pvbeachbride10

I just finished day 2 of this! Day 1 wasn't bad at all - day 2 has been a bit harder. I did love my BIG baked potato though! Anyone else still doing this?

Count me in too!

Hi Ladies - I got DQ'd and disappeared. I miss everyone. Anyways, my computer broke and I wasn't able to access at work. So I got so discouraged. My computer is back up and running (after a long process). I want to say: CONGRATS! Everyone did a fantastic job. At one point I was down 12 lbs, but I'm back to just being down 3lbs. Wow, that's sad. I would love to join in the next season!

Off to do my daily challenge now. I havent done sqauts in ages. Wish me luck, haha.

After my site visit, I decided to have the wedding at my parents place - Peninsula Vallarta. It's a gorgeous location. I am so excited!

I love Oprah. Thanks for sharing the information. Darnit, I might not make today's challenge. I went for a 30 minute walk, but it was very slow around the block walking. Anyways, I have an upset tummy (too much bad for me food, oops).

Very cute! I am ordering a WI one from her as well!

I am continuing the fruit and veggie challenge for myself over the weekend since I know I'll also be eating lots of crappy stuff. Our power was out yesterday so we went to the olive garden, I ate way too much! But, it was tasty!

Quote: Originally Posted by Jacilynda I searched and could not figure it out, so I emailed her to see who the original designer is. Some other people asked on the site but she had not answered. She told me its an old Linea Raffaelli. I couldn't find pics so it must discontinued. I hadn't heard of this designer, but thats probably cause the dresses arent sold in the US. But I looked up the designers site and the dresses are AMAZING! Thanks so much! That's very helpful. I am running off to check out their website now. Woohoo!

I found a dress from Landy Bridal that I am thinking about ordering: wedding dress (HS1583)-wedding dress,prom gown and bridesmaid dress by landy bridal. I wish I knew who the original person was. Anyways, it's so pretty! This thread is awesome!

Yay! Thanks so much for the update and for doing this!

I got my 100 crunches done woohoo. I hate pushups. If I hate them though, it probably means they work. Maybe I will break them up in sets of 20, haha. 5 fruits and veggies - We can do it! I really need to remember to get those in. Sometimes I just forget. Congrats ladies on another good weigh-in.

I also used mywedding.com. I highly recommend it. I just started on it but, to get an idea you can check it out: Meghan & Jonny - wedding website by mywedding.com.

I like the idea of sending her something after the pics. But do what you are comfortable with. Oh, and your pics are going to be gorgeous!

Sounds great. Day 1 challenge = drink only water. I agree with hours working out, I just used 3 hrs as an example. Sounds like we all need some extra motivation this week! Good luck with WI tomorrow everyone!

Okay, so one would think all the money and needing to wear bathing suits would be great motivation. Anyone want to do mini challenges with me? We can do it on here or email if people are interested. For example: Work out 3 hours this week. Or Do 50 crunches a day. They can be easy or hard, but I think having small challenges like that would be fun! Anyone interested?

Wow, I am so sorry! I am crossing my fingers and sending tons of vibes that this gets figured out. Happy late birthday by the way. I am glad your photog is being so nice about it!

I agree! I am sending save-the-dates 11 1/2 months before the wedding. I am still doing invitations, but am breaking the rules and sending them out 6 months ahead of time. Probably will send them out about November 1 for our May 1 wedding. If I feel I need to, I can do cheap postcards again. I am hoping 12 months and 6 months works fine.

This thread is awesome! Everyone looks so much better than the models! What's with all their weird poses? I can't wait to come back with me vs. model. I have just started looking for dress ideas today. I feel behind!

wedding dress (HS1583)-wedding dress,prom gown and bridesmaid dress by landy bridal - I wish it said what the original dress was. I really like this one! Thanks ladies for all the reviews!

Wow, everything looks great! You're guests are going to be impressed. Do you have the welcome book template pasted somewhere? If not, would you be able to email it to me, meghan dot havill at gmail.com

Christy - very well put! I agree with the ladies. I am sure you'll make the right decision. Quote: Originally Posted by Christy335 My favorite money guru and author of Total Money Makeover, Dave Ramsey, always says not to give a gift if you can't afford it. If you offer a gift to your bridesmaids (which is what this would be) but you will be financially hurt if they don't "repay" you by standing in your wedding, then you can't afford to give that gift. Imagine giving someone an i-phone (or other gift of similar cost as what you are giving your BMs) for their birthday and including a contract inside the birthday card that says they agree to answer when you call, they have a 20 minute window to return text messages, they must attend your birthday party when it comes, and they have to get you a comprable gift when the time comes. You wouldn't do that. (I'm guessing.) If you aren't considering this financial contribution as a gift, and more as a business deal, then you can probably hire rent-a-bridesmaids that would appreciate the discounted vacation, a free wedding reception, and whatever else you are providing and will agree to your contract requests. I think you need to ask yourself why it is important to you that they be there. I am asking my BMs because I want them to know what they mean to me, and I am looking at it as a position of honor, not a duty I am hiring them to perform. I have no expectations of my BMs. I know my friends, and I know that they will want to (in fact they will be excited to) help with making my wedding go smoothly. However, if they didn't lift one finger to help me, and they ended up not being able to make it, they would still know that I loved them enough to ask them to take a position of honor in my wedding. The gifts I am giving my BMs are not "payment" for showing up and being in my pictures. They are another representation of my appreciation for their friendship. Conversely, the costs they pay as being part of my wedding are representative of their love for me. If I pay for my BMs dresses, that is my gift to them, whether they use it or not. Has anyone ever given you a gift that you didn't use? (Like that ugly sweater Aunt Edna gave you last Christmas.) You are in no way obligated to use a gift. Like I said above, if you can't afford to take the hit on an unused gift, then you can't afford to give that gift. This may be an unpopular opinion, but this theory also applies to your situation with your friend's wedding. If you couldn't afford to buy the BM dress and shoes and whatever else you paid for, then you couldn't afford it. That was your gift to her. Hopefully she appreciated it, but not everyone appreciates every gift we give them. You can't control that, and if it upsets you, then you shouldn't give the gift in the first place. (I am of course assuming that she didn't hold a gun to your head and force you to pay for those items.) (Also, yes, I probably would have been annoyed at the situation, but I wouldn't hold it against her for 5 years.) Finally, you are not obligated to ask anyone to be in your wedding. (Best friends since kindergarten or not.) If you think that she (or any of your other BMs) won't be a reliable BM, then why honor her with such a position? I am honestly not trying to "lay into" you. I am hoping that this way of looking at the situation will shed some new light on the subject for you. Of course, ultimately, it is your decision. We all come to this forum to ask for advice. We don't always take the advice that is given. I'm sure each of us has even read something someone offered as advice and thought, "no way, I wouldn't do it that way." And that's the beauty of the forum. There's lots of great (and maybe some not so great) ideas floating around and we get to pick and choose which ones we want to use for our own weddings.

Youre pictures are amazing! You look gorgeous! I am so glad you guys had a blast shooting them; you both look incredibly happy and in love.

Congrats to MelB and CBT!

I wanted to take this opportunity to say I was in PV from April 29-May 4. It was gorgeous and wonderful. Everyone was so nice and friendly. No swine flue scare or masks! Back on subject -- I am so glad you decided to go and are having a great time - CONGRATS!