NYCBridetoBe1909

Katie, Welcome! I'm getting married at the Sandals Regency St. Lucia in less than a month, so kepe in touch and I'll definately let you know how it is!

I had to shut my office door I was laughing so hard! This is a great thread. My pet peeve is that my FI is a hoarder. Not like A&E level hoarder, but pretty bad. Until he met me, he had NEVER (not exaggerating) NEVER given away a single piece of clothing in his life. He still had clothes from middle school, he's 32!!! Another symptom of his hoarding is that he is constantly, always buying sh*t. Like not important stuff, but sh*t. We go to the drug store, he comes out with not one, not two but THREE fans. We go to Home Depot and he picks up four different types of duct tape (who knew there were that many kinds). We're repainting our house, and we now own every single painting device and gadget known to mankind. I get so mad at him, and then I look cheap because I don't want to spend the $3 for a roll of tape. The upside is that there is never any random thing I need that we don't have. Although, does anyone really need eight pairs of scissors?

Jenn, Yes, we are staying in the Millionaire's Suite, actually doing the ceremony there, since all the beach weddings are public and as much as I like strangers, I don't like them yelling WHOO HOO at my wedding. I'll be sure to post pictures, I'm so excited. I've found tripadvisor has been awesome for info about the Millionaire's Suites! Tifany, I'm flying in a photographer from NYC, and I got the same in writing. TA Jennifer is my TA and I've also copied her on everything. I think the people at Sandals are scared of her (in a good way) she really gets things done! We're only having 14 people, so only 7 rooms, not enough for the free half hour reception or you better believe I'd be trying to get that thrown in too!

I should have been more clear, I am doing a two hour cocktail reception, and tables are NOT included for that, hence the $100 extra cost. For the sit down dinner, they are included in the cost. And yes, as my fiancee and I are both attorneys, I second mrsgoodrich, get EVERYTHING in writing, email is best. I can't tell you how valuable it was to be able to reforward an email (with a time and date stamp) where they gave me misinformation. In retrospect, the email threads are comical, but I noticed that I would ask a direct question, and Sandals would respond with a non answer. Example, I asked if there would be an ipod dock provided and Sandals said "they reccommend I bring my own." Which doesn't really answer my question as to whether they have them there or not. When pushed, they admitted they did, but I Had to ask directly three times. They are well trained there to promise as little as possible in writing, probably to avoid nightmare brides like me!

I just confirmed all my a la carte options and paid for them. Sandals Regency in St. Lucia was able to accommodate all of my a la carte requests, none of which are anything like Martha Stewart. I did have to get pictures in and have everything 100% paid for prior to today (although I think that's an arbitrary deadline and they seemed willing to work with me if it extended past that). You do have to push pretty hard, or at least I did at first, and I had to provide them pictures of what I wanted rather than them help you out by suggesting things. I had also sent an information request back in May re: flowers that wasn't responded to, so that may have had something to do with it (I.e. I argued that had they responded in a timely manner I would have already been confirmed on everything so they really couldn't be forcing me into something because of their mistake). Re: the beautiful beginnings, one table is covered in the cost. All other tables are $100 a piece. Each table seats 8 people.

As to whether you can plan what you want, the answer appears to be No. I just spoke with my wedding coordinator who stated that even the basic is a "Martha Stewart" and that therefore it could not be added to other than with other pre approved Martha Stewart options. Needless to say, I was infuriated, since although the combos are nice, they aren't what I was picturing for my wedding. Thankfully, I had saved email coorespondence from June that I forwarded her where I had requested specific flowers and told her that while I understand there is a transition, that I had booked my wedding prior to that transition and I fully expect to have my pink and orange roses! (Bridezilla moment) Her response was that they would see what the other Martha Stewart options are and then if my boquet isn't included we would "talk with her director".

Are you sure they won't allow outside photographers? I'm certain the policy on this recently changed. I'm getting married at Sandals Regency in St. Lucia and will be flying in a photographer from NYC. He has to be a resort guest, and has to stay 3 nights, but he's allowed.

Welcome to the forum!

Congrats and welcome!

Home Depot and Lowe's no longer allow registries. Trust me, I tried this week, going so far as to call their corporate headquarters. I registered on Amazon instead, which allows me to register for the same DIY stuff.

