EVKnowsitall

Hey guys! I need to reach my 150 too! I'm not paying the $30 LOL I'm a big believer in not paying for anything that is offered for free! Anywho- I saw some of you debating locations. Initially we wanted Mexico- we went to Secrets Capri in the Mayan Riviera and fell in love. We saw a few weddings while we were there. We weren't even engaged (my fiance had intended to propose but I suspected he would and told my mom so he didnt...haha the premise of the entire vacation btw was so he could propose but since I was on to him, he didn't DARN) but we knew right away we wanted a destination wedding. When we started shopping the idea around to our friends and family- they could not understand why Mexico- news reports did not help- even though my fiance and I just vacationed there and felt totally safe. I suggested DR where my fiance was born, but he said no because it wouldn't feel like a destination to him since he's from there. I kept arguing with hi that the best all-inclusive resorts are in DR but he wouldn't budge. When he finally went to visit family- they were upset that he would not consider DR knowing they could not leave DR to see us wed. Why Mexico? They kept asking. He had a change of heart when he returned. While I do not regret our decision- at one point I almost did. When our guest count went from many to a few I said "We should have just stood with our original choice" I also won a photography contest but had to decline the prize because the photographer is based in Mexico. There are a ton of awesome vendors in Mexico and its a little harder to find great ones in DR but slowly and surely we are getting there! I love to talk so anyone on this thread responds and we will chat for days! LOL My site thread is pretty inactive. I feel like I'm talking to myself. No fun.

Is is worth the $2.99? I just asked on the other thread but then I came across this one. I was thinking of getting it because I'm so hooked to this forum.

How well does the app work? I have a wedding folder on my phone with lots of apps for the wedding but I check BDW like its my religion! I love chatting with the other brides and reading reviews etc. Makes me feel like I'm planning a wedding- something I feel less of with a DW. The app is currently $2.99 for iphone users. I was wondering if it was really worth it. I can access the site through my web browser but I often make typos because I can't see the whole screen at the same time. do you ladies frequently use the app?

Is this your wedding site chapel!!!!??? It's amazing- Exactly what I was looking for when we searched for a venue. It's absolutely breathtaking.

Hey EV We picked our date around the availability of the church. When I initially booked- I gave Lauren the sales agent two possible dates and told her upfront we wanted a church ceremony. She came back with a time that the priest was available and thats the date we chose. It took a little bit for her to respond because the church is a little slow to respond. If you have not settled on a date yet- let your planning coordinator know a few dates that would work and ask on which date the priest is available. If you already have a date and invites of save the dates are already out, then let them know right away you are interested in a church ceremony and keep your fingers crossed! I hope you are able to book the church! I have pics of it on the inside and outside. It's about $1,100 between the church fee and government taxes to get married in the church. But it is only 10 minutes from the resort, will guarantee privacy, gives guest variety in location, and the ceremony is 45 min-1 hr long, which was a big deal for me. There's a bit of paperwork involved with booking the church- but not a reason to shy away. You have to have completed all your sacraments (my fiance and I did them together 3 years ago) and show the certificate, you need to complete Pre-Cana classes which my fiance and I started- and actually enjoyed, and then you also need your regular parish priest to write a letter granting permission for you to marry outside the U.S. I was a little intimidated at first, but unwavering in my decision to have a church ceremony. I tried contacting the church on my own and they didn't respond. Then Paradisus sent me info for the church and there was a letter from the priest asking that all plans be made through the resort. So they won't respond if you call or email directly. You have to let the wedding coordinators handle it. Good Luck!

My fiance and I have been dating 6 years and we will be getting married after our 7th year anniversary. Not on a particular date though- we picked our wedding date based on my work schedule (I'm a teacher and school is out wahoo) and on ease of travel for our guests lol. Wish it was more significant but it will be after we marry! haha

Yea! I never understood that mentality. Ugly dresses= ugly pictures. What bride wants ugly pictures? Then people will look at them and a)question your taste and question how good of a friend you are haha. I was a bridesmaid in an Indian wedding so I wore traditional Indian clothes and I was a "stand in" bridesmaid for a friend of the family who was flat left by her entire bridal party- MOH and 2 bridesmaids 1 month before her wedding. She called me hysterical crying and I agreed to be a bridesmaid. I took her to a store and we bought $65 dresses right off the rack LOL It's better to be a guest lol less stress and responsibility! I gotta find the petition for the app! I'm on this site all the time too- which is why I often type from my iphone. I get an alert when I get an email and I know every time someone responds to a post and I want to write back right away!

Sorry for the typos I'm using my phone. They should really make an app. My resort has an app, I have a countdown app, and the knot has an app. I have a whole folder on my phone just for the wedding lol we need BDW to make an app version!

Definitely true! Because for your dress you only h e to worry about what looks good on you. For bridesmaids there are other females to consider. I also have a rang of sizes. I really wanted my peacock blue color. I told the girls- so long as they are all long and from te se designer- I don't care if you all choose a different style. The reason I said same designed is so then I know the color is a true match. I sent them 5 different dresses to choose from and they all picked the same one haha. But it wouldn't have mattered to me if one wanted one shoulder and someone else picked strapless. I just want each girl to feel pretty bc I used to be heavier and I know what it's like when a bride puts you in an unflattering dress. The better the maids feel, the more confident they will be- the better they will photograph and the more attentive theyll be to you instead of worrying about how they feel ugly in a yucky dress haha. They also wanted a dress they could wear again.

That's sweet. You have the advantage of knowing the resort ahead of time. I'll look forward to your pics.

