yamille

Tara, I think it's cool since you are having a destination wedding. It would be weird otherwise. If I were receiving one I would hope that the person giving it to me would take into account my body type. Like I would prefer a cute tankini as opposed to a string bikini that maybe abother b-maid might get. KWIM? I think its a super cute idea for a beach wedding though!

I'm so glad that you went for it! It's a gorgeous dress I have been eyeing it everytime I go to the watters website. ( I have tried on the "Adriana" 3 times..) I'm sure your FI will love it. It's very angelic and pretty.

I just weighed myself and really don't understand how I am back up 5lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am just finishing my monthly visitor and cannot believe that I would be up 5lbs for water weight. I have been working out and watching what I eat. I did have a birthday but didn't really pig out or anything. I hate that I let the scale decide on my mood for the day and will have to dig really deep to find the happy, accepting part of me becuase right now I feel like crapola. I am happy for you ladies. Way to go KATHIE! and am hoping that this is some freak thing that my body is doing for this week. I took so many spinning classes... Moving forward now....

Ooh Can I come? I'm in NY. I voted. I would love to meet you all!

Quote: Originally Posted by becks Hi Ladies!!!!! I'm back! It was wonderful! I'll do a full review eventually, but some highlights: yay! thank you.. Best parts: Leticia, at the salon did an amazing job on my hair. I want to have her do it every day. Bring her photos and sit back. Wow. I also loved having my makeup artist there. She was GREAT. And made my mom look like a million bucks, too. You look awesome. I love your hair. The flowers are adoreable peeking out. Carlos from Mannia - I can't say enough. AMAZING. If you have any doubts about your DJ, cancel them and get Carlos. Totally wow. The special stuff we asked him to do was perfect. Timing was perfect. And he MADE the party. Plus, he gave me copies of all the special mixes, etc. that he did. In all seriousness, if I ever have need of a DJ again, I will be flying him up here.[color="Blue" So happy. He gets great reviews. If I do get a DJ i'm hoping it will be him. [/color] Nathaniel Thompson, photographer extraordinaire. You may have seen some of the sneak peek photos he posted on his blog. For the record - I don't look that good, and I'm not that photogenic. He is fantastic! Plus, he is about the nicest guy you've ever met and was a great addition to the party. His assistant Norm was just as great, and Norm's wife was such a hoot we dragged her into the party too! We're talking about a reunion tour and we're going to be planning it around Nathaniel's schedule, just to make sure he's there. And this time we're going to make him bring his family, too! These were so great. The shots are great and you both look so happy. Beautiful. For the record.. I love your dress. Is it the Adriana Watters dress? It's gorgeous on you. Worst parts: We had some bumps with the hotel - at one point I just about lost it. 1) We were promised (in writing, and then confirmed again verbally two days before we left) that all of our guests would be in the same building, they had all the room configurations, special needs etc. When we arrived on Wednesday, it was a catastrophe - people scattered; families of 4 in a king bedded room with no pull-out sofa, etc. We spent nearly 4 hours on the day we arrived trying to sort the mess out. In the end, only some was resolved - there will be quite a bit more work on this front - refunds will be issued. Oh hell no... scary. I hope all the refunds are taken care of. 2) We were supposed to have 5 tables of 10 reserved for dinner on Thursday. We arrived to find that we had 4 tables of 12, and in people's efforts to sit with friends and family, we took over a fifth table. Perla let me know that the fifth table was reserved for another group and that those seated at the table had to move. When I asked her to let them know she told me that it would be better coming from me. WTF?!?! Of course the other group never showed and the fifth table remained empty. Grrrrr. 3) On friday at the welcome dinner, I realized that after my entree had been served, eaten and cleared that about 1/2 of our guests hadn't even been served their meals yet. I had to hunt people down to get an answer - the waiters all looked at me with blank expressions, the captain of the restaurant didn't give me a straight answer. So, I had Perla, Orfanel and the director of food and beverage gathered and used my scary voice to let them know that I was done listening to excuses and that if ANYTHING went wrong the day of the wedding they would lose their jobs. You go! Sometimes you gotta use the scary voice. I'm glad they got the wedding day right for you. All that being said, the wedding was PERFECT. And I can't say that enough. I don't know where the disconnects happened, but for the wedding, they got it 100% right. I'm not quite sure what my advice is with regard to the hiccups. I thought I'd triple checked the rooms, but clearly a fourth run was needed. On that front, we'll see what happens with refunds. The Thursday thing... I think the lesson was learned. On Friday, my advice is to insist that SOMEONE be there throughout your event to make sure things are running smoothly. I think the problem was in the absence of an authority, servers or whomever weren't paying attention and got sloppy. Good advice. I don't think that I have read any review on here where there have been no hiccups, but I'm glad that your day was just as you planned. CONGRATULATIONS! Thanks!