I just got mine from a lady here in NYC. THEY ARE AMAZING!!! She makes them custom to your head, and they are super easy to put in. MissM is right, they are pricey, I paid about $400 for mine, but they apparently last quite awhile. They come previously styled, so I'm saving money on a hair appointment once I get to the wedding. All I have to do is curl my own hair, put the clip ins in and I look like a mermaid. I know she sells on the internet too. If you google hair extensions and nyc it comes up.

Mango, that can be waived if you pay a $150 fee. I'm arriving on Thursday and getting married on Friday.

Mandy, Congrats on losing the weight! I also have PCOS so I know how hard it is to lose. About 7 years ago, I lost 160 lbs, so I know it's not easy. I've gained some back now, and I'm afraid to look but I would imagine I weigh about 175. I have never ever gotten below 155, even with working out and not eating for long periods of time. I think that ultimately you can do anything you want, but that giving yourself a timeline may end up frustrating you, depressing you and stressing you out. All of which, at least if you're like me, cause you to eat. You look amazing the way you are, I think you should just continue doing your thing until 6 months before the wedding and then by a dress the size you are then, knowing they can take it in when you lose more weight. Good luck!

Congrats and welcome! I thought about Sandals Antigua for awhile, the Rondovols look AMAZING. In the end I settled on the Sandals Regency St. Lucia, primarily because Sandals has three resorts on St. Lucia. If you're looking at Sandals, I would suggest talking to TA Jennifer. She's helping me with my wedding and has been a GREAT resource thus far!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! FI and I spent this weekend prepping our new rental house. It's newly renovated...kinda. What I mean by kinda is that it was renovated as a hobby by people with non-construction background. In addition to the structural problems (which I won't go into). It's FILTHY. I'm talking mop four times and the mop water is still black filthy. FI and I have decided to view all the problems as an opportunity. We know at some point we want to buy an older house and fix it up to our liking, so we're doing everything ourselves. From the cleaning to the regrouting. Which leads me to my problem.... My mom always cleaned up after me as a child. In college, I lived in filth. After law school and since then, I've had a maid come in every week to clean. See where, I'm going? I can't clean. Meaning, I don't know how. This weekend I managed to mess up simple tasks, like mopping (who knew you couldn't just slop water on the hardwood? or who knew you had to change the water often or you just redistribute the dirt?). I also can't cook. Well I mean, I am sure I can, I just never have, so I don't really know how. I'm the worst southern girl EVER. At this point in my life when I'm working, it's not as big of a deal. However, in the soon future, we want to have children and I won't be working anymore. Although FI says we can still continue to have a maid come in, I REALLY don't want to be staying at home and have a maid and ordering nightly takeout. That seems very wasteful to me. Soooo, the point is I need to learn how to do this stuff. Does anyone have anyone have any suggestions of like Martha Stewart like books to teach me? I'm talking like cleaning or cooking for dummies. Not even sure what to search for in amazon to pull this up? I can't be the only clueless woman....can I?

Hi Michelle, I don't know if it's in your budget, but Sandals does now allow outside photographers if they stay in the hotel for three nights. I'm flying a photographer in from NYC and although it's more expensive, I know the photos will be amazing. Most US photgraphers (I believe) give you license rights to all your photos, whereas I know Sandals does not. To me, that was worth the extra money!

Jennie, it sounds like you have a ton to deal with and I'm sure it's the last thing you need with the wedding stress. Everyone has a past that the person they end up mrrying has to deal with. That being said, I'm sure it's much more difficult in a small town than in a city like NYC. You know who he is now better than anyone, you've watched him become that person. I would say that as long as he doesn't instigate or encourage the drama then it will die down sooner rather than later and you'll live happily ever after. What everyone else thinks just doesn't matter. I came from a fake small town in Tennessee and went to an even faker college. I know dozens of girls who married the right guy on paper with no drama and a clean past. A lot of them are miserable. The truth is, you can't help who you fall in love with and it's better to marry the man you love who has some surrounding issues than marry a man that it seems easy with but you just don't have that "it". He's marrying you, he loves you. I would guess that the ex who has to sit at the wedding table is having similar thoughts, that she looks like a fool sitting up there with her ex boyfriend while everyone knows his fiancee is sitting close by. The key to these situations is carrying yourself with class, which I'm sure you have no problem doing. From your post I can tell you're clearly above the drama, so when it gets hard and uncomfortable, remind yourself of that! I completely understand how frustrating it is for your fiancee to not even acknowledge why it bothers you. I think it may be too much to ask him to understand. For example, I acknowledge that my fiancee is a workaholic, but I will never "understand" it, because I just wasn't wired that way, I just don't get it. For your fiancee, it is just part of who he is, and he knows now that he's not that person anymore, so I think it's a positive sign he doesn't understand it. To me it signals that he really is truly past that phase. In my mind, it would be the equivalent of someone being upset that I used to wear a diaper. Sure, it is true, but that was so long ago and I certainly don't wear one anymore, so why would it bother someone? That being said I think you are COMPLETELY legitimate in being uncomfortable about it all. I know I would be, and I would probably scratch someone's eyes out at work if I were you. You can't change his past, but I think it's fair for you to ask that he acknowledge your discomfort and do whatever he can to minimize it. So, in short, yes, I think it's cold feet grounded in legitimate concerns, but ones that can easily be overcome!

