rachelia160

I am the QUEEN of the spreadsheet! I needs lists to keep track of my lists! That's probably the main thing I'm accomplishing at this point. Custom BM dresses--that's amazing! And I love when people tell me that "Less is more" with decorations....I have a hard time letting go of those Pinterest-perfect weddings you see pictures of all the time, but I need to tell myself that those people spend a TON of money on weddings like that and it's just not realistic. You seem so organized, it's hard to picture you doing anything last minute!! I just read on your thread that you leave tomorrow--I don't know you and I'm super excited for you! I can't WAIT to hear how your wedding goes and all the advice I'm sure you'll have to offer all of your loyal followers haha!

@@Everly @@Majix26 @@TinkerSofi Thanks everyone! Love hearing from other Disney lovers My and my FI just watch Beauty and the Beast last night (I let him pick the movie, what a guy!) and I cried at the end when they showed the stained glass window we got engaged in front of...can you say EMOTIONAL?! Haha

I don't blame you for wanting the resort to do your centerpeices--I know bringing down decorations and doing DIY things saves money, but for me personally, I'd rather spend a little extra on certain things than have to deal with lugging them back and forth. But that's just me. My mom is really determined to do my centerpieces though so I'm letting her roll with it. We don't have our final numbers yet either, but I think almost everyone who is going to go is already booked. We have 45 as of right now, with a few more in the works, so I've just been ordering OOT stuff for 60. RINGS! I need to add that to my to do's! That's a pretty important one! I think I'm going to try to tackle our script this weekend, too. That's a pretty big "must" and I'll feel better once that's all finished.

Those are two to-do's I need to add to my list (guestbook and cake table). I saw someone say they used their bridesmaid's bouquets to decorate those tables which sounds like a good idea. I'm considering bringing down a few glass voties with LED lights and waterbeads for those, but bringing one more thing that could break makes me nervous (my centerpieces are made out of mason jars).

I stalk the Now Jade thread all the time, and it stresses me out MORE because of how elaborate everyone's weddings are! I'm not a DIY person at all so I sort of glaze over those parts. But I'm glad you think I sound like I'm on the right track! I'm glad I'm not the only one! I have a list, but it's basically all just things to buy...I feel like I should be doing more, you know? You hear people talk all the time about how wedding planning is, and the only thing I'm stressed about is the lack of planning I'm doing...I want to know what everyone else is stressing over! I just hope being in a destination at a resort is a big part of what makes the reception beautiful and not a ton of super detailed decorations--I just don't think I can wrap my head around that!

Hi Brides! I'm six months out from my Riviera Maya wedding and I just feel...lost. I have NO idea how to plan a wedding, or what I should be doing at this point--I feel like I'm wasting valuable time and will end up super stressed as I get closer and wonder why I didn't start things sooner. Here's what i have accomplished so far: Travel arrangements are good to go, already have 45 guests booked and counting Save the Dates are sent (sent out magnets to remind people about travel as well as a separate part about the AHR) Hotel locations all picked out Photographer booked DJ Booked Dress bought Bridesmaids dresses picked out Centerpieces picked out Bought Chinese lanterns Bought seashell placecard holders Bought cake topper Bought most things for OOT bags Scheduled legal ceremony Booked hall for AHR Booked caterer for AHR Scheduled hair and makeup appointment Here are the things I know I have to do: Choose and send invites Itineraries for OOT bag Choose songs for ceremony Seating chart Finalize menu Write ceremony script Reception timeline Buy groomsmen outfits Buy tumblers Make centerpieces Finish buying for OOT bags Pick flowers Design and order menus Figure out day passes Basically everything for my AHR I just feel like I'm missing out on little details that could make the day more special. I see all you ladies on here with amazing decorations and reception setups, and I'm worried I won't have enough decorations for mine to be that gorgeous. I'm also not sure if i'm missing any big projects that I could be starting now, and the more I think about it the more stressed I get but I just don't know what to do or where to start. Does anyone have any advice about what I could/should be working on now, or any projects I'm missing, or details to add to my reception to make it special?

@@calgarybride2015 I do have a guest book too, I forgot about that! Love the idea of the pictures as the table numbers--I've been looking at cutsey ones on Etsy, but that would be more personable (and less expensive!) Kim, I think you're the BDW guru of the moment so having your stamp of approval is reassuring I think you can do simple touches in bright colors at the same time to have the best of both worlds. A little bit of color will go a long way!

