marinah84

@@Stephieee I am booking Samuel Luna for photography; love his style based on the photos I've seen and the reviews. He's pretty reasonable as well. I liked Del Sol as well, but they were considerably more. We are having around 30 people at our wedding, and will be around $15k total (guests paying own way). I'm doing some nicer gifts for my FI and bridal party, and a private reception at $55/person, so it's feasible you could get closer to $10k if you do a LOT of DIY/go pretty basic. Just make sure to plan out things you want to do, and don't get overwhelmed by all the cool stuff on this board

Update 1.13.2015 I am working on printables today, and here are a few templates. Wedding Day Timeline Card The wedding day timeline I pretty much straight up used someone elses on here (I can't find her thread right now, whoops) and just changed the times/what it said. I'm planning on changing the fonts on my personal computer (I can't download fonts to my work computer). I'm planning on printing these via Vistaprint on the regular or 4x6 postcards. Probably will include our instagram tag & wedding day photo site information on the back (is it worth $5 to print? probably, then I don't have to do it elsewhere like business cards...). These are going in the OOT bags. Menu/Photo Scavenger Hunt I've also included my menu front & back with photo scavenger hunt. I again used the words from another person for the photo scavenger hunt, although I did customize the shots to capture. These I will print on rack cards and have places on the plates at the reception. I think this is the menu we're going to go with; I was trying to find things that everyone would like, or at least most everyone. Still debating, and will have FI have final say (he was verbally on board, and suggested the Chef Salad instead of Caesar as well as the Minestrone soup, and agreed on the reasons behind the dessert being a brownie & ice cream, especially with cake already!) I'm working through my wedding day timeline, and deciding if I want to go with Styling Trio for my hair/makeup or the salon. I requested a quote, and got a bunch of social media information (which I had already found!) but no pricing. The salon pricing isn't terrible - it's $50/bridesmaid & $220ish for me for hair/hair trial/makeup (if I pay up front). I don't have any examples of their work though, and that worries me...I am considering doing a mixture of both salon & styling trio. Or all of one/the other. I need them to respond with pricing though, haha! Does this seem a reasonable timeline for a 4pm wedding? I have Samuel Luna from 230-830pm (photographer). 9:00 am – Nails 11:00 am – Room Service Lunch (ladies) 12:00 pm – Hair & Makeup 2:30 pm - Photos of Groom and Groomsman getting ready 3:00 pm - Photos of Bride and Bridesmaids getting ready 3:45 pm - Guests arrive at wedding ceremony site 4:00 pm - Wedding Ceremony 4:30 pm - Tequila Shot Toast 4:45 pm – Group Photos 5:00 pm - Family Photos and Informal Cocktail Hour (Lobby Bar) 5:15 pm - Bride and Groom Photos 6:00 pm – Wedding Party Introduction 6:15pm – Dinner starts being served; Cake cutting, Speeches 7:15 pm – First dance, Father/Daughter dance, Mother/Son dance, Kids dance, Garter/Bouquet Toss, Shoe Game 8:00 pm – Dancing 11:00 pm – Reception Ends MH Wedding Day Timeline Guests.doc Menu_Front.pub Photo Scavenger Hunt_Back.pub

There are several templates on here that you could just modify the times/words using their clipart. I found one that was basically spot on what I would have created myself, so I just downloaded/edited it. Here's a couple threads with templates (I'll post my guest template on my thread today probably!): Mine: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/77321-marinah84s-planning-thread-31415-crown-paradise-club-cancun/ http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/28525-templates-i-have-designed-or-saved/ (I would just search for "wedding day timeline templates" or similar searches to find more!) Here's ones with just ideas if you want to create your own from scratch/just want to see pictures: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/28372-wedding-day-timeline/ http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/75702-diy-wedding-day-timeline-with-pic/ http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/33297-everything-you-can-do-with-vistaprint/page-79 Here's a step by step DIY from Aylee: http://www.ayleebits.com/2006/06/10/diy-day-of-timeline/ If you aren't finding anything you want, it's pretty easy to make in Word/Publisher from scratch. That's what i'm doing with the coloring book - I tried editing some templates I downloaded and the formatting was driving me CRAZY. So I just started over I would google image search what you're looking for - so something like "free clipart wedding" or if it's specific (like pictures), "free camera clipart". You can choose in google if it's clipart/real photos/etc.

My advice is just to relax and roll with the punches! He should have followed up - that's a really long time to just assume it's going to get to you. Here in the USA, they say 4-6 weeks. If you haven't gotten it by the longest time, you call immediately. It's the government, afterall Relax! Try not to worry about the stressful other people. At the end of the day, your HUSBAND and kids are going to be there. You've done everything in your power to make it easy for people to go. Don't feel bad if people screwed it up for themselves - you'll miss them if they don't go, but do NOT let them ruin your wedding day! So excited for your wedding - it's going to be amazing!!

