marinah84

Thank you for putting what you used! I've been waffling about getting the Groupon because I don't know what size to use! How long did they take to arrive? I'm not printing until January or February, so I want to be sure the deal lasts lol (most expire this year)

Update 9.22.14 Ties: I did get the ties last week - they turned out awesome!! Highly recommend https://www.solidcolorneckties.com/. Marked off the list! Signs: Here are the completed signs - love them! I am so excited for my kiddos to carry these down the aisle. I have to figure out now if I want my flower girl daughter to have a "basket" (i doubt with petals since it's outside/littering on the beach?), and if I want a "pillow" for my ring bearer son (that will not have rings). Bachelorette Party/Wedding Shower: I am actually going to head up to Chicago the week of Halloween for these two things! Ok - just kidding, work is sending me in for a week for training & meetings, but they are letting me come out early so I can celebrate with my friends/family! The theme is apparently classy halloween - which makes me a bit nervous - but should be fun! I feel weird having a shower, since we've lived together for 4 years and have 2 kids, but it's going to be VERY small so I am not too worried about it. (In fact, my mother has said she's not going to come in for it, even...) My son's first birthday is the end of November, so after that completes and I have 3 months to go...I'm sure I'll be updating like crazy! For now, just trying to get little things done when I have some time @@calgarybride2015 - yes, I'd love that thread on the boudoir session! I'm super nervous LOL Thank you!

@@malyna I actually got the first one I tried on...I ended up trying on at least 15 dresses that day between 2 places, but fell for the first. I've gone a couple times looking for TTD and with my sister in law for her dress, and nothing compares for me

@@tygrrlily - seriously amazing so far! I love love love everything!! For a non-DIY'er, you did a wonderful job on the mailers Keep updating - I can't wait to see what is next!! Excited to see how the TTD custom turns out as well - still love that style and I think it'll be perfect for you!

I love #5 & #6 - you do look great in them all though!

I bought a wally bag from another bride on here...excited! Hoping they let me hang it on the plane

Love them! Oh my...so many!

I'm staggering, having groom walk him mom and my brother walk mine, then bm/gm/bm with flower girl/best man/moh with ring bearer. Reason is my kids are holding signs, flower girl "daddy wait till you see her" and ring bearer "daddy last chance to run" lol

I'm boxing them in shoeboxes or tupperware, putting my bouquet in my carryon lol

I use fitbit and my fitness pal. Work is doing a 90 day fitness challenge right now with fitbit and it's amazing how motivating it is to crush your coworkers lol. I set my goal to 15k per day, because I have a desk job. My dress fits well and is corset, but I want to lose arm inches! Ideally 20lbs (well 30 ideally) but I'm pretty muscled so it's more how I feel.

Mini Update 9.15.14 Today marks 180 days/6 months til the wedding! Ahhhh so excited!!! Bonus: I told my wedding coordinator that we have 18 people on the same flight coming in, and she arranged a private checkin for us! That was a great bonus that we weren't expecting!

I got mine online from a Facebook coop group that does little girl dresses. My sister in law was told to shop easter sales (her wedding is in July)

