karahmia

Original post 01/09/08 Oh, where to start? I'm not 100% sure but I love scouring magazines and design books for inspiration. I've actually found some of my ideas in the most unexpected places. And, needless to say, I have very much to do and very little time to do it in (according to the official rules of wedding planning). Am I worried? Not in the least! I eat time lines like this for breakfast! I work in retail for Christ's sake. This wedding planning got nothin' on me! What! What! So, where you ask am I finding such wonderful nuggets of decor galore? Read on and ye shall see: Michelle Rago Ltd., based out of NYC she and her team create dream weddings and floral decor to rival Mother Earth herself. Best of all, she recently published Signature Weddings: Creating a Day Uniquely Your Own. Available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Book Sense it makes a perfect Christmas slash "I know you are busy planning our wedding and need a thoughtful present", type of gift. I've also perused the website of Ceci New York. Hmm...is there a theme developing? Not really it's just a coincidence but great all the same. Ceci New York specializes is custom designed wedding invitations. I mean pie in the sky, money is no object invites. Check them out, their work speaks for itself. If you're budget conscious like I am, visit their retail site ShopCeci.com for personalized stationary, thank you cards and notes. Ok, just two more! Domino Magazine and Blueprint Magazine, both rags are stylish, modern, offer amazing home decor, fashion and style advice. But, each has fabu ideas on party planning. Most recently in their November and December issues they cover this very topic form A to Z (primarily for the holidays) but ideas are so unexpected you can easily draw inspiration for your day! Michelle Rago's beautiful book. Great inspiration! http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...a/11845998.png Invitations designs from Ceci New York http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ha_boris_1.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...alphonso_1.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...yn_asbel_1.jpg Images courtesy of Michelle Rago and Ceci New York

You look wonderful! I love, love, love the veil! Everything looks amazing!

Love the bags! Very cute idea and best part is that every time your loved ones use the bags they'll think your special day!

Original post 01/07/08 Yesterday, I made a first attempt at shopping for my wedding gown. To prepare, I searched the web prior to my trip to make sure I had the proper underpinnings for such an endeavor. Strapless bra? Check! Heels? Check! Spanx? Girl, I pulled every piece I own...Check! And we're off! My girlfriend Kristi was a doll to go with me, still a relative newlywed she was up for the challenge. We arrive at our destination, feed the meter and enter what is soon to become the place I find the dress of my dreams, The Bridal Garden. Upon entering our wonderful bridal consultant Liz, quickly introduces herself and begins to explain the layout of the store, the process of choosing a gown and takes our bags to my changing room. I'm 60 seconds in the door and already overwhelmed by the experience. Needless to say, I slowly regain my composure and begin to work my way through the gowns. Would I find the one for me? Fifteen minutes and ten gowns later, I'm undressed, wiggling into my Spanx and ready to try on the first gown. A word of caution before I proceed: I have champagne taste on a beer budget, so I'm convinced the most expensive gown is the one I'll fall madly in love with. I tried on sheaths, a little strapless number, A-line's and even a ball gown. There were sweetheart necklines, Swiss dot fabrics and silk charmeuse and something I can only describe as lattice work crossed with a doily...very pretty but not for me. Yet, when I put on "my dress" I knew it...the god's were with me, I had fallen in love with the cheapest dress on my rack; everything seemed to be working in my favor. Not only was it on sale with and original price tag over $2000, it was straight off the rack Monique Lhuillier AND in perfect condition. And considering the fit, alternations will be minimal and it was everything I had hoped for! Truly, ask your self...from one bride to another. What are the odd's? I think I may have had the easiest gown shopping experience of all time. Okay...well maybe not of all time but close to it! Oh! and which dress did I choose? You'll just have to wait until the big day! Some of the gowns I tried on... http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...mia/Dora-1.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...a/Britta-1.jpg http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9.../Chantal-1.jpg

I know blogging has been around for a while but I discovered it late last year while try to share the planning process as well as my thoughts and ideas with family and friends all over the world; as such my blog 12 Years In The Making was born. I've decided to bring my posts from the my public blog on Blogger to BDW to share with you all. Enjoy! P.S. My FI and I are high school sweethearts and have been together 12.5 years, hence...12 Years In The Making!