Update 1.12.2015 Small update today! Ring Bearer Gifts My son is young and I wanted to do something that he can keep from the wedding, and something for him to DO during the reception. There really aren't a lot of cute options for ring bearers - same with boys clothes, compared to girls, so it's par for the course I guess! Keep - I got this off of Etsy, from this shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JustForYouEngravings. It was very well constructed, and came really fast! I don't know if he'll like baseball when he's bigger, but the way he loves to throw around balls now, I'm sure he'll appreciate the gift. It's going on his shelf in his room Wear - I got this off of ebay. It's nice, came in 2T (my son is a TANK) and fast shipping! She's currently "away" at her store on vacation, but has amazing feedback from the last 12 months. http://www.ebay.com/usr/babyrocks867?rt=nc Do: I'm planning on getting some glowsticks and small toys in an activity bag for him for the reception. I figure he's only going to be good until about 8pm at the latest (due to bedtime and the heat) so I don't think it'll need to be much. I'll print him out a coloring book like his sister, but he's not overly interested so far. I figure the food will take up a lot of his attention haha. I'm going to get him some sand toys/etc as well as something with wheels since he loves cars (and sports balls, but I don't want him throwing it at me in the middle of the reception lol!) Cake It looks like we won't make the 20 rooms booked (we'll be somewhere between 17-19, drat) for some of the more free items on the packages, drat. So we'll have to buy our cake. This is the cake we chose - they are going to do the pink gerber (sp?) daisies the same and add in blue roses. It's only $40 for 30 people, yay! The other items on the package honestly weren't a great deal anyway - it's 35 rooms booked where you get hair done/3 bottles of champagne/late checkout/room upgrade/etc. We still hit the 15 for the min basic package to be free, so we're happy! Also - our dinner includes dessert as well...so we didn't need a big cake anyway! Shake for a Kiss Maracas Tags So we will need to go out to the markets to get tequila for our tequila toast (supposedly...which is weird, since it's an all inclusive! not doing straight shots of liquor, so again a little weird) so while we're out, was planning on finding a street vendor with maracas that we can get for about $1/person. That's how much they were without haggling in both Cozumel & Cabo so crossing fingers it's similar or we can haggle them down since we'll buy around 30!). I made these tags based on a poem I found on the forum, and will print/cut them to bring. If we don't use them, oh well! I'm out some paper & ink. I used an Avery tags template and will just print them on regular paper/cardstock I already have. What I'm currently working on - Printables!: Kids Coloring Book (I'm doing it from scratch...we'll see how it goes!) Menu/I Spy Rack Card (Vistaprint) Program Oversized Postcard (Vistaprint) - done, just need to order Wedding Timeline Postcard (Vistaprint) - debating putting something on the back with our wedding photo app/instagram Door Knockers (Vistaprint) - possibly, still up in the air. Depends on costs, and a little worried based on posts of rooms getting broken into...

@@calgarybride2015 I go to a small crossfit gym, so I don't have a tanning bed there! There are only a few gyms in town, and none have lap pools, so I decided to go with a class-type gym that will motivate me to go more. I love it! My gym is VERY safe, everything is safety-conscious, so it's not like those garage boxes you see on Crossfit fail youtube videos haha. I'm a very strong girl, and competitive, so it's been great for me! FI may actually tan for the first time in his life, and he's talking about joining a gym so he can run and tan (he's got a marathon in April and our treadmill is being wonky). I'll believe it when I see it What are you packing as "emergency" items, Kim? I already have on my list to bring a glue gun, since I have so much DIY stuff (like the bouts) that I am worried they might fall apart lol. Anything else you're packing? Or anything anyone else has brought they found useful?

