rachelia160

@@meahar No problem, just send me your email address It is true what another bride said on here at some point - whatever you expect to pay right off the bat, add a couple thousand to it so you won't be too surprised!

I just got an email that my official wedding coordinator is Carla. Have any past brides worked with her before? I've seen her name pop up a few times on here but haven't heard too much about her.

@@candle23 It's coming SO quickly!! Time has really flown, I feel like I JUST found this site and was getting started planning and that was over a year ago!! Based on what you said, maybe I'll bump it up to 15 extra servings, or even 20...I certainly don't want to be stingy and leave guests hungry, I just know paying for a serving for each and every person wouldn't be necessary. Maybe you could shed some light on the setup costs...on my contract, I have a $46.40 charge labeled "SET UP FEE BOWS FROM THE CEREMONY TO THE RECEPTION" which is sounds like is the charge you had, in addition to another $46.40 for "SET UP FEE (DECORATION AT CEREMONY : SEAHELL AT THE CANOPY)." Am I crazy, or does the second charge sound like it's just for one decoration?

I just received my contract (AKA cost breakdown) from Pilar, and luckily it's in the ballpark of what I was expecting (since a lovely bride on here sent me the spreadsheet they use to add up all your extras!) A few things I noticed, in case other brides want some tips on things to look out for when they get their contract: The extra appetizers for cocktail hour add up fast, because they automatically charge you $15 per person above 25. The total for mine was over $600! I know there's no way we'll need that many appetizers, with everyone taking pictures and having drinks and chatting, so I asked her if I could only add 10 more servings instead of the 31 she initially had. I'm fairly certain 35 servings for 56 people will be more than enough, especially when you consider that between me and the groom, parents, and the bridal party, that's 18 people, leaving the number of people who will have time to enjoy the cocktail hour around 38. That's definitely a quick way to cut a few hundred dollars! Hopefully she'll say it's okay and not be a stickler about needing to pay per person. I got this pretty seashell garland off Etsy that I mentioned wanting to have set up on the canopy. There was a $46 charge on my contract that said "SET UP FEE (DECORATION AT CEREMONY : SEAHELL AT THE CANOPY)." Uh, heck NO I'm not paying almost $50 bucks for you to set up one tiny decoration! Unless I'm misunderstanding and that's to set up the canopy as a whole, but I think that's included in the package...I told her that if that was the cost for the one decoration to take it off the contract and I'll set it up myself somewhere else! Much to my chagrin, the cost to bring in my two outside photographers is $300 dollars, not the $65 per person for the guests pass like it said in all the original information I recieved back in 2013. Not super happy about that, and I tried to fight it a while ago, but didn't want to get on her bad side so I dropped it after asking twice. Other than that, it all seems more or less straight forward from the cost information in the information packet. If anyone wants me to forward them the spreadsheet I used to get my ballpark number just let me know and I'll email it to you!

With all due respect, I think going to counseling IS putting in hard work, and a way to respect your partner by putting in the effort to keep your relationship healthy. Going to counseling doesn't make a marriage any less "real."

@@LisaAnthonyPoppy Totally agree with your stance on counseling, of any sort - it doesn't have to be a sign that something's "wrong," it's just an outlet to help keep your life in perspective. I went into counseling after I was in a tragic car accident I was in during high school, and even though I've healed from it and am unbelievably happy with my life, I still go because I like it, and I think it helps me to be mentally healthier, even when nothing is "wrong" in my life. The same can be said for couples counseling. I don't think it's too "soon" at any stage. I think it could be a great experience for any couple, whether they were experiencing any kind of issues or not, because it helps you deal with things and work through them before they blow up into a huge issue that could potentially end a relationship. I think it's great that you're so self-aware and weren't afraid to look inside yourself to figure out where the cold feet were coming from. I'm so glad you and your almost-hubby have gotten to a good place. Can't wait to hear about the wedding!

I think this is true, my priest explained it to us during our marriage prep process by asking us if we were married to anyone else OR each other. I think you can have your marriage "covalidated" in the church though, which makes your previous marriage officially recognized in the church and would let you have a some type of ceremony, but not an official "marriage" ceremony. But you could still have a vow renewal celebration and view it as your wedding, and that's probably all you're worried about anyway! That process operates more on a case-by-case basis and how your priest interprets your situation, so I'd just make sure the priest wherever you decide to have your wedding is clear on the circumstances so you don't run into any bumps once you're there.