I love this thread--I get stressed out looking at everyone else's amazing pictures because they have SO much detail in their decorations that I can't even wrap my mind around it. It's nice being reassured that you don't need a million different decorations to have a beautiful ceremony and reception! Here's what I have so far that I can think of off the top of my head: We're making centerpieces pretty similar to these. My mom ordered one similar to this off Etsy to use as a guideline: We also got funky little pieces of drift wood to use along side them. Table runner and chair sashes (resort) I know most people bring down that stuff, and it is kind of expensive, but it was just lest thing to have to buy and lug down and bring back, so I think I'm just going to splurge and let the resort do it. Cake topper (You and Me Married By the Sea) Pink and orange chinese lanterns with lights. Seashell placecard holders that double as favors. This seashell garland that I have no clue what I'm going to do with but it was just too cool to pass up: I'm planning on printing menus with a thank you on them to add a little more color to the tables. I just don't know how much more I should get. I want it to look nice and polished without going crazy. Any suggestions on things you minimalists still think are must-haves? I'm thinking maybe something for the cake table?

Your vases look AMAZING with the water beads and lights! Was it hard to transport the vases down there? I'm scared to take anything breakable.

@@helenk So pretty!! I love the bottom!

I really like Venus Swimwear. They're sold in cup sizes and have good support, and are pretty true to size when you order online. Like others have said though, decent bathing suits are going to be pretty pricey no matter what

Would any past/near future brides be willing to share their completed planning form with me? I'm not sure the kinds of answers some of the questions are looking for...and also I think a part of me just wants proof that it CAN be done and mine will be finished eventually

Thanks for getting this info! I agree, I'm not flower-savvy enough to be able to figure out something around the flowers they listed, so I'll probably just stick with the pictures.

I'm flying Frontier too and was wondering the same thing. I'm already stressed about packing. Let me know if you find any info about their luggage/carry on policies and I'll do the same!

I'm doing the cutsey "Don't be blinded by our love, grab some shades!" thing before our ceremony. I ordered these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007KU4FMW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The price is definitely right: $6.68 per dozen, and I have free shipping with my Amazon prime! (Side note, I invested in Amazon prime when I started wedding planning and it was a GREAT decision - I've ordered a TON of stuff from there already that it's definitely already paid for itself in the free 2-day shipping). They were just delivered yesterday and I really like them--they're a cool Ray Ban-ish style and I think people will really enjoy them. I wanted to do personalized ones, but these were just such a good deal I couldn't pass them up. Plus, maybe people will use them after the trip if our names aren't on them.

I made the mistake of getting into wedding planning mode while at work and jus went on a major Etsy shopping spree...whoops! Here's my cake topper, but it'll be pink

I agree with @@calgarybride2015 - I trust David's sizes and wouldn't worry about that, especially since you could try other dresses on there to be sure about the size you want, but it's all about getting a similar dress on you to make sure you like it on your body type. The kind of dress I thought I wanted looked AWFUL on me, and some types of dresses I never thought I'd consider I ended up actually liking. Another big thing is to make sure you like the fabric, too--there were some dresses in styles that I loved in fabrics that were super unforgiving and uncomfortable. For me, satin felt like it would be way too hot and heavy for the beach, but to each their own! I also agree on the time issue--I think they tell you wayyy longer than it'll actually take just to make them super un-liable if a dress comes in later than expected. I had a friend whose dress came in 8 weeks when they told her 18 weeks, and my girls' bridesmaids dresses have been coming in about 6 weeks when they told them 12.

WOW, and I bet that alone cost just as much, if not more, than most of our weddings on here! How many guests did she have attend? It seems like a lot to ask people to go all the way to Florida for a quick ceremony!

I feel that now that I have my dress, even if ALL else fails, it'll at least kind of look like a wedding! Thanks for keeping me posted on the flowers, that would be great I'm clueless about flowers too, and those are the only kind that really stand out to me. If I can't have those, it doesn't really make a difference to me what kind they are, as long as they're the right color.

@@kmk2016 I've started keeping my purchases on the down-low for that very reason! My mom thinks she's helping me put together all the OOT bags, but I think she's going to be just as surprised as everyone else at what she finds in it!

@@leggi I would LOVE peonies too, I've been wondering the same thing myself, but I have a feeling they'll be a crazy upcharge. If you find out let me know! That's exciting that you've ordered your dress! What does it look like? I finally got mine too People have been asking me since I got engaged almost two years ago if I had a dress, and 6 months out I finally found it!

@@calgarybride2015 I've found myself making rush decisions like "Oh yes I want those!" when I'm on here and then just jumping online and buying stuff, and it's starting to add up! Ironically I last did it with key card holders--I was like WOW I never thought of that, and before I knew it I had bought everything I needed. My mom asked me "do you really think people would use those?" And now I'm not so sure...basically, I need to think before I buy, even when I see people on here talking about all the cool stuff they've bought!

I went to school in Akron and live a little outside Cleveland too!

Kim, have you come up with a game plan on how you're packing everything yet/how many bags and suitcases you're bringing down? You have some "extras" that I'd really like to do (Maracas, the post card box) but I'm just afraid I'll have too much stuff to haul down!

I'm having to make the conscious decision just to let it go (cue the Frozen song getting stuck in everyone's head!) If they come, they come, if they don't, they don't--it's not worth hounding them about it, I've already tried that. My brother and a close family friend are already booked and will be there for him so if all else fails, he'll still have two groomsmen