Rachelle E.

I agree w/ what everyone else has said....definitely get the style you like! My only stipulation was that the metals be the same "color". My hubby initally wanted a yellow gold band but my e-ring is platinum and I just couldn't stand the thought of wedding pics w/ my pretty "white" rings and that yellow gold one looking all out of place!

I have to say that I agree with the other girls...keep the dress as a surprise. It's super hard not to show him 'cause you're so excited and stuff. I was totally like that - I finally had to take the dress to my mom's house just so I wouldn't take it out while he was home and everything. Also, I don't know if all guys are like this but mine really wanted to BE surprised and didn't even want me to talk about it around him. And I'm glad he was like that...it was amazing seeing the look on his face when I walked down the aisle that day. Definitely one of the best parts of the day!

Wow....that's really impressive! But I can't say I'm terribly surprised either...it IS a GREAT site and I'm totally addicted! My friend (who is the whole reason I joined) jokes that pretty much every sentence I say begins with, "Today, on the forum..." Lol!! It's so true. Side note...is there really actually a proper "context" for the monkey? I don't think I've ever thought to myself, "If only I had a pic of a monkey to really illustrate what I'm trying to say..."

I'm lovin' that little yorkie with the scarf around his neck! Too cute! And my cat absoltuely thinks it's cuddle time when I'm on the computer!! There's not really enough room on my lap for him AND the laptop so he inevitably ends up laying across the keyboard, mashing all the keys down and closing/opening programs like crazy! Cute, but of course frustrating at times!

Those are both beautiful dresses Glenda! Of course I pretty much like ANYthing by Alvina Valenta! I just love their designs. . . All these dresses are serisouly making me wish I had a reason to get another one...well kinda...I mean I'll keep the man I just want an excuse to spend stupid amounts of money on gorgeous dresses! Well, I mean that I would like to do that if someone else would foot the bill too!

You're getting married on my birthday!! I think that's fantastic! Serisouly though, congrats on your engagement! My best friend is getting at Dreams PV also, her wedding is in Sept though, so you'll beat us to it! Happy planning to you!

You girls are all gorgeous!! I like the "real girl" pics WAY more than the model pics. The models all look so uptight and overdone....and there's just nothing like the look of a bride in HER dress. Also, you all have great taste! I've loved looking at all your dress choices...it almost makes me wish I could go dress shopping again! I seriously only tried on 3 dresses before I decided on one! Nice that I didn't have to agonize over it...kind of a bummer 'cause I didn't try very many styles and have more "dress expericence" I love wedding dresses...

Quote: honestly I think beagles are lazy, they get excited and run laps around the house once or twice a day, they can get loud. My little boy will talk back to me if he wants me to do something for him...I would say they are the most vocal dogs I have ever been around, but most of the time they love to cuddle and curl up on the couch, bed, what ever they are allowed on. They also love to lay in front of our patio window and "sunbathe" That's cute...I totally picture the dogs just sprawled out in the sunshine...adorable! LOL TammyM! I love the 8-mile reference! Perfect!

Oh yeah...and also, I have to say that there are some really super cute pets on this forum! All those beagle pics are adorable...they really are cute dogs! They're pretty high energy, aren't they?

Ok, I suck at adding pics and I can't figure out how to do it from my shutterfly account so that they actually show up. Sorry. If I was on my home computer... lol! Anyway, here are the kids... share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AZMXDZm2cM2LuY kinda funny story, these pics were taken when I was determined to have a photo to include with our christmas card this year. I don't know how pet photographers do it!!! My friend Monica and her FI came over to help us take the pics...well, 68 shots later these were some of the best ones! I'm surprised they're still friends with us after all that!!

Lol! That is SO cute! I've never tried to dress mine but now I really want to! Did you seriously find cat clothes somewhere?

I am SO interested in this! I had acutally tried to find a photog in my area that does this sort of thing for Valentines day last year...no luck. I imagine it's because not very many photogs actually advertise that service - they just discuss it with exsisting clients? When I read that post that Leigh was doing a session in Chicago I was SO jealous!! I'd really need to find someone in my area (Dallas). . .I'm pretty sure the mystery trip out of state would make him too curious to handle! But this is definitely something I really really want to do.

I got married in Texas in the summer...pretty hot and humid also - maybe not quite as much as Mexico, but still enough that it mattered. We had our reception at an old victorian home using the house, patio and garden areas for the reception - so I was only indoors maybe half of the time. That being said, I totally kept my dress on the entire time! I think once you're wearing it you just feel so excited and "bride-y" that you don't ever want to take it off! I even kept it on back at our hotel, super late at night while we were eating some fast food we'd bought! (we were starving!! Too much talking at the reception to eat) There's nothing like drinking champagne and eating some Taco Bell in your wedding dress! It's acutally one of my favorite memories.

Edyta...Your dress is GORGEOUS!! I agree with everyone else, beautiful and goddess-like! Ann, I LOVE your dress too!! So romantic and feminine. . .I love White House/Black Market...it's where I got my RD dress. And they really do have the best sales! I've got a couple dresses from there that I got really good deals on. I'm SO re-living all the fun parts of wedding planning through you guys! Thanks for letting me in on the fun!

