Lillie09

Hi All! I have a few questions I hope some of you can help me with. 1. My fmil just asked what we plan on giving the guests because they are paying to come to our wedding. We plan on having the OOT bags and favors. She suggested we actually give a gift..such as a gift certificate to a restaurant to our guests. We absolutely cannot afford this. Is anyone actually giving a gift like that to your guests? Are we wrong not doing this. I'm giving parents a gift, my MOH, and Flower girls. Best man and ring bearer but not to all the guests. 2. We come from NY where everything is expensive. We are having a DW to save money and only have our very close family and friends. That being said, we are paying for everything and having a RD with just immediate family. We cannot afford a welcome dinner. We honestly cannot afford anything but the reception. Does anyone have any ideas on how we can incorporate all guests in the celebration. We were thinking about meeting for drinks after the RD but don't think we can afford paying for everyones drinks and then having the open bar for our reception the next night. I'm so stressed/upset. I want everyone to enjoy themselves and not look at me as if I did nothing to "treat" them because they came to an Island to see us get married. I don't know what to do! Please any suggestions will help! Thank you all so much.

I checked a couple of days ago and they were out of stock. They'll get them back..hopefully

Thank you for this. I know I will be referring back to this thread next year!

Quote: Originally Posted by Alyssa Funny! I was just having this conversation with my jeweler, who also happens to be a very close friend. This is what she told me... "Do NOT wear your diamond rings in the pool (chlorine) if there is a lot of soldering b/c the chlorine slowly eats away at the soldering." "Occasionally wearing them in is not a big deal but wash them with warm, soapy water when you get out" "As for the ocean, salt water shrinks your fingers so if your rings don't fit snug - watch out!" she also said that is one of the highest insurance replacement claims they get - people losing their rings in the ocean! Yeah I'm also very afraid of ruining the rings. And my engagement ring tends to loosen a bit when my hands are cold..I have no idea what to do!!

This may be a really stupid question! Can you wear your engagement and wedding rings in the pool/ocean? I'm so afraid of the rings sliding off of me since I know a girl who lost her engagement ring in the ocean. I'm paranoid about leaving my rings in the room safe while I'm out and about. I hope I don't sound stupid but I really think about this a lot!!!

You look beautiful. I love your veil and hair..and dress! Congratulations!

I vote for #2!

Congratulations! Everything looks gorgeous!

Congrats and welcome!

Yes I sent out my STD's in March. I'm still waiting for my cousins on my dad's side to respond. They act like I'm not getting married. They totally ignore the situation. I see them only a few times a year and I'm almost sure they are not coming but they won't tell me anything. This is 12 people plus the 5 on my fiances side that I'm waiting for out of my 55 guests. Should I call them and ask even though I put in the STD letter that if you are thinking about coming can you give us a heads up so we can plan (not in those exact words..a lot more formal). sorry it's off topic but I am waiting for these people so I can get moving a little more!

Thanks everyone. I should wait to see who is coming because I don't really have a head count. Hopefully 6-8 months before I will know so I can start ordering. And I live in an apt with not storage space so I really don't have the room now.

Quote: Originally Posted by ErinB I bought my shells in Jamaica. Those shells are beautiful!

My wedding is in July 09. How far in advance should I order things like invitations, raffia fans, shells, ribbon, favors etc.. Thanks for your help!!

so beautiful! I love your veil and dress!!

Quote: Originally Posted by JoLo908 Oh, this thread hits so close to home! We were so excited about having a DW, especially the fact that we will be in a beautiful location with friends and family, and it will be like one big joint vacation as well as a wedding... Then I sat at a relatives house the other day and they said, "So, what can we do to convince you to not have a destination wedding" and began rattling off all of the reasons we shouldn't... I couldn't take it and broke down crying stating, that in New Jersey, it costs soooo much money to have a nice, even moderate wedding and be able to invite our family and large group of friends. My parents do not have the money to help us with the wedding, and his do not either, and I have student loans to top it off....I am blessed to have found my soulmate, and doesn't that deserve a beautiful day that doesn't cost me upwards of $35,000? (In NJ, many people I know have had weddings, buffet style, on Fridays, trying to save, and have spent over $50,000).... Lillie... this is YOUR day... the two of you deserve what you want, and I am sure you would never tell someone else not to do something they've wanted for a long time... At the end of the day, family and friends should be happy that someone they care about found true love and companionship... bottom line... Thank you for your words. I'm just going with the flow and planning the wedding we want. If anyone says anything I ignore it and move on. I don't have time to hear peoples "suggestions". I will do what I want just like they did what they wanted for their wedding. I'm lucky I have my sister and friends to be genuinely excited for me no matter what it costs to go away (which everyone does once a year anyway). I'm sure my wedding (and all of our weddings) will turn out fine.

Congratulations! Looks gorgeous and I love your veil!

Beautiful!!

Thank You! I really have to get to Michael's. They probably have everything I need. I've never been in there before.

Hi everyone! Just wondering where you purchased your sand ceremony sets and the shell ring holder (as opposed to a ring pillow). Thank you!!

That sounds delicious! I love Greek food!

Wow I honestly thought I was the only one going through this! My mom has not bothered me in a while because hopefully it sank in that I'm not changing my wedding so I can spend $$$$$$$ in NY for people I hardly know. She still says little things here and there but sees the look on my face and shuts up. I'm finally starting to enjoy planning my wedding but I don't really tell her anything. Thank you for all your stories and advice! Good luck to all of you. I know we'll all have beautiful weddings!!

Beautiful colors!! Congratulations!

so beautiful! loved the colors and your dress!

You look beautiful!

My FH and I sent STD's in the beginning of March. We wrote a very nice letter and asked if they (the guests) can RSVP and stated that we know its not definite but its so we can have an idea of who will be interested in coming. Well we invited about 60 people and we know of 35 going so far. My question is should I call the rest of the guests to see if they are thinking of coming to our wedding or should I just wait, and send the formal invitations with the RSVP card? And when should I send out the formal invitations for a July 10 2009 wedding. Thank you all for your help!!