Wow. Congrats Erin! Married and a homeowner within 3 mos. Lot's of change. That's so exciting.

Ooh Lauren good thing you checked out Kion Lounge. I had a sneaking suspicion that it wouldn't be what it was cracked up to be with that rate. Stanton Social is cool and hip. I'm sure DH will love it!

Missy 3 months-woohoo. You must be getting so excited! I'm jealous that you are going on another site visit. fun! Kelly- when I was there in June Fi and I were trying to get an idea on the speakers as well during a small- 15 ish ppl reception on the terrace and basically the speakers were fine. I mean they didn't have a large loud group and you could hear the surf but it wasn't overwhelming. We are thinking if we have under 40 ppl we will do the ipod. It's an ongoing discussion because I don't want to deal with having to make a playlist but at the same time I think the DJ is a ripoff considering there have been no good reviews and he doesn't even announce anything (MC). I still have a while to decide I guess....

Oh Chantal what a great story. Sheldon did a great job- massages and a proposal! awesome.

Wow Who knew? I wanna try Bare escentials now! this was like one long infomercial for it. I have always wondered about it but never tried. I don't ever wear foundation cuase I like to feel like my skin is "breathing" but it seems like everyone loves this product for the most part. Tara- I don't think that you look too pale. It's a little hard to tell because it looks like your arm id a little bit in a shadow in the pic. as a sidenote- I love your dog!

Quote: Originally Posted by KLC77 Yamille, I didn't know you had Matt. I have Sol. I'm so excited! Yeah I can't wait! I love their photos. They do amazing work. Quote: Originally Posted by valgirl1382 Hi ladies, Just wondering what days were available in June at the Paradisus...Please let me know. Thanks We wouldn't know that information. You need to contact the paradisus directly and speak to the wedding coordinators. I do know that Fanny said that all the weekends in May '09 are taken. They do one wedding per day. Paradisus

Quote: Originally Posted by ericaandsy Yamille I am so happy for you!! I thought of you yesterday Erica when my mom told me because of the OFF YOUR CHEST thread last week. I hope your sis comes home soon too. Quote: Originally Posted by Pug3636 That's great news! You gotta go dress shopping now! I know! I went twice but I just felt like I was missing her and trying to describe stuff over the phone just wasn't the same. I'm thrilled! Quote: Originally Posted by Alyssa That is great news!!! you must be SO EXCITED!!!! willl she be living nearby when she gets home? Yes she will be living on Long Island with my parents till she gets back in the swing and job hunts and stuff. I know this is funny- but it's so nice that all you ladies are so supportive on this forum and can share in my happiness. Thank you!

Thanks everyone. I'm sort of obsessing over this. (This week) Your input has put things in perspective. I wanna get my invites out.

Congratulations! I love the flowers in your hair.

I'm in agreement with everyone else. Don't stress-figure out how to save the money to go to their wedding. - I would also venture to say that this is a good thing to charge on the card if need be. I mean it's not like it's a pair of Manolo's... KWIM?

Fanny- I totally know what you mean about time flying by... I'm sure it will but I really don't want to rush it because I have a very important year of school ahead of me and if I think of what's in between now and the wedding I get totally freaked out cause it involves many hours of internship and a thesis (which I don't yet have a topic for). That's another story... I think my ceremony is tentatively scheduled for 6:00. We want it right before sunset so we are going to check on the sunset times for the area closer to our date. We also are having a cocktail hour and then dinner following that. Our photographer is Matt Adcock from Del Sol Photography. I know that I don't have the '09 menus on my computer cause I couldn't find them for Kelly but amenities I think I might. I got a hard copy of eveything when I went down for a site visit so that's why I don't know where anything is. Anyway... if I do find the stuff I will scan and post. I was just going by the '08 stuff (which are posted somewhere in this thread) and know that the prices will be slightly higher. - yeah I'm a little freaked at planning from far away and whatnot but one of the reasons for us choosing to do it this way is that we are pretty laidback people and while I want to plan- I also sort of just wanna show up. KWIM?