Update 1.7.2015 I can't believe it's already January! 66 days to go, eek! Beauty Salon Stuff - Hair Extensions, Dye, Lash Extensions, Tanning, oh my! I went in today for my extension consultation! I'm going to get a "Halo" hair extension, so I can reuse it and not damage by the water. She recommended not doing a semi-permanent type because I'm going to be in the water a LOT, and even the beaded ones you're not supposed to get submerged, etc. This way I can do it myself when I want, like for the rehearsal dinner, and then the day of the wedding the salon can style it into my hair! I'm going to try to go with as much down as possible, probably long to the side - very similar to what @@tygrrlily did, actually I've decided I'm going to get my hair dyed ombre (from my natural dark brown on the top to a lighter brown/dark blonde on the tips) too. Why not? I'm going to get it done 2 weeks before I leave, so it leaves time to change it if I need to. It'll also give them time to dye the extensions to match (they can dye it to my natural brown back after the wedding, once I decide I'm done with my hair that way!) I'm also going to do the lash extensions 3-4 weeks before I go, and get them filled the week before. I'm going to start with the more natural, and if I feel I want more, I'll get the luxury ones. And I remembered that I am pretty white, and PROBABLY should start tanning...so they were running a 2015 special for 20.15 per month (usually they charge 40), and that takes me to right before I go. So I started working on my base today. I'm not going for dark, more a base so I'm less likely to burn and have a little color I'm pretty excited, but beauty is EXPENSIVE!! It's a once in a lifetime thing, and since I don't go to the salon hardly ever, I'm thinking of it as all at once versus spread out over the year haha. TTD dress I picked this up and tried it on while I was in Chicago for the holidays - I think it'll be perfect for the TTD session! It's very light and flowy, and I think it'll look pretty awesome underwater. It's a *little* bit small in the bust area, but I have 2 months so it'll fit TTD shoes So I worked on my "mermaid shoes" (as my 3 year old calls them!) over the weekend. I was told not to wear heels during the ceremony on the beach, and I wear flipflops unless it's snowy/icy year round anyway, so I didn't see the need to change to heels for the reception. But I loved a few TTD shots of I believe they were red heels, and knew I wanted some to take with us for that! So I looked online and couldn't find any that I loved, and so I decided to DIY. I chose to use a pair of heels I already had, that were kinda scuffed. Love them - Chinese laundry, and have leather uppers. I wanted something unique (not just pumps). I followed this tutorial more or less: http://www.ateaspoonofhappiness.com/diy-glitter-shoes/ My supplies Wet glue in the front, drying glue in the back (I have to admit, I was a little scared before they started to dry...) These pictures REALLY don't do them justice. They are BEAUTIFUL and VERY sparkly! I am working on the underside now - I'm trying to do white glitter with the "I do" stickers. If you're going to do this, remember to do FINE glitter, not chunky. I had some chunky silver and thought "Hey that would look cool underneath and I don't have to buy more glitter!". Yah. 2 hours of chiseling the clumpy awfulness later...ha. And white glitter isn't actually all white...it's actually a blue green. Weird, I know. I'll post more pictures when they are completely dry & I have the stickers on! I'm going to seal them too, since I'm using them underwater Bouquets Finally finished! I had to order & make a 4th bouquet, since my FSIL is now on FI side (same color), so that's why there are 2 of the same color ribbon. The liles that came are actually a little different than the other 3, so I decided she's going to have a slightly different one. I don't really care at this point, hahaha. The roses & three color ribbon is my tossing bouquet for the bouquet toss - turned out pretty cute Groomsmen Shirts Finally got the FI to pick out shirts. He's going to be in a white shirt with the white paisley bow ties, and then the other three groomsmen (well, 2 groomsmen and 1 groomsmaid) will match the bridesmaids. Best man shirt (lavender) and similar color bowtie (raspberry) - my dad will have the same color shirt and a long necktie in the same color: 3rd groomsman shirt (some blue...) and similar color bowtie (malibu) - his dad will have this combo only a necktie: Centerpieces Put together the centerpieces at my MILs house, and I think we're good to go! I got orchids from walmart on a $5 stem, and pulled them off for the centerpieces. I was going to hot glue them in, but we decided to test them without. I was pleasantly surprised - they actually floated and feel like realistic flowers once wet. And it looked great! We also decided to add a bit of glass to the bottom of the bowls in dark blue/teal/clear, and it looked great. I plan on using a circle mirror (instead of a microwave plate haha) on the bottom to help reflect the light. I can't wait to see them in the dark! I made 4 tables worth, which with the guests we have now, we'll have 3 tables of 9 or 4 tables of 7. If any more guests book, I'll for sure go for 4 tables. We're doing a sweetheart table for the two of us, and I can always do a different centerpiece (or pay for one of theirs so I don't have to worry about it!) DIY Ringbearer Box I'm so excited about this! I think it turned out pretty cute. My MIL had some colored felt, and this was close to the lighter blue color in the wedding, and I had leftover royal blue ribbon. I'll trim the ribbons back the day of, when we take pictures with the rings in the box. I don't want to trim it until we have both sets of rings. My FIL is going to stain the middle piece and glue it in, so it's flush. And I used my FSIL's engagement ring for the 2nd ring, haha, for demonstration purposes. I love it! Gluing in the letters The "guts" of the pillow Outside of the box (which I'm still in love with!) With the rings in there That's most of my updates for now - working on the Vistaprint order and some of the other printables. I've also packed the OOT bags outside of the chapstick, as FI still hasn't reprinted the labels. A productive week so far!

I think it's pretty, and for $99, it's perfect for a TTD shoot!

I did. My dress feels like at least 20lbs, so even though I'm a competitive swimmer, I'm pretty sure I would have drowned I ended up getting a bridesmaid dress for about $200 (with taxes, etc) that I got in white. I went to DB and they had like 2 $99 dresses (I went in the Chicagoland area). They don't do bridesmaid dresses in white, but other bridal shops will! This is the dress that I got (http://www.jordanfashions.com/455):