I'm sure you could do a beach ceremony. I didn't notice a particular area marked off or set up or anything like that. They probably just do that right before you need it. But the upside is that the beach is pretty quiet for the most part. Most people seemed to hang out by the pool (which is HUGE) so if you did want your ceremony on the beach, you wouldn't have to worry about big crowds or anything like that.

Ok, at long last here are the pictures I have of one of the wedding gazebos and outdoor reception/cocktail hour set up. I hope they help! http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...AZMXDZm2cM2LqI

No Problem! Of course they're on my computer at home (go figure), but I'll make sure to post them or a link to an album or something tonight! I think the pics I have are of just the cocktail hour part of the reception...because I'm pretty sure we saw that same wedding party having dinner on one of the patio areas later that evening. Either way, it looks pretty!

Not sure if this helps, I didn't get married at MP, but I spent my honeymoon there. We saw several weddings while we were there and I even took pics of some. . .but only from the balcony of my room! I promise I didn't stalk any brides or anything!! But I've got pics of the wedding gazebo and even the cocktail reception they set up for the wedding right next to the gazebo. It looked really nice and the guests seemed to enjoy it. Anyway, if any of you want the few pics I have or have any questions about MP in general, feel free to ask! btw, the spa at the golf course is GREAT! The hotel salon/spa is nice too but if you're looking for that ultra posh spa experience....definitely go to the spa at the golf course! Amazing. Otherwise, the whole resort is great. We loved every minute we were there. The service was wonderful - everyone on the staff is SO accomodating! It was just a great experience overall!

Well, I have a friend who used Accutane and it really worked for her. She was very happy w/ the results. I haven't ever had serious skin problems, probably just the same stuff that most people deal with. But I personally use Philosophy skin care. I LOVE the "Hope in a Jar" moisturizer, the vitamin C powder they have is awesome (you mix it in your moisturizer) and the cleanser is great too. They also have other treatments, peels etc that I'm looking forward to trying. Also, I like Arbonne products a lot. I use a mask of theirs and am going to buy a scrub and an eye cream soon. I think you have to get them online or through a rep. My sisters and mom are die-hard fans...they love it. And I think it's an organic product? Or very botanically based at least - seems to do well even on sensative skin. Obviously good skin care - even if it's not expensive - is going to help. But I have to say, I know more than one girl who changed her eating habits and really noticed wonderful differences in her skin. My SIL has recently made some changes to her diet, more water (she used to be a Dr Pepper addict) and less processed food. We've all noticed her skin looking great lately. Same thing goes for a girl I know who simply cut out sodas - esp those w/ "caramel" coloring like Coke, Pepsi etc. That really seemed to make a difference for her. Sorry that was SO long!!

Ok, this might not be much help...but I did order some little battery operated light bulb thingys from there for my wedding. They go inside those chinese paper lanterns so you don't have to do the whole cord w/ light bulb thing. So it's not like I ordered a decorative item from them, but as far a service and everything goes...it was great. The stuff I ordered arrived on time...a little early if I remember correctly...and all that good stuff. One of my friends actually referred me to the site. I'll see if I can find out what she's ordered and how it looked. Sorry, that was a little "rambly"...if I find out anything good, I'll definitely make sure to post it!

Lol! Yeah, it's such a funny thing this whole wedding business...you try to give yourself plenty of time to plan (no sense adding to the stress w/ a deadline, right?) but then you get SO excited and you just want to do it and the BIG DAY couldn't possibly arrive soon enough...especially when you've got a gorgeous beach waiting for you!! And the dress...Is there anyone who doesn't want to wear their wedding dress all the time!? Back on topic.. I very much appreciate your info. Definitely helpful - it's nice to get kind of a feel for things. But now I know that it just varies whether or not a photographer will build in travel costs, charge separately and so on. I really don't even know what Monica wants to do...she's just started talking about wanting to hire a photographer and the one I used is "taking a break", so that's out...which is a bummer 'cause we loved them!

Cool! Thanks for the help! I've looked at Leigh's site and she's SO talented...gorgeous pictures...I bet you can't wait to see what your wedding looks like once it's got the "Leigh Miller treatment"! If you don't mind me asking...do you pay for the photography package in addtion to the travel costs etc. for the photographer? Or is all that worked into the fee she charges somehow?

So, have any of you ladies used any of these photographers? Just wondering who the other PV brides were working with or if anyone had any personal experience with any of these vendors.

Hey Natasha...thanks for the reccomendation...we'll check it out! Karla, I had my friend check out your pics to see everyone and both she and her fiance REALLY liked the look. . .my husband did too..esp. since he's one of the groomsmen!

Gorgeous!! Absolutely gorgeous! I am SO extra excited for my friends wedding now!! And I love how you had the men in the wedding party dressed. We were just talking about all that last night...should they wear suits, just shirts etc? She was worried about everyone looking too casual and feeling out of place in her dress...but I think you picked the perfect look. I can't wait for her to see your pics!