Brenna

The script font is Scriptina...very popular and maybe a bit overused but I love it and wanted to incorporate it. Thank you for all of the wonderful feedback!

Well, the wedding is only 3 weeks away so I sent the invitations out quite awhile ago but never made it around to posting pictures. My invitations ended being a combination of ideas I got from the wonderful ladies on this forum. I would never have been able to do it otherwise! I hope that by sharing my invitations I can help another BDW Bride create her own. I had a hard time getting good pictures of the different pieces of the invitations but I hope they are good enough to help. Like many others, I used Cards & Pockets for the pocketfolds, envelopes and cardstock. Their website can be a little hard to navigate but with a little patience you can find what you're looking for. They have invitation kits, which are great because you can get exactly what you want and in the correct quantity, plus they are extremely affordable. I think my kit was around $35 for enough supplies to make 15 invitations. I couldn't find anything that I would have been happy with for such a reasonable price so, in that aspect, they were awesome! However, I did have some shipping issues with them. I ordered my supplies and their website says that unless they contact you with different information, they will ship your order in two weeks. Well, two weeks came and went without a word so I emailed them. I received a quick response but it was to tell me that they didn't know why my order hadn't shipped because it was sitting there ready to go!! I'm glad I contacted them or I might never have received it! Anyway, they shipped it the next day and everthing was great. The odd part was that a few weeks later I received another package from them...with my order again! I don't know what happened there but my only complaint would be with their lack of organization with their orders and shipping. Enough said about that. I designed the invitations with Powerpoint as I do not have Photoshop or any other design program. However, Powerpoint worked great! I had to play around with it a lot to figure out how to do everything I wanted but that would have happened no matter what program I used. I used our HP printer to print everything out and that was probably the most stressful part. I didn't order a lot of extra supplies so when the printer made mistakes, it was an issue. I highly recommend ordering plenty of extra card stock. My FI brought home a paper cutter from work to cut everything out and I found that the best adhesive for the cardstock were glue dots. I went through about three rolls of those! For the ribbon on the outside, I found that a hot glue gun worked best. Overall, I love them and I think they turned out great! I know I wouldn't have been as happy with anything someone else did and still stay within my budget. I hope this helps other BDW brides. You guys have been a wealth of information for me!

Was going to try Soleil Luna but it turns out they are closed on Sundays...the only day I can do it. Oh, well...on to searching for something else!

Well, I went ahead and ordered from their webiste. I ordered the Dolce Cubic Zirconia Pearl Earrings- Dolce Cubic Zirconia and Pearl Earrings and the Sashe Pearl and Crystal Ball Clasp Bracelet - Sasha Pearl and Crystal Ball Clasp Bracelet Faux Pearl It did take a little while to get them but I did receive them by the promised time. Obviously, I haven't worn either piece yet but the quality seems really good. The pearls on the earrings are a little larger than I expected but overall I am happy with my purchase. I hope this helps someone else. Let me know if you have any questions.

Hmmm...mixed reviews. Thank you for the link!

Hello ladies. I am considering purchasing my wedding day jewelry from annabellagio.com but have never heard anything about them. I am wondering if anyone has dealt with them at all or knows anything about their customer service? Any help would be great, thank you!

I am thinking of treating myself and my MOH to mani/pedis the day before the wedding but since we're staying in a condo I won't have a spa at my fingertips. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a place on the West side for this? Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

We had the same issue as we will have around 33 people. We decided to do a luau for the reception. Generally all food, drinks and the show are included in the per person price. I know a lot of my friends would be able to rack up quite a bill for drinks alone so this was the best choice for us. We are using the Old Lahaina Luau and have heard fabulous things abou it. They also include a lei for each guest. I hope this helps! If you want to find out more, here is their website: Maui Luaus, Old Lahaina Maui Luau | Official Website

This is exactly the website I needed. Thank you so much for sharing!

We're using mywedding.com and it has been great so far. Easy to use and free! Here is ours: Brenna & Doug - wedding website by mywedding.com

These look FABULOUS! I'm so excited to make mine. I too am planning on using fuschia pocketfolds. Glad to know they look so great!

I love these! I am wanting to do a veil AND a hair flower but some friends/family are saying that may be too much. Any thoughts on this?

I like the pocketfold color. Is it Bronze from Cards and Pockets? After ordering my samples I decided I want to incorporate brown but don't really want to waste time ordering more samples. I'm on a time crunch! Thanks!