Just as everyone else has said, it is so brave of you to be so honest and up front about your feelings. Good for you!! Getting close to the wedding definitely is a stressful time for anyone, and really makes you start to think about what "forever" means as you see how your significant other operates under pressure. Something I would really recommend, for you and anyone else reading this, is taking a marriage preparation course. It's almost like pre-emptive couples counseling, in a way - it opens up a space for you and your almost-hubby to hammer out how you'll deal with issues BEFORE them become big problems, from money to kids to emotional expectations and more. My FI and I did this as a part of the Catholic marriage process since it's a requirement. I'm the Catholic one and he's Baptist, so he was EXTREMELY hesitant about this at first, but it has actually been such a wonderful experience for both of us and has made of feel truly ready to be married. One of the best parts was a day-long retreat with other couples where we got to discuss different marriage issues and issues between ourselves, and a part of our conversation was me saying that I needed him to step up a little more and make more decisions instead of letting me handle everything. Discussing it in an open, honest way has really made a huge difference for us and I think will really help us in our future. It was a great way for us to remain focused on being married instead of just getting caught up in the wedding. Obviously most people on here aren't Catholic, but I'm sure they offer different workshops like this for anyone, or that a marriage counselor would have some kind of service to offer. Anyway, I hope everything works out with you, and follow your heart and your gut, and don't let all the wedding preparations distract you from whether or not you want to actually be married. Good luck with everything!

This. Sounds. AMAZING!!! I think I may have to steal this idea - it's the perfect color and sounds right up my alley! Thanks so much for sharing

@kaylardh13 http://www.discomovilcancun.com

I just sent in my planning form!!! It's slowly starting to feel real!! Still need to decide on a signature drink...I want something PINK! (Can you tell I'm a little giddy over here?) @@kaylardh13 Everyone simply RAVES over Disco Movil. Most people said that he is what really MADE their reception. I booked him for my wedding after reading dozens and dozens of glowing reviews. It ends up being more or less the same price as the resort DJ too (I think it might even be a tiny bit less, even with the vendor fee). It sounds like you can go wrong with them!

I've said this a million times throughout different forums but I'll say it again, I am SO thrilled with how my Vistaprint invitations turned out. @@vancouverpetunia I used a Groupon too (I got the $100 for $200 worth of stuff one) and was able to upgrade all my paper with money to spare. I ordered the Premium White Matte Stock and it was perfect for the invitations. I used the linen finish for the menus which I love, too. Very happy with everything all around!

http://salyerdean2015.com

@@misbosox From what I understand, I don't think it's necessary to pay for your bridesmaid's hair if you give them the option to go to a salon or do it themselves. That's what I'm doing with my five bridesmaids - three of them are getting their hair styled and two are doing it themselves, and the three getting their hair done are paying themselves. This is how it was at my brother's wedding as well and everyone was totally find with it, including me - I definitely didn't want or expect my sister-in-law to pay when I knew I had the option to do it myself. I definitely think it's only necessary to pay if you make it a requirement that they have to have it styled at a salon.

@@Nybride525 So glad you're having a great experience! Can you let us know how the Wifi situation works? Does everyone get free wifi around the resort, or is that just for preferred members and everyone else only gets it in the lobby? (That's how it was when I was there about a year ago).

Oh my gosh...I'm 44 days away! It seems like just yesterday I was just getting on this forum to start planning and now everything is almost set! I have to show off some of the adorable beachy decorations from my shower this past weekend, all made by my mom, my friends, and my friend's moms! With the bachelorette/shower all over, it really means I'm in the home stretch! And of course, you can't have your bachelorette party without a tutu

I'm doing the same thing as @ and just tanning a bit in a bed before we go. Believe me, it PAINS me to say I'm using a tanning bed because I'm so against them, but as a pasty Ohioan, I think I'd be setting myself up for disaster heading to Cancun with my still-white-from-winter skin. I doubt that tanning a few times will be detrimental to our health. I plan on acting like a vampire when I'm in Mexico until the wedding - pretty much staying out of the sun as much as I can so there's zero risk of getting burned, even with a base tan. I've had a Mystic spray tan before that I was really happy with, and I think spray tans can look great, but I think between sweat and white dresses and swimming all week, it's just not really a good option for a DW