As of yesterday, you couldn't book JetBlue beyond 1/4/2010. Today yo ucan book through 2/28/2010! Just wanted to let anyone else who has been stalking Jet Blue fares know!

I totally share your hair fear. Living in NYC and having access to amazing stylists, the thought of having someone at a resort salon do my WEDDING hair fills me with dread. I honestly thought about flying the hair and makeup artist down the same way I'm flying my photographer in. Then I found a person who is making me custom clip in hair extensions. For way cheaper than it would be to fly someone down. I pick them up on Monday!! Right before the wedding she is going to style them and then ship them so that they don't wrinkle (or whatever it is hair would do during shipping) and then I will just clip them in for pre styled hair! There is enough hair so that it will completely cover most of my natural unstyled hair and I'll just have to do a simple half up do. It's super easy, she's been practicing with me!

I'm going to go with A, it's not as "beachy" and "destinationy" but IMO it's more wedding than cocktail, and I can't imagine anyone NOT feeling like a princess in that. I have an all lace dress for a beach wedding though, so maybe I'm biased!

Karen, I had the same experience the first time I went dress shopping too. Everything I put on that I liked looked HORRIBLE. I didn't try again until last week, a good 5 months later. Don't get discouraged the right dress IS out there. So yes, I'm back (sorry so long to post, work backed up while I was out). I tried on about 50 dresses, including the Dessy Sandals dresses, which were awful on me. At the end of the day it was between two dresses, one of which was the one I fell in love with a few weeks ago. In the end I ended up following my gut and getting this dress, even thought it was $500 more expensive Sorry its sooo fuzzy. I forgot a camera and was left with just my Blackberry. Here it is from the website: Also got a veil while I was there (overpriced I know, but 12 months same as cash makes it like free for 11 months!) it is like the one below, but all white everywhere!

I like the first best! While you were at David's Bridal did you try on the T9612 style (all lace v neck trumpet)? From what I can tell, you're built a bit like me, taller with larger breasts, and I LOVED that one. More than I wanted to spend though, so back to the drawing board!

I know what you're going through, my maid og honor backed out because of inconvenience, I was really upset about it for a day, and then figured I could either continue to pout about it or "reinvision" my wedding, since I'd always pictured her there. I'm at the point now where I would prefer her not to come because I know I would be stressing out about her not wanting to be there the whole time. So, I'm in the process of reinvisioning. Until I was getting married myself, I never realized why weddings strengtened/ended so many friendships. I get it now, people tend to show their true colors during the stressful time. My thoughts are with you and I hope she changes her mind, but if she doesn't, I have no doubt it will be gorgeous and perfect and everything you hoped it would be. Um, and as for the bitter spinster, itsfinallyhere....WOW. If the truth were that ridiculous, you would think she would be able to make up an excuse better than that? It would take all my willpower not to rub my relationship happiness in this friends face.....then again, I'm probably not the model of forgiveness either

Let me know when you get them, I'm dying to know how they turn out. I'm thinking of ordering those too (you have great taste!) in the flat!

So after having a freakout yesterday that I couldn't figure out the reason for, FI and I finally figured out that I was freaking out that I don't have my dress yet, which of course leads to a freakout about how we are going to pay for the dress. So today's the day! I am leaving at 3:30 for an "appointment" and going to RK Bridal and then David's Bridal. I'm sort of excited, but SUPER nervous!