY could not replicate the gorgeous hairstyle she did. And it lasted through the humidity, sweat, and dancing so big props to her.