Thanks Ladies for all of the helpful advice! Option 2 is definitely the favorite by a long shot with Option 3 coming in second. I can always return the shoes I've already purchased and use that money to buy new ones! I'm so glad I asked your all of your help! I was really spinning and there are definately more important things to be focusing on!

We are having our ceremony and staying five nights at Hacienda San Angel. We are then moving on to Verana for five days. Both are pretty awesome. Though, Verana doesn't open until November so depending on what time you arrive in PV you could stay in city then travel on to Verana from there. Verana has a small B&B Casa Tiempo in PV which is $150 for 2 people and includes breakfast. They opened the B&B primarily for guests of theirs that want to stay in the city a few nights prior or directly after their stay at Verana. Hope this helps! Here's the links to both places. Hacienda San Angel Verana Veran's PV Rental

Sorry...somehow I missed showing the poll results at the top. If anyone knows how to edit this thread so they are visible please let me know. So far, everyone is voting for option #2!

Yes...that's right I have NKOTB tickets for sale! Grab your girls and make a night of it!!! Go ahead! Relive your youth! The tickets are for the Seattle show at the Tacoma Dome on November 23, 2008. I have four (4) tickets to sell but I'm willing to sell them in sets of two (2). Please see the seat info below. The price for each ticket is $90.00 (incl ticket price+service fee I was charged by Ticketmaster). Not trying to make a profit just need to get rid of the extra set; I was able to secure better seats. Please PM me with any questions. Transaction can be managed through PayPal or we can meet up to exchange tickets & payment. Seat location: section 7A, row 30, seats 14-17 (on incline, great view of stage) PS...if there are any Seattle area members heading to the show PM me. I'd love to connect, maybe grab a beer at the Dome prior to the concert!

Welcome to the forum! Enjoy!

I think everything looks great! I understand what you mean about coordination, I'm just as anal. Though, I think subtle differences make things more interesting!

Okay ladies...I need help choosing shoes to go with my gown. I've already purchased a pair but can't stop looking! I'd like to know what you think of these options. All of the options below are satin and match exactly or can be dyed to match. Here's my gown...it's more of a light champagne color. Option 1. Nordstrom B.P. "Plie" Pump This is the shoe I've already purchased. Option 2. Zappos.com rsvp Whitney P.S. If you haven't shopped Endless.com you are missing out. They offer free OVERNIGHT SHIPPING and FREE RETURNS! Talk about instant gratification! Option 3. MyGlassSlipper.com Kate Spade "Genevieve" Sandal Total Splurge but super cute!

What an awesome match! High Five!

Quote: Originally Posted by Mishka Designs I don't want to be the rain on your parade, but please believe me when I tell you that YOU DO NOT WANT to send ANYTHING via the Mexican postal service if you want it to get there in this century. It is NOTHING like the US postal service (and, after living here for 5 years, I think ya'all should thank your postal carrier a gillion times over for getting you your email in a reasonable amount of time ). I did just have a thought ... what if you got the postcards, had them all filled out and gave them to someone reliable to post in the US for you? They could mail them out right after you were married, so that people would get them in a good amount of time. If you're planning on doing a photo (like a photo of the wedding), you could try Zazzle - I've used them for stamps before, although not for postcards - or I think flickr has a deal too with postcards - my point being, that you could upload the photos, order the postcards and have them sent out .... I think Hallmark has stuff like that too. That way you'll have a photo from here, and "sending" them from here, but utilizing the reliable US postal service. Now, if it doesn't matter when or how they get to your guests (and, really, you could make a game out of it ... whoever gets their postcard first and whoever gets theirs last (or never - give it a year) wins a nice talavera shot glass or something - that really could be a lot of fun - like "where is your postcard now" sortof thing on the web somehow) then go with the Mexican postal service. any other questions, just let me know . Thanks for all of the info! I guess I have great expectations but totally hear you, DON'T USE THE MEXICAN POSTAL SERVICE! I'm sure I can sort something out with my planner to have someone on her team take care of this for me. Thanks again!

