SusanK

Quote: Originally Posted by Nini_Bride you'll find the answers to questions you didn't even know you had to ask! lol. Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard Let us know how we can help!! We are ready, willing, and able (most of the time)

Have you tried google images? You may have to sift through hundreds of choices...the good, the bad, and the ugly, but you can find just about anything you could ever want.

Quote: Originally Posted by Waiting_for_Sunshine Oh pretty! LOVE THEM! Are these available in Mexico? I hope so! By the way...I LOVE your siggy pic...too cute!

Probably...I know peonies have a pretty short growing season Hey..have you looked at your ticker lately?!?! Can you believe it.... we're in the "four months" range now??!?!?!

Congratulations! What does you new job entail?

Denise- You were able to get peonies for your bouquet?!?!?!? Are they costing you an arm and a leg? I loved peonies, but didn't think they were an option.

Yes, I'm still on the hunt. I've e-mailed Claudia...I want to know what florist Dreams work with (since we can't use outside vendors). I guess I'd just rather communicate directly (I'm picturing the game "telephone"... the message changes more and more with each additional person that the information has to pass through). Plus I think I might get better prices. Let me know if you get any pics of all the bright pink flowers

You're right, they do...which would explain why I am so drawn to them. I love peonies...and would love to have them for my wedding...but I've heard that you can get them in Mexico. So for that reason...I'm hoping they're something else

I just found this pic. I really like the flower, but don't know what it is. Any flower experts out there?

So many weddings, so many pictures!!! How's a girl suppose to get any work done Congratulations Sarah! Best Wishes

Could you reduce the font size a little so that you can put the year all on one line...right now "two" is on the top line and "thousand a seven" down below. Maybe you could do: On Saturday, the tenth of November Two thousand and seven At four o'clock in the afternoon Will there be a reception after the ceremony? If so, you may want to include "Reception to follow" at the very bottom.

I think it looks great! My only question is, should it read "WITH your friendship and love" as opposed to "BY your friendship an love". I could be totally wrong..

Wow! I think it looks great! Diddo to what the others girls said... your eyes were the first thing to jump out at me!

I will let you ladies know what I find out about $$$

Ok...so in addition to PMing Leigh, I also e-mail Bobbi+Mike (recommended by Natalie) for more information. If you haven't looked at their site yet...check it out, I was impressed. They are based in Indy, so it might be more do-able. I'm thinking mid-late summer depending on how long it takes to get the pics back (if I'm going to do this...I definitely want the goods in my hands for the wedding!)

I'm thinking about doing luminaries as well. I loved how they looked in Sarah's pics (Luminaries are basically candles in bags). What are you using for bags? Are you planning on bringing the candles down too? Do you think the Dreams staff will be able to set them up?

Quote: Originally Posted by sanchez0014 That idea sounds awesome! Im also thinking of doing them for my hubby and wish I would have done them with leigh the last time she was here... I live in a condo/loft down town and would open my place to everyone if leigh wanted to come to Chicago to do them for us. From what I remember, she did say she would be back in Chicago. Maybe we can find out when and we can go from there... My place is really small but Im sure she can work with it. Let me know what you girls think. Thanks for the offer! Looks like we might be able to get a group of girls together to do this.

Quote: Originally Posted by Natalie M I'm in chicago and I had them done with an amazing photographer!! She came up to chicago and did them at my house!! I HIGHLY recommend her! She is based out of Indy. Here is her blog bobbi+mike Here is her website bobbi+mike If you have any more questions please let me know! Yes you should get them done for sure!! I remember your pics were amazing! Thanks for the recommendation!! Now that I'm feeling a little more committed. Ikes!

I PMed Leigh Miller to see if she plans on being in the area some time this summer. I don't know anything about her availability, pricing, travel fees, etc., but I know her work is amazing. I also asked her for some photog recomendations in the area if she's not a possibility. I'm sure there are other great photogs out there.

I'd totally be up for getting a small group together sometime this summer. For some reason, I think I'd actually be more comfortable with a few "accomplices". Maybe we'd be able to negotiate a better rate too.

First of all, I NEVER thought I'd be considering B-pics. I'm kind of on the shy side, and it just never crossed my mind until I joined this forum. Now that I've been around awhile, and have seen so many amazing pics, and read so many positives reviews...I'm starting to have a change of heart, but don't really know where to begin. I live very near Milwaukee, and only about an hour north of Chicago, so either of those locations would work for me. I figure I probably have more options in Chicago. Anyway, I know there are other BDW ladies that have done b-pics in the Chicago area. Any recommendations? I do love Leigh's work, but don't know how often she is in Chicago. If I'm kind of on the fence about the whole thing, should I go for it?

Sarah- Thank you so much for your detailed review! I'm getting married at Dreams Cancun, and found a lot of your information to be VERY helpful. I'm sure I will re-read it several more times before October. Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you

For our AHR, I'm going to use a larger shallow bamboo bowl filled with flower petals and a few votives. I saw this in a bridal mag, and thought it was easy and beautiful!

Here is my revised timeline...what do you ladies think? 3:00 Photographer/videographer begin 4:00 Ceremony 4:30-4:45 Groups Shots 4:45-5:45 Cocktail Hour 4:45-5:45 Pictures (Bride's Family, Groom's Family, Bridal Party, B&G) 6:00 Bridal Party Grand Entrance -first dance -second dance (B&G, Bridal Party, Parents) 6:15 Toasts 6:30-7:30 Dinner 7:30-11:00 Dancing -7:30 Father/Daughter Dance, followed by Mother/Son Dance -8:00 Cutting of the cake (if I don't do immediately upon Entrance) -9:30 Bouquet/garter toss