islandbride317

Hi, Melissa!! Â So, I wasn't exactly a Cruise Bride....but I am going to be an "Carnival Cruise for our 1st Anniversary-Goer"! Â It's so funny you decided to do this as well -- John and I just decided in the past few weeks that we want to go back to the Caribbean (as we were married in Jamaica) at least one more time before we decide to start a family next year, so we/I did a little research, and the Carnival "Fun Ships" seem to be the best deal for the money! Â Right now, we are looking at taking a 7 night cruise out of Baltimore, MD on "Carnival Pride" down to Grand Turk/The Bahamas from May 8 - 15, and for a mid-level Balcony Room, we are looking at spending just over $2000 for the week (after taxes and gratuities for the entire week are added in!) WHAT A DEAL, right?!? Â Anyway, I've never been on a cruise before either, but I think we found a great deal and I will be officially booking later this week -- SO EXCITED!! Â Good luck and Happy Anniversary-Trip Planning!

YEA and HUGE CONGRATULATIONS of finding your perfect gown!!! YOU LOOK INCREDIBLE!! Â I was a Sottero & Midgley bride, and let me tell you, be prepared for a FLOOD of compliments on your gown.....because they are surely one their way!! Â And just in case you wanted to see your gown (I think the style is called "Brittanya") from the M.S. website....I've pasted the link below. And if you search the name of the style in in the 'Maggie Brides' section, you can see what your gown looked like on other REAL brides that have worn it! Â Here's the link: http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.aspx?style=A574-HC

Lite.....you're ring is SPECTACULAR!! Congratulations

DANYELLE!!!! Â You're a KNOCKOUT, sugar! CONGRATULATIONS -- your dress is both totally elegant and sophisticated AND 100% beach-appropriate (and looks like it will be really comfortable to wear, also)! Â What a fantastic choice and it truly looks like it was made just for you.....great selection anc congrats again on having another thing to cross off your list!

AMEN, my sista!!! Â So, here's the lastest: I guess she's done editing already and wants us to come to her home office and look at our proofs, but she seems more concerned about when will work best for her schedule, as opposed to ours! Â (Let me say again for those that don't know my situation that both my husband and I work full-time jobs during the day, and part-time jobs a few nights a week (mostly to help pay for all of the wedding-related costs we've had over the past 2 years), and we rarely have off on the same night, so it's tricky for us to coordinate a time that's good for both of us, as well as our photographer.) Â But frankly, John and I are so sick of dealing with her that instead of being excited to see the proofs as we should be, we're both COMPLETELY DREADING IT! I am already bracing for how aggressive she's going to be trying to sell us add-ons and upgrades that we never discussed in the first place....(which she does to make more money, since she has so few clients -- gee, I wonder why?!). I mean, I really don't want to have to put a family-friend in her place, but I won't be held responsible if she pushes me to it!! Â Sad to say, even though she is a friend's mom, she has been the WORST vendor I've dealt with during this entire planning process (DW and AHR combined!) A guy I work with just got engaged and he wanted her contact info., thinking since he knows me he could get a discounted rate from her, and I refused to give it to him! I told him that I wouldn't want to subject him to any of the nonsense we've dealt with, lower rates or not! What a shame, right?!?

CONGRATULATIONS, Teira!!! Â It's such an incredible feeling when you have found *the* perfect gown for you....and you look beautiful! I think the dress is going to look superb when it's altered to be more of a mermaid shape -- please post pics when it's done! Can't wait to see

Too cute! What beautiful photos, as well....the light off the water is perfection! Â I'm sure you're guests just adored them!

CONGRATULATIONS and you look MARVELOUS, darling!! Â What a beautiful, couture-looking gown and you're just beaming wearing it.....such a stunning bride you will be! I am so glad that everything worked out so well for you in the end and that your patience with the 1st bridal consultant at David's didn't ruin your experience when you worked with someone else and ultimately got the Dress of Your Dreams!

Yea, Chelsea!! Â I'm glad they are able to work with you on getting a new gown for your reception....nothing worse that being stuck with something you don't want and can't use! HOORAY for your salon for probably going above and beyond their own policies to make the bride happy! LOVE it when that happens.....! Â And personally, I think the JENNA gown is so much more of a WOW! gown than the one in red, despite it's vibrant red color -- I think everything happens for a reason, and here is another shining example of that! Can't wait to see pics of you in your beautiful JENNA gown!

Here are mine! (These I actually wore with my tea-length AHR gown, and they were a huge hit! Everyone from my husband to the help at the venue told me how much they loved them!) Â Â Â

So.....my concerns were WELL WARRANTED!!! Â She DROVE me completely and utterly NUTS the week-of the AHR, calling me again and again to re-hash the same information I had already discussed with her, and on the day of the event (which was only 4 hours long, btw!), she kept us outside shooting pictures for well over an hour, when John and I both just wanted to spend time with our guests, most of which we rarely ever see!!! Â Finally, I just looked at her and said, "Ok, now this will have to be the last picture...." but she kept trying to do "one more", "one more"! I didn't want to be rude or snappy with her, but it was getting ridiculous, and I just REALLY hope we end up with some nice photos for all of the irritation this has caused us!!! Â Now that she's done taking the pictures, she's probably going to try to sell us a $150.00 matte and frame (which we CLEARLY can't afford!!) again.....gggggrrrrrrr!!