This is a GREAT site. Thanks so much for telling us!

Love these!! I too am planning on using Cards & Pockets. Just waiting on my samples before I make my final decision. Good to know they are so great to work with!

I'm so sorry that this happened. I'm not entirely sure if this is normal or not but I have not come across it. That being said I would be just as upset as you are. Why should they charge you if their not providing a service?? Did you sign any kind of agreement with them? If so, was there a clause that mentioned charging fees for services they didn't help coordinate? On a brighter note I can telly ou that I am working with A Paradise Dream Wedding on Maui and have had absolutely no problems so far. Jayanne is my coordinator and has been great. I really like that they don't charge the additional 20% fee for services that you choose to add to their packages. The fees are probably already included in their flat rates but at least you don't feel like you're nickel and dimed to death. Anyway, that's my opinion. If I can be of any help please let me know. Good luck!

Feb 11, 2009: Trish + Bill @ Makena Secret Cove + Kimo's Restaurant Sep 26, 2009: Jackie + Jeff @ Fairmont Kea Lani (Wailea) Oct 14, 2009: Deb + John @ Kalaeokai'a Estate + Five Palms Restaurant Nov 12, 2009: Karina + Cory @ Ritz Carlton Kapalua Feb 10, 2010: Laura + Jim @ Maria Lanakila + TBD Reception May 22, 2010: Huey + Isaac @ Honua Kai Lani + Spago June 7, 2010: Brenna + Doug @ Kapalua Bay Beach + Old Lahaina Luau June 17, 2010: Krystall + Nick @ Olowalu Plantation House + Old Lahaina Luau June 12, 2010: Autumn + Mike @ Ritz-Carlton Kapalua July 28, 2010: Lisa + Al @ Olowalu Plantation House Oct. 19, 2010: Amanda + Patrick @ Kula Botanical Garden + Ruth's Chris Steakhouse

We are planning on using a guitarist. I asked my WC about this and she said that the guitarists voices are very rich and should be heard just fine over the water, as long as the waves aren't crazy at least. I don't know about the other options though. Hope this helps!

I have been needing this thread! Thanks for the input ladies!

I agree...definitely ask. My MOH is in a very bad financial situation as well but we have been inseparable since we were three years old and I can't imagine my wedding without her. She is going to come no matter what it costs her and I am going to try to help as much as I can. Good luck!

I am completely bummed becaues I was set on wanting Jessica Waite to do my makeup and was ready to book now for June (figuring I had PLENTY of time) unfortunately, I heard back from them and apparently they go to Ugand every year in June to do humanitarian work?? I am told they have other senior artists that are available for my date but I'm unsure since I haven't seen their work. Has anyone used one of her other artists?? I was really hoping to get airbrush makeup too but know that not everyone does this. Any recommendations?? Thanks for the help!

Well, I have tried on what seems like hundreds of dresses so my mom flew out this weekend to travel around Montana with me and go dress hunting. I am proud to say that we were successful and I finally found a dress that I absolutely love! It feels so good to have this crossed off of my list!

I am going to be using APDW. You don't have to "order" online. I just emailed them then started talking with Joanne (who is super helpful.) Even when I put down a deposit to reserve the date I didn't have to make final decisions. I chose the photographer but I can change it later if I choose (as long as they are still available.) I'm not sure which photo package we are choosing yet so I can't help with how many hours would be enough but I have heard great things about the company and have had a great experience so far. Good luck!

I am so glad to find this post! Just last week my mom informed me that two of my cousins (and their families) were thinking of coming. This would be okay except that I wasn't planning on inviting them! I'm lucky if I talk to these people once a year, yet they just assumed that they would be invited. When my mom tried to use money as the reason that we are limiting our guests my aunt offered to pay. It's really not about the money, it's about wanting a small, intimate wedding with only those who are closest to us. I hadn't even wanted to invite aunts and uncles but gave in to that. Not only do I not want to give in again, but the beach where we want to have the ceremony will not allow enough room to invite cousins...and if I invite one I have to invite them all. Now I never even suggested that they were invited but they think that they are. What is the best way to inform them that I am not able to include them? Thanks for the advice!

Thank you so much for all of the great input. I think we will stick with the plan and cross our fingers that the rains stays away! I'm sure it will all be okay...we will wait for it to pass if we have to. =)