I've read that you're not supposed to swim in chlorine with a spray tan since it can make it streaky, so if you wanna hang out in the pool it might not be the best idea. I would be realllllllly cautious because of what @@veryvalentine said - you might have a totally different experience than the last salon you went to where it stayed on well, and it could be a sweaty orange disaster all over your wedding dress

@@diadiamond If you get your shellac done right and even more importantly, have it taken off correctly, it's awesome for your nails. I haven't been without it on my nails for probably two years and it makes them really strong and tough. A lot of people's problem is that they peel it off, and then it takes off the top few layers of your nail and really jacks them up (my mom always does this, it drives me NUTS), so it's important to soak them off with acetone (I always just have the salon remove it for me cause it is kind of a pain). I wouldn't rule it out, but maybe just go to a different salon than last time you had it done.

I totally love this idea. I totally agree that cocktail our and reception is fine - it's a party and people want to take pictures! But an unplugged ceremony would be lovely - do you have an idea of how you'll communicate that to your guests?

For me, it's not so much that I mind people posting and tagging us in things (although yes, everyone should have the common sense to wait until after the ceremony is over!) What I don't want is just to look out at all of my closest family and friends while I'm saying my I Do's....and see nothing but phones in front of their faces. A quick snap at some point is fine (I'd probably do the same!) but I don't want people to be so obsessed with taking pictures the whole time to the point that they don't enjoy the ceremony, OR if the photographer shoots the crowd, all he sees is iPhones. You don't need to take pictures the whole time people, that's what the photographer is for!! I might encourage people to "enjoy the moment" just in conversation, but I'm not going to make an official announcement, even though a part of me would like to. After my brother's wedding when we were all taking pictures in the church after the ceremony with the bridal party and family, so many guests were so busy running around with their iPhones trying to take pictures while the photographer was trying to work that many of the pictures didn't turn out well because everyone's flashes were going off and ruining her lighting! I was so frustrated for them. Again, the photographer is RIGHT there - I'm sure they'd give you a copy of the good picture that's better than the one you're taking on your phone! Anyway, I'm ranting, and the lighting thing isn't a worry for any of us since we're outside, but I hope all of our guests don't hide behind their phones all night.

@@MrsCtoB Bubble bath is the color I have on right now - I love it! So when you say extension, is that basically like an acrylic tip? (Sorry I'm so clueless). I think I'm going to do exactly what you did, gel with extensions on the nails that need it.

@@kaylardh13 Hi Kayla! The prices listed for the centerpieces is just for one - yes, its ridiculous! Depending on your package, you get one of the big centerpieces included for your head table and that's it. Even though it's a huge pain, most brides on here I think try to find a way to bring their own since the price is so outrageous. I'm bringing down glass vases and waterbeads and using my bridesmaid's bouquets as mine!

@@calgarybride2015 glitter ombrè! The gel/shellac thing is super confusing because everyone calls it different things. For me, gel polish is the overall term for the kind that lasts 2 weeks that they cure under a LED or UV light. Shellac was the first kind gel polish on the market so a lot of people use it as a blanket term, myself included when I'm just talking about it in real life, but on here I try to use the all-inclusive "gel polish," since that includes a bunch of brands, including OPI, which is my favorite. I actually like official "Shellac" brand gel polish the least - it hasn't seemed to last as long on my nails as OPI.

I have to show off my gel mani I got done for my upcoming bachelorette/shower weekend - I'm obsessed! @@beckys98 - the duration of gel polish is totally dependent on how well the person does your manicure. If the technician doesn't do a good job, it could chip within days, but if you go to a place that really knows what they're doing, it's almost impossible to have it chip. If you still were thinking of doing a gel manicure, I would just maybe try a different salon that has really good Yelp reviews for their shellac/gel. @@Sabes44 - I was looking for the exact same pink/nude color you mentioned and I love how this looks on my nails! I think it'll look really neutral in pictures but it's still pink enough to be pretty in person.