THANKS!! SO glad you enjoyed my cake! Â Â

Ok Ladies....so I am THRILLED to show you how my "DREAM" cake worked out for my AHR which just took place this past weekend on 8/14/10, 3 months to the day after our wedding in Jamaica on 5/14/10 !!! Â The photo on the TOP is the one I submitted to my baker (Fiona's Cakes in Severna Park, Maryland) and the bottom photo is HOW OUR CAKE ACTUALLY TURNED OUT!! YEA!! PHOTO OF THE CAKE WE WANTED: OUR ACTUAL CAKE! (But ours was Italian Meringue buttercream icing, not fondant except for the 'wave' decoration at the bottom! Â And the FLAVORS: TOP and BOTTM tier: tiramisu with mascarpone filling, 2nd tier from the bottom: classic red velvet with cream cheese filling, and the 3rd tier up: classic white cake with strawberry preserves and chocolate ganache. YUM and everyone loved it! Â

OMG, GIRLS!!!! Guess what?! Â EVERYTHING worked out okay and my AHR was a success!! Â And yes, there were QUITE a few bumps in the road the morning-of on our way to get there (I'll fill you all in on the details when I have time to write a proper review.....), but for the most part, all but 4 of the people that had RSVP'd they were coming showed up, and everyone seemed to be really glad they made the drive to our rather out-of-the-way venue and were sharing in our celebration -- John and I were THRILLED!!! Â ** Even my sister took a "big girl pill" and behaved like the lady and the sister I'd hope she'd be -- we were BLOWN away, and I made sure she knew how much I appreciated her effort! ** Â And to Rachel, Wendy, and Roo -- I love you, ladies!! Thank you for thinking of me, and for understanding what it's like to deal with all of this craziness -- without you and the rest of the incredible BDW community, I for SURE would have lost my ever-lovin' MIND!!! HUGS a million!

Quote: Originally Posted by Michelle-2 Hey Christie, your AHR is here already! I have been following this thread and I feel so bad for you with all the bs you had to deal with. You're in my thoughts and I wish you and your DH all the best for a perfect day! Enjoy!!! and don't forget to post some pictures  Michelle Thanks so much for the well-wishes, Michelle!  Truthfully, I've been feeling lightheaded/dizzy for the past 2 days will all of the last minute loose ends to tie up and details to address.....I think this might ACTUALLY feel more stressful than when we left the country for the DW itself, for goodness sake!! Aaaarrrgh!  I know logically it will be okay no matter what happens, but I can't stop this underlying feeling of dread that no one will show up, or if they do, they won't have a good time....I have to get a hold of myself and stop being INSANE already, huh?!? Looks like I am taking my role as "Mayor of Crazytown" a little too seriously here lately....  Anyway, thanks again, and I'll be sure to post pics as soon as I can! I have a feeling my photog. (there's a whole separate thread about that drama, too!) is going to be a little while with my pro pics, but I'll put up what I can from family and friends asap!  HUGS and thanks for the greatly-appreciated support!

Thanks again, girls! And here's a little update, as the AHR is now only 2 full days away (on Aug. 14th, 2010)..... In the end, I've decided to be the 'bigger person' and in the interest of respecting my father (who gets really sad and HATES it when my sister and I fight), I told my a-hole of a sister that she can come to the AHR after all and she can leave to go to that stupid birthday party whenever she wants -- I just don't care anymore. If she doesn't come, at least then I don't look like the bad guy for the rest of our lives, and I told her 100% that the ONLY, ONLY reason I am allowing her to come is because I don't want to hurt Dad -- period! So, as for the final headcount, 60 people is what we ended up with -- and while I have to pay for 15 meals that aren't needed, I suppose it could always be worse and we're just looking forward to it either way at this late stage of the game! Wish us luck on Saturday!!!

Thanks again, sugar! And.....me, too!

Thanks for asking, lady....and it's actually coming up this Saturday, so I'll be sure to let you know how it all turns out! I appreciate you thinking of me!

Oh, the sweet gloriousness that is the JENNA DRESS! If you want a WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! factor, Jenna is definitely the way to go....it's one of the Maggie's I adored, and knew it wouldn't suit my own figure, but I just think it's spectacular.... And while you also look stunning in Brenna, I just think it looks a little more "expected", if you get what I am saying (just my two cents!) Anyway, whichever dress you pick, you're gonna look like a million bucks so CONGRATS in advance, sugar!

OLD BAY!! WHAT A CUTE IDEA, AMY!!! So fitting for a Maryland reception....and it's a small world after all! That's actually where my AHR is next weekend (in Pasadena, on the Chesapeake, 8/14/10)! Your guests are going to just love 'em! I hope your AHR exceeds your expectations -- hope to hear all about it!

Thanks so much, girls....it's sort of fun to share everything after all the time it takes to get everything ready, and without BDW, I wouldn't have had a clue where to begin, so I was delighted with the end result!

Love 'em! I've been on this forum for a while now, and I can't say I've seen anything quite like them...great job and kudos on your creativity!

Yep, I'm with most of the other girls; I only take my rings off to: * shower * prep messy foods or uncooked meats * most cleaning * put lotions on And for my part-time job in a deli (where I have to wear gloves), we are only permitted to wear a plain, smooth band because of the slicers, so I got a simple band just to wear while I'm at that job, because if my husband is wearing his ring all the time out of respect for me and our marriage, I sure as heck will be wearing at least SOMETHING to symbolize our union 100% of the time, too! Yeah, I'm cheesy, but it's important to me just the same....

Now, I'll have to start working on that AHR Planning Thread I promised a few months ago!

I'm waaaay late to the party here, but I just wanted to say..... HAPPY BELATED WEDDING DAY, Angela! I'm certain you were stunning.....and I hope it was every bit the dream come true you deserve. CONGRATS and there's always room for one more in Club Mrs.!