What do you want to know from us Married Gals?

[JUSTUSTWO]

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Originally Posted by cdc0427 Who this was really helpful. I just read all 16 pages. I hope you brides will look at this and answer a question I have. After having a DW, what type of dress do you suggest? Do you think it's alright to wear "traditional" wedding dress or do you suggest a more informal, lighter one?

Wow, this really was a great thread! It's cool that its back up.
In terms of the dress, I sometimes wonder why I didn't go for something more "beachy" or "sexy" or "slinky/lacey". I guess I went for my dress cuz I loved it when I found it. It was traditional but when I put it on I knew that I had finally found the perfect one. I never let the fact that I was getting married on the beach totally affect the style of dress I wanted.

So to answer your question, its perfectly fine to go with something traditional if thats what you want & thats what you like. Don't avoid the "traditional" dress just because you think you can't be traditional on a beach! KWIM?
My only suggestion would be to definitely try on all types/styles of dresses, especially a type that you wouldn't normally consider cuz you never really know how its going to look until you actually try it on.
You could always go traditional for the ceremony & go informal/light for the reception...that is if 2 dresses are in your budget! Hope I helped you.

[sdnative222]

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Originally Posted by LALA I'll start... In the end, was it all worth it? Was it worth leaving some people out to have a destination wedding? Do you ever wish you had a "traditional" wedding?

No, my destination to the tropical island on Maui during the cold snap of winter was effin puurrrrfect. I would not have traded it for anything in the world.

I am 6th of 8 gf's to marry since hs and I've been BM to church, vegas, winery, garden and by sea weddings.....Mine was the most amazing, memorable and cost-effective.

[cdc0427]

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Originally Posted by JUSTUSTWO Wow, this really was a great thread! It's cool that its back up. In terms of the dress, I sometimes wonder why I didn't go for something more "beachy" or "sexy" or "slinky/lacey". I guess I went for my dress cuz I loved it when I found it. It was traditional but when I put it on I knew that I had finally found the perfect one. I never let the fact that I was getting married on the beach totally affect the style of dress I wanted. So to answer your question, its perfectly fine to go with something traditional if thats what you want & thats what you like. Don't avoid the "traditional" dress just because you think you can't be traditional on a beach! KWIM? My only suggestion would be to definitely try on all types/styles of dresses, especially a type that you wouldn't normally consider cuz you never really know how its going to look until you actually try it on. You could always go traditional for the ceremony & go informal/light for the reception...that is if 2 dresses are in your budget! Hope I helped you.

Thanks for your comments. I just read the other one from another thread. I guess I feel the pressure because it's like I can't move on with things (BM dresses, FG dresses, etc.) until I find my dress.

[sdnative222]

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Originally Posted by aimee Can I ask a question? For all the guests that were unable to attend did you send them anything after the wedding? Picture? Announcement card? Anything?

I mailed out a photo announcement card for all the invited guests that were unable to attend the wedding. I personalized a different wedding photo for the thank you cards.

In the end, it simply made my holiday card giving much easier.....as I could duplicate the mailing labels. It didn't make the card writing easier, though. My wrist still aches a little.

[Duchess]

With regard to the dress, I would wear whatever you have always dreamt of wearing. The one caviat that many girls would disagree with...For me it was important to find the dress I wanted but not spend too much. I feel that I got everything I wanted, but didnt go couture or designer. I have never really understood the difference anyway, which I know some girls with a heightened fashion sense might, but look like a princess if that is what you want. But here's the thing, my dress was filthy at the end of the night. The bottom is brown. If it would hurt you to see that happen to a $5000 dress, don't pay that much. Also, I was pretty rough on the dress because I wanted great pics. I never got around to the TTD (boo hoo) but I did get awesome wedding pics of my friends and hubby and me in the water up to our mid calves with the waves crashing around us. So great!!!

 

If you think a pricey dress will make you afraid to really enjoy the wedding, then that is another thing to consider. I really love that I got what I wanted for under $500. I kind of like that my dress has the scars to show. Like a photo, I will always remember my beach wedding! Unless the dry cleaners can get it clean again...lol!

 

Oh, and while I wish more people could make it to the wedding, I wouldnt trade it for anything. From what I hear, there wasnt a dry eye in the house (DH and I wrote really intense vows for each other, plus the setting was so gorgeous). People are still commenting on how this was literally the most beautiful memorable wedding. And while it was very expensive on a per head basis, it was a lot cheaper over all. It was paradise. And I married my Superman. Okay, sorry, still in Mexico and feeling sappy about it all!

[cdc0427]

For those brides who had guests 25-40, did they want to go off the resort to party or was there enough for them to do on the resort?

[Duchess]

We chose not to select an AI resort. We had a room block at a more budget friendly option, and a few stayed at AI resorts. Also, I have family with places in PV, so they obviously stayed in their homes. We went out of the hotel zone every night. The resorts are fun, but not fun enough. In PV or Cabo, the downtown has clubs of all sorts, and the younger people will really enjoy it. Yes, they will pay for drinks, but even getting off campus for a few hours will be a lot fun.

 

I guess in our case it was different because we didnt get married at a resort. Not sure if that helps...

[sdnative222]

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Originally Posted by Nrvsbride I'm really going to go bankrupt!! When you do the sand ceremony is that included in your WC price or do you have to pay extra for that stuff? I swear it's the little crap that drives me crazy. Like in traditional weddings that take place at home, people buy unity candles, and the knife for the cake. That is so annoying to me! Uggh who wants to be bothered with those minute details. -Glenda

Well I have good news and bad news. Let's start with the bad: bottom line-you'll pay extra. The good: you can choose to have or have-not whatever you want including the sand ceremony.

My officiant and wedding planner both offered the sand ceremony, but my FH and I decided that traveling with all that glass and sand was a lot of hassle.

I spent a lot of time and energy picking out a beautiful porcelain cake cutting set. I shipped it a month in advance to Hawaii....only to have it get delayed in shipping. The set arrived the Monday after the Saturday wedding. On the day of, my reception site offered to borrow an even more gorgeous crystal cake cutting set (which pictured nicely). In the end, I really didn't care too much about the cake cutting set I spent so much time deciding on.

[sdnative222]

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Originally Posted by gkashmira OK - here are mine (I just found this thread and literally read all 11 pages straight through!): 1. In the end was it worth all the money? 2. For those who are non-AI how much was your bar tab at the end of the night? 3. (For those people who bought expensive dresses) In the end was it worth it having your dream dress or would it have been just as good in a cheaper version (too late for me! but just curious) 4. What is the minimum # hours someone should hire a photographer?

BTW, I wish I found BDW a year ago
1. Yes....and maxing out one credit card
2. I had an open-bar for both the cocktail hour and reception. For a party of 30, my bar tab came to ~$1000.
3. I had an ivory silk halter-dress custom made and including materials for $600. It was light, airy and perfect.
4. I got lucky that I had 3 professional photographers on my guestlist. Plan to schedule a photographer for: getting ready, ceremony, 1 hour after ceremony, and the first hour of the reception.

[JUSTUSTWO]

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Originally Posted by cdc0427 For those brides who had guests 25-40, did they want to go off the resort to party or was there enough for them to do on the resort?

Our guests were interested in going off of the resort just to tour the island but not to party! They did not feel it was necessary to spend money on food/drinks/partying offsite when all of that was included at the resort. The one exception might have been visiting Margaritaville. But other than that we all enjoyed spending the majority of our time at the resort!