Quote: Originally Posted by Mishka Designs I think your idea is a great one, but I highly recommend you send anything you're going to send once you get back to the States. Our postal system is not reliable AT ALL (to the point that I won't let anyone send me anything - including my friends and family). The most "reliable" service we have available is DHL and UPS and, then, it costs a bundle to send things. We have a lot of really nice souvenirs for not a lot of money and you might be able to find something fun and representative of our area here that you can send out to everyone once you get home and, meanwhile, perhaps send out an e-card announcement letting everyone know you've been hitched. Or you could also have something made here for not too much (like hand-painted marracas with something painted on it that represents you with your names and date (approx $4 us), hand-crafted frames with vintage frida/diego rivera postcards approx $8 us), there are seashell necklaces/bracelets not too pricey (approx $2 us), there are little wood-painted animals with bobby heads which are inexpensive (approx $1-$2 us), you could get talavera pottery (approx $3-$4 us).... or, you could try this website Unique, Personalized & Popular Wedding Favors: FavorIdeas.com - they have oodles of other sorts of favors - anything from seashell luggage tags (which I love!), to sterling silver seashell book marks (also super cool). Just a few thoughts . Have any questions, let me know! Thanks for all of the helpful info! All of your suggestions are really great! Do you think it would still be an issue if we decided to send a postcard? I thought the gift idea would be a stretch as well, per a suggestion from one of the other members. Also, do you know how much and how long it would take the postcards to arrive in the US? I'd hate to be back from our honeymoon and the cards just showing up.

Congrats Sarah!

That's totally inconsiderate. She will need your mother very soon in the coming days and weeks and she should only hope your Mom is the mature one and let's it all go. As for your brother, I really think he needs to have a convo with his wife, not for your Mom sake but for his as well or he's always going to feel stuck in middle. As the Olsen twins would say "How rude!!"

Quote: Originally Posted by Lizz I know, I'm such a dork, but I'm so excited. The show in AC is sold out (tix were on sale when I was in Jamaica), so I was dying to get ones for the Philly show. Tickets went on sale at 10am this morning and I got them!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see Jordan Knight for the first time in 10 years Seriously though, I am so EXCITED!! I bought pre-sale tix on Wednesday for the show in Seattle and I can't wait. My parents wouldn't let me go when I was a kid so I'm making up for the lost chance. I actually bought two sets of four (fishing for better seats), so I'm selling one set. If any of you ladies are in the Seattle area and want tix PM me! Though I was a little disappointed in the Platinum package. They want $375 per ticket for the meet and greet and a pre-show party. I loved them back in the day, I like them now but not that much. I think it's a bit ridiculous!

Quote: Originally Posted by Alyssa I am so jealous of both of you guys and Becks! Thanks! I enjoyed growing up overseas but I also missed out on a ton and felt really out of place in the US when we finally returned. All that said I wouldn't change it for the world! Had it not been for my military upbringing I may have never met my FI (high school sweethearts)! I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity and it has helped mold me into the person I am today. As for work, we are always traveling to meet with vendors and visit factories and such so I try as much as possible to take full advantage of the trips; even if I'm exhausted after a long day, I still drag myself out somewhere to experience the culture.

ErinB: Yeah it is a small world. I lived in Germany from 1985-1991. We were stationed at Ramstein AFB but lived in Kaiserslautern and then at Rhein Main AFB in Frankfurt. I've been to Guam to visit my parents while in college but never lived there.

Quote: Originally Posted by babyg I have been to: Canada United States Aruba Dominican Republic Mexico Italy France Greece And soon to add Cuba to that list I am desperate to go to Cuba! How I wish I had a Canadian passport!!!

Just a preface to my list: I grew up overseas most of my life (military brat...GO AIR FORCE!) Also, I travel heavily for my job which as been a blessing, and I take FULL advantage of those trips! Austria Bahamas Canada Cayman Islands China England Germany (West Germany at the time) Greenland Guam (do US territories count) Hong Kong (semantics, but not officially China yet!) Japan Jamaica Korea Mexico Philippines Switzerland Taiwan United States Vietnam *I think I'm missing a couple but they'll come to me. Probably in the middle of the night in the midst of great sleep!

Your dress is absolutely beautiful! You will be a stunning bride!

Quote: Originally Posted by verrow23 I’m planning to get hair extensions for the wedding and I wanted to get everyone’s experience. I’ve heard they can be expensive, how much have you guys paid? Thanks in advance! Good extensions can run from $400-$1000. It really depends on the quality of hair, length and thickness. Since your in CA you should have some really great options.