These look awesome! I wish I was more crafty. I want to make things for my wedding but I either don't have the time, or the artistic hand. I love these- we are using a palette of blues and these would be perfect! We are about to order our invites and were going to have passport invitations made by a woman named Ana DeRoux. she makes luggage tags RSVP cards and we planned on ordering them but if I knew how to make them I sure would. These are superb!

I love the fingerprint idea. I am going to look on Etsy for one- we are considering a peacock theme for our palette of blues. Subtle peacock hints so I might get a peacock and heave the feathers be the fingerprints of our guests. I love having a guestbook that will become a part of our home once the wedding is over and not something that will be shoved in a closet or attic.

Well on these boards its becoming very clear to me that I am totally over the top compared to most brides. LOL... guess my shoes will be too hahahaha. I'm digging this pair I found on Etsy although my search has just started. I have lots of time and am not overly concerned about my shoes. I plan on purchasing a pair of barefoot sandals from Red-I by Chelsea for our beach reception, but our ceremony will be in church, so I need a pair of decent shoes. I don't want to spend this much- but our colors are navy, peacock, and aqua- a palette of blues. I google peacock shoes and found these. And I love. I just think they might be too high for both my fiance and my dress haha. He's only 2 inches taller than me so too high of a heel is no good. Jury is still out lol. I'm just looking for an interesting shoe.

Now that's a ring after my own heart! I love it. I don't see many I like more than my own- because of course everyone thinks theirs is the best- but I absolutely love your ring. Best of both worlds- Classic solitaire but a little bling around the sides. What can I say- I like sparkly things lol Absolutely a stunner. Did you Fiance propose while on vacation? I saw the other pic and it looked like you guys were at a resort! Congrats!

I would like to order some barefoot jewelry but I'm not getting married on the beach. I'm getting married in the church with our reception on the beach. Maybe I will order some just for me! I lokve some work I have seen on your FB page. Our colors are aqua, navy blue, and peacock blue. sorry!

Your wedding is so soon! Congrats. Haha I guess I belong in the group of girls who like diamonds everywhere, but this look is equally as stunning. I like that the wedding band is simple, but enhances the solitaire- and that solitaire is one mighty fine rock! I think some women are afraid to get a solitaire or ask for one because they are afraid it will come back too small lol. I know my Fiance would not know the first thing about picking a quality solitaire.

I love that you added the sleeves. I love cap sleeves. They look so elegant and add just the right touch. Congrats on your wedding!

Heather! My dress is in the salon vault as well. I have to try it on for the veil and headpiece trunk show. You wear your dress and they bring veils and other headpieces for you to try with you dress. I will also need to do a final fitting closer to the date. So I have 2 more tries. I understand the exasperation! My wedding is in July and it feels so far away! The only time it feels close is when I think of the time I have to save money haha.

I just went snooping through this post because bridesmaids dresses were such a pain in the butt to find. I kept telling people the color was peacock and it confused everyone because there are different colors in a peacock feather. So then I started saying teal and that confused people and they started saying it was an ugly 1980's color and ugggggh the aggravation lol. So we tried on dresses at a salon and I fell in love with a Bill Levkoff style but it only came in Navy blue. My maid of honor would not take the dress off and kept trying to convince me to change my color to navy blue- which is too dark for a destination wedding if you ask me. But I managed to find a designer who carries the color I was looking for- Bari Jay- the color...is called peacock! LOL Like I originally stated! We thought of doing a peacock theme for the wedding but it can get borderline tacky if its all over the place. So we mellowed out the idea and are just going with a palette of blues. Our colors are navy blue, Aqua blue and the peacock blue. The navy- only bc my fiance picked a dark gray and navy blue suit for the wedding and I had to tie it in- but against the girls wearing the peacock it looks beautiful. Our church is all white so I think the blues will have a marine/ sailor vibe against the church. Here are our bridesmaids dresses: I also LOOOOVE this style- same designer and each panel can be a different color or you can do two the same one different or get the dress in solid. I was concerned the navy would be too dark though but I love the look of the two-tones. Unfortunately for this panel dress- the peacock colored fabric is not an option. Otherwise this would be the winner with the peacock color on either side and the turquoise in the middle. Either way they are both pretty dresses and I guess I can't go wrong. I just thought the peacock color was so rich looking and a nice contrast for the color of the water. I guess we will try both on and see what looks best although all my maids favor the first style. They like how its short in the front and flirty. Casual yet formal since our wedding is at night.

Love this dress!

Precisely. When it comes down to it- we simply can't afford a stateside wedding even if we want to! LOL We could spend the same budget we are spending for our wedding in DR but in NY it would be a cheap, cutting corners type of wedding. In order to achieve the caliber of wedding we are having in DR in NY we would have to spend closer to $50,000. Destination allllll the way. Yay! I'm so excited for us haha

Thanks Angel lol we appreciate it. It's not a biggie because we are proceeding full speed ahead with or destination wedding. We are already in too deep lol. We also just attended a formal engagement party for a friend at a catering hall last night- mind you it was an engagement party! And she was in a full white trumpet style dress, there was a 5 tiered gorgeous cake, centerpieces, DJ- the works. And this wasn't even their wedding! But the pasta appetizer came back cold, the steak was overdone, the DJ was irritating, the drinks were weak, some guests were cemented in their chairs- my fiance turned to me and said "and this is what we would be able to afford so the same way we aren't too pleased with the food or service, this is what our guests would think about our wedding if we did it in NY. I don't regret our decision to go away" and it was in the back of my mind all night. There was nothing wrong with the celebration- but it was typical, run of the mill, same issues you always face at catering halls. Granted- it was just her engagement party- but the budget she spent on it, was the budget my fiance and I had for a NY wedding. I feel like I'm looking at my wedding in a whole new light now lol