So my sister has been volunteering in a remote village in Nicaragua for the past two years and I have missed her terribly. (even though I am super proud of her!!) We are incredibly close so it has been a rough two years becuase we are so used to being in contact all the time. Anyway, to make a long story short... she has had numerous medical problems (among other issues) since living there aside from the usual parasites she also had dengue fever, and recently had to have surgery for a problem with a cyst. It has been ROUGH to say the least- especially since she usually rode her bike 5miles each way to teach at her school- and she couldn't after the surgery. Peace Corps has agreed that she can come home three months early! Aside from the fact that she was beginning to feel super depressed and her health is most important- she can be here and share in all the wedding planning fun. It really hasn't been the same without her. I think it's part of the reason that I was putting off the dress shopping stuff. I need her opinion. She knows me better than anyone else. My mom just called to tell me that she will be home THURSDAY! How crazy is that? i guess you have to leave 72 hours after Peace Corps gives you the ok. I'm so happy! I know this is really random but I just needed to share with someone. (or in this case- many!) FI is in a meeting and I texted him but I prob won't hear for a while.

I'm just curious as to when any of your guests started booking after you sent a STD or the official invite? I only sent out a save the date magnet with our wedsite address and on the magnet I let everyone know that there would be a formal invite to follow. I'm just wondering what people's timelines were as to when you sent/or are planning to send the formal invite. Isn't that only like 3 or 4 months in advance? I'm probably just being paranoid but i guess I am worried that people won't get good airfare etc.. and that they won't go to the website and see all the TA info. Thanks for any input!

ooh,Congrats Fanny! You are right before me- how exciting!

I have no idea why the rate is higher but I am guessing that Karisma is charging Claudia Rodriguez a fee to shoot there. They may be "saving" brides money but really the photographer has to pay it which means they are going to change their rates to accommodate that resort. This is just a guess. I'm sorry that you have to deal with Karisma and their constantly changing vendor rules and regulations. Frustrating!

Great job everyone. I should probably also give up alcohol to speed up my loss but I just really enjoy my wine. What I am doing is only allowing myself to splurge on that on the weekends- no matter what comes up. For some reason people always want to meet up for a drink in NY. I've been trying to meet up with friends to walk or something but nobody is biting yet. Alright.. Keep it up- it seems like people are really committed. good job!

Thanks for posting! Rebecca you look amazing.

Carly you look so pretty! Everyone looks like they were having a blast.

Conratulations and thanks for posting a review! I love the reception location-very pretty!

Quote: Originally Posted by Tara Thank you! Honestly, I don't think that I have had to change "what" I eat as much as "how much." I have a portion control issue. I love food. Lots of good food! Now this week I am staying off the scale as Aunt Flo and Cousin Bloat are in town, but I don't feel too much difference in my clothes so far so I think I'm fairing pretty well. An example of what I've been eating.... Breakfast: Either a bowl of cereal (various varieties of special K sometimes with a banana) or a Slim Fast shake if I'm in a big hurry before work. Lunch: I've been packing my lunch and doing either homemade soup (vegie, low fat low sodium chicken noodle), or a few other lower fat dishes I've made ahead. I made lasagna rolls with low fat ricotta, prosciutto and spinach which makes for the perfect portion when rolled and they are well below the 15g fat. Fi wanted meatloaf for lunch this week so I made it with oats instead of bread crumbs and used lean ground sirloin. His side was loaded mashed potatoes but I had various veggies each day (asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts). Dinner: We work 2pm to 11pm so lunch and dinner are somewhat reversed for us. Although our lunches are not large portions, we eat dinner foods then and have lighter items when we get home since we're usually awake until 4am. Dinners have been a variety. I made wheat pancakes the other night (fi loves pancakes) with a fresh fruit compote. He has grilled fish fillets and zucchini or we're done grilled chicken strips for chicken wraps. It's actually been really enjoyable trying to eat at home more and being prepared for lunches ahead of time. All thoso dishes sound yummy. I am going to try the meatloaf with bread crumbs- I've never made meatloaf but FI loves it. I need something different. THanks for some new ideas I'm the queen of shrimp/veggie stirfry or chicken dishes. TVT Tara- Glad you got some input from the Alli people. I notice the day I eat my fiber cereal things really move along.... more than normal.