Update 9.9.2014 Invitations are FINALLY all out and I'm SO HAPPY! It took a LOT more time than I anticipated to make each one. I also scrapped the letter - it was a pain and the glue made it look kinda like a kid made it (I tried several glues). It looks great without it A lot of flights are booked and room reservations are starting to come in! It's exciting! I'm a little stressed out by the travel agent; we have a "deal" that ends on Friday for room rates that is better than online but not by much. We have to have 10 rooms booked by Friday to secure the price. My parents found a site where the adults only section is like 20/more per night than the standard (savings of almost $300 off the travel agent price), so several people are booking through there. So only at 8 rooms of standard (which we have to do because of the kids, lol). Worst case, we'll all book individually - the hotel just needs names of guests for our room nights. 2nd Dress - Post Reception Dancing & TTD Session: Finally got a dress for our TTD session! After 2 failed overseas custom orders (babydressonline & ebay), I decided to look stateside. I decided to go with a bridesmaid dress, ordered in white. FYI - David's bridal does NOT carry their bridesmaid dresses in white, but other bridal shops do! I saw this one on the rack, and knew it'd be perfect (first one I saw!). It's flowy and made of polyester (I think) so it won't get water logged. I ordered it in white, and am excited to check it off my list! Bridesmaid Dresses: While my sister in law was trying on wedding dresses at DB, I was planning on looking at bridesmaid dresses. All three of my maids are a little on the busty side, so I had changed my mind on strapless. The first dress I saw I knew was it. I had my sister in law try it on (she's one of the bridesmaids) and it's PERFECT! (it's a trend - all 3 dresses in my wedding were the first ones I saw, haha) Bridal Bouquet: I took my flowers in to a local florist, who will have it arranged for me before December (she seemed concerned it would get dust, so I don't think she's planning on doing it for a while!). I'm pretty excited! Ties: Just got this done today. I HIGHLY recommend (so far) https://www.solidcolorneckties.com/ . I ordered at 3:40pm CST, found out they had a free shipping option (when I put them back in my cart to take this screenshot lol) and called at 3:50pm CST. They had already packed my items to ship, but still gave me the 3.95 shipping back! I got SIX ties (4 bow ties and 2 neck ties) for $27.80 SHIPPED. We'll see how they are in person, but I'm impressed so far! And they are in the 'burbs of Chicago, so you can go to their storefront if you're in the area! Groom will be the paisley white, while best man/my father will have the raspberry bow tie, to match my maid of honor. 2nd groomsman (TBD...still..ugh...)/ring bearer will have the royal/sapphire blue to match my sister in law. My brother/father in law will have the malibu bright blue to match my 3rd maid of honor/best friend. I already have the bright blue bow tie for my son/ring bearer, but I'm pretty excited about these ties! Boudoir Book Session: Booked for October! I'm so excited about this one - I have NO CLUE what to wear/do. I know the photographer (she's a family friend) and I want it to be sexy but not like, explicit, you know? Any suggestions of poses/things to wear would be appreciated! He unfortunately isn't a sports fan (outside of triathlons) and I'm not sure running shoes or a swim cap or a bike helmet are sexy I'm in a work competition on activity and weight loss, and working my butt off to get in shape! I may have more updates (it's been a while lol) but this is good for now! I need to update my to do list! To Do (Short term list): Starfish Boutonnieres - November Project Chapstick Labels - October/November Project Centerpieces - Add bling to vases & pack? Mother of the Bride/Groom - I got pretty pearl bracelets and charms, and will DIY them together plus pretty presentation boxes. The bracelets turned out stunning, so excited to see the finished product. To Do (Long Term List): TTD Shoes - Going to wear the heels for the TTD session - DIY glitter. Excited! OOT Bags (First Aid/Wedding Week Survival Kits) - Pretty sure I have everything, it's just putting one together and seeing if I'm doing anything else. Bridesmaid Bikini Bags/Wedding Day Emergency Kits - Similar to OOT - put together, see if I need to do anything else Program Fans - Designed! Will print out closer to the date (2015 project) Welcome Book - Work in Progress (another not til 2015 project) Door Knockers & Other Printables - Will print 2015 Sand Ceremony Shadowbox Frame - Mother in Law found a good frame at Hobby Lobby - just need to seal it (reviews said sometimes sand leaks, so use transparent caulk) Custom Wire Hangers - FI project Champagne Toasting Set - Long term goal is to customize a set or buy the heart vase set listed earlier. If it doesn't happen, I'm sure I'll live Custom Items: Custom Robes - GOT THEM! Custom Cake Topper - Ordered! Signs (Mr/Mrs, Ring bearer/Flower Girl) - GOT THEM! TTD Dress - Ordered! Bridal Bouquet - At Florist! Update 2.0 - 9.9.14 I knew I forgot a few updates! Bridal Hair: I love my hair down, due to broad shoulders, but am worried about the wind. I plan on having my hair to the side, either in a ponytail type of hairdo or in a side bun. We sort of played with my hair a little in my dress when my family came to visit, but I haven't fully decided. So I put together 2 pinterest-inspired hair inspiration collages that I'll take to the hairdresser: Side pony inspiration: Side bun inspiration: I love how my hair looks to the side & long, but I also liked it to the side in a bun. Plus the whole wind/not having to worry about sweating out the curls, etc is appealing. I'm not sure which way to go!! Sand Ceremony Frame: I was going to have my fiancee DIY this, but my mother in law found a frame that is the right size & has double glass panes so I can put in a wedding picture after the trip. Several reviews said it leaked, so seal it, and my FI is an engineer so I figure he can do that before we go with transparent/clear caulking. I also need him to figure out how much sand we'll need - we have some blue from a friend and were thinking of using sand from the beach at the resort. It's Cancun, so the white fine sand beaches should have decent sand...theoretically. We might have to sieve out some coral/etc.

I did! They are color changing, so excited! I have pictures on my planning thread, they will pack easily and the guests will be able to use them.

I got my starfish from this Ebay seller - good prices and fast shipping (they are in Florida): http://stores.ebay.com/wagnerssouthernstore/

I think #1 is more flattering, but #2 is stunning. #1 looks more "beachy" to me, whereas #2 is more for a church or garden wedding. I had the same problem with my top 2 choices - i went with the one that "fit" my destination better. #2 looks like it'd be a good destination dress too, though. Which "felt" better to you? I'd say belt, and i would recommend one that goes around (not the rhinestone one that centers on your stomach). I liked the bronze-y belt the best, the 2nd belt looked a little washed out. These are opinions based on the pictures - i have some dresses that I took pictures in when dress shopping that I hated on, and when I looked at pictures went hmm that actually looks kinda good. But the one I ended up with I fell in love with on, and still love it when I look at all the pictures (I've tried it on 2x since then!).